Dang

The hour is late (is 10:19 p.m. late). I have not gotten to this enough lately. Where has the fall gone. CHristmas time is here....again. it is miraculous and magical. I am so thankful tonight for people. People I met tonight. People I know that I celebrated with tonight. For meeting friends that I feel have deep roots...i dig deep roots. Real deep roots. Like those trees in California...Sequloi's....(what...is that spelled right?). I am also thankful for Pinot Grigio.

Feliz.

Cancer $%^&* sucks.

I love it when I see t-shirt that just says "fuck cancer". Because, is that not exactly what you want to say when you hear someone you know, love, or for that mattter someone you know who knows someone who knows someone that has cancer? Especially if that person is young, like, me, or you. Is a mother, or father and may die when their children are young, or worse yet, babies?
I came upon a blog called Lemmondrops ( www.lemmondrops.blogspot.com ). I read it about 6 months ago and have left it alone for awhile. It is so close to home. I sat and re-read a good chunk of Emilie's last 2 months of postings. Her wit, her honesty, her pain, her love really comes through.

Now, I am going upstairs and I am going to kiss the girls goodnight while they sleep. I am going to rub Maggie's fuzzy head. and tell Mark how much I love him. May God grant me the wisdom and grace to never take my health or the health of those I love for granted.

My heart is so full tonight from an evening full of just loving my daugters. First grade is just so ....cute. Reece's 2 front teeth are still out and I just love looking at her mouth. Love watching her read. I did not love watching her get stung by a bee for the first time tonight. I wanted so to take the pain away, but I couldn't. Ella was trying to make her feel better. Maggie was running around the house with some magnet dolls. She has gotten so darn big. Where is that little black -haired baby of mine (ours...sorry honey.). Ella's hair smells of rotten peaches. Just sweet....and heavy. If I had a word to describe her, it would be "zippy". Life is rich.

We had such a fun night in July celebrating my parent's 40th wedding anniversary. All of my sister and their husbands and mom and dad headed to Wilderness Ridge in Lincoln for a beautiful, "grown-up" night. Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong playing in the background, champagne, laughter, tears. We went around the table and shared what we had learned from their marriage. It was a very special night...topped of by mom and dad demonstrating the Argentenian Tango to all of us.....we had to hose them down...just KIDDING mom.

Our home is 1100 sq. ft. so the summertime is our time to entertain. Hence, the second annual Bergeron Luau. Fresh lei's, pulled pork and Mai-Tai bar, kots of tiki-torches and some fun peeps.

The Story of a Tooth in Pictures (starting from the end and working our way forward)

We were able to spend a weekedn at a beautiful lake home in Wisconsin in August. It was a really nice get away to a beautiful spot for our little family. We got to experience "lake living" which I have decided is "being and not doing". There was a trampoline in back of the house and Ella nd Reece went bonkers on it. Reece had a dangling loose tooth the whole week leading up to the trip. Ella helped it come out by knocking into Reece on the trampoline. It was pretty hilarious. I was taking pictures through the whole thing and you can see the terror in Reece's eyes turn to glee when she realized the tooth fairy woud be coming to Wisconsin! It was s wonderufl summer. Full of memories of the pool, Reece swimming, going to Oregon, 40th Anniversary for mom and dad, seeing Sam and Charlotte, our new nephew and niece, art camps, days at the park, picnics, luau in the backyard, nights of BBQing and smores after, Mai Tai's and Ice cream. All Good Things. Thank you Lord for a safe and joyous summer.

I looked over and saw Ella peeking into this little tidepool touch tank. Love the fairy underpants.

Our week at Waldport, Oregon

Little bit of heaven

Yesterday I was at the pool, holding Ella on the potty (because she had to go......)

I was looking deep into her eyes as she was looking at me, as we were eye level with me squatting down trying to keep her stable so she would not touch the potty (because you know...gross). I was thinking "I love this little girl."

She looked into my eyes for about 5 seconds and said, "Mom, I see Jesus in your eyes."

"What do you mean?", I said.

"Love. " she said.

God speaks to us through our children. I know he does.

My mom and dad are celebrating their 40th anniversary tomorrow, June 14th, 2009. Forty years Marty and Dave have been married. They were married on flag day at St. Edward's Catholic Church in Waterloo, Iowa. The morning they were married my dad attended his best friends funeral, a young man killed in Veitnam. What different times....

My mom looked so beautiful, her roses all pink, just like her cheeks were. Dad was so handsome (he still is) and looked alot like Joaquin Phoenix (or so my sisters and I think...way to go mom!).

Their enjoyment of each other never ceases to amaze me. I just don't know many couples in their 60's who take up Argentinian Tango lessons, golf, and love sitting on the deck having a glass of wine, or coffee.... in the evening or morning (usually the wine is at night...just KIDDING mom.). Thier faith in God and his place in their marriage never ceases to inspire both Mark and I, and I think I speak for my sisters as well. We have the marriages that We do because of them. ....such a great model of love. How can we ever thank them for that?

For all that you have done for us, mom and dad, thank you. We love you and are so proud to be your children. Thank you for being so good to eachother.

