Olivia and Order and Fairy Godmothers

My brilliant, fabulous, wonderful, stupendous and wise friend Amy, Claire's Fairy Godmother, 

wrote me the other day and among many brilliant insights, she said

I think the move is the hardest on Liv because she is the 

one that needs order and control over her life the most.

It was funny, and rather ironic, because the e-mail came the night after we went into 

her room and just HAD to take a picture of her bed. 

That's Olivia, under the purple slug bug blanket, on top of her comforter, so it doesn't get messed up.

Here's a close-up of the animals.

And this is from a few weeks ago.  She was unpacking and came across all of these unsharpened pencils.  She used her little handheld sharpener for the first 8 or so and then was obsessed with wanting an electric pencil sharpener.  (Grandma and Grandpa have one on the way for her birthday....what every seven year old dreams of!)  Daddy brought home his sharpener from work and this is the result.

Do you think this kid craves order in her life???!!!???

Thank you Amy for your insight!  We need to practice patience and realize that all of our girls are unique little souls who are adjusting to this HUGE move in their own ways.

I asked Mick to help me come up with the analogy....and this is what he came up with....

If the children were "insurgents", Mommy and Daddy are in the "surge" mode.  Spending lots of quality time, effort and money to win over the child population.  It is not a quick process nor one that shows immediate results.

☺  What a Marine!  ☺

I was working on a poker analogy, as in...we're "all-in", totally focused on this parenting adventure right now!

Mick wanted to add that, we've said it before, but Audrey is mustard, Olivia is ketchup, Claire (Oh Claire!) is Tabasco...and right now, Gigi is kind of like Jell-o...bouncing around and able to conform to whatever her sisters and her environment throws at her.  We're also hoping she grows up to be like the yummy jell-o parfaits, smooth and dreamy...rather than jell-o shots!!!!

Thanks Amy!  I love you!!!!!!!

From our fabulous reunion in Council Bluffs this summer.  I told Amy that seeing her, filled me up with her goodness and her fantastic mothering ability and insights.  My cup needed filled.  You're the best Amy!!!!!!