The Good Life

Our black lab, Scarlett, basking in the morning sun.




I am grateful for the morning sun.

Am I grateful for the dog? Depends on the day....

Veteran's Day Assembly

The musician.

(waiting backstage.....and looking a little bored if you ask me.)

The audience.

The Performance.

Needless to say that this was one of those moments. The kind where you are sure that your heart is going to burst with pride. Do you know what I mean?

And the icing on the cake for me is that she loves the violin. Really, truly, loves it. Before school, after school, bedtime; she plays non-stop. And more often than not she is carrying around some blank staff paper and a pencil, composing little melodies with the idea of publishing her own student violin primer.

When the assembly was over she was swarmed by people showering her with compliments.....she loved every minute of it. Being in the spotlight is not something she shies away from.

After school a group of children walked by the van. One of them pointed and said, "There she is, there's the girl that plays the violin." They then went on to tell her how good it was, and once again she soaked it all up. The children then walked away and Alexandra squealed, "I'm famous!" to which Lorelai frankly replied, "No you're not."

Leave it to a little sister to put you in your place.

I am grateful for....all of the above.

***You might notice Alexandra's serious face during the performance. She told me that she "tried so hard not to smile because you are not supposed to smile when you are in front of that many people."

And I told her that next time she could.

Feeling Feisty

[Elisabeth in a borrowed 'Kid Walk'. We are trying to get her to put pressure on her legs...
but she's a stubborn one.]

Yesterday I received a call from our insurance company. They just wanted to let me know that they have decided to stop covering Elisabeth's occupational therapy.

"And why is that?" I politely asked.

"Our records show that she is at a maintenance level now and is not showing any signs of improvement. So at that point we don't cover OT anymore," she replied.

"Oh really? According to who? Who says she is not improving?" I asked (still politely).

"We have a staff of doctors that review claims and they don't feel that Elisabeth will benefit from therapy. But I'll be sending you out some papers and you'll have the opportunity to appeal their decision."

"Yes, I think I just might do that," I said in a more sarcastic tone.

So, because Elisabeth doesn't eat well, or walk, or talk, or do all the other things that toddler's do....we should just give up on her? Really? Is that what they think?

Well think again. They are messing with the wrong mama.

I am grateful for my feisty side.

Alexandra's Creative Space

Straight from her imagination.

I am grateful when there is more story writing taking place and less TV watching.

Sunday

I am grateful for the Sabbath Day.

A day of rest, a day of worship, a day of family togetherness.

Fresh and Clean

I am grateful that Donald is steam cleaning the carpets right now.

(Every 3 months, bless his heart.)

Another Budding Violinist?

I heard the sound of Alexandra's violin yesterday morning...while she was at school.

So I peeked into the parlor and saw this:



My little Lorelai, playing on her big sister's violin.

She didn't see me at first and I got a few candid shots...



...before she spotted me and requested my presence at a private performance.

I happily obliged.

I am grateful for music in my home.

A Story About a Doll

One day, a long time ago, Alexandra announced that she wanted a new American Girl doll. Donald and I were quick to tell her that if she really wanted one, she would have to save up and buy it with her own money.

I didn't really expect her to go through with it, but she saved and saved, carefully tucking her dollars and coins into an assortment of wallets and piggy banks. The months ticked by and I was touched by her determination to achieve her goal.

As her birthday month got closer I toyed with the idea of buying the doll for her, but I quickly dismissed it. I would be doing her a great disservice by giving her the doll. I would be taking away the opportunity for her to learn several life lessons; lessons about hard work, sacrifice, self-discipline, and the value of a dollar.

Last week she announced to me that she had done it, she had saved $95.00. She emptied all her money out onto her bedroom floor and began to hand it over to me (so that I could make the purchase on her behalf).

As she was collecting her last handfuls of coins I told her not to worry about it; to keep that bit for herself.

