Happy 8th birthday, Noah!

Dear Noah,

So many memories come to mind when I think of your birthday. I remember calling your dad at work and saying, “Come home immediately after work. I think I am having contractions.” Mind you, my phone call to your dad was 16 days too early.

Dean came home after work and found me wandering around the house, gathering items to throw in my hospital bag. I felt as if I was a dog chasing my tail. Every time I stopped to gather an item, I had a contraction. Needless to say, the pain erased my short term memory and I forgot what Item I was going to throw in my hospital bag. Plus, I was roaming the house wearing running shoes that were not tied. I was unable to reach around my belly to tie my shoes. I clearly remember sitting at the top of the stairs and watching Dean tie my shoes. All the while, he was saying, “I will get your bag. I will get your coat. Please go get in the car.”

Fast forward to the hospital, Dean and I entered the hospital through the Emergency Room because every other entrance was under construction.

“Do you want a wheelchair? The doctor said you should get a wheelchair when you arrive at the hospital.” Asked Dean.

With confidence I responded, “No, I can walk.” My ‘I can do everything myself’ attitude came into question when I realized we had to walk miles and miles to get to the maternity wing.

The nurses admitted me to the hospital, your dad and I watched ESPN News all night long and you were born at 7:45am. Your birth was surreal.

Dean and I were thrilled and overwhelmed. You were 16 days early. I called Grandma Pat and Papa Roger. Grandma Pat was overjoyed and so was Papa Roger. We didn’t call anyone when we left for the hospital at midnight, so your birth was a surprise to everyone we called. Again, you were 16 days early. Who wouldn’t be surprised?

Grandma Pat said, “If you had called and told me you were going to the hospital, I would have stayed up all night worrying.”

Grandma Babe was concerned we were playing a joke. She even told Daddy Dean, “You don’t joke about these things. The baby is 16 days early.”

Your birth was not a joke. It was a beautiful surprise. Your competitive nature to accomplish everything well and first continues today. We love you! Happy 8^th birthday, Noah!

Love, Mom and Dad

 

Noah's First Communion

Happy Birthday, baby girl!

 

Who would not enjoy a week of birthday celebrations? As our family embarked on Riley’s birthday week, I realize celebrating for week might be the best way to go. First, we hosted Riley’s birthday party on Easter Sunday, since the entire family would be together.  The food, which Dean and I worked very hard to prepare, was appreciated by Riley; however, she had more important things on her mind. The purple princess cake was a priority. It was fancy enough for our little princess, as well as very tasty. Of course, in Riley fashion, she ate the frosting and left the cake on her plate. Who doesn’t love a little birthday frosting?

Finally, the presents… She was so excited for the presents. How do you teach a five year old to realize that birthday celebrations don’t always have to involve presents? Whenever someone spoke of her birthday, she rattled on about her birthday present list.

“I have a birthday list. Do you want to see it?” Riley would inquire, in a very matter-of-fact voice.

Of course, Dean and I would follow up Riley’s inquiry with, “Just because it is your birthday, does not require people give you a present.”

“I know, but I do have a birthday list.” Riley would innocently respond.

Yes, Riley’s logic is sound, but our original statement remains true. Just because it is your birthday, does not mean people are required to give you a present. Could you imagine Dean and I, as adults, sharing our personal birthday lists with friends and family? The unsolicited presentation of a birthday list would be weird, as well rude. Back to the original question, how do you teach a five year old to realize that birthday celebrations don’t always have to involve presents? Well, at five years old, her behavior comes across as very cute to everyone, so we have time to work on helping Riley understand the concept that birthdays don’t always require presents. Now, if she is 30 years old and presenting her birthday list to friends and family, I will be a bit concerned. Riley did appreciate the presents she received from friends and family, and has been playing with the toys all week, as well as dressing up in all her new clothes.

Of course, a birthday would not be complete without an opportunity to share treats at school. Riley helped bake birthday cupcakes for her classmates in 4K. In actuality, she dumped the ingredients into the mixer and moved the mixer knob; mixing all the ingredients together. I took on the responsibility of filling the cupcake pan with batter, as well as frosting all the cupcakes. The best part was presenting her classmates with the cupcakes and wearing a birthday crown at school.

The birthday week continued with a trip to Build-a-Bear with Riley’s Godmother, Emily. Riley returned home with a bunny, dressed in fancy girl clothes. Furthermore, she named her bunny, Frosting in Spring. Not Frosting, not Frosting Leisgang, but Frosting in Spring. Go figure, Riley has a mind of her own. She has spent the days following the Build-a-Bear experience dressing and re-dressing her bunny.

