Randomness

I missed Jen’s Quick Takes yesterday, but I’m going to indulge in some tardy randomness.

• Madeline makes her big stage debut later today as Narrator 1 in a gripping performance of The Enormous Turnip. I tried to convince the grandparents that they really didn’t need to drive an hour to see her on the stage for four pages worth of script (font size at least 14), but they insisted. She is the first grandchild on both sides, after all.

• In a few weeks, 3-year-old Rachel has her first ballet recital. Again, I told the parents they shouldn’t feel guilty about staying at home rather than seeing her smile, randomly wave her arms, and walk on her tippy-toes (or perhaps freeze in the blinding stage light), but they’re coming. She’s the second grandchild on both sides, after all. I feel sorry for my poor younger brother who’s getting married in May because I’m afraid we’ll have recitaled-played-and-soccer-gamed out the grandparents by the time he starts filling his nest.

• Blog migration stinks. Remind me to never ever launch a new blog during Lent when I’m supposed to be ripening the fruit of detachment. Madeline shared some very sage advice when she noticed me barring my teeth at the computer screen earlier in the week, “Mommy, it’s just a website.” Amen.

• I can’t believe Lent is almost over. I wish I could say I’ve had an amazing journey and feel closer than ever to Christ, but then I’d have something else to confess. Let’s just say this hasn’t been the greatest Lenten journey and ranks right up there with one of the worst. (Fortunately, God takes all that is bad and makes it good, including sorry me and my broken Lenten resolutions).

• At 5 months, I’ve just started experiencing some discomfort nursing while pregnant. Sometimes it feels like my nipples are on fire. They burn, people. The pain doesn’t occur when I’m nursing Mary Elizabeth who possesses super-sucking strength that would put a Dyson to shame but shortly after I’ve finished. She has started nursing a little less each week. I don’t offer unless she asks (or unless I’m really desperate to keep her from trying to kill herself or to pacify screeching and/or plaintive crying).

• We’re planning a family vacation to the beach, and I’d love to incorporate some homeschooling activities/lessons into our trip. Any suggestions, resources, books, and/or links? A big perk of homeschooling is to be able to make anywhere your classroom, and I’m looking forward to squeezing in a little science and nature study into our vacation.

• It’s been HOT here in the South. So hot we’ve already whipped out the swimsuits, sprinkler, and water balloons. There’s nothing like the smiles that good, old-fashioned fun brings!