The Nutcracker

Emma and I went on a special date to the Nutcracker Ballet which was put on by the Eugene Ballet Company.  Friday before Christmas I picked her up from her house and she looked very pretty.   We had a quick dinner out and then off we went to the Hult Center.  The performance began at 8:00 and I was a little doubtful that she would make it to the end which would have been around 10:00 p.m.  We had great seats and she did great until the final act and at that point decided that she was too tired to stay.  I had told her that we could leave any time she felt the need to.  

The ballet was really spectacular from the dancers to the set and orchestra.  Dave sent his small binoculars for Emma and she really enjoyed seeing each character up close. I forgot my camera so I couldn't get a picture of her before the event.  When we arrived back at the house she was very cranky and her dress was beginning to itch.

This is the only picture that I managed to get.....right before she got ready for bed.  Poor little itchy, cranky girl.  A little melt down.  I think next year we should go on Saturday or Sunday during the day don't you think?

Feliz Navidad!!!!

In The Moment

There was once a young and very beautiful princess named Kyla who had two little princesses of her own.  She loved to be together with all of her family, especially on holidays.  This lovely princess chose her Christmas tree one day before Christmas with joy and anticipation just like she always did even though she was going through hard times personally.  She knew she might not be here for much longer but still CHOSE to make each moment count, especially for her girls.

The photo above shows how much she enjoyed each moment, even the most simple of moments.  If only we could all live our lives IN each moment instead of what is in the past and what we anticipate in the future.  Very difficult perhaps, but if we can remember Kyla and her spirit as she was here on this earth maybe it will remind us that we need to be present now. 

So as I hang the stockings for all of my family this Christmas, her stocking is not only in honor of my daughters life but MY reminder that I am choosing to be in  every second of each day.

Merry Christmas!

Good Morning Gift

I thought as a mother of four I had seen or experienced most everything. I was wrong, very wrong. There is this gift called grandchild!

Lucy spent the night Tuesday as is usual. We had a nice dinner with the family for Wade's birthday and all went reasonably well considering there were two 2-year old children at the table in a restaurant. Only a couple of tantrums, mean faces, spilled water and hiding of eyes on grandma's shoulder, crying, not wanting to eat the macaroni and cheese, etc. That is what I come to expect. However, the fun part was also there.....holding their hands and running across the street all the while little peals of laughter coming from them both. Great fun and I still smile when I remember.

So this morning after a good nights sleep for Lucy, she ate her breakfast, took a bath, combed her hair and brushed her teeth. She was dressed and waiting for grandma and grandad to finish getting ready for work. As I was putting on hand lotion I noticed she was very quiet and seemed to have disappeared from our bedroom. Next thing as I turn around I hear "Gwamma". (Disclaimer: Those faint of heart might want to stop reading here). Lucy is standing there around the corner with her pants around her ankles, her pull-ups off and cupped in her hands with a large pile of poo sitting right in the middle of them. I don't know how she managed to take them off, walk back from the hallway with her ankles tethered together like that and not spill anything. Little stinker is so independent right now. She tells me "do it self" all the time. I must be on the watch even more when she is quiet.  

Funny Face Lucy from vonda on Vimeo.