Strawberry Picking

Once upon a time we went to a strawberry patch.  I say once upon a time because it was at the beginning of summer, and we are now getting to the end.  Our friends always go with their girls.  They make the yummiest treats.  We decided this year we would go.  We'd never been before.  I never went growing up.  Always thought it would be fun, so we took the challenge and went on an unknown adventure.  I say unknown because I had no idea if the girls would like it, throw tantrums all the way there, or just sit back and enjoy the ride.  I had anxiety for no reason; which happens fairly often.  

We packed up the car, got the girls ready, headed out with camera in hand, ready to make some memories.  

Ben and Emma did most of the picking, I took pictures, and Norah did A LOT of eating!  Silly mommy put a white-ish shirt on her.  The front was red by the time we left.  She kept giving me this look as if to say "Mommy, if you tell me I can't eat these berries, I will make it so every one knows how upset I am".  I didn't want to experience that moment in public.  Her basket was always empty.  Ben and Emma's were always full.   

(Strawberry coma kicking in) 

Look who wrote a book.

A short story about owls.

The BIG Performance

Our oldest was in a ballet performance a month ago. (Yep, I'm behind on blogging.)  


She did AWESOME!
She waited patiently backstage with friends.  That is, if your definition of "patiently waiting" is running around like a wild child down ramps, almost knocking people down.  It helped with the butterflies for sure.  She told me once or twice about the flutters in her stomach.  Then continued coloring or hiding or exploring more secret places.  Quite the adventurous spirit she has at times.  

 Family and friends came out to watch the show.

(Side Note: I put makeup on her.  She hated every minute.  She told me it made her look too pretty.  Daddy would love to hear that she never wants to wear makeup again.)  

  Miss Margaret (sweetest 60+ year old) is her ballet teacher. 

The patience this woman has for 10+ girls every Monday is amazing!

Heart of gold.

Plus, she still puts on a leotard and does all the moves with the girls.

"A merry heart has a continual feast"

Proverbs 15:15

Definition of merry from Dictionary.com

1.

full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit

2.

laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious:

Yep, that pretty much defines what it looks like being the mom of these two girls.

Most days it is complete merriment!

I HAVE AN ENEMY

I have an enemy, like most people.

Well, I have more than one, if I'm honest.

Which, why wouldn't I be honest.

Like most enemies, they are unaware of my feelings.

___________________________________________________

(Do you like my makeshift bee hive?)

Wasps. Bees. Hornets. Any stinging bug.

I don't care how irrational it might come across.

I get anxious every Spring thinking about them flying around my head.

There's no tragic story of being attacked.

My husband even reminded me last night, that the last time I got stung was 20 years ago. 

I like to say I have a healthy fear of them.  

My husband would just laugh at that statement.

I think the reason I haven't been stung since that one incident is because I'm VERY aware of my surroundings.

I see them fly by and I duck for cover.

I look like a maniac.  Some times I even flail and scream.

Not graceful.

Then I watch them like a hawk to see where they are making a new "home". 

I don't allow it.

I get the Raid and spray like crazy.

I've googled some other remedies.

I have kids.

Raid is poisonous.

I want to stinging bugs gone, not my kids.

I can't avoid going outside.

I don't want to shelter my children from the outside world of insects.

Emma is now even freaked out by the sight of anything small and flying through the air.

I realize I have to calm down since she's apparently watching me.

I have to take control.

Well, as much as I can.

That's where the makeshift bee hive comes in handy.

Not really.

They are still around.  Taunting me.

We are going to try peppermint spray.

It repels them.  

Well, I'll believe that when I don't see them anymore.

"The thing is, we don't really know what the future looks like. And that thought takes my breath away just as much as it calms me into a place where I am forced to enjoy this very moment."
 Kelle Hampton Bloom

Ever read some thing and it touches you deep down in your soul? You let out an AMEN and a long sigh. You want to share it with your husband because then he might understand why you respond the way you do because you are fighting a battle between the present moments and an unknown future. And this may help him gain the clarity he so desperately needs. Or anyone else close to you for that matter.

It defines life right now in our house. The desperate plea to hold on to the moments that seem to be drifting away so fast. The desperate plea to catch our breath when we are forced to look at and accept things changing. We want to be comfortable. Change is hard, unpredictable.

Breathe. Don't get ahead of yourself. Just breathe. I had moments this week where this became my mantra. (along with "just keep swimming" from Nemo)

Many things are changing for the good. We got amazing news that most people don't get in a lifetime, but at the same time, this news brings a lot of stress. It's hard when good news does that because most of the time you don't realize it's good news until you're sitting on the couch with your husband, and finally say "This is good, right?" Smiles slowly creeping over lips that were straight lines just moments before.

When the dust settles and I take 1 more second to breathe (insert mantra here), I can laugh about how news so good can throw me into a whirlwind of "what if's" and "can we really's" and "are we going to be okay?" and "will our girls understand?".

Take another second. Breathe.

We'll rally the troops (amazing, supportive) friends and family, get through the weeks and months ahead.

Again breathe.

And try to remember in the midst of chaos why we do what we do, and how blessed we are to do it.

oh the joys

A few things I've been thankful for:

1. A new pedicure tool for my feet. They are now on the road to recovery!

2. Zantac. After a few days of not feeling so hot, went to doctor, and she's thinking hernia. Still pursuing a more "natural" remedy, but thankful none the less.

3. My hubcap not falling off this morning, like I thought it had. While on the phone with Ben, he informed me that we don't have hubcaps, and the one I ran over was not ours. I, of course, was in a mad dash to get some where, and freaked out, thinking that my tire was going to fall off. Oh the craziness of stress; takes you to irrational places.

4. Walmart with Norah. Who knew shopping could be so fun with a toddler. Girl can talk, and she did! Pointing at everything, oohing and aahing. She's been showing off her mad talking skills lately.

5. Emma asking how many days until ____ (fill in the blank). I'll tell her, and she will say "I can count to ____(fill in the blank)." If only it worked that way!