Sister Sunday

Today was nothing short of phenomenal. My three daughters were not only well-behaved, not only fun to be around, but had fun TOGETHER. At Mass this morning, after communion while we were all kneeling and praying, I saw Ava and Jocelyn spontaneously hug each other, then kneel and pray together. I can't even describe the incredible feeling of love and pride I felt. Once we got home all three girls played well together. They played school, colored, shared Barbies and Ponies without any argument. We had a picnic lunch in the basement while watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang together. I really and truly think I went the ENTIRE day without breaking up a single fight or spat. It was amazing. My greatest struggle? Being content to savor today. It is so very hard to see these moments and not think, Why couldn't they be like this all the time?? I ask God's help tonight to turn my greed to gratitude. Rather than wish for more, I will be so very thankful I got to share this wonderful day with my children, cherishing the wonderful and loving girls they are becoming.

Pretty New Clothes

I'm not sure when it happened, but somewhere along the line I became one of those moms, women, whatever, who HATES shopping for new clothes. It always seems such an awful experience. I either end up shopping with a child (or children) in tow, in which I'm frantically rushing to finish before their attention span goes kaput, or I leave my children with someone, in which case I'm still rushing in case they are terrorizing some innocent sitter (or my husband). And like 99% of women, it always seems the clothes - especially pants - never fit QUITE right. Ben still doesn't understand how even two different styles of the same brand can fit totally differently. Shopping is an activity I dread. But over the last few weeks I have come to realize that exactly ONE pair of pants that do not have an elastic waist fit me. And as much as it stinks to shop, it stinks even more to look into a drawer full of clothes and not want to wear a single thing because of how uncomfortable they are.

So this morning I finally bit the bullet and went to the mall. I'm not even sure the last time I stepped foot into a real mall. I spent a few hours in a couple stores... and was actually successful!! I found 4 pair of pants and 2 shirts, and thanks to the shopping gods even got every single piece on sale. I still spent a handful, but it was way better than it could have been. But best of all, I cannot WAIT to get dressed in the morning. To look at drawers full of clothes that fit me and don't look like I should be on my way to the gym is a wonderful thing indeed. Bonus: Ava opted to come and be my "style advisor," so I was able to enjoy some quality time with my her this morning as well. New well-fitting clothes AND quality time with my eldest? Definitely a day for the books.

Cougar Crawl!

This evening Ava's school put on an event called the Cougar Crawl. (Her school's mascot is the cougar.) We met at the front of the school, then walked about a mile around the neighborhood surrounding the school. When we returned we ate food and danced to music provided by a DJ. It really was nothing very fancy, but the kids LOVED it. I had a lot of fun getting to catch up with a few of my neighbors - nothing like an event to bring us all out of our houses and socializing together. Jocelyn enjoyed stalking the mascot all evening. Molly and I played a game of "yelling" I Love You to each other throughout the walk. Ava had fun finding a few of her classmates, but making new friends while they were all getting their groove on. All of the kids had a blast dancing - I kept trying to get good pictures but they never stopped moving! It was such a great night, but rather than me trying to describe the fun I'll let the pictures below do the talking. I am so glad Ava gets to be part of a school that has such a strong sense of community around it. It was a great way to kick off the school year... and a wonderfully crazy evening to tire my kids out.

saying hi to Cody the cougar

Molly with our neighbor Adia - sweet friends

Cheetos - dinner of champions (or at least Sewards)

Molly and Zachary sword-fighting with branches

DANCE PARTY!!

I love how they're almost doing the same thing in this one

jump!

video of Molly dancing with the big kids (if you look in the back Ava appears as well)

Treat Sharer

Molly, Jocelyn, and I went to the commissary this morning. While it got a little rough toward the end (I really do NOT like grocery shopping, especially with the kids) we survived. As I'm loading groceries onto the conveyer belt, Jocelyn starts looking at the candy display with HUGE eyes. She asks if she can have one, and I decided it was worth rewarding her for not being a total terror (and therefore avoiding the tantrum that would have resulted from telling her no). She was having a very hard time picking just which one she wanted - it is a difficult decision after all - and the cashier was finished ringing up our food, so I just took whichever candy was in her hand and gave it to the man to scan. Turned out to be Rolo candies. Not the greatest choice for hot sticky little 3-year-old fingers, but it could have been worse.

