Today was Maria’s first official day as a Brownie.  She has been looking forward to it ALL YEAR.  The boys start at the beginning of first grade, but the girls have to wait until the new year, which makes it all the more torturous.

She looked adorable in her new uniform! She earned her first patch today (heaven help me), played games and made a Valentine craft.

This isn’t the best picture of her, unfortunately.  It’s hard to snap one of her without her eyes closed, or enroute.  But, you can get the idea of how cute she was!  (Much cuter than the girl in the other picture 30+ years ago.)

It was odd, going from winter to summer in just a few hours.  The climate was wonderful – warm and balmy and breezy.  And the view from the house was incredible – the water came right up to the back of the house.  The view inside the house, though, topped everything, as this was where Savannah Grace spent most of her time.

Maria had a blast with her good friends Riley and Max and loved doting on Savannah.  I mentioned to her that she’ll love having a baby brother, too, and she agreed, but also informed me that “girls are better than boys.”

I was so happy to have some time with one of my favorite people (Kristina!) and her family.  Everyone was very entertaining and the food was heavenly for a pregnant woman!

Baptised!

Godsisters

Not only did we have a great time, but I came home to uninjured boys, an exhausted but happy husband, a clean house and virtually no laundry!

Now I’m older.  And, after four babies, things aren’t exactly as they used to be. Or where they used to be.  With no recent babies, or any on the way as an excuse, I guess I’ve felt the need to get myself back together.  It’s definitely not as easy as it used to be.  I’ve been dieting.  I’ve been doing yoga.  I’ve been Jillianized daily.  I work out at the gym.  I walk with 10 extra pounds of weight.

And, I think I’ve made some progress.  However… None of the things I’ve done has managed to put my boobs back where they used to be or un-stretch my belly.  Previously, I never worried about my boobs.  They’ve always been “average” and I’ve been fine with that.  (Except during pregnancy, and nursing they were “nicer than average”).  I think, though, that my four kids did some damage.  I swear now they’re smaller and saggier than they’ve ever been.

As a result, my biggest issue is when I view myself from the side.  My belly sticks out and my boobs sag and it’s just depressing.

But no longer!

I have discovered the secret!!!  Bigger, perkier boobs make you look thinner!

Now, despite having a good friend with connections in the nip ‘n tuck industry, I hear discounts aren’t typically given.

So what’s a poor(er) girl to do?  Head to the mall and make a beeline for Victoria’s Secret!!!  (Seriously.  These women aren’t all thin! That’s why the only show the top halves of their bodies!  Right?)

Once you get over the horror of having super-young, stick-thin (but with boobs), model-like employees help you with your old, pudgy, saggy body, you’ll leave the store a new woman.  Or, at least you’ll look like a new woman.  As long as you keep your clothes on, anyway.  Once it all comes off, it’s still the same ‘ol you.  But there are blackout shades and beer goggles for that kind of thing, right?

My mom generously offered to fly us, but we opted to drive.  (She’s not that great of a pilot.  Ha.)  I know, we’re crazy.  It really would have been a hassle to fly, though – what, with six people, four under the age of 8, too many suitcases, renting a van, car seats, etc.

We headed out on Wednesday night and spent a quick night in St. Louis.  It should have been a little longer, but for some reason, we couldn’t pull ourselves together enough to get out of town before 7 p.m.

On Thursday, bright and early, we headed south and west, arriving in the Greatest State in the U.S. around 6 p.m.  We stopped at the border to celebrate our arrival and the hot weather.  (Which didn’t stay hot.  As a matter of fact, by the time we left on Monday, we were freezing.  Very weird.)

We had a blast seeing friends and family that we hadn’t seen in FOREVER.  The bride was gorgeous.  The groom was handsome.  The rain stopped just for the ceremony.  And we partied like rockstars afterward.

Oh, and the flower girls?  Perfect.

