eternally chaotic

The South: The heat and humidity can become annoyingly unbearable in the summer, temperatures rising way over 100 degrees.  To stay cool and enjoy our summer vacation we have decided to spend lots of much needed time in the cold refreshing waters.  Mommies and Daddies get to relax and kiddos are able to release wild energies that are built up and have a blast in the process.

It was very entertaining to watch the boy’s play with Jacob’s new flippers.  Isaac spent most of the day using them as paddles on his hands while riding his tube.  Jacob tried them for a short period and decided today wasn’t the day to learn (water guns were way more exciting).  Israel or should I say “Scuba Steve”, (lol) swam around the pool like a wild shark amusing us girls (Piper, Violet & I)

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Jacob recently celebrated his 10th birthday.  Long before this day came he had it all planned out.  Dinner was going to be Taco Salad, cake was going to be white with white icing, and presents were going to be had.  Ah, the tough life of a ten year old.  He got his wishes though and then some – even some special bits, purchased months ago that he didn’t know about until the next day.

Jacob was certainly shy this year for pictures and while opening gifts but he had a great time and when the spotlight wasn’t pointed in his direction he opened up and enjoyed himself.  I guess ten is that magic age where things start to change and you notice when you are center of any type of attention.

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Upon request the now 6 year old princess Piper wanted to celebrate her special day with a Breakfast Brunch for family and friend.  Pancakes were a must, and as we have learned they are a large part of every up and coming princess’ diet.  The pancakes as were liberal helpings of syrup, scrambled eggs, bacon, yogurt and fruit.  A morning feast if you ask the cook.  There was even an option to build your very own BLTs, complete with bread and mayo for those party goers so inclined.

After breakfast was consumed and we all had full bellies it was time to make things official.  Once we stopped singing Piper made her wish and tried and tried to blow out the candles.  Must have been some wish….

She didn’t want to waste any time getting to the gifts (and a few of her guests had to leave early) so we skipped the cake and headed for the treasure.  Plus I think everyone’s bellies were still full from pancakes and BLTs.  She had been telling everyone that all she wanted for her birthday was Pet Shop, My Little Pony and Zu-Zu Pet toys.  Well they certainly listened and delivered and Piper was overly excited and thankful.  After each gift she ran across the room and gave hugs and kisses and thank yous to everyone.  Another thing that she had been asking for was “girlie” games for her Game Boy or one of the other game systems around the house.  Most of what we have (and most of what is out there) is focused either on some generic market or boys – well she wanted girl stuff.  ”Uncle” John delivered along with Carol and I at helping with this fix.  In particular Carol found a copy of a My Little Pony game for the Game Boy, something she had been asking for over and over for the past few months.

Auntie Autumn picked up a hula-hoop as part of her gift.  Piper wasn’t really sure what she was supposed to do with it so Autumn decided to demonstrate for her.  Piper still didn’t give it a go but it was certainly worth the entertainment.

The best part though was when Piper received a Justin Bieber book.  I didn’t even think she knew who he was, let alone cared.  Wow!  Can a dad be wrong or totally oblivious.  Piper turned into a pile of mushy fawning pre-adolescence girl, going on thirteen….I’m not sure I am ready for all that.

Happy Birthday Piper!!!

On a recent occasion I had the pleasure of greeting the kids after school when they got off of the bus.  Nothing special or unusual as the big yellow Twinkie pulled up and spit out its contents of three speed wired kidos ready for the weekend.  It was Friday after all, and the Friday before spring break at that.

Each in their own time ran up to, past me and into the house.  I was standing on the porch, leaning ever so comfortably against the railing, enjoying the spring air.  Piper however slowed as she approached and with a wry twist of her expression looked upon me as if I had materialized into some creature from ether origins.  She look not directly at me but above and beside me.  To be certain I was curious.  As she approached, ever slowing her stride with each step until she stopped before me.  Her eyes had grew large and her mouth had dropped open, a small pointy finger came up from her side and aimed at the location for which she was so quizzically focused.

“Daddy! Watch out!  There is a spider on your shoulder!  Watch out!”

All said with such despair that this thing, this monster, this wicked forbidden creature at which she peered had bared its venomous fangs and was about to end me.

I jumped to the side that rush of adrenaline surging through my veins, flushing my cheeks, focusing every sense to a heightened tingle.

Then a giggle, followed by another.  Then those monumentous words said with sheer delight that can only be delivered by a kindergartener that just got the best of her dear old dad.

“April Fools !!! Ha Ha!  There is not spider silly !!  April Fools !!!”

I definitely fell prey to a viscous creature but thankfully it wasn’t a blood sucking venomous eight legged one – although i am not sure which is worse.

Tonight was Piper’s first concert in kindergarten.  She has been excited about it for the past few weeks, continuously singing around the house and wanting to show us her “moves”.  It was very important for her to wear a formal princess dress during the performance.

In anticipation of the concert Violet has been learning the songs and moves from Piper.  Tonight all through the show she was insistent that she should be on stage performing.  It wasn’t until afterwards though that she got her chance.  Both girls wanted to get on the stage and show us one of the songs from the concert, they decided on “The Bear Went Over the Mountain” as their masterpiece.

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It was a rare treat to get some one on one time with Piper, let alone doing something new.  We took a friend up on an offer of Ice Skating and had a great time.  I cannot remember Piper ever having been on Ice before, well at least not intentionally and prepared.  She was skeptical at first – that initial step being something akin to loosing any remote sense of balance and traction with her spider little legs going every which way.  I would have love to have recorded the first moment when she stepped on the ice but both of my hands were required.  It only took a moment though and we were doing laps in the center of the rink with the other beginners – well beginners and some of those that just like to show off, spinning and twirling like the are dancing on the wind with butterflies between their toes.

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Fall and Halloween are now a touch behind us but I still wanted to share a few moments we had together at Jaemore Farms in Alto, GA in early October.  It was a perfect day for picking up pumpkins, taking a hay ride, playing some festival games and generally enjoying the perfect weather.  The games were pretty cool.  Our favorite two were the Apple Sling Shot where Isaac made a bullseye and won a free pumpkin (that got to be my pumpkin) and the duck race where you had to pump a well handle to make the water flow as fast as you could so that your duck would get to the big pond on the other side the fastest – the CoTC loved this and did not want to leave.

Violet’s preschool put on a Nativity play recently where all the kids had a chance to participate and play various parts.  Violet was insistent upon the role of a “Wise Man” as her part – interesting choice but she is always running around the house pretending to be the prince while Piper plays dress-up like a princess.  It was a pleasure to see her perform in her first play.  She did well with her part, a few songs, a one liner and most importantly she even stayed on the stage with the rest of her class.

“This is my gift of Myrrh which will keep your skin soft”

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It is rare to get snow in Georgia, or well normally it is, but the past few years we have received at least a little, normally after the turn of the new year when winter is in full swing.  This year however we were surprised that the weathermen were actually right for once when it started snowing on Christmas Day.  It didn’t take long before the temperatures plummeted and massive snow flakes started to stick and accumulate.  It was a wet snow to start with, wet enough that Dad and I were able to chase off Autumn, pummeling her with snowball after snowball when she had to leave Christmas night – I guess next time she will stick around

The day after however much of the wetness had dried up and all that was left was a nice power – little icy for skiing but nice nonetheless.  The CoTC could take it no longer though and wrapped themselves in layer upon layer to head out into the arctic cold.  Great times ensued !!!

It was great to have snow and even better to have it on Christmas Day.