When we got into the car, I gave Jocie one of the chocolates in her package. Molly of course saw this and started frantically asking to have one too. Not sure how she would respond, I asked Jocelyn if it was okay to give Molly one. Jocelyn said, "Sure, Mommy, she can have one!" and seemed very happy to be able to share her special treat with her sister.

Fast forward to this afternoon, and Jocelyn asked to have another candy after lunch. I said sure, and gave one to her. Then she said, "Mommy, I have to share with Ava and Molly too! How I can share with them?" (Ava was still at school and Molly had gone down for her nap.) Um, I'm sorry, have we met? Who is this child who is voluntarily sharing delicious food treats with her siblings? And sure enough, when we came home from picking up Ava, Jocelyn took two more Rolos out of the package and gave them to her sisters. I was so proud of Jocie's sharing spirit today. The selflessness of her actions just blew me away.

Blast from the Past

This morning Molly woke up 20 to 30 minutes earlier than normal. This after she had to be rocked by Ben for almost a half hour late last night. I assumed it was going to be a long morning for her, and sure enough, after preschool drop-off and an allergist appointment (which she was AMAZING for) she was pretty well spent. I had just enough time to kill to run one last errand. As I parked the car, I looked in the back to find Molly had fallen asleep. Oh well, I'd just get her out and put her in the stroller and the 10 minute snooze would hold us over until naptime. Molly had other plans: she stayed asleep through me transferring her from the car seat to the stroller, then later when I transferred her back into the car to pick up Jocelyn. Only when we arrived at the preschool and I took her out a third time did she finally start to stir. Before I got her out of the car that last time, I took a moment to watch my sleeping baby. Molly falls asleep in the car often enough that it is not a VERY big deal, but she almost never stays asleep through any transferring; that is the stuff of infants. But this morning she was pooped enough to return to her old ways and let me stroll down memory lane with my baby.

This 30 minute cat nap of course ended up being her only nap for the day, but in those moments of over-tiredness I remembered this sweet little face... and that tomorrow I will make sure nothing disrupts our nap routine.

I won't (and can't) quit

Today was another bumpy day. I think I've just hit a point in which I have spent too much time with my kids. I firmly believe the saying "Absence makes the heart grow fonder," and there has not been much absence between my kids and myself recently. Yesterday I left to pick up Ava from CCD class, leaving Jocelyn and Molly with Ben (whom they hadn't seen since Thursday). I got home after about 30 minutes out, and Ben said to Molly, "Look, Mommy's home!" The child didn't even look at me. She didn't care that I'd been gone or that I was once again sitting 10 feet from her. I've said it many times and will again, my kids aren't awful; they don't destroy things or hurt people or property. They just GET ON MY NERVES. By bathtime tonight I was just done. Ben took over soaping up so I could go in the other room just to keep from blowing up at the girls yet again. I sat by myself for about 10 minutes, trying to do all I could think of to calm down and make the anger go away. Finally, I had the epiphany: parenthood is not easy. I've never heard anyone say it is, and if those people do exist I honestly think they are deranged or gluttons for punishment. But just because it's hard, so what?? I'm always teaching my children that you don't quit just because you can't do something the first time. So I took a few deep breaths, and asked Ava and Jocelyn if we could read a few stories. We read two books, and it was quite nice. It was pleasant enough that I thought it would be fun to have a picture for tonight's entry... to which I got whines from both kids. Ah, well, you win some and you lose some. I made them take a picture anyway, because sometimes it's not about having fun, it's about being a family. And while I may need a time out myself occasionally, I really would not trade these annoying, pesky, needy, precious darlings for anything in the world. No really :)

the picture we "should take"

the picture we WANTED to take

Season Premiere Week

It is a week I have been waiting for for a while now. I am not a huge TV watcher (I'm not sure I know any parent who can be). But there are a few shows that I have really gotten into (aka addicted to) over the past few years. And after a long summer of reruns, this week they all return to me. There is nothing quite like putting all the girls to bed, sitting down on my couch with my dessert, and zoning out watching a decent television program or two. It mellows me out after a long and energy-filled day. When I was younger I remember having a conversation with my mom about soap operas. My mom had one or two soap operas that she watched pretty regularly. She explained to me that whenever she moved somewhere new and didn't know anyone, or her life seemed to be turning upside down, the characters in her favorite show were like a constant, somewhere she could go to find comfort in the familiar. I have come to feel that way about the three or four shows I spend a few nights a week watching. And after a long summer it is finally time for us to get reacquainted.

