Luxury...

Nothing else can explain the week Matt and I just had at the Four Seasons Resort in Maui, Hawaii. A week of relaxation, pampering, more relaxation, fabulous food, drink, and new adventures. It is simply a trip that I feel everyone should try to do once in their lifetime. It was as MAGICAL, child-free trip. Oh - and also? It was FREE!

I missed the kids terribly. There were no hiccups while we were gone and Meema and Boppa were fabulous. The kids were seemingly unfazed by our absence and I thank my lucky stars for my parents or, quite frankly, this trip just would not have happened.

I also won't forget the loving reunion and hugs when we arrived home. It was fantastic and the kids were glued to us for about 48 hours straight. We were SO happy to see each other.

It was worth all the hassle and planning and stress. It was FABULOUS.

Being a Leader...

Lucy is working on learning about mail in school right now. The kids all made their own mailboxes and Valentine's bags. Each day, they write each other little notes, and practice filling out real addresses on real envelopes.

The other night at the dinner table, we talked about these notes. I asked her who she wrote to and who she received letters from. Then she said, "You know what mom? K and B didn't have any notes in their mailboxes, because they get in trouble a lot and don't have a lot of friends. So I wrote them both notes so they'd have something in their mailbox."

I told her that was just about the kindest thing I had ever heard a first grader ever doing. Then Dad told her that it was something a real leader would do, and how proud we were of her. I especially liked that she did this completely unprompted, and probably wouldn't have even mentioned it if I hadn't asked the questions at the dinner table. My girl.

This morning, I was lucky enough to spend two hours volunteering in Lucy's class. The teacher keeps me busy - there is no lolly gagging in first grade. I assessed 20 kids on their work with money, made a poster for a toy store, stapled 25 Valentine's together, and took everyone's picture for an upcoming craft. Whew! But the highlight was when it was time for four kids to stand up to the microphone and read their chosen poems. Kindly, Lucy's teacher chose her so I could see her in action.

I saw some smiles and whispers between Lucy and Mrs. B. Apparently, Lucy had chosen
a song, of course, from the Martin Luther King Celebration a few weeks back. AND...had requested to sing it to the class. A few clicks of the laptop by Mrs. B and the entire class has broken out into "The Waving Flag" with clapping, viewing of the video on the projector, and Lucy Cavanaugh belting out the words into her microphone.

"I can't believe how brave I just was," she said (with her toothless smile), as she hopped right over to a chair near me so I could assess her money skills. Um, yep. Just another Friday morning in the life of the amazing Lucy.

How Far You've Come...

Eighteen months ago, I stood in front of Lakeside Elementary, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I heard you sobbing for me, trying to run out of the school, as I thrust you at an unknown teacher who held you as I walked away.

You cried at Kindergarten, you cried at Sunday school, you cried at soccer practice, you cried when I tried to go to a meeting. You were horrible at home and acted out with everything. Those 30 days were not your best 30 days.

Last Tuesday night, I stood inside Lakeside Elementary, with tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. I cheered and clapped and found myself looking around at other people like, "Is this really happening? Is that really her, who just remembered four different lines at four different times? That belted out four songs, with every parent and every student staring at her?"

You smiled, waved, laughed and beamed like I've never seen you beam before. You spent all of January working your tail off at after-school practices, you would do your homework happily (after a nine hour day!) and wake up with a spring in your step. You jumped two reading levels and learned math families. You missed us terribly but loved us up when you were home. These 30 days were possibly the best 30 days you have ever had.

I was a proud, proud mom. But what I really loved was seeing you LOVING what you were doing, 100% confident, and so very proud of YOURSELF.

This was you, when you were six, in your very first play. Totally comfortable, totally capable, and a 100% happy Lucy.

Loving Each Other...

For whatever reason, my kids don't get on each other's nerves too much. In fact, I think they truly miss each other when Lucy is gone all day at school. There is nothing better than hearing them playing in the basement and laughing their guts out.

Lucy has always been steadfast in her love of neighbor Annie as her "very best friend." But the other morning, as she was headed downstairs to play with her brother for 30 minutes before school, Lucy spontaneously said to me, "Mom? I know I say Annie is my best friend but Tommy is my #1 best friend. Annie is my #2 best friend."

A-dorable.