Lacey at 9

As we celebrate Lacey's birthday, we are having fun reflecting on the experience that we have had getting to know her.  Thinking about what to highlight in her birthday blog, I realized that the ability to write very much represents Lacey.  When we met her, she had never  held a book in her hands.  Now, she loves to read.  The other day I actually found myself explaining to her that not all written words are meant to be read aloud!  I selected some written artifacts and some photos that represent the Lacey we have come to know.  

This first sample was written in September 2012, at the beginning of Lacey's second grade year.  Her elementary school had embraced a program that aims to teach the kids how to be "quality students."  Over the first week, the kids crafted a classroom mission statement and then were supposed to add what it meant to them.  Lacey's response pretty much summarizes her approach to life:

Yes, Lacey loves having fun and approaches everything with enthusiasm.  We work very hard at helping her understand the notion of consequences.  However, the joyful way she approaches almost everything is just so much fun.

Here is Lacey getting ready to let go of the wheelchair with her three year old cousin inside.  I came out just in time!

Lacey's first trip to Bear Workshop

Ballerina of the Day

    Yes, Lacey is happy.  Whether playing Wii, helping me fold laundry, riding her bike or doing her homework, she is genuinely happy.  Her only unhappy moments in life are when she has to wash her face or brush her hair!                                                                 

In the back yard

This next artifact represents Lacey's relationship with Cassie.  This is the sign that Lacey hung on the back of Cassie's chair for her birthday.   Lacey is just incredibly unselfish when it comes to Cassie.  She was probably more excited about Cassie's birthday than Cassie was.  

In November, as part of her black belt preparation, Cassie was required to give a public demonstration.  She did this at Lacey's elementary school, with Lacey as her assistant.  Lacey has attended Taekwondo summer camp and has earned her white belt.  So, she was more than willing to help.  Look at what a good sport she was!

Here are the girls after the black belt ceremony.  We asked Lacey if she would like to take classes and earn a black belt.  She said, "No way!  It's too much work!"

Cassie was squeamish about touching the seeds so Lacey agreed to do it.

Perfect costumes - a free-spirited owl and a cop!

Lacey braved the weather at a Civil War celebration for Cassie's sake.

Cassie convinced Lacey to sample Shamrock Shakes.

Saving the best for last.... This Spring, Lacey's class studied ancient China.  They learned about the Chinese zodiac and had to write about their birthdays.  Here is Lacey's description of herself:

The last sentence said, "I peel bananas."

Lacey and Gaby

Les' birthday

Studying with Oma

Doing nails with Cousin Nicola

Decorating cookies with little cousins

Christmas

Sisters

We celebrated Lacey's birthday at the American Girl Place Bistro.  As we waited for our food, the girls read aloud conversation prompts.

Lacey:  Have you ever been lucky and if so, explain.
Cassie:  Yes, when I got you.

Cassie:  What's your favorite childhood memory?
Lacey:  Playing with you, Cassie!

Father's Day

As we recognize the fathers, grandfathers and other great guys in our lives, I decided that I should give Les his own tribute.  The obvious starting point in this tribute is age.  How many others guys his age do you know who are raising 9 and 12 year old kids?  There, I said it.  There's no hiding the fact that Les and I are older parents. And, let me tell you, being a "slightly older" parent (speaking for myself there) is a beautiful thing.  Shortly after Cassie was born, her pediatrician told me what a wonderful thing it was to be an older parent.  She explained that older parents are more secure financially and personally, and tend to be more able and willing to devote themselves to parenting.  When Cassie was a toddler, we were approached by strangers in a restaurant.  They told us that they had been watching us interact with her and admiring our patience and joy.  And, with no offense intended, they explained that clearly this was because we were older parents.  I remembered what the doctor had said and it all fell into place.  Yes, being older parents is great.  We don't sweat the piles of books on the steps, the ballet tights waiting to be washed, the messes in the craft room, or the grass waiting to be cut.  These things aren't really that important because we have two wonderful kids to love and enjoy.  So, a big "thank you" is going out to Les for sharing this experience with me.

Next on this list of tributes to Les has to be his patience with cell phones.  Now, Les is this technological genius at work.  But, he has yet to master the cell phone.   Last fall, Les took Cassie to the AT&T store and got her a smart phone.  Because we have a family plan, her number is linked to Les'.  The first day of school, Cassie came home thrilled with her ability to stay connected with her friends.  Les walked in the door grumbling, "What the hell?  I''m receiving all kinds of texts from people I don't know.  And, none of them make any sense.  What's an Instagram?  What on earth is an eos?   And, who's Miss Geeko?"

Recalling this event makes me laugh so hard that I'm crying.  Les was receiving all Cassie's text messages.  I suggested that maybe this was a good thing.  They disagreed and headed back to the AT&T store to straighten things out.

The only time that Cassie got in trouble for having a cell phone at school this year was when Les texted her during the day.  Yeah, remembering this still makes me laugh out loud!  Cassie was furious. 

