It's the final day of January and I think that I can feel my spirit lightening already... What is it about the first month of the year that is so blah? I really don't mind the gray weather. The constant rain makes my skin feel great (sun makes me squint anyway). And I love to organize - apparently Target has me in mind when they pull out all of the storage bin displays right after Christmas. It's like they decided to create a new theme month... 2011 is officially the "International Year of Forests", August is "Orange and Papaya Month" and now Target is tapping January as "Organize your life after Christmas Month." Seriously, have you ever been to The Container Store? It's AMAZING! You can organize every room in your house with bins, shelves, cubbies, liners, magnets...it's a cornucopia of organizing materials! But I digress...
The above randomness actually illustrates my entire month of January well - little snippets of ideas, important tasks to be done, funny stories to share all flit through my brain and then dissolve in a matter of 20 seconds. I can't hold onto anything long enough to focus, complete, remember or even write it down. Instead, I end up walking around in circles trying to figure out what I was going to do and unable to find anything since I somehow managed to put the tv remote in the fridge and left the untoasted bread in the toaster all day! I've got paint chips and floor samples scattered around the house, glitter keeps showing up in unexpected places (mix a preschooler with a glitter project and voila, instant sparkle all over the house!) and my to do list continues to grow but I don't think I've crossed one thing off this entire month!
Basically, I've given up on January. It's a month for hibernation without guilt, starting projects without any expectation of completion and chaos spread from one corner to the other. If I can keep from freezing any important electronics I think I'll call it a success!
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
A Tale of Two Rae's
Rae was the darling of The Princess when she first started to chew on things. Along with his "made to chew" hands and feet, his ears, tail and tags are perfect saliva collectors as well!
Rae was her most favorite toy and I even went out and bought a back-up because he looked like he was on his way to disintegration.
Happily, Rae survived The Princess' assault intact and back-up Rae was forgotten until I found him while preparing for Sweetpea's arrival.
Back-up Rae (I need a less cumbersome name) made his debut last week into Sweetpea's world and was an instant hit!
So, now we have Rae and Back-up Rae in residence. I tied a ribbon around Rae's neck so that The Princess knew which one was hers but that didn't last. Rae doesn't like accessories.
Perhaps I'll embroider a little I and E on their bums respectively so that there isn't a catastrophic mistaken identity incident in the future...
In the meantime, aren't they cute?!!
Rae was her most favorite toy and I even went out and bought a back-up because he looked like he was on his way to disintegration.
Happily, Rae survived The Princess' assault intact and back-up Rae was forgotten until I found him while preparing for Sweetpea's arrival.
Back-up Rae (I need a less cumbersome name) made his debut last week into Sweetpea's world and was an instant hit!
So, now we have Rae and Back-up Rae in residence. I tied a ribbon around Rae's neck so that The Princess knew which one was hers but that didn't last. Rae doesn't like accessories.
Perhaps I'll embroider a little I and E on their bums respectively so that there isn't a catastrophic mistaken identity incident in the future...
In the meantime, aren't they cute?!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ode to a Stroller
My stroller is my gateway to freedom
I barrel down the sidewalk
taking 3/4 of the width for my own
and watch the walkers and runners
eye my children tucked under their quilts
that hide the warm rice bag and
ward off the chill of the day
I grin in the drizzle
breathe in deeply
and pick up my pace because
I can finally
move!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Year of the Bandaid
It's that time of year when we look forward and dream about all we could accomplish in the coming year, how many dreams we can make come true, which bad habits we're going to leave behind...
Of course, I have some specific goals, ones that involve paint and jogging strollers and writing deadlines; separately, not together. But this year I find myself more concerned about my inner person, the qualities will shape me for more than just the upcoming year.
Christmas morning, The Princess reached into her stocking and pulled out a package of Hello Kitty bandaids. The Princess is obsessed with bandaids, to look at her you'd think she was the clumsiest 3 year old on the planet. But the bandaids all over her body are just for show, to make her even more beautiful and princess-like.
