A letter to Jack...

Jack,

I’m going away for a little while. I have to go to work in a country called China. It’s a really far way away. It will take me 14 hours to get there on an airplane. That’s like 2 whole days of preschool.

I will miss you more than anything in the whole world. It’s going to be hard for me and you to be away from each other, because were best friends and we love each other so much. But it will be okay, because just like The Kissing Hand book, no matter how far apart we are, we will always be able to feel each other’s love.

If you ever miss me or feel sad, you just put your hand up to your cheek and think, “Mommy love me.” And my kiss will jump right into your heart and you will feel my love.

I’m going to call whenever I can. Since I’m so far away, when it’s night time where you are, it will be daytime where I am (think about that!). So it might be hard to get in touch, but I always will.

Every night, tell Daddy you want to send me an email. You tell him all about your day: the best things that happened, the funniest, the silliest, what you ate, who you played with…and Daddy will write it down and send it in a letter to me so I can read it. And make sure you send me songs and pictures of yourself too.

I will send letters back to you so you can read them and hear all about my day, so it will be like we are talking to each other!

Jack, I need you to be a big boy and do me a favor while I’m gone. I need you to be on your best behavior for Daddy. Listen to him and be the good boy I know you are. Also, help Daddy take care of Liley. You’re such a good big brother and she loves you so much: you’re the best at making her laugh and smile, so I need you to do that a lot while I’m away. (It would make me the happiest if you would do that for her forever because you two are best friends and that’s what best friends do!)

At night time, please do me a favor and sleep in my spot. My pillow will need someone to keep it company, and so will Daddy. So it’s your job to keep my spot cozy for me. If you miss me, hug my pillow and I will feel your hug from all the way across the world. I will hug my pillow extra tight so you can feel my love back at home, too.

I will be home before you know it, and things will be back to normal again. Until then, be good. I’m proud of you and I love you more than sunshine!

Love always,

Mommy

PS: I recorded our prayer so we could still say it together…make sure Daddy plays that for you at nighttime.

PPS: I also might have left a present for you and Lila each day…cause you’re kinda like my favorites!

A letter to Lila...

Lila,

I know you won’t be able to understand what’s going on around here this next week, and why Mommy isn’t there to hold and hug and kiss and laugh with you. I’m sorry for that. But I have to go away for a little while to do some work.

I know you may feel sad and scared that you can’t see me every day, and believe me, it will be scary and sad for me too. But in the big picture of our lives, it’s not that long of a time. We will be back to playing with each other before we know it.

While I’m gone, eat your food real good, and try not to get too much in your hair because I don’t know if Daddy is going to give you a bath every day. Try sleeping in a little bit, because our days are always happier when we get a good night’s rest and have sweet dreams. Daddy may have you wear mis-matched clothes, and that’s fine too…as long as you’re not naked, that’s the important part!

Smile a lot while I’m gone, and let Daddy take funny pictures and videos of you to send to me. It will make me so happy to see you! I’m going to miss your pretty little face so much it will hurt!

Hug your brother a lot, because he might need some extra love from you. You’re good at giving lots of love and smiles…it’s your gift to us all.

Do me a favor while I’m gone: don’t reach any monumental milestones: like tying your shoes or getting your first haircut (DO NOT LET DADDY CUT IT…he wants to give you bangs, for some unknown reason…don’t let him!) or getting your ears pierced or finally getting the hang of the ABC song…I need to be there for all those things so you just hold off a few days so I can be there!

I’ll be thinking about you all the time. And when I call to talk to you, remember that Daddy’s phone isn’t food, so don’t try to eat it! I love you to bits and pieces, my pretty, happy baby girl.

Love always,

Mommy

In Chicago...boo the cubbies

Landed in Chicago and mentally prepping for the long haul..,14.5 hours...

The kids are hiking with daddy and papa. Wish I was there.

Spiderman & the Hulk

Jack let me bring spiderman and the hulk on my adventure, only because he was to big to fit in my carryon...we're all checked in and ready...

