shlip, shlop, flip, flop...we broke in the girls new flip flops today. You know what that means? It's Summer, baby! I am shaking off this Winter (and, yes, I consider the time period between November 2012 until last week to be Winter--we skipped right over Spring) and we are leaping--diving--headfirst into Summer. Days spent outside soaking up the sun, sticking our heads under the water spigot at the park, splashing, digging and bare toe-ing our way through life. I've been so quiet for months, it seems. These past months have not been easy. But, when life feels hard, I focus on my little world; my girls, my best friend and doing life together. (Even if it just means asking them repeatedly to tell me not to turn the heat on in June and for their forgiveness at the sight of yet another straight-from-the-freezer-section meal at dinner time.)
It hasn't all been hard, though. Loving my girls is easy. Audrey is sprouting up like a bean; she grew an entire shoe size in two months and her leggings and long sleeves are suddenly ridiculously short. For homeschooling, we've been digging into a new curriculum to get our big girl started with reading. She's getting it and she's jazzed. This learning things at home thing--teaching kids their numbers and letters and how to read--it has always been a part of motherhood that has intimidated me (along with realizing I'd have to style someone else's hair or try not to scar them enough to merit a relationship with pharmaceuticals), but I'm finding this involves a lot less stress than I had anticipated. I love watching Audrey learn--letting her know that the whole process will be hard and frustrating and ultimately rewarding. Watching her struggle and stretch her brain and then having the privilege of witnessing the excitement and joy as she pushes through a barrier and comes to a new understanding. Wow. It's one of the cooler things I've done as a mom. 
Bailey is in the throes of being a three-year-old. A phase, which I'm coming to understand Audrey didn't really go though. Little A kind of had to deal with the whole not-being-the-center-of-the-universe thing at the age of 18 months when her kid sister badda-boomed her way into our lives. So, John and I mostly just find it confusing why Bailey feels the need to talk back or flail, screaming on her bed while demanding completely opposing desires. (I WANT BARE FEET DON'T TAKE OFF MY SOOOOCCCCKKKKS!!!) It's amazing how these little people can make you feel like a jerk just for following their orders. It's a good thing the Bear is cute and that when she's not busy being a three-year-old, she's basically the sweetest kid around. Bailey is a lovie dovie, if not somewhat violent, (watch those elbows!) snuggle bug. She genuinely loves EVERYONE and she'll tell you. She's big into her movie plots and pretty much sings her way through the day. Overall, she's full of joy and light...with a tendency towards the bi-polar. We're working on mindfulness, but some day I'll try to catch on video the crazy-eyed hysterical laughter she emits while she's trying to figure out how to control her feelings. Growing up ain't easy. 
Together, the girls are doing really well--thriving, really. We've had an incredibly close eye on Audrey since we pulled her from Preschool and from what we can tell, she's actually becoming much more confident and engaging with her little group of local friends and she's even going out of her way to befriend kids at the park. In the end, though, our girls are each other's best friends and while I'm sure there will be all manner of squabbles in their future, they love playing with each other--living in each other's pockets. One of the greatest treats in the world for them is to have time to stop for a game of pretend together. With schoolwork clogging our morning hours, these games seem to be becoming more and more precious to them. Outside of our little day trip to Laxenburg, we've been sticking close to home. There's still enough of Vienna for us to enjoy fourteen months later. We're anxiously awaiting the day we'll be able to buy tickets for our grand trip back home, though. As it is, we've got enough destinations and people we want to see to last us three months in the US. But, we'll keep being patient, keep enjoying Vienna, the sun, and each other...and we look forward to the tidal wave of joy that will accompany getting to see so many faces that are close to our hearts when the day comes.
