What I'm Reading

I don't have much that I want to write about lately, mostly because I have a lot going on and not enough distance from it to write about it very well. Suffice it to say that I'm still in the throes of the "baby craze" that I thought I had finally escaped, our outside commitments are threatening to overtake our family commitments, and time is getting away from me.

My escape: read a good book. Four weeks ago I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, which is so witty and charming, I don't know how I managed to miss this one until now. If you haven't read it, you definitely should.

Next, I moved on to Ender's Game, which made me feel very unoriginal when I read the beginning and felt like I was reading the beginning of my own fictional work in progress, The G.E. Kid. Once I got past the beginning, though, I realized it goes in quite a different direction than I am headed with mine, so I felt a little more inclined to work on mine some more, but not inclined enough to actually do it...yet.

Ender's Game is science fiction for adolescent readers, middle to high school, and I enjoyed it. Before you start judging me for my YA fiction choices, let me remind you that the Twilight series was written for teens as well, and we all know who wound up loving it the most. Yep...Moms. At one point I even heard them called "Twi-Moms" for their crazier-than-the-kids behavior at book signings and movie events. So I'm not alone in my less-than-mature reading material choices.

Next, I have just received a copy of The Time Traveler's Wife from the library's Books by Mail program. I love checking the mail and finding a good book there instead of junk mail! Especially when it's a surprise. I was #30-something on the list when I reserved it online several months ago. It's really interesting so far. Anyone else read it?

After this, I plan to read Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief. The movie is coming out very soon and it looks really good!

How's that for an eclectic mix of literature? I love to read and my kids know it. We finished The Swiss Family Robinson with the kids and I have just started reading the first Harry Potter book to them. They are completely enraptured by it. It probably doesn't hurt that I do all the accents, including a thick Scottish brogue for Hagrid. I love reading aloud and hearing Paul read aloud to the kids. It's so cozy when we all pile up on the couch for a good story. I can forget about the outside world in that moment.

What are you reading? How do you "escape" at home?

Lost

Somewhere along the way, I have lost myself. I used to love fun and having fun. I used to love laughing. I used to have dreams and goals. Now, I have dark circles, gray hair, and a small but growing number of unwanted pounds. I don't work outside of our home, but I am very much all about business. My day is filled with getting work done, which is a giant mystery to me. What am I working on? What do I have that engulfs so much of my time? I do not volunteer. I am not on committees. I am not at playgroups. What on earth is taking up so much of my time that I do not have time to take care of myself?

I think it happened two summers ago when I went in for my hysterectomy. I think my doctor secretly did a lobotomy too and took out the fun part of my personality! Shortly after my surgery, I gained 10 pounds in four weeks, and none of my clothes fit. To fix that problem, I tried the Atkins diet and had a lot of success by not eating most of my favorite foods. Now, I feel guilty for eating fruit, and it feels like I gain weight by just thinking about eating a brownie.

Today, I am going out to look for myself. I am going to start by looking at Wal-Mart in the fruits and vegetables section. If I am not there, maybe I can find myself in the whole grains section of the bread department. I will also be looking in the appliance department by the blenders. Or perhaps, I will find my self at the bottom of a bottle of (wait for it) Clairol's Natural Instincts in golden cappuccino. Maybe I will be hiding somewhere in the cosmetics aisle looking for eye cream. If I am not there, I will check at Starbucks. Maybe I left myself there a couple of hundred mochas ago. Sadly, there is a good chance I might find myself at Target buying a pair of fat pants or maybe dumb bells.

This should be the best time of my life. I finally have the child I have waited my whole life for, and I am raising him with a wonderful man. My husband is a sweet, loving man who really does want to help me and wants me to be happy. This is Halloween when fun should be easy - dipping apples in caramel and carving jack-o-lanterns. Even as I write this, my life is getting easier. Plumber and electrician are here putting a shower into our bathtub.

Last week, one of my facebook friends asked if 40 was the new 30. My reply was, "Forty will be the new 30 until people our age getting closer to 50. Then 50 will be the new 30." Of course I was teasing, but I am sick of missing out on fun in my life. I am tired of looking forward to the fun. This is the time to enjoy life even if our lives are filled with hard work, blood from skinned knees, sweat from chasing small children, and tears, some of our own and some from the aforementioned small children.

