Popping in for two quick updates:
1) Eden learned the hard way this past weekend that eyes are delicate things. She managed to poke herself in the eye with the corner of a poster board (in Target, no less) and really hurt herself. She cried and cried like I haven't really ever heard her do before. I kept expecting that it would start to feel better, but six hours later, she still hadn't opened it, so off to the ER we went. Diagnosis: scratched cornea. Not very serious, but apparently very painful.
2) Much to Sadie's delight, she is getting glasses. She had her exam earlier in the week and we ordered her frames. They are due in next week, and she cannot wait. Funny the things that kids get excited about. I am glad that she's not upset about needing to wear them, though.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Neglected Blog
With no excuses as to why I haven't posted, and no big promises as to how much I will be posting in the future...today I return.
We have been having a really great fall, in all ways. The weather has been unbelievable, dry and warm and just perfect for outdoor activities. So, what have we been up to?
Well, a whole lot of this, for starters:
Sadie's soccer season wrapped up at the end of October. She had a really good season, her playing improved dramatically from last year, and she enjoyed her coach and team experience. I will miss it - I really enjoyed the Saturday morning ritual of sitting up at the fields, soaking up the gorgeous weather, watching the game and socializing.
She's also been busy with chorus and brownies. Chorus had her out the door an hour early twice a week to rehearse. The fall concert was this past Thursday night, and it was so neat to see the result of all that rehearsing they did. Sadie really shined, and it was hard to reconcile the vision of her singing, smiling and hamming up the choreography with my former shrinking violet.
The brownie experience this year has been wonderful, too. There has been a bit of a troop reorganization and Sadie has a new leader this year, who really has a knack for running things. Saturday night, the troop prepared and served a Spaghetti dinner for the parents. What a treat! She had a ton of fun doing it, and it was a really fun evening for all of us.
We also attended the family bingo night at Eden's school and had a great time. I swear, I can see myself as one of those senior citizens who plays bingo in church basements and VFW halls one day, I enjoy it that much. Anyway, it was another fun night for us.
Speaking of Eden, this fall has been a whirlwind of playdates and birthday parties for her. She seems to be a sought after playdate companion...we're constantly getting calls inviting her over. I'm not sure if that means she is a good friend, or a polite/easy houseguest, or maybe both, but I think it is great. She has a nice well-rounded social circle of school kids and neighborhood kids, and it is helpful to have her occupied with a friend to give Sadie some breathing room when she has friends over.
In other news, Hebrew school is going well for Sadie. She has yet to complain about going, much to our surprise. And, more importantly, it is doing what I hoped - teaching/refreshing Sadie on her knowledge of Judaism, and helping her feel connected to the Jewish community. So, it is all good. In fact, Eden keeps asking if she can go, and I think we'll probably start her much earlier - next year when she leaves the J. Doesn't hurt to have a 3 hour window of downtime on Sunday morning :D
Anyway, that's it for now. I'll be back at some point, when there is something newsworthy...
We have been having a really great fall, in all ways. The weather has been unbelievable, dry and warm and just perfect for outdoor activities. So, what have we been up to?
Well, a whole lot of this, for starters:
Sadie's soccer season wrapped up at the end of October. She had a really good season, her playing improved dramatically from last year, and she enjoyed her coach and team experience. I will miss it - I really enjoyed the Saturday morning ritual of sitting up at the fields, soaking up the gorgeous weather, watching the game and socializing.
She's also been busy with chorus and brownies. Chorus had her out the door an hour early twice a week to rehearse. The fall concert was this past Thursday night, and it was so neat to see the result of all that rehearsing they did. Sadie really shined, and it was hard to reconcile the vision of her singing, smiling and hamming up the choreography with my former shrinking violet.
The brownie experience this year has been wonderful, too. There has been a bit of a troop reorganization and Sadie has a new leader this year, who really has a knack for running things. Saturday night, the troop prepared and served a Spaghetti dinner for the parents. What a treat! She had a ton of fun doing it, and it was a really fun evening for all of us.
We also attended the family bingo night at Eden's school and had a great time. I swear, I can see myself as one of those senior citizens who plays bingo in church basements and VFW halls one day, I enjoy it that much. Anyway, it was another fun night for us.
