Sunday Afternoon Drive

Yesterday I had the rare pleasure of enjoying a Sunday afternoon drive with my people.  It was one of those spring days where the clouds are white and fluffy, the sun is shining, and the green grass is almost fluorescent bright.  One of those moments where everything felt light, kids weren't fighting, mama wasn't grouchy, and dad wasn't tired.  It was simple, fun and fleeting.  We went to The Bread Board in Falls City (of all places!!) and let me just say I will be dreaming about this pizza until I get a chance to return.  Yes, it was that good.  

To cap things off we had a lip sync to Taylor Swift on the way back home.  Why you might wonder?  Because it's fun and we can.  And yes, we are awesome.

Us

Merry Christmas 2011!

have yourself a merry little christmas~

let your heart be light!!

a very merry christmas to you and yours!



"It doesn't get any easier, just different"

I'm guessing just about every mom out there has heard the phrase "It doesn't get any easier, just different" uttered at some point along their parenting journey.  Heck - I'm pretty sure I've even said this once or twice.  Remind me to slap myself next time I say this to someone.  I don't know why, it just comes across a little bit condescending like "Oh, honey - you think you've got it bad now - just WAIT until their teenagers!  You ain't seen nothin yet!"  Understandably, I guess it's a way for moms to feel they've passed some sort of level or something.  But, every once in awhile I'm hit with the realization that this is IT - this right now is parenting.  I am, as I type, literally smack freakin dab in the middle of this and honestly - sometimes its completely overwhelming.

Take today for example.  We had a perfectly great day.  It started out by sleeping in, followed by lazing around until noon in our p.j's, watching t.v., playing video games, online shopping, etc.  The kids had fun helping me blow up balloons and decorate with streamers for Jake's birthday party tomorrow.  Jake and I busted some moves to the Avett Brothers, Ella and I lip syched to the Biebs (much to Jake's horror), and I didn't really have to cook because we were stocked with Thanksgiving leftovers.  We ended the evening by splitting up boys and girls.  The boys watched Tron and the girls watched Summer Eleven.  All in all - LOTS of good family time, bonding, fun, kids, kids, dog, kids, kids movies, kids, .....

And here is where I admit to becoming claustrophobic and overwhelmed.

And here is where I disappear to my bedroom and lock the door for some mommy time.

Because here's the deal.  I adore my family.  I LOVE them.  But, you guys sometimes I just want to be an adult.  And not just for an hour after they've gone to bed, and not just for half a day when they're at school  - but an adult all day long.  And Mr. Veen (God love him) is sort of like Peter Pan a lot of the time around here.  I mean, he's pretty good with living in kid world all day.  And then I start feeling like I'm a mean old hag that hates little children and wants to cook them in a big stew pot for dinner.  And before you know it we've become a fairy tale and its really not cute or cuddly at all. 

*o.k. - if you've made it this far in my little story you must now scroll down and look and the lovely picture below of me and my family.  I really would never, ever eat them.  Promise.

So, yes  okay already  - whoever said "It doesn't get any easier, just different" you are right.  You win.  It's hard, relentless, exhausting, overwhelming, and never, ever perfect.  And I am no expert at all.  I fully anticipate looking back at this season and wondering what I had to complain about.  I know for a fact that a day will come when I will give anything to flashback exactly to this moment and experience what I did today.  That's why I wrote this down.  I want to remember today in all its guts and glory.  I want to remember hopping up and down with Jake and how his smile makes me melt as well as how annoyed I was with him when he kept saying "I'm bored."  I want to remember cuddling with Ella on my bed and kissing her squishy soft cheeks as well as how I couldn't wait for her to get into her own bed tonight.  Because it's both - guts and glory.   And yes....it's not easier - just different.  But  - you didn't hear me say that.

Wordess Wednesday: Pumpkin Patch 2011





Batmark

Happy Monday!  I just got back from spending a lovely weekend with family celebrating my niece Aimees 18th birthday.  My brother Mark and his wife Nancy live in Eagle Point Oregon and they wined, dined, and showed us such a wonderful time.  It was extra hard returning to the cold gray of the valley after spending clear, sunny, WARM days exploring the quaint towns of Jacksonville and Ashland. 

Mark is 6 years older than me and he's always been the quintessential big brother.  I can remember thinking I was so cool when his high school friends would talk to me in 5th grade.  Even better were the days he used to pick me up from high school in his speedy Geo Metro blasting Prince on the tape deck.  I loved riding around with him and am convinced that at least part of my love of music and memorizing lyrics came from him. 

So Mondays video goes out to Mark.  Thank you for hosting a fun weekend and for being the best big brother a girl could ask for!  Looking forward to next time:)

Wordless Wednesday: an evening in late summer



Saturday Morning Suprise!

Just about the time I begin to think life couldn't get any crazier around here, something significant happens to change my mind.  Last month it was a new dog and kidney stones, this past weekend it was a turtle.  Here's the story.

We had just gotten home from the kids' Sat. morning swim lessons at the Y and were unpacking bags when Ella came tearing through the door screaming something at the top of her lungs.  At first I thought - "Crap - someone's hurt" but after a few minutes began to unscramble her words which were:  "THERE'S A TURTLE IN OUR BACKYARD!!!!".  Really?  No Joke?  I walked out to the backyard and witnessed the following...

This little fellow was just chillin in the barkdust in our backyard.  These are the thoughts that ran through my head:  "What the *%#@!" and then "We are sooo not keeping a turtle - we have ENOUGH animals around here." 

I'm pretty sure our kitty Tubbs was also thinking "What the #@$%*!"

Of course Jake and Ella were instantly smitten and immediately began googleing what to feed turtles.  Jake was convinced that God had read his mind and miraculously dropped a turtle in the backyard just for him.  I did what any sane person would and let Tom figure out what to do with the thing.  Turtles creep me out just a tiny bit - something about their general head and neck region.  To me they look like a snake with legs and a shell.

So "Turdy the Turtle" was taken to a nice lady that runs Salem Wildlife Refuge out of her home.  I'm sure he is now enjoying life somewhere in Minto Brown Park which is far, far away from my backyard!







Wordless Wednesday: Driftcreek Falls

Wordless Wednesday: Beverly Cleary Neighborhood Tour