Bra-illiant Art

If it is true that children draw the things that are important to them, then this one comes pretty close to summing up Abby's world.

So what is it, you ask?

Mommy & Daddy standing next to one another (thankfully, I am the smaller one) inside of a bra.

Bra-illiant, Abby.

The Naked Truth

For reasons that will soon become obvious, there is no picture to accompany this story.

I don't know many people around here, and I'm okay with that right now. When the girls first started taking gymnastics, I had a mom friend in each of their classes. I enjoyed them both, but with a new group of parents, and the girls both taking night classes, I was tired at the end of the day and took comfort in relaxing with a good piece of literature.

That is what I was doing on this night. With my nose in Sarah Palin's memoir, I was keeping an eye on Abby as she played, and a periodic eye on Lauren's latest stunt. I saw Lauren dart away from the group. I assumed she was going for a drink. Maybe to wash her hands, but certainly not to relieve herself; she had just done that fifteen minutes ago. Giving her her independence, I didn't go into the bathroom to check on her. Looking back, I'd wish I had.

As I was embarking on the governor's adventures in early motherhood, I was about to have one of my own: standing before me was my own daughter, going rogue.... completely naked in front of a sea of parents, siblings, and gymnasts. "I need help. My panties are twisted, my leotard is inside-out. I tried to go potty, but it didn't come out." It is hard not to laugh at a moment like this, but embarrassment won out and I grabbed her arm and whisked her off to the ladies room. There we untangled the situation, and I did the best I could to return to my seat with my pride.

Don't get me wrong, it isn't like people haven't seen her naked before. She's three. And I have to admit she's one of the cutest naked little things I've ever seen. I'd just rather she be going rogue in the privacy of our house, where there are no snickers from the peanut gallery.

Sweetheart Valentines

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I'm vowing not to let it sneak up on me like Christmas did. I love the idea of pouring your heart into the Valentines you give. These are the creations I've come up with for Abby to hand out to her preschool class.

Sweetheart Valentines

You will need:

• Construction paper or card stock: the color of your choice for the petals, and green for the leaves
• Scrapbooking paper: two colors or designs for the flower's center
• Dum Dum Pops
• Glue
• Small hole punch

1. Cut out three hearts. Use a pattern so they are symmetrical and folded down the center. Punch a hole about half an inch from the bottom of the heart.
2. Cut out two green leaves. Again, it's easiest to create a pattern for symmetry. I brushed the edges with green ink for extra flair.
3. Cut out two flower centers, each from a different patter or color of paper. I made my pattern for this by drawing a petal, then moving it around to get a five-sided flower center. Punch a hole in the center of each and bend the petals up slightly to give your flower more dimension.



4. Push the Dum Dum (I painted the sticks green) through the two flower centers, then the three heart petals.
5. When you've got the heart petals arranged to your liking, glue the green leaves to the back of the hearts.

For the finishing touch, add a message or a 'To and From' tagline.

Message Suggestions

• You're a Sweetheart
• Be My Bud-dy
• Our Friendship is Blooming

Heading to the Bars

In a time when it seems all children are hooked on electronic devices, I can proudly proclaim that thus far we've been able to keep our kids in the dark about things like the Nintendo DS, Wii, Leap Frog, etc. Instead, the girls rely on a great sense of imagination and imitative play to guide their amusement.

Imagine my surprise when my lovelies gathered their babies and announced they were, "Heading to the bars." Of course my mind lead me right down the path of assumption: My children have concluded that it is indeed okay to take their babies out for an adult beverage.

My pride had been crushed. But this quick-thinking mom knew enough to get to the bottom of it without letting on to my train of thought, "I'm sorry, where did you say you were headed?" I inquired.

"We're moving on to the bars," Abby replied. And just like that Lauren took a single baby and effortlessly motioned her over the imaginary bar. Ah Hah. Gymnastics.

That's How We Bowl

Abby's 5th birthday was graced with a visit from her Aunt Heidi & Uncle Kevin, who flew all the way from Washington to celebrate with us! To mark the occasion we took in an afternoon of bowling. These two videos pretty much frame our outing.

As always, you will want to pause the playlist on the right side of the screen to hear the audio accompaniment.

Spare Blow

Tiny Bowler

We're Back in Ohio Again

It is with mixed emotions I proclaim that we're back in Ohio again. It is always great to be home, where the air is cold and the family is abundant. There is snow, there is hockey, and the company fills our hearts and souls.

But getting there was no easy task. We hit the road before sunrise the day before Christmas Eve. The rain didn't slow us down, and carried us through Indiana, Illinois and into Iowa. But the rain began to freeze and the roads thickened with precipitation. White knuckles on the steering wheel, we crawled through Iowa, finally crossing into our beloved Minnesota. We made it home safely, but not without incident. Less than a half a mile from Mom & Dad's our low-rider got stuck in the snow drift that engulfed our gravel road. In one of those You-Know-You're-In-Minnesota-When moments, truck after truck of passersby stopped to assist in our bail out. Before long Dad had made his way to the barricade, and after a pull, some shoveling, and a few passes with the truck, we were home free, literally!

It wasn't until Monday afternoon on my way to my uncle's shop to pick up my cousin for a date that I realized my friendly tow had bent up the arm under the car. Ughhh. Long story short, the car spent much of the week in the shop, where it received a toasty home, a new part and an alignment, and eventually it was off and running.

By the time of departure we thought we'd had it all figured out. The car was gassed, loaded; all it needed was to be warmed up. However, at twenty-three below zero, it's easier said than done; the car turned over, but wouldn't catch. So just as the trip began, it ended with my dad saving the day.... a few moving blankets to warm up the hood, and a space heater underneath was all it took to get the car popped off, and off we were: back to Ohio again.

The turmoil with my car turns out to be a fairly accurate metaphor for the trip. There was frustration, agony, a lot of snow and cold weather, but it also brought out the good in people. And at the end of the trip I can look back and say, I'm thankful for the journey.

One of the bright spots of our Christmas Vacation.... Abby finally got to make a real snowman!