She Didn't Need Me

It's not that I really loved listening to the stories at library story time.  But she needed me next to her.  She's shy.  We attend 'school', as Molly calls it each week.  She refers to the librarian as her 'teacher' and the reading room is her 'classroom'.  The other moms sit outside the reading room chatting about pregnancy weight, sick kids and what they're having for lunch.  Not this mama.  Molly's shy and wants me to sit with her.  She needs me.

This week was the Valentines party.  Lots of kids showed up and the teacher even brought cookies.  One poor little girl had to leave halfway through the party when her mom noticed the kids eating cookies.  Apparently her daughter is allergic to eggs and milk.  Can you even imagine?

However, before the party began, I asked Molly if I could go look for a book and be right back.  She said "No, not right now."  A minute later I asked again.  She replied, "okay mom."

As I walked away, I caught myself looking back at her.  She didn't appear phased by my leaving.  I wandered the library feeling an odd sense of freedom.  I decided I didn't like it.  I snatched the current issue of Food Network magazine and found a place to sit outside the reading room where I could see her, but she couldn't see me.  I heard her talking during show and tell, I saw her make a Valentine card out of a doily and eat  cookie sprinkles off the carpet.  That's when she looked up and caught a glimpse of me.  She burst into a smile...she was proud...she was confident... she's growing up.  Suddenly I noticed my heart was heavier than normal.  As much as I pray she grows to be a strong, confident and independent woman, she is and always will be my baby girl.  

And as the chair I normally occupy during library school sat empty, it was clear she no longer needed me. 

Good gravy, when did I turn into such a sap?

A Nap?

Quote of the week by Sugar Plum...

"Your acting so nice today mommy.  Did you take a nap?"

One day she'll learn just how powerful a glass of wine can be for us mommy's. 

Lots of Faces

I've been trying to make the eyes in my photo's sparkle more.  Luckily for me, I have a willing subject to practice on. 

 

No matter how many times I asked her to remove it, she insisted on the wig.  She said it made her look like a 'mama'. 

 

I'm not sure what to make of that.

 

This is her smile face.

 

This is her mad face.

 

This would be her surprise face.

 

Her sad face.

 

Her laughing face.

 

But hands-down, my favorite is her smile face.

Father Daughter Dance

Click the link for a slideshow of photos from the Father Daughter Dance.

 

Father Daughter Dance

All Kinds of Awesome

Maisie made this for her sister at school today.

 

 

That girl.

She's all kinds of awesome.

There She Is

Molly can't get enough of the Miss America theme song.  This morning I let her watch Bert Parks sing his version on U-Tube. 

Of course I went straight to the crowning moments of 1986-1991.  I'm a bit partial.

 

 

She was in heaven.

You see, there's nothing quite like watching Miss America being crowned while eating oatmeal, then twirling around over the heat vent to make your dress poof up. 

 

 

Good God. 

Life is Good.

 

 

Friends Over

Mike had tickets to Bacon Fest, which is why I let each kid invite a friend over to play.

Here's the rest of the story.

 

When you let the kids invite friends over...

 

You should plan to pull a flea out of Maisie's hair an hour before the friends arrive.

 

Once friends arrive, you'll feel the urge to wash all bedding while cleaning the house although your life depended on it.

 

Molly's friend will arrive and go straight to the make-up like she had an addiction and proceed to smear lipstick over her face, hair and clothes. 

 

Ross will come downstairs while you're preparing lunch to tell you his friend kicked a hole in his bedroom wall while practicing karate.

 

You'll make the boys take out the trash as punishment but they'll come back inside asking for a broom as wine bottles will fall out and shatter on the driveway.

 

After cooking 4 pizzas, 1 box of pizza rolls, 1 box of mac and cheese, 4 hot dogs, 6 frozen pretzels and 2 pitchers of Kool-Aid, your oven will start smoking.  You'll decide to clean it.

 

The self-cleaning feature on the oven will make the house smell so bad, you'll be forced to turn off the furnace in order to open up all the windows.

The friends' will leave and you'll wonder if it was all some sort of bad dream. 

 

You'll put the clean bedding on the beds that night and when you put clean sheets on the bed, chances are that's the night your husband will come home smelling like a smoked pig. 

 

The girls spent time singing Barbie songs, while Ross and his friend sought out ways to torment them.

 

Luckily, they eventually ran out of energy and resorted to Mario Cart on the Wii.