I don't think I ever posted an update on how I am doing regarding doing my part to clean up the earth. In my past post about this topic (link to follow later as I'm typing this on my crackberry while I wait for my car to be smog checked) I intended to put dispopsable gloves in my car so I would always have a sanitary way to pick up trash (I didn't though). I also planned to pick up trash every monday when I took Kate to the park (I didn't though and stopped going to the park w/ any regularity). I think I also planned to have a monthly family outing in which the sole purpose was to pick up trash (we didn't though).
You might wonder then, just what have I done? Well, I stopped buying paper napkins - we now use only cloth. I am slowly trying to wean myself off the paper towels. I started collecting the little plastic produce bags and I re-use them when I go to the farmer's market. I parked the SUV and am now driving the sedan because it gets better gas mileage. I started saving the little green baskets that berries and tomatoes come in and I return them to the farmer's market when I go shopping. When I go to target and I only have a few items (rare, but still) I ask them to hold the bag. I have always re-used my paper bags and I continue to do so. I pack fresh foods in re-usable containers in the boys lunches and they have re-usable water bottles (not disposable arrowhead bottles). I also put in cloth napkins and silverware instead of plasticware.
I also started engaging the boys in conversation about conservation, particularly after seeing wall-e which is partly about an uninhabitable earth. I was impressed with how much they already know both from our own practice and from earth day education at school.
There is much left to do but this is a good, sustainable start.
What are you doing?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Dean's Breakthrough
I don't know what the trigger was - being with the big kids at school? - but Dean had a breakthrough today and that kid swam.
And swam.
And swam.
He swam the length of P 'n J's pool with a small break in the middle for a breath. He jumped off the side into the deep end without hesitation, popped to the surface and swam to me in the middle of the pool. He did a cannonball. He dove for superhero diving buddies. He practiced falling into the pool, turning himself around and swimming to the side. He practiced that over and over. He swam in that pool nonstop for a solid hour.
And then, he slept.
And slept.
And slept.
And swam.
And swam.
He swam the length of P 'n J's pool with a small break in the middle for a breath. He jumped off the side into the deep end without hesitation, popped to the surface and swam to me in the middle of the pool. He did a cannonball. He dove for superhero diving buddies. He practiced falling into the pool, turning himself around and swimming to the side. He practiced that over and over. He swam in that pool nonstop for a solid hour.
And then, he slept.
And slept.
And slept.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Summer camp
The daycare does a full summer program every year for returning schoolkids. Since Jack and Dean are entering kindergarten in the fall they were promoted into the schoolage program with the big kids. That means they don't take naps and they have to keep up with the big kids. It's great experience for them as they navigate the hierarchy and I'm completely comfortable with it knowing that most of these kids have been attending the daycare since they were babies so they are almost as patient and kind as the teachers. Every day this week when I've arrived to take them home, Jack is playing with the big kids - mostly basketball or he takes turns on the big kids' diez - and Dean is playing with the girls or Frank and James. No naps though is taking a toll - they are exhausted by the time we get home. They have that "summer" look - bloodshot eyes, skin still shining with sunscreen, cheeks flushed with heat and exertion. They're too tired to eat, too tired to put their shoes/clothes/lunch boxes away, too tired to go to bed. And it isn't just the lack of naptime that has them so beat - it's all the activities! They went swimming Monday and Tuesday, went to the lake for swimming and castle building yesterday, and rollerskating today. The rest of the summer is equally busy. There's piano and recorder lessons for those interested, trips to the beach for camping, disneyland, catalina island, movies, and swimming every day. Of course there's also the restaurant week in July when the kids create the menu, do the shopping, cooking, serving, take reservations, etc. The end of the summer potluck BBQ will be a bittersweet day - truly Jack and Dean's last day at the daycare (except they'll return each summer) but the kids put on a show and I'll be smiling through my tears.
And that's all I can do, really. Give them guidance but give them room to grow, watch as they try to make their way, give encouragement and advice but ultimately get out of their way. Then stand from the sidelines and be proud - smiling through my tears.
And that's all I can do, really. Give them guidance but give them room to grow, watch as they try to make their way, give encouragement and advice but ultimately get out of their way. Then stand from the sidelines and be proud - smiling through my tears.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
June 25, 2008
On our way back from Yellowstone in 1998, Tom and I talked about marriage. He asked me why I wanted to get married and, even then after 8 years of being together I was guarded, afraid to let too much of myself out. My response, if I remember correctly, was that I wanted legitimacy. Wow, that’s sexy. Romantic, too. Hard to believe he didn’t drop down on one knee right then and there.
