one for me, two for you

haiku wednesday

stay focused, self. do

what you love, love it too. make

cake pops this weekend...

what's-in-your-purse tuesday

In the process of searching for a hairtie this afternoon, I realized it's probably time to clean out my purse.

 
I found a lot of crap. The list of absurdities includes, but is not limited to:

• 5 forms of nail care
• 4 forms of lip care
• ginormous container of gum
• green vampire teeth
• button from goodness knows what
• at least 2 different sets of tickets to something or other
• marvel tattoos
• marvel stickers
• one lone card from some sonic game that came in a wacky pack
• meg's sunglasses she left at my house when she was in the states
• febreez (you never know when you're going to need it)

That doesn't even count the two different planners, wallet, camera case, keys, "discreet" tampon carrier, and various pens and bobby pins.

And no hairtie. Thank goodness Danielle had one! That's what friends are for.

What's in YOUR purse?

 

 

 

You can go your own waaaaaayyyyy...

I grew up with an ex-hippie mother, like the kind where my parents actually met on a commune, grew their own food, and birthed my brother with a midwife on the farm.  Not that that has a WHOLE lot to do with this entry’s title, but she did listen to a lot of Fleetwood Mac, and…I dig ‘em.

Some time late last fall, I was on my evening commute home from work and came to the stoplight at 41^st and Sheridan.  You know the one that is notoriously long, and if you’re headed south, like I usually am, you end up sandwiched in between Home Depot and Night Trips?  Yeah, there. 

On this particular day, as I sat, indefinitely, with NPR in the background, something quite ordinary caught my eye: a flock of birds.  It was rather large, and seemed to be hovering right over the intersection.  What was not so ordinary was their flight pattern.  Have you ever noticed birds when they change directions?  Sharp turns with ripple effects that mimic a stream or school of fish almost seem non-directional.  It’s fascinating, even mesmerizing.

As I was caught up in watching this flock of birds flutter and flicker in the sky above me, my mind was taken up in thoughts and wandering.  I completely lost track of time and was baffled at how long I watched this pattern, and how many times they changed directions.  I thought to myself, “South is THAT way, guys!  Isn’t that instinctual?  Don’t you do this every year?  Every time you change directions, it’s that much longer ‘til you get some place warm for winter!”  I was also baffled that the light STILL hadn’t changed, but that’s another post…

Each time they changed directions, they must have changed “lead birds” too.  Are birds that hard up for smart cookies?  Or are there just too many cooks in the kitchen?  Either way, I felt sorry for all these followers flapping their wings, desperately wanting to land somewhere warm and tropical and catch their breath!  I wanted them to be free and get going in the right direction!

Something else interesting occurred as I watched enthralled by this nature play, seemingly staged for me only.  Every few seconds, two or three birds would break away from the group and head straight south, no wavering.  Even as they slowly peeled away, it barely made a dent in the mass of birds left in the lost throng still flitting back and forth like a giant pin ball.   It struck me, like the song Ants Marching by DMB, that we are all often like this, caught in the day to day grind of jobs, obligations, bills, and all the things that keep us captive to a life that’s really just dragging us around in circles.  The things that have us stuck in traffic during an hour long commute (second of the day) that keeps us away from our families, or the distractions of countless things that promise to bring us more happiness, health, wealth, time, gourmet food, and brighter, tighter skin.

I don’t want to be one of the birds lost in the crowd, counting on an unreliable leader to take me to some unknown happy place.  Or worse, not even know who my leader is.  I want to be one of the birds who goes his own way.  I want to be my own bird, and my little birds to be their own too.  Most importantly, I want to know where I’m going.

This is the year, kids.  This year, I crossed the threshold of my thirties and am looking ahead to many more changes and adventures.  This year I’m making a change.  I’m not sure what it is; I may still have a way to go before I’m out of the throng of confusion.  But this year...I’m getting out and I’m flying south.

the rubberband war...

ended with a bomb:or maybe that was just the beginning...

Ten Days of Christmas - Day 4

Today, I got to be a stay-at-home-mom.  Now, I've been a SAHM before, and I KNOW it can be overwhelming and isolating.  However; when you work full time and constantly feel like there is never enough time for anything, kids, boyfriend, self, houswork, ANYTHING, the opportunity to act as one is refreshing (for me anyway).

