Random, funny things; Sad days

The past week has been filled with random, funny things and a bit of sadness in our world.

Random things...

Matteo has started Cub Scouts. He had his first Raingutter Regatta tonight. He looked so cute in his uniform. Last night I sewed on the pack and den numbers to his uniform, along with the Chief Seattle Badge. Made me feel like a Mom of a growing boy - I loved it. Of course I took pictures before he headed out tonight.

Funny Mommy moment: Matteo came home from school a few weeks ago with paperwork from school about the upcoming (Nov 17th) 2nd Grade musical. The paperwork indicated that Matteo would have a speaking part and we would have to rehearse his lines with him. My heart skipped a beat. I thought, 'Oh no, I filled out something on a form and signed him up for something without realizing it'. I asked Matteo how or why he got this paperwork and he had this to say: "Mom, I volunteered. I'm going to be Freddie the Frog. I'm so excited!". Okay - for all my extroverted behavior, this is a bit shocking to me! I am happy to say he has his lines memorized and I will sooooo be that Mom with a video camera on a tripod to tape this experience.

Dominick is loving kindergarten. I volunteered in his class today and really enjoy being in his world at school. He's quite happy in class and seems to love accomplishing and doing all that he gets to do in school. He's becoming quite the little man. He is all boy - all of the sudden it's all sports, goofy voices, giggles, and stories that have big hand movements, there is tackling, legos, toys, paper airplanes, and overall happiness all the time. Despite all the boy-ness, he is quite tender-hearted and loves to just hang out with me. Love that. Dominick cannot wait to be in the Cub Scouts - kindergartner's start in the Spring.

My favorite Dominick thing right now: Spontaneous drawings he makes for me or Don and writes 'To Mommy' (or Daddy) and 'Love Dominick' on each page. Melts my heart. He's very considerate and thoughtful, when he is well-rested - hee hee. And, this is my game-playing kid - go fish, air hockey, boggle, zingo, doesn't matter - he just wants to play games. Kid after my own heart. I love board games.

Anna is loving dance class and preschool. She's so into it all - the friends, the school work, the twirling, the dress-up fun, coloring, dolls, turning the boys knights & horses castle toys into princess castles. She actually asked me for a 'prince' doll for her makeshift princess castle.

Anna's brain at work: We're lying in our bed early in the morning a couple of weeks ago and Anna asks me in her still-groggy-morning voice, "Mommy, why is my voice grouchy when I'm not grouchy?". Made me laugh and giggle. Right now, Anna is just cute, loving, and all the craziness that comes with a four year old. She'll even be more endearing when she goes back to sleeping through the night. Little Miss has been waking up for a month or more once or twice a night. Started out because of a bad dream. Now I think it's just to make sure we're still around in the middle of the night. I know this too shall pass, just would prefer it happens sooner rather than later.

Overall, our family life is fun right now. The kids are growing in leaps and bounds and I'm not sure how this has happened so fast.

A few grown-up things in the past week have really tough, which is why I think I am seeing our kids and blogging from the heart about their sweetness. Makes it all seem easier.

Don's Grandpa John passed away last Wednesday. He was 93 - the family knew it was coming and yet it is still so sad. We've talked alot about him and Don's family in the past week - the passing of time, connecting with family, and how fortunate we felt that we saw him while on our road trip in April. Grandpa John was Don's last living grandparent. There will be a memorial service in the spring.

Thursday morning my brother Matt called to tell me that Uncle Bob (Donna, my sister-in-law's Uncle) had passed away. I had just talked with Donna on Halloween and knew that Uncle Bob wasn't doing well. Donna has been with my brother Matt since I was 15 years old - feels like I've known Donna and her extended family for most of my life. I guess I have. In all the years that I went to Florida, Uncle Bob and his wife, Auntie Babe, were always around and oh-so-funny. They laughed, joked, and played games with us kids on those late night holiday gatherings. Uncle Bob lost Auntie Babe about 8 years ago and now he is with her. It's a peaceful thought that the two of them are together, but it has been difficult for Donna, Matt and my nieces. Sad stuff. I wish I could be there to do something, anything.

What have I been doing with all this? Exercising, praying, and baking. Yes, baking. It's those library cookbooks. I baked for a few friends in the hood and then baked some more to contribute tons-o-baked goods for a fundraising event at our church. And, I've been hugging the kids a little bit longer than normal, playing a bit more, and just finding myself lost in thoughts.

All of this - the funny, tender moments, thinking of the kids and our family, remembering Grandpa John and Uncle Bob, leaves me feeling like a grown-up. Being a grown-up - the good stuff always comes with a bit of the hard stuff. I guess that is what makes everything seem a bit more sweet and loving, when you realize how quickly time passes. Makes me just want to hug everyone I love a bit longer, laugh a bit more, and soak it all in.

So, here's a virtual hug to all of our family and friends out there.

(: Squeeeeeeze :)