Away

(Yes, I did change the blog background. You're not going crazy!)

Oh faithful readers, I will be away for a little while. I am going to be leaving my hubby, my kids, my doggies, and my country for a visit with the frogs.

I am going to be visiting my mom in the South of France. I know, I know, poor me. I am having some nervous feelings (Rhett Butler, where is my fainting couch and smelling salts?!?) about leaving. I have not flown by myself since Claudia was born. Now, I will be jumping across the pond, as they say!

The kids will be in good hands while I am away. Our 15-year-old babysitter will be taking care of the kids while Scott is at work. I have a real fear that Wilson and Claudia are going to prefer her to me when I get home. I think that I will need to self-medicate while I am away. Perhaps with some french wine, bread and chocolate. (Yes, definitely chocolate.)

On the serious side, if you think about it on the 28th and again on the 6th, could you please send good thoughts for a safe journey for my sister and me?

Au revoir!

A Lot Can Happen...

in the time it takes for me to take a shower. Oh, let's just take yesterday for instance. While I was very quickly taking my shower, Claudia decided that Wilson was going to be a "big boy" who wears underpants. Not just any underpants, mind you, but pink "Hello Kitty" underpants.

I got out of the shower and Claudia burst into my room and said, "Mom, Wilson is a big boy and he is going to wear underwear now. He has them on right now!" Of course I assumed that he had only the underwear on, but Claudia surprised me. She put them on over his diaper and then put his shorts on top of them.

I didn't feel like fighting that fight, so off we went to return some things at the mall. Really, no incidents there. That happened later.

After Wilson's nap, he saw the underwear and insisted on wearing them. This time he needed to put them on OVER his shorts. While this was happening, Claudia and Scott decided they would take a walk to the neighborhood park. Of course Wilson was going to accompany them.

Good ol' Daddy didn't think it was worth the fight either and off they went to the park where they saw some neighborhood kids and a dad. I guess the conversation between the dads went like this:

Scott: "Pay no mind to Wilson's pink underpants."

Other Dad: "I wasn't even going to ask."

That just struck me as too, too funny when Scott told me about it last night! (Just picture the scene.)

Oh, Wilson these last two posts are for sure going to cost us some money in therapy bills one day.

Girls have all the fun?

Wilson may just think so. Claudia received some really fun "girly" things for her birthday--bracelets, headbands, make-up (really it's chap stick), etc. Why wouldn't Wilson want to use them for some entertainment?

I am sure that he will want to burn these pictures when he is 14. I think that it may be good to have a few "blackmail photographs" in my back pocket to be used strategically.

Really, the final blow to a 14-year-old boy would be a photo of him getting make-up on by his sister. I think that I would only pull this out in the most dire circumstances.

Birthday Bonanza

What a birthday party! The Friday before Claudia's birthday we had a party with some her friends. What a great time! It was so wonderful to have the room to host a party. (Our old house never really accommodated more than 5 people very well.) The "older" girls found Claudia's dress up clothes right away and stayed in them through the whole party. (So much for the new birthday dress that I bought for Claudie.)

Here are some photos from the day:

Coco all dressed up

Lilly as Snow White (it was great--I didn't have to pay for a Disney character to appear at the party!)

Seriously, I had a great dress for Claudia and she ends up wearing this sad dress!

Elliot and little sis Stella

You can count on Lucy to "clean up" after everyone with the vacuum

Sweet Alison cheering on her friend Claudie!

Claudia is one lucky little girl to have such great friends. I am doubly lucky that Claudie's friends have such fantastic moms!

Give Thanks

I once saw a billboard while driving that said, "Give thanks for your healthy kids." It was advertising for St. Jude's or another children's health non-profit. I remember thinking, "That is so true. I need to be more appreciative that I have healthy kids." This took on a whole new meaning for me this past Thursday.