I'm leavin on a jet plane

At the airport. I've said my goodbyes and kissed my people...trying to prepare myself for a long time sitting.

Trying also not to think about the missing ache I'm about to feel.

Love...all my love.



Btw, Frank Thomas is on my first flight to Chicago...I think it made dropping me off that much more exciting for Jim to meet him :)

10-21

10-21…isn’t it funny how a date can become so memorized, so engrained in our vocabulary. 10-21. I’ve said it thousands of times, and it just rolls off my tongue, like the answer to, “What’s your name?”…but it’s different than say, “How old are you?” because honestly, I never know off the top of my head. I have to think about it. Sometimes, I actually have to do math! WTH?! There’s something wrong with that!

So its 10-21, and I’m officially in my late 20s. There’s nothing I need or want: I have happy healthy babies and the best, loving family, and fond friends…I’m pretty much set.

I don’t have too much planned for the weekend…maybe some antiquing and a fun activity with the kids (TBD…maybe pulling out the Lion King on VHS with some cozy blankets on the floor and some FroYo…look at that, I just planned my night without even trying!). My birthday doesn’t mean as much to me now that I have more important birthdays to celebrate (12-25 & 7-30).

 

 

So here’s to a happy weekend of nothing special with my favs.

Even though I said there's nothing I need/want, I def. wouldnt mind this, or this, or basically anything else from my Pinterest...I love my pinning addiction! Alas, I'm saving my pennies for Shanghai shopping...

Hairdressing by Lila

Lila loves playing with hair (although hates to have hers messed with). Luckily, Jack-Jack obliges her...








And Daddy obliges as well.








I think she has us all wrapped around her finger...

Nani & her girl

The pink ladies...

Seen: the rally squirrel

At Cabela's...



Let's go Cards...

Seen: happy faces

Nothing makes me happier than seeing them so happy...








(at Jim's company picnic)

My nephew rules

Seriously, I love baby Will. I haven't seen him in 5 whole days and I'm itching to hold hims face, and kiss him, and even change his diaper...which is a welcome change since Lila decided that having her diaper/clothes changed is like torture.

See you soon Will.i.am! omg Care, can I call him that?! Prob not, but worth a shot.

Best...

This is the best compliment I've received in, well, forever maybe (and it wasn't even about me):

"Hi Mr. and Mrs. Greffet,

Just wanted to tell you a little story about Jack today. We went out to the playground and all the toys were put away in the shed. There is quite a stack in there and one of the little girls wanted the watering can, which was buried under the mound. Jack quietly waded into the shed and dug out the can for her. It was just sooooo sweet. What a gentleman and how kind. You're doing a great job, Mom and Dad."

Today

Daycare/preschool was closed today, so we took advantage and headed to the park...it was an impromptu trip (sooo unlike me!) so without a stroller, Li (Jack's newest nickname for Lila), enjoyed a stroll on my shoulders...











At the petting zoo portion of the park, Jack climbed on top of the fence to talk to the horses. Another little boy wanted to mimic Jack and asked his mom if he could also climb, she said, "No, we don't climb that, it's dangerous..." and I smiled in my head because I was THAT mom: the one who let's her child run wild, seemingly without regulations. It's not that Jack doesn't have the regulations, but he's safer and older and surefooted (see rock climbing pic below!), and I trust him. I know there will inevitably be situations when I say, "No, Jack. Just because that little boy does it, doesn't mean you can too...." but today, I was the rebellious carefree mom...

















Jack scaled his mini-mountain without assistance, and when he got to the top, he smiled and proudly exclaimed, "I'm on pride rock!"

Our Saturday night...

Our Saturday night was spent sitting around a fire playing "Scene It: Movies"...we're party animals, right?! We ended up with a personal high score (605 million)...my how our lives have changed...for the better, I might add. When our waker up callers come at 6:30, on a good day, low key nights are the best...



