Celebrating Annabelle

I do some of my best thinking in the shower, usually with music playing to drown out the mayhem and destruction taking place while the children are left unattended. A few weeks ago I was listening to a Steven Curtis Chapman song that he wrote for his wife, but somehow the chorus seemed to fit my Annie.

And let me show you

What a treasure you are

A priceless gift from Heaven

To this thankful heart

And I want to take this lifetime

To celebrate you

This child, this precious, beautiful girl, is definitely Heaven-sent. She blesses me every day, in ways big and small. And I wonder sometimes if I am doing the same for her.

If anything I do could ever come close.

I’d been thinking that day about 1 Corinthians 13 – you know, the love chapter. It’s read so commonly at every wedding we attend, I wonder if people even pay attention anymore. I’m certainly guilty of glossing over it from time to time.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Annie is patient. Annie is kind.

She is slow to anger and quick to forgive.

I could go through this verse and remove every ‘love’ and substitute her name, and it would still fit.

This child embodies pure, unadulterated love and joy, every moment of every day.

And as I was thinking about this, I realized that very shamefully, the same could not be said for me. Not even close.

This child – this kind, generous, compassionate child – is what she is in spite of me.

I want to be more like her.

More worthy of being her mother.

More deserving of this wonderful daughter God has entrusted to me.

I want to celebrate you Annie – today and every day.

Happy Birthday, sugar… and thank you… for the best 8 years of my life.

A special day for a special girl

She was the baby I didn’t even know I needed, and now she completes me in a way I never knew possible.

From the day she was born

she has held my heart in her tiny pink hand.

She mesmerized her GG.

And other people were ‘impressed of her’ too.

They are the sweetest of sisters

and the best of friends.

They share everyday moments

and extra-special adventures

and they don’t even mind when she hogs the spotlight.

She does that quite a bit.

This little girl is friendly

and adventurous

and silly

and one day she will change the world.

I know this because she has already changed mine.

And it’s an exhausting task.

But I know she’s up for it.

She can do anything.

Baby Mine.

There is a little girl in my house who is growing way too fast. And today that girl is 4.

Happy Birthday pumpkin. Sweet Petunia. Silly Lilly.

Happy Birthday to my baby.

I love you to the moon and back.

Minun armas kaveri, minun sisar, minun sielu apulainen

Many moons ago, I was supposed to be a foreign exchange student living in Finland.  As my departure date neared, I grew increasingly scared apprehensive, and eventually canceled the move. My parents were moving out of state, and I didn’t want to return from a foreign country to a new and unfamiliar place.  Instead, I stayed in the US and I left the only home I’d ever known just before my senior year of high school.

Most ironically, in my new town, my immediate best friend was a foreign exchange student from Finland.

One way or another, the country and I were destined to intersect.

Nella.  With two L’s, and you pronounce them both.  In the US, we rarely do that.  In Finland, it’s a pretty big deal.  Nel-la.  She was impressed that I did that correctly.

We were thrown together most serendipitously.  Riikonen and Roberts.  The alphabet was on our side.

Well, that and combat boots.  We both had an affinity for combat boots, which in rural Kentucky is not a common thing.  On the first day of school I’m pretty sure we were both wearing teeny-tiny daisy duke cutoffs with black tights and combat boots, and that pretty much much sealed up our fate.  How could I not love her?

She’s very loveable.

I’ve never laughed so hard in my life as I do with Nella.  For hours, endlessly, so that at the end of it all we have no idea when or why it began in the first place.

She’s the only other person I’ve ever met who likes the smell of skunk.  And to this day, I never catch a whiff of skunk without breathing deeply and thinking of Nella…and coffee.

Plus she needed a translator, because in spite of her perfect English, I’m the only one who can read her handwriting.  Seriously – the only one.  I’ll totally challenge you.

I let her birthday pass without mention this year, because I am the lousy sort of friend who always forgets things like this.  Not the date – I couldn’t ever forget the date.  10/2.  Which is only 10/2 in the US.  Everywhere else it’s written 2/10, which meant according to her ID card it looked like she turned 18 in February.  This was incredibly fortunate for her, because it meant she was able to have her navel pierced at the local tattoo parlor when really she was only 17.  See, at 17 you need parental consent, which my parents would never give.  So I was forced to take matters into my own hands, quite literally.  And lucky for me, Nella is the kind of BFF that would help a girl pierce her own belly button in the guest bedroom of her grandparents’ house over spring break.  Holla!

[Side note: Don't try this at home kids.  The pain is worse than childbirth and I am not even kidding about that.  Also it's likely to rip out a year later, which really totally sucks.  And also hurts.  And then getting it re-done through scar tissue is not pleasant either.]

Part of Nella’s fabulousness is her willingness to overlook my own, um, lack of fabulousness.  She’s the Ying to my Yang.  She sends long letters with thoughtful pictures, and I can’t even seem to upload them from the camera to the computer.  She remembers my birthday far enough in advance to send a postcard halfway around the world, whereas I remember hers at about midnight the night beforehand.  And inexplicably, she seems to love me in spite of my glaring lack of regular communication.

