My Little Star

Charlotte had her final dance recital of the season last week.
She loves the stage and looks very comfortable up there.  The dressing room chaos doesn't faze her.

I love watching her on stage.  I love watching the other classes dance too and seeing the progression from youngsters just finding their feet to dancers feeling comfortable in their bodies and reveling in all they can do.

37:16

Check out my fitness blog to see what I was up to today.

Nothing to see here....

BUT if you mosey over to my fitness/cooking blog you can read a bit about what I am doing to stay in shape:

Here's a hint:

I am running.

Oh wait.  I do have something to say.

Charlotte has been sick with a nasty stomach bug for a couple of days.  Yesterday she slept all day on the couch.  (I know!  Charlotte!  Sleeping in the middle of the day!  Scary!)  So, while she slept I did many loads of laundry, vacuumed and mopped the floors and generally tried to clean the sickness out of our house.  I must say that I love my lemon and ginger-scented floor cleaner--it really freshens things up.  Anyway, not long after the final laundry load was dried and the floor shiny and clean, the dog threw up on the floor.

Sigh.  THIS is why I hate housework.  The futility of it all.

PS--Charlotte is all better today.  Full of her regular spunk and energy.  Whew!

PPS--Do you like my blog's new outfit?  Is it irritating or charming that you never know what you are going to see when you click on my link?

A Dramatic reading. Sideways. (Probably only interesting if you are Grandma)

Emmett loves the Chester series of books. I will do anything to encourage him to practice reading, so here he is showing his stuff. I am sorry the picture is sideways. I don't know how to fix that.

Guess who had a birthday yesterday??

Happy fifth, my girl!
It feels like we have had a bumpy year.  Four has been a year for Charlotte to really try to assert her independence on the world.  Whether it be making her own lunch of jam and sauerkraut sandwiches, trying to boss her brothers around,  or thinking she can walk home from Emmett's school alone, she is showing herself to be very strong-willed and assertive.  These traits will serve her well some day and help her do great things in this world, but for now, I bumble along and do my best to reign her in without crushing her spirit.

When I think of Charlotte I keep thinking of Cyndi Lauper's song True Colours:

Show me a smile then
don't be unhappy, can't remember
when I last saw you laughing
if this world makes you crazy
and you've taken all you can bear
you call me up
because you know I'll be there
 

But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow 

I am realizing that we push each other's buttons so well because we are so very much alike.   Charlotte is my mirror and sometimes it is really hard to face that reflection.  By helping her through this world I am finding out all that I need  to learn myself.   

The challenge of being her mother is one that I sometimes shy away from, but I will never turn my back on it.  She is my girl and I want her to shine.

Thank you Ami!

 Ami gave me this cute award.  The catch?  I have to answer her questions and then make some up and tag some more people.  I like her questions and they are giving me an excuse to write a bit on this almost-snowy Sunday Morning.  Thanks, Ami!


You see a small kid riding a bike in the street. No helmet. Does that bother you?
Yes.  Kids who are big enough to ride bikes on the street and not just hobble along on the sidewalk with a parent walking alongside need helmets.  Head injuries are not a laughing matter and most motorists are idiots who don't drive slow enough on residential streets.
 

Someone else read your newspaper before you did and mixed it all up and didn't fold it properly. How do you feel?
Ambivalent.  I am usually the one to mess up the paper and spread it everywhere, so I would be quite a hypocrite if I got mad at someone else for doing that!

You're almost done with the laundry. You're on the last load, which happens to be a load of dark clothes. One of your kids brings in a bunch of white socks. Toss them in with the jeans or put them in the hamper to wash later?I don't understand this question.  Laundry can be finished?  In my house laundry is never ever ever finished so if a pile of socks shows up it can sit in the hamper until enough whites shows up for a load. Oh, and I am really anal about sorting so there is no possible way I would put white socks in with jeans on purpose.  (I have eight sorting categories that all require different detergent/softener combinations.  I know I am crazy.  I have actually lightened up.  I used to have eleven sorting categories.)
 
You're out shopping with a relative or a friend. You brought a bottle of water, he did not. When you open it and drink some, he wants to have some, too. Do you hand him the bottle and not drink any more out of it yourself? Share it and drink after each other without a second thought?
Or?
Ohhhh, that is a tricky one!  My gut reaction is to drink what I want, offer the rest to the friend/relative and then not have any more after that.  If the relative is my child I would DEFINITELY not drink out of the bottle again as I know there would be backwash.
 
You're out to dinner with a girlfriend and there's a very famous male celebrity seated just two tables over. What do you do, if anything?
I would take notice and then giggle and whisper with my friend, but I would not get up and approach the celebrity.  I am sure they don't want me bothering them while trying to eat. 

You just found out your 48 year old best friend is pregnant. (oops)
Do you tell her that you're really, really sorry or do you start celebrating immediately and try to make it seem like it's a good thing while inside you're saying 'I am so glad it's not me' ?
I would put on a happy face and celebrate with her while thanking my lucky stars it is her and not me.  If she is not happy about it I would try my best to put a positive spin on things and help her see the bright side.Heck, I am 34 and that is how I would react now! 

If you could plant your whole back yard with flowers, what kinds would you choose?

I would want my back yard to look like a crazy meadow full of wildflowers.  Oh, and I think a pond with a little waterfall would be pretty too.  Not sure about fish though....

Do you like chocolate milk?
Who doesn't?

Are you afraid to shop or pay bills online?
Heck no!  I hate leaving my house to shop!

Are you a cat person?
Why or why not?
I love cats, but I am allergic to them so I can't own one. 

Ok, now for (no pressure) tagging:


April
Carolyn
Cynthia
Sarah 
Sandy 
Tammi
You.  Yes you.  The one who has stuck with me this far.  Leave me a comment and a link to your own blog and I will stop by and read your answers.

And your questions:
If you could go anywhere for a vacation, money no object, where would you go and why?  Who would you take with you?


What has been your biggest challenge as an adult?


What are you currently reading?  What led you to that book?


What is one thing you will never ever ever eat?  Why?


It is Sunday morning, 10:00 AM.  What are you doing?


Which is more important to you?  A tidy home or a clean home?  Is there a difference to you?

If you were given a full-ride scholarship to the post-secondary institution of your choice, where would you go? What courses would you take?  

Would you rather go to an action movie or a girly movie?

If/when you start to grow grey hair, will you wear it with pride or dye it into submission?


Dogs or cats?