Remarkably though, he did drop down on one knee just a few months later and just six months after that we were exchanging I Dos in the clearing of a forest overlooking Lake Tahoe, smiling at each other as the sun streamed down between the branches.
If he were to ask me today why I wanted to get married my response would be this:
An excerpt from a poem read at our wedding:
Happy Anniversary my love.
Kelsi
Remarkably though, he did drop down on one knee just a few months later and just six months after that we were exchanging I Dos in the clearing of a forest overlooking Lake Tahoe, smiling at each other as the sun streamed down between the branches.
If he were to ask me today why I wanted to get married my response would be this:
Because I am in love with you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to watch you become a dad and fall more in love with you every day. And I want everyone else to know that you are the one I choose. I want to stand up in front of our family and closest friends and declare that you are the man of my dreams, the one I will love and cherish for the rest of my life. That is why I want to get married.Our wedding day was filled with laughter and emotion, not unlike our life together. And here we are 9 years later and I'm happier than I ever dreamed I could be.
An excerpt from a poem read at our wedding:
It Couldn't Be Done
Somebody said it couldn’t be done,
But he with a chuckle replied
That ‘maybe it couldn’t,’ but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing and he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
~Edgar Guest
Happy Anniversary my love.
Kelsi
Monday, June 23, 2008
Milestones . . . of a sort
As we pulled up to daycare this morning:
Jack: Oh! James is here!
Dean: And Frank?! Is Frank here too?
Both boys scramble to unlatch seat belts and jump out of the car. They both start waving madly and yelling HI JAMES!!!
James: Hi Jack. Hi Dean.
Dean: (with a look of amazement) I can't believe he remembered me.
Oh, the reverence for the 6 year old Kindergarten graduate.
Jack: Oh! James is here!
Dean: And Frank?! Is Frank here too?
Both boys scramble to unlatch seat belts and jump out of the car. They both start waving madly and yelling HI JAMES!!!
James: Hi Jack. Hi Dean.
Dean: (with a look of amazement) I can't believe he remembered me.
Oh, the reverence for the 6 year old Kindergarten graduate.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Preschool on TV
Noggin, a kid's TV network, has an ad campaign that likens it's network of shows to being like pre-school. "It's like pre-school on TV", it boasts. In other ads it is suggested that everyone wishes their day was structured like pre-school. There would be naps after lunch and storytime!
Clearly the ad men behind that campaign have never been in the car when two pre-schoolers were having an argument about whether boogers taste good or gross.
Clearly the ad men behind that campaign have never been in the car when two pre-schoolers were having an argument about whether boogers taste good or gross.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
A Father's Gift
Fathers get a bit of a bum rap these days, right? I mean, look at any sitcom and you’ll find a lovable but bumbling dad, somehow managing to barrel through family life despite seeming somewhat, well, dim. Meanwhile, the mom is managing the household and holding down her full time job, picking up after the kids and, of course, cleaning up the dad’s mistakes all within the allotted 22 minutes.
What? I’m not saying it doesn’t represent reality.
But seriously, it’s generally the case that the mom knows just exactly how many teaspoons of Tylenol to give to a sick child (or, in the case of a certain set of twins, which child only responds to Tylenol and which one only responds to Motrin – guess right in the comments and you might win a prize). The mom is more likely the one who will hire the babysitter, fill out the school applications, and plan the birthday party (or RSVP as the case may be). We are the organizers, the task masters, the list keepers and underwear washers.
So what then is the Father’s gift? You’ll find it in the quiet moments. It’s not so visible; not so full of sighs and responsibility. It’s the patience in the voice of a man who is showing his son how to string fishing line and attach a bobber. It’s the look of awe that crosses his face when his son shows him the caterpillar, the moth, or the june bug that he found. It is heard at night through the crack in the door as he tells stories to his children in the dark. It is in the unconventional approach whether it is watching planes move across the sky instead of telling a bedtime story or taking a late night stroll to calm an upset babe. Dads care about experiences, memories, journeys – they don’t care if the shirt matches the pants or that the child needs a haircut. They let the kids stain the cabinet even if it means the color is uneven. They let the kids drive the boat because it’s in the middle of an empty lake and the kids will never forget how big they felt. They take the kids camping where they get to stoke the fire and feel like big kids as they look at the stars and tell stories around the campfire. Theirs is a unique gift – not so celebrated, but no less important.