Many years and many pounds ago, when I was too thin to be allowed to donate blood and my chest was a far more manageable size.  Ah, the good old days.

She is a best friend, a sister, a soulmate…she is everything I ever could have wanted from Finland. And more.

And I am so, so grateful to have her in my life – even at 4600 miles away.

Happy [belated] Birthday, my dear, dear friend.

I love you.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Today was a great day in the history of children’s literature.  Namely, the most influential children’s author of all time, Theodor Geisel, was born on March 2, 1904. 

Celebrate the day!

 “From there to here, and here to there, funny things are everywhere.”

Check out this page with lots of great resources for Dr. Seuss fun, including games, crafts, and assorted printables.

Of course you’ll need to read a silly book or two.

And after the kids go to bed, you might want to keep reading.  He is, in my humble opinion, one of the best philosophers of our time.  Practical and to-the-point in a fun way, but the fluff never detracts from the weight of his message.

“It’s a troublesome world. All the people who’re in it
are troubled with troubles almost every minute.
You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot,
for the places and people you’re lucky you’re not.”

“I know up on the top you are seeing great sights, but down at the bottom we, too, should have rights.”

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

And of course the entire book Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

I love Dr. Seuss.

My favorite book of his was actually his first – And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street.  It saddens me every time I meet someone who has never read this book.  Very sadly, for some unknown reason, it never gained the broad appeal of many of his other books. 

It’s a wrong I’m going to help to right today, in my own small way.  I’m giving away 2 copies to lucky readers.  Just leave me a comment here and you’re entered!  If you’d like an additional entry (optional) you can tweet/blog/post on Facebook about this giveaway, linking back to this post.  Please leave me a separate comment if you do that so I can be sure you get credit for multiple entries.

Already have this book?  I’d be happy to buy you a different one, or you could donate to your child’s school or your local library.  In the words of a very wise man,

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Thank you, Dr. Seuss, for inspiring very many children to go to very many places.

So I have this friend…

and she’s totally amazing.  Rock-your-world, lift-your-spirits, where-have-you-been-my-whole-life amazing.  I’m so blessed and so grateful for her, and today I need to brag about her a little.

• She’s smart. So smart, and not just in a brainy factoid kinda way (although she’s got that book smart thing down too), but in a clever, resourceful kind of way.  She approaches things in a way that I wouldn’t ever think of, and she gives me the best and sneakiest tips on how to get great seats, hard to snag reservations, and the very best deals.  (I so never knew that you could get free groceries!)  How cool is that?
• She is strong. Strong in a way that I find both inspirational and intimidating.  Life has thrown out some curveballs and she didn’t bother dodging them, she swung her bat and knocked them out of the park.  It’s true that sometimes you have no choice about what comes your way, but you always have a choice about how you react and her reactions are remarkable.  Where some would wallow in self-pity, she forged ahead.  When some would wail about the depths of despair, she created a new normal.  She has a beautiful and blessed life because of her beautiful and blessed heart, and I am in awe.
• She’s funny.  Wickedly funny.  She can make me laugh like few people can, and who doesn’t need more of that in their life?  How wonderful is that!  Humorless people are such a drag.
• She’s a great writer.  She writes in a way that instantly connects with you, across time and distance and differences.  She makes you feel exactly what she is feeling, and she has a unique way of blending raw emotion and sarcastic wit that is really unforgettable.  She’s made me laugh and cry out loud more times than I can count, and she’ll be doing it for you one day too. I’ll give you a heads up when her book is published.  I hear it’s fantastic. Not that I’ve been able to read it yet… ahem. Moving on.
• She’s thoughtful. Kind. Generous. She is a giver, of herself, her time, her resources, her emotions.  She is such a loving, caring person and she doesn’t give herself enough credit for it.
• She is beautiful, inside and out.  Her self-deprecating humor makes mention of a blueberry muffin, but pay that no mind; anyone who has seen her knows that she’s a hot mama. If you don’t believe me, just ask the broom boy.
• She is honest.  She’ll tell you what you need to hear no matter what, even when it’s unpleasant.  She’ll talk about the embarassing stuff that only the very best of friends will talk about.  She’ll tell you what she really thinks, no holds barred.
• She gets me.  She just gets me, no words necessary.  Of course we do share lots of words, because when we know we’re thinking the same thing it’s really nice to be able to share that. Rant a little, laugh a little – ok, laugh a lot.  People who get it so easily and comfortably are hard to find, and I have The Mouse to thank for bringing this one into my life.  Another way that Disney has been good to me.

Happy birthday, my forever friend. I love you.

Happy Birthday Bugga Bugga!

When Catie was born Annie immediately started calling her ‘Little Bug’ or some variation of that.  We’ve never known why exactly, but it does seem to suit her and so it stuck.  Especially fitting, then, that this year she chose a ladybug theme for her party.  We got these super cute custom invitations made for her party, and I made the girls all themed outfits.  (A tradition I started several years ago.  Now the girls base their party theme off of what cool fabric Mommy has available!)

