Two Thoughts

I read two blog posts (with all my free time?) today. I loved them both. They both happen to be written by the same woman (one for her own blog and one for a guest blogging appearance). I love anyone who is willing to poke fun at themselves while also making themselves a little vulnerable. She does this well.

A Letter To My 51 Year Old Self

Week as a Single Parent

Both are definitely worth a read. You know ... in all of your spare time.

Seriously

Seriously, I cannot look at this picture without laughing:

This gem is courtesy of Caroline's awesome teachers.

Sisters

Sometimes the girls just know how to push each others' buttons. Those moments are frustrating and they make me wonder how long this will continue (the answer, by the way, is: forever).

Even in those moments, I can't deny that these two love to be with each other. They make each other laugh and they rile each other up like no one else can.

Today we came home from school and I was pooped. As I sat on the couch and gathered the energy to make dinner, the girls sat and happily played with Barbies. They were down right adorable and there was not a squabble in sight.

Lazy

Last night I didn't want to do much. I didn't want to cook. I didn't want to do work.

So I didn't.

I packed the girls up and headed to the diner.

It was a perfect night.

The end.

Ready to go eat some pancakes at the diner ... and
looking a little sleepy :-)

Gym Time

While Steve was at practice yesterday I took the girls to the gym. It was wet out and really all Lucy and Caroline want to do is run around, yell, and kick random balls. This is easily done at the gym.

Here is Lucy showing off her super cool dribbling skills:

And here is Caroline showing off her super cool "Super Frog":

Here is me trying to get a cute sister shot and Caroline having none of it:

And some other randoms:

WNBA bound?

If there were a Rubber Chicken Olympics then
Caroline would be a premier athlete

Lucy going fast

And of course any good trip to the gym is always capped off by laying down in the middle of the floor and "going ni-night" as Caroline calls it.

Slugs

We spent this morning being slugs. It involved a lot of juice, cheerios, Bubble Guppies, and couch time. It's how everyone celebrates Columbus Day, right?

This one's going to be trouble ...

When Lucy was younger she was always cautious on the playground. She used to make me worry, but Steve often said that Lucy would always stop if the situation was too much for her. I thought he was crazy ... until we had Caroline.

Caroline is fearless on the playground (and really life in general). In that setting, she is definitely Steve, and Lucy is definitely me. Caroline will try anything, and in the process will give me a heart attack.

Here's the scene: I am away doing some tutoring and Steve took the girls to the playground. Here they are hanging out in a very safe environment:

Lucy decided to try the monkey bars. Lucy always wants to do the monkey bars but will often get two bars in and then cry for us to come and get her. Today she tried and got two bars. Then three. Then four. Then she did the entire set by herself. This might be the first time she has done this and Steve was obviously excited.

Soon after that, Steve heard, "Look at me, Daddy! I a monkey!"

Steve turned around to see this:

Caroline decided to try the monkey bars too. She wasn't freaking out or asking for Steve to come and get her. Instead she started making appropriate monkey noises ("Oooh Oooh! Aaaah aaah!) and somehow managed to get herself back to the platform.

This child is going to be the end of me.

Who knows?

Who knows? Who knows what your kid will be interested in? Maybe she'll be an artist. Maybe she'll be an academic. Maybe she will be a brilliant musician. Maybe she'll be an athlete. Maybe she'll be mediocre at all of those things. Really, Steve and I could care less.


That being said, Lucy has shown an interest in playing sports. And we'd be lying if we said that we didn't enjoy watching her play.

Hanging out with her teammates after some intense 4 year old soccer

Shootin' the rock in the driveway

Right now it's fun for her and that's the best we could hope for. I hope it's always fun for her no matter how long she plays.

Sweet Caroline

Looking at this picture makes me want to squeeze her little cheeks!

Officer Soden

Here is Officer Soden keeping the mean streets of daycare clean and safe.

Some Days

Some days you're the windshield and some days you're the bug.

The Soden family has spent a few days this week being the bug.

As I sat at the dinner table and felt impatient and cranky, wanting to be short with the girls (and sometimes doing so even though I knew better) I had to take these pictures.

When I look at these pictures I remember something my old boss used to say all the time: if they could do better, they would.

Truer words were never spoken. I have reminded myself of these words as a teacher, colleague, etc. But I have found special meaning in them as a parent.

So, tomorrow is a new day. And I think I can do better. And I will.