This picture is pretty indicative of how this post is going to be... random, but hopefully enjoyable!
Paddy is multi-tasking (using hands and tooties to play with his toys)
He droooooools too.
Daddy taught CC to play Wii tennis.
She got into it.
She flung and flailed her arms about... sometimes the ball even went over the net!
Eventually (5 minutes after starting), she explained she wouldn't be playing anymore as "Wii makes me too tired."
Hopefully Paddy will someday play Wii with Daddy, as it appears that Claudia likes it about as much as I do, which is very little.
Paddy loves Daddy, so I have no doubt he'll play Wii with Daddy. Just need to wait about 3 years.
So I actually got a picture with Paddy.
Because this is usually what happens when such a pose is attempted.
I have about 50 pictures of Claudia in front of the camera, with a blurry Mommy & Paddy in the background. What a camera hog! Same principle applies when we are skyping anyone.
It appears that Paddy's eyes will be brown like Mommy's.
Although, if the light hits them just so, they have some green like Daddy's.
Like I said, just a bunch of random pictures, but that's just how this week has been. Hope everyone is having a great week so far!
On Sunday, May 13, 2012, Mother's Day, Claudia had her very first dance recital. Here's how the day unfolded...
11:00 am: Claudia is all nerves on the way to the show.
11:30 am: We arrive at the theater. Claudia gets suited up in her ballet shoes and fairy costume.
11:35 am: Claudia asks me to make sure her wings are properly attached. I said "yes, they're stuck on tight." She says "good."
11:45 am: Claudia's pal Amelie flies over in her fairy getup. The girls discuss stage presence and proper arm position.
11:50 am: Claudia and Amelie wish each other good luck and exchange hugs. We walk the girls to the auditorium and tell them we'll see them after the show. More hugs and kisses are exchanged.
12:30 pm: It's show time! The fairies and ladybugs dance together in a spirited rendition of "ladybug, ladybug, fly away home..." Note that, stage left (or is it right?) there is a flaming mushroom. That is the ladybug's home. It is on fire. Claudia and the fairies are sharing the bad news. Claudia is the one doing exactly what the giant ladybug is doing.
12:31 pm: Performance complete. Fairies and laybugs quietly file offstage. Except for Claudia. Claudia remains on stage, performing impromptu, self-choreographed breakdance. Claudia is escorted offstage by her dance teacher. (I will share video once it is purchased. Or DVD, I mean). Claudia finds us in the audience and sits with us. Hugs and kisses are exchanged once more.
1:30 pm: All performers return to stage to be presented with medals of honor, bearing the inscription "Don't Stop Believin'".
1:35 pm: Claudia and Amelie seem disappointed that the show is over. Claudia cheers herself up by helping herself to an additional "Don't Stop Believin'" medal of honor.
1:40 pm: Claudia parks it, center stage, pleased with her performance, pleased with her medals.
1:45 pm: Claudia finds Mommy & Daddy in audience... more hugs, more kisses, more pictures.
2:00 pm: My prima ballerina makes it home and is presented with her bouquet. She passes out and takes a 3 hour nap... most like dreaming of pirouettes, pliés & jetés.
Mother's Day weekend officially started on Friday at Claudia's school. The children performed five songs and then all the moms and kids made beaded friendship bracelets together. The performances were pretty awesome.
They clapped.
They rolled.
They indicated they loved us this (wide arms) much!
They also loved us this (reaching up high) much.
And a self hug to round things out.
Claudia kept the bracelet for herself (observe her left wrist), but I don't care. The singing was pretty much all I needed.
And sweet Paddy was there too. God bless his heart, he is always surrounded by no less than five children at a time, shouting "baby" in about five different languages. Doesn't seem to matter where they come from, kids all over this world love babies and the universal means of communicating this love is to get about two inches from a baby's face and shout out "I love you, baby", in the child's language of choice.
Bop made lots of crafts for me, including this painted plaster mold of her hand.
And this diploma...
... which certifies me as the "World's Best Mum!"
And a big thanks to Daddy for procuring such items as my favorite flowers, favorite cereal, favorite pastry, favorite magazines and favorite nail polish. Let me tell you these items are hard to come by around here, so BIG thanks to Daddy.
This one ate my Lucky Charms, though. I think it was the first time she's ever had them... she carefully picked out and ate all the charms. Not a big surprise, as they are the most delicious part of the cereal.
I'm so thankful to have these two children to celebrate with this Mother's Day.
I started writing this post several weeks ago. I wasn't sure what I wanted to say or how I wanted to say it. But I knew I wanted to capture, in words and pictures, a very important point. Everyone has someone whom they admire. Someone they hold in the highest esteem because of the way they live, they way they love and for the acts of kindness they carry out. In my life and in the lives of many, many more, that person is James Albert Roper, or "Uncle Jimmy," as I called him. Now let me tell you some of the reasons why Jimmy was so special. Jimmy looked death in the face on many occasions. He battled cancer for well over a decade, repeatedly refusing to back down. He fought cancer with courage and dignity. All the while maintaining positivity and faith in the Lord.
