Our Friday

Friday morning my friend Jess and I decided to take the kids to the park before the heat set in. It was really nice outside, almost felt like fall. I love this picture of the kids. Ryanne is saying,"don't' worry Ethan you can trust me." And Ethan is saying,"NO WAY! I read your mama's blog!" Morgan is saying,"Welcome to my life buddy." :) In other Ryanne news; Ryanne just completed her second year on the star fish swim team. They swim from May 1st through to the end of August. She did wonderful and was so proud of herself when she swam all the way across the deep end in 12' of water.
Since I am on a "Ryanne kick" today let me tell you how she took another 2 years off my life. At this rate I should be dead by next Tuesday. *sigh*
Yesterday she woke up not feeling well so with Dan working we decided to hunker down in our PJ's all day and just veg out. I had told Ryanne like 3 times to just lay down and watch the movie and to leave the kitten sleep under the recliner. I was loading laundry when I hear the cat cry out for help. I turn the corner to see the chair in the recline position and Ryanne's little body sticking out from the waste down. I yell,"Ryanne! What the heck are you doing under there?" What does a 5 year old do when they realize they are under a chair in trouble? They try to back out. Well, Ryanne starts to back out when she realizes she is stuck. She starts to scream bloody murder and I don't know what the heck is happening under the chair. At first I think the cat is clawing her face or something so I grab the chair lifting it thinking I am going to free her little body. Nope, she starts to scream as I move the chair and that's when I realize her head is stuck between two bars along with her arm. She's screaming, Morgan starts screaming, I'm screaming for everyone to STOP screaming. *sigh* I then do what any good mother does and realize I am still in my jammies with no teeth brushed, no bra no nothing so we are not calling 911 to have them saw my chair in half. So with one swift yank (I know, I know, thank God I didn't break her neck or arm and yes I can babysit for you anytime.) I yank her free and leave only minor cuts, bar rash and scrapes on her face and arms. I was so mad when I found out she was OK. Seriously? I mean seriously God? Who does these kinds of things? *sigh*

Parenting 101

Do you ever have days where you feel like you missed the parenting boat? I mean really, like they should have some kind of class for you to run to and ask some amazing parent who does everything perfectly what choice you should make in the moment you are in so as to require the least amount of therapy for your little ones in the future. I had a night like that last night. I was batteling between my "I want to rescue my three year old from everything fearful" & "I know she has to try new things and often be pushed a little" mode. It's a very hard place to be. A few months ago Dan and I decided to put Ryanne in this program that Morgan's swim club does called the Starfish. It is to teach little kids how to swim using the strokes correctly in hopes that when they turn 5 they will try out for the swim team. If you are a younger sibling of a kid on the team you get to swim at the same time which worked out great for us. Kill two birds with one stone. Morgans team is practcing, Ryanne learns to swim. We told her from the start she had to learn to swim but didnt have to ever try out for the team if it wasnt her thing. But because we are always on or near the water learning to swim is not an option. So we took her & let her pick out her goggles and bathing suit and primed her all week. This is her "I'm ready" stance. Below you will see the full panic "I'm NOT getting in that pool" stance. I was so stressed out that when Dan wasnt looking I did what any good mother would do and ran. Seriously, I took off. I told the coaches do whatever it takes to get her in I just can't watch. So I stood as far as my zoom lense would allow and snapped away. I was so close to letting her quit. I guess the crying thing still works on me sometimes. I want to push them enough to encourage them so they try things and grow but its so hard sometimes.
To the "fine, I'm in the pool but now I will scream the entire time" stance.
Actually she warmed up to her coach Alexis and was even going under water for her by the end. Here she is climbing out saying,"shoot daddy, I wasn't even scared"

This may seem silly to most but I have to share it anyway. I really have been struggling with the thought of Ryanne starting pre-k next year because she is so random and does these off the wall things constantly that often land her in trouble. She refuses to walk to the beat of anyone elses drum and will push beyond anyone's human limits. So I have been trying to teach her to take pride in the things she does. Complimenting her often, letting her help me with things around the house. etc. So here is where God blessed my heart to overflowing last night. Ryanne got out of the pool beaming last night like I have never seen. She was so proud of herself for completing the class and going under water and swimming a short distance to the side all by herself. She was grinning and laughing and dancing. Morgan ran to hug her and tell her how proud she was of her. Ryanne was so happy she talked about swimming and the other kids in the group all through dinner. I asked her if she was proud of herself and she said, "oh yes mama I am!" :) She slept better, woke up happier and has been a joy all day. Sometimes I think its important for us to be pushed or nudged out of our comfort zone so we grow. I hope that is what my girls learn when we gently nudge them forward in life.

Of course this morning she said,"mommy, I really think I am done with swimming ok?" No, Ryanne I KNOW you can learn to do this and even though you may be fearful in the beginning mommy will pray with you and you will be A-OKAY!

Another day in the life of Ryanne......

The weather could not have been more beautiful on Monday so after being "over" doing the laundry and cleaning the house Ryanne and I decided to give in to our sping fever and head to the park. I love that I am a spontanious person and am able to just pick up and go at the slightest mention of fun. But I hate that I often think about it to late. Honestly, I have no problem skirting around my so called responsibilitys as a stay at home mom. If there is fun to be had I have no problem leaving the dishwasher full, the laundry folded on the table, or the kids rooms a mess. Its just that sometimes I get tunnel vision and think that is what is important. Dont get me wrong I like my house clean and picked up, I like to have clean clothes to wear but I LOVE life more. And lets be honest living is not done in the laundry room. ;)
I often think the second child gets left out on some of the spontaneous moments that you shared when you only had one. You were more care free, only had one other little person to look after etc. But now we have big sisters homework, big sisters swim practice, big sisters social life and swim meets, and church outings and on and on and on. The babe just gets used to tagging along.
So today I threw the blanket in the car, grabbed the camera, stopped and got us lunch and some lemonade (see there I go living on the edge again) and we went and just laid in the grass together. I felt so refreshed, happy, and Ryanne felt important and doted on.
I let her take a picture of us. Cute huh?
I am glad I took the time to "just be" and yes after an hour or so of throwing our cares and all the stuff I should have been doing it was back to carpool, homework, swim practice, & dinner. You want to know the most amazing part though? When I got home the laundry was still there, the dishes were still dirty, and the rooms still not picked up. But the dirt all over Ryanne's face, tha band-aid on her knees, and the fact that she got to tell big sis all about her day at the park with mommy was priceless. Have a great day today.