Vian...Party of Five

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.