Days at the park

A picture is worth 987 words.

Biden's List of Political Blunders - Political News - FOXNews.com

Biden's List of Political Blunders - Political News - FOXNews.com

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TOP TEN REASONS YESTERDAY WAS A CRAPPY DAY

10) It was raining.
9) Maggie peed on the living room floor
8) Ella ran into a wall while running with a fairy wand in her mouth (pokey end going in). Soft palate intact.
7) The home alarm systen was installed incorrectly and it took 5 hours.
6) Maggie vomitied on me while at the Green Mill for lunch.
5) Did I mention the Maggie had spaghetti for dinner last night?
4) Maggie had a big dukie in the bathtub. I had to fish it out with tupperware. Now I am down a bowl.
3) Did I mention the I cleaned the bathroom yesterday morning before Maggie pooped in the tub?
2) Maggie was constipated and said "it is a banana" when she saw her poop floating in the tub. I felt like a bad mom for not getting this kid on prune juice yet.
1)Mark and I were big grouches after 10-2 above.

BUT. Reece had a wonderful birthday, she did not know about any of the above, except for her mom and dad being a little grouchy. She had homemade mac n cheese for dinner, loved her American Girl doll gifts and Little House books. She felt very loved, very special and VERY 6!!!!!!!!!

Amazing, beautiful and true.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyfmtUjNJEk

Reece's Birthday

Reece turns 6 tomorrow. I kissed my little 5 year old for the last time tonight. She started to tear up and said "I"m kind of sad that this is the last time I will kiss you as a 5 year old." Not as sad as I am, honey! Anyone who has more than one child has to know...there is just something special about the first one. Unless you have twins as your first set of kids, then I guess it is just twice the specialness. Everything I experienced with Reece that first 24 hours was so dramatic, so keenly new and miraculous and beautiful, it defies words. To know the depth of the human heart for the first time. Amazing. I am so thankful to God for her and the way that she has blessed our family. For being a kind, tenderhearted, big sister, for being patient with Mark and I, for her faith in God and her faith in life and people. Thank you God, for the gift of life, for my motherhood, and the gift of my daughter. Happy Birthday Reece, I love you.

TGIF

Oh it was a good day. It was good day here at The Bergerons. Waking up to a 20 month old with a bloody nose is a bad way to start, but you go up from there. Funniest part of the day was listening to an exchange between Ella (3) and Magggie (20 mos)

Ella: Are not
Maggie Are too
ELla Are not
Maggie: are too
Ella: Are not
Maggie: are too
Ella: Are not
Maggie: are too
Ella: Are not
Maggie:I love you
ELla:I love YOu
Maggie: I love you
ELla: I love you

Hilarious.

Reece and Mark went to the Daddy/Daughter dance at the Pool and Yacht Club tonight. We bid on a membership at Reece's school auction in the fall. It only sounds pretentious. Our yacht is an inflatable kayak. ANYWAY....Reece was so excited today and all week to get dressed up and go with Mark to this dinner/dance. It ended up being about 30 4 and 5 year olds dancing to "ABC" and "Loveshack" and "Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock-n-roll". She had the sweetest little corsage (5 little sweetheart roses) and looked so darn sweet in her Easter dress. She said it was the "best night of her life". You know those times your heart hurts because you see your little girl/boy acting so grown up and you get a glimpse of them at 18? Yea...that. (sigh)

I started reading The Shack tonight and I can't put it down. The whole story takes place in Oregon and they mention so many places that Mark and I have been with Reece during our time living in Portland. It is a little surreal and just makes it heartbreakingly easier to put yourself in this sad/beautiful/spiritual story. I have issues with loss, although I have experienced so little of it. How do people do it?

Wearin' of the Green

St. Patricks Day 2009. All the girls were dressed in their green this morning. Ella was wearing a pretty lace headband this morning, which I realized stepping into the grocery store this morning was the garter from my wedding day. I do not think anyone noticed. Reece was dissappointed that the leprachaun trap that she had made in school didn't catch anything, and so was I.
Reece wore green skirt with green shirt and green bow Ella wore a Sham-ROCK shirt (adorable...circa Reece....thanks Aunt COlleen). Maggie and her "Kiss me I'm Irish and cute" shirt was a cute indeed. I wore a t-shirt that just said "Lucky Me". You know, your basic Old Navy, St. Paddy's Day T-shirt. About 1/2 way through the day I thought I should really invest in a nice green cardigan, green cords from J. Crew, or an Irish wool sweater. When you get to be 34 you just can't wear a T-shirt that says "I'm Lucky" and feel good about it. I think if I was wearing something more mature I would not have had this desire to pull the minivan over behind one of the busses on pub crawls today and yell "Hey guys, wait for me!". I never went out for St. Paddy's Day in college...now all of a sudden I get this urge on March 17th to drink Guiness, sing a little too loud, think about my great grandfater Daniel Coughlan and how he got from County Cork to New York to Iowa. It amazes me. I love being Irish.
While unloading the girls from the car after dance class (Ella and Reece are in the same one...yes it is a hoot.) We heard a bagpiper. When you hear a bagpiper, you just have to follow the melodic music and find out where it is coming from. A family the block over hired a bagpiper for the heck of it, we in their front yard clapping and drinking (Irish coffee perhaps?), kids were jigging (mine included once we got there) and they proceeded to march around the block waving as if they were in the middle of Dublin. It made my day as well as the rest of the neighborhood. I felt very Irish despite the fact we were having taco salad for dinnner.
Mark is not a lick of Irish, but I appreciate his effort. He wore green today, he played Celtic music, he picked up 2 Guiness's on the way home and he did a jig in the livingroom (seriously). The girls all danced for us, and it was just too cute. I am sure my grandmothers were smiling down on Reece's little red hair bouncing around.

