The 3 legged race
Tyler and his class. Don't you just love his blue tongue? They had snow-cones at the end of the events. Guess which color he chose?
Leap Frogging his way to the finish line
The Egg raceIt's no secret that I'm not the tallest person in the world. On a good day I measure in at 5 feet and 3/4 inch. I round up and say that I'm 5'2". If you've never noticed, I almost always wear tall shoes.
Today I wore flip flops to work. I didn't mean to wear them. I put them on when I went outside this morning to start the car. I forgot to put my high heeled sandals on after that. Oh well, it's Friday and my office is fairly casual on Friday.
I was having a rather short day at work All the cubicles in cubicle land at my work are 5 feet tall - so they say, I know they are taller than that. So, since I had my flip flops on, I was walking around work and could not see over the darn walls. This might not seem like that big of a deal, but I felt like a mouse trapped inside a maze. My office is huge and cubicles make up the entire office. Anywho - it was just weird feeling.
After work I went to pick up Chloe from school. I should mention that Chloe has shot up like a sprout - 3 inches in the past 5 months. I thinks she grew another inch since last week too. Chloe is catching up to me in the height department. Anyway, I was waiting for Chloe to come out of school. Then I see her, running down the steps with a big smile on her face. She is with one of her friends who I do not know. When they walk up to me, I realize that Chloe's friend, who is in the 5th grade is taller than I am. How can this be, an 11 year old girl who is taller than me? Oh ya, I'm short.
So I'm walking with Chloe and her friend, just chatting with the girls about baskets they are making in school - then I realize that Chloe has on some super tall tennis shoes and is literally as tall as I am. I was seriously having a short day.
I continued to walk with the girls, and her friend was getting ready to turn down a street to walk home. Then Chloe told her friend, "oh wait, this is my step Mom Jenny." Chloe said it with a big smile on her face. Her friend then said, "oh, it's nice to meet you." We said our goodbyes at the sidewalk corner. Chloe then turned to me and said, "it's good to see you, happy Friday." All of the sudden I didn't feel so short anymore.
I walked away from Chloe's school feeling pretty tall today. Not because of my height, or because of my shoes but because sweet Chloe cared enough to stop her friend and introduce me - I just thought that was one of the coolest thing a girl her age could do.
It constantly amazes me how the little things our children do can totally make a difference. They can turn a short day into a tall day, a sad day into a happy day, or a quiet day into a house filled with laughter. It's something that you can never predict, or plan for. You just have to take everyday as it happens and be thankful for the spirit that they have.
Off to go get in on some of that spirit now - it's Mario Cart time - whoooo hooooo!
Remember the classic 1985 movie St. Elmos Fire? Love that movie. It has so many good life lessons in it, seriously!
In the movie Andrew McCarthy (he played a guy named Kevin) was searching for the meaning of life. For everyone, it was just 1 thing - and he was trying to figure his out.
I think to some extent, we have all at one point in time all felt this way. We are all searching for that one thing that makes our life. For some it is a passionate hobby, for others a career they have dreamed of since they were little. For me, it is my family.
I was recently talking with my Mom (who has become so wise to me in recent years). My Mom is retiring at the end of this school year. She had mentioned to me that she was going to be able to have more time to spend with her family, and that nothing was more important to her than her family, because they came first.
All of the sudden it just kind of hit me, "she is right." It's something that I have known all along, but sometimes things that are right in front of you have a way of blinding your vision.
My Mom has taught me many great things, one of which is that your children always come first. I always felt (and I'm sure that my brothers would agree) that we always came first in our parents lives. I hope that this is something that Tyler and Chloe will feel when they are adults as well.
Just because your children are grown, does not mean that you stop being a parent. Adult children need their parents just as much as younger ones do, just in different ways. I thank my parents for continuing to be a positive influence in my life. For always setting the example, for the enormous amount of integrity that they posses, and for loving me for who I am.
No matter how old your children are, try to set an example for them. If you have an argument, try to mend bridges, don't dwell on the negative. Look toward the future, respect the person they are, care for them and love them. Life is too short not to.
Be the parent.
Being the parent is the hardest job in the world, but the rewards you receive are unmeasurable.
For all those who check in with the Tyler Tuesday pictures, sorry I fell so far behind in posting them...I literally have no clue where my time goes.
Last week Mr. Tyler was sick - he had a cold which came on fast. Luckily it did not stick around too long and he was well by Thursday. It really throws a wrench in your life when your child gets sick.
But here we are another week and back in the swing of things.
We had some friends and family over on Saturday evening to Celebrate Mothers Day, it was awesome! We ended up having a big Wii party and stayed up way too late playing video games. I didn't think that happened to 30-something year olds? What good times. Thank you to all who came, it was great to see your smiling face.
Mothers Day was fun this year. Tyler made me a card that said Mom on the front of it - that he had written himself. Talk about melting your heart. Inside it read, Love Tyler, which he had also written. That card is a keeper for sure. We had a great day lounging around the house - we all were able to get a nap in, which is always a good thing. We headed to my parents house in the evening for dinner. We were able to spend some time with them and with my Grandma - all in all a pretty good day :)
Chloe is running in the JC relays this Saturday - I can't wait to see her run. That little girl is so fast. She's always so cute and so calm and just runs her little heart out. This is the last year she is going to be running, because she's headed to middle school next year. I have so enjoyed going to the relay races every year.
Sounds like Mr. Tyler is up from his nap - my free time is over. Bye!