Speaking of Eden, this fall has been a whirlwind of playdates and birthday parties for her. She seems to be a sought after playdate companion...we're constantly getting calls inviting her over. I'm not sure if that means she is a good friend, or a polite/easy houseguest, or maybe both, but I think it is great. She has a nice well-rounded social circle of school kids and neighborhood kids, and it is helpful to have her occupied with a friend to give Sadie some breathing room when she has friends over.
In other news, Hebrew school is going well for Sadie. She has yet to complain about going, much to our surprise. And, more importantly, it is doing what I hoped - teaching/refreshing Sadie on her knowledge of Judaism, and helping her feel connected to the Jewish community. So, it is all good. In fact, Eden keeps asking if she can go, and I think we'll probably start her much earlier - next year when she leaves the J. Doesn't hurt to have a 3 hour window of downtime on Sunday morning :D
Anyway, that's it for now. I'll be back at some point, when there is something newsworthy...
Monday, September 27, 2010
We are in the thick of it now
Three weeks in and the school year chaos is in full swing. I thought I'd check in and note a few things...
1) Sadie LOVES third grade. She loves her teacher and comes home so happy every day. This is really the first year that we've had this experience, so I am really enjoying the novelty of it.
2) Eden has happily settled in to pre-K. It boggles my mind to think that she's going to be five soon. FIVE. Where has the time gone?!?!
3) Sadie has started Hebrew school and seems to like it well enough. Add to that soccer and brownies and she's a busy, happy, social kid these days. I love it.
That, in a nutshell, is how things are going these days.
1) Sadie LOVES third grade. She loves her teacher and comes home so happy every day. This is really the first year that we've had this experience, so I am really enjoying the novelty of it.
2) Eden has happily settled in to pre-K. It boggles my mind to think that she's going to be five soon. FIVE. Where has the time gone?!?!
3) Sadie has started Hebrew school and seems to like it well enough. Add to that soccer and brownies and she's a busy, happy, social kid these days. I love it.
That, in a nutshell, is how things are going these days.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Ready or Not
It begins again!
Today is Sadie's first day of school. She fell asleep quickly last night (thanks to a late night the night before and an intentionally early waking from me) and slept well. Woke up ready to face the world, or at least, the third grade. She told me she was excited but also nervous - to which I replied, "And that's exactly how you are supposed to feel."
Eden has one last day off, then we go for her meet and greet tomorrow, and her school starts in earnest on Tuesday. She has been very nervous about it - at least, I believe so, based on her behavior over the past few weeks. I'm certain after Tuesday, she'll feel a tremendous sense of relief. At least, I hope!
Starting next week, we really jump in with both feet to the chaos again. Sadie's extracurricular schedule is shaping up something like this:
Tuesdays - Brownies
Sundays and Wednesdays - Hebrew school
Thursdays - soccer practice
Saturdays - soccer games
So, this coming weekend is really our last free, calm, unscheduled weekend for the foreseeable future. I'm trying to leave it that way, too. We've got our block party on Sunday, but other than that - no plans except savoring a last beach weekend and mentally preparing to switch gears.
Today is Sadie's first day of school. She fell asleep quickly last night (thanks to a late night the night before and an intentionally early waking from me) and slept well. Woke up ready to face the world, or at least, the third grade. She told me she was excited but also nervous - to which I replied, "And that's exactly how you are supposed to feel."
Eden has one last day off, then we go for her meet and greet tomorrow, and her school starts in earnest on Tuesday. She has been very nervous about it - at least, I believe so, based on her behavior over the past few weeks. I'm certain after Tuesday, she'll feel a tremendous sense of relief. At least, I hope!
Starting next week, we really jump in with both feet to the chaos again. Sadie's extracurricular schedule is shaping up something like this:
Tuesdays - Brownies
Sundays and Wednesdays - Hebrew school
Thursdays - soccer practice
Saturdays - soccer games
So, this coming weekend is really our last free, calm, unscheduled weekend for the foreseeable future. I'm trying to leave it that way, too. We've got our block party on Sunday, but other than that - no plans except savoring a last beach weekend and mentally preparing to switch gears.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Let's Hear it for Accountability
our 2010 photo album is current through August 1st. The task that was weighing me down took all of about an hour total (picking photos, printing and loading into album). I need to remember how painless that was as I gear up to tackle a closet or two.
In other news, the girls are on day 3 of swim camp. So far, so good! They've got Eden jumping in already, and Sadie working on diving and 'flip turning' while doing laps. I have high hopes for what they're going to accomplish in these two weeks.
More as it happens...