Saved by the Foleys

Today was LONG. We started out with Mass, where the girls actually behaved really well. However, it seems God chose to show off his sense of humor by turning my children into demons as soon as we got home. It was another one of those days in which Ben was hours away on his Navy reserve weekend so I knew there was no relief in sight. So in complete desperation for my children's well being and my own sanity, I called my friend Amanda. She commiserated enough to invite us over after naps for a little playtime and dinner. It was not anything spectacular, just five little girls playing and three adults catching up and sharing war (aka parenting) stories. But for me, our impromptu playdate saved the day. I am so thankful I have friends in my life who understand how stressful parenting can be, and care about me and my family enough to pick me up on the days I need a little lift. I only hope I am half the friend to them that they are to me.

Welcome Fall

Today is technically the first day of fall, and one of my favorite things about living here is actually having seasons. The first day of fall, however, proved to be a warm one, with a high somewhere in the mid 80s. My kids opted to enjoy the day by spending most of it outdoors. My driveway is completely graffittied, and the grass in the front yard is a little flatter from all the little feet running on it. But the girls had a great time breathing in the fresh air and being one with nature. Who knows how many "warm" days we have left, so I'm glad we were able to make the most of today.

Quiet House

Tonight I had a rare experience. After a long day, I put my children to bed, came downstairs, and encountered... silence. Ben was not home, so I sat by myself and just breathed in the peace and quiet. I love my husband, and enjoy the end of the day when the kids are in bed and we get to have uninterrupted adult conversation and catch up on each other's day. Every now and then, however, I really enjoy not having to talk to anyone, to just sit by myself and bask in the quiet of my own thoughts. It was a nice treat, a great end to another busy week.

Bare Minimum

Today has been one of those not-so-rosy days. I am sitting here just in a FUNK. Ava was throwing attitude around like nobody's business today. From the moment we picked her up after school, she managed to smile and give hugs as soon as she came out of the school but after that it was frowns and growls at every question or comment directed at her. Jocelyn had herself a few Category 5 tantrums this afternoon, and about really "important" stuff too: one because I wouldn't give her a granola bar 30 minutes before dinner, and another for something I don't even remember anymore. And Molly? She wasn't too bad, but seems to be having listening issues these days that are really wearing on my nerves. Add to that frustrating neighbors and Internet issues, and I am just not in the mood to look on the bright side of anything tonight. There was no real shining moment, no highlight to the day that will make the rest of the crap more bearable. I go to bed tonight just thankful to God for the health and safety of my family. At the end of the day that's what really matters - a family who is healthy, safe, and happy. I guess, at least for today, 2 out of 3 ain't bad. And tomorrow will be a new day with the possibility of being better than today. Here's hoping.

A Great Beginning

I had the best start to my day that I can remember in a LONG time. I woke up, looked around the room, and thought that, judging by the amount of sunlight streaming in, someone should be waking me up by now. Sure enough, I looked at my watch and read that it was 6:50am, when Molly is usually whining and wanting to be taken out of her crib. I sat for a moment and heard... nothing. My house was completely silent. So I took out my tablet and checked my email. Then I caught up on Facebook. Then I played a game or two of Solitaire. I kept waiting to hear Molly stir so I could get her and plop her in front of my TV while I showered. However, at 7:15am when there was still no sounds coming from her room, I decided I just had to bite the bullet and jump in the shower, praying she wouldn't wake up screaming and disrupt her sisters' sleeping in the process.

I got out of the shower just after 7:20am to hear Molly talking to herself happily in her crib. I dried off and cracked her door open. She looked at me and said, "Mommy! Morning! Up?" I feel I have to explain - at best, Molly wakes up whining to be taken out of her crib, and more often is crying out of either frustration or loneliness. This morning, however, it was all smiles and happy noises. About 5 minutes later, Jocelyn walked into my room. I looked at her and smiled, saying good morning. She gave me the biggest, dopiest grin ever and ran to me to give me a huge hug. Another 5 minutes after that Ava woke up in a terrific mood too. It was the most amazing thing - all 4 of us, who do not tend to be pleasant in the mornings, were in high spirits. In my head I kept thinking, "See? This is what happens when you sleep until your bodies are really ready to get up! Why can't we do this every morning?" Because I'm no dummy - I know that tomorrow morning all 3 kids will be awake before 6:45am. It is really hard not to focus on the fact that this could be a recurring thing and is not simply because my children are convinced that any time asleep is time wasted. But I am trying with every fiber of my being to be grateful for the wonderful morning we had - to treasure how special this rare happiness was and rather than want for more be content with what I've been given. 

