Project Life: Week 12

Monday, March 21

Ellie had a good day today. She got to go back to school, where she was greeted by friends who missed her and treated her as if nothing had happened. And she and Elaina got to go to Pearce, which is great for them and allows us to get a workout in. When we went to pick them up afterwards, Ellie decided to make herself comfortable while Josh helped with her shoes.

Tuesday, March 22
Elaina begged to go outside after dinner, so we decided to make a family outing of it and went for a walk around the neighborhood. Quite often as we walked the girls reached for one another's hands. It did mama's heart a whole lot of good.

Wednesday, March 23
We've had Yuna for a year and a half now, and while I love her, we still haven't been able to convince the cats to feel the same. They never come to the living room without being strongly persuaded/held against their will. But I miss them, so once in awhile, I force the issue. This look basically sums up how Winston felt about my decision to do so tonight.

Thursday, March 24
A little over a week out from her injury, and Ellie is unafraid to show off her new smile.

Friday, March 25
Today Josh and I had the day off--our first since Martin Luther King Jr Day in January. We decided to fill the day with Eastery and otherwise fun activities, which included getting Elaina a new bicycle. She was almost comedically too big for the My Little Pony bike she'd gotten for her birthday a few years ago, yet she insisted on riding it when we went for walks. Since Ellie was inheriting that bike, we bought her a new helmet to go with it (and managed to nag a slightly larger helmet for Elaina for $5!).

When we got home from our outing, Josh assembled the bike with the girls and I dyed our Easter eggs.

And then it was time for bike rides!

Saturday, March 26
Today was a wonderful day filled with family. We went to Mom and Dad's and, for the first time since Christmas, all of us were there together. We had lunch and then played in the yard. It was an overcast day, but not terribly cold, and it was such fun to watch the girls play with their cousins and aunties and uncles.

We headed down to the farm later in the afternoon, where we had an Easter egg hunt for the kids and anniversary cake for Mom and Dad. Gramma has been very sick lately, so it was nice to get in an extra hug with her while we were there, too.

Cousins!

Happy 45 years!

Sunday, March 27
Today was a hard day for me. I used to think that people who didn't go to church were lazy or unrighteous or any number of unkind things. And then, a year and a half ago, I became one of those people. Every Sunday it is a hard decision to make. It is not the fun decision, it's not the easy decision, and it's not the decision I ever saw myself faced with. I don't want to believe it's a forever decision, but it is the decision of now. And this Easter, not going to church absolutely broke my heart.

I allowed myself to cry, and I allowed the girls to see me cry because I don't want them to think that every decision we make as adults comes without pain. And then I dried my tears and even though my heart was heavy, I tried to make the best of it for the girls.

So we had an Easter egg hunt in the living room.

And Josh and I (mostly Josh) made yellow raspberry jam and red raspberry jam.

And we had dinner with Josh's family, and the girls had yet another Easter egg hunt.

And in the end, we made it through the day. My heart still hurt. It still does. But we made it, and that's what counts.

Project Life: Week 11

This week...oh, this week. No matter how I try, I don't think I'll ever forget it. 

Monday, March 14

Today was another lovely day, albeit overcast. The girls headed outside almost as soon as we got home; half the time, Elaina asks if she can go outside before we even pull into the driveway. As they played, I made dinner, and Josh got to work tidying up some of the overgrowth on the edges of our yard. We're hopeful that this will discourage both the rabbit population and the powdery mildew that have scourged our garden the past two years.

Tuesday, March 15
This was supposed to be today's picture. For the first time ever, I voted in our state's primary. The weather was so nice, we walked to my polling center, and the girls came inside and got to be part of the process (and get the free stickers!). It was a fun adventure, and, I thought, the only one we would have for the night.

All of that changed around 6:45. I had sent the girls to their room a few minutes earlier to get ready for their bath, well aware that they would likely monkey around for a few minutes before actually getting undressed. When I came in, Elaina was heading to the tub. Ellie was holding on to the ladder on the inside of the bunkbed, and I told her to get down. I'm not sure exactly what happened next, though the best I can tell is that she misjudged the distance from the ladder to the mattress. She slipped and smacked face-first into one of the rungs of the ladder. When I picked her up, the blood told the story of the rest of our night.

