I wanna be...

Sometimes I want to be this guy:

I want to be so proud and happy about my new PJs that I insist on having my picture taken immediately so that it can be scrapbooked with the tag.

I want to be the one making other people happy on a hard, stressful day.

I want to find joy in simple things.

I want to spend my days hanging out with him and his new PJs.

I am one lucky mom.

Ten on {Wednesday}

1.  I continue along with the Big Picture Scrapbooking Layout a A Day class.  So far,13 days in and probably roughly 17 layouts completed, including at least one per day completed and posted.  Granted, a couple of those days were somewhat minimal.  The above layout is probably my favorite just now and inspired by Lisa Truesdell's very similar page.  I have two things that I need to "fix" before it is complete.  Any

2.  My and "my people" at the baking lessons this weekend. These ladies don't really love having their picture on the blog, but it was such a great shot that I thought it should be here.  Thanks to both of them for all of their help with the baking class and to all the other helpers and participants.  It was amazing.

3.  Isn't Chrissie adorable? Oh, and Donovan too? I didn't get to hang out with Donovan as I don't want to spread my cold around too much, but loved his smiles and having him with us.

5.  While I was teaching bread baking, the guys were largely managing all the kids.  Here is Eric with three of the girls (one of which is his daughter).  Eric is a very fun playmate, as you can tell.

6.  Soccer!  Ok, so soccer is going much better.  We've had one successful practice and game.  B seems to prefer practice to the game, but hung in there.  Very cute stuff. I am discovering that Soccer momming comes with lots of outside random events so we'll see how that goes.

7.  Running - I've returned running to my exercise ritual.  So far, so good.  What I notice about running is that I feel somehow more "can do" or empowered afterwards.  Not sure why, but I like it.

8.  I got about 3 hours sleep last night, thus the now Ten on Tuesday post -- coughed all night and went to sleep late as was mired in work stuff for far too long.  Busy season is upon us again at my job.  I head out on Tuesday and am sure it will be a busy trip.

9.  We went to the National Night Out event in our neighborhood.  It was so-so.  Bouncing thing was very popular with B.  M liked looking at the firetruck, but would not climb in or talk to the firemen.  She just wanted to stand next to the truck, at length.  There was also ice cream, lemonade and a martial arts demonstration (mildly scary).  We did talk to a few people and am generally glad we went.

10.  This weekend is family pictures + soccer + football game watching (maybe) + clothes shopping + hopefully hanging out with some friends or family.  Busy, but good, right?

I promise to get some sleep and hopefully be back to blogging soon. 

1st Day of School

M - Age 2: Ms. Jenny's 2 yr old class

Today, M & B headed off for their first day of the new school year at St. Elijah's MDO.  This is their first start to a school year together at the same school and could be their last for up to four years! We attempted to take some pictures to mixed results.  The sun was really bothering B's eyes which may or may not be related to the slight black eye he has from (I hear) M hitting him in the eye with a flashlight this weekend at the farm. (She is a bit rough, this girl...)  In any case, Ms. M was all smiles and ready to go.  She wanted to carry all three of her bags and wear her pink dress with her sandals.  She wanted to do it all herself, but had to accept just a little bit of help. M's class is full of people potty training so we added her to the line-up even though she is still far from done, it keeps her involved and seeing other kids doing it.  Several little ones from last year's class are in her room and F (B's friend) has his little brother V in M's class so all very nice. I really like F&V's mom so maybe play dates to come!

B - Age 4.5 - Pre-K with Ms. Sara

B has been so ready for Pre-K ever since he discovered it existed back in March.  He is actually in the same room as last year, but with a new teacher and a new Pre-K curriculum.  His class is mostly boys this time which is a switch from the summer that I think he likes.  He was all set to take his new metal cars 2 lunch box to school and had very specific lunch requests.  (Later, turns out he saved some lunch to share with us, which is sweet, but unnecessary so he ate it in the car on the way home).  While excited about Pre-K he was not, as usual that excited about pictures, but we did get a bit more than last year so I'm all set.  Ms. Sara was great transitioning him in and M out (she was M's teacher last year so there was some confusion for the little lady).

