Hair Raising Day

This morning, Lauren & I accompanied Abby's class on a field trip into the depths of Dayton for a kiddy concert. And that is just what it was.... a get-up-on-your-feet-and-shake-your-fanny jam session. The kids loved it, in fact one of the boys in Abby's class was so into it an area cleared for his break dancing moves. Pure preschool. Lauren was excited all weekend to be going on her first field trip, and I think it lived up to her dreams. She joined Abby's friends in the dance fest.

I could be wrong, but I think all of this preschool and concert has gone to her head, literally. I caught her in the bathroom this afternoon doing her hair in a new style. Of course I took pictures!

Helping the Needy

For one reason or another, we have yet to attend church here in Ohio.... that is, until today. At first it was because I was very content to be cooped up in this box of a house. Then it was because we spent a lot of time going home. After that the reason focused on the girls', mainly Lauren's, lack of focus. In the back of my mind was a sadness that no matter what church we found, it wouldn't provide that same sense of warmth and community as our beloved congregation in Florida (yes, for the record, it was one of the few things in Florida I enjoyed and appreciated). But it has been weighing heavy on me for quite some time now, and not only did I feel the need for spiritual guidance, but it was imperative that we give it to the girls as well. We talk about God at our house quite often, and Abby has come up with some amazingly insightful questions. This morning she questioned, "Will God be one of the people at church?" and "What color are His eyes?" Trying to chose the road that leads to the least amount of follow-up questions, I side-tracked the conversation to Jesus, and told her His eyes were brown.

The church we visited today was great. The people were warm, welcoming, and friendly; it was the kind of reception we received at our church in Florida. Perfect! After the readings one of the pastors and a few other adults take the children out for a children's sermon, where they follow-up with a snack and an activity related to the day's message. Being Lent, all the children received boxes for donations. A gift! Abby was elated. After the children returned for communion the rest of the service was restless for my munchkins, but they handled it well. Only one embarrassing outburst from Abby as she questioned quite loudly why an elderly gentleman did not have to stand up, but she did. She was not happy about this, and I could tell a handful of the ladies behind us got a kick out of her inquiry by their snickers.

By the time we got home the girls were nothing short of falling apart. As Abby admired her box she announced, "I want to keep this for the rest of my life."

Trying to scramble lunch together for my lovelies, I replied, "I'm sure you do, Abby, but the purpose of the box is to collect money to give to those in need."

Crabby, tired, and hungry Abby demanded, "Well I need things!"

Don't we all, Abby. So she wasn't quite getting the point of the exercise. In time, maybe. But for now I have no doubt her little mind is working up a whole new set of questions that far outreach the confines of that little box.

Lauren is Still Thinking About the Moon

This bright and sunny morning on our way back home after dropping Abby off at preschool, Lauren remarked, "The hot is following us. Is the moon in the hot?" She then continued on to discuss the absence of the stars in the sky.

Her mind is out of this world.

Lauren's Big Girl Bed

Alas, Lauren has a big girl bed. Yesterday the snow storm cancelled her gymnastics class, crushing her little spirit. But the delivery men were not about to let the snow stop them from dispatching her right of passage today, and it has arrived!

We've been putting off outfitting her with suitable slumber for multiple reasons, but most of which because I just couldn't decide what to get for her, since she shares a room with her sister, and Abby's bed is no longer available for purchase. Last week, as I was putting the girls to bed, Abby commented to Lauren, "Lauren, someday do you want to have a big bed like me?" The tone in her voice was crushing and I knew it was time to act. After overcoming a debilitating virus, I fount it within myself to get out of the house, took the girls out to run off steam at Magic Castle, then went shopping for Lauren's bed. We found just what we were looking for on Saturday, and much to our amazement, it was in stock! Of course that meant we could not delay on garnishing our new furnishing with bedding, so we had to go shopping for that, too.

Lauren is beyond thrilled, as the pictures well illustrate. And I am excited, too. Their room has been in decorative disarray since we moved the crib out of their room.... Mommy will be very happy when all of the finishing touches (and touch-ups) are put into place.

Lauren is currently singing, "It's my new bed" in her room. Today is a good day. Lauren finally has her big girl bed!

Getting to the Root of the Issue

While playing around with Lauren last night, I looked at her and thought aloud, "Tiny, why are you so stinkin' cute?"

Never shy about throwing the compliments back my way, she was quick to reply, "Why are you so cute?"

I concluded, again out loud, that she must get it from me. To which she declared, "It's in the roots!"

Skate of Confusion

Lauren is determined to skate her way into the Olympics.

Just who she will be skating for is up in the air.... Looks like we need to do a little more work on geography, and perhaps invest in a pair of real skates.

(Per usual, you will want to pause the playlist on the right side of the screen to hear the audio accompaniment.)

For the Love of the Boogie

To say I am feeling under the weather is a bit of an understatement. Thank goodness for two little ladies who are capable and about as self-sufficient as preschoolers can be. I mustered up enough energy to get myself upright and heat up a can of soup, a feat I thought quite remarkable for my current condition.

Until it was time for supper, the girls complained little about also feeling under the weather. But Lauren was getting tired and whiny, and was less than thrilled about eating vegetable, and not tomato soup. Yet somewhere she found just enough oomph to wiggle and shake her body at the table.

I said with a smile, "Lauren, you sure like to boogie, don't you?"

Abby replied, "Boogies are so sticky. Why are they so sticky?!"

Laughter really is great medicine. I love these girls.