I am officially finished with school AGAIN.  I  watched my father cry his eyes out all through the ceremony.  My in-laws were just as moved.  Poor Mat had to walk the halls outside the ceremony with a screaming baby.  I watched Melia climb over both sets of grandparents, stand on her head on the chair, and sing Briar Roses' song at the top of her lungs.  I am officially Dr. Timpson-----what will my next challenge be?

When I brought Mason home from the hospital Melia was pretty jealous for the first several months, I guess I assumed she still was or hadn't even thought about it for a while. The other day I took Melia skiing to give her a little "Mom and Me" time. When we went back to my sister-in-laws to pick up Mason, Melia replied, "I can't wait to get Mason, I miss him." Looking at this picture, reminds me that Melia really does love and take care of her baby brother, even if that often includes tackling him, dumping him on his head, stealing his toys, etc. They are the two cutest kids in the world and I'm certain that I'm the luckiest person ever!!!

Melia surprises me every single day. She never appears to be paying attention, I say that because she is usually talking, jumping/falling off her chair, turning circles in her chair, applying make-up, etc. The other day we had a family home evening lesson about Jesus on the cross, why we celebrate Easter, etc., she was able to recall pieces that her primary teacher had told her, all very accurately. How does she listen, pick her nose, and dance in her chair at the same time? Anway, Easter was a fantastic day, we were able to spend most of the day with family and at church.

I haven't decided if this is a fun bonding activity to do together or if this is spoiling and ruining my daughter.  When I was growing up we had enough money to go school shopping once a year and  get 4 pants and 5-6 shirts.  I don't want her to feel privileged, but I love to spend time with her.  I want her to know how to work for her things, to appreciate the small things, to not have expectations that are not going to be met.  Kate Wing (her best friend) is in the back ground, then Melia, and then giant me.  

Notice the giant tears? Melia had a string of green beeds but also wanted a string of pink beeds. Mat told her that she absolutely couldn't wear them. Why can't she wear them? He just doesn't recognize that young little girls can be set off at the drop of a hat. For some reason his idea is how it HAS to be. In Melia's mind, her idea is how it HAS to be. They fight and Melia always, always, always ends up crying. How can you fight and argue with a 3 year old, will you EVER win with a 3 year old? I have to remind him that she IS acting her age, but so is he acting HER age. So, this is the best picture we got of our family on St. Patty's day, thank you Mat.

New Toy

Who really needs toys. Melia and Mason discovered the washer and dryer. They literally spent hours the first day and have gone back multiple times to play in the washer and dryer. Remember when life was so easy and fun? What happened to those days?

Cool kids!!! you can't tell at all that they are loved a little bit, can you? I've learned that as much as you love them you can't keep them fully safe and never let bad things happen. The last 2-3 weeks we have been a sick household. Mason started it out with an ear infection, Melia soon developed double eye infections, then I got a whole collection of illnesses, all at once. Luckily Mat never gets sick and had to take care of all of us. When I've been sick I've watched some TV series, each one of them makes me cry my eyes out, stories of kids kidnapped, beaten, ignored, etc. Life is cruel, hopefully my kids never know that that world exists. I LOVE YOU!!!