Hi readers! It's been a while, hasn't it? What's that? What have I been doing instead of blogging? Truth is, not much. I wish I had a more interesting excuse, but mostly I've just been lazy. Of course there has been plenty going on around here. I could have told you about the trip we took back home to Florida. I could have told you about the fact that it was 50 degrees out for most of Memorial Day Weekend (crazy, right?). But instead I haven't told you anything. And, for a little while longer, I probably won't be telling you much of anything.
See, I had all these grand plans to keep blogging for the last little while, but our impending cross country move is requiring all my brain power. I haven't done much for it, but I sure am thinking about it an awful lot. This weekend was actually our first big push in terms of preparation. The movers will begin packing our house a week from today, and for the first time in almost 8 years and 5 moves, we plan to get out in front of it. We shredded 7.5 years worth of old documents we no longer need. We cleaned and organized our garage. We even washed and vacuumed the cars. This week's plans look to be even more exciting, filled with fun activities like cleaning out a few closets, taking everything off the walls, spackling, and painting the patches. Our last move felt a little frantic and hurried, so I have turned into a crazy lady trying to prepare for this one. My poor husband.
I am hoping to blog while we're on the road. We're taking 6 days to drive across the country, and while I'm sure much of it will be pretty boring, I have high hopes that some of it will be very exciting. I'm going to do my best to share with you the exciting bits (unless you really want to know the boring stuff too, and then, well, who am I to deny you?). The last time we did this we had a 3 month old who slept the whole time. This time we have a 3 year old who will undoubtedly want to stop to pee every 5 minutes. Yep, should be fun.
So bear with me over the next two weeks as we clean and pack. Hopefully I'll be back by the 10th (if not before) regaling you with the finer points of the all exciting Navy move.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Three things for Thursday - the Mother's Day edition
In honor of Mother's Day, I thought today would be the perfect day to honor my mom by sharing with you my three favorite lessons learned from her. My mom has taught me so much, and is such a great force in my life. I know how lucky I am to have her and to be able to rely on her for advice and support. I'm sure she never expected to be in the operating room when I had the Little Dude, but there she was, holding my hand and telling me what a good job I was doing. There are so many wonderful moments in my life like that - I never questioned whether I was loved - I always knew it. I hope I can provide my child with the same feelings of love, safety and security.
Here's to you, Mom:
1. Everything happens for a reason. It may not sound very comforting, but somehow, whenever things went wrong, or didn't go according to my plans, this small statement always made me feel so much better. Her meaning was always crystal clear - though you may not realize why this is happening in this way at this time, eventually it will become clear. There is always a lesson to be learned, in both triumph and failure, so pay attention.
2. This too shall pass. Another huge comfort, hearing this always reminded me that while something may seem like a huge deal at the moment, everything has its time, and then, predictably, time marches on. This statement became especially helpful when I became a mom. Being able to realize that the sleepless nights, teething and growing pains, and other little annoying phases would all, eventually, pass, was a huge help.
3. You can be and do anything you put your mind to. This one's pretty simple, but immensely important. My mom isn't afraid to take on anything - she knows with enough study and practice, she can do it. She teaches by example, and it's a pretty great one. She's currently busting up ceramic tiles to make way for hardwood floor, which she and my dad will lay themselves. She's a real renaissance woman, and I am so proud to call her Mom.
Here's to you, Mom:
1. Everything happens for a reason. It may not sound very comforting, but somehow, whenever things went wrong, or didn't go according to my plans, this small statement always made me feel so much better. Her meaning was always crystal clear - though you may not realize why this is happening in this way at this time, eventually it will become clear. There is always a lesson to be learned, in both triumph and failure, so pay attention.
2. This too shall pass. Another huge comfort, hearing this always reminded me that while something may seem like a huge deal at the moment, everything has its time, and then, predictably, time marches on. This statement became especially helpful when I became a mom. Being able to realize that the sleepless nights, teething and growing pains, and other little annoying phases would all, eventually, pass, was a huge help.
3. You can be and do anything you put your mind to. This one's pretty simple, but immensely important. My mom isn't afraid to take on anything - she knows with enough study and practice, she can do it. She teaches by example, and it's a pretty great one. She's currently busting up ceramic tiles to make way for hardwood floor, which she and my dad will lay themselves. She's a real renaissance woman, and I am so proud to call her Mom.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Over the weekend
Did you have a nice weekend? I certainly hope so! We had a full and exciting weekend, including the return of Pilot Pete and a visit by the Easter Bunny, and capped off by a trip to the traveling carnival.
On Saturday Pilot Pete returned from a work trip. I always think that as Little Dude gets older, the separations from his dad will get easier - he'll have a better handle on the passage of time, and I'll be better able to explain why dad is away. Unfortunately, our experience seems to be the exact opposite. I'm finding my older toddler to be more emotional and less rational than I had hoped. I know that this phase will pass, and we will one day get to a place where he does understand and accept (or at least tolerate) these separations better. For now, a lot of snuggling, reassuring, and a few special treats delivered by dad upon his return home seem to help.
Easter Sunday was our busy day - we had some friends over for brunch and an egg hunt, and then we followed up with a trip to the carnival that set up shop in the empty, old Walmart parking lot. Little Dude and I noticed the carnival on Thursday. Actually, I noticed it Wednesday as they were setting up, and made a mental note to not drive by again until they were gone. Sadly, I forgot, and found myself passing by again the next day. While I was silently hoping he wouldn't notice, I heard a little voice from the backseat. "Hey...what's that over there?" "Umm, I don't know buddy..." "Well, I think it's a carnival." "Oh, ok I guess that's what it is then." "Yep. I will go there with Daddy when he comes home. You can come too." I'm glad I scored an invite - we had a fun time.
Enjoy the scenes from our weekend:
On Saturday Pilot Pete returned from a work trip. I always think that as Little Dude gets older, the separations from his dad will get easier - he'll have a better handle on the passage of time, and I'll be better able to explain why dad is away. Unfortunately, our experience seems to be the exact opposite. I'm finding my older toddler to be more emotional and less rational than I had hoped. I know that this phase will pass, and we will one day get to a place where he does understand and accept (or at least tolerate) these separations better. For now, a lot of snuggling, reassuring, and a few special treats delivered by dad upon his return home seem to help.
Easter Sunday was our busy day - we had some friends over for brunch and an egg hunt, and then we followed up with a trip to the carnival that set up shop in the empty, old Walmart parking lot. Little Dude and I noticed the carnival on Thursday. Actually, I noticed it Wednesday as they were setting up, and made a mental note to not drive by again until they were gone. Sadly, I forgot, and found myself passing by again the next day. While I was silently hoping he wouldn't notice, I heard a little voice from the backseat. "Hey...what's that over there?" "Umm, I don't know buddy..." "Well, I think it's a carnival." "Oh, ok I guess that's what it is then." "Yep. I will go there with Daddy when he comes home. You can come too." I'm glad I scored an invite - we had a fun time.
Enjoy the scenes from our weekend:
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| Examining a Lightning McQueen shaped easter egg |
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| Anxiously waiting for the start of the egg hunt with his girlfriends |
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| On the hunt |
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| A fighter pilot in training? |
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| Or a land based speed demon? |
Friday, April 22, 2011
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