The Princess and The Bear

Last summer, we didn't go very many places, or do many things.  Not really because of money, but because Sarah had broken her arm in June, and for a couple of months after that, the doctor had advised/suggested we avoid places like the park or jump houses, because if she fell on it a certain way, it could be bad.  So we didn't do much.  Sat at home and watched tv.  Played in the yard.  Took walks around the neighborhood.  Luckily, it wasn't that hot of a summer, so it's not like we missed out on going to pools or anything.  But because of that, Kevin and I decided that Summer of 2014 was going to be a little different.  We were going to have more fun.  So we got the Cedar Point tickets, and we did a few more things.   One of the things that was different is that we felt Sarah was ready to stay the night at her Grandma's house.  So she and Arianna stayed the night quite often.  Arianna also stayed the night at her best friends house a lot.  But because we went to Cedar Point so much, and Arianna stayed with her friend so much, I got a lot of one on one time with my youngest. 

Which isn't a bad thing at all.  Sarah is so funny and smart.  I know everyone says that about their kids, and they should, but Sarah just seems different to me.  She comes up with games like *that* (her latest game is Girl Pony, Mean Pony...which she is the girl pony and whoever plays with her is the mean pony and chases her...Before that the game was The Princess and The Bear, which is the same concept, except she was a Princess and the other a bear)  

Being a parent is bittersweet.  It's awesome and challenging.  It's fun and annoying.  I'm not going to say I love every single second of being a parent, but I know I would never trade it for the world.  I also know eventually Sarah is going to stop wanting to play silly games with me and her Dad.  Arianna did a long time ago. But luckily, Arianna doesn't shut us out of her life.  She enjoys talking to us about bands she likes (currently Fall Out Boy and Panic at the Disco), or things that is going on in her life right now.  But I miss those days of reading Goodnight Moon with her, or playing with chalk and bubbles were still magical to her.  So I love this time with Sarah now.  Everything is still new to her.  And I'm really enjoying being there with her while she discovers it all.