A Lemonade Day

Today was a day for making lemonade out of the lemons of life. It started this morning. We dropped Ava off at school and went to Target to pick up a few things. It was a rough trip - not catastrophic by any means, but I had to move and re-move Jocelyn and Molly several times so they did not hurt each other or damage the things I needed to buy. By the time we got home my nerves were sufficiently fried. Then Molly found a hairdresser set in Jocie's bedroom. Suddenly, the two were friends and played quietly together for a solid 20 minutes. I had time to write a few emails and prepare lunch in peace. Just when I thought the day was taking a turn for the worse, these two surprised me with a friendly, non-arguing playtime.

Then this afternoon was Round 2 of making the best out of a lousy situation. We had a pretty bad wind- and thunderstorm, and it was still raining pretty hard by the time we had to pick up Ava. But Tuesdays we have to leave school as quickly as possible to get Jocelyn to dance class on time, so we did our best to stay dry and get in the car. We buckled up in various states of soaked-ness and drove to the studio. I was pretty stoked that despite the weather we were only running a minute or two late. As I open my car door, however, I see the studio owner who informs me that all afternoon activities for the Alexandria area have been cancelled so he's canceling dance classes as well. I'm just looking at my car full of girls who look forward to dance days more than anything, wondering how I'm going to salvage this day. As I'm standing there I start to talk Miss Victoria and Miss Jenn, one of the girls' teachers, who live in Stafford (a good 45 minutes away in good weather and traffic). They weren't excited about heading back south so soon, so I invited them to hang at our house until traffic died down. They ended up staying a few hours and eating dinner with us. My girls of course had a blast on their improv playdate with Miss Victoria and I enjoyed some adult conversation with Jenn. 

It was a day full of curveballs, but today we were able to make the most of what life threw at us. I go to bed tonight glad that we made the most of our day, and hope that the fates are a little kinder to us tomorrow.

Good Golly!

Today was one of those days where for some reason I kept noticing all the ways in which Molly is growing up and forming her little personality. Just a few examples:

- Molly has learned how her car seat buckles and insists on "helping" me click everything into place
- She has absolutely no concept of her age or size: while waiting to pick up Ava from school, she was chasing Jocelyn around the school playground, climbing up walls and sliding down slides built for children 4 or 5 times older than her
- Molly has some serious gamer tendencies. At every opportunity she sneaks into my room to get my tablet. She turns it on, unlocks it, opens the kid's app she and her sisters play on, and would probably play all day if I let her. She's also discovered that her sisters' profiles have different activities than hers (the app is age-specific for each child) and so she will play on her sisters' profiles because their games are clearly more fun
- Molly's vocabulary is growing by the day! She has a few of her own words - she'd much rather call Jocelyn "Sissa" and all ducks are "squackies" - and she always has something to say. I understand her most of the time. My favorites are that she says "Yes" (not "yeah" like most younger kids start with) and that most often she can carry on a full conversation herself. "Dadda work? Awight."
- Molly is obsessed with shoes. If there is a pair of shoes lying around, especially if they belong to someone else, she is all about trying them on and walking around the house. From slippers to Crocs to winter boots, all shoes are fair game
- This kid has got one heck of a stubborn streak. Example: each night in the bath she whines and appears to feel unsteady. Yet, she refuses to sit on her rear end - she either squats or sits on her knees. When she tries to hang onto the side I put her hands back in (so as to keep my floor dry) and she gets mad at me... but still refuses to sit all the way down

I feel like there were even more moments than these, but you get the idea. It was fun to have the opportunity to pay attention to these moments today and not let them pass my by as they do most days. Before Molly was born, I wondered how she would compare to the other two. Ava and Jocelyn seemed so different, I couldn't imagine how a third could be different as well. But Molly is certainly her own person, and I love that I get to see her become that person each and every day.

Chicka Chicka

It was just before bedtime. I was sitting in the rocking chair in Molly's room, waiting for her to come in. Ava passed by the door, saw me, and came in. She asked me to read her the book Chicka Chicka Boom Boom. We had opened the book and were about to start when Molly ran into the room and immediately began climbing her way into my lap. As there was not enough room in the chair, we moved to the floor, and I proceeded to read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to what ended up being all 3 kids (Jocelyn joined us about halfway through the book). I read to my kids all the time, but most often I'm only reading to one child at a time. It is rare that all three are in a mood to listen to the same story. It was a very calm and sweet way to end my day and weekend.