After school I tried to listen to them both tell me their tales at once with intermittent songs from M.  We attempted to have back-to-school snowcones, but as Edmond is in school now they were closed.  We settled for shared cupcakes from SaraSara and some snuggles before rest time.  

Below are the additional outtakes from this morning -- see if you can guess which ones were "silly faces". 

Mom's side - My side is a bit less sure.  For three years, every day has been different and our schedule has been wildly flexible to whatever cool thing we want to do or whim of our day.  We have never had either kid in child care five days a week since our move.  Now, they both are.  Now, my work schedule and their school schedule is the same every day.  The type A part of me likes the thought of a fixed predictable routine and thinks they will embrace it.  The me that has thrived on flexibility and extra time together is less sure.  At my base, I know it is the beginning of the next 20 years or more of school schedules that are going to pare back all those long weekends and random mornings at the zoo.  I know it is for the best and that they need and want it, but part of me is mourning just a teeny tiny bit too.

In an attempt to celebrate "back to school" we are, I've suddenly decided, having international foods week here just like we did the first week of school growing up (note, most weeks at our house are international foods week, but I'll try to be more intentional about it this time.)  Of course, this will mostly be americanized international foods, but at least a bit of "spice" to the week.  Day one is Orange Chicken with Jasmine rice and green beans.  

Week In The Life: Monday

Welcome to Week In The Life 2011 as inspired by Ali Edwards.  You can read entries from 2008, 2009 (on my own, not part of a larger project) and 2010 by clicking those links.  This year, she is also providing free pdf handouts to help people keep track through the day.  If you'd like to join in you can find them here and join us at anytime.  

For the prior years, the Week In The Life project happened to fall at times when we had guests or lots of "happenings."  This week, we literally began with no plans.  I've managed to make some over the course of today, but it is actually going to be a rather different experience than the prior years--- assuming I don't come up with TOO many things to do in the interim. 

Today, by the numbers:

5:30 am - B runs into our room in search of a nightlight (unusual, but Brent assists him)

6:30-7 am - alarm goes of and Brent hits the snooze a few times.

7-7:30 am - Brent has his cereal while I get dressed in gym gear, packs his lunch and heads to work while the kids are still sleeping on a somewhat overcast morning.  I have some watermelon and water while I chat with him.

7:30-8:15 am - I work on my calendar page scrapbook project while waiting to hear the kids. (I was very surprised M didn't wake up early as it was her first no-paci night!)

8:15 - 9:05 am - kids are up and playing . I discover B reading in his room in the dark mumbling words to himself out of his 100 Days of School Library book.  I call Jessie about meeting up later while I get everyone fed (Apple Jacks and Watermelon), dressed and ready to head to the gym packed for the morning with backpacks, sippy cups and blankets.

9-10 am - Gym time at the Trails Y - I walk/jog and stretch while the kids play at child watch, change and head out to our next activity.

10-11:45 - Bouncin Craze with Jessie, Nate and Allie.  I, crazily, discover that I forgot my wallet at home so Jessie gets us in.  I also failed to notice that the kids needed to bring socks.  B wears an extra pair of mine (that fit surprisingly well) and M wears the Buzz Lightyear socks B had been wearing-- we make do.  The place is CRAZY full of kids and M is strangely tentative about jumping in to things.  The enormous Bat Man bounce feature seems to scare her.  We do a lot of holding and sitting on the exercise ball while chatting with Jess and trying to keep up with the bigger kids.  Eventually she warms to it a bit.  B is busy playing with Allie at first and then wanders on to his own adventures.  By an hour in B is sweating from all the wild activity, but very happy.  Luckily, he and Nate are able to start frequenting the water fountain to replenish all that sweat.  Interestingly, my kids end up playing together in the little kids area where M was more at home.  When the time is up, we say farewell with tentative plans for Wednesday adventures before heading to Ms. Kim's to drop Maggie off.

12-1pm - Drop Maggie off with notice to Ms. Kim that there will be no paci today.  She is all for it.  M heads to her lunch while B go home to make ours.  B has mini-corndogs, frozen blueberries and carrots.  I have a wheat tortilla with refried beans, salsa and cheese along with some incredible strawberries.  I start work at
12:30 while B watches Netflix.

