DAY NINE BEGAN QUIETLY AS I ROSE EARLY FOR DEVOTIONS AND A CUP OF COFFEE. THE LITTLE MAN GRACED MY PRESENCE AFTER SEVEN, AND THE LITTLE LADY SLEPT IN UNTIL 8, A RARE AND WELCOMED TREAT. I HAD SNUCK INTO HER ROOM TO WATCH HER RISE, AND WAS GREETED WITH THE LOVELIEST OF BEDHEADS, SLEEPY GRIN, FULL BODY STRETCH, AND GENTLE, "MORNING MAMA. I HAD A LONG NAP."
BEING THAT IT WAS THURSDAY WE WERE SET TO GO TO PLAYGROUP AT TEN. WE MADE A QUICK STOP AT TARGET (SHOCKING...I KNOW) TO PICK OUT A FEW NEW ITEMS FOR OUR SHAKER HEIGHTS APARTMENT. THE KIDS WERE EXCITED TO SELECT A NEW SHOWER CURTAIN AND BATH MAT FOR THEIR NEW BATHROOM. TECHNICALLY, WE PURCHASED A REPLACEMENT SHOWER CURTAIN. THE LITTLE LADY DID NOT WANT TO PART WITH HER CURRENT THEMED SHOWER CURTAIN, SO WE WALKED AWAY WITH YET ANOTHER CIRCO SEA CREATURE CURTAIN. (HUH...AVOIDING CHANGE...SOUNDS A BIT LIKE HER MAMA.)
AS WE DROVE UP TO THE DESIGNATED PARK FOR PLAYGROUP, WE QUICKLY NOTICED THE LARGE AMOUNT OF OLDER CHILDREN SWARMING THE PLAY EQUIPMENT AND OCCUPYING THE NORMALLY EMPTY FIELDS. THE LITTLE LADY QUICKLY ASSESSED THE SITUATION, IDENTIFYING IT AS A PROBLEM, AND SUGGESTED WE LEAVE IF THERE WERE TOO MANY BIG KIDS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN HER SO UNEASY, AND REALIZED IT WAS NOT IN OUR BEST INTEREST TO LINGER. WE ATTEMPTED TO PLAY WITH FRIENDS; HOWEVER, THE LARGE AND ACTIVE PRETEEN BODIES MADE IT DIFFICULT TO WATCH TWO CHILDREN. ONE OF WHICH WAS SLIGHTLY OVERWHELMED, AND THE OTHER TOO LITTLE TO UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION AND TOO DETERMINED TO MAKE HIS OWN FUN.
THE FACT THAT THIS PICTURE IS SLIGHTLY BLURRED AND CHAOTIC PERFECTLY CAPTURES THE WHIRLWIND OF ACTIVITY DURING OUR TWENTY MINUTES AT THE PARK.
FINDING COMFORT IN THE STROLLER WITH SNACK IN HAND.
MAKING OUR GETAWAY.
"THAT PARK IS CRAZY, MOM!"
"AGREED."
I'M NOT SURE IF THE LITTLE LADY'S NERVES WERE STILL A FLUTTER FROM OUR MORNING ACTIVITIES, BUT SHE COULD NOT SETTLE HERSELF FOR A NAP. INSTEAD SHE WORKED QUIETLY ON VARIOUS "PROJECTS" AROUND THE HOUSE.
IF YOU CANNOT QUITE MAKE IT OUT, THOSE ARE SMALL SQUARES OF TOILET PAPER ATOP CONSTRUCTION PAPER RECTANGLES.
WE WERE EXCITED TO RECEIVE AN UNEXPECTED TEXT LATE AFTERNOON FROM OUR FRIEND, AMY, INVITING US TO MEET HER AND HER SON AT A LOCAL COFFEE SHOP. WE QUICKLY ACCEPTED HER OFFER AND WERE OUT THE DOOR.
IT IS DIFFICULT TO KNOW WHERE TO START WHEN WRITING ABOUT OUR DEAR FRIENDS, AMY AND "CAL PAL" (CALLUM). WE MET TWO YEARS AGO AT OUR ANNUAL SIGNIFICANT OTHER SOCIETY WELCOME PARTY. I HAD HAD SEVERAL EMAIL EXCHANGES WITH AMY PRIOR TO HER ARRIVAL IN MADISON, AS WE WERE INTRODUCED BY A MUTUAL MILWAUKEE ACQUAINTANCE. SHE WAS A FELLOW RESIDENT WIFE, AND WE QUICKLY FELL INTO THE SAME CIRCLE OF FRIENDS. OUR FRIENDSHIP REALLY BLOSSOMED LAST SUMMER WHEN THEY MOVED INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE EACH OTHER MULTIPLE TIMES A WEEK. HAVING A GIRLFRIEND IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS REALLY A TREAT, ESPECIALLY WHEN SAID GIRLFRIEND IS SUCH A STRONG SUPPORTER OF YOUR MARRIAGE, AFFIRMS YOU DAILY AS A MOTHER, LOVES YOUR CHILDREN LIKE HER OWN, WATCHES YOUR CHILDREN IN A PINCH, PROVIDES YOUR DAUGHTER WITH AN ENDLESS SUPPLY OF LIPPIES, APPRECIATES TARGET AS MUCH AS YOU DO AND IS WILLING TO MAKE MONDAY MORNING VISITS WITH YOU, ADORES MAKE-UP, IS JOYFUL, A GOOD LISTENER, AND EAGER TO PRAY FOR YOU DURING GOOD TIMES AND BAD. TO SAY THAT I WILL MISS OUR WEEKLY INTERACTIONS IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE GROWN QUITE FOND OF EACH OTHER AS WELL. CHARLOTTE IS FULLY AWARE OF CALLUM'S STRONG AFFECTION FOR HER AND LOVES BEING THE LEADER OF OUR LITTLE PACK. CAL IS QUICK TO ASSERT HIS OLDER "SIBLING" STATUS OVER JOE AND OFTEN GUIDES HIM INTO ACTIVITIES. AND, JOE FINDS BOTH OLDER CHILDREN TO BE HIGHLY ENTERTAINING AND SEEKS TO PLEASE THEM, WHILE STILL BRINGING HIS OWN FLAVOR TO THIS MOTLEY CREW.
THESE THREE HAVE BRIGHTENED OUR DAYS AS MAMAS, FILLING THEM WITH JOY, GIGGLES, AND MANY MEMORABLE MOMENTS.
OH, HOW WE WILL MISS OUR DEAR AMY AND CAL PAL.
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