The Shoe Queen...

The shoesie love continues...
This girl is all about the SHOES oh and PURSES or any bag she can put things into. The floor of my house is covered with a shoe here a purse there. She walks around carrying gift bags and throws anything inside that will fit. It would be great if she could just get the right things in the right bags... It is really very cute.
She is partial to "floppies" or flip flops as we all know them. Ofcourse they are not her own floppies but that of Rae Rae's- or mine even. You would think she would have a hard time walking, running or dancing in these big shoes, but she doesn't. She has somehow managed to adjust and is able to fill these big shoes. I pray it is a task that will in the future allow her to see others perspectives on life.
These floppies have even made there way to bed with her each and every nap and bedtime. She has to have them on her feet to go to sleep. No teddy bear or blanket, just her floppies. Along side her is "Nanny's Ba" that is Nanny's bag. A purse filled with all the essentials every girl needs at bedtime... sunglasses(and not her cute pink Dora ones but brother's silver boy ones),a cell phone, a notebook and an extra pair of floppies. A few nights ago she even woke up screaming for her phone and glasses! Oh, and we can't forget the baby that stays close by in her carrier. Then there is the gift bag full of the babies belongings. It is a good thing we just upgraded her to a twin bed!
Her other love is an old kid sized beach chair of Rae Rae's that she has now claimed as her own. She has a royal thrown and a kid size rocker, but she LOVES this beach chair. It has to go with her everywhere in the house. She carries it from room to room and sets up her camp spot for the moment. Placing the purse, bag, baby and carrier next to her. Unfortunately, this spot is usually right at the step to our living room so we all have to be careful not to upset her things or be prepared to hear the wrath of Tirzah, for she may be tiny but she is LOUD! Then last night Daddy tells her it is time for bed and begins to help her cart her special belongings to her room for the night and she wants the chair to go as well. I am not sure how, but Daddy managed to put his foot down on that one. I just heard from the other room," No Tiny, there is no way you are going to put that chair in your bed," and for once she actually listened and proceeded off to the bathroom to brush her teeth. I do have a feeling that argument is not over though.
Shoes, purses, babies, bags and a beach chair- she keeps her self busy with these things all day and even over night!

A View from the front row...

It has been three weeks since Rae Rae completed her role as Gretl in The Sound of Music. I think it has probably taken all three of those weeks for our family to recover, especially Rae Rae. Up later for over a week, change in schedule, eating on the run, always on the go...it took a toll on all of us. And during all of the months leading up to the show and especially the week just prior, I had some serious doubts if this was worth it. But that all changed the moment the curtain went up on opening night. I learned a lot about my iittle girl that night and I learned a lot about myself, too.

Sitting down front and waiting for the show to begin I was nervous and a bit fearful. I was in protection mode and my little girl was about to do something that was pretty big for a 5 year old. I knew she was well prepared with her lines and songs and dances. Heck, I had heard those songs and lines enough over the last two months to get up there and sing them myself even though nobody would care to hear my rendition.

What I learned about Rae Rae that night was just how determined she was. It was amazing to see such a small little girl take something so seriously and see the fruit of her labor in doing so. She spent countless hours preparing herself for this moment and I couldn't have been more proud of her. I learned that my daughter could do anything she wanted to, no matter how big or small, as long as she gave it her very best. The rest of the cast was great but I have to admit that I didn't pay too much atention to them. Rae Rae let her light shine bright that first night and the second one was even better!

What I learned about myself was just how big of a sap I really am. Every time Rae Rae would speak or sing I would lose it. You guys know the tears I'm talking about, right? That feeling that everything you've done as a parent and all the hard work and time spent teaching and correcting and loving has brought you to this very moment. And all you can do is take it in and savor the moment as the joy you feel inside seems to pour right out of you....literally right out my eyes and down my cheeks. Nothing in life worth having comes easily. Being a parent is certainlly not always easy but moments like these make you forget about all the challenges you may have faced. Those of you who know Rae Rae probably know how stuborn and determined she is. But sitting there watching her I realized that those same qualities that I have always seen as negative can truly be turned into something good. And while I know that I will face many more times of trial as she grows, I am convinced that these same aspects of her personality will make her a strong woman who knows no bounds when it comes to her ability to do things.

Rae Rae gave me the best gift in the world those nights on stage! I am so prould of her....and no matter how old she gets or what other rolse she may play, she will always be my little Gretl.

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It's about time...

Well, seeing that the Internet looks like it may be here to stay, we thought it was probably time to step into the 21st century and start a family blog....I think that's what it's called!

Those of you that know me know that I've never been accused of being too caught up with the newest and latest technology. I guess the, "information age" has been a little slow in getting to me. I've checked the mailbox every day for the last ten years and it still hasn't arrived. And did you guys know that you can actually get on the Internet without a phone line? Can you believe that they make computers that run on a battery? I guess to say that I've been a little behind the times is about as big of an understatement that you'll ever hear.

Don't even get me started on cell phones, Ipod's, cranberry's or blackberry's or whatever those things are called. I know it's called the information age but come on. I don't know how much information my little brain can handle these days. I don't get the paper delivered....who needs to? With a few clicks, I can find out the weather at my favorite fishing spot, all the results of European soccer and how much gasoline is costing at a small truck stop outside of Barstow. Does anyone care about any of that? Well, maybe the weather at my favorite fishing hole is very important information to start my day just so I know what kind of clothing to wear during my day dreaming. But 90 percent of the stuff you find out there is useless...and most of you will probably include this into that category!

Whatever happened to sending mail or making phone calls that only lasted a few minutes? Free night and weekends, rollover minutes, mobile to mobile calls, etc, etc. Are you kidding me? Don't get me wrong folks, I love to stay in touch with my friends and family as much as the next guy, but things are out of control. I guess the world is just a little too small for me these days. When I sit at my desk with a cell phone to my ear, the sound of land line ringing while the fax is transmitting all while I'm checking email and getting an instant message at the computer is enough to make my brain begins to smoke a little.

So with careful thought and consideration, Jodi and I thought we should start a blog so we can do our fair share in contributing to the madness! However, you should be advised that there are no guarantees that this will do anything other than take up more of your precious time. After all, it may be about time that we stepped into the age of information but when it's all said and done, "it's about time" is exactly that....TIME. You can use yours however you want but we do thank you for sharing some of it with us.

Enjoy...

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