The Day Love Was Born

While the rest of the world celebrated with their true loves,

I held my true love.

Happy birthday Princess #4.

My world is a brighter place with you in it.

There's A Party In My Tummy! So Yummy!

This is the first real party I've thrown since discovering Pinterest.

Will any party truly ever be the same after discovering Pinterest?

I'm guessing no.

I had scads of ideas.  Check out my Mama Shall Have Parties board.  SCADS I tell you.

Paper chain decorations?  Yep.

Rainbow fruit?  Yep.

Crepe paper backdrops?  You betcha.

The list goes on.

And don't even get me started on this brilliance:

The gumball border was my brainchild.  Sprinkle covered top courtesy of hubs.

I'd say my first post-Pinterest party was a success.

The birthday girl seemed to think so.

There's a party in my tummy!  So yummy!  So yummy!

Mama Got Schooled

It occurs to me that I might be enjoying my newfound freedom that comes with having older children who are able to get up and fend for themselves for awhile before feeling the need to wake me a *little* too much:

When after I've hastened my oldest out the door, chiding her to not be late to school and she looks at me with a mix of chagrin and 9 year old honesty and says, "well, why don't you get up sooner so you can help us get ready on time?"

Um.

Either I've just been called on the carpet or someone's getting too big for their own britches.  Or maybe both...

How Do You Know When It's Time?

Today my oldest, along with the entire 3rd, 4th and 5th grade from her school, are going to the high school performing arts center to participate in an assembly called Rachel's Challenge.  It is a presentation put on by the high school students, honoring Rachel Scott, the 17 year old girl who was killed by fellow students at Columbine High school nearly 13 years ago.

My understanding is the entire program is based on this quote, found in Rachel's journal after her death:

"I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction of the same."

As a parent, my heart wrenches with the memory of that day. I remember it with perfect clarity. I was only 3 years out of high school myself and I watched the horror unfold in complete shock.  I think it's a wonderful thing that's being done in Rachel's honor. High school students are trained, and then have the opportunity to spread the message of kindness and gentleness to younger students. I believe that's a good thing.

So here's my dilemma. I realized as I was sending Princess #1 off to school, that we have not talked at all about what happened on that fateful day in Colorado. She has no idea not only that such a nightmare took place, but that it's possible for a nightmare like that to even come true.  I do not know how much background will be given to the students today, but I expect that the basic story will be shared.

Like any parent, I want to protect my children from the not so nice parts of this world. I want them to live in blissful naivety for awhile. Because I know once it's gone, it's gone for good. 

But how do you know when it's time?

Princess #1 and sweet friends on her birthday

How do you know when it's time to trust them with more? To burden them with more reality? To open up their safe havens just a little bit to the reality that's outside?

I feel a bit foolish because for Princess #1 and today, it's too late.  Rather than preparing her, my only option now is to wait and see what she learns and then talk about it later.  But that's not really how I want to approach things in the future.

So how do you know?  I do not want her to live in fear.  But I also do not want her to be unprepared.

My friends, these are such big decisions parents have to make.  We unfortunately live in a world with great heartache.  Do you have experience with guiding your children through these waters?  Or were your parents particularly good with guiding you?  I would love advice!

Snowmageddan or Tornadoes? You Pick.

Exactly one year ago, I was writing about Snowmageddan 2011 with drifts as high as my roof line.

There was NO MILK.  We take Snowmageddan seriously around here.

This year?

Yep.  I'm cruising around with the windows down and scheduling installation for my tornado shelter.

We like weather extremes around here.