Winding Down

This sweet year is coming to a close. This rich season is coming to an end. It's bittersweet. While I am thrilled over the thought of NO SCHOOL for an entire summer...I cannot believe my baby girl, who just started Kindergarten, yesterday, wasn't it? Is finishing this week. She is so big. She is so mature. She is reading. She is precious and I love her dearly. No more morning carpool, or afternoon carpool. Sigh. The mundane of this year is coming to a close. I am determined to savor these last few days. And I am excited with our summer plans...specifically with homeschooling next year! But I am sad (and happy) that she is SO GROWN UP. When did it happen?

She's also figured out a few things about being the oldest. I had her feather dusting this afternoon. Little Man pleaded to feather dust. As I pondered the best resolve, Sister piped up, "You can be my assistant."

To which he immediately replied, "Okay!"

"Now Little Man," said she, "you are my assistant and my assistant does whatever I say."

"Yes sir, Captain." said he.

"Get me some water, Assistant."

"Yes, Captain." And he marched into the kitchen, singing "hup, two, three, four, keep it up, two, three, four, yes Captain!" and fetched her a cup of water.

Which she promptly, accidentally, knocked from his hands and declared, "you're the assistant. Now you have to clean that up."

And he did.

I can't wait to see what happens the day he figures out she's not "the boss of him."

Little Bit has another double ear infection. She's not been a happy camper. Lots of holding, cuddling, and in general, babying. Given her mobility and desire for independence, while I hate for her to be in pain, I have thoroughly enjoyed her need for some motherly affection.

We're on day six. She's mending nicely.

I'm making progress on the little love seat. Thanks to my Superman, all those stubborn nails, etc. have been removed. I photographed the "taking apart" of everything, have bought nearly all my replacement supplies, and hope to begin sanding and painting in the next few days. Hoping to...

Check out the holster.

And the cukes. Two for the eyes and one in the mouth.

I couldn't even believe it when I saw it. I thought they were teasing. They were really. Both. Asleep. And that shelf in the background is progress. The bases are in. The first shelf is up. We're still in the skeletal phase, but I'll take it! (See that wire thing to the right? That's PART of Warrior's kennel. Uh-huh.)

The past few mornings the sun streaming into our living room has caused me to pause. The quiet solitude those last few minutes before the children stir is most welcome. I find myself smiling and breathing deeply as I read and sip my cappuccino. When the pitter patter of little feet and the hoarse cries of "mama" begin, I find I am much better prepared to lovingly reach out my hands. (Of course, if said child is whiny or their pleas are to me, in excess, and when two need me at once, let alone three, which happens frequently, I find that sweet attitude of mine has a tendency to disappear. Without thinking, I forget everything I read that morning, or for that matter, have been taught all my life, I don my flesh, and the process of death to self begins. And while laying down our lives is beautiful in light of the Gospel, death to self can be rather gruesome.