8:47 – I want to remember our mornings when we have nowhere to be. We eat breakfast in the sunroom, run to Starbucks (despite their horribly offensive red holiday cups this year… I kid), the girls watch Sofia the First or Daniel Tiger while I sew. We are usually so busy that it’s nice to have a special treat of eating in front of the TV.
10:02 – I want to remember this time with Harriet. I totally hate this age when she has so much to say, but she doesn’t have the words to say it. This moment, she had something terrible to tell me about this ball, but I just couldn’t figure out what she was saying. Then she spent my entire shower yelling at me to help her find her backpack (that ended up being on the floor in the hallway…). She is whiny and screechy. I’m not sure why I want to remember all of this, but I get the feeling it will be funny to look back at it all. Right? 
10:48 – I want to remember how difficult the girls are in the car these days. They always want what the other one has. You can tell by how firmly Alma is holding Hodor and Bear. Obviously, Harriet was whining and screeching about wanting just those things. Driving is frustrating these days, but maybe in the future, I’ll miss it. Maybe they won’t need me or want anything to do with me or their cute little toys. Maybe…?
10:57 – I want to remember their wonder (and their happiness at being out of the car). Right here Alma said, “I don’t want to smell the flowers because of allergies.” The she smelled the flowers. She doesn’t have allergies, by the way.
11:03 – I want to remember all the beauty of Autumn. Snowberries are a favorite, and it was fun to be able to share them with the girls. We also call most wild berries ‘bird berries’ because I want the girls to know not to eat them – they are only good for birds. So far, this has worked to keep them from eating random poison berries. 
11:05 – I want to remember how Alma asked literally every person on the sidewalk from our car, past a dorm, to the museum the same question: “Do you go to college?” Everyone chuckled and answered that yes, they were going to college. It was sweet, and I loved it because it’s helping to plant the seed that college is something that she should do.
11:17 – I want to remember these sweet friends. I love that our kids won’t remember a time that these kids weren’t in their lives. Since it was a holiday, a lot of my friends (and their kids) had the day off of work and school, so we made plans to meet at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. I’d never taken the kids there, so it was especially fun. Not to mention the cool backpacks that each kid got to wear. And the fact that Harriet’s was almost bigger than she is.
12:03 – I want to remember how these kids were curious, engaged, interested, and awesome. The museum is set up so well, and our kids did a great job exploring.
12:05 – I want to remember how this girl tries (and succeeds) to keep up with the big kids. She’s difficult these days, but watching her learn and grow is a joy, truly. 
12:30 – I want to remember how big these kids seem to me. I know I will look back at this day and think that they look so tiny, but right now I want to remember how big they seem.
12:32 – I want to remember these friendships. 
12:48 – I want to remember how we got lunch at one of the dorms, and ate outside. I’d like to forget how crazy it was trying to wrangle two girls (plus the others), pick out food for us, order it, pay for it, and not lose either kid. But I want to remember how, as we were leaving the food court, Jane said, “And as they leave, they throw condoms to the audience.” I’m sure watching all of us with our kids was enough to inspire abstinence in at least a few of the college students. 
1:07 – I want to remember how Harriet pouts. It’s adorable and sad and pathetic. This was a particularly lovely pout. It was actually nice because I knew where she was as I got Alma into her carseat. After this, she didn’t want to get in the car, so I called her bluff and said “Bye!” and got in my seat – she jumped right up with a big smile and got into her carseat with no problem. One point for me!
3:49 – I want to remember how Alma likes to take my camera and take photos. This one worked out because it’s nice to have photos of me in these posts, since I’m the one usually taking the photos. I also want to remember how busy I’ve been getting some Christmas things ready.
4:41 – I want to remember how, whenever Rory comes over, it becomes a dress-up party. They change and play and run and dance.
4:45 – I want to remember how Harriet says Sofia: Yii-a. I want to remember how Harriet says unicorn: Coa. I want to remember how Harriet says Alma: Malma. 
4:53 – I want to remember Poppy’s sweet red curls and how much Alma loves her. She’s funny and happy. Having friends over is Alma’s favorite thing, and to be honest, we all love it, too. 
4:57 – I want to remember these three. Right now they’re the big kids (Poppy will catch up soon) and they are the best. I want to remember the way Harriet still sucks on her fingers and rubs her eyelashes. I want to remember Alma’s dramatic flair (look at those pinkies!). 
I want to remember how I forgot to take any more photos because we were just having a good time with our friends, getting pizza, eating pizza, talking about god and God, and Heaven and heaven. Sometimes it’s better to just put the camera down and live and remember.
Other Days In The Life:
May 12, 2015
September 9, 2015