Joel and I went on a “date” tonight. Joel really looks forward to our dates, as do I. These dates provide special one on one time — just with each other.
Tonight we went to see the local children’s theater perform Oliver Twist. His friend Jack was in the play and Joel enjoyed looking for him during the scenes. Joel did very well, but definitely got fidgety towards the end. It was about 2 hours long! He loved it when the younger kids were on, and at one point asked if he could go talk with a few of the boys.
Afterwards, Joel gave Jack a sucker bouquet and got to go on stage to take a picture with him. Jack\’s mom took Joel on a backstage tour. He got to meet one of the “bad guys” (Fagin) and seemed excited, yet concerend about this villain being so close to him. I wish I had had a camera because he had the funniest look on his face! When he got to meet “Oliver” he seemed to be in awe.
After the play we went to Checkers to “play” checkers and have some chocolate peanutbutter ice cream cones. We gobbled up our ice cream and played the Nascar version of checkers. He always brings such life to every activity he does. There was screeching and crashing. Then he set the checkers behind a line and pretended the checkers were people and he was on-stage with Jack:)
It was so nice to sit and “visit” with my boy. I loved watching him devour his ice cream cone — leaving a big chocolate dot on his nose. His blues eyes just sparkled as we sat, unhurried and unstressed. I loved his precious smile because I knew he felt happy, safe and important. As we walked to our front door, I stopped him. I squatted down to his height and said, “Thank you for spending time with me, I really had a nice time with you.” He smiled the smile that he gets when things are “in place” and said, “I did too.” Then…. a big hug! I never want to lose theses moments…
Over the past couple of days, Joel has been sending e-cards from the Veggie Tales website. I managed to copy all but two of the letters. Though I typed the words (and clarified a wee-bit only where necessary), what is written is what he said and how he said it.
To Gramma, Grampa & Uncle Mark: “I want to give Mark chocolate money that’s wrapped in paper. I want him to have a rabbit chocolate sucker and give him another video to him. Gramma & Grampa can have a watch and go to Red Robin for Uncle Mark’s birthday and have a Veggie Tales shovel. I love you so much, like big as a moon!!! I want to give Kasey and Cody a present and they have a sister. Thanks for the ride for Uncle Mark and his friends to let me ride in their snow thing.
Love, Joel”
To Gigi Virgie: “I love you and want to give you a beautiful star and that’s it! Love, Joel”
To Mim & Poppy: “I love you Mimi and Poppy. I want to give you a sucker and I love you and you love me and that’s it. I want to have a present. Love, Joel”
Joel sent a card to his Auntie Kerry and Cousin Cole, but I didn’t copy it. They sent a card back and it read: “Cousin Joel, thank you for the great Larry card. I liked it a lot. I wanted to send you a card also. I saw the sand box card and thought of the time we were playing at Owidia’s happy birthday party. Remember when I was throwing the rocks…? I thought that was fun even tho I am not supposed to throw sand or rocks. I love you and thanks for the card! Your cousin Cole”
To Friend Connor: “I want to play with you and I want to give you a hood and I want to give you a sucker. I want to give you a gun and a computer and that’s it! Your friend, Joel”
These tulips and daffodils are brightening up my backyard this spring! This is my first REAL garden. It is so neat to see what I worked hard for in the fall, bloom so beautifully in the spring! It is especially great because I thought the drainage was bad in the flower bed, and I thought the bulbs may have rotted - not so!
I should also add a special thanks to my guy. He worked very hard to build this raised bed. You’re the best Paul!
Who knew that one can draw on the carpet with crayon???
One wonderful Saturday morning (April 24, 2004 to be exact) — as we ate chocolate chip banana muffins with our friends Scott and Michele — Joel came in the kitchen and announced, “Livi drew on the carpet with crayon” I was unalarmed. How much harm can a hard crayon do to carpet? However, it was worth a peek….
Though Olivia “started it”, after some questioning we found out Joel helped her finish it!
My friend Julie sparked emotion when she wrote Up the escalator . Tomorrow, Olivia turns 2. Today was “technically” her last day of being 1. All day, with each “event” — meals, getting her up from nap, etc…) I thought, “these are our ‘lasts’ for this age!” So, for bedtime tonight I wanted to hold her and cherish a few special moment with my 1-year-old.
Welp, Livi had other plans. She wanted to play with one of the new toys she had been given at her party. It was already well past her bedtime, so playing was not an option (I suppose part of the drama was due to this later bedtime hour!) In short, the moments I had hoped to hold and cherish quietly turned into quite the dramatic event. She finally settled down, and tonight WAS memorable. It was the first night she decided to go to bed with NO kisses, it was the first night she went to be without choosing Mommy to pray (every night I ask if she wants to or if she wants Mommy to, she always chooses Mommy), it was just about as opposite as I had dreamed it would be! I’m not sure why I am so emotional about this birthday. It may because she is probably our “last one” and I want to take it all in this one last time.
Tonight, Livi set boundaries of her own. It hurt a little, but I know it is important to “listen” to her two-year-old communication. Besides, I know I’ll get kisses in the morning…
May first was a beautiful day in the Northwest! It was a perfect day for a party, and that we did! The food was all of Livi’s favorites - “Strawbabies” (strawberries), pizza, caesar salad (yes, she DOES love caesar salad!), and chocolate cake, were among some of the yummies.
Since most of the guests we about 2, we didn’t plan many activities. Each child got a pair of antennas for their “party hat”. Then they were off to play on the swingset in the backyard. We had mini pizzas for lunch, a hectic present opening, and of course — cake!
The “sunflower” cake had a chocolate round center, and the petals were twinkies! Hershey\’s kisses were the sunflower “seeds”. My friend Sara made special ladybug cookies that “hovered” around the cake! At the end we read the lady bug book — The Lazy Ladybug. The kids seemed to enjoy the pop-up book, and seemd to calm them down a bit too!
Olivia enjoyed herself very much. As the birthday girl, she had her own pair of ladybug wings to wear. She also got to eat lots of “strawbabies”, watermelon, and got pretty messy eating that chocolate cake! She ate almost NO pizza though!. Opening presents was an experience. She loved each gift so much, she didn’t want to open the next — it took awhile. After everyone left, Livi settled down an took a good nap. It was a vey fun and eventful day!
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