Clean Up, Clean Up

This afternoon Ben took Jocelyn to the store while Molly was napping. This of course left Ava out, and she was pretty bummed not to be doing something fun or special. She went downstairs to watch a movie for a little while. I passed her at one point with the laundry basket, about to fold my third load of laundry for the day. She looked at me, thought for a second, and then said, "Mommy, I'm going to help you clean." And help she did! She cleaned much of the basement (which is impressive considering it seems to be at the point of needing professional help). She cleared and wiped down the kitchen table. She helped wash dishes as best she could, and loaded many into the dishwasher. She brought toys and other items that belong in her room upstairs and put them away. And she did all this cheerfully, glad to be spending time with me. And you know what? I loved getting to spend time with her (and not having to clean by myself while everyone else is enjoying themselves elsewhere). I'm not sure I ever jumped at the chance to help clean as a kid, so I definitely appreciate how rare it is that Ava is so willing to help me. She is maturing so much, and I love days like this when I can see it so clearly.

A Much-Needed Break

The last two weeks have been full of adjustments - first Ava going back to school, then Jocelyn, then both girls starting back at dance. Unfortunately for Molly, this has translated to lots of driving around and leaving people to do fun things, then getting stuck with Mom. It has taken some time rebuilding our relationship. There's been lots of fits thrown and yelling at me. I myself have been trying to take advantage of being down to only one kid and running tons of errands while Ava and Jocelyn are in school. Today, however, I decided to take a break from the madness and just spend the morning at home. Molly and I dropped Jocie off and then came straight back to the house and stayed here until it was time to get Jocelyn once again. It was great - Molly played with her toys and pretty much did as she pleased, and I in turn got several chores done while she was otherwise occupied. I think it was the break we both needed from the chaos of everyday life. We were recharged and are now ready to tackle the crazy times ahead.

True Friendship

Today I had one of those moments where I appreciated friendship at its finest. We were originally supposed to go out and do something with Sharon, Isaac, and Avery. Then, as often happens, we had to avert to a Plan B. Due to scheduling conflicts I had to go to the commissary this morning. We didn't want to miss each other entirely, so the Halls met us at our house for an hour or two of playing and lunch. I realized about halfway through my commissary trip that my house was an absolute PIT. There were clothes that had to be taken down to the laundry room, toys strewn all over the house, and dishes that had not been washed since my dishwasher was full of clean dishes and had not been unloaded yet. Bottom line: I apologized profusely when they first entered the house, but knew deep down that I was not being judged for the sad state of my house. I am blessed to have friends that accept me despite my inability to maintain my house.

Pretty Picture

This afternoon I was kicking myself for not having either my camera or my phone on me. We had picked Ava up from school and were walking back to our car. Ava and Jocelyn were walking a bit ahead when Molly decided to get down from being carried and walk herself. She yelled out, "Sissa, wait!!" Both girls stopped and turned around. Molly then said, "Jocie, hand!" Jocelyn came back and held Molly's left hand. Ava then came over and held Molly's right hand. I walked a few steps behind and watched my three daughters walk about 20 feet hand-in-hand-in-hand. It was such a sweet moment, a special connection between sisters. I didn't capture it on film, but the image will be captured in my heart forever.

Always Remember

I find myself sitting down to write this post in a very reflective mood, and apologize now if that makes this post choppy and hard to follow. It has been a very long day. There was drop-off and pick-up for school, errands run, hours spent at the dance studio, and mini meals squeezed in whenever possible. Children were whiny and cranky, and I was less than gracious or patient most of the time. Today, more than any other perhaps, has been the epitome of what this blog is all about. For amid all the rough patches the day presented, I kept thinking what a blessing it is that I have this amazing life in which these minor issues are my big stresses.

On this day 11 years ago, I was in my dorm room watching Law & Order reruns on TNT. My roommate and I were slightly obsessed with the series and had it on at every possible occasion. The TV was on in the background as I was getting dressed when I noticed the sound had changed. I looked at the television screen to see a special report had appeared. I remember thinking this must be a pretty big deal for a cable network to be interrupting programming - I had never seen such a thing before. Then what I was seeing and hearing in front of me began to sink in, and become all the more unbelievable at the same time. As the minutes and hours unfolded, I wandered aimlessly around campus, stopping occasionally in the student center to watch the projector someone had erected with continuing coverage of the terrorist attacks, but mainly just walking outside, trying to make sense of my world that had been flipped upside down.

