Day 11 - Proud Mommy

Sydney made me so proud today. She attended a birthday party at Pump It Up. That's pretty normal...everyone at Children's House Montessori seems to celebrate their birthdays with their classmates at Pump It Up.
But today, Sydney had a balloon in her hand and noticed that the little girl who was sitting on the birthday throne didn't have a balloon. She grabbed a balloon and took it to Charlotte. Sydney notices everything and she is a "fixer" and "caretaker". I can't wait to see those qualities develop over the years.

Day 10 - Saturday Snow

Saturday we woke up to snow. The fun, fluffy kind of snow. So, even though it was very cold, both Sydney and Shaun went outsideto enjoy the weather.

Day 9

I got a new zoom lens for Christmas. I've been waiting for my first basketball game to try it out. Tonight was the night. I drove down a very slippery highway to get to Martensdale so that I could watch Zeb play. Sydney and Haoyi went with me. When we walked in, all of the good seats were taken so we went up to the balcony area to sit with Papa and Grandma.

I pulled out my zoom hoping that it would be close enough to get a few good shots. Wow! It's fabulous. I'm so glad that I have it. I try not to wish that I'd had the lens while Hannah played. I try to live in the moment with basketball. I try to forget the pain that she endured.

I heard Sawyer Brown on the radio last night when I got into the car. It immediately took me back to the night that Hannah was named MVP of the State tournament. Sawyer Brown sang between the 3A championship and the 4A championship games. I wish that it made me happy to hear him...after all, that was a very happy night.

Instead it makes me sad. I wish that she hadn't endured so much pain. I look through my zoom lens and hope to get good photos of Zeb. I try to live in the moment. I don't do it well.

Day 8 - The Countdown

For Christmas, Haoyi's gift was a trip to San Francisco for Chinese New Year's. The great news is that the rest of the family is going with her. So, a couple of days after Christmas, Haoyi, the kids and I sat down and made a paper chain with a link for each day until we leave. Each day, either Sydney or Shaun get to take a loop off the chain. I hope that the vacation will be as much fun as the anticipation.

Day 7 - My Shoes

I couldn't help but take this photo when I saw you walking around in my shoes. You clothed in Dora pajamas and my big shoes. How fun was that?

And it reminded me of your growth. You loved Dora from the time that you first came home. I didn't know how I would feel about your time watching TV but I loved Dora. I loved her so much that you would sit on the bed and watch her while I would get ready for work in the morning. We would watch the opening credits together. There was a great big orange beach ball and we'd wait for the camera to pan in on it and when we'd see it, I'd yell "beach ball" and jump up and down. You LOVED that.

Dora no longer excites you the way she did. You've grown out of her a bit. And, although you may never physically grow feet as large as Mommy's, you will in so many ways fill shoes so much larger than Mommy. I love you, my Stinker Winker Bear.

Day 6 - The Beginning

In our extended family, basketball is not a game, it is serious business. I think that we should live in the Hoosier state rather than the Hawkeye state.

Tonight Shaun attended his first basketball practice and began his turn in the stretch. On the drive, Shaun was a bit concerned about his first practice. After all, he knows he lives in a family of maniacs. The conversation went something like this.

Shaun: I don't think that I can dribble with two hands.

Sydney: You dribble with ONE hand Shaun, not two hands.

Shaun: I don't think that I can run and dribble at the same time.

Sydney: Shaun, you walk when you dribble the ball.

Of course, Sydney is the one who in November of 2005 came out of her bedroom signaling traveling. That was 2 1/2 months after coming home. She was 20 months old at the time. Proof positive that Shaun lives in a family of maniacs.

Day 5 - Children's Laughter

It's cold here in Iowa and the kids have had colds. So normally, Mommy would say that they couldn't go to the hot tub with Daddy. But since Daddy had already asked, Mommy decided that she should not contradict Daddy.

They get about 5 minutes in the hot tub and then I rush out with the big beach towels and hurry them back into the house. And as I could hear them outside giggling with their dad I realized that this time I'd made a good decision. They may not remember sitting in the hot tub with their dad...but they'll remember the emotions of having fun with their dad. I know this because I have the same memories with my dad.