1-2pm - B is still hungry so he as Reese's pieces yogurt (sorry) and plays games/watches dragon tales while I have my meeting.

2-5pm - B struggles into PJs for naptime (his choice). I even manage to get pictures of him napping which felt serendipitous as he doesn't nap much anymore and I've rarely taken pictures of it.  I pick up M and head home to make dinner with the kids.

5-6:30pm I cook with my helpers and we have a good time. M sneaks in some coloring time, which is one of her favorite things right now.  Our dinner consists of Spinach & Chicken Frittata with Raspberry scones.  Both were very popular with everyone but M who was fairly uninterested. 

6:30-7:15pm - I help B make his two scrapbook pages for the day (day three of this trend) while M and Daddy play and have bath time.  I also put the Tequila Peach Pie in the fridge to chill and cook later so we can enjoy for breakfast in the morning.

7:15-8:17pm- bed time prep.  I play with M while B gets his bath and he and Brent fold all the kids laundry.  I felt like with all the cooking and chaos of the day that M needed a little one-on-one attention so we played with Tad and her babies in her room and even had book time in her room tonight.  Tonight's books were - Goodnight Moon, Fancy Nancy, and selections from the Fairy poems book.

8:17-10:30 pm - A little more kitchen cleaning before heading to the office.  Chatted a little online with Chrissie about the upcoming Creating Keepsakes Convention in Tulsa and sorted through today's pictures while (deleted 1/2 of them!) while Brent played League of Legends with some of our guy friends.  Now pictures are uploading and if any time remains I'll try to scrapbook a bit as I feel like I should at least keep up with our 4.5 year old and it has been going really well of late.

I feel like the "big" stories today were:

• No Paci - Sweet Success!
• Fun at Bouncin' Craze with friends
• Cooking together with delicious results
• Scrapbooking with B - new trend that he and I really enjoy

Here is a quick slideshow of our timeline in images.  I notice that the gym, Kim's house, and bedtime rituals didn't get photos today so I'll try to make sure to catch them in coming days.

 Note: Not everyday will be this detailed or have this much of a timeline, but I wanted to have a baseline to start.  All of our pictures from today will be available in Brent's Picasa Album - but for some reason Picasa won't let me do the upload just now. I will update the link here when it is live.  I will continue to add to that album through the week and likely include pictures on some of the blog posts as we go. 

Ten on Tuesday

1. Brent is here! We are having a great time and trying to just go with the flow. He arrived about 15 minutes before our bus left yesterday, so we jumped right into our adventure.

2. We went to Sonoma yesterday and toured Hafner Winery. It was a lovely visit with beautiful weather, good information and great wine. Afterwards, we wandered Headlsburg and had a wonderful dinner. A great time in wine country.

3. The most beatuiful vistas of the day were in the first thirty minutes of our trip as we drove out of San Francisco. The mountains, water, and bridge just came together to create so many beautiful views.

4. I am in and of the plains. Therefore, in that moment when you are driving along the outside curve of the mountain with the edge two feet ago plummeting into the bay-- I feel just a tiny bit nervous. View is awesome, but still just not a calm moment for me.

5. Today, Brent and I got to spend some time just wandering together. We had sushi for lunch and cream puffs for dessert. A perfect break before heading back into session. (He spent some time alone napping, running errands, going to the cartoon museum and exploring the neighborhod).

6. I spent some time with my panel this afternoon preparing for our session. I have no real clear sense how it will go and am admittedly a bit less practiced in the oral side than usual. That said, there is no material I am as familiar with as this. (My panel is entitled Telecommuting: A Legal Compliance Puzzle).

7. This evening we went to a cocktail reception sponsored by our auditors followed by a lovely dinner at Amber (an Indian food restaurant). I loved getting to spend some time just relaxing with my colleagues and my husband all at once. The food, wine and friends were all wonderful.

8. Tomorrow begins with my panel at 8:30 and then one more session and NACUA will be over and the day of fun begins. We are starting with dim sum along with my friend Erick and a few others from my crew. I am excited to see what culinary adventures Erick takes us on.

