Expectations

VBS was awesome this week!!  Madi enjoyed her cooking class especially because she was able to eat what they made each day and also get snack time after it.  She learned some really great snack recipes and they made a recipe book so we'll try to do some of them next week.  The songs were also fabulous and the girls have been walking around the house doing the motions and singing a ton.  Their attitudes were also excellent all week long and they've had some really great days.

Madi has been talking constantly about the house you guys will eventually build in the Philippines.  Not sure what spurred it, but she has wanted to draw out design plans for her bedroom and has lots of plans for it.  She has been talking a ton about her tv system and how to put in a computer game console and do it wirelessly.  She's very excited to get her bedroom and live on the ocean.  We just nod our heads and say "Cool."  Not really sure what to say about it to her other than "sounds great!!"

She's also been talking a ton about what she wants to do in middle school.  She isn't very excited about fifth grade after hearing others talking about what they get to do in middle school.  So I talked with her today about being content where she is and looking forward to the things she'll get to experience this year.  We talked about some of those things.  She has very big expectations for middle school.  I told her that fifth grade will be an awesome year for her and to enjoy her opportunities.

She has been talking tons about where she'll be after December, where you'll be working, asking tons and tons of questions that I told her I don't have an answer for - but that if I did, I'd let her know.  We talked about the plans that I know that you do have.  That I know you're coming in December, but that you'll leave again in March for graduation and to support Marcus in his run for mayor or whatever position he's going for at that point.  We also talked about how money is tight and that the boys won't be coming in December.  I thought she already knew, but she didn't.  I told her I could be wrong, but that the information I had was that they weren't coming.  We also talked about how you'll have a test to take here in America when you get back and that your plan is do the Air Force Reserve on weekends starting in January.

I may overshare.  Sometimes even do that with Riley.  But I find that if kids know even a sketchy outline of a plan, they can be assured that they will be taken care of and safe and secure.  Riley already asks about Kinder and when she's starting and what it will be like.  So we've talked a lot about that with her.  Just facts and things she can be sure of.  Madi said she felt silly about asking so many questions about what is going to happen in the next year.  I told her that she shouldn't feel silly.  That she just wants to know she'll be safe, secure and taken care of.  And that she can be assured that she will be.  I told her that I'd let her know what I know when the time comes.  She'd been asking so many questions about the next year and I just wanted to be sure she knew where everything stood so that things weren't a surprise when you came in December and then returned a few months later.  I told her that you will be back for good after graduation/helping Marcus campaign and that at least for now, that is the plan.  She understood.  She was quite sad about the boys.  She was especially sad that you didn't answer her call or her message that she sent you earlier today.

Tomorrow is a very low-key day.  Don't know what your plans are or what you're up to, but we'll be home all day and we'll be sure to have her iPod on so feel free to call if you have time.