Earlier today I was marveling at the simple fact that none of my children will know anything of the world before what we now simply refer to as 9/11. But as I thought about it more, I realized that I don't remember much of pre-9/11 life either. As a child, I grew up in a nice, cushy, protected bubble. I went to Catholic schools and surrounded myself with friends who focused on the positive yet sheltered side of life. I was a freshman at Texas A&M University in 2001, adjusting to exploring and living outside my comfortable bubble. Less than a month into college, I grew up more than I would ever have imagined possible. I think many my age lost our innocence and youthful outlook on life on that fateful day. I very much connect the separation between my childhood and adulthood with September 11, 2001. I was able to call and touch base with my family, but I was on my own, having to find solace and comfort with the friends I was making in my new home at school.

I feel like nowadays we associate post-9/11 life with the hassles it's brought: increased airport security and other prohibitive measures that inconvenience many to weed out the few. I know for me the most clear difference between then and now is that when I was a kid we went all the way to the gate at the airport to pick up my dad when he came home from business trips. And maybe that's the most amazing aspect of the whole thing - that through a terrorist attack and the wars that have resulted from it, life for most of us has gone on fairly unaffected. Thanks to Ben's jobs we have always lived in places with a substantial military presence, and I feel this has given me the opportunity to see and appreciate just how much these men and women sacrifice every single day for our freedom. But I know there are many people in our country who don't know any military personnel or have any connection with service men and women. Then there's the police and fire departments. How many of us gripe about the jerk who's looking for an excuse to write a speeding ticket? I can't imagine being the spouse of that police officer, who might happen upon the wrong car and get injured or killed just for trying to do his job. Or the spouse of a firefighter, who risks his or her own life for complete strangers day after day simply because that's their job, what they've committed themselves to do.

As always, today should not be about beating ourselves up for the things we take for granted or the people we don't thank enough. I wish with my whole being that the thousands of lives lost on this day 11 years ago could be brought back. But as this is an impossible dream, I will settle for thanking God for ALL I have in my life - the good and the bad. Because I am lucky enough to live in this amazing country, where my kids can get a quality education, where we can make a good enough living to have all we need and much of what we want, and where we are free to express ourselves. I pray my children will never have to experience a day like September 11, 2001, but I will make sure they understand what the day means to me and how each and every day is in itself truly a blessing.

First Day of School #2

Today Jocelyn started her second year of preschool. She has been anxiously awaiting this day ever since Ava went back to school last week. When the door opened to the school, she bowled over the other 3-year-old teacher and half-skipped, half-ran down the hallway to her classroom. After a quick picture outside her classroom, it was kisses for me and Daddy before she skipped into the room to hang up her backpack. No tears, no looking back. I picked her up 3 hours later to find the same huge grin on her sweet face. She had a great first day of preschool, and can't wait to go back on Wednesday. I feel so blessed to have children who love school and are so excited to learn and explore new things that they are not sad about leaving me. I can't wait for another great year of growth for both Ava and Jocelyn.

ready to go!

my two students

barely got this picture, she was so ready to run into her class!

Jocie's first day, as told by her

The Fun House

The weather was BEAUTIFUL today. It was a little chilly this morning, but warmed up this afternoon so the kids were outside running around. I had to run an errand with Molly while Ben worked on the yard and Ava and Jocelyn played with the neighbors. As I pulled up to our street coming home, I saw about 8 or 9 kids running in our front yard, with two moms sitting in lawn chairs in my driveway. It was an unexpected but nice sight. I never really had neighbor-friends growing up. In Florida our houses were pretty far apart and we were so young that we had to drive to play with people in our neighborhood. Then in Texas I played with one of my neighbors, but there wasn't really anyone else who played with us and after a year or so we grew apart and didn't hang out as much. We were never the house that everyone hung out at, and that was fine. I always knew my friends were welcome in my home, the occasions just didn't seem to occur very often. I never really expected our house to be "that house" for our kids, but if that turns out to be the case I think it will be a little crazy and a lot of fun.

Aggie Saturday!

