moms can be princesses, too

I haven't been too much of a New Years Resolutioner over the years, but who doesn't at least give an inward look for possible self-betterment when a new year arrives? So, I decided to make one "resolution," if you will (in addition to the every-day goals to be a better mother and wife, a healthier, more faithful person, etc.). I've been trying to be more timely about fulfilling (reasonable) requests and more attentive to the kids in general. But I've found myself too often falling into the trap of saying, "After I finish [x], I'd be happy to," when I could easily just drop the silly household tasks I find myself doing throughout a day to play Ring Around the Rosie or snuggle on the couch or crack out the easel and paints right then. It's actually been paying off drastically.

We let Abigail skip preschool yesterday morning after observing a mini school bus attempting to back down the icy hill behind our house. The kids and I had a lovely day at home, and I think I can safely say it was Abigail's most pleasant and well behaved day... ever (at least since she was older than one). Today may well have been her second. We've really been hitting things off, playing ballerina and princess, dancing and snuggling and coloring and reading to our hearts content. Other things are have been on hold... the sink is full, the laundry piling below the clothes shoot, clutter is accumulating... at least for a while. Those things can wait. Why make the kids? (It seems like such an obvious thing, I know.) They will grow up quickly, their days and years ever-fleeting. Through my ongoing thanksgiving list, it's been becoming more and more clear to me how much so. For now, this seems like the best way to slow down time... to relish every moment I have with these amazing and wonderful little people. Even the moments I used to wish would pass quickly. (There is value in the ugly, in the dark. God uses those moments to reveal himself, as opportunities to grant graces, if I am receptive enough to perceive them in the first place)

From 01/04/2012 (by Eye-Fi)

What's with the princess dress, you ask?-- We were dancing to the music of Ever After this morning when Abigail handed me a pillow and said, "This is a present for you. It's a princess dress!" I seemed to recall a certain whimsical dress stashed in our closet that I grabbed from my parents' house a couple of years ago as a possible Halloween costume (I think it's my sister's). So I told her I'd open it upstairs, where I found the dress and put it on to surprise her. The look on her face and the delighted laughter that followed after I came back down wearing it were priceless. She kept looking at me in awe the rest of the morning, like she couldn't believe her mother actually owned a princess dress. "I love your dress, Mom"- she must have told me this a dozen times. The girls and I danced (all of us in costume- even little 'Rus), perfecting our gracefulness (we have a long way to go), until we had to pick up Jack from school and head to Kindersports. And then again after dinner until bedtime (Jack just spun around, a crazed dragon).