Getting that box of bandaids was like winning the lottery. Everything else was secondary as she concentrated on getting that box open, picking out the perfect one and then carefully and painstakingly working her little fingers to pull away the wrapper from the prize inside. Perseverance in action folks.
She got that bandaid out, pulled off the tabs and then the big question was where to put it? What place on her body would be the perfect spot? What placement would telegraph how important, beautiful and exciting this gift was to her?
Well, she smacked that bandaid front and center, right on her forehead, between the eyes and over her eyebrows. She proudly wore that bandaid all day and every Christmas picture this year is going to show Hello Kitty waving proudly from between her eyes! Commitment and Excitement!
We're in Day 7 of the bandaid. We can't just pull it off unless we want an early introduction to what waxing the eyebrows is going to feel like. She's now sporting 1/2 a bandaid since I cut off the part that had finally released and was flapping in her eyes. It's an exercise in Grace and Patience.
One little bandaid placed in an unsual spot has given me a visual of who I'd like to be this coming year. Someone who commits to whatever project/task is in my path with perseverance in the midst of challenges. Someone who remembers that enthusiasm makes even the mundane more exciting and enjoyable. And someone who has the grace and patience to get through the little irritations of life and keep my eye on the little treasures in my life instead.
Of course, I have some specific goals, ones that involve paint and jogging strollers and writing deadlines; separately, not together. But this year I find myself more concerned about my inner person, the qualities will shape me for more than just the upcoming year.
Christmas morning, The Princess reached into her stocking and pulled out a package of Hello Kitty bandaids. The Princess is obsessed with bandaids, to look at her you'd think she was the clumsiest 3 year old on the planet. But the bandaids all over her body are just for show, to make her even more beautiful and princess-like.
Getting that box of bandaids was like winning the lottery. Everything else was secondary as she concentrated on getting that box open, picking out the perfect one and then carefully and painstakingly working her little fingers to pull away the wrapper from the prize inside. Perseverance in action folks.
She got that bandaid out, pulled off the tabs and then the big question was where to put it? What place on her body would be the perfect spot? What placement would telegraph how important, beautiful and exciting this gift was to her?
Well, she smacked that bandaid front and center, right on her forehead, between the eyes and over her eyebrows. She proudly wore that bandaid all day and every Christmas picture this year is going to show Hello Kitty waving proudly from between her eyes! Commitment and Excitement!
We're in Day 7 of the bandaid. We can't just pull it off unless we want an early introduction to what waxing the eyebrows is going to feel like. She's now sporting 1/2 a bandaid since I cut off the part that had finally released and was flapping in her eyes. It's an exercise in Grace and Patience.
One little bandaid placed in an unsual spot has given me a visual of who I'd like to be this coming year. Someone who commits to whatever project/task is in my path with perseverance in the midst of challenges. Someone who remembers that enthusiasm makes even the mundane more exciting and enjoyable. And someone who has the grace and patience to get through the little irritations of life and keep my eye on the little treasures in my life instead.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Sacredly Magic Christmas
I LOVE Christmas time. I have memories galore of the magic, the excitement, the beauty, the giving...everything. I've celebrated in two different countries on two different continents with gatherings both big and small. I've celebrated in the middle of the snowy mountains of Maine, the tea highlands of Kenya, on the shores of the Indian Ocean, and in the rainy clouds of the Pacific Northwest.
It's not new information but it's new for each parent; celebrating with kids makes everything even more fun and more magical. This year The Princess is really getting what's going on around her. She got to help pick out the tree and we oohed and aahed over all of the decorations. I've caught her kissing her favorites more than once! My carefully placed display on the piano has been moved and rearranged more times than I can say and at some point Woody, from Toy Story, was added to the silvery glitter ornaments; the missing touch apparently.
We've walked through the fairyland of Zoo Lights and have an appointment to make a gingerbread house at a local coffee shop. Each morning we open another window in the Advent calendar (or two when I've forgotten to do it the day before!) and enjoy the surprise of what picture is hiding behind the flap.
