Step Stool

Last night I got up in the night to use the bathroom. Everywhere you go there's some sort of obstacle - like the step stool in the bathroom. I'm so used to it I can walk around it even in the dark.
I thought for a moment about how wierd it will be when the step stools and drawer locks and door knob covers are gone.
Then I had this image of Cecelia when she was about 1 1/2 climbing up on the step stool for the first few times to get her hair brushed or teeth brushed.
The emotions took over me like a wave. A huge, suffocating wave.

I don't know WHY I get these feelings of nastalgia so bad. There's so much guilt about how I have taken them for granted, or wished away the "hard" ages.
I had this split second of thinking I should have another child, but I know in reality that's not going to happen. And, that child would also grow up.

Thank God I still have many, many, many years with my children at home.

Today is supposed to be the first nice day in I-don't-know how long and I plan to savor every minute of it.

Best Dad Ever

The girls took their Dad to Mickey's Diner and the MN History Center for Father's Day. I think everybody had fun.
We had dinner at Dick and Nancy's and even though Dick didn't get to sit back and relax on his special day the rest of us were grateful for all the hard work and wonderful dinner he made for us!

And just to tell you how cool of a Dad that Bill is: when we got home I had to get some groceries and while I was gone Cecelia needed help changing her earrings. She first told Bill that she wanted to wait for me to come home, but then Bill told her he could help. He put her earrings in and she didn't feel a thing so she looked up at him and smiled and said "how did YOU learn how to do that?"
I thought that was so sweet and just goes to show that those three young ladies have it so good!!

Uncle Dave, Erin, and Other Things

Well, this past week we had some fun visitors! My brother and his girlfriend came up for a wedding in Iowa over the weekend and tacked a couple of extra days on to spend with us!
We tried to sit by the Lake (Minnetonka) for dinner the first night, but the MN weather did not cooperate - shocking! - so we ended up in the warm indoors instead.
We BBQ'd and beached and played - it was a lot of fun. Dad and Mare came Sunday/Monday to see them so it was an extra special treat for us to have them here as well.
We're in the process of fixing up the porch and the new windows are now installed! It's still a hot mess in there and probably won't be "perfect" until the end of the summer. I guess it's true what they say about home projects - always costs twice as much and takes twice as long.
I had to take a picture of my cousin, Becca, and Clare's Vivi since Vivi is wearing an outfit all three of my girls wore. So sweet, both of them.
And, lastly, a picture of Laila who found a medicine cup and old pacifier to style herself in.
It's always a party in the Heer house.

Memorial Weekend/Birthday Pics

Delaney's 5th Birthday

Our Delaney is a young soul. She has a tender heart and eager eyes. She likes to talk and talk and talk when she's at home, but if often very shy and quiet when out of her element. We are working on being polite enough to answer people when they talk to her, but she seems to get embarrased and clam up.
She doesn't really love school, but she loves her teachers and likes to be affectionate with them - giving lots of hugs. She's not to be bothered with learning letters and numbers when there are other things to learn. Her favorite kind of learning is more about nature and animals. She likes to ask lots of questions and LOVES when something "clicks" and she masters a bit of trivia. She will show her satisfaction with the b-i-g-g-e-s-t smile you have ever seen.
She likes to rest a lot and cuddle a lot. She's very picky about what she eats even when it comes to sweets. She's sensitive to smell and is not afraid to tell you that your breath stinks.
She admires Cecelia and nurtures Laila. She doesn't like it when Bill or I are gone, she much prefers we are all together all the time.
Delaney loves her extended family too and often reminisces about things we've done with this uncle, or that grandparent, or this cousin.
Her 4th year was not our best year. Her and I butted heads quite a bit as I expected her to want to be more independent and she wasn't ready. She is not the kind of kid to jump at the chance to be the helper or do things on her own. Delaney is going at a slower pace and it took me almost the whole year to figure that out. She's still very much a little girl. I almost worry about sending her to kindergarten in the fall, but I know she is ready and will thrive in her own special way.

Now that spring is here we do a lot of driving around with the windows open. Delaney seems to go to a happy place when we're driving - she likes the music up and she always faces the wind with her little smile, like she's taking all the good things in.
And when I was cleaning house with the music on and I found her just sitting on the porch in the rocking chair holding Pearl. She sat out there for the longest time, in the quiet, listening to the rain and looking out  the window.
This is the peaceful counterpart to the Delaney who cries at the drop of a hat. I get so frustrated with that part and when I find her being so sweet it makes me feel bad for not always consoling her when she's upset. She's just a little bit more emotional than most and I need to just accept it.

Of course - and I say this about all my girls - she is beautiful. Stunning. Gorgeous. Unique.
She is perfect just the way she is and no amount of words could ever capture all of who she is.

To our funny, curly-haired, brown eyed ray of sunshine:
Happy 5th Birthday to you....with all our love.

In Case You're Wondering

Pearl has adjusted just fine to her new home.

Mom Stuff

I don't know if it's just me but whenever I finally decide to get a break from my kids, say "yes" to an adult event, and get a babysitter I almost always want to chicken out in the days leading up.
I don't know why that is.