I am a little obsessed with college football. Some would say that is an understatement. Professional football has never really kept my attention, but there's something so entertaining about these young boys who go out and play their hearts out for school pride and not just to earn a paycheck. Last weekend I watched a full day of college ball, but due to Hurricane Isaac there was not any A&M football to watch. I'm not even exaggerating, I've been looking forward to today ALL week. It was Texas A&M's first game of the season. It was their first conference game as new members of the SEC. And due to all the hype, ESPN College Gameday was there to cover the game and give A&M some pretty fantastic publicity. It was better than Christmas - seeing so many images of familiar places on and off campus, hearing all the excitement and anticipation for the beginning of a new era in Aggie football... well, I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea.

A few years ago we started the tradition in our house of "Aggie Saturdays." We all wear whatever A&M garments we have. It's one of the few times I dictate to my children what they need to wear. Ava has come to love it, and the other two will learn soon enough.

dressed for Aggie Saturday

practicing our touchdown poses

So the game didn't end the way I would have liked. I could go on for quite a while on what I think the Aggies did right or wrong, but that's all beside the point. I go to bed a very happy person tonight because Aggie football has once again returned to my life. The season will go by way too fast, and I'm not naive enough to think it will come without heartache. But this is by far my favorite time of year, and the added excitement of having joined the best conference in the league makes this year all the sweeter.

Preschool Open House

Today Jocelyn got one step closer to her own first day of school. We went to the preschool to meet her teacher and classmates, as well as get some information for the upcoming year. She was really annoyed that we couldn't go straight from dropping off Ava at 8:45am (open house didn't start until 10). When we got there, she walked into her classroom, shook hands with both her teachers, and got right to work discovering her room and all it had to offer. I looked around the room, and it seemed most of the other kids were walking with their parents. A few were even clinging to Mom and Dad and not wanting to play at all. I don't know if Jocelyn would have noticed if I left the room. After the teacher spent a few minutes explaining some of the basic procedures to us, she asked if anyone had any questions. Jocelyn, sitting cross-legged on the floor, rose her hand. I cringed to hear what ridiculousness might come out of her mouth. But she said, "I want to color, and I don't know where the paper is." She had found the markers and crayons and wanted to make some art. I was amazed that she asked a relevant question politely and articulately. She was pretty disappointed she didn't get to spend more time with her teacher and friends, but she and I are now both really looking forward to the new friends and fun that Monday will bring.

Act of Kindness

I think I may be learning as much this first week of school as Ava. Yesterday I learned the profound lesson that if I am going to walk the 2 miles roundtrip to take Ava to school, I should eat breakfast first. This morning I discovered that looking at the weather report the night before is not sufficient. As of last night there was only a slight chance of rain this afternoon. However, about 200 yards from our house it had begun to drizzle. No one was soaking wet, but it certainly made for a less than pleasant walk to the school. After leaving Ava off Jocelyn, Molly and I were preparing ourselves for what was sure to seem like a very long walk back home in the rain. A few feet past the school, I heard someone ask, "Do you want a ride home?" It was our next door neighbor, who had just dropped off his own kids and was headed back home in his car. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance, threw my kids in the back seat of his car, and enjoyed a lovely 90-second DRY car ride back to our house. It was so nice of him to see us and offer to drive our pathetic wet selves home. It was a ray of sunshine for what had started to look like a pretty dreary day.

Hearts Grown Fonder

I had not anticipated just how tough the start of school would be on my younger children. I expected there to be a transition for Ava, and next week Jocelyn, to the change in routine from the summer to being in school. But the last two days have maybe been hardest for Molly. This morning after we dropped Ava off, Jocelyn looked at me and said, "Mommy, I'm not sad for Ava anymore." I was so glad that she was recovering from missing her big sister so quickly. Molly, on the other hand, asked for Ava no less than 8 times while she was at school. Every so often I would randomly hear, "Eeva? Eeva?" (That would be how Molly pronounces Ava's name.)

When Ava got into the car after school, Molly was over-the-moon excited. Ava was finishing up an apple she had in her lunchbox, so as soon as we got home Molly was frantically obsessing about having an apple too. I got one out and cut it up, and Molly sat next to her big sister at the kitchen table and shared in afternoon snack time. The look of joy and love on Molly's face is one I will not soon forget. She was just so glad to be spending that time with her big sister who she had missed so much all day long. Later this evening all 3 girls were playing together - no real fights or issues, just fun. My girls are incredibly close, but over the summer I think they almost saw too much of each other. Having Ava gone most of the day seems to make the time she's home all the more precious. The love of these sisters is truly a special one.

