Strange bedfellows

The only thing really wrong with this picture is that Eleanor is missing. She is at an overnight trip with Peyton. Doesn't matter. If if she were here she wouldn't be here. She likes to sleep in her own bed. Not these two. They like to sleep in our bed. Actually, what is probably more true is that like to sleep with mommy and daddy. Maybe it would be even more true yet to say they like to sleep right up close and next to mommy and daddy. Mostly daddy because I need space. Brad says let them be little. Actually that's what he used to say about Meredith. She's hardly little anymore. In fact, he declared this week that he had carried her to bed for the last time. Guess he will be waking her up for a zombie like walk to her room any minute now. As for Poppy, she gets to stay until those sweet little baby cheeks go away. She is, after all, still little.

With love, Santa

 

Those that know us well, know how much we enjoy creating traditions for our girls.  One that has become a Christmas favorite is Santa's Christmas eve visit.  We haven't caught him yet, because he always comes when we are at Mass, but he always delivers new jammies, usually leaves a letter and lately, has been picking up Buddy our elf.  He doesn't leave any toys or other gifts.  It's like he just stops by to let us know he is in town and let's us know what we should be working on to make next year's Nice List.  

Here is this year's letter:

What a year!  I can’t believe how big the Pettet girls are getting. 

Meredith, I am so impressed by how hard you worked for your piano recital.  I know it is a lot work and, surely, you would rather play than practice, but I know how proud your family is of you and you did such a great job.  You are also working hard at school.  Way to go.

What a fabulous job is Eleanor doing at school! Your reading and artwork are terrific and you are such a nice girl at school.  You take your time and do good work.

Lillian, what a kind hearted child you are.  You do a remarkable job with your manners and are funny, always making people laugh. I know you are working hard on getting rid of your pull ups. Keep up the good work and I know you will get rid of those pull ups soon. I am proud of you. 

Don’t forget your sisters are a special gift from God.  Be nice to one another.

Your parents love you with their whole hearts.  Their number one job is to keep you safe help you grow up to be kind and loving people.  Love them back.  Always.

Tell the truth.  Lying is worse than anything you could ever do wrong.  Mommy, daddy and Jesus will always forgive you.

Don’t hit.

Words can hurt more than a punch in the nose, so use your words nicely.

Work hard at school, play, home and loving your family.

Dance silly. 

Read.  A lot.  The movie in your head is much better than the movie on TV.

Keep your room clean.

Be thankful.

Love God.

Help others.  Your lemonade stand is a very nice thing.  Jesus helped the needy, too.

Be a good friend.  Be a good girl.  Be a good sister.

Stay in your bed.

Love, Santa

PS - It is probably worth noting that several of these items were called out in last year's letter, too.  Must be why Eleanor and Lillian were quite concerned at bedtime.  Eleanor said "I'm still worried."  Lillian, thought she might get coal.  Both were relieved Christmas morn.

Just to be certain

Tonight the girls wrote letters to Santa. They are already gone. I think Buddy the Elf might have taken them to the North Pole. Meredith cut straight to the chase on her letter, listed all the things she wants. I wrote most of Lillian's list based on the photo wish list she made a few weeks back at Target. Eleanor, well, she's just Eleanor. She Started her letter by telling Santa she has been good, wrote her list, sealed the envelope and, apparently, for good measure, added another reminder to the big guy that she had, in fact, been good. I guess you can never be too sure.

Learning is Cool Stuff

I am amazed at how well Eleanor is reading already.  I actually asked her teacher, Mrs. Unnerstall, to try to discern if she was really reading or had memorized a few favorite books.  Turns out that, yep, she is reading.  In addition she is learning to spell.  She reminds me a little bit of Jo in Little Women...likes to read and write. In fact, she and I are reading the Louisa May Alcott book right now.  Recently, she and her sisters were sent to their rooms.  When she came down she brought some of her writings.  Not only am I very impressed, I was very intrigued with how her little brain works.  You can see, in her writing, how she must hear things and sounds them out in her head.  It's different than how a mature brain works (as indicated when I try to read what she has just read to me!)  I don't have many parenting regrets (yet) but one thing that makes me sad is that I probably missed moments like this with Meredith.  Regardless, it's fun to experience now.

Magical Mommy Moment

Parenthood is full of blessings but many get lost in the blur of everyday life. Recently, Meredith has offered us a parenting first. She, for the first time I am aware, now knows something neither Brad nor I know; how to play piano! Thanks to the hard work of cousin Ellory, Meredith is learning to read music and now has three songs in her repertoire. It's pretty remarkable experience. I keep thinking about and am surprised by the fact that I gave birth to someone that has now outpaced me. I hope there are many similar moments ahead of me.

Growing up Catholic

Brad and I are proud to be raising the girls Catholic and moments like we experienced at dinner tonight add to it.  We were nearly finished eating and Eleanor started humming and asked us to guess what she was humming.  I had no idea and was thinking of the Disney shows we watched earlier in the day.  Brad didn't know either.  She finished humming and then sung out loud "Lasagna in the Highest."  Huh? we asked.  "Lasagna in the Highest, from Church," she said.  Right on tune, she sang about the Italian casserole we all know and love.  The video below has the real version from a Mass in Ohio.