9. We've decided to stay in San Francisco after our day in Sonoma. there is so much to see here and we don't want to do more driving right before we head back. Erick has given us great recommendations and I am looking forward to it.

10. We miss the kids. I talked to them a bit today. They had been at swim camp with Grammie and Granddaddy and were heading next to farm camp with Grandma. They generally sound up, although M isn't talking too much. I am glad they have wonderful grandparents watching over them. I know Brent and I will be better for having had this time together and am excited to see them on Friday!

Hope you all are having a wonderful week too!

Ten on Tuesday

Ah summer, so much to say, such an urge to step away from the computer:

1)  Today I "may" have kept my kids too busy - We had some cleaning/crafting time before camp/work/time with Ms. Kim, then after all that, straight to the Science Museum, dinner at Sonic (which they didn't actually eat until hours later for some reason??) Then an hour and a half outside playing with our various water fun things (guns, pool, bubbles, hose, sprinkler, etc...) Brent walked in to them finally eating their and both were very very tired.

2) M got her very first Wacky Pack today.  Yes, she is almost certainly too young to need a Wacky Pack, but she asked so sweetly and it was the first time she'd said it. I caved.  For some reason her bag had all the condiments in it and she had to systematically unpack everything first.  She decided everything was too hot so just had her slush which she spilled all over in little bits for the next couple hours.  She was completely adorable about it though and pretty excited so probably worth it. (But not getting her own again for awhile).

3)  The anniversary party was awesome.  So much like I'd envisioned. Definitely the 'feel' I was looking for and wonderful friends celebrating with us.  Hopefully it will get its own post soon, complete with pictures, but as we are leaving for STL on Thursday morning we shall see...

4) Brent got me a very happy, sparkly diamond pendant necklace for our anniversary. I cannot deny that I do enjoy bling and this is just right. (Which you would get to see just as soon as our pics are properly uploaded...sigh).

5)  In not so great news I got almost no sleep the night before the party as I could not stop coughing (consequently Brent didn't get that much sleep either).  In good news, since then I've been taking benadryl at night and using the humidifier.  I am amazed how much better sleep I am getting. I don't; think I really realized how poorly I was sleeping until I got some decent rest.  Also, my coughing is generally improving overall so I think maybe the end is in sight?  (Not to worry, I will keep up my allergy treatment regime so we don't go backwards).

6) Brent is nearly half way through IRSP now and having all sorts of interesting problems with the strange creature that is teenage girls.  He can't seem to grasp why they have so much trouble rooming with each other "Why can't they just not talk to each other?"  I had to explain that this was not possible and might have laughed just a bit at how mystified he is at their random problems.  I'm sure we are in for a good dose of this when M gets earlier so probably good training.

7) We went to the farm for awhile on Sunday.  It was really lovely to get to spend time with my cousin Kristen and Aunt Laurie who flew in from Colorado for the party.  We had a pretty chill day sitting around chatting and eating all sorts of treats.  No mosquitoes this time so much better all around.

8)  Did I mention we're leaving for STL on Thursday? Yes? Oh, well, I am a tiny bit nervous about the driving with M for 8 hours.  So far, I have been pondering timing options, buying tons of snacks and retrieving our car activity tray from the Hoppers. Anyone have suggestions for activities, etc? We shall see......  I will, of course, keep you advised.  This might be a fun time to follow me on twitter.  (@abbeyviolet)

9.  This week I read the The Girl Who Played with Fire.  It was quite a bit different from the The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (The first book - which we read for book club last year).  I wonder if the author was as involved in the editing or if he died before that?  It still reeks of being written in a lawyerly style and obsessively tells you what time things are taking place.  I did like it though and am sure I'll read the third one one of these days, but I will probably wait a bit and read some less tense fare in the interim.

