This morning I've had a jingle running through my mind. "Everybody doesn't like something...but nobody doesn't like Sara Lee!" Is the tune going through your mind now as well?
This is the jingle my dad chose to alter a little bit to describe my oldest daughter's personality. He'd sing "Everybody doesn't like something...but nobody doesn't like Nike!" It's a statement that echoes her life this far.
Today she turned 6-years-old. I realize there isn't much life there to have done something to make people dislike one that age. Still, I'm certain we can all think of those little ones that we'd rather not be around. Since the day Nikelle was born, couples without kids have considered having children because of her. She knows how to make people smile simply by being present. Her hugs come at just the right moment. Innocent as a newborn, her heart is still moldable and she desires to please God and others.
It's hard not to want to give her the world. She appreciates life. Every little piece of it. The decorations around our house for her party were done by her. Simplicity is more than fine in her eyes. When it comes to comparison, she doesn't always rank at the top with athleticism. At times this can bring her down. However, she is learning that God made us all different. Unique. With different strengths. Nikelle is likely to thrive in the arts. She loves art, dance, music, and being on center stage. We can find her drawing and writing much of the time. I love to read her "books". She spells phonetically and it's fun to see her brain learning.
I could have never fully comprehended the miracle we received 6 years ago at that time. Certainly, I have yet to completely grasp the full blessing of having Nikelle Evadne Carlson in our lives. Today we celebrate her as we thank God for every moment of her life this far.
Happy 6th Birthday, Nike!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
My little addict
I've been incredibly busy this month. June is always crazy with birthday parties and other celebrations.
One thing I've had to fit into all this is purchasing new beds for the girls. They've been sharing a queen size bed (which Nike moved to when Jaycie was born because it was the bed already in existence in the guest room) and it just hasn't been working out. They talk until all hours of the night. They fight. Jaycie cries at being bumped ever so slightly. Jaycie calls us upstairs only to inform us that part of Nike's blanket is on her side of the bed. The other night Jaycie through a decorative rock that Nike owns at Nike and slightly chipped her tooth. As you can tell, we could no longer put off separate beds. The girls and I went out, found a sale and purchased two twin bed sets. They were delivered yesterday. This required moving furniture around, cleaning and vacuuming prior to their arrival.
Nikelle was on the PBS kids website in the morning which she often does. Jaycie was by her side demanding "My turn. My turn." Being the kind, generous, older sister that she is, Nike got Jaycie set up and went to do something else. It was cute watching Jaycie utilize the mouse to click and drag and make little dancing shoes. When the shoes would dance she would bob her head and groove her shoulders with the music. Then it was back to designing more shoes. I went upstairs to vacuum and prepare things for the bed delivery as well as Nike's birthday party this weekend.
Before I knew it, I was checking on the kids an hour later and my 2 1/2-year-old was still on the web! I told her she had two more minutes and she was done. To say I have a little addict on my hands is an understatement. She had a breakdown when I pulled her away. I closed the browser and walked away with her kicking in my arms. As I walked toward the naughty bench to address the kicking and screaming, I felt a little bad for her and a little guilty that I allowed that much time to pass. At the same time, I was intrigued to realize that this little girl has the ability to do what many adults cannot catch onto.
Just one more thing to pay attention to. Thankfully, she has yet to discover how to enter the world wide web by herself!
One thing I've had to fit into all this is purchasing new beds for the girls. They've been sharing a queen size bed (which Nike moved to when Jaycie was born because it was the bed already in existence in the guest room) and it just hasn't been working out. They talk until all hours of the night. They fight. Jaycie cries at being bumped ever so slightly. Jaycie calls us upstairs only to inform us that part of Nike's blanket is on her side of the bed. The other night Jaycie through a decorative rock that Nike owns at Nike and slightly chipped her tooth. As you can tell, we could no longer put off separate beds. The girls and I went out, found a sale and purchased two twin bed sets. They were delivered yesterday. This required moving furniture around, cleaning and vacuuming prior to their arrival.
Nikelle was on the PBS kids website in the morning which she often does. Jaycie was by her side demanding "My turn. My turn." Being the kind, generous, older sister that she is, Nike got Jaycie set up and went to do something else. It was cute watching Jaycie utilize the mouse to click and drag and make little dancing shoes. When the shoes would dance she would bob her head and groove her shoulders with the music. Then it was back to designing more shoes. I went upstairs to vacuum and prepare things for the bed delivery as well as Nike's birthday party this weekend.
