Princess Ballerina Camp 2009!

Svea was fortunate enough to attend Princess Ballerina Camp this summer, which was taught by our cousin Kelly.

This was one of the first times I have gotten to see Svea grab onto something and proudly hold it up for all to see. Her excitement and confidence was contagious - even Henry was clapping and smiling and so happy for her. I never imagined this moment to be one full of pink tulle and ballet slippers, but we are all singing"catch a falling star and put it in your pocket," learning the dance moves from our little girl.



I've said before that Henry has gotten to where he asks me, "Are those the happy kind of tears or sad kind?" Usually it is me he sees all weepy, but now he asks it about babies and other children he sees having a "moment."
I cried everyday that I dropped Svea off at Camp.

Those were happy tears, very happy tears.



My favorite part of the final performance was when Kelly pulled out a beanie baby shark and threw it in the middle of the floor. All the girls got a turn to run and grande jete (like a big leap) OVER the shark. Almost every girl got it, but my girl ran and stomped right on that shark.

Take THAT you toothy bean bag, ballet style.

I was so proud.

Practicing for Princess Ballerina Camp 2009

Now can she just jeté over a shark beanie baby?

Remember That Game?

Remember that game at arcades where a goblin of some sort pops up through a hole and you have to wham it with a cloth mallet thing before it pops back down?



This morning, I found Henry hiding under a table and sticking a hand or foot or elbow or his head around the side of the table, and then Svea whammed him with her Barbie. There was much laughter, lots of Barbie hair flying and only one big fall of the stool (Svea did not fall with the stool as half her body was already on the table when she kicked it over. So she just hung off the table until Henry helped her down).



All this...before breakfast.

Love It When They Enjoy This

Though it's not everyday, I just love it when they want to sit and draw.












I also love the trunk that is filling with all the drawings I'll pull out a few years from now and explain through tears, "They're growing up so faaaaassssst..."
I am indeed becoming THAT mom.

New Park

Now that the weather has lightened up a bit, we've been out exploring. We found a park we had heard lots about and it's awesome: lake for the kids to throw rocks in, shady spot for me to watch from, trees to pose next to, and bridges to run on (I obviously can't talk about our activities there without ending in a preposition).





I think we'll enjoy this place again and again...

I Think She'll Look Like This At Age Twenty

If she keeps the Anne Hathaway bangs and stuff. I just can't believe how old she is looking...

She's Getting So Tall...

...and is holding the camera more than I...

Just Hold On To The Sculpture. This Is Called The Heimlich.

Henry and Svea Meeting Miriam for the First Time

I love the look in Svea's eye, particularly, but they were both so sweet.



Now Svea keeps putting her Boobah doll up her shirt and telling me, "Mom, I have a Baby Miriam in MY tummy, too."

She's 3. Do I teach her about the womb yet?

I Love This Shot

My mom reading to my kids while I watch through the fireplace so I can sit with my sister and my newest niece. 

I always want to be better about reading to them, which makes me all the more grateful when someone else reads to them too.
Like the person who taught me to read. 

What's IN there?

A little over a year ago, we went to the beach and Henry and I were standing at the edge of the water, watching the waves come in. He was very quiet, standing on his kickboard in the sand, ready to "surf." Then he put his arms in the air and said, "Mom, how is all of this HAPPENING?"

This year he asked, "Mom, how did God make rocks? What did God put INSIDE them to MAKE them rocks?"

Then yesterday, with the camera, Henry and Svea both were captivated by capturing seemingly mundane moments and making them beautiful on the LCD screen: Svea's toes at the edge of the tile floor, Henry whizzing by on the scooter, Svea throwing a fit because she had to share...again. All of these moments must be somewhere inside this tiny camera, right?
They were indeed looking for them...

This SIte Is Cracking Me Up

Maybe it's the miser in me, maybe it's the use-what-you've-got-before-buying-new in me, maybe it's pure admiration for others' creativity - whatever it is I am laughing out loud at these solutions.

When Svea Gets a Turn With the Camera

Henry got to take a few pictures, but Svea genuinely was excited about taking 68 shots of her bike, 45 of the floor and about 73 of her toes. I'm talking true excitement.
I deleted a few hundred shots (only the repeats) before making the mosaic. I'm thinking a camera is a great 4-year-old birthday present for this little girl...

The Only Way to Make it Through a Trip to Academy Sports & Outdoors...

...is to find the boxing area. And box with fists and hips.

I think we'll go back tomorrow.

Sunday Routine

We are slowly but surely figuring out our new Sunday routine.  You'd think growing up in a church, daughter of a minister, and now married to a minister that this would be a little more natural. However, a lot has shifted and changed in the expectations and roles of church-going folks in the last 30 years, so I feel like I'm on the edge of redefinition and exciting change.

Henry and Svea don't really jive on concepts like "redefinition and exciting change." They prefer terms such as "special treats and what's-in-it-for-me."

The first week we lived here was Vacation Bible School which we thought strategic in terms of the kids making new friends quickly and introducing them to things like "The Bible." By Wednesday Svea was telling me that she REALLY did not want to learn about Moses anymore. (By the end of the week she LOVED it and now whenever we drive past the church she screams, "It's my school!")



Henry still looked like a deer in headlights, though he was getting the hand motions to the songs down really well. In fact, it's the only music they will listen to in the car now and Henry points to all his new friends in church and tells me stories from VBS.

The next Sunday, Svea decided that children's church was not in her plan and that she would sit with me for the duration. I went with it, hoping to hear just some of Brian's sermon "Snoring in a Bridesmaid's Dress"...and I got more than I bargained for. Luckily, I had read it the day before and I was able to weather Svea's relentless questions:

"Jesus? What Jesus?"

"Gas? Run out of gas? THAT'S not appropriate..."

"Feast? Where?"

"What lamps at night? What doors are shut?"

"Where's Henry? What's he doing in Children's Church?"

"This is my jellyfish and crab. But it's not ready yet." (We may have to make a donation to the Registration Pad Fund.)

Before Henry left for Children's Church, he asked me, "God? Where's God? I want to see God."

Dude. 

I didn't have time to embrace him and his universal cry before he was off and running to see what kind of cookies they may have in the Sunday School room.

Maybe they'll realize the profundity of their innocent questions someday. Maybe they won't. Maybe they'll grow up to marry someone religious and then just blog about it. Or maybe they'll just eat a lot of cookies. 

Regardless, I choose to experience Church with them any day.

Ready for Big School

Yesterday, we registered Henry for kindergarten this fall. 

I did not even cry.

Before we got to the school, I was filling out all the forms and Henry sat down to watch. He asked what I was doing and I said, "Ooooo I'm writing your name over and over and our new address and getting you all ready for big school!" (trying to get him excited, you know).

He said, "I can do that." He got pen and paper and wrote his forms while I filled in mine.

He asked again about what I was writing and I said, "Emergency contact numbers and allergies...and this is a great way to learn our new phone number and your social security number..."

He was all, "I know."

I got done and put them in a folder and he handed me his sheet and said he was done too. I took it and oooh-ed and aaaah-ed at the fine writing. I told him he was so big going to kindergarten. I said I was so proud and excited for him.

He looked at me and said, "Mooooooom, you're holding it upside down."