I missed the opportunity to snap a pic of the campout in the boys' room with their pop up tent and two folding chairs with Corrinne joining the adventure, but soon one of the chairs made it downstairs.  Enter Alec, and his new favorite spot.  He would literally stay here all day if you let him.  Please note the camo boots.  He would also eat, sleep and bathe in those if I'd let him. 
After playin' around the house and outside for a bit, we braved Old Navy to get Carter some pants that fit him, which THOROUGHLY embarrassed him (as most things do these days), then Target for some supplies (I saved $14 in coupons, thank you), then met up with Aunt Jeannie, Jack and James at the dollar theatre for 3D Legends of the Guardians!Funny thing about it was that Movies 8 is where I used to go as a middle and high-schooler.  I remember getting dropped off by my mom and paging her on the payphone when I was ready to be picked up.  She would always tell me to call/page as SOON as the movie was over.  Of course I would wait until we met up with boys at Fun House for a bit before calling her.  I have no idea how I thought she didn't know that...

Outside we found a strangely familiar satue...And another statue at the library.  We asked him what he was reading; according to Corrinne it was Popular Science.  Aidan tried to get his soda, but he was kinda stingy.The Library is SUCH an excellent adventure for the kids.  The bigs are engrossed.So are the littles.And in the car, a love for dinosoars is shared.As we got in the car, leaving the library, Corrinne asked to go to the park, "plllleeeeeaaaaasssseee!"  I thought that was a pretty good idea considering how much sugar those kids consumed at the movies!  Teeter totter:Happy Momma.Carter found Lady Loch Ness and specifically asked that we take her picture.Got invited into a car that was much to small for me.  My head stuck out of the roof, but Alec was driving and said we were going to see Aunt Megan.  *tear*Pretty, pretty girl!Went home for a mad rush of a dinner, then headed out to Rhema to see the lights.  Can you believe I've lived in Tulsa my WHOLE LIFE, and NEVER been out to Rhema to see their lights?  I didn't even know you could get out and walk around!!  While we were on the bridge (with a full arc of lights covering) the lights were timed with the music playing.  Carol of the Bells was playing and it was actually really really cool, though the kids were a little weirded out!I was mezmerized...Awe, Daddy Daughter pic!We then endured Aidan and Alec running off numerous times, extensive whining (no naps for either of them), got home and got the littles in bed, THEN cocoa.  Hot cocoa, made real on the stove with Ghiradelli cocoa, sugar in the raw, evaporated milk and milk.  A little whip on top and mmmmmmmm!Then, just because, I'll leave you with a shot of Buzz and Woody. Peace out folks!  Onto Day 5, which has already begun because I didn't blog last night!  Oh so many delightful things for me to share with you when today is done. 

Just you wait 'enry 'iggins, just you wait!

Ten Days of Christmas - Day 1

Yes, yes, yes...I am taking a full 5 days of vacation this year.  Which, combined with the 2 weekends, becomes a grand total of NINE days free from work alltogether!  This may not mean much to some, but in the last 2.5 years I've been working (after being a stay-at-home-mom for 2.5), I've NEVER had this opportunity.  Usually I take a day here and there, maybe combine one with a 3 day weekend to get 4 days off, but for the most part they end up getting sucked away by sick days with my children!

I am grateful that my children have experienced less illness this year, and I'm grateful to get to take a week off with them over their Christmas break.  I'm saving money on daycare this week and we all get a break and time together.  I'm at a point in my life where lately I've felt really overwhelmed and guilty that my boys spend so much time in daycare.  Alec moreso than Aidan, since he's there for 10 hours/day.  But Aidan has long days too: very busy and full days at school, then aftercare.  Kids need breaks from their work too!

Knowing there is not really anything practical I can do to change my current work and daycare situation, I am again GRATEFUL to have this week ahead of us, and intend to make the absolute most of each day.  SO much so, that I'm counting yesterday (Friday) as Day 1 of my 10 days of Christmas, because officially my vacation started when I clocked out at the office yesterday around 5!

It was a low key evening but I treasured every moment with my boys.  Pretty quiet as we watched cartoons and ate leftover pizza (them), and caesar salad and leftover tomato basil soup (me).  Then, I made some apple crisp I've been saying I'd make for at least a week now!  Found this recipe online, and began peeling and coreing the apples.  Only thing I lacked were the full 10 cups of apples, and the baking soda and baking powder.  I'm sure with those the "crisp" part would have had more of a flakey cookie texture, but it was still delicious.  I put a little too much water in, which made an amazing caramel like sauce that would have been PERFECT over vanilla ice cream, which we have but I was unable to get to it.  Our freezer leaks water a bit, and pools and freezes down in the bottom, trapping anything in its path.  This week, it captured the carton of vanilla.  I substituted some whipped cream which was perfectly acceptable. 