Before I knew it, I was checking on the kids an hour later and my 2 1/2-year-old was still on the web! I told her she had two more minutes and she was done. To say I have a little addict on my hands is an understatement. She had a breakdown when I pulled her away. I closed the browser and walked away with her kicking in my arms. As I walked toward the naughty bench to address the kicking and screaming, I felt a little bad for her and a little guilty that I allowed that much time to pass. At the same time, I was intrigued to realize that this little girl has the ability to do what many adults cannot catch onto.
Just one more thing to pay attention to. Thankfully, she has yet to discover how to enter the world wide web by herself!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
2 1/2 more months
Last night, Rod, the girls and I went out for pizza. We had been to this restaurant once or twice before and the girls seem to like it.
We informed the hostess that there were four of us and she lead us to a booth. Watching Nikelle scoot into the bench, I could tell that something wasn't right. The benches at the boothes move and this one was just too close to the table. I couldn't move it either because someone was already sitting on the other side.
With everyone watching and Nikelle already making herself comfortable, I had to inform the waitress that this wasn't going to work.
"I can't fit," I stated.
"You want me to get you another table?" she asked.
"I can't fit," I stated again.
How was I supposed to feel? Clearly, any adult couldn't fit into that spot. Still, with hearing recent comments such as "You're really gaining weight" and "I don't know where the other three months will go", this was just icing on the cake.
Thankfully, I was able to keep myself together. I rationally told myself that not even a normal size adult could not have fit there comfortably, let alone one with a belly like mine. We were seated at a table and enjoyed our dinner.
Only a few comments came from my daughter about this scenario.
"I wanted to sit in the booth."
"You fit last time."
"What happens if someone's too fat and sits in the chair."
I just smiled as she answered herself, "They'd squish it."
At least I know she didn't mean any harm by her comments.
2 1/2 more months. [sigh]
We informed the hostess that there were four of us and she lead us to a booth. Watching Nikelle scoot into the bench, I could tell that something wasn't right. The benches at the boothes move and this one was just too close to the table. I couldn't move it either because someone was already sitting on the other side.
With everyone watching and Nikelle already making herself comfortable, I had to inform the waitress that this wasn't going to work.
"I can't fit," I stated.
"You want me to get you another table?" she asked.
"I can't fit," I stated again.
How was I supposed to feel? Clearly, any adult couldn't fit into that spot. Still, with hearing recent comments such as "You're really gaining weight" and "I don't know where the other three months will go", this was just icing on the cake.
Thankfully, I was able to keep myself together. I rationally told myself that not even a normal size adult could not have fit there comfortably, let alone one with a belly like mine. We were seated at a table and enjoyed our dinner.
Only a few comments came from my daughter about this scenario.
"I wanted to sit in the booth."
"You fit last time."
"What happens if someone's too fat and sits in the chair."
I just smiled as she answered herself, "They'd squish it."
At least I know she didn't mean any harm by her comments.
2 1/2 more months. [sigh]
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Father's Day Tradition
This weekend holds a lot of emotion. Father’s Day. That I can recall, we have never had a year where we didn’t spend the day with my dad. Mother’s Day was spent with Rod’s family which allowed us to guiltlessly spend Father’s Day with mine.
Brookfield Zoo. That’s been the tradition on Father’s Day for years in our family. I recall last year specifically. Dad was battling this darn cancer. He had no hair - not even the little he had before the disease. I have a picture of him soaking up some of the misting water from the cooling stations they have at the zoo. I picture a healthier dad from years past drinking his coffee at breakfast with his plate piled high with food at Old Country Buffet and making wise cracks. I picture him opening homemade cards from the grandkids and sporting his “Please act shocked that I’m a Grandpa” t-shirt. It’s hard to think about Father’s Day without my dad.
Every year since I was little, it was a tradition to visit Brookfield Zoo once a year. It was another thing that he felt was kept special by limiting the visit to only once a year. We used to eat at McDonald’s when we were kids on the way to the zoo every year. I can picture it in my head. The specific “zoo” McDonald’s for our family. Dad was always so generous when it came to special occasions. At the same time, he remained frugal. I’m really not certain how he did it. He made these moments special. We didn’t take home souvenirs, we didn’t eat lunch at the zoo (or lunch for that matter), we didn’t do anything that cost extra at the zoo other than the children’s zoo and yet, we didn’t feel the least bit deprived.
From our pictures on the stone lions to petting the goats at the children’s zoo, there are so many memories from one day of tradition over the years. Whether it’s holding my Daddy’s hand or watching my girls hold Papa’s hand as I now held the hand of my husband, memories flood my mind and fill my heart.
