Wordless Wednesday: Blast-from-the-Past Edition

(Too awesome not to share.)

Girls' Weekend

Steve has been in Iowa visiting friends since Thursday, so Sara and I are having a Girls' Weekend. Our time together has consisted of visiting Target twice, swimming at the pool, cuddling up to watch "Beauty and the Beast", Sara teaching me some awesome new dance moves she apparently acquired at school, and fresh haircuts.  (Side bar: prior to this weekend, I hadn't had my hair cut since early November.  I know that's crazy, but it had been so long for three reasons: 1) I'm cheap; even a trim can be a $50 investment, nothankyou; 2) I have been trying to grow my hair out a little; and 3) I simply don't make time in my schedule to get a haircut.  However, I was obviously way overdue and my neighbor who also has thick, curly hair recently referred me to the lady who cuts her hair expertly and inexpensively.  Long story sort-of short, the best part about this is that my whole haircut cost $16 plus tip!  Have you ever heard of such a thing?  The process was no-thrills, to be sure, but I'm happy with the cut and I feel like I've won a little of the lottery.  Score!)

Today Sara and I made pink pancakes for breakfast.  It's amazing what a little food coloring can do for a two-year-old's appetite.  Later, we went to NorthPark to look at the ducks and turtles, and we had a special lunch (in case you are wondering, special = food court).  There were sales galore going on at NorthPark - 30%, 40%, even 75% off at almost every store I enjoy.  Luckily, Sara wanted no part of actually going into any stores, so I didn't end up buying things I didn't need just because they were on sale.  She had a one-track mind regarding our trip: aside from eating lunch, if ducks and turtles weren't involved, she wasn't interested.  Probably better that way. 

This evening after dinner we made a trip to Bahama Buck's for some shaved ice.  Yummmm.  When we arrived, there were just two other people there: a mom and her two-year-old daughter.  We sat with them, struck up a good conversation, and exchanged information.  We hope to see them again.  After they left, the place started to fill up with more families and some teenagers on cute dates.  We sat for a while and enjoyed our treats.  At one point, out of the blue, Sara looked at me and said, "Hugs, Mom."  She was serious, too ... we just sat and hugged for a good couple of minutes.  It was so sweet.  We were sweaty and sticky from the sun and the treats, but as we were hugging, Sara curled into my lap and Natalie Merchant's "These are the Days" started to play over the speakers.  I found myself overcome with emotion, and just so thankful for for my girl.  She has no idea how blessed I am by such moments. 

Tomorrow we are meeting up with Audrey and her mom at a splash park.  It should be a fun end to a wonderful weekend.  We're excited for Daddy to come home tomorrow night.  Although it would have been great to visit our Iowa friends with him, right now I wouldn't trade it for the Girls' Weekend we've had here at home.

Time-Out for the G/T?

Sara had to sit in time out today at school.  Twice.  Once because she opted out of circle time and ran around the room instead.  Another time because she refused to do her work (by work I mean an art project that consisted of counting cereal and stringing the pieces on a necklace).  Honestly, I was surprised to hear the bad news because Sara always talks about circle time, and many days at home she asks to do a project.  Regardless, Sara chose not to follow directions today and received a consequence as a result (which, for the record, I totally support).

Just for a moment, as the teacher was telling me about Sara's various indiscretions, I thought about pulling the good ol' "it's probably because she's Gifted & Talented and she's bored in your class because you're not stimulating her brain enough" line, but I figured her teacher wouldn't be too entertained by it.  I know I never am.  So instead I simply apologized for Sara's disobediant behavior, told the teacher we'd work on it, and left for the day with my troubled child.  Turns out I still love her just the same.

Father's Day

Sara was so ready for today.  Evidence: This morning she proudly told Steve, "Happy Mother's Day!" and asked, "You want your present now, Daddy?"  And then, because she doesn't discriminate between gifts or holidays, Sara proceeded to open his present for him.  Although she is still a little confused between "from" and "for", Sara was excited to celebrate Daddy today.  We perused Half Price Books, ate at Matt's, and enjoy a dip in the backyard pool. 


Hope you've all enjoyed a nice Father's Day, either with your own father, the father of your children, or thinking of those fathers you can't be with today.  Of course I always miss my Dad today (and during this week, especially), but I will be forever grateful for the father whose love and guidance I do have in my life.  From afar, I want to wish a Happy Father's Day to Grandpa Todd!

