I remember laughter

I remember playing who sank the boat in Miranda’s pool.

I remember going to Niagara Falls on a whim to show my kids how you could have a rainbow without rain.

I remember when Miranda told me she had a bug in her ear and I said impossible. So I got a flashlight and shined it in there and out crawled a winged ant thing.

I remember the silly quaky duck I bought for Christmas and wrapped it and put it under the tree. Every time someone walked past, it talked. I said it was a talking toilet.

I remember buying a stuffed toy in the UP that looked and sounded like an ewok. Hidden in a bag while driving down a shady road, every time the sun hit it it made noise.

I remember Miranda writing her last will and testament (and then hiding) after getting scared in the house while I was out.

I remember driving to California with my kids in that big moving truck and listening to Achy Breaky Heart endlessly and staying at a place called Grumpies.

I remember Melissa saying to me when she was just a wee thing; “Mom, did you know I’m naked under these clothes?”.

I remember Rolling Rosie and Diaper Deb. Miranda lip syncing and dancing to Free Falling while on roller skates and poor Melissa running around naked.

I remember Melissa stealing the hobby horse somewhere in Arizona and disappearing and scaring me to death. (yeah, it’s funny now)

I remember taking Melissa for a horseback ride and her saying it was too bumpy.

I remember walking out of the bathroom with a naked me and Melissa after a bath and there was my neighbor standing there. Miranda kindly let her in and neglected to tell me :p

I remember reading kids books until I had them memorized.

I remember Miranda looking at her messy bedroom after the Northridge earthquake and say “Oh no, look what it did to my room (or something to that effect), when it looked the same as always.

I remember Melissa painting outside at her easel.

I remember my girls dancing in the rain.

I remember building Melissa the most awesome playhouse ever.

I remember Melissa’s letters she wrote me in kid code after I sent them back to Michigan.

I remember building endless Brio railroads that covered the entire living room.

I remember when a bat got in the house and I told Mir to take Lis to her bedroom and shut the door. Then I ran outside, slammed the door and locked myself out.

I remember endless days and nights of Raffi and dancing kids.

I remember Mir trying to pick the lock on our house with a stick and breaking it off in there.

I remember being woke from a dream (about work) because Lis had a sore throat and I saying “Great, now I’ve got to get the screwdriver, open the control panel and…” while Lis is clutching her throat and staring at me.

I remember so many nights of the three of us in my bed.

I remember treasure hunts.

I remember the tooth fairy getting caught with her hand under Miranda’s pillow.

I remember the hammock in California and the time Mir and I were laying in it and we crashed to the ground.

I remember giving Melissa some bread to feed the geese and they were all coming really aggressively and taller than her. At the last second I swooped her up because they weren’t looking too friendly and stood there laughing with her in the air and geese pecking my pant legs.