A side note, tonight Ella pooped on the potty. Maggie was in bed and must have heard Ella yell from the bathroom that she "made a poop". Maggie starts yelling "I"m PROUD OF YOU ELLA, MAGGIE IS PROUD OF YOU!". Priceless.

We had a wonderful weekend in Omaha celebrating my beautiful baby niece Georgia's baptism. I know I have been blessed by my parents and my sisters and the love and laughs and faith that we all share (we missed you sue-z-q). Shelly gave Mark and I a plaque as a gift for being godparents. An Irish quote that reads:

"May those that love us love us.
Those that do not love us, may God turn their hearts,
and if He cannot turn their hearts may He turn their ankles,
so that we may recognize them by their limp."

What the FOCA?

Tonight Mark asked me, "How did our girls get to be so sweet"...a legitimate question. They just are. I got the girls to Mass this morning for Ash Wednesday, and tonight I had to think, "When is the last time I made it to Mass on Ash Wednesday?". Let's see...not in Portland...working fulll-time with a toddler in daycare and husband in the hospital (working).....not our first year here. Not our second year here, with a newborn and it being cold and flu season (come on people, I'm an NP.) Not last year (a 4, 2 and 9 month old). So, let's see. That means that for 8 years I have missed this Holy Day of obligation. Thankfully, my wise father has me convinced that there is no such thing as purgatory, or hell...so I should still be OK. So we get to Mass and get our ashes (Maggie and Ella, too). There is something striking hearing the priest say to your children, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." Ella said very loudly when we got back to the pew, "Mom, we can wash this off before bed, right?". During Mass Maggie yelled , "Yea Man" 3 times. Maggie also started yelling at the little girl next to us (a friend, no less). But, we persevered, I did not have to leave the pew ONCE. I think Mark and I have both given up all desserts. Anything after dinner is a no-no. If Christ can die on the cross, that the least I can do is put down the Skinny Cow, right? It is going to be a good Lent. Our parish is offering so many things (rosary making, Stations, a parish mission). Many opportunities to really focus on the darkness, the emptimess, and the anticipation that this time in the church brings. I can hear Mark making his way to bed upstairs and this basement is cold. Time to hit the hay. It was a good day. Blessings.

I brought Ella and Maggie to the grocery store today, pretty entertaining. I let Maggie just run in front of me, and we are lucky that she avoided collisions with multiple carts. I didn't care, that kid has been cooped up all winter. We got a kick out of the big salmon head in the seafood dept. Ella yedded , "Mom, loook at all of the SEA CREATURES!"

What a weekend!

Guitar Lessons

Skating with Grandma

After school snack

Papa reading to the kinders at Nativity

Swimming lessons at the YWCA

...a very fun weekend....full of LOVE! We had so much fun with my mom and dad. We danced in the living room, watched Madagascar II, had a pizza party, went to ice skating lessons and swimming lessons, went to Mass, ate pancakes twice, went out for a grown-up dinner, dad got in a guitar lesson for Reece (and me!), mom & Reece and I went ice skating. Did I mention that mom and I got out for lunch together, too? It still felt like we had quite a bit of downtime. I am so happy we get to see them in 3 weeks at Georgia Ann's Baptism! We have so muc fun together...love you mom and dad.

Ella....

Tonight Ella called down to me from her crib that she had to go "poo-poo". After she went I was carrying her upstairs and she said "Mama, you be Fraline Maria, and I'll be Leisel and pretend like Fraline Maria was really proud of Leisel for pooping on the potty." I didn't even HAVE to pretend. I WAS proud of Leisel pooping on the potty.

Fun

I have to figure my new picture uploader out. I uploaded these blindly not knowing what pictures were going on. Not bad. I don't hear you complaining.

Ella had fun fun fun at her birthday party. Special day for us. It was Valentine's Day and everyone was already on sugar overload then we added cake and ice cream.

Best moment of my day today was ice skating with Reece today and she spontaneously said "I love you" about 20 times. It was just so sweet skating around and around holding her hand, groovin' to Journey and other 80's rock music that was being played. I even heard "Chaka Khan." That's right people. It wasn't L.L .Cool J but it will do.

Hey sisters, Last night at the club we went to for dinner, the lounge singer, who looked like a cross between Little Richard and Louis Armstrong was singing "Goody, Goody!!!!!!" I totally was singing along and miming the routine that mom taught us for the cardiac rehab picnic circa 1984. If I had had one more glass of wine I probably would have asked him to sing it again, just so I could perform.