I put this quote (song lyric, really) on my post from last year, and I'm putting it here again because it's still important to me, and I know the sentiment is important to the fathers in my life:

"Fathers, be good to your daughters,

Daughters will love like you do."

-John Mayer

Champs!

On Sunday evening, Sara hung out with Steve's parents for a few hours so we could join other local fans who are of age at a festive establishment to watch the Mavs/Heat Game 6.  As you know, it turned out to be a serious reason for celebration, as the Mavs won their first ever NBA Championship.  The stress!  The excitement!  The yelling and breath-holding and nail-biting!  It was all so fun, and the celebration is continuing in every corner of the city. 

It's been a long time since I've lived in a city that boasts a championship team.  The Twins had an awesome run when I was a kid, and although they get close just about every year, they haven't been quite close enough in quite some time.  The Rangers went to the World Series for the first time last season, which was exciting, but they fell short of the big win.  As far as the other teams who occupy the cities in which we've lived ... T-wolves, Vikes, Chiefs, Royals, Cowboys ... forget about it.  There's a real sense of spirit and community here right now, which I remember feeling when the Royals actually won five or six games during our KC stint (remember, success is relative).

In other championship news, Sara is officially winning the potty war.  And by winning I mean beating us to near death.  Her resolve is strong, and she's determined to outlast us.  In a sheer battle of wills, Sara knows she's in complete control of her bladder, and she will not give us the satisfaction of relieving herself on the potty.  It's very possible that I've never been so frustrated by someone else's bodily functions in my entire life.  She's also really into the phrase, "I don't want to [insert idea, command, etc.]."  So, yeah, I won't be hoisting any trophies soon.  Instead, you may find me waving my white flag.

Wordless Wednesday: Cozy Edition

Book Talk

Our book club selection this month was Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos.  Based on the cover and the synopsis on the back of the book, I wasn't convinced that it would be my type of read.  I was wrong; I absolutely fell in love with this book.  In short, it's about two women - one young and heartbroken, one older and very ill (and also maybe heartbroken for different reasons) - who find one another by chance and come to realize that family and relationships and the things that matter in life are most defined by those who care most about you and vice-versa.  We can let our baggage define us, or we can let it simply be part of the road that leads us to where we are going on this earth.  Stephanie Kallos creates characters that are real and endearing.  Just when you think someone has done something unforgivable, you realize that he or she, like any flawed being, has honorable qualities that make him or her worthy of love and friendship.

I had seen The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance by Elna Baker on bookstore shelves, and I had even picked it up once or twice because the title intrigued me, but I never followed through with a purchase.  However, when we were on the plane to Tampa over spring break, the lady across the aisle from me was reading it, and when I heard her laugh out loud on multiple occasions, I decided it was time to go ahead an buy the book.  I found it on Amazon for pennies (plus S&H).  OMG: I loved every minute of this memoir.  The author is witty, honest, and almost completely without shame, which makes for great storytelling.  TNYRMSHD is a great pick-me-up, I-totally-get-this-girl-I-want-to-be-her-friend, did-she-seriously-just-say-that type of book.  Perfect for easy and enjoyable summer reading.

After I bought TNYRMSHD, Amazon sent me an e-mail letting me know that I'd also enjoy Mennonite in a Little Black Dress by Rhoda Janzen.  I guess I was on a bit of a religious-memoir book kick this month, although I haven't been persuaded into a new line of thinking on that front, in case you're wondering.  Rhoda Janzen writes about taking a sabbatical from her job as an English professor (and really, from her life in general after her husband left her for a guy he met online), and returning to the Mennonite community in which she was raised.  She made the decision years ago to separate herself from the faith, and while she doesn't seem to have plans of going back, she finds healing powers in returning to her roots for a period of time.  Rhoda is really funny in a really subtle way, and she is also very reflective (I guess reflection was her purpose in going home anyway).  This will not read the same outside of the context of the book, but I like was Rhoda says about virtue (this is just a small sampling of her wisdom): "And since even the most virtuous among us displays this adiaphorous morality, what if we agreed to just let people be who they are, since we can't change them anyway?...But I have come to believe that virtue isn't a condition of character.  It's an elected action.  It's a choice we keep making, over and over, hoping that someday we'll create a habit so strong it will carry us through our bouts of pettiness and meanness."  (See, I told you she's an English professor).  I know you'll really enjoy Rhoda's story. 


"We read to know we are not alone."
C.S. Lewis

Summer Lovin'