On this Father’s day, I am so grateful to have a partner who ignores my worried looks and lets the kids drive the boat, who calmly and patiently packs up his fishing gear after having his line in for only 15 minutes, who encourages me to go away for a weekend, who quietly adds favorite movies to our tivo just to surprise me and the boys, who loves watching the basketball game with his sons cheering right along with him, who can’t wait for soccer games and t-ball, who is honestly the most wonderful man I could have chosen.
Happy Father’s Day.
What? I’m not saying it doesn’t represent reality.
But seriously, it’s generally the case that the mom knows just exactly how many teaspoons of Tylenol to give to a sick child (or, in the case of a certain set of twins, which child only responds to Tylenol and which one only responds to Motrin – guess right in the comments and you might win a prize). The mom is more likely the one who will hire the babysitter, fill out the school applications, and plan the birthday party (or RSVP as the case may be). We are the organizers, the task masters, the list keepers and underwear washers.
So what then is the Father’s gift? You’ll find it in the quiet moments. It’s not so visible; not so full of sighs and responsibility. It’s the patience in the voice of a man who is showing his son how to string fishing line and attach a bobber. It’s the look of awe that crosses his face when his son shows him the caterpillar, the moth, or the june bug that he found. It is heard at night through the crack in the door as he tells stories to his children in the dark. It is in the unconventional approach whether it is watching planes move across the sky instead of telling a bedtime story or taking a late night stroll to calm an upset babe. Dads care about experiences, memories, journeys – they don’t care if the shirt matches the pants or that the child needs a haircut. They let the kids stain the cabinet even if it means the color is uneven. They let the kids drive the boat because it’s in the middle of an empty lake and the kids will never forget how big they felt. They take the kids camping where they get to stoke the fire and feel like big kids as they look at the stars and tell stories around the campfire. Theirs is a unique gift – not so celebrated, but no less important.
On this Father’s day, I am so grateful to have a partner who ignores my worried looks and lets the kids drive the boat, who calmly and patiently packs up his fishing gear after having his line in for only 15 minutes, who encourages me to go away for a weekend, who quietly adds favorite movies to our tivo just to surprise me and the boys, who loves watching the basketball game with his sons cheering right along with him, who can’t wait for soccer games and t-ball, who is honestly the most wonderful man I could have chosen.
Happy Father’s Day.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Balloon Festival
Here are some shots from our weekend at the balloon festival.
Jack watches the balloon get fired up from a safe distance.
Dean gets a lift from his dad.
The girls get in the balloon.
Tom lends a hand.
Sunday we went to a local lake and rented a little fishing boat.
Dean did his share of driving.
Not surprisingly, Jack loved to drive.
In other news, the boys got into the elementary school that I was hoping for (yippee!) so that's one less thing to worry about.
Don't worry, I'll find something else to fixate on soon.
The boys get in one of the baskets.
Jack watches the balloon get fired up from a safe distance.
Dean gets a lift from his dad.
The girls get in the balloon.
Tom lends a hand.
Sunday we went to a local lake and rented a little fishing boat.Dean did his share of driving.
Not surprisingly, Jack loved to drive.
In other news, the boys got into the elementary school that I was hoping for (yippee!) so that's one less thing to worry about.
Don't worry, I'll find something else to fixate on soon.
Kate Update
She is recovering well. She came home on Saturday, picked up by my friend and neighbor Kelly while we were at the hot air balloon festival. She takes her oral medication like a champ. My old dog Max was never fooled by mozzarella cheese or peanut butter and I'd always find his pill lying in a slobbery puddle on the floor. Kate, on the other hand, loves people food of every variety and is so excited to eat it that she couldn't care less about what you try to sneak by her.
I've been adding some wet food to her dry and she gobbles it up voraciously. It seems she had been suffering from this disease for a long time and we thought she was just a picky eater.
I brushed her last night while the boys watched the basketball game (Go Celtics!) and she was so happy.
Speaking of the boys, I can't tell you how amazing it is to be sitting in my backyard in the darkening twilight brushing my sweet, devoted dog and hear these sudden bursts of emotion and cheer ringing out of the living room. It's how I'd always hoped my life would be.
Sweet and simple, full of love.
I've been adding some wet food to her dry and she gobbles it up voraciously. It seems she had been suffering from this disease for a long time and we thought she was just a picky eater.
I brushed her last night while the boys watched the basketball game (Go Celtics!) and she was so happy.
Speaking of the boys, I can't tell you how amazing it is to be sitting in my backyard in the darkening twilight brushing my sweet, devoted dog and hear these sudden bursts of emotion and cheer ringing out of the living room. It's how I'd always hoped my life would be.
