Piano Solo

Mackenzie is in the third grade and this year the third graders preformed a darling show, "The Prince-less Princess." Before the show began some of the students were able to perform solos. There were guitar and piano solos. Mackenzie played "Taco Joe" and did an awesome job. She was the only one who didn't need to have music in front of her because she had the song memorized. We got to the show early and had the video camera all set up ready to record. As soon as she was getting ready to be introduced I pushed the record button only to discover that we were at the end of the tape. I quickly grabbed my digital camera but it doesn't record the sound. Darn it. Luckily, she will be performing in a piano recital at the end of next month and playing the same song so I will be prepared for that day.

A few days before the performance Mackenzie told me she was going to tell Mrs. Sheerer that she didn't want to play the song. Her reason: because the person introducing her was going to say something like, "If you like tacos then you'll enjoy Mackenzie playing Taco Joe." Mackenzie thought this was lame and she wanted no part of it. I think she was just a little bit nervous and this was a way to get out of it. I told her that when I was in the third grade at Plain Center I played a song in the school talent show and I was so nervous. My hands were sweating and I really didn't want to do it. I had a teacher tell me that one way to get rid of that nervous feeling is to imagine everyone in the audience was wearing their underwear. I thought that was ridiculous but the thought did distract me a little bit. I was still really nervous though. Mackenzie did a fantastic job and we are proud that she was willing to share her talent.

Surprise Visit

On Monday morning the phone rang and Mackenzie answered. It was grandma asking if she needed anything. Mackenzie, slightly perplexed, said, "no." My mom then told her she was on her way to our house. Mackenzie was so excited and screamed and then told Dayton who had been begging for grandma to come. They didn't want me to tell Alexa. She was at school. My mom was going to get here before Alexa got home from school so Mackenzie suggested she just hide until she and Dayton got home from school an hour later. Well, mom pulled in 10 minutes before Alexa's bus came. Lex got off the bus and looked at the car but didn't really pause. Then I watched her stop right behind the car, look at the license plate, get the biggest grin and run into the house straight into grandma's arms. It was priceless. The scene was repeated with Dayton and Mackenzie just a bit later. It was 5 days of fun. Just that peacefulness of having someone you love and loves you unconditionally around is something I treasure. Mom and I went to lunch, ran random errands and just spent time hanging around the house. It was great. When she left on Friday mid morning I got that yucky homesick feeling in my gut and was sad to have her gone.
I love the relationship I share with my mom. She is my friend, my fan, my mentor, my therapist, my counselor, and my greatest hero. I love that Alexa said, "Mom, when grandma comes our house smells like her, but mostly my bedroom because she sleeps in there." (By the way that is a good smell) Mackenzie chats to her hearts content and my mom listens to every word. Dayton gets downright sad when it comes time for her to leave and then figures out the exact number of days until we get to see her again. He is just like me. When my grandparents would come to visit I would cry and then ask my mom when we would get to see them again.
It was a great week and made me appreciate having a mom who loves me and Nathan and my kids unconditionally. My one wish is to be just a little bit like she is to me to my kids.

Flip Flops

Today we took a trip to the store and bought flip flops. Now this may seem a little silly to be posting about but the kids wanted to document the day and the excitement they had for the new footwear. Dayton was playing at a friends house and so his sisters were able to make the final decision on the color of his flip flops. He loves them. Alexa wants to have hers stay clean so she can wear them inside but I'm sure that will change once it is warm enough for flip flops outside. Alexa got everybody to sit on the couch so she could take the photos.

Lego Glasses

Alexa was trying to decide what she could possible do to entertain herself this afternoon without playing the Wii. After a mild tantrum she bounded up the stairs and came down with the bucket of Lego's and proceeded to assemble this lovely set of glasses. She was incredibly proud of herself. Unfortunately the glasses were a little heavy and therefore uncomfortable but she wore them for a few photos and became a little too vocal when her sister tried to try them on.

STOMP

Last night we were able to go and see STOMP. It was AMAZING!! The kids loved it. I think we have an interest in banging on things at our house. Alexa was a bundle of excitement the entire evening. She was literally bouncing out of her seat for the 90 minute performance. This was a perfect way to spend her birthday evening. It was so entertaining. There was a lady sitting in our section who had some serious giggles. She was laughing at everything and at times we were laughing just because she was. One of my favorite parts was when the performers would clap a pattern and then wait for the audience to clap back. When we did it right it was the coolest, when we did it wrong it was hilarious to see the disappointment from the cast members.

