I'm Sorry

I am not sure how good a job I have done expressing how close Dean and Marly are, or describing their "twinness". (I am lamenting my own inability to write about it eloquently.) It is a special bond. On more then one occasion I have tried to explain to the siblings they are TWINS. I explain they were born at the same time and have the same birthday. I explain most brothers and sisters are NOT the same age. And still...if you ask them, "Who is your twin?" they might reply, "I don't know......"

People often comment, "You must have your hands full!"

Here is the TRUTH...

I do NOT have my hands full because Marly and Dean always have EACH OTHER to talk to, to play with, to swing with, to learn with, to bathe with, to sing with, to play hide and go seek with, to giggle with, and to conspire with.

Sometimes they fight. Sometimes they get on each other's nerves. Monday afternoon the whole family was enjoying leisure time on the lawn. The kids were picking on each other. Mark told Marly and Dean to wrestle it out.  Heck, sometimes kids just need to rough house a little, right???

Well, Dean took it a little too far. He got even more MAD, picked up a whiffle ball, and whipped it at Marly's head. It hit her square on the noggin and bounced off. Crying ensued. Dean apologized. Marly went to the front yard to nurse her wound.

I was inside working on supper when Dean trooped back in through the patio.  A drip of blood was dried down the side of his leg. He apologized to ME for the blood, and asked if I would help him clean his wound and get a band-aid.

My sweet little Dean explained he had fallen into the thorny rose bush because he wanted to give Marly flowers to show her he was sorry he had thrown the ball at her.

This mom's heart melted. He headed back outside in search of safer flowers. He came back with lilacs and requested a vase. He presented them to his sister, said he was sorry again, and then told Marly they were for her nightstand by her bed.....

Memorial Day 2012

We had a wonderful, long holiday weekend. Sunday morning we got up, excited to be heading to Brett and Rachel's on Lake Pierson. I remember as a child being giddy on Sunday's and oh so ready to head to Kandi to Donald and Lou's cabin and all the cousin's. I remember how impatient Brett and I could be, waiting to GO! (Let's GO MOM!!!)

 I was giddy this Sunday,  but I was playing the adult role of "mom". This means I ran to the grocery store at 8 am, made a pasta salad, whipped up a pan of rice crispy bars, packed every one's overnight bag and beach ware, and loaded the car. While I was doing the prep work, Marly and Dean were checking in regularly wondering how long before we were GOING!. Ahhh yes... I remember that.

We arrived before lunch. We ate hotdogs and headed to the boat. Marly took to the water right away, despite the initial chill. Dean thought he wanted to water ski, then decided it was way too cold.

He was all smiles back on the boat!

Dad and Chris arrived for supper. Afterwards Dad skied for the first time of the season.

61 and up on the water.

Monday morning we headed down to the dock for a boat ride after the overnight storm and before heading back to B.P. Mark is way out their on the dock. If there are photos of ME this post, which means Mark was behind the lens. Poor guy is not otherwise photographed this time!

The kids stayed an arm's length from this snapping turtle that must have gotten confused during the severe weather overnight and ended up at the neighbor's across the street, before being returned to the water.

Anyway... as you can see, we had a good holiday and hope you did too.

 

And - We THANK our troops for serving our country. We remember the reason for our liesure! I especially want to acknowledge my Uncle Dick for serving and his son Rob who serves today.

Mother's Day 2012

Someday I won't be a mom here on this Earth. I am sure that someday is a long, long, long way off. When this someday comes and my kids are grown, I am sure they will want to see pictures of themselves with their mom, or even photos of just me.

Each Mother's Day, Mark has taken photos of the three of us. The photos are for each of us to cherish in the years too far ahead to focus on or foresee.

I am glad it has become a yearly tradition. The smile on my face in these photos is very real and very accurate of the day as a whole. I am happy.

I am also contented and comfortable with my role as daughter to a mom NOT here on Earth. 

If my mom were alive, I would make her Mother's Day fantastic. I would make it my goal to make her feel appreciated for all she did. When she died, I was 25. I was still not mature enough to truly focus on HER on Mother's Day.

I now believe it takes being a Mom yourself or the wisdom that comes with age to show TRUE appreciation and gratitude to our own Mother's.

I do NOT remember the Mother's Days that occurred in the first few years after my Mom's death. I do not know what I did or where I spent my time. I am sure this is because the memories are too painful. I struggled as a 'motherless daughter' in the year's after her death, and not just on Mother's Day. The one thing I recall about those Mother's Days was  feeling a sense of gratitude for my dear aunts who have played a wonderful role in my life. Those aunts who loved, supported and cherished me all the more after my mom died and left this void in my life.

