Triangles

I have been in agony since Monday with a migraine that simply would not give up. My head is so bruised it feels like I have been beaten with a baseball bat. I can't even tell you how frustrating it is to be in pain such as this when you could be enjoying a cup of hot tea and a reading by the window, watching the rain patter on the sidewalk. Ugh. This morning I woke up pain free.. completely pain free... I resolved to take it easy all day .. to make sure the pain did not return. Ada and Margot were just super excited to see me off the couch for the first time all week (for the record they are excellent little nurses). We read all morning and then headed upstairs to wreck the play room. Margot has really been into her puzzles lately, particularly the ones with numbers. So we did some puzzling together.

I have to be honest here, my girls are not super great at puzzles. I know they just turned two but there are plenty of two year olds that are more than capable of putting simple puzzle pieces in the correct spot. My girls have not been that interested. They are more into coloring, playing pretend, learning how to jump.. kicking soccer balls around.. reading books.. anyway the point is that have been too busy to concentrate on the patience for puzzle doing. Suddenly Margot is all about it.. and as it turns out.. she is really good. She picks up the piece and puts it right where it goes, matching shape and color to shape and color.. or number to number. Today as we were finishing her shape puzzle of choice, she held up the green triangle for me to announce it's title "And now.. the GREEN TRIANGLE!!!!" She started to slam it home when she stopped.. it was like a light went off in her little mind.. she ran over to the toy bins and rummaged around until she found the rhythm triangle.. she held it up to compare it with the green one in her other hand and grinned from ear to ear. "Mommy, is'a triangle!" she announced. It was precious. The recognition in her eyes.. I know it all sound so silly... but it was such a sweet moment. She went around the room finding more triangles and getting super excited about each one she found. I was so grateful to be with her.

It was only moments later that we were all banging away on the musical instruments in the room. The girls have seen the violin in books and on a story book dvd that we have... and they love it. They also know that mommy used to play the violin.. but for some reason I am desperately shy when it comes to my violin playing.. I have never played it for them. Until today. I glanced over from the tiny piano I was pinging away on and saw Ada sawing away at a stuffed animal on her shoulder with a drum stick making violin noises .. it was time. I had them sit down while I got Franz (yes, he has a name) out of the closet. I asked them if they wanted me to play them a song and they requested "Twinkle Star". It certainly was a moment. They listened and clapped and couldn't wait to try it for themselves. I showed them where to hold the bow and where to play between the bridge and the fingerboard and I was pleasantly surprised at how well they did. They dug right into those strings. They were so patient, taking turns and helping each other keep the bow in the right spot while I fingered the notes. Just the three of us.. playing the violin.

The month in review

It has been a long, exciting, tiring, busy month here. Here are a few highlights. Above you can see Margot taking good car of the baby owl that still lives under our sink.. she has brought him some vitamins.



We got to share our story time with Ms. Josie one night.



They both really enjoy helping daddy cook eggs from their perch on the counter.



Tea parties have become popular as well. Complete with "Daddy Cookies" (not sure how they got this name).



These are actually the coasters that Uncle Page and Aunt Jennie brought us back from Africa.



John and Aunt Mariel came up to celebrate our birthdays (John, Page and I were all born in September).



Little in the middle.



Fearless Margot got to sit on Papa motorcycle. Ada would have none of it but enjoyed watching her little sister explore all the whistles and bells.







I have been enjoying some fine cuddle time with my growing babies.



Nana and Margot at the bit birthday bash. Margot still loves that mouse house.



We had a big lobster boil for our birthdays. Mom and Dad ordered them from our favorite lobster pound in Maine (Trenton Bridge) and they arrived alive and well.



They didn't stay that way for long. My most sincere apologies to my vegan/vegetarian friends out there. They were so delish that we didn't even get a picture of anyone eating them.. no one wanted to take time to get the camera.



The men in my life (sans Ollie who was guarding our house from purple elephants.. he did an excellent job.. our house was elephant free when we got home that night).

The girls and I are enjoying a soggy day indoors, watching the rain patter onto the window screens. I have a tiny migraine that insists on joining me for the day.... Looking forward to nap time today.

Then again..

... after re-reading my hyper emotional post from last night.. maybe I shouldn't have been posting and listening to Arcade Fire...

..nostalgia overload..

Then and Now

Then... they were best friends in Tallahassee.. since 8th grade. They snuck out together.. did crazy Tallahassee kid things..

Then.. they were prayer partners at camp the first summer they were both JCs.. and kept in touch.. she considered him her best friend..and if all else failed .. they met up at Merlefest..

Then she met his best friend.. and they fell in love. He came to the wedding.. all the way from Japan. Soon they learned that he was in love.. with one of those half Japanese girls. They couldn't wait to meet her. They met her.. they loved her as much as they loved him. It was perfect. They were happy. Then.. a phone call.. that would take their foursome in different directions. A baby was on the way. She was jealous, he was worried.. they were stunned.. they were so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Then she arrived, a precious girl from day one. The most beautiful baby they had ever seen. They were parents.. they were grad students. They held hands across the divide, knowing a bridge was just around the corner. Another beautiful little girl arrived. She held her. Her heart ached for one of her own. Her heart melted when she heard her whisper to the beautiful little girl and her cries ceased. She was such an incredible mother. They talked about how they would parent one day.. how they would follow their example. Grad school was over, they stepped into life with hands clasped and expectant hearts. Twins. Girls. Beautiful, beautiful girls. They joined the other two in the ranks. They were within easy driving distance for the first time since that first wedding. They all walked along the edge of the canyon of parenthood, arms outstretched, little hands clinging to their own..together .. on the same side.. no longer stretched across life's distances. And they were happy.. and they were ecstatic.. and now.. another girl joins the group.. another beautiful girl. The little hands reach out to caress her hair, to hold her tiny fingers... welcome they say.

When I looked up and saw him holding Margot, his back to me.. I had a flash.. I saw him sitting with his back to me on the picnic table at the archery range.. as I walked down to meet him for our prayer partner meeting. When he pulled up next to us in the minivan in the parking lot..and he and Stephen got out at the same time and went inside.. I imagined them together in Tallahassee.. I remembered being introduced that first time.. introduced to my future husband. I see her and I remember the night before the wedding, getting to hang out with all the sisters and her in the hotel.. feeling so included.. like I was one of them. I had always wanted to be one of them. It felt so good. She was someone I couldn't wait to get to know better. When I see them I think of how we longed to be closer to them for so many years.. how Kansas and Kentucky seemed so far away.. and I am just so happy. So happy and blessed that these are memories that I can treasure..that I don't have to try to forget.. that it is still as good as it ever was... overwhelmed by the knowledge that it was all as fun as it looks.