In other news, the girls are on day 3 of swim camp. So far, so good! They've got Eden jumping in already, and Sadie working on diving and 'flip turning' while doing laps. I have high hopes for what they're going to accomplish in these two weeks.
More as it happens...
Friday, August 13, 2010
Wow.
School starts in 20 days. 20 days?!?!?!?! How can that be?
This summer, like all summers, has flown by. But, in a good way. It has been wonderful. Busy, fun, relaxed and relaxing. We've done just about everything we planned to do as a family to enjoy it, with the exception of that canoe/rafting trip that we decided to put off until September. We've had more than our fair share of gorgeous days at the beach, plenty of swimming and playing, and I've even managed to read more books this summer than I have in the entire past year.
Although I can't say the kids would ever really feel ready to return to school (can you blame them?), I know they at least feel that their summer was full and fulfilling.
As for me, I'm not sure. My summer was full of fun, for sure. But, I can't help but feel that ALL I managed to do was have fun. Knowing how crazy last year was, and knowing that this school year is likely to be all that and more, I had hoped to accomplish a few things around the house over the summer. I had plans big (finally renovate our not-really-functional 2nd bathroom) and small (clean out front hall closet, organize this year's photos in an album). Nothing got done. I blame the drought. 7 weeks of pretty much no rain means no lazy indoor days
So, I've got three weeks left. Obviously, the bathroom isn't getting attended to (maybe over xmas break. Then again, maybe not), but I can certainly knock out that closet and the photo album...right? RIGHT?!?! I'm hoping by putting it here, I'm creating some sort of accountability. Hopefully, I will post on September 1st, not only to upload the first day of school pix, but to boast about my strikingly organized hall closets and up to date 2010 photo album.
Until then...I'm off to enjoy these last, glorious days of summer. :-)
This summer, like all summers, has flown by. But, in a good way. It has been wonderful. Busy, fun, relaxed and relaxing. We've done just about everything we planned to do as a family to enjoy it, with the exception of that canoe/rafting trip that we decided to put off until September. We've had more than our fair share of gorgeous days at the beach, plenty of swimming and playing, and I've even managed to read more books this summer than I have in the entire past year.
Although I can't say the kids would ever really feel ready to return to school (can you blame them?), I know they at least feel that their summer was full and fulfilling.
As for me, I'm not sure. My summer was full of fun, for sure. But, I can't help but feel that ALL I managed to do was have fun. Knowing how crazy last year was, and knowing that this school year is likely to be all that and more, I had hoped to accomplish a few things around the house over the summer. I had plans big (finally renovate our not-really-functional 2nd bathroom) and small (clean out front hall closet, organize this year's photos in an album). Nothing got done. I blame the drought. 7 weeks of pretty much no rain means no lazy indoor days
So, I've got three weeks left. Obviously, the bathroom isn't getting attended to (maybe over xmas break. Then again, maybe not), but I can certainly knock out that closet and the photo album...right? RIGHT?!?! I'm hoping by putting it here, I'm creating some sort of accountability. Hopefully, I will post on September 1st, not only to upload the first day of school pix, but to boast about my strikingly organized hall closets and up to date 2010 photo album.
Until then...I'm off to enjoy these last, glorious days of summer. :-)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Poor, neglected Blog.
Wow, have I done a phenomenal job of NOT updating here in ages. I can't even say that I have thought about coming here to write and then become distracted with other things. Oh well...water under the bridge, right? I'm here now.
I'm not even going to try to catch up the past two months, I think I'll just write about the here and now. Summer is in full swing - in fact, we're about at the halfway point before school starts again, much to all of our chagrin. It has been (and I think will continue to be) a really, really good summer. Busy, fun, happy and healthy. Just the way we like things.
Sadie is finishing up (morning rec) camp this week. She has really enjoyed it. Each day she gets on and comes off the bus with a huge grin on her face, and is excited about what they've done, or what they will be doing the next day. It is only half-day, which is enough to give her day some structure without her feeling like she's 'stuck' all day. I've been working until noon, and getting home just about the time that the bus is dropping Sadie off. Eden has been spending her mornings with either Evan, Grandma, or Grammy. Afternoons, and often evenings, are being spent at the beach. The girls both have friends there this year, which is a huge bonus.
Speaking of friends, Evan and I have been having a good summer, full of social activities and new friends, too. Our neighborhood continues to be a source of great people and lots of 'events.' From impromptu cookouts and evening drinks, to the annual potluck breakfast, a pig roast, and a party at the beach to watch the fireworks on the fourth, we've done a lot with our friends from the neighbhorhood. In fact, we hosted a cocktail party for the neighborhood ourselves a few weeks ago, and everyone had a blast.