I didn't enjoy the fruits of my labor until after bathtime, jammies, and nugglin' with my boys to watch the Peanuts Christmas special (the second in the series, not Charlie Brown Christmas), and tucking them in bed.  But it was a delightful little bedtime treat before snuggling up and drifting off to sleep myself.

On the list for Day 2 is blogging (presently), leisurely coffee (also presently), getting my eye brows threaded, visiting Nana and Papa, making banana bread and lasagne and whereever else the day takes us!!

Maybe I should add procuring a replacement camera battery charger.  I know I'm not going to want to experience the remaining 9 days of Christmas with ONLY my phone camera...

{my moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Inspired by SouleMama

 

Happy Weekend Lovies!

Why don't vendors start sending us Spanx?

Tis the season for overendulgence and eating our feelings.  Sitting out in front of everyone, I'm often inundated with deliveries of pastries and donuts, cupcakes, mother-in-law cookies you CANNOT say no to (thanks, Steve), and the list goes on and on...

Today is a perfect storm.  You would not believe the amount of deliciousness surrounding me:
The picture really doesn't do it justice.  I sent out a plea for help to my co-workers, titled "please, for the love of GOD," that went a little like this:

Come eat these things in front of me. it’s horrible. I’ve already given in to a half a Danish. I can’t stand it any more. Please help me.

Oh GOD!!! Steve just brought more over.

Really I’m drowning.

And it worked...
 
 
Good thing you went to the gym this morning, @jboudiette.  I didn't, and I'm afraid the Rt. 66 half marathon excuse is long expired by now.

I tweeted this earlier today, "Dear body, I promise I will eat better in January. I can't say no to this stuff. Not today."  It was retweeted by at least one person. 

Anyone else feel my pain??

Conversations in the Car Vol. 7 - Guest Blogger!

Drumroll please...please welcome to the blog Miss Melissa, my dear co-worker and mother of sweet Peyton.  This might qualify as one of the most stellar coversations in the car I've ever heard.  Read on, and enjoy...

So Kyle, Peyton and I were in the car driving home….

Me (while listening to some disgusting rap song on the radio): “Rap songs are getting so vulgar; it really makes me wonder how they are even allowed to be played on the radio”.

Kyle: “They have always been vulgar, I remember some of the songs my friends and I used to listen to and they were pretty bad”.

Pause….

Kyle: Breaks into the song “my neck, my back” by Khia.  In case you are unfamiliar here are the words to the main chorus (he didn’t do any bleeping or swapping), “My neck, my back, my (explicit word for the female genitalia, here’s your hint it starts with a p ends with a y and has uss in the middle) and my crack”. 

Pause….

Peyton (sitting quietly in the backseat taking it all in): “My neck, my back, my gussy and my crack”

We look back and catch him in the middle of some mad carseat dance moves and both die laughing….if you are a parent you know laughter only encourages more.

Peyton: “Hey dadda….My gussy and my crack!”

 

Oh Peyton, thanks for the laughs, buddy!

 

 

This is how we do it, na na na na na naaaahhhhhh!

We all know Aidie started Pre-K at a real live “big school” this year…well at the beginning of the school year the school sent home a contract.  There were places for parent, student, teacher, and principal to sign, with pre-written statements each of those parties would agree to.  The student’s had to do with coming to class on time and prepared, as well as describing acceptable behavior.  The parent’s had to do with making sure the student got enough sleep, helping student arrive to school on time and prepared, and get this: reading to their student EVERY DAY.  Sounds easy enough right?  Most of us read to our kids regularly right? 

Ask yourself:  do you read to your kids regularly?  Regularly enough to be considered often?  Even if you read to your kids or WITH your kids OFTEN, would you say you do this daily?  Probably not.  I know I don’t (or didn’t if Mrs. Eakes is reading this). 

And IF you’re a parent you have learned how to multitask.  I bet since you sprouted offspring you have discovered a plethora of things you can do one handed with a baby on your hip!  Or how about NO handed when you have a baby on each hip??  Yeah, we rock.

Well here’s a little multitasking confession that’s worked wonders for our family.  Leaving the house early in the morning, working full time, dealing with the commute and dinner and cleaning and time-outing and spanking, etc, etc, etc, some nights it sure is hard to figure out how to squeeze in that reading time.  Here’s how we do it OFTEN.

Now, I’ve heard of some talk about combining dinner time with bath time and I honestly haven’t figured out practically how to accomplish that or exactly how that would be beneficial TO ME (envisioning drains clogged with chicken nuggets).  But bath time + book time = muy bueno at our place!!