Her First Sleep Over!

My oldest daughter Grace has a friend over tonight for her (and our) first sleep over. They are friends at school, and even take skating lessons together. My wife and I were really nervous in a way. Not in the "Is everything going to be ok?" kind of way, but more like "The in-laws are coming over for the first time and I want dinner to be just right!" kind of way.

We cleaned the house from top to bottom. We clean often, don't get me wrong, but this was just days after Hurricane Boxes and Bows, and the lute piles that ensue after tsunamis of oohs and ahhs. Not to mention that Grace's birthday was also three days after Christmas. Yes, this is coming off a high time in our family. Did I mention that my sister's son was born on Grace's birthday too? And that my birthday is three days before Christmas? And that my mother's birthday is on January 3rd, and my wife's on the 5th? Deeeep breath, heart rate back down...

Now. The sleep over. It's going so well! Her friend showed up at 5 o'clock. Her friend's little sister and her mother came in to chat for a while when they arrived. She commented on how clean the house was (YES!) and that her daughter was so excited. We asked enough questions about food preferences, allergies, likes, dislikes and phobias that the mother commented that she'd never thought to ask all of those questions of people staying at her house before. She said it was the "Teacher" in us.

I failed to mention that my wife and I are both teachers at the school that my daughter and her friend go to. In fact Grace and her friend are in the second grade class directly across the hall from the second grade class I teach, and in the same building where my wife teaches first grade special education.

We talked to our guest's mom for a while, and after she left, I headed out to pick up pizza and boneless (of course) wings. My second oldest daughter Morgan was my assistant pizza fetcher for this trip. In my mind, this day was going to be just as much about keeping the little sisters "feeling special" as it was about having a friend over for the eldest of the princesses. She felt important, and was proud to bring home the bacon..'er..pizza...anywhoo..

We ate dinner, and shortly after, my wife took the twins, Lily and Emma up for baths, and to tuck them in tight, thereby securing "big" kid time for the rest of the evening. My wife had the best idea- she...can I just stop and tell you who she is for a second here...

Cindy. Formally Cynthia, but goes by Cindy, and more often,Hun, Hunny, Sweetheart, Babe, Mom, Mommy, and even sometimes MOOOOOMMYYYYYYYA! She. Completes. Me. (Don't ya hate it when people say that!?- ME TOO) But it's true. I don't know what I'd do or be without her. She's a wonderful mother, and an incredible life companion. She understands me most of the time, and this could be her extensive background in special education, but I'd like to believe it's just us growing closer, and wiser, and weaving tighter, our bond. Day by day.

So her idea- pillowcases! Yeah, yeah, I know-DUH it's a sleep over BUT, she bought new ones, and also bought fabric pens so the kids could decorate their own pillowcases, and keep them to remember the sleep over by. Isn't she somethin? So the kids decorated their pillow cases, while I transformed the living room into a movie theatre, moving the couch (a sleeper-I'll feel that tomorrow), chairs, and coffee and end tables so that it resembled, well, a living room, but with everything closer to the TV.

Cindy made popcorn, and when the girls were finished, they came in to watch Beezus and Ramona (Highly recommended- AND rated G!). It didn't occur to us until after we'd started the movie that is was going on 9 o'clock and our girls are usually in bed by 8 o'clock at the latest. We just shrugged, and let 'em go and have fun. What could it hurt. By about half past 9, Morgan was asleep in a chair. Grace and her friend stayed awake for the whole movie, and with bloodshot eyes, just came in to say good night. They really had a good time! I'm off to bed now because we're making pancakes in the morning, and I'm going to have to get the coffee in me early. Or at least before five girls' worth of stampeding and screaming in hunger come crashing down the stairs. I've tried to think of a good "signing off" quote to end all of these posts with, but as for now I can't think of one, and I'm kind of tired. So how's...until next time? Yeah, that's good. I didn't forget to explain the sleeping conditions for this sleep over- I'll do that tomorrow. I'm too excited to even talk about them right now. I'm tired and I've got the guest bedroom all to myself tonight!! I'll just give you a hint- for once, my snoring "problem" came in handy- at least for me ha ha ha!