We're singing Christmas carols all month long and this year I'm explaining a lot of them too. We've put out out all of my nativity sets and this year the Princess is playing with the non breakable ones and telling the story herself. We'll go to the Christmas Eve service and remember again why it is that we celebrate in the first place.
In the midst of all the excitement and magic, while decorating the tree and dancing to another Christmas song, I'm also caring for an infant. She sits on my hip contentedly taking in the sparkle, laughter and energy swirling around her. She's sleeps swaddled in my arms or in the basket at my feet. She forces me to sit and rest when it's time for her to eat. She's completely dependent on us for everything and it is such a privilege and a joy to be responsible for her care.
Which of course makes me think of Mary and Joseph and the privilege and joy they were given when chosen to care for Jesus. And my breath catches at the perplexing and profound thought of Jesus as a baby, like my own precious girl, and the magic of the season becomes so much more sacred and meaningful.
It's not new information but it's new for each parent; celebrating with kids makes everything even more fun and more magical. This year The Princess is really getting what's going on around her. She got to help pick out the tree and we oohed and aahed over all of the decorations. I've caught her kissing her favorites more than once! My carefully placed display on the piano has been moved and rearranged more times than I can say and at some point Woody, from Toy Story, was added to the silvery glitter ornaments; the missing touch apparently.
We've walked through the fairyland of Zoo Lights and have an appointment to make a gingerbread house at a local coffee shop. Each morning we open another window in the Advent calendar (or two when I've forgotten to do it the day before!) and enjoy the surprise of what picture is hiding behind the flap.
We're singing Christmas carols all month long and this year I'm explaining a lot of them too. We've put out out all of my nativity sets and this year the Princess is playing with the non breakable ones and telling the story herself. We'll go to the Christmas Eve service and remember again why it is that we celebrate in the first place.
In the midst of all the excitement and magic, while decorating the tree and dancing to another Christmas song, I'm also caring for an infant. She sits on my hip contentedly taking in the sparkle, laughter and energy swirling around her. She's sleeps swaddled in my arms or in the basket at my feet. She forces me to sit and rest when it's time for her to eat. She's completely dependent on us for everything and it is such a privilege and a joy to be responsible for her care.
Which of course makes me think of Mary and Joseph and the privilege and joy they were given when chosen to care for Jesus. And my breath catches at the perplexing and profound thought of Jesus as a baby, like my own precious girl, and the magic of the season becomes so much more sacred and meaningful.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
An 80's movie star!
We built our house in Maine. I say "we" in a loose sense. It was my Dad's work of art but we kids were able to help with a few things. Have I mentioned the hauling of the wood?
One sunny day we were out on the build site and Dad handed us three kids hammers and nails. Free child labor! Our job was to nail the plywood subfloor to the basement beams. We started hammering diligently, a nail every few inches following the penciled line on the plywood.
Of course, the task turned into a small competition to see who could pound faster.
We were neck and neck until Ben let out a shout. Two hits and his nail was all the way in! Gretchen and I hurried over not believing him and demanding proof. He set up the next nail, gripped the hammer firmly and took a cleansing breath.
THWACK!
The nail disappeared into the wood, the head flush with the floor.
Amazing! Do it again just to make sure!
THWACK!
Again, the nail was firmly planted in the wood. We looked at him in awe. Our brother was the Karate Kid! Ben proceeded to show off, testing his strength with another 20 nails and offering us tips as we tried to summon our own inner strength.
Excited over his new found skill and sure that Dad would be thrilled with it (and want to put him to real work. Imagine how quickly the house could take shape!) we called him over to watch Ben OWN the nail. Dad listened with amusement as we explained what had happened while Ben set up a demonstration. When the nail went into the wood like butter his eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
He took a closer look at what we'd been doing.
Turns out that penciled line wasn't a guide for where the beam was underneath... We went down into the basement and looked up at the new ceiling. A line of nails was poking through the plywood hitting nothing but air!
Sorry Ben, no Karate Kid for you. But man, it was exciting when we thought it was true!