Mackenzie leaned over during the program and said, "Mom, I don't think I'll be able to share this tomorrow in class without laughing and forgetting all of the best parts." It is so fun to go to a show like this and leave with everybody having loved the experience.

Now I just have to keep my kids from breaking my brooms.

Black Eye

The other day Mackenzie was asking me what happens if a boy hits a girl really hard on purpose. I told her that the boy would get in trouble. I was confused as to why she wanted to know this information. She said someone at school had told her that if a boy hit a girl really hard on purpose he would go to jail. So we talked about abuse and how sometimes people are mean and hurt other people and sometimes accidents happen and that is totally different.

Well, yesterday, the school nurse calls to tell me that Mackenzie fell off of the couch, they have a couch in her classroom, and hit her eye on the table. The nurse said she was fine but that she would have a very large bump on her face when she got home. A large, purple, red and green bump on her face...

These pictures really don't do this shiner justice. As I was helping her with her hair this morning we revisited our conversation about boys hitting girls. I told her that if a boy had done this to her on purpose he would be in really BIG TROUBLE. Unfortunately, accidents happen and more often than not to our Mackenzie.

She wanted to wear an eye patch to school today so people wouldn't see her eye.

***

These are photos of one week and a few days after the initial blow to the eye. It looks horrible. The red blood in the eye kind of freaks people out. Nathan took the kids of Saturday to run some errands and he got some very interesting looks for people.

Waiting....

Harley has amazing ears. She hears sounds sooner than I do on a regular basis. She is our doorbell regularly. One of the sounds she hears is the bus. We are the second bus stop in the neighborhood and she waits, like this, usually for about 30 minutes before Alexa is dropped off and she does the same thing for Mackenzie and Dayton. She hears the bus pull into the neighborhood and starts to whine a little bit because she knows they are coming. I love that she knows the schedule for when they are coming home and she anxiously awaits their return. In the morning, after Mackenzie and Dayton's bus pulls away she runs up the stairs and lays on her bed in my room and waits for me to come up and finish getting ready for the day. We just love Harley and all of her quirkiness.

Alexa is "11"

Another year has flown by. It honestly seems like just a few weeks ago and I was posting about her turning 10. It doesn't seem like I have been a mom for 11 years. Alexa has brought so much laughter and joy into our lives. She is an obedient, mild mannered, crazy, lovable, and tender kid. She keeps getting taller and I'm waiting for the day she passes me up.

We celebrated her birthday on Sunday because we are going to Stomp tonight. What a present, huh? It just worked out that our tickets were for tonight. She is pretty excited as are the rest of us.

She wanted a bean bag and got one from Grandma and Grandpa Dayton. Mackenzie and Dayton made her a super cool pop up card and gave her

"100 Grand." She got some new shoes, a lion Webkinz, and Mario Kart for the Wii. She wasn't as excited as we thought she'd be for the Mario Kart. We found out later she knew she was getting some kind of Wii game and this was one she had asked for so she was excited just not surprised. We went out to eat at Noodles and Co. on Saturday and ate some super yummy noodles. Everybody ordered something different and we all shared.

Alexa wanted a "Cat in the Hat" birthday cake but this is what she ended up with. Not so much a hat as a tower like cake, but really yummy. It had layers of candy bar and strawberry jam in between the cake layers. It may not be much to look at but it was good to eat.

Alexa has always come home from wherever she has been and wanted to tell me all about it. I love this about her. I always know what is happening in school, what her friends are doing, have said, or have done. I know what is bothering her, I know what makes her excited. When she was in Kindergarten, the bus would drop her off and we would sit outside on our front porch steps and she would tell me all about her day. We would go through every paper and picture and talk about it. I know at times I get distracted and don't focus on what she wants to tell me, but I wouldn't trade this characteristic of hers for anything.

Lex, I love you and am so proud of the young women you are becoming. You amaze me on a regular basis with your knowledge of so many things. I am honored to be your mom and love the relationship we share. Thank you for being such a good big sister and a great example to all of us.

Happy Birthday!