Claire's Haircut

Claire has been growing her hair for about 4 years.  She loves her long hair.  Until she didn't.  Last week she was insistent that she wanted her hair cut to her shoulders.  Her mind could not be changed.  The boys especially were against it.  All boys like long hair...even 9 and 6 year olds.  I finally broke down and took her to the Salon. 

I was spellbound by my 4 year old giving distinct instructions to the stylist.  I swear the whole place exhaled when the first cut was made.  Several people came over to see the pile of hair on the floor.  It was 7 inches long!  My hormones are all over the place and so I was crying and trying to gather up hair like a ninny.  I gave myself a firm shake and just said no to bringing home hair.  

When it was all said and done I thought it was super cute!

 

While it can be mind boggling to deal with such a strong willed little girl I couldn't be prouder that she has such a strong sense of herself that she will stand up, in the face of others, to defend what she wants.  I hope she never loses that!  She can lose the attitude any time though.  Just sayin' 



 

 

  

Luke and His Many Thoughts

Luke has a lot going on in his brain and it usually spills out his mouth.  Honestly, it is exhausting sometimes.  Last week, to my eternal shame, I paid him to be silent for about an hour.  He did it by the way and it was the best dollar I've ever spent in my life.  However, there are times when he comes off with some hum dingers. 

Last week he was having a bad case of the middle child syndrome.  I've decided being middle in the family is pretty crappy.  Tim took Claire with him to Gage's swimming so that I could spend some time alone with Luke.  As soon as he had my undivided attention he starting talking.  He informed me he had too many deep thoughts.  Such as asking himself if he was himself.  So weird and hard to figure out apparently.  We were discussing this when he suddenly said, "I also don't know if Jesus Christ lives."  How should one respond to a six year old with this question?  I asked him what things made him think that Jesus Christ lives and he said, "Everyone keeps telling me he does.  Except my cousins I've never asked them."  Cousins of the family beware. 

A few nights ago I was telling the kids about a girl from High School that I had run into recently and that she hadn't changed at all....she still thought she was better than everyone else.  Luke was incensed and he said, "Oh, I hope I'm with you next time you see her and I'll hold up a piece of paper that says Jesus on it and I'll say what do you think of that?  You can't be better than everyone else because Jesus is" 

Never a dull moment with this one around.....

   

Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 will go down as my most unique and since it has been more than a month ago the details are getting fuzzy.  I had a hysterectomy the first week in December and I spent the rest of the month in bed watching the Hallmark Channel and obsessing if the children were having a nice Christmas season.  When I sat down to write this post I started enumerating all the things that were wrong and different his year and then I looked at my pictures and thought I'd blog about what went right. 

First off I got a real Christmas tree for the first time in over ten years!  I loved it!  I liked it undecorated which is weird.  We did end up decorating it but for a few days I enjoyed it al natural. 

 

 

For years I have asked Tim to paint me something for my Christmas gift and this year he did.  My camera setting got changed by someone *cough*Claire*cough so this pic is a bit fuzzy but he painted our family tree with birds.  Cute!

 

 

 

 

Our rascally elf was back this year.  We sure miss this guy while he is gone.  Claire developed a habit of asking Twinkie for almost everything that every crossed her mind and when she asked him it almost started to look like praying and it was a little freaky.  Freakier still is she is still "praying" to Santa multiple times a day for stuff.  

 

 

What would Christmas be without family?  The Wright Family Christmas party was my only outing for pretty much the entire month.  Tim enjoyed wrestling with his nephews.

Christmas Eve was celebrated in my bedroom because I had some post-op bleeding that landed me on bed rest until it stopped.  Can you say awesome!?  I did enjoy my sister's violin and my Dad's crazy story about how he had to wrestle Santa for some candy for my kids.  Tim cooked a very descent Christmas Even Dinner.  Gage played the recorder.  Luke showed off his reading skills.  Claire tap danced on the hardwood. 

When I was kid my dad tortured me each Christmas that he was going to set bear traps for Santa.  Now it has evolved to my dad wrestling Santa for the grandkids candy.  It can be quite alarming for the children.  Hee hee. 

I guess candy wrestled from Santa is more exciting.... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have a picture of Pam playing her violin but Tim snapped this picture of her and I think she looks really pretty so I included it instead!  Again thank you Claire for a grainy picture....
 

I believe this is Claire preparing to tap dance but I don't have any actual pics of it because she was in the hall.  It sounded good though!

 Luke is showing off his literary skills with a rendition of Elephant and Piggie

 Gage is learning how to play the recorder at school.  He is actually pretty good! 
 

