But, one of the most unmistakable gifts in my life is that it doesn't feel that way when I'm with my family. And not necessarily my little party-of-four family because let's be honest, God hears many whispered prayers for strength and patience as I'm with my two precious preschoolers. It would be a lie to say that life is never tough with them. But, not with my family. My "original family unit" family.
I understand that for some the idea of a full weekend with a mom and sister brings about some uncontrollable eye rolls and a sense of dread, of stress. But it has never, not one day in my life, been that for me. Ever. They are the place I get to cry and share in broken heartedness. They're my people with whom I get to laugh until my cheeks hurt (sometimes at things that may not even be that funny), and there's no judgment when all of that happens within the span of an hour. A weekend with Mama is sometimes a chance to escape when life is hard, but more often, it is a time to acknowledge that life's tiresome and be built back up. Leah and I both work full time and are raising little ones, so for most days of the year, we operate as chief caretaker. But, when we walk into Mom's, we get to leave that hat at the door. Whether we ask or not, she lightens our load-- either emotionally, logistically, or I-can't-stand-to-hear-this-child-scream-for-one-more-second-ally. It's our turn, our chance to be taken care of. So, how happy my heart is that I got to hug her on her birthday. The privilege of being able to do that is not lost on me.
Cutie Pies before the Pool
Before we had a chance to celebrate her, she was busy winning over some little hearts with swimming and sleepovers. Mom found out the little community center in Jefferson County allows visitors to pay a daily fee to use their indoor pool, and with Harper being able to swim now and Win starting in lessons last week, she wanted to see these newfound aquatic skills. Or maybe she wanted to see Willa scream at the top of her lungs in a glassed-in area perfect for echoing. Not sure which. :) (Poor Wills is going to hate me when she finds out she is getting swimming lessons with Ms. Dayna that start in April for her birthday. Yikes! I don't know how many times I've heard "swim. hurt. me!" or "pool. pinch. me!" in her exaggerated, emphatic, enunciate-every-word fashion since we left the community center. Obviously the pool didn't "pinch" her, but that's what she says when she doesn't want to do something again. Should be entertaining to see the first week at swim! Sorry, Wills!)
As close as Willa would get after her first dip in the pool
Harp and MarMar sharing mermaid secrets
Or maybe she just wanted to be a "fun" grandma once again, by jumping in the pool and playing mermaids with them. Or maybe she knew what hilarity she'd witness when I bit it on the pool deck (true story. It was hilarious, so funny that I can't even be embarrassed about it. I wish it had been recorded. In slow motion.). Instead, I just got videos of these little fish.
Though we thought all that water would wear them out (it did us!), only Willa took a nap, so when evening time rolled around, the kiddos were excited about pulling out their sleeping bags for a slumber party in the playroom. The girls snuggled up in their Frozen sleeping bags while Winnie was zipped up in his Thomas the Train version, but the laying down didn't last long. Especially once MarMar and PapPap brought up the popcorn and M & M's. The big kids eventually fell asleep, but Willa held out and consequently got to fall asleep on PapPap's lap watching basketball. He loves spoiling her.
MarMar's signature dish
After church on Sunday, we ate at Shoney's. Yes, those do still exist, and let me tell you, I'm not ashamed to say I loved a good ol' trip to the salad bar. I don't know that I felt at home with some of the interesting patrons we saw there (homemade, extra large terry cloth bib on an extra large adult woman ring a bell, Leah?!), but we enjoyed the guilty pleasure of some truck stop-ish food. And then we went back to the Lake House to sing happy birthday to three of my four favorite girls... whose birthdays all happen to be this month (Mom- March 8, Willa Kate- March 19, and Leah- March 26)! And I'll give you two guesses on who the Frozen plates were for.
Kisses for her birthday sissy
"Painting" Frozen cookies
Another birthday girl with her handsome son
My little ladies were so devastated when it was time to go. They had so much fun with their cousin Win, and finally they played so well together! I'm not sure if Harper was nicer or if Win just accepted that she is a (sometimes evil) dictator who shouldn't be challenged, but it was adorable to see them run off to play a game together, and even include Wills. Not to mention it meant their mamas actually got to sit and play some games, too. When the car packing began, Harper immediately went in to panic mode. No, really.
It is sad and yet fulfilling to see them miss them the way they do. I hope they know it means they're doing something right. :) But, I also had bets down that considering they were already crying before we even pulled out of the driveway from being so upset, it was going to be another miserable, I-must-have-a-crown-in-Heaven-for-this drive. But, it wasn't. Willa Kate almost immediately fell asleep and didn't wake up for two and a half hours. That one nap in the car may be longer than every other time she's slept in the car on a road trip combined and then multiplied by two. Harper only slept for about an hour, but played quietly with a little figurine she picked out over the weekend. So, I did not hear one whimper, one cry from the backseat. It was almost unbelievable. I seriously considered stopping to buy a lottery ticket, because I could not get over the fact that I was being that lucky.
These little meet ups with family--to celebrate, to support, to invest in each other--fill my tank, even though they can be physically taxing and leave me with bags that don't get unpacked until the following weekend. I hope Mom and Leah feel that way, too. Because having the family I do is by far the best decision I didn't get to make.
Love. 💜 couldn't do life without y'all.
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