PS: I was satisfied with receiving the Twilight "unlockable", which means nothing, but I still loved seeing that sparkly vampire cartoon! Nerd!

Pig tails...

My, oh my...this is the sign of a big girl in my book: pig tail success.

Shanghai prep.

I will be traveling to Shanghai at the end of the month for my new job. And while I'm stressing about leaving Jim and the kids for a whole week (the longest time I've ever been away from my fav people!), I'm furiously preparing. Fodor's Travel tips is a great resource, and gets me crazy excited about the shopping opportunities ( Shanghai the center of the fashion universe!) but I have to slow myself down and remember that I will be there for business: to learn and meet and grow.

So as I search the net and download 500 aps to assist with my ventures, I try not to feel overwhelmed and nervous...but I'm failing. As I just noted in a post to my Jack, fear is what moves us forward, helps us to grow and overcome...so here goes nothing...您好 (hello).

Ps: talk about nerves...according to Fodor's, "...the Shanghainese dress to impress." This is probably an irrational thought to make me nervous, but still...

Another costume option for Ms. Greffet

Timeout: just remembered that I got this peacock costume on clearance last year...great, just what I need: another outfit option for Lila on Halloween. I'm terrible with decisions anyway...

At least Jack is still set on his Thor costume...I guess it's typical for a girl to have too many outfit choices, while a boy is content with the first thing he sees.

Mister cowboy

Jack, you rode a horse an the Greentree festival this year. It was quite the difference from your first horsey experience in KC, when you were terrified of the horse, and resigned to stay back and watch the rodeo with grandma.

It's like one day you got all brave and independent on me and I don't remember when that happened. Where was I when that happened? I hope I helped to make you that way.

You should always remember that you may be scared of something the first time you experience it, but it shouldn't stop you from trying it again. Most of the things we think are scary, aren't so scary once we take a closer look.

Ride the horses and take the chances and be brave and bold. You will always make me proud no matter what you do. Ride 'em cowboy...yeehaw.

Bicycle

Jack loves riding his bike, and the weather has been perfect, PERFECT for evening walks. This is what it's all about...

A new venture...

An appropriate quote, seeing as I will be starting a new job next week...

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on.”

- Steve Jobs | 1955 - 2011


Here's to new adventures...

(blogged from my iPad...thanks, Steve.)

The Luckiest ( by Ben Folds) has been in my head lately. Tonight, after reading books with Jack, he sat on my lap and I rocked him while I sang that song to him. Each time I finished, he'd ask me to sing it again, and again...

I sang, "What if I'd been born 50 years before you in a house, on a street, where you lived..." Then he stopped me and asked me, "Mommy, where am I going to live when I grow up?" I hesitated because this conversation was turning eerily similar to one that I so vividly remember having with my mom when I was young.

I said, "you can live anywhere you want, buddy..." and he said, "I want to live with you and daddy..."

I told him he could live with me forever if he wanted to. And then he said, "mommy, I want to be a baby again. I want to be 3 and a half, and then be a baby, and then be 3 and a half again..."

I told him he would miss out on too much fun stuff and that he had to grow up...my little Peter Pan. I told him how he could grow up and do all sorts of fun things like ride on roller coasters (NO idea why this came to my mind because roller coasters terrify me!), and he asked if I would ride them with him...Ummm

Then we talked about how he would grow up and get a car and drive me around...he said he wanted to get a race car! Oh Lordy...

I love our sweet little conversations...when he's not rough and tumble and wrestling and battling with super heroes...because as much as I love his boyish-ness, I love that he's my sweet little guy too...

"...and I know, that I am. I am. I am, the luckiest."

A page from my favorite book...

Lila's Halloween costume(s)

Lila's either going to be a chicken (or maybe it's a rooster?) or a fairy princess...or maybe a chicken-princess...

Tramp!

Our neighbors are kind enough to let the kids bounce on their trampoline...they are in butt-bomb heaven...