Easter egg hunt.

Over the weekend, we took the kids to a local Easter egg hunt. It was supposed to be outside, but the rain moved it into the community rec center. It was divided by age and NO PARENTS ALLOWED (thankfully - helicopter parents are no joke when it comes to egg hunts). Theo was excited and said he knew what to do, but when it was time to run out there, he was very distracted. He did finally start picking up some eggs, but probably would have been happy to just run around with his basket. Lucy, having never seen an egg hunt, has tigeress instincts and she threw some elbows and picked up eggs right away. Love that girl. It was over fast, but the kids loved it. And, he did better at his school one, so I think he's with the program now and will do great on Easter!

Meal plan Monday (Tuesday).

1. Shake and Bake chicken breasts w/mashed potatoes and mixed veggies.

2. Crock pot turkey meatloaf, roasted cauliflower and rolls.

3. Carrot cake pancakes and bacon.

4. Creamy chicken and wild rice soup and rolls.

5. Black bean pie.

6. Soup and sandwiches.

7. Fend for yourself! (and Mama's going out for Mexican and The Hunger Games! Woot!)

Will I always remember ....

... how she pats your back when you pick her up?

... how he asks you to "snug him up"?

... how she tucks her hands under her and sticks up her bum when she snuggles?

... how he hugs his monkeys when he sleeps?

... that funny way she used to crawl?

... the way his sweet lisp sounds?

... how she swings her arm and high steps when she is really sassy?

... the day he said I was a princess?

... how she looks over the tops of her eyes when she's naughty?

... how he admonishes her "no ma'am Goose!"?

... how she sleeps mashed into the bumpers?

... the funny way he says "bandaid"?

... the way she smiles and claps when she says "yay!"?

... the way their feet sound when they run down the hall?

I know that all these things will fade with time. I can only hope the memory of them never will.

Goin' to the lodge ....

We took the kids on a mini vacation to the Great Wolf Lodge. We have been once before, last July. While Theo initially did NOT like it there, he was better by the second day and ended up having a great time. He still talks about that trip and so when they were running a special for March, we booked an overnight. The kids had a great time and we were surprised at how much more independent Theo was with the equipment. Lucy is getting all her teeth in and has been in a lot of pain, so she was kind of clingy but did enjoy the water coming up from the ground a lot. At one point I could tell she was tired, so I got a paci from the car and sat in a lounge chair with her and she took an hour nap right in the midst of all the waterpark noise!

They did great sleeping in the same room. Susan took Theo down to the bedtime show and I put Lucy to bed in the room. When they came back up, we dropped him in his bed and did our traditional "sit in the bathroom and eat donuts and coffee" and when we came out, everyone was asleep. We also ate out a ton and at the waterpark and they both did fine. Theo skipped his nap (as in, he skipped quiet time, because let's face it, naps are few are far between these days) and Lucy was off schedule, but it was no biggie. I am so thankful to have flexible kids. Makes going and doing so much easier and they don't have to miss out on things because they can't skip a nap here and there or they won't eat anywhere. I love schedules for kids, but I also love kids who can go with the flow when something fun is going on!

We also got to meet up with a friend who lives in Charlotte and have dinner with her and her boys, including their new addition, Levi! Levi was adopted at birth and he is just the cutest. He made Lucy look huge, which is no small feat.

All in all, it was a great trip and the perfect kick off to spring. We have lots of fun activities, trips and visitors on the horizon so I am glad we kind of laid low for January and February. Let the fun begin!

On social work.

I heard a song on the radio this morning (the stations play Christian music on Sunday mornings. Hello, south.) that made me think of being a social worker. I'm sure it was really about Jesus, but since that isn't my bag, I attributed it to my career. (I know, right?)

"Break my heart 'til it moves my hands and feet."

That's why I love being a social worker so much. I'm not just feeling sad, but I am able to do something to make peoples' lives better. Every day that is a work day for me, I am so thankful for my job. This balance of being a mama and being a social worker is so perfect. I'm so lucky have a part time job that allows me to stay in the field I love and be with my kids most of the time. More than anything, I want my kids to grow up knowing life is greater than themselves. To see needs in others first and to do their part to meet them. I hope having two social workers as parents will teach them that. :)

Just testing out my newfound ability

to post more than one

picture from Flickr onto blogger.

And, it works. I shall now do all of my blogging at work. Sorry, Duke.

Keepin' up.

Keepin' up., a photo by MelissaandSusan on Flickr.

I love this picture. Now that she can walk (run!) she's always trying to keep up with her big brother.

On completing the family.

I hesitated about posting this, but this is above all supposed to be a documentation of our life's journey. So, here it is.

When we got married and starting planning for our family, we imagined three children. The details of the who and when changed as we rode the wave of fertility and IUIs. About 7 or 8 months ago, we decided to start trying for our last baby. We worked with a great RE and Susan responded really well to the treatment. Alas, it seems that a pregnancy was not meant to be. Lucy's pregnancy and delivery was so difficult (and I sustained an injury during delivery that is still not healed 16 months later) that me carrying again is out of the question. I honestly don't think my body could handle it again. After several months and lots of dollars spent, we decided it was time to stop and move on.

I am sad for Susan because she really wanted the experience. I'm sad for me because I wanted to experience delivery from the sidelines for once! I also wanted to see what a baby with the same donor would look like with Susan's DNA. And, I really wanted a brother for Theo. The rest of my feelings are positive. We have our hands full. We have one of each and they are perfect. We can do a LOT more with two kids than with three. I have always felt that we owe our best to the kids we already have. With two, we will be able to say a whole lot more "yes" to them. And while their growing up is at times inexplicably painful, we can also see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of moving beyond babyhood and enjoying them as little people. We are planning a Disney cruise for two years and can't wait!

We've traded in our van for a sedan. I'm selling the carseats I'd bought to fit three across a backseat. I've started selling piles and piles of baby clothes I'd held onto for the last addition. In July, I'll sell all of our baby stuff at the big consignment sale. I won't lie, I get a lump in my throat thinking of it. I love babies. All I ever wanted was a baby and I waited a long time for one and now it's just ... over. It's almost cruel how fast it goes. But, I'd be sad if we were stopping with 2 or 20 when it came time to sell off all the stuff. Finality has never been something I am good at. I do not think in absolutes, as Susan can attest. I like open doors and cracked windows and "maybes." So, it's hard, but it's necessary.

And interestingly, I feel like our family is closer as a result of this decision. Almost as though we were leaving our little family circle open to welcome another and now we have closed it up tight. We are finished and we are moving forward, together.