The next few hours were a blurry nightmare, a horrifying experience for our little girl and for us, which I don't have the heart to detail here. Living it once was more than enough.

We got home around midnight. Ellie lost three teeth. Josh and I lost a piece of our hearts. It was a night I wanted to wish away, and it is one I doubt I'll ever forget.

Wednesday, March 16
The night was short, and morning came in a fog of emotional exhaustion and trepidation, as we waited for Ellie to wake up. She woke up a bit disoriented and quiet, content to sip water and watch cartoons with her sister. When Elaina was off to school, Josh ran to Kroger to get Ellie's medicine and a bevy of soft foods for her to eat. He dropped off the groceries and headed into work, and Ellie relaxed while I attempted to work.

We took her to the dentist around 10:00 as a follow-up to her ER visit, and they were absolutely amazing. She was never afraid, never in pain, always reassured that everything was going to be okay. We got the good news that she had not damaged her adult teeth, and the surprising news that, because this is apparently a not uncommon childhood injury, the equivalent of dentures for baby teeth are available, meaning eventually Ellie will be able to eat corn on the cob and apples in a matter of a month or so.

She was amazing during the visit, too. She charmed the entire office, as though the trauma of the night before had never happened. Josh and I were overwhelmed by her strength and at one point were both fighting tears--tears of exhaustion, of emotional fragility, tears of unspeakable pride in this little girl who never once complained, never once felt sorry for herself, never once stopped smiling, even when she knew her smile was changed forever.

When we got home, Ellie had her lunch--a nice cold yogurt and chocolate ice cream--and then insisted I cuddle on the couch with her and watch a baking show. I was more than happy to meet her demands. Josh came home early, and when Elaina got home from school, we spent the day as a family, healing bit by bit.

Thursday, March 17
In an attempt to get back to normal, Ellie went back to Rita's today, and I went to work. As planned, the three of us donned our best green for St. Patrick's Day, and the only non-participating member of the family took our picture.

Elaina also came home with a pretty awesome Kindergarten art project. 

Friday, March 18

Today Elaina's school hosted a Family Fun Night. There were games with lots of simple prizes, food, and a book fair. A good time was had by all.

Sky on fire on the way home

Saturday, March 19

Today we had a low-key day, still recovering from the week. We ran a few errands and put a movie on for the girls in the afternoon. Afterwards, Ellie decided to color inside while Elaina decided to color our back porch. Josh called my attention to a few new blooms in our yard, too--a welcome harbinger of spring. 

Sunday, March 20

This afternoon we had the pleasure of attending a "Concert in the Stacks" at the library--a performance by Truckley Howl, a 3 piece traditional Irish group. It was fabulous. Elaina started dancing while the fiddler tuned his instrument, and I don't think she sat for more than 10 seconds at a time after that. 

Towards the end of the concert, we got to participate in a group dance as well. So much fun!

Project Life: Week 10

This post is a week late, for reasons which will become clear in the next post. For now, I can look back at this week and enjoy the memories, particularly the memories of ignorance of the things to come.

Monday, March 7

We have been enjoying beautiful weather--not as warm as the March a few years ago when we wore shorts on St. Patrick's Day, not as cool as the Winter That Would Not End two years ago, when early spring snows threatened often. Today was no exception, so we spent the evening outside. Time well spent.

Tuesday, March 8

Josh promised the girls that the first day the temperature hit 68, we would celebrate with the first Dairy Queen of the year. All afternoon, I watched the temperature creep up, until it finally hit the glory of the low to mid-70s. I told Josh I couldn't stand the idea of spending an hour sweating away in Pearce when the weather was this lovely, this early. So we went for half an hour, slayed it, and then came home with enough time for Dairy Queen and the park. It was a lovely, beautiful, wonderful day.

