4 P's in the new year

Today's Peak: We just watched Rio together as a family. We're trying to be more intentional about spending time with the kids lately. We've played LIFE together recently, and tonight we had a movie night. It was made a bit more interesting by the fact that our microwave burned through three bags of popcorn (is it because the turn-style doesn't turn? Does anyone know?), and the fact that our kids have the entire thing memorized. So there was a lot of "stop telling us what's going to happen!" Luckily they can't ruin a kids movie too much.

Today's Pit: I bit my nails down. I had been doing well and then one broke and it was downhill from there.

Today's Prayer: A woman from our church was recently diagnosed with cancer. They're not sure what kind yet but it's in her lungs, liver, lymph nodes and adrenal gland. She needs so much prayer. At the moment I can hardly put words to my prayers because of going through it myself, but I know God is understanding my groanings, at least.

Today's Praise: For together time with my cheerful, funny girls. They are beautiful and smart and loving and amazing. I am really and truly blessed. And for my husband who lifts me up and encourages me every day. Really, truly blessed.

On Muzzling Mama Bear

I watched my little girl get shoved at the bus stop today. They weren't fighting, she was just trying to talk to him, and he reached out and gave her a shove.

And I wanted to march right out there and hold her and see if her feelings were hurt. I wanted to shake my finger in that little boy's face and tell him not to push my baby. I wanted to find his mom and ask how she could just sit there while her little boy pushed my little girl.

Instead I had to watch and remember that no matter what I want, I can't protect her from the whole world. I had to remember that she knew I was right there, mere yards away, and she chose to stay at the bus stop instead of telling me.

I had to feel my heart break a little bit more as I watched her wander aimlessly for a minute and then simply get in line instead of playing with her sisters and friends.

Watching my little cubs tumble and test their legs and their social skills and sometimes get knocked around is tough for this mama, and all mamas, I'm sure. It's not easy to muzzle my inner mama bear.

Seven?!

What the world?! I had barely gotten used to A being 6 and now she's 7.

I got to take cupcakes to her class on her day. 

These are pics of her class singing 'Happy Birthday' to her.

Family celebration time. 

That's about as creative as I get. Making a '7' out of the candles when I stick them in the cake. She got them all out in one blow! I wonder what she wished for; she took her time thinking about it. 

Reading her card.

A new DS game. Of course. They just got the systems for Christmas, so she knew what this was before she even opened it. Though she didn't know which one. 

Finally! Lego toys directed toward girls! They had a whole line, I think trying to edge in on the market of Polly Pocket. I don't care though because you still get to build the buildings yourself and that's great!

Modeling the scarf I gave her. She did love it despite the look on her face I captured here. I like it when the homemade gifts get the same reaction as the store-bought stuff.

Being silly. I told her I wanted to see her face AND her stuff, and her sisters were egging her on to put the owl on her head. And she's a goof.

Happy Birthday to our sensitive soul, our animal lover, our 'mad literalist' (I coined that... we always have to explain our sarcasm to her), our peacemaking middle child, our hugger, our beautiful A. We love you so.