Friends Reunited

Sometimes your extended family may not be QUITE what you'd bargained for. Somehow that is easier to deal with when you've got amazing friends who more than make up for all those family issues. In fact, they are more like family themselves.

Today Velvet and Isa came to visit. We miss them so much while they're away, but we always seem to be able to pick up RIGHT where we left off.

Isa is growing into such a beautiful little girl and it's just such a treat to see her playing so avidly with Claire and Sydney. The three of them seem to have that same ability to pick things right back up.

Talking to Velvet is such a big treat for me too. No one "gets" me the way she does and I think it's more than our shared history. She just knows me better than any of my other friends and manages to feel exactly the same way I do about so many things.

One more thing I am grateful for this Christmas: amazing friends like Velvet and Isa.

Relative Calm

After the craze of the past month - including way more than normal upheaval in both the work and home environs, I am especially enjoying the sudden...calm. Today I've been able to tie up lots of loose ends in preparation for Christmas and it feels wonderful. I even had a half hour to sit down and read - unheard of! - though I did nod off for a few minutes.

I woke at 6 this morning, which feels like sleeping in. Made two trips to Target for stocking stuffers (they didn't actually open at 7, despite Tony's assurances. Had fun putting together the store list for cookies and our Christmas meals. The preparation is probably the most fun of the holiday. Can't wait to start baking with all the kiddles. So, just a few more newsletters to mail and a few more gifts to wrap and I'll be pretty much finished. Yippee!

Grace and Beauty

As a parent, it just doesn't get any better than watching your children go out into the world and be independent "people." Phase One of this process has got to be early sports or performances. In our case, with Claire and Sydney, their earliest opportunities have involved ballet.

Yesterday we had another such opportunity and, with tremendous pride, watched our girls do something that clearly delights them. I am so grateful for their health, beauty, intelligence and the JOY that they experience while dancing.

Baking Before Dawn

Once again this morning, I woke way before the alarm. I have gotten to the point where instead of laying in bed THINKING about what I need to do, it's best to just get up and get started.

Remembering that Sam needed to make brownies for a class and that she had had a bad headache the night before, I decided to toss those puppies in the oven. When I came upstairs to check on her and told her that the brownies were nearly done. She looked at me and just sort of fell into my arms, gave me two hugs and thanked me several times, from the bottom of her heart. It was one of the best moments I've had in a long time. I guess these early mornings can pay off sometimes.

Loose Teeth

Took the girls to the dentist yesterday and the "buzz" was all about who had loose teeth and how many. A few weeks ago, Sydney pointed out that she had a loose tooth - which made Claire absolutely crazy. In kindergarten, for reasons unknown, a loose tooth is a guaranteed status symbol. Claire is dying to join this elite group, but her teeth have not cooperated. So imagine her delight when Dr. Wanda informed her that she actually has two that are becoming loose. Claire immediately tried to get Dr. Wanda to commit to a specific day and time that the teeth would come out, but Wanda wisely did not provide specifics.

Even more surprising was the fact that not only does Sydney have two very loose teeth, but her permanent teeth are coming in behind them! It's kind of cool that she's carrying on our family tradition of permanent teeth not waiting for baby teeth to evacuate - even though it's bound to mean orthodontia. It also drove home for me that these girls are growing up - too fast. Permanent teeth! What's next? Dating and gradution?

The Wii Hours

Okay, I admit it...I'm a Wii addict. Especially Wii tennis - I'll just never get over how much it feels like you're actually playing. I guess I miss tennis more than I thought. So imagine my distress on Saturday when ours went kaput and promises of repairs were stretching into January. I was really struggling with the fact that several Christmas gifts were now ruined and that I had these wonderful visions of the entire family playing together over the break.

Fortunately, Tony is just as nuts as I am, so we both went out in the "Wii hours" of Sunday morning - he to Best Buy and me to Target to try to score at least one unit. I have to say that despite my initial hesitation, the experience was one of the highlights of my weekend. There is something about standing outside in the cold, knowing that the reason is entirely stupid, that brings people together. I had the good fortune of spending two hours with three other people, who by the end of the wait, felt like friends. Don't know if it was the shared misery or the lack of sleep, but standing in line in front of Target in the dark for two hours was a blast. AND I got a Wii! Since Tony got one as well, we've decided to sell the second and make a few extra dollars for the Jinzhoutou School in China.

I have to say that despite feeling a bit sheepish over the silliness of such a pursuit, I was a little lighter of heart yesterday. Just looking for the silver lining lately.

The Sun Returns

I actually kind of like the title of today's entry. It represents three things: the literal return of the sun after a rain-soaked week, the return of the SON meaning Joe, from college and the return of a ray of brightness after a particularly difficult week. It's also Friday - which never hurts!

It is such a great feeling to have all four children under one roof - so much more meaningful now that Joe is gone so much of the time. I'm really looking forward to having him back around and brushing up on my Wii skills!

I'll just have to do my utmost to enjoy the next few weeks and not get caught up in the stress of holiday preparation - not easy for me.