Positive Reflections

I'm supposed to be cleaning my house, and Elijah should wake up any minute, but I can't stop thinking about this post, so I'm going to attempt to write it in approximately 10 minutes.

Today my mind is filled with my big, crazy family.  I want to share one way in which I think each of my siblings is most like each of my parents.

Michele Renee

Mom-ness:  The ability to emotionally listen, without interrupting, even in her own mind.  When you share your feelings with Mom or Michele her attention is yours, fully, without condition or consequence.  

Dad-ness: Tough.  Dad and Michele are both tough, physically and emotionally.  In the marathon of life, they have enough determination to run the race and be the support staff at the same time.

Michael John

Mom-ness: Visionary thinking.  If you want to create something unique and incredible, Mom and Michael will each give you a different way of looking at the possibilities that you didn't even consider.

Dad-ness: Fix-all.  You have a problem?  He can fix it.  He doesn't even have to know what it is before assuring you that it will be done.

Denise Marie

Mom-ness: Existing in still moments, without judgement.  Some people, myself included, have a very hard time sitting with a person who struggles and just letting them be.  No need to change.  No need to solve the problem or try to make it better.  No need to analyze.  Just be.  And what you are is okay, which in that moment is an incredible gift.

Dad-ness:  Loving to be in the family moment.  Whether from the sidelines or the middle of the action, the moment when the baby looks into your eyes and smiles or the sibling/child rests a head on your shoulder is worth all the driving, inconvenience and fuss that often comes with finding time for family.

David Joseph

Mom-ness:  Creative eye.  David and Mom look at the world through an artistic lens.  Everyday things are beautiful, and impressions continually shape them.

Dad-ness: Reliability.  Dad and David will do anything for family (and by family I mean those who have penetrated their amazingly large hearts to become family).  I have never, ever been disappointed by these men in my life.  I love to watch them help people, without question.  I find it inspiring.

Danielle Katrine

Mom-ness: Event planning.  I plan events for those I love exactly like my mother.  Some big vision enters my head and then I have to make it happen.

Dad-ness:  Just do it.  I like to do things, physically.  It's in my blood.  Run, build, clean, cut, haul --doesn't matter what, I can do it, and probably with a flare.  Just like my old man.

Debra Ann

Mom-ness: Emotional presence and empathy.  I know not a single person in this world who empathizes like my little sister.  I am convinced that she can transport herself into the mind of another person and actually feel their pain.  It must be why she is a great actor.  She got this gift from Mom.

Dad-ness:  Above and beyond.  Whatever needs to be done will be done, by her, without question or need for reward.  Debi can do anything, and will, without considering whether the beneficiary is deserving.

Daniel Paul II

Mom-ness:  Warmth of personality.  Everyone I know adores my mother, and Danny never met a group of people who didn't leave his presence hoping to find it again.  I kid you not, everyone likes them.  And for good reason.

Dad-ness:  Bravado.  If Facebook existed when my dad was a young man, people would have publicly quaked in fear of arm-wrestling him.  And he might have breathed fire to entertain.  I'm pretty sure anything is game, and they can make it look good.

I LOVE YOU ALL DEARLY!

The big one is older today

The first thing Abigail wants to do in the morning is get dressed; and she's not just putting on clothes, but a persona as well.  She chooses who she wants to be for the day (or the hour, since she usually changes at least 5 times in the day), dons the best approximation of what that character or person wears, and then feels comfortable being awake.  Once she is up and ready to greet the day, she assigns the rest of us our requisite roles.  If she is Sister Bear, I may be Lizzy Bruin or Mama Bear, Jake is Papa bear, and Elijah is, of course, Brother Bear.  If she chooses to be Ariel then I'm most likely Vanessa, but I could be Ursula, while Jake is either Prince Eric or King Triton, and Elijah is Flounder.  The list goes on and on.  We have come to know and assume our roles with ease.  Jake's favorite aspect of this charade is that when she assigns us our roles we are referred to as "the big one",  "the medium one" (or "you", since she's usually talking to me), and "the small one".  Hence the title….this past weekend was ALL about "the big one" and his big day.

We started out on Saturday with a little Wiener/Moely family party.  Charity made an amazing meal of  corned beef and cabbage for the whole gang and we had a lovely time chatting and spending time together.  

I love Jerry's face in this photo….he looks delighted

We topped off the evening with Jake's traditional childhood birthday cake--a lemon/chocolate doberge. This was my second time making this cake with the two flavor variation, and it's no small feat.  It requires eight layers of torte, two fillings, and four different kinds of frosting.  But trust me when I say, it's worth it.

Sunday was beach day, and the only thing that could be more perfect about it is if there was football as well.  Jake and Abigail left the house a little before 10 am and didn't return until almost 6 pm, which for most people is beach overkill, but not my ocean-loving man.  Elijah and I met them there with lunch after his first nap and left 2.5 hours later so he could have a second nap.  I was tired from my time in the sun, so I was not at all surprised by the tan little girl with blood shot eyes who happily greeted me at the door upon returning home.  It was a good day.

Happy campers

Elijah crawled straight into the ocean.  Onlookers were gawking at this tiny baby who didn't care about temperature or waves.  He was all in.

Jake and Abigail spent their hours at the beach going into the ocean for stretches of time and then coming out to warm up.  This was a special treat for Jake, as Abigail has boycotted the ocean since seeing a young lady freak out last summer upon being struck by a sting ray.  

Abigail warming up

Sandy, covered in sunscreen, and eating my leftover sandwich as an early dinner

 Upon awakening on Monday morning, Abigail's first words were "It's Da da's birthday!".  She was so excited that she wanted to greet him and bestow gifts before getting dressed.  Amazing.

"Helping" Jake open his presents

Being the amazingly sweet father that he is, Jake chose Disneyland as his birthday activity.  I know that his enjoyment of the happiest place on earth is strongly rooted in Abigail's sweet smile and the pure bliss she clearly feels for the entire day of fun.  I hoped that Monday would be a little less crowded than usual, even if it was St. Patrick's day, but it wasn't.  Still, we always have a great time.

The boy teacup

Meeting princesses is on our must-do list

We arrived home in time to feed the kids some dinner and sing to the birthday boy on his special day.  Here's our little messy-haired Aurora -- clearly excited about cake (as always).

Abigail made the mini cake that is placed to the right of the king cake, so that's the candle she was blowing out

Then, believe it or not, we put the kids to bed and walked to a new restaurant in town to spend a couple of hours together while a sitter was at the house.  I'm always sad when I don't document a moment, and our dates seem to top that list.  I should work on my selfie skills and at least take one with my cell phone.

It was a weekend to remember, and there's no person more deserving than my love.  He spends his days working hard and his evenings and weekends focused on his family with every fiber of his being.  I love his contagious positive energy and his overflowing joy, especially since I see the latter in our daughter every time she laughs.  It's such a gift to have in my life.  

I love you, darling.  Happy Birthday.