Anyway, she assured me that the baby isn’t here yet and that Kyle had made it safely home.  We talked about Kyle’s homecoming, her plans for the baby’s arrival, and which grandparents would be arriving when.

Then she sprung it on me -  the absolute best Christmas gift a friend could give:  an invitation for Dan and me to be her new baby girl’s Godparents.  I was stunned.  And excited!

Of course, the kids are excited too.  When I told Maria this morning that Miss Troy had called and asked Dan and me to be baby Zoë’s Godparents, she was thrilled.  “That means we get to be the Godkids!” she announced.  I guess it does.

Of course Troy and her baby have been in our nightly prayers since we found out she was expecting.  When we first started praying for them we didn’t have any idea if the baby was a boy or girl.  So, we had lots of fun each night guessing which it would be.  Some of the boys wavered, but not Maria.  She steadfastly wanted Miss Troy to have a girl so that she wouldn’t have to be the only girl in her family.

We started saying some extra prayers once Kyle deployed, leaving his three boys and pregnant wife behind.  I know Troy has had lots of help from family and friends, but I was sorely disappointed when she announced her pregnancy to me right around the time we found out about our move.  I really wanted to be there for her and the kids, especially while Kyle was away.  Maybe our prayers have helped, though, ’cause she sounds just wonderful, and has already made it through 6 months without her husband.

So, back to my Goddaughter, Zoë.  I’ve thought about her every time I see the color pink (which is quite often, having Maria around).  I also think about Troy and her new daughter when I see curly, girly things.  Or, when Maria and I have a few minutes to ourselves.  Boys are wonderful – don’t get me wrong.  And, I’m sure Troy would have been just as happy having another boy, as I would have five years ago.  But, having a girl adds a new dynamic and is a different experience.  It’s wonderful – for a mom, a dad and the brothers.

We were all sad to leave Troy and her family behind in Tennessee.  Everyone of us mentions them at least every other day.  They are wonderful people and have been great friends.  Friends, though, that I have feared we’d eventually lose touch with, as our travels usually only take us to one or two places each year, neither of which is near Tennessee.

Well, no matter.  We may go for periods without talking on the phone.  It might be years between visits, but we will never lose touch.  If we weren’t before, we are family now.  I just wish I could be there to help welcome my Goddaughter into the world.  I can’t wait for the day that I can hold her close and snuggle her and smell her sweet head.  I don’t know when that’s going to be, but I sure hope it’s soon.

Thanks, Troy and Kyle, for your wonderful Christmas gift this year.  Dan and I will certainly cherish it.

For the past year she’s been growing out her long, thick, beautiful black (or nearly black) hair for Locks of Love. It has apparently been somewhat of a struggle, as it takes quite some time to dry and can be difficult to style (although I never noticed).

Locks of Love requires 10 inches of hair to participate in their program. Kristina reached that goal weeks ago, but had some social engagements she wanted to get behind her before the big chopper-ooo.

The big event was set for today and Maria and I were honored to have our presence requested. We were thrilled, actually. However, that left us with five uninvited little monsters boys to deal with.

Poor Alex. She was fool desperate dumb gracious enough to agree to watch our boys while we did our thing. Thankfully, her husband was home today and she was able to keep Lucas safe by leaving him behind. (It’s much harder to do serious combat with a baby on your hip.)

After taking a few “before” pictures, Maria, Kristina and I snuck out (amid lots of hollering, jumping and crashing) and headed to the beauty salon.

Where the stylist cut 10 inches off her hair.

To be honest, I was a little disappointed. I mean, it was dramatic and everything, but evil friend that I am, I was kind of hoping to see something a little more Sinead O’Connor-ish.

But, it was fun. Maria had a blast running back and forth between Kristina in the chair and me in the waiting area. Kristina got highlights, too, so the foil was pretty entertaining. (Mom! Now she has silver star paper in her hair!)

When it was all over, Maria was thrilled – Kristina looked just like her!