Is anyone else lost, or is it just me? And, if you find me here before I get back, please let me know :)

Seattle on a Shoestring: Our First Kid-Free Vacation!

My husband and I just took a vacation without the kids for the first time ever. Before this, they've never even slept over at anyone's house without us, so we really weren't sure how they would do over a long weekend away from us. Our oldest is 5 1/2, so we figured it was time to break away and enjoy some alone time. Something we NEVER fully appreciated before we had kids!

We lucked into a pair of round-trip tickets to anywhere AirTran flies in the continental US. I wanted to go as far as possible, so we flew to Seattle on Thursday last week, determined to see the city without renting a car (Seattle on a shoestring). This meant we had to catch a city bus at the airport into downtown Seattle, get off in the underground bus tunnel, then find our bus to the Inn at Queen Anne, where we stayed. We got explicit instructions from the inn, including bus numbers, so we felt pretty confident when we stepped onto the 194 at the airport.

Why does that sign say North to Seattle...aren't we IN Seattle?!

Apparently there are two 194 buses. The one we boarded went SOUTH to Tacoma instead of NORTH to downtown Seattle. This sign was part of our unplanned walking tour of the interstate system of Tacoma, south of Seattle. At this point, I was thanking God we did not have the kids with us. We finally found the bus stop we needed and only had to wait about 30 minutes for the right bus. We rolled into downtown Seattle about an hour and a half later than planned, but hey! We were on an adventure! These kinds of mistakes have much less impact when you're not hauling car seats, luggage for four, a diaper bag, and a stroller!

Our trip was really great, but totally exhausting! Pike's Place was very cool, and we took a 2 1/2 hour cruise of the locks, where we saw the Sleepless in Seattle floating home. Don't say houseboat unless you want to catch the evil eye of a floating home owner. The Sleepless home is on the market for a mere $3 million, by the way. It's the green one with red trim on the left:

Here are some more pics of our trip:

This is where the fish fly at Pike Place Market

That's the famous mascot of Pike Place, Rachel (cast in bronze)

We drank LOTS of coffee in Seattle. There's a coffee shop on every block!

This one's for you, Miss Rachel! Check out the steep tilt...our calves were killing us by day 2!

The Famous Space Needle

City Scape: View from the Water

I don't know why we waited so long to take a vacation away from the kids, but now that we have, I already have a plan for the next one! And KID 1 asked me several times this week "Mommy, when can we go on vacation again?" I told him next month we would all go on vacation and he said, "No! I mean when can we go on vacation without you and Daddy?" They stayed at the ranch with my mom and helped feed the cows. They rode the 4-wheeler down the fence line to check the fences, and even had to round up a stray cow and mend the fence where she broke out. They got to be real ranch hands and they LOVED it! They barely missed us!

It was a dark and stormy Twilight

An Ode to Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga and Casting Crow's song, "Praise You in this Storm"

It’s been a bad week.
I’m not gonna lie
as I flop on the couch
and let out a sigh.

We got some bad news
about my dear sister’s health,
and the retreating economy’s
robbing my wealth.

But instead of despair,
a song fills my head,
“I will praise you in this storm…
for you are who you are, no matter where I am.”

God was with us this week.
He was planning ahead
to bring our family together
and keep Alex well fed.

For the news was so shocking,
I couldn’t even cook.
My only escape
was this trendy new book.

Edward, Bella and Jacob
are now part of my life.
I spend so much time reading,
my husband misses his wife.

Before I start reading
about Jacob and Bella,
I pause to praise God
for Kyann and my niece Arabella.

My house is now quiet
as I run down the list
of blessings from God –
precious, wonderful gifts.

The usual come first,
my husband, my son,
a new baby for Carrie,
the warm Florida sun.

Eternal life is,
of course, on the list
as well as my family
and a soft spring mist.

Let’s not forget friends
who come to the rescue,
coupons to clip,
and spiky blue fescue.

As I say Amen
and reach for my book
I sigh once again
and refuse to look

at dust bunnies lurking
from under the couch
with blood-covered fangs;
I think they’ve eaten a mouse.

I fly through the pages
right back to the spot
where I last saw our heroine
in a frightening plot.

I like to pretend
that I’m as witty as Alice
that I fly through the trees
with a vampire prowess.

Pretending is good
for my sad aching soul
but back to my world
and my family I go.