Kindergarten

Today was the day - Ava's first day of kindergarten. She was excited, nervous, and I think a little overwhelmed. We drove to the back of the school and then all 5 of us walked Ava to the cafeteria, where she waited to be taken back to her classroom. We walked with her to the room (mainly because somehow we didn't see her class get taken back already), gave her kisses and sent her on her merry way. Jocelyn and Molly took it the hardest - Molly was mad she couldn't go into the room and trying to wriggle out of Ben's arms, and Jocelyn crossed her arms and stormed away saying that SHE wanted to go to kindergarten too!

ready for her first day of kindergarten!

showing off the backpack

walking to the school, supplies in hand

going into her classroom

Six-and-a-half hours later, Ava got back into our car all smiles. Here's Ava to tell you all about her first day. (Please ignore the constant fidgeting - comes with the territory of any Ava conversation.) I couldn't be happier with how the day went. One down, one more to go in six more sleeps.

Out with a Bang!!

Today was the last day of summer, the final carefree day before school and all its chaos invades my children's lives. And we made the most of it. We had muffins for breakfast. We watched Homeward Bound together. Then Ben took the girls on a hike that ended up at a playground nearby where the kids ran off what energy they had left. After quiet time Ava and Jocie ran a few errands with Daddy while Molly and I held down the fort and got dinner ready. We ate grilled cheese and tater tots for dinner, Ava's requested night-before-school meal. After dinner we went outside for a short while, then came back in for a short session of Wii Sports. Finished the night with baths and bedtime stories, and it was certainly one full day. The girls had a great time, and Ben and I fully enjoyed our time with them and each other. I was feeling guilty earlier that we didn't do anything big or memorable this weekend, but I think it was just what it should have been: our family enjoying each other and the things we have fun doing together. I am very thankful to have today serve as the perfect end to a terrific summer. Tomorrow starts a new era for our family: we will have our first full-time student. And to be perfectly honest, I'm not looking back at all - only forward.

House of Chaos

Tonight was another dinner adventure with the Halls and Foleys. There was food, good conversation, and many MANY comical situations. Some of the highlights:
   - Ava schooling Ben and Mr. Logan in Wii bowling, and the guys genuinely getting irked by it and trying to figure out her "method"
   - Molly chasing Isaac (a child 2 years older and 5 times bigger than her) around in circles for a good 15 minutes
   - Ben flipping out because Molly was found playing in (clean, unused) toilet water - he was appalled when I suggested wiping her down with baby wipes would get her clean enough
   - several instances of one child crying and another child frantically trying to soothe the upset kid before getting in trouble with whichever grown-up was coming to see what happened
   - Avery drinking Molly's milk at least twice, then Molly coming up and looking very perplexed to find an empty sippy cup
   - the men escaping the kitchen to watch football in the living room... where all the kids were playing

It was a loud, chaotic, mess of an evening. Yet through all the madness, there was only one time out (that I heard anyway) and very few of the crying fits were actually caused by another child. The kids had a great time playing together, and the adults enjoyed spending time sharing in each other's crazy parenting experiences. These occasional family get togethers remind me that while my family is insane, we are not the only ones. The shared craziness is both comforting and entertaining for all involved.

Football and Fingernails

Today I indulged more than I have indulged in quite a while. First, I have fully immersed myself in the glory of college football. I impatiently waited for 10am, at which time I turned on College Gameday on ESPN. I watched all 2 hours of Gameday, and then have followed with nonstop games since noon. (Ben turned the channel a few times for the kids, and I was NOT very happy with him.) No teams playing today that I particularly care about, but it's college football, and it's back, and my life is just a little fuller because of it.

Molly showing off her "touchdown!" skills - getting her ready now for next week!

Very little can pull me away from my college ball obsession, but today I made the sacrifice for Ava. She has been asking to get her nails done with me at a nail salon for most of the summer. I had suggested to her that we wait until we went to Texas, but in the end we were so busy on our vacation the trip to the salon never happened. So I told her we would go the weekend before school as a special event. This afternoon she was asking me and asking me, and for as much as I wanted to wait another day I knew it was only right to have a little Grown-Up Girl Bonding Time, as Ava likes to call it. So off to the nail salon we went. Ava shocked me and actually picked a color that was NOT obscenely bright, and even got a little decoration on her thumbs. She was over the moon happy, both with getting pampered and with having some one-on-one time with Mom. Even I forgot about whatever football I might be missing and enjoyed some rare girly time with my very girly daughter.

SO in her element right here

Ava's fancy nails