Sweet and simple, full of love.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Kate
Our beautiful girl has been in the hospital since yesterday morning. Her behavior suddenly got very strange on Wednesday and we took her to the vet yesterday. She was lethargic and disoriented and completely pooped out after just a short walk around the neighborhood. It turns out, after extensive testing, that she has Addison's Disease. Her sodium level was too low, potassium too high and according to the lab results she has no cortisone in her blood. She is on an IV drip now to replenish her fluids and she received a shot of prednisone and cortisone. She will be able to come home tomorrow and will recover fully but will need ongoing medical care with monthly cortisone shots and oral medication every other day.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Happy Birthday Momma!
Happy Birthday Momma!
This is me sitting on the balcony just outside my office enjoying a frosty Guinness in your honor!
I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
This is me sitting on the balcony just outside my office enjoying a frosty Guinness in your honor!
I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
Love,
Kels
Weekend Wrap Up
We went to a festival last weekend. You wouldn't know it from the looks on their faces but the boys were really excited to go on this ride.
See? 
It was really hard to get a good shot of them on this one.
It was a festival to celebrate the Parks and Recreation centers. It was held at a big park with tons of vendors, three stages with bands and other performers, booths of merchandise and arts/crafts. We thought we'd be there for an hour or so.
This picture was taken about 5 hours after that:
In case you can't tell by the lighting - it was nighttime. Almost an hour past their bedtime. But, there were fireworks to be seen and that last batch of tickets to be spent. They had a great time.
The next day was spent in our backyard playing with water and climbing trees (and I played with my camera).
Dean sticks out his tongue when he's hard at work. He had just looked up when I took this.
Doesn't Jack resemble Peter Pan?
Jack still loves climbing the peach tree and can get pretty high now. I try not to watch when he goes too high.
This is Kate. She is waiting for Jack to throw the ball. She will not take her eyes off him until that ball flies.
And when it flies, she catches it almost every single time.
This is what she does when she's ready for a break. She lays down by the shed with her toy in front of her. She is still a sweet, smart dog and we are continually amazed at our good fortune.
This is just one peach-laden branch on our peach tree. We are going to be swimming in peaches in just a few weeks. I'm collecting all recipes for cobblers, crumbles, jams, and pies so if you have one that's fabulous, send it my way.
In other news, the boys will not be performing in High School Musical. They were so miserably unhappy at rehearsal that we finally decided that it's just not their thing. So, no future actors in our midst.
We are going to a hot air balloon festival with the Sullivans this weekend and then Tom's cousin visits from Pennsylvania next weekend so June is really busy for us.
We find out on Friday if the boys got into the elementary school that we're hoping for. Fingers crossed please.
See?
It was really hard to get a good shot of them on this one.
It was a festival to celebrate the Parks and Recreation centers. It was held at a big park with tons of vendors, three stages with bands and other performers, booths of merchandise and arts/crafts. We thought we'd be there for an hour or so.
This picture was taken about 5 hours after that:
In case you can't tell by the lighting - it was nighttime. Almost an hour past their bedtime. But, there were fireworks to be seen and that last batch of tickets to be spent. They had a great time. The next day was spent in our backyard playing with water and climbing trees (and I played with my camera).
I love this picture of Dean. He looks so grown up.
Dean sticks out his tongue when he's hard at work. He had just looked up when I took this.
Doesn't Jack resemble Peter Pan?
Jack still loves climbing the peach tree and can get pretty high now. I try not to watch when he goes too high.
This is Kate. She is waiting for Jack to throw the ball. She will not take her eyes off him until that ball flies.
And when it flies, she catches it almost every single time.
This is what she does when she's ready for a break. She lays down by the shed with her toy in front of her. She is still a sweet, smart dog and we are continually amazed at our good fortune.
This is just one peach-laden branch on our peach tree. We are going to be swimming in peaches in just a few weeks. I'm collecting all recipes for cobblers, crumbles, jams, and pies so if you have one that's fabulous, send it my way.
In other news, the boys will not be performing in High School Musical. They were so miserably unhappy at rehearsal that we finally decided that it's just not their thing. So, no future actors in our midst.
We are going to a hot air balloon festival with the Sullivans this weekend and then Tom's cousin visits from Pennsylvania next weekend so June is really busy for us.
We find out on Friday if the boys got into the elementary school that we're hoping for. Fingers crossed please.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Knock Knock
HI! I've had a beer so I'm silly!
