Valentine Joy :)

Our Valentine's Day weekend was BUUUUUSYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plans for this weekend started weeks and weeks ago.... and then each week a new event came into our sphere (including one of our own events!) and we decided we'd do all three. :)

Friday night was a mama/daughter sleep over at one of her best friend's house to celebrate her friend's birthday. We had a great time, and left early enough in the day so that we could have some down time before the next event, which was a Valentine's Day party at one of her other best friend's. That too was filled with so much fun. :)

Sunday came and Kathrynn and I were pretty tired! We worked on getting the house ready and I made cookies for the party we were having at our house to celebrate Valentine's Day. Kathrynn was very excited to have this party at our house, as it's become a sort of annual event for her to have a valentine's day party with her girlfriends at our house. She made little candy holders and little hearts at her ceramics class, even going to an extra class so as to get everything done on time. She was very proud of her creations and very excited to gift them to her friends. :)
The "going ons" of the party didn't really matter to her.... she was interested in having friends over to exchange the valentines and to have cookies, and to play games if people wanted.... other then that it was as if the planning of it was more important. :)

This being the third event in three days, we were both pretty tired. At the end of the 2 hour time slot Kathrynn was well aware that she was ready for some peace and quiet. She let me know that she was ready for everyone to go home, and luckily I had some awesome mamas there who helped me facilitate the transition.

I do not regret making the choices we did for the weekend...... I do think that perhaps it was a bit much- a lot of stimulation, sugary foods, and not the usual sleep certainly effected me and seemed to effect Kathrynn as well. At the same time, it seems like we were able to stay connected enough to move through the weekend with awareness and ease (for the most part). And when the end of her party came around, on that third day, I appreciate that she was aware enough to say "that's it..... time for everyone to go." That is not an easy thing for Kathrynn to say, as she loves having her friends over and loves to play. So it was a big step for her to be able to See/Feel what was going on, and to say enough is enough..... I'm Full.

This morning we woke up to 4 or so inches of snow. Knowing her pottery class would probably be canceled, I asked her if she wanted to have her neighbor friend over, or if she wanted to go to her friend's house. She said that she wanted to have a "Mama and Kathrynn" day. While we were playing a game (Wild Ride to the Heart) she said that she was feeling a bit crazy today. She was not acting crazy, but she said she *felt* crazy. Again, I appreciated this awareness, and it led to a nice conversation of what we can do when we feel that way.

I am really appreciating the level of awareness that she has been expressing, and I am also working on not creating expectations based on them.

I am appreciating being a Witness to it All. :)