Mended Little Hearts

When Claire entered into this great world, she brought her radiant light to all of us. From the beginning, I tried explaining to Kate about Claire's "special" heart. Photograph's captured Claire's surgeries and brought some understanding to both Kate and Madeline. On Monday at the Mended Little Heart's Golf Tournament, as the MLH awareness video played Kate recognized EVERY picture of Claire! "There is Claire, Claire there you are again!" Kate thought nothing unusual of seeing Claire on the big screen and proceeded to tell her that "it is all about you Claire.... Claire, you are a rock star!" The whole thing brought me to tears....

If you have not seen the video before, he is a link. Be prepared, it pulls at your heart.
http://albums.phanfare.com/1364093/1110960#imageID=6093433

Things I love

When Mother's Day was here I kept thinking about being a mom, but also being myself. I think it is important that my kids know me as there mom, but as a person too. I hope it teaches them to discover, what are things that make them who they are. What are the things they love? What are they passionate about?

I think this all started when I had my F@cebook "interview" with Kate.
When I asked her, "What does Mommy like to do?" Her response, "clean."
What does Mommy like to do when you are not around?" Her response, "clean."
What does Mommy love?" Her response, "clean."
Really?!@%! You think cleaning, because that is something I don't even like... however, a necessary evil!

I know she is 4 and some would laugh at this response, but I was actually upset. I didn't want her to think that my life's passions are about cleaning our house. (I will admit it was great proof to my husband that it does occur when he is not around.)

But before there was David, Kate, Stephen... there was just me. Who was that person and who is still that person? I know who she is, I haven't forgot about her, but it was a realization that I needed to share that part of me with my kids. Not just be the one that says, "don't run with that pencil, you might poke your eye out."

So, we have been doing more fun things together and I am explaining to Kate and Stephen why they are important to me. So, to the right you will see my list and you can see one new project that we have been working on.

By the way, the kittens are 4 weeks old today and Kate named them. The little girl kitten is, Kate, and the little boy kitten is, Stephen. The funniest thing is that Madeline then named the momma cat, what else... Madeline. I love these kids, the amount of joy they bring is immeasurable.

Happy Mother's Day

I am tired... Funny that I am saying that because it is Mother's Day. It was a very wonderful Mother's Day, I got to sleep in, David and the kids made me breakfast. And I even got some beautiful tulips delivered yesterday. My favorite present is the one that Kate made me spur of the moment this morning.... I beautiful heart card. She has such a BIG heart. Madeline also serenaded me with "Happy Mother's Day to You." She even adjusted the chorus to "dear aunite...Happy Mother's Day to You!" Now, that kind of love is priceless. I wonderful if they know their simple gestures are really the best present?

I am tired... tired of getting this house clean and picked up. Tired of finding one more thing that needs to be done so we can get it on the market. Tomorrow is the big day, MLS listing and officially on the market. So, anyone looking for a fabulous house in Brandermill... let me know! I know it will be worth it, but it is physically exhausting and it is taking so much time away from my kids! We have a pretty regular routine and I miss that!

(FYI, the founder of Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis, is a Mary Baldwin College alumae.) I just wanted to give a shout out to all the amazing women out there and wish them a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Funny

Okay, these pictures are just FUNNY! Kate, oh Kate, my little me.... Long story, short. Kate needed to put on some pants before she could come outside and play. So instead of going upstairs and getting dressed she just made up her own outfit. Here it is...

A weekend away...

Milwaukee soon will be home, odd to think of any place other than Midlothian as home. However, if I have to pick another place to live it seems like a great place. (Ask me again when there is 5 feet of snow on the ground, schools are not cancelled and the wind chill is 40 below.) No really, I am trading in the dogwoods for the weeping willows that grace the rolling hills, peanuts for cheese, the James River for Lake Michigan, and the beach will be a 10 minute drive instead of 2 hours. Oh, and lots and lots of SNOW!

Here are some small differences that I learned over the weekend.
1. Everyone has a snowblower, just like you have a lawnmower.
2. Every house has a basement that they put all their stuff in, instead of an attic.
3. Everyone has a minimum of a 2 car garage because people actually park their cars in there! By the way, most people have a 3 car garage because they need a 3rd bay to store their Harley's in.
4. They don't like fenced backyards! They prefer the openness.... This will be difficult with the runaway dog, aka Dixie.

These are a few other things I am really excited about!
1. They have a ton of microwbrews, they love beer!
2. They have "cheeseries" just like they have "wineries" - don't worry they have wineries too.
3. The people are really nice and welcoming! I call it southern hospitality, but they have it too. I felt very welcomed!
4. No one asked me if I was from West Virginia.
5. Excellent schools.
6. The start of a new adventure...

