New Year 2010

Eli turned Roy Orbison on, invited all to come dance and the wild rumpus began. Anna spinned and twirled with her pinky in my palm, her Easter colored skirt flowing out just the way a proper skirt should when you dance. She moved always with grace and beauty on her mind. A perfect spin accentuated her blushing, tired cheeks. She reminded me of a tulip, just a sleepy one. Wow, Rainbow was blown away by the amount of energy created by four blossoming kids and two blooming parents. Joy was her middle name. Eli held her little hands and she danced-occasionally moving her head side to side to stir things up. But the laughter was what couldn't be stopped. That dimple of hers worked overtime tonight. On a solo step she supported herself on the cedar chest my Dad made for me...When the musical climax reached its point she balanced herself-raised her hands as high as they could go-wrapped her hands around the top of her head-and fake fainted on the ground and laughed and smiled. What a performance. Sunny suggested the next song be judged, leave it to the oldest to keep status and achievement at the forefront. So I sat out and wrote out points and took notes on all their fantastic moves:
Sunny-rhythmic stomps (5 points), stop and spin to ground (7 points-it was impressive, an amalgamation of hip hop and Sunny Carolina and the Tin Man), 2 points awarded for great use of the entire body in dancing. Moses-props for led kicks, a cool style, great improvisational skills, a smattering of martial art technique, leaps, and a smile-also proficient use of the whole body. Anna's tally: points awarded for soft, pretty balance, graceful movements, spins (to die for), poise and charm-believe in her story and beauty above all. Surprisingly (remember the mother was judge) all dancers received the exact same score (gasp!). Monumental-never before has a competition been this engaging! The dance session was interrupted by a dart gun fight. Who would have guessed Scott Summers and Optimus Prime were up for the battle of the century January 31, 2009. Watch out 2010. Jean Gray (or Storm...Adrianna insists she is both of these marvelous characters at any particular moment) was "asleep" on the couch. It seemed the battle may have been over her. So the fun was paused for an announcement from Dad. He just wanted all to know the reason we were dancing was that 10 years ago, at just about this time a handsome prince and a beautiful princess met. They, too were dancing (althought not yet together)The princess fell in love. (He left out for the story's sake that at that time the prince hadn't yet fallen in love with the princess...) They all groaned and giggled and just knew who the prince and princess were. They of course were right. Adrianna had an important question: "Mom, did you have long hair when you got married?" Heaven knows long hair is a prerequisite for happily ever after princesses. Phew, the answer was yes. Today I find myself looking disturbingly like Prince Valiant. Good thing we met ten years ago. Blessed we are to have a mere ten years passing result in all the joy and wonder we have. A houseful of giggly, blond angels, a love stronger than ever and hope for the future together.

First Steps.

Sunday is Rainbow's extra special day with Daddy. He's always there for her but on Sunday their devotion runs deeper. Right now church begins at 11:00-an interruption to a sweet dreamer's nap. Around 11:30 the gal can't hold out any longer so Eli takes her into the hallway and cradles her in his arms. Sometimes the lady protesteth much but usually it all ends in hums and songs and then sleep-often for the both of them-Eli claims he may occasionally nod his eyes but likely not for more than a few seconds. Although, from several witnesses at church commenting to me on the sweet site they see of Daddy and daughter together sleeping-I suspect he might be wrong. Eli brings Rainbow with him to Elders Quorum because quite frankly she would just rather be with him. Today Eli tried leaving her with me and apparently he missed the girl and found himself peeking in on us through the window, initially unbeknown st to us-but then Rainbow spotted him. I knew from her loud chirps and brightened eyes, "Dada! Daddy! Dada! Daddy, Daddy!" Her calls become more persistent and darn right insistent to the point that Eli couldn't resist. He came in and swept her from my arms. She was quite pleased. Oh, by the way, Miss Daddy's girl took her first steps today. Where did those fancy steps take her might you ask? To Daddy, naturally.

Shocking.

We began watching The Sound of Music, my favorite musical of all time this evening. My kids have never seen it before. As it began they quickly caught on the Maria's vagabond spirit. Carolina thought the convent chanting was in honor of the dead. I found that observation very acute. Definitely feels more like that than maybe the Southern Baptist joyful-joyful. They thought the other nuns were mean for noticing Maria's failings in a nunnery match up. Moses, introspective as ever commented after Maria sang "The Hills Are Alive" trepassing through the mountains in all their splendor and the nuns were singing "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?" that, "Maria is like, uh...electricity...it goes everywhere."

Moses loses his first tooth.

