Tralee's Seventh

Tralee's seventh birthday was a full two-day celebration.  Two days you ask?  Yes.  This mamma was so excited for her daughter's special day that she overlooked the calendar, and decorated a full night in advance.  It wasn't until the next morning, while looking at my phone to get the time that I noticed it WAS NOT Tralee's birthday.  I was a full day ahead of myself.  I had been telling Tralee all month that her birthday would be on a Wednesday, when it was really on a Thursday.  Stinks woke up Wednesday morning ready to celebrate, and I had to tell her about her mommy's mix up.  I did it in such a way to make it a positive, "YOU GET TWO WHOLE DAYS TO CELEBRATE!"  It was kind of funny, and all was well in the end.  The best part was, I had a whole extra day (so it seemed) to have a six-year-old instead of a seven-year-old.

A few birthday decorations

The kids expect streamers on their doors every birthday

On Tralee's actual birthday, she woke up to even more decorations than on her birthday eve. I sent her off to school with her favorite breakfast in her belly, and then picked her up from school with balloons and a new stuffed animal.  She loved the surprise.  After school I let Tralee open gifts, and then we rushed to pick up her frousin (friend + cousin), Brinley.  We went to Big Al's for dinner and games.

Tralee and her after school surprises

Hunter showing off the presents we wrapped for Tralee.  Poor Tralee, when you have a birthday one month after Christmas, your gifts will forever be wrapped in the left-over Christmas wrapping paper.  She doesn't seem to mind too terribly!

Unwrapping

She loved all of her gifts!

Eating Tralee's birthday Sundae

Lucky girl won 1,000 tickets on one game.

After Big Al's, we came back to our place for cake and ice cream, and then drove Brinley home.  When we got back home there was a knock on the door, and one of Tralee's best buds from school/church/neighborhood stopped by with her mom to give Tralee a bag full of birthday love.  It was probably my favorite part of Tralee's birthday.  Her friend's mom let me know that her daughter had put the bag together entirely on her own.  It consisted of a home-made puzzle made out of paper plates, a used and well loved stuffed animal cat, a dollar bill, a picture Tralee's friend had drawn, and a picture of the friend's bunny.  Tralee loved her friend's gifts just as much as the store-bought ones Jim and I purchased for her.  

I just LOVE what those little innocent minds think of as the ultimate gift.  It also reminded me that true gifts come from the heart.  In fact, Tralee fell asleep early that night, snuggling the well-loved stuffed animal kitty from her friend, and not the brand new cat I purchased for her.  I could just imagine Tralee's little friend putting the gift bag together, giddy and excited to deliver it to Tralee.  Tralee's expression when opening the bag was utter delight.  She knew her buddy had put a lot of thought into the surprises.  It melted my heart right into mush, and taught me a thing or two about gift-giving.

Tralee's cake.  She asked for it to be a vanilla cake, with chocolate frosting, and Hershey's chocolate decorating it.  Hershey's bars are her favorite.

Make a wish!

Blowing out the candles

Tralee in her Hello Kitty cat pajamas she got for her birthday (her new favorite jammies)

Overall I think my baby girl (she'll always be my baby girl) had a great birthday.  She was sad that her daddy had to be out-of-town for it, but we celebrated with him in advance.  We also promised her another special birthday outing, that I think we'll deliver on this weekend.  So, when all is said and done, not too shabby for our seven-year-old.

Zonked out on the couch with her new (old) stuffed animal cat.

Fast Forward to 2014

Welcoming 2014 with a kiss from my Mr.

Guys, I'm still writing checks for 2013.  The other day I actually dated something for 2008.  I'm going to sound a little long-in-tooth, but seriously, where did the time go?  Can it really be 2014, and can I really be in my thirties?  Sheesh.

It's all true of course, and I know it, but I don't feel it.  I swear 1999 was just yesterday, and any thoughts of being married with a family were just a dream.  I feel like it was yesterday I locked myself in my room, listened to Mazzy Star, and wrote poetry in all my teenage angst.   Now I'm closer to having a teenager than being one.  Yeah, in six years, I'll have a teen on my hands.  2020, please don't come too soon.  I'm already having enough troubles wrapping my head around 2014.

