Belated Easter

I’ve been meaning to get this post out for a while now.  However, computers crash (thanks brother :) for coming to my rescue), kids get sick and I must attend to laundry at some point.  What I wanted to say is I love when holidays come around…not just cause I get a day off…but holidays make me feel settled, and traditions like dyeing eggs connect me to all the puddles of nostalgic happiness that dwell so fondly in my memory and fuel me to recreate them for my own family. So we did. We colored eggs last weekend.   

I love that there is no reason behind this tradition. Or rather there is, but when I Googled the historical explanation, it didn't excite me the same way that "because it's fun" did. And I'm totally cool with doing elaborate things with my kids for no reason at all.

There is something strangely thrilling about dunking these pure and delicate little ovoids (the proper name, I learned) into cups of color and waiting while they transform.   Even more thrilling is spinning them around, and around, and around.  Or watching as McCall leans over to carefully check their color progression, and like a stylist refolding the foil after inspecting unfinished highlights, she says "not quite yet" and lets the egg spinner do its thing.  I was asked to remove Rhys from the situation after 2 crushed eggs…he was stressing sissy out.

I held back my dyeing critique and watched, cringing, as McCall and Bodie did it their own way--plopping two eggs in at once, two colors at once and spinning from one hue to another, mixing dissonant colors, cracking shells and yet completely satisfied with their results. 

Turns out, the splotchiness adds to the beauty of their vibrant little egg art.  Rhys was moved to a supervisor position and watched the duration, eating his Peep and savoring all the sugar he could take in until “the diet”.  Note to self…Peeps + baby hair=a very long bath.  Oh, well.

To add to the festivities we baked  an Easter Bunny cake and had too many egg hunts to count...but it all must have paid off.

The EB was good to the kids…started them out with 8 clues to help find their baskets awaiting in the car. 

 Puddles of nostalgic happiness for them to pass on. 

Hope everyone enjoyed their day…Happy Easter!

 

Ketogenic Diet: How Can a High-Fat Diet Treat Seizures? - ABC News

ABC World News Tonight is airing a segment on the diet Rhyser will begin any day. It's so refreshing to see and hear such success stories. We can only hope he is so lucky!

Ketogenic Diet: How Can a High-Fat Diet Treat Seizures? - ABC News

We spent the morning with our firstborn today...at her school assembely.  Left Bodie and Rhys snuggled in their jammies right next to Sue Sue. McCall didn't know quite yet why I bought her a new outfit and curled her hair...but I was just beaming inside...so proud and astonished at the big girl she has become. Rob and I arranged work to support our little girl this morning for her big award. 
I've missed this. Just me, miss and daddy.  Sure, there are myriads of moments where we're together, but sometimes I'm turning the pages of Goodnight Moon while simultaneously balancing a baby. And, in the middle of a puzzle with her the other day, I jumped up to rescue stunt man Rhys from falling off the couch.  "He's fine, momma," McCall said as if her denial would convince me to stay and play.

I had it figured out with two...and then I thought I'd be really good at three when I was pregnant. I had rehearsed every possible situation with balancing three and had a plan of action. We were going to have McCall & Me dates weekly...then the boys would do their thing.  We were going to be aware of all jealous cues and fire planned responses to fix them. We were going to take our love and carefully divvy it up in perfect equal portions, no more, no less.

Unfortunately, life doesn't offer the Perfectly Planned option. In the ebb & flow of our home's activities, there have been days where McCall is rained upon with praise and puzzles and baking and book-reading and others where I've actually uttered the words, "Not now, Miss, your brother needs me" as if her needing me wasn't as meritable.  Some days her sassyness from these situations has resulted in less than favorable reactions from me. 

So I was excited beyond belief for today...today when we can give her our undivided attention...support her...be so proud of our girl.   She shyly accepted her award, but she stood in front of the entire school...and if anyone remembers the dance recital...this is a BIG accomplishment in its own.
It felt good to be back in the swing of things, to know that life being altered a bit doesn't change everything and there are so many more of these days--with all my kids--to come.

The scales will, I'm sure, tip again soon and teeter between too much and too little, but days like these will return and restore the balance of just enough love...and then some.  We love our girl :)

Next, I must say thank you.  Again, I'm amazed, honored and thrilled that the Team Rhyser fund as met and EXCEEDED its goal...and it's still growing.  Thank you to every one of you for giving and for sharing. I never dreamed it could happen like this. But, then again, I never dreamed a year ago that a little moment could change my life so wonderfully.

Lastly, when I started looking at pictures on my memory card it seems as though someone (or 2 someone's) may have taken my camera on a joyride without my knowledge...nonetheless there where a couple of funny shots.

 

Day 320...Mini Me

First, I must say thank you again and again (it will keep comin') for what you are doing out there with Team Rhyser.  Again, our family and friends have come through in love and support in a HUGE way.  I am so thankful, lucky and proud to be Rhyser's mommy and that he is surrounded by such love, compassion and generosity.  It all begins with awareness...and this village is aware baby.

Ok, so all I have today is a cute little comparison.  I love my boys...and the hand me down jammies!

Rhys

Rhys 17 months

Bodie 2008

Bodie July 2008 (1 year)