Lilly came down with a nasty cold on Easter weekend so we decided to leave her behind with Auntie Christy and took Caleb to our church's Saturday night service.
First of all, just going to church at our regular time is an accomplishment for Caleb {and Lilly}. We knew that deciding to go in Saturday night would put a little stress/anxiety on Caleb. He loves routine, he loves his teachers, familiar faces, etc. He fought getting dressed, he cried on the way there, and he could barely get out of the car. I knew his regular Sunday school teachers wouldn't be there, but I was relieved to discover one of my new life group friends was helping out in his class {and he hardly noticed the change in helpers}. It was crazy busy, kids everywhere, but it was a beautiful service and afterward there was a bounce house.
Caleb's never set foot in a bounce house. We always ask if he wants to do it and he screams NOOOO. Every time. Is it because he can hear the noisy machine that keeps it inflated? It is just too much for his senses? Too overwhelming? Whatever the reason, he'd never been comfortable until then. He saw the bounce house and ran full speed into it. I couldn't believe it was happening! He jumped and jumped, yelling "HI MOM! HI DAD!! IM JUMPING!!!"
Seriously. It was a big moment.
Somehow Lilly felt well enough for Easter dinner and we headed to Lakewood as always for Ellen & Paul's.
Aside from the fact that E&P's is so amazing {always good food, good fellowship} they always make a point to have us feel welcome and comfortable. There's lots of room for the kids to roam, and plenty of quiet areas at our disposal. And a pool, so Caleb clearly hung out there all night. It can be tricky for us on holidays, but this year I feel like we could finally breathe. No one had a meltdown.
The week after Easter I cut Lilly's hair for the first time.
Are you in the camp that votes to never ever cut your little girl's hair? Because I was, until it started looking stringy and scraggly. I felt confident doing it since my mom cut my hair until I was in high school. Plus LC's waves are very forgiving. A long bob looks good on her.
Oh my goodness we've had some serious ups & downs with Caleb lately. This day he was a wreck. He was fine at school, but right around the time we got home from picking up daddy from work, exhaustion set in; which means communication was minimal, emotions were high, he was overstimulated and frustrated trying to pedal his bike, and he had an all out meltdown. I chose to drag him kicking and yelling into the car and through the Wendy's drive-thru. I parked under a shady tree and we watched the leaves blow in the breeze with our windows rolled down. Sometimes tough moments don't call for teaching or redirection, but for compassion and grace.
A few crazy nights were totally redeemed by an easy, fun, and pleasant night at Downtown Disney. Caleb rolled around on the grass of the hotel, picked flowers, didn't pitch a fit when he had to wear a different sweatshirt {because we left his favorite one at Grammy & Grandpa's house...}.
After a few cool days we were blasted with awful heat and Santa Ana winds. UGH. I thought I'd beat the heat with LC and take her to the beach, but it was so windy that the sand was pelting us every which way. We'll try again next week.
There's nothing like a good coupon to Souplantation, and since Lilly is a picky eater I thought we could have a date and she'd find something to eat. She chose pizza bread and penne pasta. Not bad! Oh and a lovely helping of vanilla soft serve.
In the left photo she's trying to make the face of Grandmother Willow from Pocahontas, and on the right she's laughing at my versionof it. Oh Lil.
I bought a little tin can of sunflower seeds from the Target dollar section and they're blooming. I guess sunflowers love scorching 97°! Best $3 I've ever spent.
I made macaroni salad for my sister-in-law's bridal shower yesterday. It was my mom's recommendation that I add in a few hard boiled eggs. When I began chopping them in my hand, I realized this was the way I had watched my mom and my momo do it; ever so carefully in the palm of their hands. I remember growing up we had a contraption that "made it easier" to do, but it always ended up in the back of the bottom drawer with the mismatched silverware, salsa packets, and chopsticks. Somehow doing things by hand just puts a little more love into the mix.
And lastly {are you all still with me?} we threw a quaint bridal shower for my newest sister, Kacie. It was retro themed with retro games, food, gifts, and even hair. A bridal shower is never complete without an appearance by my dad, right? I knew you'd think so too.
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