10.  Several birthdays this week so I think it is time for some birthday wishes here.  Happy Birthday to Mary, Jamie and Sarah-- amazingly yes, three of my bridesmaids had birthdays within six days of each other and within ten days of our wedding!  Happy first birthday on Sunday to our nephew Baby Zane - we are so looking forward to celebrating with you soon!  Also, belated birthday wishes to Erica and Kiley who celebrate their birthdays on our anniversary.  I hope you all have very merry birthdays or unbirthdays as the case maybe:)

Lucky Girls and Those Not So Lucky

Maggie and I are lucky girls.  We are surrounded by people that love us, pretty things, toys, good food and love.  We get to have great educations and health care.  We get to do anything we dream we can do.  I was able to go from a very rural upbringing, to studying in France and becoming a DC lawyer, complete with fancy east coast graduate degrees.  Truly, I've been able to pursue whatever I dreamed with no barrier based on gender.

 We live in a country where we can get the health care we need and I know when we're sick there is someone there to take care of us.  I don't have to worry about having enough to eat or a warm bed.  I get to telecommute and pursue a happy, beautiful creative hobby.  Maggie gets to dress in silly frilly clothes and I then get to scrapbook my happy memories of watching her just being her, just being beautiful.

Not all girls, or all people, are so lucky.  I was inspired by Shimelle's post today to share these layouts and encourage you to take a moment to do something to help those girls that are not as lucky as Maggie and I.  Whether you choose the charity Shimelle is promoting or one in your own community, just take a moment to think about it and see if maybe there is some what you can help those girls, boys, families, communities that are not so lucky just now.

Check out Shimelle's post for information on the Because I am a Girl Campaign or consider donations to the Red Cross to help with the recent tornadoes, tsunamis, or ongoing poverty.  I suspect you might have a few dollars around, because most of you reading are so lucky too and if you're not, let us know and maybe we can help you somehow?  Wanna help a rural kid with their education? Consider that link on the left to donate to my family's Danny Blakley Pioneer Scholarship Fund.  The options are endless, I'm just asking you to think about it for a couple minutes.  Let's help, support, and love each other because even though we may be physically far a part we are a community and here to help each other.  Thanks for the love.



P.S. I chose to support her cause by signing up for Journal Your Christmas, so come December I'll be sharing some of the love here as I play along... because December Daily Posting was not keeping us busy, right?   The cool part of this class is that you sign up once and get ongoing access every year (both backwards and forward looking.  Yippee!! And double cool today as all my money is going to support the Because I am a Girl Campaign).

Ten on Tuesday

1.  I am all about deadlines.  The nature of my work and life, really, is pretty deadline driven and for the first time I have blown one.  I am presenting at the National Association of College and University Attorneys Annual Conference in San Francisco this summer and my written materials were due yesterday and are not done.  (Or really even close).  Technically, I am on the planning committee and know this is a little bit of a faux deadline, but I still feel bad and am going to do it just as soon as I finish this....

2. I discovered this new site Motherhood Your Way.  Today's post is an interview with Ali Edwards about being a Work at Home Mom.  Very cool stuff. (for me at least).

3.  I have so many blog ideas percolating, but also find that I really want to be crafting most evenings.  Hopefully they will find themselves here soon.  Several are memory keeping/scrapbook/traveling with kids posts so I hope they are of interest.  I also made up a recipe yesterday, which I rarely do, and am trying to get it written up before I forget it. Of course, first I have to write this paper....

4.  I have a big NJ/NY post percolating, but the very short version is Maggie and I spent four days primarily with these two lovely ladies (and Evan).  We had a lovely time, survived the travel and made memories to treasure for years to come.  I have many more pictures and details to come, but you can sneak a peak at our picasa feed in the meantime if you are interested (scroll down to the second half of April).

5.  Zumba today was awesome. I felt the closest I have been to 100% in a long time.  A quick peak in the mirror reveals that I still look chubby and silly, but was having a good time and sweating plenty. I think the key is that it is just fun for me as much as it is exercise.  Love it and love that I am making more Zumba friends!

6.  The boys, I hear, had a big weekend - fun with Grammie and Granddaddy Friday and Saturday including watching Rio, pizza, pirates and play time.  Sunday, I suspect, was mostly game time and relaxing plus a secret shopping trip.  B has been very glad to see me, which is awesome. I am getting lots of hugs and kisses. 

7.  Believe it or not, I leave for DC next Tuesday for four days.  The trips are a bit close together realistically, but here's hoping we all pull it off and that B is even more excited to see me when I return (which I doubt as the Korenaks will be here!!)