Brad thinks we should tell her.  I figure she'll figure it out in due time. I am just so darn proud she is paying attention.


 

Unplugged

We met some friends at Blumenhof Winery today and took the girls.  It was a beautiful day and we knew they would have fun.  It just took them a while to figure out what fun looks like without stuff or screens.  Eventually they danced, played in the woods and, my favorite, rolled down the hill.  Nothing like a little unplugged fun to really feel like a kid!  I love that this is a universal childhood experience.  No one had to show them how to do it, they just did it.  Eventually they were even joined by some adults (no, not us!)

Ride, Sally, Ride

Yesterday Eleanor and her Daddy took the training wheels off her bike.  Today she took off.  I am not sure which of us was more proud.  Of course, as her mother, I was proud of her for riding her bike, but I was more proud of how confident she was and how proud she was of herself.  Definitely a defining mommy moment.  Sure it was the same for Bradly who actually did the bike riding instruction...glad he's getting practice, I suppose the car will be next.

Best card ever

It's nice to be known so well. The inside reads "Where's your party at, bitch?"

Mrs. Perkins, sixth grade English teacher at SFB, would be so proud.

That mom

Recently I was at the car dealership waiting for a repair. I was a little put off at the morning I had given up to be there but I had bought my laptop and was hard at work. My concentration was broken when I heard a mother come in with her young child. I was surprised when the (not in school) Pre-schooler immediately asked for something from the vending machine. I was extra surprised that "that mom" said yes and could almost hear myself saying NO! to my children had they been along.

Shortly thereafter I looked up from my laptop and saw "that mom" playing on the floor with her child. I'm talking on-the-floor-pretend-play-where-you-be-the-bad-guy playing. I found myself thinking how, had the girls not been in school, I still would not have brought them. Quickly I realized how unhappy they would be if they were there. No snack. No momma playing on the floor with them. Sure they'd be wondering why they hadn't got "that momma!"

Another family fun day

Christmas Card Sneak Peak

Admittedly, this is a little premature, but as I learn more and more about blogging I like to try out the new things I have discovered.  Consequently, dear blog readers, you get a sneak peak of what I hope our Christmas card will look like this year.  With any luck there should appear a slide show of photos from our weekend trip to Destin.  What a blessing to get to watch your children see the ocean for the very first time.  Happy to share.

Forty, (quasi) Fit, and Fabulous

Not much more to say.  Love my husband, kids, family, friends.  Love my life.

Magical Summer

This has, undoubtedly, been the most incredible summer of my life.  When I learn how to do a slide show of photos I will add more pictures, but truth of the matter is that photos won't capture it.  I hope my girls will have memories of this summer.  Actually, what I really hope is that all summers will be like this one.  We are blessed.

Yep, it's wrong in so many ways

I don't even have anything to say to defend myself, except please excuse the messy room.  This is darn cute, even though it is way wrong and probably illegal south of the Mason Dixie line.  I know better, I really do.  That's why I share on our own private blog, not on Facebook.  Or YouTube.  Oh yeah, I actually did post to YouTube.Check it out here.  Please don't pass judgement.

Weather forecast from a four year old

Saturday morning I walked into the living room and practically ran into Poppy.  Indignantly she told me "The news is over.  There were two suns and lots of rains."  Huh? I thought about it and then it hit me.  She had seen the 7 day forecast.  It is supposed to rain all the way through Wednesday and the sun is forecast to shine on Thursday and Friday.  She was right, two suns and lot's of rains.

The Circle of Life

Like her sisters before her, Lillian has had an incubator in her preschool classroom during the weeks leading up to Easter.  Last Tuesday's storms apparently hurried the hatching process as 4 chicks had made their debut through the night and were dry and fluffy by the time I dropped Poppy off at school Wednesday.  In fact, another chick was working hard to join the family so I hung around to watch it happen.  The birthing process is a miracle to behold in and of itself, but watching Poppy watch the chick hatch was a stunning, proud moment for this momma.  Her eyes were as big as saucers, her mouth hung open and she applauded wildly when that little soggy chick finally plopped itself out of it's egg.  It was a poignant experience to share with a child born from me who will, likely, one day birth her own child.  That, I suppose, is the circle of life.

Ski-tastic!

We were thrilled to take the girls on their first ski trip over Christmas Break.  To be sure we weren't spending thousands of dollars on something they might hate we stayed fairly close to home.  We went to Chestnut Mountain in Galena IL. I was pleasantly surprised.  It was just a six hour driver, there was real snow and the girls seemed to like it.  By the end of the trip Meredith and Eleanor could both stop (key to really enjoying the ski experience!)  Lillian says she didn't like it but I think she is just a little young.  We snuck her in to ski school even though the minimum age is 4.  We were busted, but they didn't kick her out.  See all three try their skills in the brief video below.  Meredith goes first, Poppy comes down second with a little backwards skiing thrown in for goo measure and Eleanor brings up the rear.  Daddy is thrilled to have three willing ski partners in the making.