Kids
Yesterday, Sebastian asked me if I would hold him for 8 days. I told him, "I'll hold you for 8 minutes." I think I actually had to set him down before the 8 minutes were up. Ah, this crazy life I call my own. I think sometimes that I am going to slow things down, because I do have the power to do it. However, on second thought I realize that I would replace the paused moments with other hurriedness. Why?!!!!! I just know myself. I enjoy being busy for the most part. I just need to slow down every once in a while to hold my kids a little longer, and treasure them, while I still have the chance.
Victoria went to her first open house for school yesterday. There was as Victoria calls it "an icecream explosion." It was really an icecream social, but with all the foot traffic it felt a bit more like an explosion, well of people, maybe not so much of icecream. I have been praying about where God would have Victoria, when it comes to school. I haven't received an answer to that prayer, but I felt like it was the right thing to go and registar last week. I still think I would rather homeschool her, but I seriously lose it sometimes. We have been part-time homeschooling since like April. I enjoy working with her, and love the time we have together. I just don't know that home is where she belongs, when it comes to her education. I am not worried about her lack of socialization, the kid practically lives on the phone, and she's only 5. We had no lack of friends to invite to her birthday. She is very comfortable around people of all ages. I just keep praying and she seems to get more and more excited about going to school. We will supplement educationally at home and at God's command I will keep her home, but I just keep praying that He will lead, guide, and direct me. So, for this next week, Victoria, will be attending public school and she is very excited about it. I met her teacher and she seems nice. I am kind of excited myself about her first day, which is orientation, which I am permitted to attend. I was hoping for an a.m. class and we are on the waiting list, but maybe there's a reason we are in the p.m. class. We did run into some old friends, whose daughter is in first grade at Darnell Elementary School.
Sebastian took it pretty hard that Victoria is going to be going to school without him. I guess I didn't think about that very much. I am kind of excited about the prospect of having some alone time with Sebastian. I guess that's one advantage to having only 2 children. I am not commited to sending her to public school for first grade, but we are going to give it a go for the 2 1/2 hours a day that kindergarten entails. I figure it's kind of like a daily play date where she works on her abc's and 123's. She is excited about meeting the kids in her class. I am excited because the 4 mile trip to and from we've decided, (mostly the kids idea) will be for learning Spanish. I am going to try and have some prayer and Bibletime in the morning before she goes, and since the kids in her class will probably be reading for a while, we will continue our sometimes frustrating, but exciting journey of Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons. We are almost 2/3 of the way through and she is really enjoying it. I am still going to be just as dedicated of a parent. It is definately harder for me to see her go than it is for her to leave me. I know it's only kindergarten, but this is hard for almost every parent isn't it. However, I guess her excitement is a good sign that she is learing to be indepentent. "Raise up a child in the way he should go..." Well, it is now a little after 2 and I have a 9 mile run in less than 4 hours. So, I guess I better hit the hay. Good night sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite.
Flying alone, next to a 2 year old.
I went home this last weekend ALONE. One of my bridesmaids from my wedding got married herself. The wedding was beautiful in a beautiful garden in Madison near either Lake Mendota or the other one, Minnona or something like that. It rained, but that meant little this was Wisconsin. Rain is suppose to be good luck the day of your wedding. We were late (my mom and I) and it was a blessing! Everyone else couldn't see over the mass of umbrellas, but we stood in the back under a vine draped arbor, dry with clear visibility of the beautiful bride and her groom. Adam couldn't travel with me and it was a no-kid wedding so I was alone, and last minute my dad couldn't get away from his work, so my mom and I went together. We were able to spend a lot of quality time together over the weekend. I also was able to go out dancing with 2 of my sister-in-laws, spend some time with my sister, Bethany and really talk to her. My twin nephews were a highlight as well.
Upon my return, I for the first time, found myself excited to return to Las Vegas. I suppose I was actually excited to return to my darling husband, who by the way looked like a GQ front cover model leaning up against the wall in the airport as I came down the escalator. I was equally excited to see Victoria and Sebastian. Three days away from your kids is just long enough to make you really appreciate them and not to long to make you sad. I am so greatful to my mother-in-law for her help during Adam's busy weekend and to Sara for filling in at the last minute when my plane was late! The last leg of my trip I sat next to an army wife with her 2 year old son. We talked about her husband being over seas and how adaptation just naturally sets in when we have to deal with a new situation. I am applying what really sank in talking to her to my new outlook on Vegas and what will probably be my dying days here, and that's O.K.
Little House
Victoria chose as one of her two movies from the library this week, Little House On The Prairie. Though I haven't been sitting down and watching it, I reallize I am watching from an entirely new perspective than when I was a kid. I notice things I know I missed as a child. I notice the intense love that Mr. and Mrs. Ingals (however you spell it) share. I watch the way Mrs. Ingals caresses her husbands face after she gets him supper that she slaves over and he falls asleep while she's doing it. On the other hand he is just exhausted from trying to provide for is family. (Surprisingly for a television show much harder than the Oregon Trail computer game I played as a child, where I played the role of the father/hunter/provider/protector.) They both try and protect each other from worry by not being quick to tell of visiting Indians, which they were afraid of or wild dogs/wolves they were attacked by. I see how young and innocent Laura and her sisters are looking at them as a mother with my own children. I am leary of the single man who helps them build their first cabin, and who they later have to sadly say goodbye to. Mrs. Inglals was not so trusting of him right away either. It's kind of sad, but quite an adventure to experience this show again. I am glad she checked out this video!
I was on time?!!!!!!!!!
Maybe it's all my daughter's talk about getting married, who she'll marry, and what if he (her husband of choice) doesn't marry me, but I have been looking at life in a slightly different light lately. I reallize it is time for me to become responsible. By responsible I mean I need to start being on time, and sticking to my schedule. I actually got to everything on my list both yesterday and today. I was to Treehouse when I said I would be, after I made a realistic prediction. I did stay past my "I must leave by 10:15" time limit, but hey I can't grow up all at once. I might not recognize myself. I am seriously though and posting it here makes it scarily more hard core to break, going to make some much needed posative changes in my life.
I had two really hard weeks, and I think they kind of woke me up. A friend had thanked God for his refining fire, and I guess I'm thankful as well. I am also thankful for answered prayer. I still have my Ginger, my running partner and womens best friend. We ate chicken the other day and the bones got thrown in the inside trash can. Well, we discovered upon our arrival Monday night that she ate the remnants of that cooked chicken, which if you didn't know could kill your dog. I am so thankful. God seems to bless me in so many more ways than I can imagine that I would be blessed if I even tried to earn them. Thank goodness that His love is not conditional. Well, I guess I better get some sleep I have an early morning ahead of me.
