Day 3

Yeah, I  skipped a couple of days. Give me a break... I was camping. Which, by the way, went well. The kids and I had to set up the whole camp while Nathan was doing some training. I know that he was incredibly sweaty and a little sore after kicking and stuff for like 4 hours, but I had to set up a 6 person tent. That has a porch. With two five year olds and a six year old. I am pretty sure I win. We went hiking, played at a great playground, learned how to roll down a giant hill and swimming. They had a great time. I am super tired.

So Day 3. My favorite store? I don't shop really. I mean, I like to shop, but I don't really have money to shop. And I have pretty expensive taste, which tends to lead to some frustration. Cause I like expensive things and pretty things, but I don't buy them. If I could win a shopping spree, I'd probably pick W0rld Market. Cause the stuff is pretty. And interesting. And not like the stuff that everybody else around here has in their homes. And now I'm sad that I just told everyone that the stuff at W0rld Market is out of my price range. Womp womp.
http://www.worldmarket.com/

Day 2!!

It is technically day two, because it is currently 4am. Yup, still packing. Should maybe have spent less time blogging and watching Hulu earlier this evening.  What have I eaten today?
Zotz. Otherwise known as the most under rated candy in the history of the world.

For the poor, unfortunate uninitiated, they are a tart candy that has fizzy powder in the midldle. So good.

I don't think I had eaten them for probably 6 months, but Nathan took pity on me after roughly 10 hours of packing.  

I think I really like them because they remind me of my grandma. She used to work in a little tiny grocery store. Tiny, like smaller than my living room. We would go visit her there and we would each get to pick out a piece of candy. It was the only place I saw Zotz.  I think of her when I see Fresca, too. She always had Fresca and Coke in her fridge, and fudgcicles in the freezer in the basement. I loved my grandma. She was tough and sarcastic and gave great hugs. When I picture her in my head it is either standing behind the counter at the store or with her head thrown back and laughing. She had a really great laugh. I dream about her laughing sometimes and always wake up smiling when I do. 

I loved my grandma.

Day1

A picture of me and a description of how my day went.
Well, today included playing beauty parlor twice- Once before work and once after. So when I went to work this morning I had my hair and nails freshly done. I took the barrettes out before I got there, but people kept asking if my finger was bleeding. They just don't understand fine nail art.

I worked and stuff at work... nothing too exciting. Lots of paperwork. Lots of chatting with Dixie, the terribly lucky person who gets to share an office with yours truly. She is a great friend... as evidenced by the fact that she still has friends from when she was in elementary school. My day is always better when she is around.

When I got home I got another layer of nail polish, this time with glitter. And more barrettes! I don't know if I pull them off quite as well as the girls.

Tonight is a gym night. Nathan teaches tae kwon do in a city nearby, so he took the girls with him for class. Kai is staying with his Grammy and Papa tonight, which is very exciting. The kids have been taking turns, and he has been in agony waiting for his chance. I love that they can get to know them as individuals. They are so different when they are on their own and not part of the pack. Really, you wouldn't believe how calm and cuddly the boy is with nobody to show off for. It is good that people get to know that side of him, too.

I am home posting on the blog and watching the Next Food Network St@r  packing for a camping trip tomorrow and making supper. The house is so quiet that it freaks me out. Kind of blissful, kind of lonely.
Day 1, complete!

Hmmm...

I have been a terrible blogger for the last..well.. year or so.  I miss having my online scrapbook to look back on and need to find a way to get back into the swing of things. So....

I will attempt it. Wish me luck.

The Doot.

 This guy is 5. It is so exciting and hearbreaking, isn't it? I am so happy to see him grow and develop. So sad to see him move more and more towards independence.  But really, who am I kidding? The boy has always been independent... except when he is needing some extra love and all of the sudden forgets how to put on socks.

 Malakai is a charmer. Everyone who meets him remembers him, and they all say just that. "Oh, Malakai! What a charmer!" He has great dimples and a terrific smile. He exudes energy and a barely contained chaos that is, for some reason, very attractive to women of all ages.  I guess I would think it was more charming if I weren't so often the recipient of the chaos when he loses the tenuous grip on it.

 He is constantly testing. Testing everything we say. Testing every decision we make. Testing every rule and boundary that has been set for him. Tell him to put his hands down in a store? He'll use his head to touch things. It is... well... sometimes trying. Patience is one of the many things that he tests.

 He is a blur of motion almost constantly, careening through life with no thought to consequences.  This can sometimes be alarming from a mother's perspective.

 But oh the snuggles. He is so sweet and loving. He is funny and disarming.

  He loves people and animals alike. He loves to understand how things work.  And that testing thing? If we don't screw him up too much, he'll be an impressive man some day.

 I just don't understand where this boy came from....

How he has gotten so tall and lean.

So strong and athletic.

 So tender hearted and concerned for my well being... when he slows down enough to notice.

How did this little tiny guy...

This scared, sad baby..

Turn into this guy? I am constantly amazed.

And grateful.

I love you, Little Doot.