A Visit To SciWorks

I have taken the week off of work (for the most part) since Eliza Grace is tracked out of school this week.

She and I drove over to Winston-Salem today to spend time with Grandmommy and we went to SciWorks.

It was fun because Eliza Grace had fun, but the displays are getting beyond worn out and many of them do not even really work.
Still, we all enjoyed the planetarium show and we got some good pictures.
Eliza Grace is learning to work the camera these days :)

Update on my earlier post

Ask and I shall receive:
Man, is it tacky - I love it!

Tonight's culinary masterpiece

Eliza Grace loves to make her own pizza. It can never just be a simple pizza. Tonight's request included onion, mushroom and grilled red peppers. What sophisticated tastes for a six year old...not to mention expensive. Here are the pre and post cooking shots...she allowed the pepperoni solely for the purpose of making the smiley face. She came up with the mushrooms as the cheeks :)

this looks kind of cute

and this looks a little scary...but it tasted good!

Just when you thought...

...there was no way we could fit any more stuff in our den, we did. Well, Scott did.

I think this is payback for my begging that he remove his ridiculously massive recliner from beside the couch. He did eventually remove the giant-sized chair on his on volition but mostly because he got tired of watching Will nearly snap off a limb while playing with the leg rest part.

Still, I knew the extra space could not go unoccupied for long - it was just too temping for my hunter/gatherer. And so now, as of last evening, we have this...
Yep. Apparently it was too good a deal on craigslist to pass up. It came with what you see here, 12 fish (one of which already got to go on a field trip down the toilet - wink,wink) and lots of other accessories of which I plan to have nothing to do with. The one item it is missing, in my opinion, is one of those treasure chest thingies that opens up with air bubbles - Scott assured me that he will put one in there for me. 

I have to admit the kids love it. This morning Will came down and saw the one larger fish (about 1 1/2 inches long) and started screaming excitedly "A shark, a shark...look Mommy a shark!"

Goodbye once again, nice clean corner. Sigh. It was nice to have known you for a while.

You know Easter is near...

...when the Hughes' family Easter tree appears. Mind you, this is the tree that manages to retain its Christmas lights year round. Needless-to-say, it is a tree for all seasons :)

Despite a slight fever, Eliza Grace persevered and decorated the tree all by herself this year.

Barf Magnet

Ok, seriously, how is it that I am ALWAYS conveniently in receiving range every single time my children throw up? They have just as much genetic material from Scott - probably more given they look just like him - and he is never nearby!

They say men have extra metallic material in their noses that give them a greater sense of direction by allowing them to find true/magnetic North. Women apparently have a barf magnet. Oh joy.

I love my little girl's heart

Well, those of you who know me know that I am sometimes pretty hard on Eliza Grace. It is not that I am a tyrant or a "mommy dearest" type. It is more that we have such similar personalities and, as is typical in human nature, all the flaws I see in myself seem magnified when I see them in her. So yes, up front, I am dealing with a pride issue here - I totally get that and know that the problem is mine. Still....

I find myself begging her to please stop talking and just listen (like I have learned that lesson yet.) I ask her over and over again not act so desperate for a friend's attention. I see social faux pas in her that actually cause me physical pain because I remember a time in my own life where I did something similar and opened myself up for ridicule and embarrassment. How many times I have put my foot in my mouth....ugh, I cannot even think about it.

And I experience the same old paradox. As a parent, I want to spare her all of the hard lessons that I have had to learn. Yet I know she has to learn them for herself so she can grow and mature into the person that God wants and needs her to be.

I know that so many of her characteristics that bug me now are what will make her an exceptional adult: strong willed convictions, the ability to speak her mind, creativity that knows no bounds, a desire to meet everyone and do everything, the ability to argue with a wall - OK, had to throw that last one in - she would make a great attorney. Scott and I are convinced she will either be a lawyer or end up on a stage somewhere - same difference, right?

I wish I knew why it is so easy for me to focus on what frustrates me about my child instead of what is so beautiful about her. This is definitely where our personalities diverge. Despite my hen-pecking and nagging, this sweet angel is so kind, so loving, and so caring about others. Her ability to show compassion is way beyond my own. Some of this I know is due to a child's innocence. But a big heaping helping is her gift to recognize someone in need, someone who is left out, someone who lost. I am not surprised when her Sunday school teacher tells me how Eliza Grace, without any provocation, asks a new child to join their activities, hugs her and says, "Hi, I'm your new friend. Come play with us!"

Or when I mention that an adult friend has not been feeling well and she comes to me 10 minutes later with a get well card she just made and asks if she can mail it.

And when she complements her brother on the block tower he just created, as if it was the most magnificent structure ever completed.

And really, how angry can you be when your little girl climbs in your bed at 3am and says, "don't worry Mommy, I didn't have a bad dream, I just wanted to snuggle with you because I know it makes you happy."

Her natural ability to support and uplift others is something that I pray my nagging will never curtail.

She may have inherited some of the worst of me, but she is absolutely the best of God's love. I love my little girl's heart.

Eliza Grace "performing" in her paper gown at her 6 yr old check up

Sissy & Willby loving on each other

Eliza Grace and her friend Jadon having lunch before roller skating