Little Ballerina

I am home! I headed to Milwaukee on Friday to see where we are going to be living and start house hunting with David. It was a great sunny warm weekend. I am very glad to be back at home with the kids. I really missed them! It will also be great to have David home this weekend, the kids have really missed him too.

I came home to a full schedule. Tonight was the little ballerina's dance dress rehearsal. We made our way through the rain to James River High School with costume, tights, and ballet slippers ready to go. The girl's were giddy with the excitement of dancing on stage. Surprisingly there was no fear! They got out there and danced, smiled, pointed their toes, and most of all... they had so much fun.

Tonight as Kate was falling asleep she told me how much fun she had on stage. Then she said, "I can't wait to do it again. Can I dance on the stage all the time?" This is when I see a reflection of myself. All I wanted to do when I was little was dance, and I too wanted to be a dance teacher when I grew up. She is precious and I loved watching her glow on stage tonight.

Learning Curve

Okay, so our computer of about 19 months officially died. Very annoying that a "large" purchase expired so quickly, while our previous refurbished computer lasted about 5 years and still works! (It is just VERY slow!) So, thanks to our fabulous neighbors (who we are going to miss terribly when we move) loaned us a MAC computer. I have been converted! So, this is my first post from a MAC, so patience please while I get it right. (I just figured out how to cut and paste - YAY ME!)



Easter was beautiful! I bit chilly, but sunny skies with kids running around discovering eggs. Stephen was obsessed with the dyed Easter eggs in the fridge. He thought every time the fridge opened, he would grab an egg and spike it on the floor. (Thank goodness they were hard boiled.) The bunny brought the kids plenty of goodies, but the chocolate was the number one hit. I think Stephen ate more chocolate than anything that morning. Kate definitely figured out the best way to hunt for eggs, the more eggs the more candy! Stephen is still at the age of discovering and eating! Kate cleaned up with multiple baskets full of eggs!

Expect Great Things

It is official, David has accepted a great position with K0HL'S. Yeah, David has a job! One slight change, their headquarters is Milwaukee, Wisconsin. So, the Ledlie clan is moving. It is a BIG change for everyone and a great deal to swallow. As I have learned from my grandmother, when life presents lemons, I will make lemonade. During one of the last conversations I had with Grandma Ruby before she died, I told her that some people thought I should be more upset about my husband loosing his job. And how I believed that this would not be the worst thing to happen to us, we would get through this and I chose to remain positive. I then told her that I learned this from her. I said, "When life presents lemons," she responded, "I made lemonade." A perfect last memory.

David will be a Category Marketing Manager for K0HL'S specifically, Men's, Young Men's, and Children's clothing. He starts later this month and we will follow after selling our house. So, if anyone is looking for a great house with great interior design let us know!

Healing

We are home, settling back in from our trip to Lynchburg. Grandma's services at both Westminster Canterbury and Euclid Christian Church were beautiful and inspiring. Her strength, faith, loyalty, and friendship... unwavering. She choose to stay positive no matter what life dealt. I love how she said, "Tough times won't last, but tough people do."

Thought out the past 3 weeks I have had multiple conversations with Kate about what was happening. I know the conversations have provided her with understanding, and yet have healed me at the same time. When Grandma died she was very sad, but so happy when I told her she was now her guardian angel. Kate's face beamed and she said to me, "Will she come to see me and give me kisses and tell me that she loves me?" I told her she would in her dreams, and she replied, "When she does, I will come wake you so you can see her too." (I just love you Kate.) And at times I just had to laugh... Kate understood we were going to Lynchburg to celebrate Grandma's life and bury Grandma's body. On our way to the cemetery she asked if she could bring her cup and I said no, we would leave it in the car. She replied, " Well the cup would be good to fill with dirt and fill into the hole." LOL, Goodness knows what had been going though her mind! She did really well and tried to be quiet during the service. It was hard not to hush her at times because of the sweet things she would say about Grandma and she even drew a picture of her. I am sure that Grandma was smiling down at the girls in their matching dresses, and Stephen in his seersucker pants. She loved her great grandchildren and in her past five years, they brought her immense joy.

Grandma Ruby

My Grandma Ruby passed away around noon today. It was very peaceful and my Dad was by her side, along with one of her best-friends, Catherine. Based on the past two weeks, we knew this was coming, but it still never easy no matter how you prepare. I know that 90 years is a feat and her life was AMAZING, but how can she really be gone? How can all my grandparents be gone? I feel blessed that they were in my life for so many years. More than anything, it is a constant reminder of the importance of a grandparent.