We’re in the Loser Cruiser hauling to Marley’s horseback riding party. We’re late. I’ve chucked Mare a pair of jodphurs and boots and she is trying to squeeze into them around her dress with her seatbelt on.
“I can’t … I can’t …” — and here it comes. A Meltdown.
My shoulders are […]
I wake up to a pair of blue eyes staring over the mattress at me.
“Do we have school today?” Mare asks. She’s wearing a sparkly dress and has put her hair in a pony tail.
“YES!!” I say, trying not to sound over-the-top ecstatic.
“Oh, cool!” Long pause.
“Have you checked on Hermie?” […]
“Okay, where do I aim the gun?” Mare asks. I am holding the clipboard, she has the scanner, and we are looking at a bright pink Boppy pillow.
We are standing in the very same store where I came — just about this pregnant — to register for all the doodads, gizmos, gadgets and trappings of […]
At the carpool pickup
Mare: You’re taking me someplace special, aren’t you?
Me: ??
Mare: Well, Ren’s not with us. Oh, and last night Daddy said (perfect sing-song voice): “I know something you don’t know! I know something you don’t know.” (Back to normal) — So I figure something’s up.
At […]
Team Mary …
Sunbeam and Moonbeam and me.
Oh, and Daddy and the Doodle.
Can you show me eeeeeevil??
The part where I stopped taking pictures. Stopped breathing.
That. In case you are wondering. Is a blue ribbon.
Because in this case, seventh place was a perfect crystalline blue.
Seventh out of how many? — Twelve. Oh, […]
“It’s a lot of people to fall in front of,” Mare says thoughtfully.
“It is,” I agree.
“Is it a winning-kind-of-show?” she asks.
Oh here we go, I think.
“It will be just like a regular lesson. Your instructor will be with you. You’ll be in the ring, and you’ll do the things you […]
“MaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaMAAAAA!!” Renny shoots into the room, sobbing, dives under the covers.
“Renny!” Mare says, trailing in behind. “I know you’re scared, but you did great, Momma is so proud of you!!”
“What did you do, Lamby?” I ask. She is plastered to me, trembling.
“She did it Momma!! She jumped! From my […]
“Momma, Ren broke her promise to me.”
I look up from the laptop. They are standing in the bedroom door. Mare looks righteous. Ren looks happy to be out of bed.
I decide to take a pass on the fact they’re supposed to be asleep.
“Ren,” I say, “did you break your word to sister?”
She […]
We’re an hour late to camp.
And Mare is not in her pajamas.
I WAS SO FREAKING PROUD TO GET HER DRESSED. She’s in a totally acceptable outfit — skirt, sparkly clogs, peasant shirt. And it’s all clean (to which we credit Cute Husband. I don’t do laundry when my spine has not recently been punctured, and […]
It was all a good idea in theory.
Girls in dresses with little baskets. What could be cuter?
This is what I was thinking as I wrestled Renny into approximately fifteen
pounds of white tulle and organza, pinning her struggling body to the floor of the church vestibule as I worked the tiny satin bodice over her hips.
“NAAAAAAH!!” […]