With God’s loving help
and by escaping with Twilight,
I'll make it through this storm
and see tomorrow's sunlight.

ALONE

Today I had back-to-back doctor's appointments, so my friend Pam watched my kids for me. She brought her son Alex over and kept all 3 children through what is one of the craziest times of day at my house - lunchtime and getting-down-for-our-nap-time. I left the house about 10:50, drove to Winter Haven, spent 25 minutes in my gynecologist's office (a new record!), and had 75 minutes until my next appointment, which was in Lake Wales. Fortunately I had a book with me, so I went to Firehouse Subs, and ate lunch and read ALL BY MYSELF.
I used to feel sorry for people who ate alone in restaurants. I used to be so self-conscious that I wouldn't eat alone in a restaurant, especially one in Winter Haven, where I almost always run into former students. However, my life has changed. I am rarely alone anymore. I'm not complaining because I love sleeping next to my husband and I really don't mind being walked in on by my son when I'm in the bathroom, but I am extremely introverted (90% according to the Myers-Briggs) and sometimes I. Just. Want. To. Be. Alone.
On the way back from Winter Haven, I was able to listen to 80s on 8 and sing Def Leppard without someone asking, "What you singin', Mom?" or requesting, "No thank you for singing, Mom!" I even flipped over to 90s on 9 and listened to "Do Me" by Bel Biv Devoe, a song I would never listen to with my impressionable children in the backseat, until I felt guilty and changed the station yet again. (Do you remember that song? It's really dirty!)
Anyway, I then went to my next appointment, which was with my psychotherapist (psycho therapist?), and I always feel great after that, so I bit the bullet and went to Publix. ALONE. And it was terrific. It's amazing what you can get done in a grocery store without children and with a list.
When I got home my children had been fed and were asleep. It was AMAZING. I was on an alone-time high for the rest of the day.
Well, not quite.
I feel like I need to tell this story, mainly because it scared the crap out of me and I think writing about it might take some of the horror away.
When Todd got home from work, we took the kids to the new play park. He was down below with Ethan and I followed Micah to the top of the play structure. There were tons of kids up there waiting to go down the slide and I was a little distracted by them and Micah hasn't really gotten the hang of steps yet, so he went right off the edge of one, which wouldn't have been a big deal, except that he then proceeded to fall between the posts of a climbing area to the ground below. I caught his ankle just in time and he dangled there while I got enough of a grasp to pull him up. I kept thinking of Michael Jackson hanging his kid out of that 4-story window or whatever it was. He was going down head-first. And yes, the ground of the playground is ground-up tires, very spongy and soft, but still. He was going head-first. Don't tell me he wouldn't have been badly hurt. It still horrifies me to think about it. He didn't know he dodged a bullet, but I sure did. In fact, I might go get him out of bed just to hold him for a little while.

Little Adventures

We like to go on little adventures from time to time. The lastest was a beach trip that we dreamed up the night before. Anna Maria Island happens to be our favorite place when we just want to hang out on the beach and chill.

~

My hubby becomes a different person on these little trips. Suddenly, the cares of the world are insignificant and we concern ourselves with the fun things that the day will bring. If the trip takes a couple of hours in the car - that's OK. It gives us a chance to talk about things that take some time.
~

When we're at home, there are so many distractions. The phone, laundry, cleaning, projects, and whiny kids are all things that keep us from just relaxing with each other. One of my goals in life is to make our home more comfy to rest in, but for now the little trips are working for us.

~

In case you like to do the same, I have found a good deal for the month of May. It has become a tradition of sorts for us to go to Daytona Beach for Mother's Day. You see, the Hilton at Daytona Beach has a Florida resident special every year that I have not seen advertised. For $109 plus taxes, you can get an oceanfront room right on the beach at this really nice hotel. If you want to save a few bucks, for $99 you can get an oceanview room and for $89 you can get a room overlooking the city. The only other expense is the parking charge they have, but I think you can find less expensive parking across the street (we just pay the parking charge for convenience). If you go Mother's Day weekend, it's pretty quiet. If you go Memorial Day weekend it's pretty busy.

http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/DABDHHF-Hilton-Daytona-Beach-Resort-Ocean-Walk-Village-Florida/index.do

What we like about this hotel is that it is right on the beach and next to the Ocean Walk Village. Once you park your car, you really don't have get back in it until you leave. They have Johnny Rockets, Bubba Gump, Coldstone, Starbucks, pizza, mexican food and smoothie restaurants. There's also a movie theatre and surf shop there too. Most weekends showcase entertainment on the outdoor amphitheatre.