One sunny day we were out on the build site and Dad handed us three kids hammers and nails. Free child labor! Our job was to nail the plywood subfloor to the basement beams. We started hammering diligently, a nail every few inches following the penciled line on the plywood.
Of course, the task turned into a small competition to see who could pound faster.
We were neck and neck until Ben let out a shout. Two hits and his nail was all the way in! Gretchen and I hurried over not believing him and demanding proof. He set up the next nail, gripped the hammer firmly and took a cleansing breath.
THWACK!
The nail disappeared into the wood, the head flush with the floor.
Amazing! Do it again just to make sure!
THWACK!
Again, the nail was firmly planted in the wood. We looked at him in awe. Our brother was the Karate Kid! Ben proceeded to show off, testing his strength with another 20 nails and offering us tips as we tried to summon our own inner strength.
Excited over his new found skill and sure that Dad would be thrilled with it (and want to put him to real work. Imagine how quickly the house could take shape!) we called him over to watch Ben OWN the nail. Dad listened with amusement as we explained what had happened while Ben set up a demonstration. When the nail went into the wood like butter his eyebrows shot up in disbelief.
He took a closer look at what we'd been doing.
Turns out that penciled line wasn't a guide for where the beam was underneath... We went down into the basement and looked up at the new ceiling. A line of nails was poking through the plywood hitting nothing but air!
Sorry Ben, no Karate Kid for you. But man, it was exciting when we thought it was true!
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
I'm a winner...and crazy too!
So...I've been busy this past month.
No, not with the new baby or the precocious 3 year old. I've barely folded my laundry and done the bare minimum in making dinner. I haven't even made any Christmas plans.
What then, you ask have I been so busy with? Well, on November 1st I happened to read a couple of blog posts about NaNoWriMo and then saw that a couple friends on Facebook had decided to take the challenge. Curious about this strange acronym I hightailed it over to the website (what did we ever do without the internet?) to find out what on earth they were talking about.
Turns out the November is NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth and there's a big challenge on the internet to write a complete 50,000+ word novel in 30 days. CRAZY!
So of course, without any thought whatsoever, I signed up to do it.
That's right. For thirty days I have been writing like a maniac trying to complete about 2000 words every day. In between crying babies/preschoolers, laundry, vacuuming and diaper blowouts. I'm ridiculous, I know.
However, after much craziness, a husband who has now confirmed that I'm certifiably insane (but was supportive anyway! Truly!), and eyes that have been permanently dry and red for the last 10 days, I am a WINNER!
Yep, that's right. I completed a novel in 30 days! It's a first draft, it's rough and needs much work but I got an entire story down in writing; beginning, ending and even a middle. It's a big accomplishment and I'm pretty proud of myself.
Now I have to go clean my house.
No, not with the new baby or the precocious 3 year old. I've barely folded my laundry and done the bare minimum in making dinner. I haven't even made any Christmas plans.
What then, you ask have I been so busy with? Well, on November 1st I happened to read a couple of blog posts about NaNoWriMo and then saw that a couple friends on Facebook had decided to take the challenge. Curious about this strange acronym I hightailed it over to the website (what did we ever do without the internet?) to find out what on earth they were talking about.
Turns out the November is NAtional NOvel WRIting MOnth and there's a big challenge on the internet to write a complete 50,000+ word novel in 30 days. CRAZY!
So of course, without any thought whatsoever, I signed up to do it.
That's right. For thirty days I have been writing like a maniac trying to complete about 2000 words every day. In between crying babies/preschoolers, laundry, vacuuming and diaper blowouts. I'm ridiculous, I know.
However, after much craziness, a husband who has now confirmed that I'm certifiably insane (but was supportive anyway! Truly!), and eyes that have been permanently dry and red for the last 10 days, I am a WINNER!
Yep, that's right. I completed a novel in 30 days! It's a first draft, it's rough and needs much work but I got an entire story down in writing; beginning, ending and even a middle. It's a big accomplishment and I'm pretty proud of myself.
Now I have to go clean my house.
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