2014.  Can it be so?  

Yes, it is so.  I know my sentimental self makes it a bigger deal than it should be.  I know time ticks on, seasons pass, and I age with them, but my 1999 self didn't think time would tick so fast.  I spent a lot of time daydreaming about RIGHT NOW back then.  I have everything I dreamed up; an adorable husband, happy home, beautiful spunky kids, and a pug to wrap it all up nicely.  I don't take anything for granted.  2014 found us in a happy place.  I just feel a bit bewildered that it's here already.  I feel like someone hit fast-forward on my life, and I'm trying desperately to find the rewind button that doesn't exist.  I would even settle for a pause button, but I think we're only allotted a few pauses a year -- moments that seem to stop, so we can take it all in, and sketch a memory inside us that will never fade.  So, in 2014 I'll search for my moments to pause, and spend the rest of my time trying to find my bearings in this swift-moving world.  A world where my babies grow into independent children in a blink of an eye.  It's a happy world, it just moves by a little too rapidly for my nostalgic heart, but it IS happy.

Very happy indeed.

Hunter and me on our first date of 2014

My little stud-muffin, ringing in the New Year with me.

My January birthday girl -- turning another year older with the world.  This was her class party.

Angry Birds On Ice

A few weeks ago we helped Jim's cousin, Jared, with an idea he had to bring Angry Birds to life. . . on ice.  The result is in a video below.  I kind of feel like it's what you get when you mix crazy Canadians, winter weather, and Angry Birds together.  Both of my chickies are in it, as well as Jim.  I stayed behind the camera, and the whole time I filmed I thought, "This is what happens when you marry a Canadian; you find yourself in odd situations on the ice."  Oh well, the whole experience was fun, and Hunter (our Angry Birds addict) sure thought it was cool.  Jared did a good job putting the whole thing together in the video below:

If you ever feel like dressing like an Angry Bird, and having two dudes on ice fling you into a life-sized Angry Birds structure, I know where you can do it!

Rascal

We have a new friend around here.  His name is Rascal.  Rascal likes to break the rules and make messes.  For some reason, whenever Rascal breaks the rules, Hunter is close by.  I keep wondering why Hunter doesn't stop him.  Like, the other day I noticed someone had been cutting with the scissors on the couch, and there were little paper bits EVERYWHERE.  Silly me, I assumed Hunter was the culprit, but when I questioned him on these antics he was quick to let me know, "I didn't do it!"  When I asked Hunter who the Edward Scissor Hands-esque fiend was, he let me know, "Rascal did it."  

Rascal also likes to take food that is REALLY REALLY crumby and eat it in the living room, leaving a nice trail of crumbs in his wake.  At first, when I noticed that Hunter had crumbs all over his face too, I jumped to silly conclusions that Hunter was the little snack hound.  However, upon questioning I was informed that "Rascal did it."

I asked Hunter about Rascal, I wanted to know a little more about his new visitor.  Hunter informed me that Rascal is invisible, but he wears a fox outfit.  He HAS to wear the fox outfit, because his Grandfather makes him.  I asked where Rascal lives, and Hunter said in heaven with his family.  His family members aren't very nice, but his grandfather is.  Rascal isn't very nice either, because he likes to do naughty things, and come into Hunter's room at night and steal toys.  Hunter is also the only one who can tell when Rascal is around.  

Rascal has been getting into a lot of stuff lately, and even made Hunter pee his pants once.  I'm not sure he's the kind of example I want around my kid.  However, I'm proud to say that Hunter has been really good lately, even with his new friend's bad example.  ;)

Having Rascal around has reminded me a lot of this movie.  

In comparison to Fred, I guess Rascal is pretty easy-going.  I really shouldn't complain.  I just hope he leaves soon, or at the very least, starts cleaning up after himself.  I really don't need an extra set of hands to clean up after.

Seven

Birthdays make me nostalgic; when it's my kid's birthday, forget about it.  The old videos and pictures come out, along with a box of tissues to wipe away the tears that will unavoidably fall when I realize how fast this parenting thing goes.  The good news is, as sad as I get thinking of the past, and each old stage, speech impediment, and imaginary friend that goes with it, I'm reminded to slow down and enjoy today's moments I might otherwise miss if I spend too long in the past, or trying to rush into the future.  And so, with the realization to enjoy the here and now, I ignored the sink of dirty dishes yesterday, and took Tralee, my birthday girl, out to play at her favorite arcade to celebrate year seven.  Instead of rushing through the bedtime routine so I could finally relish in "me time," I snuggled with my seven-year-old, and we talked well past bedtime.  She asked questions, and I answered them.  I asked questions, and I listened to her response instead of rushing her through her thoughts, so I could do the final tuck and kiss goodnight.  This morning, instead of telling her to stop singing, and go get dressed for school so we wouldn't be late, I listened to the words of her made-up song, and giggled at how clever she was. . . and IS right now.  Guys, I have a seven year old, and she's pretty awesome.  Like, really really really amazing.  These last seven years have come and gone way faster than I ever imagined, but I'm so happy I was blessed to share them with my girl. 