8.  M's counting is quickly improving.  She can get to 11 now, but almost always leaves out six.  It is adorable.  She also has a jumbled alphabet coming along as well as bits of a few small songs like "Ring around the Rosy" and "Twinkle Twinkle". 

9.  B is making quick progress on reading.  The boys worked on it a lot while I was gone and his new Star Wars Reading game for the Leapster is helping too.  So fun to see him start "getting it".

10.  The weather is rather lovely and my garden is flourishing.  I've been trying to get some greens (lettuce, chard, and/or spinach) into every meal since my return and am mostly succeeding.  The weeds are attempting to creep in, but we are being vigilant.  We even have a couple volunteer tomato plants which I am a bit amused by and have left them alone for the moment.  It is amazing how much better everything is after a little rain.  My vague attempt at grass sowing is even starting to show some results!

Ok, enough stalling, I'm off to wax wisely about telecommuting administration and compliance... they do say to write what you know, right?  Have a lovely week!

Five on Friday

1.  Liz (aka Mom-101) has done it again with a fabulous post on the unspoken truths of working motherhood which you can find here. (Becoming a Friday tradition?)  She followed up with a "doing it all" post that includes this awesome bit from Tina Fey essay in the New Yorker: " When you ask a working mom about how she does it all, it either puts her in the position to say something disparaging about herself (check) or deliver an answer that makes the questioner feel somehow inadequate for doing less."  Something to think about, eh?

2.  I am developing a thing for the rosette pillows.  There is a cozy example here, but I've seen them several place.  So far though, not willing to spend $35 on one (they are always $35 for some reason?).

3. I find I like 40s dresses like this.  How do I fit this into my much less glam life?  How did they keep themselves from being covered in messy kid goo?  So many questions...

4. I am thinking that this Doorway Playhouse might be a fun thing to have for Lady M without taking up too much room.  What do you think? 

5. Home Cheese Making: Recipes for 75 Delicious Cheeses - I still adore cheese and loved getting to sample some new ones at last month's book club (yes, I was hosting).   In Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life (P.S.) the author talks about how easy it is to make your own.  I find myself so tempted, but a bit concerned about the perils of trying to do it all.... hmmmm... maybe I should wait a bit on that adventure, but some day I plan to try it.

Ten on Tuesday

(NOTE: If you are looking for the blog hop post it is just belonw or you can click here).

1. We did have a great snow after all. I was getting a little dubious, but it came. Some sleet followed by much blowing wind and big drifts of snow. The temperatures plummeted and a snow day was here.  (Ps. Isn't B just too adorable in his cool sock monkey hat from Uncle Able?)

2. Snow days are so wildly different than before we had kids or even when I was a kid. I didn't really make it outdoors, but also didn't get to sit around crafting or reading books as apparently many of my facebook friends did. I, you see, telecommute and there was no storm in DC so I had to work anyway and Brent became the childcare for the day. Sigh. Nice to have him here though.

3. Did I mention it was his birthday? Yes? Happy Birthday my darling husband. I love you so very much!

After so much cake, we instead made peanut butter chocolate birthday fudge, complete with sprinkles. M perfected saying "Happy Birthday" in her cutests tiny voice (I have video to share soon!) and there were a few presents too.

4. I am horrible at the present part. I don't want to pick out what he really wants by myself (new cell phones or new TV) and I'm not sure either of us really think we can afford them anyway. It is hard, but he assures me he loves my routine Wii game + Star Wars Lego gifts anyway. Lucky for me he is easy when it comes to presents, but I still feel guilty a bit.

5. Have had some pitty parties for myself lately on the "not being able to afford it" front. Try to remind myself how fortunate we are and that this is a choice we made -- to have more time together and with the kids rather than more money. Also, that it is good that we're frugal with our resources as it lets us do nice things later. Seriously, I can't complain as I'm well paid for sitting around thinking, writing and exercising good judgment. Sometimes still hard. My strategy is to hold one of my kids as close as possible for as long as they let me to remember how much better this time with them is than the money, stuff, big house and granite countertops we've given up to have it. (Sorry, apparently not quite over the pitty party, but always end up being really happy with my choices so all is well).