"No Mom, I want to buy it all on my own and without this money there won't be enough."

So I accepted the piles of change and she told me exactly which American Girl doll she wanted to call her own.

For the past week she has kept a close eye on our front porch, anxiously awaiting the arrival of her new friend.

Finally, the moment came. As we pulled in the driveway I looked over and spotted a rectangular box standing next to the front door. I told her to look over at the porch and she squealed with delight.

Luckily, she held off tearing into the box until I could get my camera in my hands. This was a moment that I wanted to capture:

I am grateful for Alexandra's great determination and self-discipline.

The bottom-shaped pear

On Monday, Lorelai was having a rough day. The kind of day where she felt like the middle child; neglected, insignificant, and forgotten. According to Lorelai, life was unfair.

I quickly diagnosed this as too-much-Halloween. She had just made it through a weekend filled with candy, costumes, and staying up late. We were bound to have a grumpy Lorelai on Monday morning. Nevertheless, she was in need of attention, and I needed to give it to her.

So she and I made a stop at the local grocery store to pick up a few odds and ends. As we perused the produce she made a request for pears. So we made a stop at the pears and she began hand-picking her favorites.

That's when I spotted it; just the pear to crack a smile on a 5-year olds face; just the pear to perk up a down-in-the-dumps Lorelai.

What I had found was a pear shaped just like a bottom. I showed it to Lorelai and pointed out the uncanny resemblence.

She busted out in laughter. This was the funniest thing she had ever seen.

It joined the other pears in the bag and we brought it home where Lorelai proudly showed it to everyone else.

And life was happy again.

I am grateful for the smile that the bottom-shaped pear put on Lorelai's face.

I Spend My Afternoons Like This....

I am grateful that I can be a stay-at-home-mother.

I am also grateful for my brother, Marc. Today is his birthday!

Have a perfect one, Marc!

Halloween 2009

Elisabeth

as

a flower

Check out those striped tights and flower booties. Love them.




Lorelai

as

Hermione Granger:

A miniature Emma Watson, for sure.




Alexandra
as
a Sorceress:

I think blue is her color.

My three girls
in all their
Halloween glory:

Halloween,
Sorenson style:

And finally, they're off to trick-or-treat!

I am grateful for Halloween fun.

The end.

The Truth Is....

I took 461 pictures on Halloween.

Yes, that's right,

461.

I am grateful for my camera.

Halloween Through the Ages (or at least the last 7 years)

~2002~

Newborn Alexandra, almost 4 weeks old. Dressed up as a flower (top picture) in a costume her Aunt Heidi made for her.

~2003~

Alexandra the pumpkin.

~2004~

Alexandra as 'Shirley Temple'. Newborn Lorelai, less than 2 weeks old.

~2005~

Alexandra as a clown. Lorelai wearing the pumpkin costume.

~2006~

2 little witches.


~2007~

Lorelai as 'Mickey' and Alexandra as 'Scarlett O'hara'. Elisabeth as herself, 1 month old.

~2008~

Alexandra and Lorelai as 'Dorothy' and 'Glinda the Good Witch'. Elisabeth in the pumpkin costume.

~2009~

Tune in on Monday.

Puttin' Away the Ballet Slippers

Lately, ballet has been causing Alexandra some stress. I don't think a child should ever feel stressed. That's not what childhood is all about. So yesterday we ditched ballet and went to the park instead.

Lorelai always has a bounce in her step.

And I love that her hair bounces right along with her step.



Lizzy long-legs.



The younger two enjoyed the swings, while Miss Alexandra rode her bike to her hearts content...

...around and around and around the park.

I think maybe her ballet days are done.

And that's okay.

We Stick Together

Recently Donald and I attended a fundraiser at Alexandra's school. While there, a fellow parent asked me if Donald ever worked.

"Yes", I replied.

"It's just that everytime I see you, you two are together," she said.

True, true....he and I stick together.

And that's just the

way it should be.