Nothing profound about reaching a milestone.  Just some photos from my day.

Early morning presents before John went to work.  Some hot chocolate and a lid for my Pampered Chef frying pan I bought in April
[We got a new camera two months ago… that was a big purchase!]

[Some would argue I should have gotten a new couch… check out the tape holding it together.]

Some puff pastries for breakfast.

Then Nan came at lunch time with subs and stayed to play cards with Tab while the rest of us did fossil experiments.  Yup, we did school.  The boys were *shocked* that we didn’t take the day off.  Nice try, guys!

 

Then when John got home we went to Longhorne Steakhouse for dinner.  We rarely ever eat out.  That is one area that I will concede “larger” families have to make sacrifices on.  My kids LOVE to go to restaurants.  Love it.  I love taking them.   I love how much they love it.  They were bouncing off the walls for an hour before we went.

Home for some mint chocolate torte.  We didn’t sing Happy Birthday at first.  I forgot.  They sang sans candles.  We’ll do that tomorrow.  It was yummy.

On a side note, Johanna was a bit of work tonight.  She turned 18 months on Tuesday and she is right on her developmental milestones of causing a ruckus at a restaurant.  John and I realized how out of practice we are for toddlers.  It didn’t help that she did NOT want to eat.  She wanted to lick the salt and pepper shakers… and since she has learned the word, “Cheese,”  which she means for, “Please,” she thinks that one little word will get her whatever she is pointing at.  John got her to pretend the salt shaker was a telephone.  And I impressed her by standing a crayon up on one end.  Those tricks bought us at least 4½ minutes.

I love my family so much.  I am so stinking blessed.  Look at this group.  They rock immensely.  They LOVED dinner.  LOVED it.  I loved their smiles.  And it was worth all $119.  [*sigh*]  Stewart asked, “What do you think this will cost, Mom?” about half way through the meal.  I gave him my guesstimate, which was a bit higher and he was incredulous.  “For ONE meal?”  He was blown away.  He also saved some of his steak.  He wants it for breakfast.  With eggs.  He heard someone on Little House on the Prairie order it.  I ♥ him!

OH!  The kids each put together $3 and gave me a card with $12 in it.  My mom orchestrated it.   I need to think of something I can buy with that money and then use it so they see their present in use.  I’m taking suggestions!

As I ran back for my camera today before heading to a homeschool roller skating party I imagined that I would have lots of photos this evening of my kids enjoying their pizza lunch with friends and hitting the rink for a grand old time.  As someone who blogs in her head all the time I had begun to imagine sweet words to describe a mid-week outing that got us out of the house for some exercise and friendship building.

While it was those things, it was far more than that. 

It was a chance to see just how AWESOME my daughter was.  JUST. SO. AWESOME!!!  How so?  Let’s see.  She skated for probably 80 minutes.  So, I am guessing she felt almost 250 times.  I am not making that up.  Okay – that sounds high.  Let’s say she fell 175 times.  [I think 250 times is more like it, though.]  And.  She got up EVERY TIME with a smile on her face AND SKATED SOME MORE.

Let me tell you.  There were more than a few kids who fell.  None seemed to fall as many times as Marie.  Many got tired and quit.  I probably would have called it quits.  My daughter NEVER GAVE UP.  Over and over she fell and over and over she got up.  I am so proud to call her my daughter.  [Okay – I have always been proud to call her my daughter, but this was so awesome.]

When the kids first got their skates on, Tab asked for her helmet.  As I told my friend Jenn that I was heading to the car she told me I’d better get two.  She’d seen Marie on the skating floor and seen her go down a few times already.  This proved to a wise move.  *sigh*  A very wise move.

If this video ever loads – you will see it.  Somewhere between Jim Carrey  and Lucile Ball.   The crazy thing is she is SO ATHLETIC.