Two Days At Two Lakes

Yesterday, my second oldest daughter got invited to a friend's house for a play date. With all of her might, our oldest daughter pleaded to have a friend over to our house. Ya know, to be even? A couple of calls around town revealed that all friends were busy, or not home. I was working in the yard, and she, upset, came out to see what I was up to. She said everyone was busy and she couldn't have a friend over. Without making any eye contact, I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Well, we could go fishing..."

All signs of sorrow instantly vanished, and our preparations for the outing began. We tied the canoe to the jeep, loaded the paddle and life jackets, dug for some worms, loaded the poles and headed out.

We had a great time. I paddled the entire length of Little York Lake from the boat launch by the theater all the way to the dam at the south end. We didn't catch any fish, but we tried. The day was beautiful. Sunny with a slight breeze. Her worries of not having a friend over had long since melted away.

Today, the entire family packed up lunches and headed to Meyer's Point in Lansing. The weather was hot and humid, but once in the water, it all seemed to be cooler and more tolerable. The ladies all piled in the van, and I followed in the jeep with life jackets, towels, canoe, and paddle. Once at the park we all jumped into the lake. It was entirely refreshing.

Next on the schedule was canoe rides up the inlet under the train trestle, and to the second bridge. First up was my second oldest daughter because, of course, she'd heard of the oldest daughter's trip the day before, and this would, well, ya know, make it even. When we returned, I took the twins up the inlet. They didn't sit still, but were so light, they had minimal "rock the boat" value as they moved around leaning over one side and then the other putting their hands in the water and pulling on the bow line as if they were riding a horse!

It was a beautiful couple of days.

Secondly because of the optimal weather conditions, and first because I was blessed with angel time. I love you sweetheart, and I love our four angels.

Home again.

No, I didn't go on a trip, and now I'm home. I wish that were the case! I'm sick. My head feels like it's going to explode, and I keep having to blow my nose, but it doesn't make anything better. Urgh.

At least I'm home with the kids! I love hanging out with them- Today it's rainy enough to prevent us from going out, but we're going to build a fort, and have a really cool
"In House" picnic in the living room later, so it won't be a total loss.

I miss the days when if you were sick, someome took care of you. That would be nice today. I know- I'm a grown man, and that sounds silly, but there's something to be said for having that happen every now and then. I know I'll need to wait until the kids are out of the house and it's just the wife and I here. In the mean time, I'll make some soup and bring it to the livingroom picnic. Sipping soup out of a coffee mug, in a fort with twin two year-olds and a 5 year old is it's own kind of special medicine!

Right? We'll see...sniffle...sneeze

Dr. Dad

I'm home with three of my four daughters today. There are few thing more sad to look at than your kids when they're sick. You want to trade places with them, and you want it to be over. The doctors said that they all have a virus, and it's causing the stuffy noses, soar throats, temperatures and cough. All we can do, is care for them and wait. Secretly, I was hoping it was something like strep, so they could be given medicine that would put a quick end to how they're feeling, but it isn't so.

So, it's a day of toast, soup, lots of juice, and Barbie movies. Not so bad I guess. They're on the mend, and I get a day at home with some of my angels all to myself.

An epiphany

This past Saturday, my four daughters I and were in a wedding. I, the best man, and my angels flower girls. My wife and I have been married for eight years now, and it had been that many years since I'd watched someone who I love very much walk down the aisle toward me.

As my seven, four, and twin two year old daughters walked toward me in delicate gowns, in radiant sunlight, I was overcome with joy and pride in who they'd become. I could not stop the tears as they rolled down my cheeks. My blessings in children had never been portrayed so beautifully, and I was, with all my being, in awe.