Thursday, January 24, 2013

......dance floor magic.....

....the last few days of the Christmas vacation, we finished a lot of the unpacking from this move......the move into the actual house we bought.....confusing, I know, since we had three roofs over our head in 10 weeks.....but I am speaking of our final destination or as I have often told Stefan, our final resting spot......Momma can't fathom moving ever, ever again.......

.....ever......

......I digress.....

....now that the unpacking and organizing has been (mostly) done, it has been really exciting to actually settle.....

....settle......just saying that word relaxes me......we are finally taking deep breaths.......yes, there are still rooms to fill, but our silverware is where it should be, our clothes are hung, the toys are organized and our routine is in full swing......big projects are in the works and I will be sure to post before and afters with some of the DIY projects that await Stefan's weekend list.......

.....one will be baby proofing the dryer, Brody's favorite new hiding spot.....


....I have procrastinated on this post.......Elsie's birthday was the week after we moved in and Thanksgiving shimmied its way in to that first week of unpacking, too......somehow, we were able to cook for the holiday and also celebrate Elsie's big day......but before I knew it, Christmas was here and other pictures of our lives filled the queue.....

....but let me rewind to that special day on November 24 because she and I escaped and made our own afternoon of memories......


.....living in NYC, there are nail boutiques that fill every block.....some cheap and easy, others more upscale and fancy......sister has wanted her nails done since she has been three and a half and she would take any of the corner store selections, cheap or fancy.......for over a year, she would ask repeatedly.......she would peer through the windows to see older toddlers and young little girls perched in the over sized chairs right beside their Mommas.......the girls Elsie would watch were not quite able to inhale the beauty and pampering of the moment, but Elsie would be sure to point them out to me.....see Momma, that little girl's Mommy let her get her nails done.....

....and so my answer became, we'll go together when you turn five.....

.....in the suburbs, we don't walk by 25 nail places on a daily basis......out of sight, out of mind......that didn't make a difference.....Elsie had one thing on her mind the day she turned five......



.....and Momma always keeps a promise.....


.....two months to the day later, Elsie is still talking about how much she loved it; but hasn't asked when we can go back......I think the year and a half of anticipation already branded in her little five year old mind that spa days are special treatments saved for momentous occasions.....


.....and since birthdays only come once a year, it's important to celebrate them.....wear a crown all day, eat your favorite foods, open presents throughout the day as they trickle in, laugh a lot, let others pamper you.......

......at least that is how I want my children to grow up remembering birthdays.....even as I approach the later part of my thirty somethings and birthdays are not an event I necessarily look forward to as much as I once did, I over enthuse for the kids.....age aside, it is my special day and it deserves to be embraced and highlighted as much as theirs.........after all, it isn't the age we are celebrating, it's the person's life.....

....I repeat that mantra, as well as the one about embracing life lines on my face every night when I wash up for bed......but I'll save that self talk for another post.....

.....when it came time to celebrate Elsie's young life of five sweet years, we were all ecstatic to cherish and honor her big day.....



.....friends drove from near and far to party with our girl.....all of our NYC friends made the trip and we merged old and new......










....all of the kids lined up to select paints for their plaster craft and whether or not they knew each other, they all shared in the excitement of independence and creativity.......




....although when it came to gaining the attention of the birthday girl, my heart ached for her......old friends wanted her attention, new friends wanted her attention.....all the little girls wanted to sit next to the birthday girl and Elsa had to make choices......some that would cause tears and sadness, while other choices that would bring out laughter and joy.....

....friendship is hard, even at five....

....as a parent, it was difficult to watch.....I didn't want to jump in and hover over her.....she has to learn how to handle social scenarios and deal with the choices she will make......but as a people pleasing first born myself, I also couldn't stand back and watch some of her friends cry.....especially when Elsie doesn't have the capacity to understand all of the different emotions that were unfolding around her.....

.....so the only time I intervened was when the crafting turned into a full on disco party, which is a great venue to include everyone......

.....no place like a dance floor......

....with the simple suggestion of dancing with old friends and new friends at the same time, Elsie caught on.....her heart is big.....she aims to love and she does it big......


.....and the DJ made sure it was good music to get the crowd going.....

....age appropriate, of course.....











.....just as birthdays need to be celebrated victoriously, friends also need to be treasured.....I know there will be many years ahead of learning the value of friendship for all of my children......some lessons will be hard to watch and others will make me proud......my only hope is that the end result is one that surrounds them with people they love, enjoy and appreciate......




.....I am constantly reminding myself to stop and savor every phase I encounter.....a wise woman told me today that when she looks at her older sons, she still misses being called Mommy.....

....there is physical labor that goes into being called Mommy......I understand the mental exhaustion comes when Momma changes to Mom......so I will suck the Mommy phase dry and focus on the parts of it that are precious......because despite the trials, there are many heart warming moments......







.....Happy birthday two months late, sweet girl.....






....you are a ray of sunshine.....


....and our family is so lucky to have you.....


.....and Callie was watching.....

.....she is scouring catalogs and handing me the things she wants with huge circles around her wish list items......

.....we have a birthday girl to be and we are ready to celebrate.......