Finally, April 5^th, her actual birthday was very quiet. Everyone spent the evening at home. Noah was sleeping on the couch, trying to sleep away an unexpected illness. Riley continued to dress and re-dress her build-a-bunny. Finally, Dean and Riley wrapped up the evening to visit Riley’s birthday twin, Aunt Eileen.

Celebrate your birthday for a day or week, which is better? I am not sure. However, if you ask Riley, she would respond that her birthday week was extremely special.

 

 

Egg-stravaganza

 

While Riley’s hands steadily turn her egg into a piece of art, Noah runs off and states, “I’m done.”

Noah and Riley have such opposite personalities. Noah is competitive. For instance, he had his hands on the hard boiled eggs before I had the colored dye ready. Then, he plopped one into the Easter egg dye before I even knew what was happening. Riley sensed my frustration because I couldn’t move as fast as Noah, and waited patiently for me to give her the go ahead.

Geez, I sound like my mother. I remember my mother, in her later years, commented on how I could zoom around the kitchen and prepare food so quickly. Typically, she made the choice to stay out of my way. Am I my mother, commenting on how quickly my children, namely Noah, move through activities?      

If I am like my mother, that is perfectly fine with me. She was the kindest, most compassionate individual. I digress…

Back to eggs, green finger tips and a tradition we have been sharing with Cousin Emily for seven years. The first time we gathered to color eggs was when Noah was ten months old. He sat on the table, in a onesie. Emily, Uncle Ray and I did most of the work, while Aunt Bonnie took pictures. Our little group evolved over the years and Riley joined the elite egg group. We went from using small paint brushes to color eggs, to independently plopping the eggs into the dye. Today, we had a chance to celebrate our last hurrah as elite eggers. Emily is off to college in the fall. Domi, an exchange student from Italy, colored eggs for the first time. We will continue our egg coloring tradition; however, it will look different next year. In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

This one time, on the train ...

“The sun never sets here. I can’t sleep.”

“It is too hot here. Do you have air conditioning?”

In the middle of nowhere, “Why won’t my cell phone work?”

“Where is Mt. McKinley? Where are the animals?”

So many life lessons, I learned while working on the train. Well, not really, but I did work hard and learn a lot. I learned if people are grumps in their daily life, they are going to be grumpy on vacation. There were many times I walked up to chat with passengers on the train, only to walk away with an earful of complaints.

"My tour guide told me I would see a lot of animals. Where are the animals?" a passenger inquired.

"Keep looking out the window. They are out there. Unfortunately, a massive train doesn't sneak up on animals very easily. If you see something, let me know." I responded, while slowly making my way towards a more jovial passenger.

I learned to be polite and respectful, while reminding myself not to take their grumpiness personally. I can't change their outlook on life. It took awhile to figure out the nature of people. What I learned during the summer of 1998 and 1999, still applies today.

“Some people are like thorns. But you have to let them be thorns, because thorns can't turn into petals. The trick is not letting them prick you; never let a thorn prick you!”  -C. JoyBell C.

Life requires good navigational skills. Stay away from the thorns and seek out the beauty of the petals.

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” - Socrates

The Birds & The Bees

“Molly is having a baby?” Questioned Noah.

“Yep!” I responded.

“How did the baby get inside Molly’s belly? “ Noah innocently inquired.

Oh boy…second grade and I am about to begin tackling the birds and bees conversation. How much do I share? How much do I hold back? Why now? It is eight-o-clock and time for bed. Can’t we read some stories and call it a day?

“Well, how babies get inside a mommy’s belly is complicated.” So far, so good…this conversation won’t be as difficult as I thought.

“I mean, does Molly just say she wants a baby in her belly and suddenly she has a baby in her belly?”

“Ummm, no.” Think, think, think. How am I going to explain this? When do they teach growth and development in school? Fifth grade? Fourth grade? Oh my, they teach growth and development in fourth grade. Noah is in second grade. How much do I tell him?

Gathering my scattered thoughts quickly, I respond with what I hope and pray is an appropriate response to Noah’s inquiry. “When a mommy and daddy are married and love each other, they talk about having a family. When they are ready to have a family, they say a prayer to God asking for help to have a baby. If they are healthy and lucky, they will be blessed with a baby.”

Fingers crossed, toes crossed, that my explanation is sufficient.

“Oh…. Is Molly going to have a boy or girl? What is she going to name her baby? Maybe she can name the baby Lucas or Jayson, if it is a boy?”

Like the snap of a finger, Noah moved on to the next question. Life as a seven year old is so sweet, so easy and so innocent.