i love who you are and who you are becoming

Evaleigh,

I love who you are and who you are becoming.  You are everything I ever hoped having a daughter would be like.  You love to exclaim, "I wouldn't ever choose any mommy but you.  You are the best!"  Well I certainly feel the same way about you.  Gosh, you are growing.  Kindergarten this year, really?  I'll miss the heck out of you but oh how you are ready.  Here are a few things about you lately.

Smiling in Daddy's lap at a bonfire at momomee's.  I swear those flames got to be 40 feet high!  Biggest bonfire we've had out there ever!

You appreciate the value of family just like I do.  You love to ask questions about our family ties and who is related to who and how.  I've always done that too.  It is so important to cherish your heritage and from whom you've come.  Thank you for loving Nanny the way you do.  We are so SO lucky to still have her and I am grateful you will have memories of her.  I remember my great-grand mothers and visiting them, it is what binds generations together.  Weeping willow tree in the front yard, Grandmother Curles old weathered skin and the way her eyes reminded me of Papa, and the secret garden across the street from Grandmother Shepphard's.  Grandmother Mallonee's high rise apartment in Asheville.  Always make an effort to see your family.  Always.

You were so good at General Conference this past weekend.  You took it in and were attentive and echoed words and phrases you knew.  

I hope you never stop wanting to get dirty.  Explore, roll in the mud, pick up little critters, be curious about the bird noises you hear, and walk barefoot, make believe.  Those sorts of things were the foundation of my childhood.  It makes me feel so proud to see you do the same.

Oh boy.  This was me asking you about Will.  A boy from school you've come home talking about for months now. The range of your emotions go from joy to embarrassment. But I think its getting serious. He held your hand during quiet time at school today.  Oh my goodness I couldn't figure out how to process my thoughts and emotions as you told me that. I asked you, "Did you think 'what is happening?' or 'huh that's nice.'"  You said, "Huh, that's nice."

A few other things you said to me about him today, "Guess what? Our birds played together.  Mine and Will's.  His bird's nest was like a hot tub because they were all laying down."

"Will got a hair cut today."

"He has brown hair, blue eyes, is taller than me, and was wearing a brown shirt today."

"Guess what? Will knows everything.  Dinosaurs were in the 90's and 80's.  That was a long time ago when dinosaurs were here."

"Will said I could come over to his house."

Ok, I'm going to go put some books on your head now so you stop growing up!  But actually, I love seeing every single stage you go through and THANK YOU for talking to me about it all...please never stop.

Speaking of talking to me, you came home from school Tuesday so chatty and you and I sat on the swing at momomee's house for 10 minutes while I just let you tell me every detail about school.  I couldn't get enough.  It was like I was parched and I just soaked in every word you had to offer.  I love you so much.

Last night while I was doing bedtime solo I asked you to read a book while I put Avett to bed.  I came in and you were reading Madeline, a favorite since Lindsey gave it to you for your 1st birthday.  You started looking for your Madeline doll Grandmaw gave to you for Christmas and then you "read" the whole book from memory and each time Madeline was on the page you had her point to her self.

You are lovely to watch, to take in, to study and cherish.  I'm so glad I am your mom.  Our life is so so good.

I can do it

Today while we were getting ready to leave my moms house Evaleigh insisted on carrying everything out to the car. Even if there were something in my hands she would ask to carry it and say don't worry I can do it. On the way out she would drop items and then lean down to pick them up without a fuss or frustration. At one point I really wanted to help her but John wisely looked at me and said "let her do it." After she made it to the car with every thing I praised her and said, "wow Evie, good job! You can do hard things!" I hope that is a lesson she will learn in her life. 

On the way home we listened to some old Cirque du Soliel CDs that I found in the basement while cleaning up this afternoon. Evaleigh was loving the music while Avett fell asleep. At one point she asked me, "is this a sad song?" I asked her, "does it make you feel sad?"  She said yes.  Then I told her music can make you feel any emotion happy, sad, excited, relaxed, nostalgic. She asked me "mama, what does nostalgic mean?" Then I told her "do you know how when we are at Momommee's house and you tell me 'this feels like home?' Well we can feel the feeling of being at home."