Wilson had been ill for a couple of days with a bad chest cold, high fever and vomiting. We went to the doctor's office on Thursday to get him checked out. The doctor was concerned about his cough and so he ordered a chest x-ray.

After two trys at the chest x-ray, we sat waiting for the results. I was thinking worst case scenario is he would have pneumonia. (I should learn not to tempt fate like that.) The doctor came in and said that he was "perplexed." He took me out in the hallway to view the x-rays.

From what I remember of the conversation, he was saying that Wilson's chest was clear, but the"shadow" around his liver was much larger than they would expect. We walked back into the room and he said that we needed to go to Children's Hospital to have a radiologist read the x-ray. Panic was taking over. The doctor then said, "During my external exam I did not feel a mass or lump" and I asked, "Is that what you think it is?" He replied, "I don't know." Sheer terror set in.

We went to Children's and Wilson's x-rays were examined and an ultrasound was ordered. Finally, after a number of truly agonizing hours the doctor said, "The ultrasound was totally clear. We don't have to worry about all that really bad, scary stuff."

I have felt relief in my life: the safe birth of my children, passing the bar exam, etc. but nothing can touch the relief and gratitude that I felt at hearing those words. To be able to walk out of the hospital that night holding Wilson was such a gift and one that I won't soon forget.

I can't help thinking about all the parents that don't get the same news that we did and that don't get to carry their healthy child home with them. I really cannot imagine what they must go through. I had a very small glimpse that day and I can only say that it must be beyond belief and I don't know if there are adequate words to describe the agony, terror, and heartache that they feel.

It seems like it often takes something scary to wake us up and remind us to be thankful for what we have. I hope that this experience will stay with me and serve as a reminder every day to be thankful for my wonderful kids. I hope that I won't need a billboard or another terrifying situation to remind me to truly give thanks.

Everyone give your kids, spouse, partner, friend, pet, parent, etc. a hug tonight.

Chanhassen Nice

You know the saying, "Minnesota Nice," but I think that the heart of the "nice" is in Chanhassen. Truly, I am continually surprised by how friendly everyone is here-everyday encounters at Target (this is very important as I go there almost every, single day), the grocery store, gas station, etc. are just so darn nice.

We have met so many of our neighbors just being outside gardening and playing with the kids. What a great 'hood we've found. Scott was with the neighborhood men last Friday until 3:30 in the morning! (When I asked him what they talked about for 8(!) hours his answer was, of course, "oh, nothing much.") Claudia is-as I write this-having a tea party at the neighbor's house. We also have had 2 playdates with some adorable twin boys who are Claudia's age from the neighborhood who I met while weeding the garden one day. (Well, that sounds kind of creepy. I met their mother while I was outside. Although, I was just about ready to accost any child that looked halfway "normal" and close to Claudia's age with a "hey, do you want to be my daughter's friend?" because Claudia had been saying to me, "Mom, when are you going to find some new friends for me at our new house?" I am sure that wouldn't have scared any street-savvy kid away and/or brought a suspicious mom or dad to my door.)

We are making ourselves at home here and not freaking out the neighbor kids (yet). It feels great.

Dancing with the...

Walkers! (Well, Wilson and Claudia Walker that is.)

We were practicing dancing this morning for the big wedding this weekend. My cousin Hannah is getting married and so the whole Lawson gang will be there (yay Hannah!). This will be the first wedding for Claudia and Wilson. I foresee that Claudia will be quite enamoured with all the elements of the wedding--getting dressed up in a new dress, the bride and bridesmaid dresses, the cake and the dancing.

Purely in preparation for this grand event, (I hate to admit this) Claudia may have seen a couple of episodes of the latest round of "Dancing with the Stars." She loved it! I think that the lifts and spins really made an impression on her. (Poor Wilson...the little guy is just along for the ride. Anyone have an air sickness bag?)

Please see below:

Well, Lawson family, consider this your fair warning. I think that I am going to be bringing a couple of dancing fools!