Tonight was one of those nights wherein the children think everything is hilarious and I'm a boring adult who just thinks they're being a little to loud for the car, or, you know, earth. It's all potty talk and knock knock jokes lately and it's a rare occasion when they're actually funny. And if I could just get over myself for half a second I would realize how breathtaking the sound of their giggles is. But, I'm too busy being a boring adult. So, I drank a beer with dinner and suddenly became a bit more laid back. Hey if I had any rescue remedy I would have taken that but beer was in the fridge and handy and besides, it's just fermented wheat, right? It's practically a health food.
Um, so where was I?
Swimming lessons! The boys are doing amazingly well. Tonight Jack swam from the steps to the other side of the pool, stopping once for a breath. Dean's stroke has gotten much more coordinated and strong - quite a difference from a year ago when he cried most of the time. Even the teacher said to him the other day, "Remember when you used to cry and say you didn't want to do it? And now look at you! Do you love it?" - and he just smiled and said he loved it.
Ok, beer is making me sleepy now.
Oh, one more thing. I have almost 500 pictures sitting on my new camera just begging to be downloaded but I haven't had time. I'm taking loads of pictures so I can practice all the settings. It's really fun but I have a lot of pics to wade through.
Oh wait, still one more thing. I'm trying to determine where the boys will go to kindergarten in the fall and it's overwhelming. I'm in the process of filling out open enrollment applications for all the schools, navigating policies about permits with child care, permits with transportation, work permits, etc. Work permits require a most recent paystub and naturally our system at work is down so I can't print a stub. And, I'm on call for jury duty this week. It's practically a sitcom episode.
Seriously.
Tonight was one of those nights wherein the children think everything is hilarious and I'm a boring adult who just thinks they're being a little to loud for the car, or, you know, earth. It's all potty talk and knock knock jokes lately and it's a rare occasion when they're actually funny. And if I could just get over myself for half a second I would realize how breathtaking the sound of their giggles is. But, I'm too busy being a boring adult. So, I drank a beer with dinner and suddenly became a bit more laid back. Hey if I had any rescue remedy I would have taken that but beer was in the fridge and handy and besides, it's just fermented wheat, right? It's practically a health food.
Um, so where was I?
Swimming lessons! The boys are doing amazingly well. Tonight Jack swam from the steps to the other side of the pool, stopping once for a breath. Dean's stroke has gotten much more coordinated and strong - quite a difference from a year ago when he cried most of the time. Even the teacher said to him the other day, "Remember when you used to cry and say you didn't want to do it? And now look at you! Do you love it?" - and he just smiled and said he loved it.
Ok, beer is making me sleepy now.
Oh, one more thing. I have almost 500 pictures sitting on my new camera just begging to be downloaded but I haven't had time. I'm taking loads of pictures so I can practice all the settings. It's really fun but I have a lot of pics to wade through.
Oh wait, still one more thing. I'm trying to determine where the boys will go to kindergarten in the fall and it's overwhelming. I'm in the process of filling out open enrollment applications for all the schools, navigating policies about permits with child care, permits with transportation, work permits, etc. Work permits require a most recent paystub and naturally our system at work is down so I can't print a stub. And, I'm on call for jury duty this week. It's practically a sitcom episode.
Seriously.
Friday, May 16, 2008
HSM, Home Edition
First, a quick synopsis of High School Musical for the uninitiated:
So, there's this guy named Troy and he's a big basketball star at East Side High School. He's at some vacation spot with his parents and through a random karaoke incident (I KNOW!) he meets Gabriella who is a super cute girl who can really sing. Fast forward to the fall and SURPRISE, Gabriella has been transferred to East Side High. It's like Grease for the elementary set. Of course East Side High is swimming in cliques from the jocks to the intelligentsia to the super rich. Super rich girl Sharpay (I KNOW!) and her super rich brother Ryan are the stars of the school and perennial stars in the High School theater production. Until, Troy and Gabriella get the bright idea to step outside their cliques (jock and smarty-pants, respectively) and try out for the school musical. Naturally, they're in love and can sing and knock the pants off the seasoned theater professional known as Mrs. Darbus.
So, that's the gist. Jack and Dean will be playing "jocks" in the play - no lines, no pressure. And here's the conversation that took place in the car yesterday on the way to school:
Me: (during the basketball song) Hey, you guys will be in this part 'cause you're the jocks! I bet you'll get to play basketball and run up and down the stage! (I'm doing my best to convince them this was a good idea)
Jack: I don't want to do it. I don't like basketball.
Me: Oh but you're such a good dribbler. Hey, do you know why mommy and daddy moved out here?
Jack: Yes, because you loved each other.
Me: Well, yes we love each other but we didn't know each other when we moved here. We met after we moved here.