Moses wanted me to buy brussel sprouts at the store. Our dinner was macaroni and cheese, little smokies and those brussel sprouts. Rainbow expressed her contempt by depositing the sausages on the floor. She didn't know what to do with the "litttle cabbages." Carolina complained a tad but ate them. Moses was excited, began eating and complained his tooth was hurting from eating them. I rolled my eyes as he and Adrianna bantered their reasons of abstaining. Moses took my attitude for a directive that he'd better eat them. He chewed and then burst into tears. Impatiently, I asked him "What is your problem." He sobbed and said, "My tooth hurts!" And then I realized the crimson tinge couldn't be brussel sprouts. Those things dislodged that tooth of his. I told him his tooth had fallen out and his tears morphed into a joyful giggle. He rinsed his mouth and plotted all he would do, "Tell Mrs. Hunter, tell Joshua, and Jaden...and put it under my pillow, drink from a straw with the hole in my mouth!" The possibilities are endless. Miss Jaded Carolina was swift to inform her naive brother the Tooth Fairy was not real. She tried to help by having Moses leave the room and extracting his tooth herself from underneath his pillow and planting a nice, shiny quarter. Moses wants to believe and so I ruined her good intentions. Mr. Moses is growing up.

A day at school.

A trip to school.

Publishing Party in Sunny's class today! Parents were invited, Eli thinks the reason I took the opportunity surrounded the donuts and fruit punch. Had he have gone he would swiftly realized this highlight paled in comparison to a certain young lady, Miss Sunny Carolina and her presentation of her narrative story, I quoth "One sunny day I was going fishing with my Dad. I caught a really big fish. We were just about to leave when I noticed something. That's when I saw it. An island!(which she pronounced 'is-land') I was so excited that I nearly fell out of the boat. My Dad swung his arm at me. He pulled me into the boat and I pointed at the is-land. He nodded his head and turned the boat around. As soon as we were on dry land I picked up my gear and began to fish again. The end." Quite a rousing performance. She pointed out some of her friends, Claudia, Victoria, a boy went on and on thankful that he had an audience about his parents being from Europe-Bulgaria. He told me the story his grandmother told him of how the Americas were discovered, they thought it was Asia, etc, and etc, of how he went to Bulgaria when he was four. She beamed and smiled a pleased, shy smile and politely applauded her peers as they took their turns reading. Sunny took part in cleaning of the tables in preparation for the event-even sacrificing a recess for the cause, noting to me that she even cleaned Cecilia's spot-the messiest of all. Her efforts did not go unnoticed. The room had "Publishing Party" signs and a great appearance. It was a great event.
Before, I stopped into Moses' class to return the loaner bear, Taffy so another friend could take it home. He forgot to take it back yesterday. Taffy has a journal each child writes about what he does the whole evening with his buddy. Moses was coloring a "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around" book when I stopped in-so excited to see me and to give me a hug. Apparently, this was the 'best day ever' largely in part to my grand appearance. Way to make a mom feel like a million bucks, Moses.

A trip to school.

Publishing Party in Sunny's class today! Parents were invited, Eli thinks the reason I took the opportunity surrounded the donuts and fruit punch. Had he have gone he would swiftly realized this highlight paled in comparison to a certain young lady, Miss Sunny Carolina and her presentation of her narrative story, I quoth "One sunny day I was going fishing with my Dad. I caught a really big fish. We were just about to leave when I noticed something. That's when I saw it. An island!(which she pronounced 'is-land') I was so excited that I nearly fell out of the boat. My Dad swung his arm at me. He pulled me into the boat and I pointed at the is-land. He nodded his head and turned the boat around. As soon as we were on dry land I picked up my gear and began to fish again. The end." Quite a rousing performance. She pointed out some of her friends, Claudia, Victoria, a boy went on and on thankful that he had an audience about his parents being from Europe-Bulgaria. He told me the story his grandmother told him of how the Americas were discovered, they thought it was Asia, etc, and etc, of how he went to Bulgaria when he was four. She beamed and smiled a pleased, shy smile and politely applauded her peers as they took their turns reading. Sunny took part in cleaning of the tables in preparation for the event-even sacrificing a recess for the cause, noting to me that she even cleaned Cecilia's spot-the messiest of all. Her efforts did not go unnoticed. The room had "Publishing Party" signs and a great appearance. It was a great event.
Before, I stopped into Moses' class to return the loaner bear, Taffy so another friend could take it home. He forgot to take it back yesterday. Taffy has a journal each child writes about what he does the whole evening with his buddy. Moses was coloring a "Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Turn Around" book when I stopped in-so excited to see me and to give me a hug. Apparently, this was the 'best day ever' largely in part to my grand appearance. Way to make a mom feel like a million bucks, Moses.