We’ve always ate dinner at Russell’s BBQ chicken. No one purchased anything growing up other than the BBQ chicken meal. There is a large round table that we liked to sit at due to the size of our family and being so hungry, the chicken always tasted fantastic.
Our day was completed with ice cream at the Plush Horse (recently rated #2 in Chicago for ice cream). Despite his frugality, everyone was expected to get a double scoop and eat it. I loved this tradition despite my tears more than once. I don’t know why it was my misfortune, but more than once, my double scoop ended up on the ground rather than on my taste buds. Because of my mishaps, we learned to order the double scoops in a cup with the cone on top. I can still picture dad smiling as we recall these memories while he enjoyed his butter pecan and coffee flavors outside.
Over the years, we’ve changed things slightly. Not everyone attends every part of the day. It’s better that we all do what will keep our families happiest so we don’t end up with fights and tears. I’ve learned to bring snacks or a small lunch for my family (especially myself) so that the end of the day isn’t spoiled. Our girls will get chicken nuggets at Russell’s and only a kids’ scoop at the Plush Horse. Still, in honor of Dad, we hold to these traditions while the heartstrings pull.
I’m looking forward to a day of fun and family tomorrow all the while anticipating that I will be choked up at numerous moments fighting back the tears. I’m grateful my girls have their Daddy to store up memories with. My heart will need to learn to treasure our altered “family” times as I thank God for a Dad who held tightly to traditions.
Brookfield Zoo. That’s been the tradition on Father’s Day for years in our family. I recall last year specifically. Dad was battling this darn cancer. He had no hair - not even the little he had before the disease. I have a picture of him soaking up some of the misting water from the cooling stations they have at the zoo. I picture a healthier dad from years past drinking his coffee at breakfast with his plate piled high with food at Old Country Buffet and making wise cracks. I picture him opening homemade cards from the grandkids and sporting his “Please act shocked that I’m a Grandpa” t-shirt. It’s hard to think about Father’s Day without my dad.
Every year since I was little, it was a tradition to visit Brookfield Zoo once a year. It was another thing that he felt was kept special by limiting the visit to only once a year. We used to eat at McDonald’s when we were kids on the way to the zoo every year. I can picture it in my head. The specific “zoo” McDonald’s for our family. Dad was always so generous when it came to special occasions. At the same time, he remained frugal. I’m really not certain how he did it. He made these moments special. We didn’t take home souvenirs, we didn’t eat lunch at the zoo (or lunch for that matter), we didn’t do anything that cost extra at the zoo other than the children’s zoo and yet, we didn’t feel the least bit deprived.
From our pictures on the stone lions to petting the goats at the children’s zoo, there are so many memories from one day of tradition over the years. Whether it’s holding my Daddy’s hand or watching my girls hold Papa’s hand as I now held the hand of my husband, memories flood my mind and fill my heart.
We’ve always ate dinner at Russell’s BBQ chicken. No one purchased anything growing up other than the BBQ chicken meal. There is a large round table that we liked to sit at due to the size of our family and being so hungry, the chicken always tasted fantastic.
Our day was completed with ice cream at the Plush Horse (recently rated #2 in Chicago for ice cream). Despite his frugality, everyone was expected to get a double scoop and eat it. I loved this tradition despite my tears more than once. I don’t know why it was my misfortune, but more than once, my double scoop ended up on the ground rather than on my taste buds. Because of my mishaps, we learned to order the double scoops in a cup with the cone on top. I can still picture dad smiling as we recall these memories while he enjoyed his butter pecan and coffee flavors outside.
Over the years, we’ve changed things slightly. Not everyone attends every part of the day. It’s better that we all do what will keep our families happiest so we don’t end up with fights and tears. I’ve learned to bring snacks or a small lunch for my family (especially myself) so that the end of the day isn’t spoiled. Our girls will get chicken nuggets at Russell’s and only a kids’ scoop at the Plush Horse. Still, in honor of Dad, we hold to these traditions while the heartstrings pull.
I’m looking forward to a day of fun and family tomorrow all the while anticipating that I will be choked up at numerous moments fighting back the tears. I’m grateful my girls have their Daddy to store up memories with. My heart will need to learn to treasure our altered “family” times as I thank God for a Dad who held tightly to traditions.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
LaValle Parade
This is the current condition of the street in LaValle, Wisconsin where we attend the parade with Rod's parents every year. Just one more reason not to go this year.
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