Jack: And I know how it happened. You just looked at each other and then you loved each other. Just like Troy and Gabriella.
Me: Well, yes it took a little longer than that but yes, we liked each other and then we loved each other. But, that's not why we moved out here. We moved out here because we were actors. We wanted to be in the movies!
Jack: What are actors?
Me: Actors are people who pretend to be other people. Like when we go to the movies, the people that we see up on the screen.
Jack: But they're not real.
Me: Yes, they're real people that are pretending to be other people. That's what Daddy and I moved out here to do. To make movies.
Jack: And you are (in the sweetest, most awed voice).
Me: Well, yes I work for a company that makes movies but I'm not in them. My point is that it's really fun being in a play or in a musical and you guys will have so much fun doing this show.
Jack: I don't want to do it.
It was kind of a lot of work just to get back to square one.
So, there's this guy named Troy and he's a big basketball star at East Side High School. He's at some vacation spot with his parents and through a random karaoke incident (I KNOW!) he meets Gabriella who is a super cute girl who can really sing. Fast forward to the fall and SURPRISE, Gabriella has been transferred to East Side High. It's like Grease for the elementary set. Of course East Side High is swimming in cliques from the jocks to the intelligentsia to the super rich. Super rich girl Sharpay (I KNOW!) and her super rich brother Ryan are the stars of the school and perennial stars in the High School theater production. Until, Troy and Gabriella get the bright idea to step outside their cliques (jock and smarty-pants, respectively) and try out for the school musical. Naturally, they're in love and can sing and knock the pants off the seasoned theater professional known as Mrs. Darbus.
So, that's the gist. Jack and Dean will be playing "jocks" in the play - no lines, no pressure. And here's the conversation that took place in the car yesterday on the way to school:
Me: (during the basketball song) Hey, you guys will be in this part 'cause you're the jocks! I bet you'll get to play basketball and run up and down the stage! (I'm doing my best to convince them this was a good idea)
Jack: I don't want to do it. I don't like basketball.
Me: Oh but you're such a good dribbler. Hey, do you know why mommy and daddy moved out here?
Jack: Yes, because you loved each other.
Me: Well, yes we love each other but we didn't know each other when we moved here. We met after we moved here.
Jack: And I know how it happened. You just looked at each other and then you loved each other. Just like Troy and Gabriella.
Me: Well, yes it took a little longer than that but yes, we liked each other and then we loved each other. But, that's not why we moved out here. We moved out here because we were actors. We wanted to be in the movies!
Jack: What are actors?
Me: Actors are people who pretend to be other people. Like when we go to the movies, the people that we see up on the screen.
Jack: But they're not real.
Me: Yes, they're real people that are pretending to be other people. That's what Daddy and I moved out here to do. To make movies.
Jack: And you are (in the sweetest, most awed voice).
Me: Well, yes I work for a company that makes movies but I'm not in them. My point is that it's really fun being in a play or in a musical and you guys will have so much fun doing this show.
Jack: I don't want to do it.
It was kind of a lot of work just to get back to square one.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Stream of Consciousness
Would you believe that I've had a bit of writer's block lately? I have a number of half composed posts sitting in my drafts folder just waiting to be finished. Ain't gonna happen. So, this post will be stream of consciousness so I can get all these thoughts out of my head, hopefully I can type fast enough to avoid self-editing. The backspace key is not my friend these days.
*********************************************************************
Ok, so the running update is this: I don't have a stress fracture (yeah!). I have the bones of a 25 year old (double yeah!). My foot injury was a result of doing too much, too fast and I have since been cautioned and lectured by the podiatrist that I need to stretch, get properly fitted for new running shoes, heat and anti-inflammatories applied daily and, here's the capper, 'you're not as young as you used to be and you just can't go out and bang out 3 miles after not running for a few months'. But! I have the bones of a 25 year old! Just ask Dr. Mark! He was amazed by my scan!
Yeah. Anyway. Another week of rest, heat and advil and then I can run again with lots of stretching before and starting out slowly. I'm looking at the silver lining which is that starting slowly will force me to work on my form. So, there's that.
*****
Mother's Day weekend in Santa Barbara was fantastic. Great food, fun shopping, relaxing in the wine country and in the spa. I got home on Sunday just 5 minutes after the boys returned from their mountain retreat. I spent the rest of the day doing grocery shopping, laundry and making dinner but I couldn't have been happier. It was great being away for a few days but I missed them and it made my Mother's Day all the sweeter to just be with them.
