Caring Calleigh

One of the things that I love about Calleigh is that she seems to care about other people.  An example of that is what happened today while we were at the playground in the mall.  Since it’s the summer, I’ve noticed that there are quite a few more kids in the playground and it seems to get a little rough at times.  I was standing there watching the crowd and out of nowhere, a little boy jumps off the side of play bridge and knocks over a little girl who was passing by.  I think it looked worse than it actually was but the little girl started bawling as to be expected.  I would say she was about two.  The next thing I know, there comes Calleigh from the other side of the play area to see what was going on.  No one else, save the girl’s mother, paid any attention to her crying except for Calleigh.  And Calleigh did her usual - - she leaned in just peering at the girl and then started to put her hand on her back as if to comfort her.  The mother took her into a quieter area to calm her down and Calleigh followed right along.  I couldn’t tell what Calleigh was saying but her body language was that of a very concerned friend.  For the rest of the time we were there at the playground, Calleigh didn’t leave the little girl’s side.  She followed her everywhere she went.  I don’t know if she was being her protector or what.  And I don’t know if the girl even wanted Calleigh following her but there she was. 

Since my last blog, which was Saturday night, today is the first day that I haven’t had a headache.  I should say, at least part of this day I haven’t had a headache.  For some reason I slept horribly on Saturday night, which is not typical at all, and Sunday morning I awoke with a blazing headache.  Fortunately it didn’t deter me from going to First Watch.  But afterwards, Duncan was kind enough to take the girls on an excursion to Outdoor World so I could have some downtime.  I wish I could say that cured it but alas, it did not.  Nonetheless, the show must go on.  Sunday evening we went to Ron & Elaine’s for a swim and supper. 

        Heading to Grandma and Grandpa's for a swim

Monday I took the girls to the Science Center for a visit.  I’m always apprehensive about trips there alone with them because getting Calleigh to leave without a scene is difficult.  Fortunately I managed it somehow.  I think I may have bribed her with food.  They did enjoy themselves and we looked at some of the exhibits we hadn’t looked at in a while so that keeps it interesting. 

        Flying the Space Shuttle at the Science Center

Yesterday we were back at StoryTime where we ran into a friend from Sabbath School, Lisa, and her almost 2-year old son, Kenneth.  It was their house we went to for Magally’s baby shower.  Coming out of the library, we passed a man smoking a cigarette.  It drives me nuts because people will sit right outside the front entrance and smoke away and you have no choice but to walk through the haze.  I wouldn’t mind quite so much except for the fact that I have small children and it’s just gross.  I thought this might be the time that Calleigh says something but I shielded her enough that she didn’t see the guy puffing away (I don’t think she recognizes the smell just yet).  It’s only been the last few weeks that Calleigh has noticed cigarettes and we’ve explained what they are and how they can cause cancer and ultimately kill you.  Naturally, her question is “Why do people smoke cigarettes?”  I hear you Cal.  How would a 3-year old understand why someone would intentionally kill themselves when I don’t understand it myself?  Anyway, it’s inevitable that we’ll see someone one of the days and she’ll say very loudly, “That person has a cigarette.  That’s gross.”  And I won’t know whether to be embarrassed or just a little happy that she called the person out on it.

      Seriously, every time I look, Calleigh is trying to walk Aubree somewhere.  It's a constant.

As I mentioned, we went to the mall today…just to browse and play in the playground.  I for one, will be glad when the summer is over and we can be outside again.  Unless you’re at the splash playground or at a very well shaded playground (few and far between) it’s nearly impossible to be outside.  It’s funny because growing up, summer was such an awesome time of year.  Now, I wish we could just fast forward the summer and get to the fall.  I’ll be happy when all the kids are back in school (things are less crowded) and the temps are at a more manageable degree. 

This evening David, Yully, and Megan came over for dinner and were nice enough to bring it with them.  We were very saddened to recently hear the news that Dave and Yully will be not coming to Nova Scotia.  It’s understandable with all the time they’ve taken off for the wedding and all.  But they will be missed.  They’re getting ready for their move out of their place in Altamonte to their new digs in Maitland behind the RDV. 

Aubree’s about at the same place now as she was last week as far as standing/walking.  She stands up all the time alone but still hasn’t really taken any steps.  It seems like she wants to but just can’t pull the trigger.  One of these times she’ll surprise us….We’re still waiting on the arrival of some additional teeth.  She only has the two that she got three months ago. 

We’re getting more and more excited about our trip to Nova Scotia.  We depart a week from tonight for the flight up to Boston.  We feel very giddy about not having to drive the whole way.  We’ll be driving up with my mom in their new minivan and it sounds like Shawn, Camille, and Camden will be caravanning with us also.  We didn’t think that was going to happen but as of today, it sounds like it will.  Now I just have to figure out how we’re going to fit everything into three suitcases.  Calleigh is very excited about the trip and asks me every day how long until we leave.  Of course, I’m sure she has no concept of how much time seven days is compared to ten days or whatever.    

I know there was more that I was going to write about but like I've said, I've had a headache for a good part of the last four days so that's my excuse!  

                And she's at it again.

Duncan started a new workout regimen a few weeks ago called P90X.  It's VERY intense and calls for some serious dumbbell action which he finally purchased today.  It's a bit of an investment, you could say, but health is worth it, of course. (By the way, the dumbbells were put in the garage after this picture was taken.  We aren't leaving them out for obvious safety reasons.  So please don't call DCF.)  By the way, you would be amazed at how many people don't know how to spell "dumbbell."  Just go to Craig's List and you'll see what I mean.