Making Memories

So yesterday the girls and I went to Wantagh Park and swam in the pool there and enjoyed some fun in the sun. We got to enjoy the day with Karyn and her daughters. The day was beautiful, the temperature amazing and the amount of people was few. We got to enjoy the water slide with the older girls and play with the squirt guns with the littles. Everyone participated in a few rounds of sharks and minnows and the smiles and giggles were endless! After finishing our swimming Karyn was telling me about the crabs that you can find down on the shoreline of the beach.
We decided to take the girls on an adventure. What I didn't know was that I would be the one with the sense of adventure that day. As we approached the shoreline Karyn lifted the first rock and out ran little tiny crabs. As we walked down the beach more rocks were turned and even more treasures were found. Along the beach were a variety of creatures, horseshoe crabs, ocean centipedes, mussels, clams and seaweed. As we walked down the beach the adventure turned into a hunt and we became more and more excited about the treasures we were finding.The girls excitment elevated as we travelled further down the beach. I found myself just as excited as them as more discoveries were made. Lanie was ahead looking around as Kara took more of a slower pace stopping to throw a few pebbles into the water and occassionally saw a few forms of wildlife along the way. I got to hold a tiny crab and got to share the experience with my children, one that I would not have been able to had I not been encouraged to try something new.
As we left the beach, Lanie and Kayla picked up their treasures that came in the form of horseshoe crabs (dead of course!) and the hopes of sharing their new discoveries with their families and maybe even a show and tell in their new classrooms in the Fall.
As I was thinking about the wonderful time that we had yesterday it reminded me of the importance of stopping and pausing in my everyday life to make a memory. I am sure that the time that we had at the beach will someday be a part of a story or in a memory in the future. Those memories will not only be in my childrens' minds but also in mine.
As a wise woman once said.... "take the time and bake the cookies"

It's a Bird.... It's a plane.... no it's super Dad!!!

So I was wondering this week what to write my blog about and I really got thinking about Doug and the importance He plays in my life, the life of our children, and his role here at Burwell Manor. Doug plays many roles as husband, father, household leader, fix it man, and main provider.
In the past, the role of the man was to go to the office or workplace and come home with the bacon while the wife threw it in the pan and cooked it up for him while the kids went running around the living room and fido would run over with the pipe and newspaper. It was the days of superman and batman and good vs. evil as well as the women's movement. It seemed that the woman had her role i.e. caring for the kids and keeping the house clean while the man's role was i.e. working outside the home, and taking care of the yard.
Times have now changed and men as well as Doug have changed with this new movement of combining roles. I have to give Doug lots of credit as He wakes everyday by 6am and is out the door to battle the world while the rest of us slumber a few more hours. His job is not an easy job He has deadlines to meet, people to talk to and errands to be done. I never hear Doug complain about His job He always comes home and is happy to be home even though he has put in a hard long day. He is happy to provide for his family and seems to have a pride in doing it that asks for no verbal affirmation it is almost like this what He feels He must do. I am thankful for the home and food and all the needs that He gives to us so freely that we often forget to tell him "Thanks."
Doug is not only a provider he is a fix it man. When something breaks in the house he is the one that is called upon to fix it. Although Doug does not always consider this to be his strong suit he has manage to fix quite a few things in our house. He has installed new flooring, fixed a leaky sink, caulked a tub, and has made two great flower beds for my vegetable garden this year. His ability to take on something that he is unsure of and accomplish it inspires me to try something that I am unsure of. Doug has impressed me with his "fix it" attitude.
He is also the Daddy in our household.As Daddy Doug has many roles caretaker (helping with dressing and changing diapers), activities coordinator (impromptu soccer game and trips to the park) and wrestler. One of my favorite things to do is watch him with his girls. I love to watch him wrestle, play and tickle our girls. The girls can not get enough of him, they love to hug and snuggle him and often run to him before me to help heal the hurts of life. I really value the relationship that he shares with our girls as I know that studies have shown that the relationship that girls have with their Fathers play a major role in the man or relationship that they will have later in life. I know both of our girls consider him their Superman!
Every once in a while Doug is in the role of housekeeper. He has to help with meals (he made a wonderful stir fry this week), helps with dishes, and has been seen doing a laundry load or two. The times have changed and that means that both of us work so that means both people have to chip in!Doug has been a good support and is going to have more responsibility as I head back to school. He is willing to take it on so I can fulfill my dreams.
Lastly, Doug is a great husband! He is a support to me when times are good and bad. He is my number one cheerleader and always makes me feel good even when I do not feel the same about myself. I appreciate having someone I can share my secrets with, my day with and my life with.
So even though in the past the man came home and dropped off the bacon, I am glad that my man can now do it all. To me He is our Superman!!

As two sister's grow together

As I continue this journey of this adventure called motherhood I have seen,heard, cried, laughed, and experienced many things. One of the best experiences that I have been lucky enough to be a part of is life's greatest bond and that is the bond of two sisters.
When Lanie was an only child my mind would sometimes linger and wonder what it would be like for Lanie to have a sibling. We wanted so badly to have another child, and Lanie as she got older began to pray for a sibling and specifically a sister. We were happy to have either a son or a daughter but Lanie always requested a "sister". As always God was in charge and answered all of our prayers and gave us a beautiful baby girl.
When Kara was born she was a fun baby and Lanie looked at her as someone to play with and enjoyed her new title and role as big sister. As time past and Kara depended on all of us and learned to look at Lanie as not only a sister but a caregiver. Kara would smile at Lanie and put her arms out to her which warmed Lanie's heart and made her happy.
Now Kara is bigger and she is starting to show her independence and that need for Lanie to be the caregiver has changed. Kara now talks and can say what is on her mind and is able to verbally express her love to Lanie. I am seeing both of my girls change through this process which is really cool.
Lanie still wants to be the caretaker, but her role is now changing and the need to be a caregiver is less.I am able to see Kara say " I miss Lanie" when Lanie is at school or out playing. Lanie looks forward to the kisses that are freely given and the piggy back rides that she offers and Kara quickly accepts! I can look out the window and see them both playing together on the front lawn,or playing one of Kara's favorite games "Diego" which Lanie plays along with even though it is a "baby game"
I look forward to the years to come when they can talk to each other about anything, laugh together, and maybe even a few times cry together.I have learned on this adventure that one of the greatest bonds in life is that of always knowing that no matter what your sister is there and is one of the people in this world that you can depend on!
So I have learned that God knew what He was doing and answered all of our prayers!