A recent trip to the AT&T store resulted in an iphone5 for Les.  Of course, all his contacts had to be transferred from his old phone to his new.  Les was sitting on the couch, struggling to learn all the functions of this little technological beast when he yelled, "Hey, who are all these people on my contact list?  Ashley.... Claira.... Emily?"  (Do you see a pattern here?)    A few minutes later Les yelled again, "All my contacts are gone, including my alert roster from work.  CASSIE!!!" 

It turns out that Les' contact list somehow merged with Cassie's on both their phones.  She, of course, knew how to delete the unwanted ones and quickly did just that.  Les has now signed up for daily cell phone lessons from Cassie.  "Mom," she complained the other day, "I've had to show Daddy how to set his alarm the last three nights in a row!"

Third on the list of kudos for Les also relates to technology.  About a month ago, Les got hearing aids.  Now he can catch every little snippet of the girls' conversations.  It's somewhat revolutionary to have him being the one asking for the TV volume to be turned down!

Fourth on the list is again technology, in a round about way.  On Tuesdays we have a conflict - Lacey has ballet and Cassie has violin.  A parent has to sit through the violin lesson and take notes.  Apparently, this makes Les sleepy.  So, I handle the violin lesson and he takes Lacey to ballet.  Parents and extra siblings have to sit in a waiting room during the dance lessons.  Although there are multiple signs posted that ask parents to take command of their youngsters, most kids run laps around the waiting room screaming.  Les is probably the first parent in the history of the dance studio to get this situation under control.  He installed an app on his phone that plays a high-pitched tone that can only be heard by young children with perfect hearing.  Les punches away at that app until all the little kids are silent, trying to figure out what's causing the pain in their heads.  The other parents chat on, ignorant of it all.

Fifth on the list of praise is again related to technology - the Wii System.  Les really enjoys playing Wii with the girls.  He's willing to turn off the TV and rearrange furniture to accommodate playing.  But, somehow, every time that Lacey is ready to play Wii, all the handsets need to be charged!

Next on the list is the dollhouse.  For about a year now, Les has been building a dollhouse for the girls.  They selected a kit with thousands of tiny pieces.  The girls have selected wallpapers, furniture, accessories and even electric lighting.  Les patiently toils away, evening after evening, making the dollhouse a reality.  Now, if he was worrying about cutting the grass or cleaning up the piles of books on the stairs, he wouldn't have time for this!

The final item to be praised is Les' cooking.  When I met him, Les knew how to make pancakes, spaghetti and Veal Parmesan.  That's it.  Now, I'll gladly turn over meal preparation to him.  His recent feats have included crab cakes, grilled salmon with mustard sauce, marinated flap steak, and peach slices topped with vanilla sugar.

Happy Father's Day, Les! 

A Peaceful Evening

Friday afternoon I left work and headed for what I hoped would be a peaceful evening.  I had canceled my plans to attend a coworker's baby shower because of a little kidney stone pain.  Les was going to pick up the girls and take them grocery shopping.  So, I planned to sit down and put my feet up for awhile.  For the past few days I had been tracking the progress of the new knitting book that I'd ordered.  It was scheduled to arrive Friday and I couldn't wait to rip open the package.   Yes, sitting down, putting my feet up and browsing new knitting patterns would be a wonderful way to welcome the weekend and take my mind off the pain.  Did I mention that Les was planning to pick up the girls and take them shopping?!  The weekend was packed full of plans and this would be my only peace until Sunday evening. 

I pulled into an empty driveway, opened the garage door and stepped inside.  I froze as I heard sound coming from the family room.  A thousand frightening scenarios flew through my head.  Had Les gotten annoyed with the kids, dropped them off at home and decided to shop alone??  

"Hello,"  I called out.  No answer except the TV.  I whipped out my phone and fired off a text to Cassie. 

"Did you leave the TV on??" I asked.

"Umm, I'm not sure," was her response.

Deciding this must have been the case, I took a few steps toward the kitchen when I froze again.  I shot off another text to Cassie.  "OK.  As if the TV wasn't scary enough.  There's something dead under the kitchen table!!"

"Oops.  I let Whisper in and I thought something was in her mouth.  But, my ride was coming down the street so I was in a hurry." she responded.

Yeah. Sure.  I headed to the garage for a shovel.  I returned to the kitchen and stamped on the floor several times in order to determine if there was any life left in the little critter.  He seemed quite dead so I scooped it up and carried it to the trash.  As I heard Les' car I sighed.  So much for my peace and quiet.  

Saturday was Cassie's birthday party.  We spent most of the day with a backyard full of screaming girls.  Sunday was filled with church, post-party clean up, laundry and homework.  A few minutes ago, I sat down to grade papers and... work on my blog.  As I reached for a sip of tea, Les suddenly flew through the room yelling, "IT'S A GIANT EFFING FROG!!!  Now how did the cat get that?"

We have not yet found the frog.  Moments like this really make me long for a housekeeper.  I can just imagine the look on a housekeeper's face if she were to find a dead frog while cleaning!