52 Weeks of Family: Week 49

Mila:

It's been a peaceful week. I hear you in the shower reviewing the weekly schedule--who is picking up who and any special events during the week. (I also hear you practicing reprimands for your brother which seems both prideful and efficient. I'm waiting to address it until I can determine between the two).
For the first time ever, I had to rearrange part of my schedule to accommodate the social schedule of one of my children. Actually, had to call a business person back and humbly ask "I'm so sorry, I forgot my daughter is having people over and I'll need to co-host, can we pick a different time?".  You are VERY excited about having a friend over again. In fact, you've listed out the next 5 people you are inviting over and what movie you'll watch and food you'll eat with each of these people. In an interesting social twist, you've decided to invite your 10 year old cousin AND your speech therapist over at the same time...perhaps they have common interests??  I'm not entirely sure how to tell you that I *think* Ms Brandkamp may have other plans... it's just a guess, so who knows.

You are *almost* putting your own outfits together with some sense of matching & style. I say almost, because I think you have just memorized what combinations of clothes I've laid out for you before, but you are really stinking close. You like being told you look "cute", "beautiful",  and, wait for it..."perfect" (because you aren't lacking in the self esteem department!) You'll pick between a braid or a pony tail "table trail" and pick between three pairs of shoes.  It seems like a simple victory not worthy of mention but for nearly 14 years you literally did not have an article of clothing to call your own. Clothes and shoes were always clean and in good repair but passed around the orphanage and institution to whomever was in need of that size. Even now when we receive updates of your friends left behind in Albania I catch glimpses of "your" sandals and pants that you wore a year ago. Having your own clothes to choose from...what simple part of having your own family.

Isaac:

All your emotions have been *just* under your skin this week.  Quick to be angry, quick to laugh hysterically, quick to cry, quick to say sorry or to give a hug.  One of your daily school reports this week said "No shouting, but lots of kisses for his friends".  *hahaha*  Well, it seems our lessons in volume control are working, but now we get to talk about the vital importance of consent. *wink*

Chilaxing on the couch...

Not even sure what to make of this...

Or this...

You got the giggles one evening after I put baskets on both of our heads (let's be honest...I was trying to distract you so I could watch the Packer game), but then I sneezed and the basket fell over my eyes. You laughed SO hard you fell off the ottoman you were seated on!  Shoulders literally shaking as you moaned with laughter. So that became the game of the hour...not the Packers loss to the Eagles.   

You also spent 20 minutes at the dinner table attempting to flip a blueberry into your mouth with the arm of your fork.  It caught my eye so I watched you as nonchalantly as possible over my own fork. You worked so hard to make sure the blueberry didn't fly out of control...clearly you would be reprimanded for that...so you took particular caution to control the blueberry's trajectory. But then you also had to aim it into your mouth, which meant setting & resetting the blueberry and adjusting the height of your mouth (I'm not sure the force of which you were launching the blueberry was ever considered). For 20 minutes you worked on this little project with the same little blueberry, absolutely set on success.  And then you did it!  You figured it all out and when you looked up to realize that no one had seen your feat in physics a sad little disappointment set in behind your eyes...that's when I snuck you the wink & a smile.  I had seen it. I watched every moment in absolute awe and pride.  There are many areas in life that we probably aren't ever going to excel in, but blueberry fork flipping??  We can cross that off the list!  

Me:

Getting creative to find self care time has become a bit of a hobby. I listen to books during my commute to & from work, now that the kids are back in school I can sneak in a friendly lunch once & a while, and while I'm not able to participate in Sunday sermon live (we step out after worship), I've taken to getting my un-interrupted time "at church" on Sunday evenings while I fold laundry.  I had to chuckle this week to see Pastor Ben between the kids' piles and a loose sock. *wink*

This has been the first week in our entire existence as a family of three that I haven't needed to remember that there are indeed three of us. But twice this week, both kids were quietly working on a project together-ish, Disney music was playing, I was cooking in the kitchen and I turned to take in a scene that made total sense...my family.  I didn't have to work to make sure one child was being included or their specific, unique needs were being met, we were just naturally living life as a family. It finally clicked.