Then she said in a very matter of fact tone, "yeah, I feel that way."

One the ride home she put her new blush on....about 7 times. Normally I would have squelched such a project but she looked so happy and I decided to embrace her first attempt at makeup by herself, really I just wanted to see where it would go and how far.  She was beaming a pretty little girl smile and was so proud of herself.

I love my Avett.  He was such a happy boy today.  I spent a lot of time swinging him in the swing and he kept asking to go higher up the the sky and up in the tree. I loved watching his sweet little high point to the sky. He is growing up so fast and I am cherishing these last bits of toddlerhood with him.  He is just 2 and a half still and sometimes I expect him to be where Evie is.  I have been finding more joy lately in embracing where he is now and sitting with him longer and playing with the things he is interested in.  We spent about 30 minutes together at our new little sand table yesterday making green sand with food dye. He loves to ask me to "cry mom."  And then he says our happy family word "jigglyjob". We made it up so when we say it no matter what who ever is crying has to stay and smile.  It sounds crazy but it works great and the kids think it's so funny. I love my sweet son and my giving curious daughter. 

lucky

After a hard morning full of lots of crying and whining and frustration I decided Avett *had* to have a nap. I tried and tried to get him down for a nap in his room and it was a struggle.  I surrendered my cause and just shut the door to his room to see if he would fuss him self to sleep.  I walked out feeling defeated and drained and looked up through the frizz of my frazzled pony tail only to see my sweet Evie at work in the kitchen.  She had pulled up a dining room chair up to the sink and she was scrubbing and washing and rinsing all of the dirty dishes.  I just about wept right then and there.  I walked closer and she caught me on her view and said, "Oh hey mom! Are you glad and lucky that you have someone to do the dishes for you?" I thanked her over and over for her service and kindness.  I am so proud of the service heart she is developing.  I adore her thoughtfulness and her ability to observe my frustrations and her determination to do something to make me smile. 

So yes Evie, to answer your question, I feel lucky.  I feel lucky in every way because of you my darling girl.

The Glenn Murphy Ranch: Spring Break part 2

Yesterday we got dirty and learned a lot.  Papa drove us around and we spotted Burrowing Brown Owls and Meadow Larks.  We went to the bone yard and the kids were introduced to the circle of life by seeing two decomposing cows.  They both rode Sassy, Avett's first time on a horse. He was beaming and mesmerized.  We watched daddy Papa Erin and Aunt Janice cut the calfs first thing in the morning.  We picked more fresh oranges and sat on and on every piece of farm equipment.  

After our hibachi Buffett dinner we came home and played another game of corn hole, (John and I won!) and then we put the kids to bed and watched a Elder Holland's LDS face 2 face broadcast. Lisa sang and I beamed with pride for my friend.  Wonderful gospel conversation followed by cards and a late bed time.

The kids woke up at 5:55am this morning, a fluke. But not a fun one. Now we will spen the morning at the Verona Lake beach to get all of the wiggles out we can before we take off for Georgia.  It's been a blast of a visit to the ranch.

tale as old as time

Two weekends ago Evaleigh and I got to go to the Fox Theater with my Dad and Grand-Jenny to see Beauty and the Beast.  She was transfixed the whole time.  She dressed up in her Belle princess dress and felt so special.  We ate at Mary Mac's Tea Room.

I am so grateful for our children's grandparents and the time they take to make special memories with our children.  My father always made special memories for my sister and I growing up.  He took time to teach us about the arts and creativity through giving us opportunities to see performances and I've never forgotten it.  The magic of those nights lingered for a long time and it is where my love for music and performing began to grow.  I know Evaleigh will remember this for a long time. 

When it was over we asked her what her favorite oart was and she said, "Everything!"

It was so fun to see her feel special.