6. No clue what our plan is going to be for tomorrow. I think Brent wants to go back to work. I don't know what the streets are even like. Due to the wind some are find and some have huge drifts. If he goes back, I would probably have to take off work as I won't have childcare. Tricky decisions. ---oh, and no, he does not get to stay home when the state government is closed because he is somehow, mysteriously, essential personnel as the school cannot close (being a boarding school and whatnot).

7. I am reading the next book in the Pink Carnation series -- The Orchid Affair-- perfectly lovely distraction. The setting is almost precisely where I lived in Paris in the summer of 2000 which makes it all the better for me.

8. I've been doing some scrapbooking over the weekend and am really enjoying the pages. I've been using even more of the Ormolu tags and will share some of my efforts soon. What I've learned most of late is to step away when the creative magic isn't working and let it percolate in my head. When I come back later, the design tends to have come to me and be much better.

9. No Zumba for yet another week due to parties and now snow. Whatever am I going to do?

10. Believe it or not, next Tuesday's post will be coming to you from Washington, DC (weather permitting) as it is time for my quarterly Board prep trip. I am excited, but also nervous/guilty about leaving as usual.

Motherhood Moments

Moment #1: I began the morning luxuriating in my snuggly warm blankets just a bit longer than usual with visions of a little snow and an ordinary morning.  Shortly after getting up, I picked up Lady M and as soon as I took her PJs off, she started to cry.   She didn't stop for over an hour of screaming sobs.  So sad and confusing.  She kept touching her ear (not the one that was infected) and her head just behind her ear.  Being my paranoid self, I left to many wild conclusions, gave her some Tylenol and snuggled as I prepped B for school and M for a Dr. visit.  Thankfully, for once, her Dr. visit ended with a clear reading for her ears and a simple diagnosis of  muscle cramps or a crick in her neck from sleeping strangely.  A bit of tylenol and some baby back rubs were all that was needed.  It was a relief, but I felt a bit silly too.  Such is the sometimes story of motherhood.

Moment #2: M and I did get a wonderful few minutes of playing in the lightly falling show in our new snow boots before naptime.  This is probably the first snow she remembers and it was great to watch her wander around in her new pink polka dot rainboots and explore. (Cute pictures to come)  During naptime, I elected to NOT do crazy productive things as I'd already called in sick.  It became a bit of a mental health day for me too.  I finished my book (which was very good).  I scrapbooked a little, rested, and, of course, checked in with my email.  A strange, unexpected day, but it turned out to be nice too even though I'll probably miss that sick day later.  It was nice to have quiet bit of time to just relax alone and do what I enjoy with the snow gently falling outside the window.

Moment #3:  I made homemade bread and homemade pizza this evening.  I loved watching my kids' excitement as it was cooking.  They both Love homemade bread (Brent says everyone does).  I love that I can give them this somewhat unusual experience and that we can make all this together.  It was definitely a suzy homemaker type moment, but that's not so bad when I have the opportunity to do it.  Lady M keeps me company more and more these days while I cook which is wonderful.

Moment #4:  I spent much of my evening being a friend and motherhood pro (or as much as I can be only 4 years in).  Two different friends are in the third trimester of their 1st pregnancies.  Both are pregnant with baby girls due this spring and both are friends from graduate school (Law and MA respectively).  I love them and our very different friendships.  We talked about basic things like what do they Need to buy v.  all the stuff in the stores, what to think about pregnancy, labor, breast-feeding, work/life balance, etc.  Conversations like this are so wonderful and important.  I love welcoming people into motherhood and think that the support network of women living and sharing this experience together is so vital.  I can't meet them for hot chocolate like would prefer, but I am so glad that we still get to share, support and learn together.  Friends and family made a big difference in my early motherhood trials and I so hope to be there for all my friends and family too.  Pregnancy and new parenthood can be intense and relationships like this have made a huge difference to my experience.


Looking at this I'm sort of amazed at the crazy, varied, full day I had and really this isn't that unusual.  This is motherhood-- growing, changing, evolving, unexpected, full of rewards and challenges and a big part of who I am now.