The Hilton has 2 pools (one of them being indoor/outdoor) and a hot tub. One thing that is nice is that is has CHILDCARE! Yes, CHILDCARE! You can pay a fee and the kids can play in their super nice kid area for as long as you want. This is especially nice if the parents want a quiet dinner out.

~

Well, here are some pics from year's past. I have enjoyed posting this blog immensely because I got to look at these pics and remember the great times we've had!

When I only had one!

A funny ride!

Smile pretty!

Surf's up!

Vintage Valentines, Dating Again, and Some Fun Valentine Ideas

At MOPS this week, we enjoyed hearing from a panel of experienced wives and mothers who shared their wisdom with us, along with some ideas to keep your marriage warm and toasty while raising very needy preschoolers.

One of the major things that everyone felt is important is to take vacations, with and without the children. Well, in this economy, going off for weekend excursions with my hubby for some much needed rest and relaxation just ain't gonna happen for us. But now, with the help of a friend, we have found a way to take "mini vacations." Before we got married, we just called them "dates." Now, as soon as we walk out the back door and get in the car, we feel like we've escaped on a mini vacation!

My friend and I are doing a babysitting exchange. Last night, Paul and I ate dinner with the kids, bathed them and got our youngest into bed. Then I rushed to get some fresh clothes on, spruce myself up a bit and grab my purse, while my friend settled in for storytime on the couch with our five-year-old. Hugs and kisses, exhortations to "be good for Miss Teresa and get right in bed after stories," and we were out the door. Free!

Dating my husband takes a lot more effort than it did before we had kids (I will be babysitting my friend's children one night next week in exchange for our lovely night out), but it's totally worth it! I'm happy to report that we did not talk about the kids at all while on our date!

Some cute Valentine Ideas, some from makeandtakes.com:

We'll be making heart pancakes for breakfast and Valentine decorations for the table (I have a pink tablecloth and white lace overlay that looks romantic and sweet with handmade Valentines scattered across it!).

For lunch, I'll make a heart-shaped pizza for my family with a message on the table that reads, "You've Stolen a Pizza My Heart!"

For dinner, I'm getting Chinese take-out. I could make a big special meal, but my gift to my family is my presence in our celebration. I want to be able to enjoy it, too!

Do you have any sweet Valentine traditions or ideas for your family?

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I Am Woman, Hear Me...Whimper

I rarely EVER ask for help. That's not a bragging right, it's more a confession. Convincing myself and others that I can do it all is really not good for anyone. Especially me. I am not superwoman. There. I said it.

It's not good for my daughter to see me striving to do all and be all...what kind of precedent am I setting here? I want my kids to know that it's okay to ask for help. Or to accept help when it's offered.

A friend of mine recently offered to take my kids to the park to give me a little break for an hour or so. She had noticed how tired, stressed and generally underwhelmed I have been lately and generously offered her time in order to give me some time for myself. I was extremely reluctant to accept this help. Why? I guess I've fallen under the delusion that I can handle it all, all the time. I'm home with my kids all day and I'm used to doing everything with them in tow.

Everything except taking time for myself. Writing. Reflecting. Relaxing. Praying. Creating. Very little creativity happens for me if my kids are around. I just can't put my thoughts together enough to generate a creative work when I can hear my kids pounding around the house and yelling at each other. Not possible.

So I forced myself to accept my sweet friend's offer (fully intending to reciprocate somehow for her) and I am looking forward to a morning's hour alone. Wow! To be alone in my own home? I don't think that has happened on a weekday in years. I can't decide what to do first: take a quiet shower? A nap? Start working on character and setting for my currently very short work of fiction? Go for a jog? Make a fresh pot of coffee and surf the net? Clean the house? (probably not that one)...but the possibilities are dizzying!

Maybe I'll start with a shower, have a little chat with God, and then go from there...Thank you, God, for friends who help to brush aside the brambles that grow over this little light of mine. Amen.

My Old Kentucky Home

Oh, the sun shines bright...


On my Old Kentucky home...


On my Old Kentucky home far away.


