This past weekend Payton had her first ballet class. Is she graceful? Not quite sure yet, but her heart is there. Watching her pay attention to Miss Nicole was so cute, watching others before she acted, nonchalantly biting her nails as she waited for her turn and taking two silly ballerina twirls while the teacher wasn’t watching made for an anxiety filled 45-minutes. Am I a stage mom? Probably. This pint sized kid is definitely my mini me. Her favorite part of class? Striding across the room like a princess ballerina pony. My favorite part of class? Watching her light up as the teacher asked, “who hear likes ponies?” and taking moments to find me from her circle to wave hi. My tiny dancer is finally at “ballerina school”. Bring it on dance moms.
happy birthday ‘merica.
Our fourth was probably the most relaxing we’ve had in years. It was just my family, simple and easy. We joked, we ate ourselves silly, we drank, listened to 60’s music and watched my parents act like they did in their young lovin’ days, went in the pool and had an epic ball fight and then watched fireworks at the end of our block. Yes, I realize that was the longest run-on sentence ever. God, I am still dreaming of the food, damn, my family can cook. It was amazing. Hope y’all had a great fourth!
dealing with packed up emotions
Over the weekend I finally unpacked my Grandmother’s china that has been sitting next to my washer and dryer for five years prior to moving. I never had the ample space at the old place and when we moved into our new home I knew that a nice buffet was needed to finally unpack the delicate pieces. We purchased our buffet but the boxes just sat in the garage, a constant reminder that they needed to be unpacked. But I couldn’t. One of my resolutions this year is to get organized and the garage was one promise I made to Jim so he could add a bowflex to the third car garage. We spent a weekend sorting through high school and dating memories. Finally tossing away the crap that had accumulated throughout our first twelve years. The next area to organize was the china. I truly could not bring myself to open the three plastic tubs and two cardboard boxes, that was until Jim left for his business trip on Sunday. When we got home from the airport I took a look at the boxes and said screw it, let’s get it over with. You’re probably wondering why such a long drawn out story over some old plates. But it’s just that. Old = memories and memories = dealing with emotions I have been avoiding. I cracked the first blue lid, gently picking up the first slightly melted bubble wrapped Bavaria Tirschenreuth 647 plate and it was like I was transported to 2003. I had packed my Grandmother’s china cabinet when we rapidly packed her house after the Turk family decided her and my Grandfather should no longer be. The packing was done at such a fast rate to ensure certain people did not get their hands on cherished family heirlooms and the china that I had been promised early on. I remember my Grandma watching over me like a hawk ensuring I was wrapping them correctly, that they weren’t too tightly packed and when the twenty rolls of bubble wrap weren’t enough I ran back out to purchase more. It was hard for me wrapping up her house, many items she would never see again, and in her eyes I knew she knew the same. Taking the china out piece-by-piece Payton would ask about the pieces, bringing me back to the last time we dined on gorgeously pink plates and the happy times of my childhood. And when the small apple dishes were discovered I immediately thought of her pill dish that still remains in her room at my parents. As I unwrapped and unwrapped I kept thinking to myself that my Grandma is probably watching over me thinking I am not being as careful as she would like for me to be. I confronted the emotions, I feel better (slightly) and now I look forward to throwing a fab tea party for my daughter one day. I can see gorgeously plated food for guests and photo shoots. Now, here goes to praying that the kids never crack the doors open and break a single piece!
my favorite plate. This one and another will be hung on the wall next to the buffet. |
the small apple dish that she placed pills in.
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I was also gifted china from my Grandma B (Dad’s side). My Aunt started giving us piecing on our first Christmas. It’s so unique. |
single mommy nights
For the first seven months of this year I spent a lot of nights as a single mommy. Jim was traveling a lot! If he was home it was for the weekend or a week max and then he was off again for somewhere like Florida, Tennessee, or D.C.. In the past two weeks UPS put out a traveling freeze, a good thing for me but I was looking forward to more single nights to spend with my friend Janelle. If you remember, she is spending the next seven months as a single mom as Nelson is away saving the lives of wounded soldiers. I am happy we finally got our babes together after one month of his deployment.
Let’s just say it’s a cluster! I yell at Payton over-and-over for going bat shit crazy because she gets to see her best friend, they don’t eat their dinners, they fight like an old married couple and we get to chit chat while scarfing down dinner and our last chance at caffeine. I do love this time and I know we will look back at this time and laugh, especially that the wee ones took a bath, bottoms in each other’s face as they reach for foofa or plex. They cap the night off with a hug, a kiss on the cheek, er, mouth and even matching lightening McQueen bandaids and we pray they sleep well. While it can be lonely not having a husband coming home at night it’s always nice to know you have a great friend a short distance down the freeway to spend single nights with you.