End of an Era

Sigh.  As of Thursday, we will be saying goodbye to our dear Au Pair, friend, and pseudo-big sister, Wiebke, aka ViVi.  For the past year she's put up with all of our family's idiosyncrasies and ridiculous demands.  You think I jest, but just try watching Yo Gabba Gabba reruns for hours at a time every time you sit down to "enjoy" a meal without throwing the toaster through the television. 

She has snuggled and fed, read and sang, danced and played.  She has diapered stinky butts, band-aided bloody noggins and slathered vats of Vaseline on Roo's lizard legs (if only we could make a handbag out of him!).  She's built countless Lego and block towers only to have them destroyed by three-foot-high vigilantes at the final precarious moment.  She's cleaned up hair-balls, live mice, and kept a sense of humor on rare occasions when the cat mistook her bed for the litter box.  She's instilled a sense of fear in our children (in the best possible way) so that upon hearing footsteps at their closed door during nap time, the little ones dive instinctively into their beds and bury their heads amidst cries of "Vivi's coming! Vivi's coming!"  She has manned solo trips to the swimming pool with all three kids in 90 degree heat, moderated mortal combat between twins, caught toddler vomit in her bare hands, and lived to tell the tale. 

Without her this blog wouldn't exist.  She's provided me with the opportunity to pursue projects outside the realm of child-rearing, knowing all the while that my little ones were in capable, loving hands.  She's given me a year of sanity, date nights, relaxation, and the ability to go to the gym.  I could not ask for more.  Thank you, Wiebke.  It's been a pleasure. 

It is with heavy hearts and eager passports that we say goodbye.  We look forward to a reunion on the other side of the Atlantic.  Farewell, Vivi.  You will be missed.