Because she’s not in school yet, this was just a family party.  And because most of my family lives elsewhere, this was primarily my husband’s relatives!  But thankfully my parents live just around the corner (I’d be lost without them!) and they were with us as well.  We took a picnic lunch to the zoo and had a very nice afternoon…until it POURED rain!

A few pics:

Ladybug cupcakes

Annie saved her allowance, worked for extra money, sold some of her toys, and had a lemonade stand to earn money to buy her sister an American Girl doll.  I was so proud of her!  Not only is it very generous of her (in case you don’t know, this is $114 of doll here.  And Annie is 6.) but this is the second time that she has done it.  Last year Annie bought Catie her first American Girl doll, Kit, and this year she bought her Elizabeth.  Needless to say, Catie was thrilled.

Showing off her new doll

better view of the doll

 Here’s a pic of the whole family.  My parents are the two who were smart enough to wear sun hats.  I, on the other hand, got totally baked (in the sun).  You can see a bit of me in the back center, hair in my face from running to set the timer!

the whole gang

 Not the best picture of the children or their outfits, but you get the idea.  I can’t ever get a good picture of Lilly; she refuses to look at the camera.  She poses beautifully, then says ‘CHEESE!’ and looks at the ground.  Go figure.

my glamour girls

Another of Catie’s favorite presents was this dress up outfit that my parents gave her.  For the less High School Musical savvy of my readers, this is Sharpay.  Isn’t she fab? 

Bop to the Top!

So happy birthday my sweet little bug.  Thank you for the adventure and va-va-voom that you bring to every day.  I love your sense of humor, your fashionista tendencies, your spunk, and even your ornery rottenness.  I know you will grow up to be an amazing, interesting person.  In fact, you already are. 

xoxo

Just one more reason to love the mouse

The Disney Moms Panel opportunity has been wonderful for me in many ways. Sure, there’s the obvious honor of it all, the good fortune to be chosen, the excitement over our rewards, the many ways Disney has ‘plussed up’ my life, the magical memories, the daily pleasure of helping others plan their first Disney vacations…not to mention the micro-celebrity status. So yeah, of course that’s fabulous. And all in all, it’s more than I ever imagined. Certainly more than I dreamed would happen to me!

But beyond all of those things is the biggest gift I’ve gotten from Disney, and I am so thankful. I have made a wonderful friend named Darcie. I’ve bragged about her fabulousness here before (if anyone was paying attention), but today I need to do it again. Today dear wonderful Darcie sent me a present.

Not only was she thoughtful enough to remember my birthday, she was generous enough to send me a very lovely, very pampering present. And as if we had a telepathic connection, she knew exactly what to buy. You’d think she had flown over and peeked in my window about 2am. Because I am so desperately in need.

Now really, my ugly point-and-shoot picture aside, are those not the cutest jammies ever? I currently sport gym shorts and my husband’s old tee shirts, so this is a huge step up. And I am ever so grateful. For the cute PJs for sure (they are so going in my suitcase tomorrow too!), but more importantly for the gift that is Darcie in my life.

Thank you so much. Thank you for being so sweet and so thoughtful. Thank you for being such an awesome, inspirational person. Thank you for always knowing the right thing to say, and for saying what you really believe no matter what. Thank you for injecting a little pixie dust into my life. Thank you for being my friend.

She’s amazing y’all, seriously she is. I’m thinking of starting a fan club. You should hop on board now – membership slots are filling quickly.

Happy Birthday sweet Catiebug!

My darling middle daughter turned 3 yesterday. We had a joint birthday/Father’s Day celebration, which worked out well for Chris. He had been wanting a Strawberry Shortcake party, so this way he got his wish and no one had to know the theme was really for him.

I started with cute DIY invites (and matching thank-you’s) from U-Print-Invitations. I was really pleased with how easy it was, and the fact that I could see all my personalization before I bought. Next time I think I’ll plan for some of the extras like coloring books or play-do labels. Here is what I ended up with:

I started a trend a couple years ago, making the girls outfits to match their theme. We’ve done an Alice in Wonderland tea party for Mother’s Day, and Dora (twice!), Hannah Montana, and a few others for birthdays. This years Strawberry Shortcake came out really cute if I do say so myself. Catie used to call her ‘Ba-Ba Ca-Cake’, and while she gave up the baby talk a long time ago, Chris and I are having a harder time letting it go. Always hard to admit they are growing up on you. So here’s Catie modeling her Ba-Ba Ca-Cake set:

Lilly in her matching outfit:

The only request she made for the day – chips and dip. Mommy doesn’t buy chips so this is a real treat:

Obviously she was tired of having her picture taken:

The adorable cake Mom made for the big day:

And unfortunately, my poor sweet Annie was still very sick. This is how she spent the day:

She didn’t want to stay in bed and miss the party, so she crashed on the couch. I had stayed up until 4 am the night before making her a Strawberry Shortcake tiered halter dress that she requested, but as it turns out that was all for naught, since she didn’t even feel well enough to get out of her jammies. Poor baby.

Other than Annie being sick, I think it was a pretty good day for Catie. Harder day for Mommy – I want them to stay babies forever. But this is Momma’s girl here, so hopefully she won’t be leaving me too soon.

Happy Birthday sweet buggabug. I love you.