*****
The boys are back in swimming lessons this week and I am amazed at Dean. He seemed a little hesitant at first but last night that kid went under water with his eyes wide open so he could retrieve the ring that the teacher placed on the lower step. It's unbelievable! And Jack is working on his stroking and kicking and has excellent form. I'm so glad we're doing these lessons again.
*****
The boys are also in a community center production of High School Musical and have rehearsals every Wednesday. So far they haven't gotten up to do any of the singing or the dancing - they just sit and watch. Jack tells me that he doesn't want to do it so I don't know what will come of it. If nothing else at least they're gaining the experience of the work that goes into putting on a show.
*****
I got the surprise of my life on Monday night when I got home and there was a box sitting on the countertop which Tom said was my Mother's Day present. I thought my weekend was my present so I wasn't expecting anything! I opened the box and there was a beautiful new Nikon D40 digital camera with an extra lens. OH! It's so beautiful! I can't wait to start using it.
*****
Last night at my MOMs club meeting we had a panel of women (members mostly) who talked about challenges that they have faced. One mom's challenge was her twins' diagnosis of ADD and ADHD, another mom's challenge was one of her twins was diagnosed as severely autistic, a third mom talked about her both her twins' diagnosis of autism, the fourth mom talked about her twin girl's deafness and the last mom talked about the loss of one of her twins at 3 months of age. It was an incredibly emotional night. Listening to these women as they talked of the challenges they faced, their inner struggles, the difficult decisions they had to make, the thoughtless comments they had to bear . . . it left me feeling so blessed, so incredibly fortunate. These women were incredible in their faith, their courage, their strength. It was a surprisingly uplifting, if emotionally draining, night. And it sure illuminated how easily it is to get caught up in the moment without enjoying the present. Every moment, no matter how difficult, is a gift.
Cherish your gifts. Enjoy your present. Love your life.
*********************************************************************
Ok, so the running update is this: I don't have a stress fracture (yeah!). I have the bones of a 25 year old (double yeah!). My foot injury was a result of doing too much, too fast and I have since been cautioned and lectured by the podiatrist that I need to stretch, get properly fitted for new running shoes, heat and anti-inflammatories applied daily and, here's the capper, 'you're not as young as you used to be and you just can't go out and bang out 3 miles after not running for a few months'. But! I have the bones of a 25 year old! Just ask Dr. Mark! He was amazed by my scan!
Yeah. Anyway. Another week of rest, heat and advil and then I can run again with lots of stretching before and starting out slowly. I'm looking at the silver lining which is that starting slowly will force me to work on my form. So, there's that.
*****
Mother's Day weekend in Santa Barbara was fantastic. Great food, fun shopping, relaxing in the wine country and in the spa. I got home on Sunday just 5 minutes after the boys returned from their mountain retreat. I spent the rest of the day doing grocery shopping, laundry and making dinner but I couldn't have been happier. It was great being away for a few days but I missed them and it made my Mother's Day all the sweeter to just be with them.
*****
The boys are back in swimming lessons this week and I am amazed at Dean. He seemed a little hesitant at first but last night that kid went under water with his eyes wide open so he could retrieve the ring that the teacher placed on the lower step. It's unbelievable! And Jack is working on his stroking and kicking and has excellent form. I'm so glad we're doing these lessons again.
*****
The boys are also in a community center production of High School Musical and have rehearsals every Wednesday. So far they haven't gotten up to do any of the singing or the dancing - they just sit and watch. Jack tells me that he doesn't want to do it so I don't know what will come of it. If nothing else at least they're gaining the experience of the work that goes into putting on a show.
*****
I got the surprise of my life on Monday night when I got home and there was a box sitting on the countertop which Tom said was my Mother's Day present. I thought my weekend was my present so I wasn't expecting anything! I opened the box and there was a beautiful new Nikon D40 digital camera with an extra lens. OH! It's so beautiful! I can't wait to start using it.
*****
Last night at my MOMs club meeting we had a panel of women (members mostly) who talked about challenges that they have faced. One mom's challenge was her twins' diagnosis of ADD and ADHD, another mom's challenge was one of her twins was diagnosed as severely autistic, a third mom talked about her both her twins' diagnosis of autism, the fourth mom talked about her twin girl's deafness and the last mom talked about the loss of one of her twins at 3 months of age. It was an incredibly emotional night. Listening to these women as they talked of the challenges they faced, their inner struggles, the difficult decisions they had to make, the thoughtless comments they had to bear . . . it left me feeling so blessed, so incredibly fortunate. These women were incredible in their faith, their courage, their strength. It was a surprisingly uplifting, if emotionally draining, night. And it sure illuminated how easily it is to get caught up in the moment without enjoying the present. Every moment, no matter how difficult, is a gift.