This week I am going where I consider to be my "home" at this time of year. Florida is wonderful, and this is our new home, but a voice on the wind still calls to me when the leaves begin to turn and paint the rolling hills...

On a lighter note, check in next Sunday for what are certain to be funny stories from the road involving 16+ hours in a car with a two-year-old!

No Boyz Allowed!

We've started a little tradition here in our community that brings women of all seasons of life together for an evening of fun. We call it "Girls' Nite Out." Our church provides the meeting space and advertises our events in the bulletins and mailings, but it's open to any woman who wants to meet up with friends or make new ones.

Once a month, we gather with our brownies, cakes, snacks and friends to learn something new or just have a little fun. No kids, no boys--just grown-up girls! It's a beautiful time of mentoring and fellowship.

Sometimes we have as many as 25, other times as few as 4, but no matter how many of us show up, we're bound to enjoy this time of girl-talk and fun activities.

Some of our favorite activities so far have been:

• Breadmaking
  
• Chick-Flick Movie Nite
  
• The Grocery Gurus: Getting the Best Deals at the Grocery Store
  
• Craft Nite: Textile Art

We were honored to have a local textile artist this month to lead our project, and she went above and beyond our expectations! She arrived with mounds and mounds of designer fabric samples, some of which were quite large!

"Take what you want!" she instructed us, after demonstrating the project of the evening: flag garlands. To see some inspirational examples, go here.

Sewing machines at the ready, several ladies created totally cute garlands. I wish I had taken photos of them all! Others of us just loved sifting through the piles of fabric and exclaiming over the "nuggets" we found for later projects.

Kay, we had a blast! To those who took home fabric for other projects, we'd love to see what you create with it!

Next month, we'll be making freezer cookie dough (probably several different kinds) before the holiday season really hits. See you ladies in the kitchen!

Now

It's the end of summer, they say, and in one three-day weekend the fireflies, sandboxes, and swimsuits of yesterday give way to the school books, pumpkins, and sweaters of tomorrow. Summer clearance sales abound, and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are already making appearances in the retail world. It's easy to look to the past with nostalgia and to the future with anticipation all at once.

This weekend, though, instead of reflecting on the excitement of summer and the magic of the coming holiday season, I'm going to live now. I'm going to blow bubbles and run on the green grass, throw baseballs and eat ice cream cones. I'm going to spend time telling stories in lawn chairs until dusk. Let Tuesday come when it will, and all that will follow, but this weekend is for now, and I'm going to enjoy every minute of it.

I hope you enjoy every minute of your weekend, too!

Progressive Make-Up

Progressive used to be the music I listened to in the late 80's. At least, we called it Progressive, but I think it was really Alternative music. The Cure, Love and Rockets, and Depeche Mode to name a few bands that I really liked. I would go to concerts at the Cameo in the old part of Miami (now it's called South Beach). That's where I saw The Ramones and Red Hot Chili Peppers in concert. My then boyfriend, now husband of 16 wonderful years (gasp!), and I would dance the night away at Respectables in West Palm Beach. Those were some fun days...

Now, progressive has a new definition for me. It's how I put my make-up on. Just like a progressive dinner where you have appetizers at this house, main course at another house and finally dessert somewhere altogether different.

I start out with a tinted moisturizer. I hope this will make me look a little more alive in the morning. Next stop, I put on the tinted lip gloss. I make sure to keep the sunglasses on because the mascara doesn't come on until later just before I bring some lunch to hubby at work. The eyeliner and light eye shadow is applied in the car pickup line at school around 2:30pm. I want to look my best for at least the afternoon!

Top five reasons why I put my make-up on in the car:

5) The natural lighting

4) I always know where to find my make-up bag

3) Stop lights become really just an opportunity for beauty

2) If I start putting it on at home, I'll be totally late because I'll find more and more things to do.

and for the #1 reason...

1) The kids are strapped in their car seats watching a movie while I listen to my progressive music!

This is my reality right now.

My dream is to one day get to the point where I wake up earlier than my children and get totally ready for the day (including make-up). I would then read something spiritually uplifting while drinking my perfectly flavored coffee. After this time of great reflection, I would greet my children warmly and affecionately help them prepare for their day at school where they will arrive early. The day goes on from there. I'll let you know when I get to that point!

How do you get ready to face the world? Is it a rush? Is it just the way you like it? What works for you?