Jimmy devoted his life to loving the Lord, creating a strong and beautiful family, and taking care of other people. His voice will always echo in my mind, as it was a very distinctive and carefree voice. Despite being repeatedly told by doctors that his time was up, Jimmy lived his life with optimism and hope, treasuring the people he loved and enjoying all the pursuits life has to offer. I have to believe that Jimmy lived life to the fullest because he understood, more than most people ever will, that each day we are given is truly a blessing.
Jimmy loved his Saints!
Jimmy loved his Tigers!
Jimmy loved his beautiful wife, Ginger. He created a legacy of three children and eight grandchildren.
Jimmy payed it forward. He helped others and was very active in his churches, both First United Methodist Church in Slidell and later at Christ United Methodist Church in Memphis, and was also involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Slidell High School and Memphis East High School. Here the East High School football team in Memphis honored Jimmy with his own Letter and helmet. Their new stadium is being named in his honor.
Here is newborn Claudia meeting Uncle Jimmy (and Aunt Ginger and Aunt Kristy!) for the first time. My personal favorite memories of Uncle Jimmy will include our time spent at Lake Bruin, particularly Jimmy's coaching of me in McLendon family domino tournaments... "Now, Meryl, are you really SURE you want to play THAT [really bad choice] domino?" Mind you, we weren't even on the same team. =)
After years of courageously battling cancer, Jimmy was called home by our Lord on March 27, 2012. He fought long and he fought proud. He never gave up. Never. He lived to the fullest extent possible, forever shaping the lives of all of those around him. And here is further proof that Uncle Jimmy will always be part of us. Just a few weeks after Jimmy's passing, beautiful James Monroe Kennedy, Jimmy's eighth grandchild, was born.
Uncle Jimmy's namesake, who is decidedly one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen, will always remind us that life continues and that we should not despair in the adversities life throws at us, but rejoice in the blessings we have been given. Every day is a blessing! Jimmy knew that and I choose to live like Jimmy!
Exactly one year after she got the tricycle, she decided she'd bother with riding it... and she's AWESOME at it! She can go forward AND backward, ride around in a circle OR straight line. She can ring her little bell. She can give rides to Oatmeal. There's no stopping her... until she actually tries to stop herself.
When going to "park" the tricycle, she made a wrong turn off the patio and took the tricycle down a few steps. Found her like this. Tricycle upturned, but still smiling. Tire marks all over her "riding boots" and legs. Next time, and every time, we will make sure to wear a helmet. Always wear a helmet. And knee pads. And maybe pants too.
Little Paddy is now three months old. THREE! I could gobble him up he is so darn cute.
Paddy Cakes is learning to put himself down for naps. He takes about five of those every day. He is down to one to two night wakings (a huge improvement from last month's five to six wakings!). Little man goes down at 8 pm, wakes at almost 1:19 on the dot, and sometimes wakes up again at 3:30, other times makes it until 5:30. He is actually getting really into tummy time, well, as much as any 3 month old really gets into tummy time. He hated it last month. And now he does not. He can grab stuff that dangles from his baby playmat and still has freakishly strong leg strength. He has decided that he hates the tummy tub and wants to recline in his inclined baby bather. So we do that. Whatever little man wants, little man gets.
He loves his daddy. Loves to smile at him. But if Daddy gets Paddy up from a nap and Paddy was expecting me... he will get pretty upset with Daddy. Daddy does not take this personally.
What do they have in common? Neither likes to pose for my pictures. One scowls, the other smirks. Thank goodness for Claudia, who randomly asks for her picture to be taken. A girl after my heart.
We'll just do candids with these two.
I look at this picture and it dawns on me that it might be time for Claudia to get a haircut. You see it grows up and out. Like a shrubbery. A beautiful little shrubbery. It's been three years. It's time.
Happy three months to little Paddy Cakes. He is such a tasty little treat! Big thanks to both children for simultaneously napping today! Amazing!!
Sweet Patrick often, and unwillingly, finds himself "along for the ride." He goes to Claudia's school everyday. He goes to the grocery store. He goes to my eye doctor appointments. You get the gist. It is regrettable that he does not care for being crammed into the carseat and shuttled about town. More often than not, my car is magically (or maniacally) transformed into a torture chamber on wheels, Patrick screaming his little heart out. I suspect he is trying to say something along the lines of "Why are you doing this to me? WHY!!! Release me!!!" Fortunately, big sister and Mommy have found the solution to his woes! Sing to the man! It doesn't always work, but it often cheers him up long enough for our ear drums to stop ringing. Here we are, doing our best to make him smile and pipe down a bit.
