Small Price to Pay

Like Carol Brady, I'm always telling the girls not to play ball in the house. And, just like Peter, they never listen! (Don't worry...this doesn't end badly like it did for Peter!)

Catherine had been begging all day to play with her soccer ball inside, but over and over again, I told her no.

...until I got a phone call from a friend that I really wanted to take!

Both girls promised to keep the ball on the ground at all times and to be really careful. I knew they had no intention of following through on their promises, but I also knew the soccer ball would occupy them for a few minutes.

So I gave in.

It got pretty loud in their room, but I was able to tune it out. Nothing short of blood or broken bones was going to end this conversation prematurely!

At the end of our talk, I noticed the soccer ball was missing. I also noticed a guilty-looking little girl trying not to act suspicious.

It didn't take long to find the ball. It was in the same spot it's been in many times before. No, it was definitely not on the floor. It was on the top of their shelf, nestled in with some stuffed animals.

Okay, so they totally disobeyed and got away with it. Nothing was broken. No real harm was done.

And I was able to have a complete, uninterrupted phone call. Totally worth it!

Don't you have those days when you'll do just about anything for a few minutes to yourself?

BFFs

Practically since birth, the girls have had best friends. If you spend much time around them, you'll figure it out pretty quickly. No, I'm not just talking about each other. That goes without saying. They each have another best friend. Nanny and Pop. Just ask, and they'll always tell you the same thing. Grace will answer, without hesitation, that her best friend is Pop. Catherine will enthusiastically tell you her best friend is Nanny. And they aren't kidding. These two girls love their best friends! It's pretty cute, to say the least.

Usually, nothing makes my two girls happier than hearing that they are going to spend the night with their best friends. Yesterday, though, when I told Grace that there was a sleepover planned for tonight, she wasn't excited. She didn't go nuts like she usually does, and she didn't even crack a smile. In fact, she almost started to cry.

I was completely stunned, and asked her why she wasn't happy. Did she not want to spend the night over there? Was she scared? Was she sick? Was she going to miss me? (Okay...I knew that wasn't it, but it never hurts to ask, right?)

It was none of that. She was sad because she didn't think Pop was going to be there. My dad, Pop, was out of town the other night, and she didn't realize he was back. She didn't want to go without him. (No offense, Mom! If Catherine had been awake, I know she would have been ecstatic!)

She perked right up when I told her Pop was back. Once she knew he would be there, she couldn't wait to go!

I asked her if she wanted to go, now that she knew Pop would be there.

"Yes!" She said. "But Mommy, I really miss my best friend when he's gone!"

Awww...I understand!

Finally!

My blogging lately has been sporadic, at best. I could give you tons of excuses, but the bottom line is that I just haven't felt like it. I haven't really been in the mood to sit down and post some cute pictures of the girls, or go on and on about all of the wonderful things that have been happening around our house. Honestly, until the past few days, there haven't been many cute pictures. Most of the stories I have to tell would be far from wonderful.

And that's hard to admit.

For the past few weeks, the tears have come close to outnumbering the laughs. They've shed tears over everything from hurt feelings to not getting their way. I've shed tears out of sheer frustration, and because I just haven't been the mom I want to be.

That, too, is hard to admit.

Finally, a couple of days ago, things started to change. Yes, they are still three. And yes, they might still be throwing the kind of tantrums in public that draw a crowd.

But something is different. We've actually been having fun these past few days! I've enjoyed them more, and they are enjoying me! We've laughed more than we've cried, and the good moments have outweighed the bad.

I'm hoping this trend will continue! I'm really looking forward to seeing more of these happy faces...

I wish I may, I wish I might...

Catherine has been having a little trouble lately being nice. She's trying, I know she is, but sometimes it's just hard.

I can sympathize.

Yesterday as I was brushing her long, messy, tangled hair, she told me she was going to make a wish. She was wishing on a hair clip. Not a star, or even an eyelash. A hair clip.

It went something like this...

Catherine: I wish that I could be nice to Mommy all the time!

Me: Well, you actually don't have to wish for that. You can just do it!

Catherine: No, I just want to wish for it. I don't really want to do it.

At least she's honest.

Thanksgiving Thursday

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I've noticed a few of my bloggy friends playing along with Nicole, from What a Trip!, on Thanksgiving Thursday, and I thought today would be the perfect day to join in! Honestly, we've not had the best week, and I think it's about time to change my focus. There is so much I have to be thankful for...

1) My husband, who works ridiculously long hours this time of year and doesn't complain about it. He works so hard to provide for us, and I'm thankful to have married a man who is not only a great husband, but a wonderful dad! The girls truly adore him!

2) A weekend getaway! It will just be a little over 24 hours, but I get to go visit a really good friend of mine tomorrow...without the kiddos!!!

3) Silly girls. I'll admit that sometimes I wish they'd tone it down a little, but they do keep me laughing!

4) Fabulous friends! I really do have the best friends - ever! I have the kind who know just what to say (or not say), call at the exact moment that I need them, and love me unconditionally, quirks and all!

5) My new iPhone. Shallow, I know, but I love it! Even if it has a mind of its own.

6) Living near family. I live within 20 minutes of my parents and in-laws! They have all come to my rescue numerous times over the last 4 years!!

7) Baby Allen's safe arrival! Our friends Sara and Robert had their first baby boy yesterday, and we are so excited for them!! Can't wait to see him...hopefully soon!

8) BSF. If you've been reading my blog, you've heard me mention it before, but I'm so thankful for the lessons I'm learning this year! And for what the girls are learning.

9) Oldnavyweekly.com. Thanks to a heads up from my sister, I got a coupon for $75 off $100! Seriously!

10) The Imagination Movers! Yes, I'm the adult, but I had just as much fun as my kids at the concert! They were so good!

What are you thankful for?

Imagination Movers

Don't be jealous, but this weekend we took the girls to see the Imagination Movers! Before I was a mom, I thought I would never go to one of those kiddie concerts. Disney on Ice? Maybe. The Doodlebops? No way!

I'm so glad I changed my mind!

We've been big fans of the Imagination Movers since they've been on the Disney Channel, and our love for them has only grown. I'm not ashamed to admit that I am as much of a fan as the girls are!

So when I heard they were coming to town (um...yeah, I'm on their e-mail list!), I told my husband that we just had to go. Being the great husband and dad he is, he stayed home on the Saturday morning that the tickets came out so he could get us the best seats. And they really were good seats!

We all had a really good time at the concert! The girls got to meet the Imagination Movers after it was over, and we were all able to take a picture with them.

It was definitely a day the girls will remember!

Meltdown in aisle 7...

Late this afternoon, the girls and I went to Walmart to do our weekly grocery shopping. I had a feeling it wasn't going to go well, but I really didn't have a choice.

About 4.2 seconds into our shopping trip, Catherine started melting down. I managed to distract her for several minutes, but eventually, she broke down.

She just couldn't take it anymore. Frankly, neither could I. Right there in the pillow aisle, she just let it all out. Our cart was full, and there was really no turning back. I couldn't leave, and I definitely wasn't coming back another day to finish the job.

So I did what any loving and compassionate mom would do.

I took her picture.

Then I told her I was putting it on the Internet. And sending it to Daddy at work.

Did the tears stop? Not really.

Did she calm down? Hardly.

Did Grace and I get a little chuckle out of it? Maybe.

I promised her that later I would take a happy picture, too. And I did.

Before bedtime, she told her daddy all about what happened and I actually think it made an impression on her. She was sorry for throwing a fit in the store, and she said she liked the happy picture a lot better.

Me, too!

(And yes, if you are thinking this picture looks familiar, there is a reason. You've seen this face before!)