 

 

I contributed nothing but laying there....

 

 

Christmas morning was the typical whirlwind.  The kids bought each other gifts from the Dollar Store this year and they were so excited to open them first.  It was fun letting them pick something out for each other and watching them thank each other for such simple things.  I've never seen Gage so excited about gummy bears but I guess if your favorite brother chose them for you they are cooler?   

We couldn't help but reminisce that Sarge has been with us for a year.  He was not thrilled with his gift.  Rubber chickens don't do it for him.  Good to know.  Not a puppy anymore....

Christmas at our house means Legos and Legos and yes that's right more Legos... 

 

I'm impressed they have the patience.  Too many little bricks for me....

 

I think Tim enjoys it as much as the boys....

Claire has to take girl time where she can get it and American Girls fill the bill....

  
Until next year..... 

Cool Contacts

BEFORE

Remember when you were growing up and you thought about what the future would be like? Personally I thought there would a lot more aluminum colored clothing then we are sporting now days.   Of all the cool things that I dreamed up back then that have come to fruition, hello IPad, there was one thing I could have never dreamed up that would be as cool as what Gage is sporting.   

Gage has worn glasses since 2nd grade and as his vision continued to get worse and worse and I fretted about it.  Of Course!  Then his Doctor told me about CRT lenses.  They are contacts that he sleeps in and when we remove them in the morning viola he has 20/20 vision.  Not only does he enjoy good vision all day but they also slow the worsening of myopia.  He started wearing them a few weeks ago and they are the more amazing to me than any silver clothing or flying car could be!  The gift of sight! 

I have also worn glasses or contacts since I was in the 2nd grade and I am totally living vicariously through Gage and I admit I'm totally geeking out over this development.  I think about how my growing up years and each afternoon I ask Gage, "So....can you still see?"  I feel such a thrill each time he says, "Yes!"  It is almost too good to be true and my 1990's mind can hardly believe they work.

AFTER

 

(He wouldn't sit for a normal picture.  I'm bugged at the time and then when I see these I laugh)

No doubt he is handsome in his glasses.  But having gone through my own painful adolescence in glasses and knowing what a pain they are to wear I'm so glad he doesn't have to do the same thing as me.  Last month he tried out for a swim team and made it and I can't believe he can swim with his eyes open and see!  That is something I have never done.  Yea for technology.

p.s.  The material these lenses were made out of was developed on the NASA space station.  Double cool!      

A Good-bye That Has to be Said

Dear Aunt Flo,

It's strange to be saying good-bye after we've known each other for so long.  Well, I guess 15 years isn't that long when others seem to know you for so much longer.  I remember the first time you came it made me feel grown-up and now that you've gone it makes me feel old and sad.  I should have guessed you wouldn't be satisfied unless your exit hurt as much as all your other visits did.  You often came uninvited and unexpected...you liked that didn't you?   It wasn't just the inconvenience you caused that made me say good-bye.  Once I saw the pictures from the first surgery I realized you really did have it out for me.  Otherwise, why did you have to damage everything else around you too?  You couldn't just stay in your appointed place?  By the time you came and felt like you could stay for over 3 months I knew we were through and it was time to get rid of you for good.  Getting rid of you ruined Christmas.  You know that right?  You couldn't just behave?  We could've had a civil working relationship.  But no, you wouldn't have it that way. 

Don't think I forgot the good times.  It wasn't all ruined River trips and embarrassment and mind numbing pain, and dizziness.  It wasn't all about the pain and tears you caused.  There were times when I was happy you came.  I remember being sick with worry, when the boys were babies, that you weren't going to come I was actually glad to see you then.  I haven't forgotten the times you were gracious enough to stay away for 9 whole months.  You did that 3 times and because of you I got the most beautiful gift that life has to offer.  I took you for granted, I admit, because now you're gone and I realize that I will never experience that joy again and I'm sad.  I didn't see that one coming.

I know I'll be dealing with you in a new way in a decade or so.  All, I can say is Claire is my baby and a good girl.  Just go easy on her okay?

Sincerely,
Jessica   
 

Why Do I Blog?

It's been a while since I blogged.  Last night I started to wonder why I blog at all?  I know I'm not reaching a large audience and I'm sure what I have to say doesn't make a difference to anyone....except it matters to me.  That's why I blog. 

So in the words of Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail,  

 The odd thing about this form of communication is you're more likely to talk about nothing than something. But I just want to say that all this nothing has meant more to me than so many... somethings. So, thanks. 

This blog is a good friend who on my down days says lovingly, "See it hasn't all been bad."  And then I remember and my life has perspective once again.