With a whooping five year's of Motherhood under my belt, I cherish MY Mother's Day.

I make each Mother's Day happy for myself. I do not expect my husband to wait on me hand and foot (although cleaning up the kitchen after brunch with out being asked is truly appreciated), or to plan my perfect day (although I love going out for greasy burgers for supper), or to buy me extravagant gifts (although I loved stopping at Patina on Friday and purchasing the fun fushia neclace I am wearing, and I love the Caribou gift card Mark picks up every year, and I love the homemade cards and craft items the Twinner's create).

I discovered it best to create my own plan for the day and have my husband be there to love, support and appreciate me in those ways husbands/father's do best. I am assured to be doing what makes MY heart happy.

For the past five years, I have hosted Mother's Day Brunch at my house with Mark's mom and/or Chris (and the men too). The menu is one that pleases me (always egg related and always with mimosa) and the table is set with china and crystal and flowers. Last year my Aunt Toot's joined us, and it was a true honor. This year Rachel came, and it was an honor to host the newest mom to the family.

This is exactly what I want to do with my day. I want to honor the role women have played in my life, or the life of those significant to me.

Then I want to take a nap, take some photos, and go out for that greasy burger!

*Dean took the photo of the flowers in our yard under the willow tree!*
*PS - While I was taking my nap, my children also cleaned the broken crystal goblet I dropped on the ceramic tile when getting it out from the downstairs cabinets before lunch. I ran out of time, and knew the guests would not be in that area. I was so proud of them and their desire to "help mom" on Mother's Day.

Lights, Camera, Action!

Marly had her first ever dance recital about a week ago! She started going to "lessons" at pre-school on Thursday mornings.

I am slow to the draw. We did not inititaly sign up for dance in the fall like many other little girls. I just wasn't paying attention. After the holidays, there was room in the class, and Marly's teacher asked if she would like to give it a try.

She went, and her teacher, Miss Yelena, assured me she had fun. But, back at home she told me she didn't want to go!

She went back the next week, and I got the same report. Finally I had a phone conversation with the dance instructor, Miss Missy. Miss Missy thought Marly was intimidated by the idea there would be a "recital" in the spring.

Marly returned to dance class with the knowledge she could go dance on Thurday's, but didn't need to perform on stage, and did NOT have to be a part of the recital. This seemed to resolve any problems.

As the weeks went by though.... she warmed up to the idea of being on stage. Just between me, Mark, and Miss Missy though... this was the grand plan anyway.

Miss Missy teaches at the multiple Step by Step locations. All the students from the various schools and classes come together at the Minnetonka Arts Center for Miss Missy's Step by Step recital.

Each group took turns performing three short dances to various songs. Marly was all smiles the ENTIRE show. Her shy-ness dissappeared, at least while she was on stage.

She did a  GREAT job, and was clearly having  fun the entire time.

The whole show and all the little girls were darn cute. There is nothing compititive about Miss Missy's dance classes. It is just for fun, and just for enjoyment.

Nana came to take in the show. We all had a good time! (and we are pretty proud of Miss Marly too!0

Growing Up

On a recent Friday a few weeks back, the kids had a sweet little musical performance at their school. We were delighted and amazed by their understanding of rythem and harmony.

It was a pleasure to see our Twinners performing and learning.

Then last Tuesday we had a kindergarden informational night. The kids spent 45 minutes in a kindergarden classroom while the parents got the low down of the operations of their new elementary school.

The Twinners will be going to a public school which focuses on math and environmental sciences. It is not the school we are districted to attend, but we were lucky enough to win the lottery. We also enrolled them in all day/every day kindergarten.

The Crystal Ball 2012

In case you wonder why I disappeared for a while, I was busy with our annual hospital gala. The event was sold out, had nearly 600 guests, and raised over $288,000!

Some of the magnicicent volunteers that make the night a reality!

Cocktail hour and silent auction.

This year  guests had hand held smart phone bidding devices called BidPals, increasing the amount raised on our 160 silent auction items.

My lovely co worker Kenna and I. Yes... my sash matches the Tiffany blue theme! I had is custom made by an Etsty seller.

The butterfly ice sculpture

Butterfly pendant jewelry raffle.

The Ballroom

Me with my husband/volunteer for the evening!

Fund a need speaker Rachel Russ, talking about the Cancer Patient Emergency Fund.

Rachel and our auctioneer Glen Fladeboe helped us raise over $44,000 for the fund in just minutes!

The night wrapped up with the WhatNots playing for the Crash the Ball after party.