Wednesday, March 9

Today the I looked out at the girls on their playset and saw the sweetest thing:

And then, after dinner, I looked outside and saw this:

Thursday, March 10

Yet another beautiful sunset tonight. I hope someday we live where I don't have to be so creative in my picture taking so as to not have a house in the way.

Friday, March 11

Today was notable for a couple of reasons.

First, my crocuses bloomed!

Second, we had Arcadia for a sleepover. We had been promising the girls for quite awhile we'd make it happen, but Arcadia's social calendar puts ours to shame, so we ended up having to schedule it four weeks out. And today was the day. After picking up the girls from Rita's, we took them straight to Pearce for a swim. Then we came home and had Arcadia's favorite, Uncle Josh's spaghetti and meatballs, and the girls disappeared and played for a good long while. 

We ended the evening with The Little Mermaid and popcorn, but they only made it through about half of the movie before deciding it was time for bed. All were asleep by 8:45, and I stayed up late finishing Where'd You Go, Bernadette. A good evening for all.

Saturday, March 12

This morning we relaxed for a bit, and then I headed to the gym while Josh and the girls dropped Arcadia off at home. In the afternoon, we ran some errands, which included going to the evil empire, Wal-Mart. After a busy night and a busy day, the girls were happy to relax with me on the couch at the end of their night.

When the girls were in bed, I started my annual rainbow cupcake extravaganza. It takes just short of forever, but I know the girls think it's neat, and since it's only once a year, it's hard to say no. (Plus I sort of signed myself up for this tradition; I've made them every year except one since Elaina was a toddler.)

Sunday, March 13

Today started early. Really, really early. Like 1:30 in the morning early, when Elaina came into our bedroom complaining of a tummy ache. She went back to bed, but it was for naught, because about 10 minutes later she got sick for the first of many times. She and I were up most of the night, and I decided then that next to Christmas Eve, Daylight Saving night is probably the worst night of the year to get the flu.

Little sweetie's stomach finally started to settle around noon, enough that after a second nap she felt well enough to play with Ellie for a bit.

It wasn't the worst flu, and thankfully no one else came down with it, but man. What a start to the week.

Project Life: Week 9

No fancy introduction this week...just another good week in the books, worth remembering.

Monday, February 29

February ended on a kind note. It was so nice that we were able to take a walk after dinner. Come on, spring; we're ready for you!

Ellie blows a kiss

Sweet little biker chick

Tuesday, March 1

Josh downloaded a new game for the girls called "My Singing Monster". They absolutely love it, and while I don't love how often the ditties get stuck in my head, I love how they love it, and I love how special something so small is to them and their Daddy.

Wednesday, March 2
Some of my flowers decided that March 1 was worth celebrating, too. (Full disclosure: I may have pulled a dead weed away from one of my emerging beauties. If only I could be as on top of it during summer. Ha.)

Thursday, March 3
At dinner tonight, Elaina decided to smush one of her oyster crackers, and in doing so, volunteered herself to wash the table after we finished eating. She actually really enjoyed it, and Ellie enjoyed supervising. Later, she decided to don a crown to complete her homework.

Friday, March 4
Ellie woke up early and promptly curled herself up in our bed.

In the evening, she provided amusement to the entire family as Josh attempted to read her a book. He would read a line, and she would immediately repeat it with a glint in her eye. And then she would break into a fit of ornery, animated giggles. It was a little bit of Heaven on earth.

Saturday, March 5
Today Elaina had a sushi date with Auntie Nikki, and Josh and I took Ellie out for frozen yogurt and a trip to Target.

Sunday, March 6
Kroger had crab legs on sale a few weeks ago, so we bought them and threw them in the freezer for a rainy day. Today wasn't rainy (actually, sunny and would-be warm without the wind--nice enough we took the girls to the park before we went grocery shopping), but it seemed a good day for crab. So Josh steamed the crab and roasted the asparagus, and I made risotto that only half of us (the adult half) seemed to enjoy. It was a delicious meal!