One crazy summer officially kicks off!

Chris arrived on Tuesday night around midnight, and our crazy, hectic summer has officially commenced. He was thrilled to be here, and we are thrilled to have him. Little does he know that summer is about to get kicked into high gear with the long list of exciting events we have planned. Now, before anyone accuses us of being a "Disneyland Dad" type of family when Chris is with us, just read back over the last few years--we are ALWAYS on the go, trying to enjoy our kids and show them the world!!

Since Jason is incredibly busy studying for the bar exam, we have to cram as much fun into the weekends as we can. Of course, during the week, the kids and I will be embarking on our park and beach adventures without Daddy. During the next two weeks, we are heading to Luray Caverns, Great Wolf Lodge, the beach, Colonial Williamsburg, the park, the pool and out for as many bike rides as we can all stand.

Our upcoming schedule includes a trip to Florida on the Auto Train, Sea World, Disney World (of course!), Destin, and then on to Houston. In Houston, we will visit the beach, water park, see some movies, take in "Wicked," celebrate the girls' birthdays, the birth of our country, peruse some museums, visit with friends and who knows what else?

At the end of July (that's right, we are only halfway done!), we will head back to Virginia to meet our movers, and then we set off on a cross-country road trip that is sure to go down in Marquez family history as one of our wildest, most ambitious adventures yet. We've planned stops in Chicago, Dunes National Lake Shore, Amish country, Mill Run to see Falling Water (Frank Lloyd Wright's most famous creation), Badlands National Park, Mt. Rushmore, Sturgis, Lake Erie, Glacier National Park, the Museum of the Rockies and so much more!

Oh, but wait--there's more! Once we finally get to Washington and get settled in our new house, we are heading out on an Alaskan cruise, where I will partake in the mother of all massages to unwind from this chaotic summer. :)

Will I have time to update here? I hope so, but you may not hear from me again for a while. And if you don't hear from me by September, I may very well be checked into some quiet respite home to recuperate from the madness!

Mudder's Day

I think this year was the best Mother's Day yet! After sleeping in until 8am (heavenly, by the way!), I was woken up by cute little giggles and snuggly hugs. Caitlyn hurdled the footboard of the bed, and Lorelei scampered to my side with pleas of, "Up? Up? Upppppp!" Caitlyn shouted, "Happy Muddder's Day!!!!" as soon as she pounced on the bed, sounding for all the world like she just came from Jersey.

Jason and I just bought two bikes and a bike trailer, which we agreed were to be our Mother's and Father's Day presents, so I didn't expect to get gifts, too! First, Caitlyn made me an absolutely precious card that boldly proclaimed she loves me a "bunch." Of course, the declaration was accompanied by a bunch of grapes made from fingerprints--cute, right? She also stamped a collection of things she says I love--flowers, hearts, stars and a few random animals. This card is going in the hope chest, and I will keep it forever.

The girls got me a Virginia keychain to remind me of our beloved home of three years once we move to our new home, Washington. It was so cute hearing them tell me all about it. Lorelei liked the bird (cardinal), and Caitlyn liked the shape of Virginia.

Jason also got me a gift in the form of the CD by Court Yard Hounds. I like to listen to music when I'm writing, and it is ideal for that task!

We went to breakfast, and then had to do a bit of shopping for the girls. I stuck to the very specific list I'd made of things they needed, and though I was sorely tempted by the adorable mermaid line at Gymboree, I'm pleased to say I did not succumb to consumerism.

It was a lovely, relaxed day, and Jason and I had a child-free dinner once the girls were in bed. We ordered from Bone Fish Grill, one of our favorite restaurants, and I completely indulged with Bang Bang Shrimp, their delicious house salad, wood-grilled shrimp and scallops with haricot verts and a giant Macadamia nut brownie. Yum--I want to eat the whole meal all over again!

No.

Both of the girls have strong personalities, but each of them manifests strong traits in different ways.

Caitlyn is mischievous, playful and a total know-it-all (yes, I know. Big surprise--I got mine!). When she was just learning to explore on her own, she would push the limits and climb up somewhere she wasn't supposed to be, like the back of the couch. If you told her to get down, she'd look you in the eye, slowly continue to climb and giggle.

Lorelei is just as mischievous, playful and a total know-it-all, but in a shockingly straightforward way. Lorelei also likes to climb, explore and push the limits. If you tell her to get down, sometimes she does. And other times, she looks right at you and says, "No." It isn't a mean "no" or a whiney "no." It is a very matter-of-fact statement. And actually, it is kind of funny sometimes because it doesn't sound at all like the typical two year old protest.

Coping with the strong personalities of the girls can be challenging. In general, they are very well-behaved and usually get so many compliments from friends and strangers alike for their behavior. However, just like all kids, they have their wild days and crazy moments. I try to remind myself that the traits they demonstrate that are sometimes difficult are really remarkable traits I WANT them to have as they get older.

I want them to be unafraid to correct someone who is wrong. I want them to blaze their own trail, challenge the status quo and stick up for themselves. I don't want them to be afraid to try new things or say "no" or go their own way.

Sometimes I just wish they could bottle up those traits and save them for the rest of the world, while giving their mama a bit of a break!

Of Bikes and Beds

Albert Einstein explained relativity as follows: "Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."

I'll follow his example with my own: "Sit with a child throwing a tantrum for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Play with or teach your child for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."

Being a mama is all about peaks and valleys. The days when my children are grumpy and whiney seem to drag by, while the special moments never seem to last long enough. The days when I could snuggle them as long as I wanted to flew by, and now I am grateful when they collapse into my lap for more than a brief hug and kiss.

It seems like only last week that Caitlyn was brand new, slowly inducting me into this life as a mama. It seems like days ago that Lorelei buried her tiny head against my chest in contented slumber. Their baby days raced by, and sometimes it seems like I put them to bed as toddlers, only to have them wake up the next morning as little girls.

Yesterday, Caitlyn learned to ride a bike with training wheels. She looked so adorable decked out in her pink helmet, perched on her sparkly pink bike, and she was so proud of herself. She was tickled, well, pink! But, oh, how my mama heart pounded, watching her wheel away from me atop that little bike. It didn't matter that Jason was right beside her, or that I was just a few feet from her--something about her navigating her own path, on her own bike, felt like she was slipping away, just the tiniest little bit. My heart swelled with pride, but it also stung, just a bit, to see how fleeting these days really are.

Last night, Lorelei slept in a toddler bed for the first time. My last little baby is not really a little baby anymore, and she proved it when she climbed up in her bed, her tiny little bed without the safety of rails and slats, and went to sleep. I know sounds silly, but it felt like she is now just a bit more vulnerable, a bit more out there and a bit more independent. She is old enough to have earned a bit of trust, and she's taken one tiny step towards the day when she will no longer need me to protect her every step (though my mama self will never, ever stop doing it anyway). But, she wasn't afraid, and she did exactly as we asked, snuggling down in her covers (with duck, babies, bap, book and water!) with a smug little smile of a tiny girl who is excited to be big.

Two big steps for two sweet girls in one single day. Pride and wistfulness at the same time. Maybe we should stick to one big milestone a day, for my sake!