Making Memories

It's August and this year that means the sand and surf are coming.  When we have gone to Hilton Head Island in the past, it's been in June - kind of kicking off the summer with the smells and sounds of the beach.  This year we are going at the end of summer - right before school starts.  The school supplies have been bought and shoved onto the shelf in the hall closet.  We're prepared for school to start, but we're not ready.  Not yet.  We've got some sand to shovel and some sun to soak up first.  Tom will get to celebrate his birthday in the car, driving for 12 hours listening to the girls sing 'Happy Birthday' over and over.  I've got the snacks and activities for the girls packed and am crossing my fingers this year Emily will be more content in the car.  She doesn't always get that she can't get out of her seat and gets upset thinking we don't understand her, but at the end of the day the journey will be worth the fun when we arrive.  And I love that our girls will be able to have the memories of returning to the same beach each summer.

HHI, 2011

This past weekend the girls and I went to Ottawa to visit my parents and family.  I didn't call any friends there to try to get together; we were there just to hang out and play with cousins.  Once again this summer the slip 'n slide and baby pool were set up and my parents' very large yard was their playground.  Summertime cousin memories.  I like it.

The Olympics have had my attention late into the night for the last week and staying up late is kicking my butt.  When the alarm angrily goes off at 5:04 a.m. buzzing for me to get up and go to Jazzercise class, everything from my eyelids to my feet are protesting with exhaustion.  But I love watching all the events as I always have since I was a kid.  Casey has liked watching the coverage as much as I have and I love sharing this with her.  We are fascinated by the athletes' abilities and talk much about having dreams and working hard to achieve them.  I guess that makes the tired, cranky, overtired days worth it in the end - we're making memories and bonding.     

Monday was the day that left me among the ranks of moms who say that they can't wait for their kids to go back to school.  The whining and fighting was full tilt between the girls.  Tom got home from work and I told him I had to go run an errand.  He asked what I needed to get and I told him I wasnt' sure.  It was one of those days. 

Fortunately, Tuesday was back to the expected and tolerable level of whining and arguing :)  They were so sweet as they worked together to explode play dough all over the kitchen while using their little hands and imaginations.  Tom starts to sweat when he sees this kind of mess (figuratively, not literally) and he basically shrinks out of the house so he can avoid any participation in cleaning up.  But I say bring on the play dough and mud pies - that's what being a kid is all about.  (Except Moon Sand.  That stuff is evil and awful.)  I can look beyond the tiny pieces of multi-colored dough scattered about and see them working along side each other.  Not arguing over who is standing in front of the TV or who is touching who.  They are making ice cream or cakes or pizzas or whatever - they are making memories as sisters.

Today was errands, packing and hanging at the pool with friends.  We went to the Montgomery pool for a change of scenery.  Friends of friends were there and that meant for an afternoon of kids entertaining each other and moms sitting and chatting while supervising.  It was nice to be able to sit back and watch all of the kids splash and have fun together but it was also comforting to see each of the kids (only ages 7 to 10) assist Emily up onto the wall so she could jump in while they held her hands helping.  No mom had to ask them to do that and when one started, they each took a turn helping her.  Melted my heart all over the place.  Good kids taking time out of their fun to help a (my) little girl join in on the fun.  A memory that will not soon go away for me.

And finally tonight as I was helping Emily put on her jammies for bed I caught a phrase of what she was singing/saying.  Honestly, there are many times she just babbles along to herself and we can't understand what she is saying.  Not all the time, but some of the time.  Tonight I wasn't really paying attention and when I heard it, I was started to laugh so hard.  She was singing/saying: All the other boys try to chase me, so here's my number, call me maybe.  Seems Emily has started to remember lyrics and sing to herself from songs she hears on the radio.  It's the first I've heard from her beyond the songs the pre-school set sings in school and I am crazy proud.  I'll get a video of it for sure tomorrow.  And once again, she blows me aways.  No need for help here - sister can sing pop music just fine.