All Eyes On Me in The Center of a Ring...

As it is the year of the dragon, so it was the theme of the good brothers Ringling.

And it was holy. freaking. amazing.

 We arrived an hour early to get up close and personal attention paid upon us. 

 Ryder dressed up like a flamer circus performer.

 Tessa was chosen to take center stage.

 She was instructed to jump up and down.

 She refused. 

 The colors were vibrant, the acts impressive, the animals amazing and the stunts shocking. 

 I am pretty sure I need an elephant to hang out with daily.

 Most valuable lesson learned: I must invest in a whip.  

Tamed.  Wild.  Animals.

I have three.

 No really, I need an elephant animal friend.

 This was no joke.  8 motorcycles ran circles around each other in this teeny tiny sphere. Quite possibly the most insane thing ever witnessed by these baby blues.

 It really was a gorgeous, phenomenal show. The kids and the parents were equally entertained and well pleased.  The mass amount of snacks, treats and glowing mohawks probably didn't hurt either.

Don't fret, the mohawk was for Allen.  We obviously don't believe in spoiling the small(er) children.

Experiencing Happiness

 A couple weeks ago, smack dab in the middle of the hell that is February (seriously, why do we even have to experience that pointless, dreary month???), I wrote a post.  It was eloquent and witty and substantive and completely and thoroughly negative.

 Nothing but whining and complaining.  Because, I really, really, hate February.  I cannot seem to find any good in it, and I am quite the expert at discovering the bad.  And there always seems to be a year's worth of bad smooshed into what is suppose to be the shortest month of the year. Not to mention we had to endure one extra entire day of February.  Dumb.

 So, I deleted said post.

 Because this blog is really about me handpicking the memories I desire my children to keep forever. Pretty sure the grumpy mom memories are frequent enough that they are permanently cemented into my children's scarred brains, and thus, no real need for them to be put everlasting to paper.

 But March, oh sweet March.  March is the month of blossoming happiness.  Sunshine beaming on the skin and the soul.  And clementines.  Which really are teeny, tiny balls of happiness in and of themselves.

 This afternoon Tessa napped and the children cleaned out the car.  And raked spikey balls.  And ate their weight in clementines. And giggled in the sunshine. And happiness was had.

 Memories I choose to keep in my brain and for my children's benefit on paper.

And that makes me feel powerful; which really, is happiness in and of itself.

Getaway to Great Wolf

Our fourth annual trip to Great Wolf Lodge was the best of times and it was the worst of times.

   I'll expound:

 The kids were all the perfect age this year (BEST)

 Tess was big enough to go on most of the big slides with Allen or I.  And she excitedly did so.  Endlessly begging for a repeat  (BEST)

 Linley found her confidence this year and was enthusiastically going on every slide her height allowed.   She even found going down on a tube all by herself to be extra thrilling (BEST).

 She also loved spending as much time as possible at the wave pool.  The little lady is finally finding her wings (BEST)

 Ryder was the big man this trip. He went on every single ride, facing fears and never looking back.  If no one wanted to ride with him, he would grab himself a tube and tell us he would come in check in after a couple slides.  He was in big boy heaven.  And it was awesome (BEST).

 Additionally he conquered the lily pads without holding on to the rope.  I tried that last year.  And fell flat on my face.  After the second pad.  Obviously he did not inherit my genes (BEST/WORST...who wants to be showed up by a 7 year old???)

 Because all the kids were big enough for most of the slides, we were able to spend lots of time together as a family.  Waiting in line, racing, and meeting each other at the bottom.  That was probably my favorite part (BEST).

 The bad and the ugly: Miss Tessa puking her guts out all night Thursday.  Maybe it was too much sugar.  Or maybe it was too much sliding.  Regardless, there was definitely not enough sleeping (WORST).

 Making mommy tired on Friday.  Tess, however, was completely unaffected.  She was playing nonstop until the Mother and Father begged the children to let us go home.

 In the end, Great Wolf always provides a great time and is always a welcome distraction to the woes of Winter.

Until next year...