Hobby Lobby (our only craft store) is closed on Sundays, so, daredevil that I am, I took Sam and Luke to Hobby Lobby on Monday while she was at school. (Are you kidding?!? No, I didn’t go with The Little Boys by myself! I conned Kristina into helping me.) We found glittery fabric paint, stencils and brushes.

After school, Maria got busy. For an HOUR, we sat at the kitchen table decorating our jeans. Other than helping her tape the stencils on, she completed the entire project all by herself. They were dry and ready for her to show them off at school this morning. She is SO PROUD!!! (And she should be – they look super cool!)

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This morning in the van, I had to switch out a headrest and in the process smacked Maria in the face with it. OUCH! I felt terrible. It hit her right below her eye. I apologized profusely and gave her some kisses.

“It’s okay, Mommy,” she said. “But you need to go to careful school. So you can learn to be more careful.”

Sign me up.

Daddy, do princesses eat the crusts of their bread?

They feed them to the ducks instead.

Yesterday for lunch, Maria requested cinnamon toast.

Maria (as she’s polishing off the first piece – except, of course, for the crust): I have an idea, Mama.

Me: What?

Maria: Let’s pretend cheerio isn’t a dog, but a duck instead!

Me: Let’s not.

I decided that it would be fun for us to give ourselves curly hair! I got all excited and asked Maria if she wanted to make her hair curly! After explaining that I’d go first, she readily agreed. Fun!

We broke out the Hot Sticks, plugged them in and waited impatiently for the tiny red dot to disappear, indicating that they were ready to use. Then carefully, with Maria watching, I began to roll my hair around the sticks.

P. I. T. A.

I finally finished rolling my hair. There weren’t enough Hot Sticks for us do our hair at the same time, so we had to wait for my hair to set, take them out, reheat them and then curl Maria’s hair.

I was able to remove the Hot Sticks without ripping out too much hair (as if I have any to spare). The curls were… ummmm… not very uniform.

I was a tad bit concerned that when Maria saw the results, she’d decline to have her own hair done. Enter the TV. Huge distraction. She seemed not to notice my inconsistent curls.

I reheated the Hot Sticks. Smart mom that I am, I decided to do Maria’s hair not in the bathroom, but in my room while she sat on the bed in front of the TV. (You know how they say a nursing baby will let just about anything be done to him as long as he’s nursing? Well, Maria is like that with the TV. It puts her into a trance — at least until real pain strikes.)

I got several curlers in before I got an, “OWWWWWWWWW! YOU’RE HURTING ME!”

Deep breath for both of us.

We continued. Got a few more in before she again claimed torture. But, determined, I did not quit! Throwing caution to the wind, I did the rest as fast as possible. By the time I was finished she had rivers of tears down her cheeks, puffy red eyes and a runny nose. “I don’t WANT curly hair!” she screamed at me.

Again the TV rescued me. I was able to get her to wait out the time it took for her hair to set and was able to get the sticks out with minimal (for her) screaming.

Unfortunately, Maria and I both have such straight and flat hair that by the time our photo session was over our curls were about gone. By the time Dad got home from work there was nary a wave left to show him. At least we had pictures!

Despite the terrible suffering and torture she had endured at the hands of her evil mother, the first thing Maria asked me the next morning was, “Can we make our hair curly again today?”

You gotta love that.

P.S. You won’t believe this, but she’s behind me right now saying, “Mommy, Mommy! Can we make our hair curly?”

What have I done?

Pictured here as a Pretty Princess, Maria doesn’t look like the type to walk (bawling) off the soccer field during her first practice…

I don’t think they were halfway through their 30 minute practice when Maria came toward me, crying her eyes out, fat tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Dad (the coach) hurt my feelings!” Maria claimed between jagged breaths.
“How?” I inquired.
“He let someone else use my pink soccer ball!!!”

Ummmm… when is the season over?