It's so hard to be around Tralee and NOT fall in love with her.  In seven years she's grown into such a fun, creative, clever, imaginative, witty, kind, sensitive, independent, inquisitive kid.  She always wants to do what's right, and is hardly ever in trouble (hopefully it will always be this way).  She's always asking for ways to help me, or her teacher at school, and sometimes I think I need to take advantage of her willingness to serve a little more.  When Tralee hears about someone suffering, she asks to make them a card or to do something nice for them.  She has a laugh that's contagious, and a twinkle in her eye that instantly grants her many friends.  Tralee asks us many questions, and is so excited to learn. School is LONG for Tralee, and she doesn't always love going, but she always tries her best, and so far she's ahead of the game in reading and math.  Her homework goes by fast and easy, and I'm often left wondering if it should challenge her more.  She already has a "boy friend" at school that she's pretty sure she will marry.  She told me the only problem is they can't decide if they want to live in Wisconsin or Paris after they get married.  I told her to go for Paris, and to just be friends for now.  Tralee is her little brother, Hunter's, best pal, and although they don't always get along (she has a knack for teasing), she's the first one to the rescue if he gets scared or hurt.  It's so sweet to hear her comfort him.    I really couldn't ask for a better seven-year-old, and I'm so grateful that she's mine!  I will enjoy this next year with her to the fullest!

Happy Seventh Birthday Stinks!  

Boxing Day Skating

After being inside in our jammies all Christmas Day, we were ready to get outside on Boxing Day.  Jim proposed that we drive out to the lake to check out the ice-skating situation.  Jim brought a shovel, shoveled off the snow, and made a nice little rink for us.  The ice wasn't super smooth, but good enough for us.

I wished I would haven brought the big camera this day, because the fog made for some awesome pictures.  Instead, all I had was my iphone that was almost drained of battery.  I was able to snap a few pictures before my phone died.  It was probably a good thing, as then I was forced to play, skate, and interact with the littles instead of worry about taking pictures.  

Below are a few pics of our day on the ice.  

1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . JUMP!  Tralee's airborne, I missed the mark.

I did it this time, but Tralee's timing was a little off.  

Our soon-to-be rink

This was the last picture I snapped before my phone died.

Feeling inspired after skating around in Winterland, we decided to stop at a movie theater on our way home, and watch Frozen again.  Luckily, it was about to start right when we pulled into the theater.  

Meant to be!

Our Boxing Day was full of frozen fun!

Christmas Morning

Our Christmas day was perfect.  Our kids are the perfect ages where everything is magical, which makes watching them my favorite part of Christmas.  I think Jim and I were more excited than they were on Christmas morning.  I really don't think I slept all that much.  Hunter was the first child awake, as he was the first one to fall asleep on Christmas eve.  Tralee was too excited to fall asleep on the 24th, so we let her sleep as long as we could hold off Hunter from waking her up.  Finally, we gave in, and Hunter whispered, "Tralee!  Let's see if Santa came!" into her ear.  She woke up with a big smile, and once all the cameras were ready, we let the kids come out of our room (we all slept in there on Christmas Eve).

  

Jim made fun of my "Y" all Christmas Day.  "It's just a special Christmas Y" I told him.

Tralee's face!

Even Corky got a stocking full of treats!

This was the year of Angry Birds for Hunter.  

Angry Birds everywhere

The picture below is the aftermath of our present-opening extravaganza.  In the middle of it all, Jim's mom stopped by to say hello and drop off some gifts for the kids.  She was in town, and it was nice to see her.  We asked if she wanted to stay the rest of the day, and eat food with us, but she wanted to get back to her home and husband, so after a nice little visit, off she went.  The rest of the day was filled with watching movies, playing games, playing with our new toys, taking naps, Facetiming with loved ones far away, and eating yummy food.  We stayed in our pajamas all day, and I really couldn't have asked for a more perfect Christmas together.  Even if my house looked like this afterwards:

The aftermath

I felt so grateful on Christmas for all of our blessings.  Which really made it easy to remember the reason for the season.  I thanked the heavens again and again for all we have, and was so happy to celebrate Christ's birthday with the ones I love.  It was a fine celebration!  One I hope to repeat every year!