Cherish your gifts. Enjoy your present. Love your life.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Running Strong
I recently started running again after a 3-4 month hiatus. My first run wasn't too bad - less than 36 minutes for 3.2 miles. Slow, for sure but considering how long it's been, not bad.
My second run was 34:00 for that 3.2 miles. Nearly the fastest I've ever run those 3.2 miles. Weird, I thought. I was very proud.
My third run was 32:19 for that 3.2 miles. That's almost under 10 minute miles! I've never, ever run that fast - not even in a race.
I think before this year is out that I will break 30:00. That is my goal. After all, if I can cut off nearly 4 minutes in less than a week, I should be able to knock off another 2 1/2 minutes by the end of the year, right?
Ed. I think I have a stress fracture in my left foot. I have an appointment with my doctor today to find out. Perhaps I pushed myself too hard, too fast??
My second run was 34:00 for that 3.2 miles. Nearly the fastest I've ever run those 3.2 miles. Weird, I thought. I was very proud.
My third run was 32:19 for that 3.2 miles. That's almost under 10 minute miles! I've never, ever run that fast - not even in a race.
I think before this year is out that I will break 30:00. That is my goal. After all, if I can cut off nearly 4 minutes in less than a week, I should be able to knock off another 2 1/2 minutes by the end of the year, right?
Ed. I think I have a stress fracture in my left foot. I have an appointment with my doctor today to find out. Perhaps I pushed myself too hard, too fast??
Weekend Wrap Up
What a weekend! Friday night we went out for dinner at a nice little Italian place and then to the bookstore to buy a birthday present for a friend of the boys. Saturday morning we went to the birthday party, then hung out at home for a while. Our friend Roxann came over in the late afternoon to babysit the boys so Tom and I could go to Fish and Brooksie's baby shower - which was lovely.
But today! Whew! Cousin Jamie is reading "Flat Stanley" in kindergarten. Flat Stanley is about a boy who gets flattened when a bulletin board falls on him. He doesn't get too upset because he realizes that if he's flat he can mail himself anywhere he wants to go! So, Cousin Jamie made his own Flat Stanley and mailed him to us so we could show him around a bit and then send him home. So, after we did our Sunday morning marketing at the Farmer's Market, we picked up Flat Stanley and went to the Griffith Observatory. It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too hot. After we toured the observatory and took a few pictures, we drove down to Hollywood Blvd. so we could take a picture of Flat Stanley at one of the stars on the Walk of Fame. Then, we headed north to Universal Studios and Citywalk. We took more pictures and then had dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp. Finally, we came home for baths and playtime before bedtime. It was a fun day.
But today! Whew! Cousin Jamie is reading "Flat Stanley" in kindergarten. Flat Stanley is about a boy who gets flattened when a bulletin board falls on him. He doesn't get too upset because he realizes that if he's flat he can mail himself anywhere he wants to go! So, Cousin Jamie made his own Flat Stanley and mailed him to us so we could show him around a bit and then send him home. So, after we did our Sunday morning marketing at the Farmer's Market, we picked up Flat Stanley and went to the Griffith Observatory. It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too hot. After we toured the observatory and took a few pictures, we drove down to Hollywood Blvd. so we could take a picture of Flat Stanley at one of the stars on the Walk of Fame. Then, we headed north to Universal Studios and Citywalk. We took more pictures and then had dinner at Bubba Gump Shrimp. Finally, we came home for baths and playtime before bedtime. It was a fun day.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Bedtime Conversation
Dean (holding up his hand so I can see the ring on his finger): I got married today.
Me: Oh, you did? Who did you marry?
Dean: Sophia, Bianca and Evy.
Me: Wow. Three wives! Where did you get married?
Dean: Mount cerebellum. It's in Texas. Texas, Canada.
Me: Oh, is Mount cerebellum very far away?
Dean: So far. I had to get on a plane and it took a day.
Me: What did you do there?
Dean: We went snowboarding and hiking. We went to the movies and more snowboarding.
Me: Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun.
Dean: It was. It was.
Me: Oh, you did? Who did you marry?
Dean: Sophia, Bianca and Evy.
Me: Wow. Three wives! Where did you get married?
Dean: Mount cerebellum. It's in Texas. Texas, Canada.
Me: Oh, is Mount cerebellum very far away?
Dean: So far. I had to get on a plane and it took a day.
Me: What did you do there?
Dean: We went snowboarding and hiking. We went to the movies and more snowboarding.
Me: Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun.
Dean: It was. It was.
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