In addition, we've become friendly with some of the parents at Eden's school who happen to go to Breakwater, so it has been really fun to hang with them. I love making and having friends, and it is something that has not come easily to us since we've moved back, so it is nice to finally be in a place that feels good with regard to this.
So...what's up for the rest of summer? Well, Sadie has a week of art camp coming up, and then the girls will both go to two weeks of swim camp at the end of August. We're planning a canoe trip on the Delaware for Evan's birthday and a day out on our friends' boat, but other than that, no big outings.
I'm bringing my camera to the beach today so I can at least take a set of pictures this summer, so I'll be back to upload at some point. Other than that, I'm going to be realistic and say that it might not be until fall that I get here to really update. Until then...
I'm not even going to try to catch up the past two months, I think I'll just write about the here and now. Summer is in full swing - in fact, we're about at the halfway point before school starts again, much to all of our chagrin. It has been (and I think will continue to be) a really, really good summer. Busy, fun, happy and healthy. Just the way we like things.
Sadie is finishing up (morning rec) camp this week. She has really enjoyed it. Each day she gets on and comes off the bus with a huge grin on her face, and is excited about what they've done, or what they will be doing the next day. It is only half-day, which is enough to give her day some structure without her feeling like she's 'stuck' all day. I've been working until noon, and getting home just about the time that the bus is dropping Sadie off. Eden has been spending her mornings with either Evan, Grandma, or Grammy. Afternoons, and often evenings, are being spent at the beach. The girls both have friends there this year, which is a huge bonus.
Speaking of friends, Evan and I have been having a good summer, full of social activities and new friends, too. Our neighborhood continues to be a source of great people and lots of 'events.' From impromptu cookouts and evening drinks, to the annual potluck breakfast, a pig roast, and a party at the beach to watch the fireworks on the fourth, we've done a lot with our friends from the neighbhorhood. In fact, we hosted a cocktail party for the neighborhood ourselves a few weeks ago, and everyone had a blast.
In addition, we've become friendly with some of the parents at Eden's school who happen to go to Breakwater, so it has been really fun to hang with them. I love making and having friends, and it is something that has not come easily to us since we've moved back, so it is nice to finally be in a place that feels good with regard to this.
So...what's up for the rest of summer? Well, Sadie has a week of art camp coming up, and then the girls will both go to two weeks of swim camp at the end of August. We're planning a canoe trip on the Delaware for Evan's birthday and a day out on our friends' boat, but other than that, no big outings.
I'm bringing my camera to the beach today so I can at least take a set of pictures this summer, so I'll be back to upload at some point. Other than that, I'm going to be realistic and say that it might not be until fall that I get here to really update. Until then...
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Quick Update
I've thought several times that I needed to come here and update this thing - yet, I haven't felt like I've had a whole post's worth of stuff to talk about. Still don't, actually, but there are a few things I wanted to make note of, so I'm just going to do a very quick bullet update.
:: Sadie is a full-fledged bike rider now! Video to come.
:: Eden no longer uses her bed rail and hasn't fallen out of bed yet. She's so proud of herself.
:: School is over for the girls in 2-3 weeks. Can't believe how fast this year went.
:: Sadie has her first orthodontist appointment coming up. I see a rapidly diminishing vacation fund in our future.
:: Sadie is a full-fledged bike rider now! Video to come.
:: Eden no longer uses her bed rail and hasn't fallen out of bed yet. She's so proud of herself.
:: School is over for the girls in 2-3 weeks. Can't believe how fast this year went.
:: Sadie has her first orthodontist appointment coming up. I see a rapidly diminishing vacation fund in our future.
Monday, April 12, 2010
An uncharactaristically, seasonable spring
Pretty much since we returned from Florida, spring has been in full force here. With the exception of a couple of torrentially rainy days, it has basically been sunny and warm and beautiful for several weeks now. It feels like spring! Er, actually, it feels like what you hope spring will be but rarely is. After the incredibly rainy and cold year we've just had...is it possible to hope that we're out of that awful weather pattern?
In any event, the wonderful weather has been conducive to doing, well...wonderful things. Outside things. Playgrounds, beach, walks, picnics...we've had a nice time doing all sorts of things lately.
Eden has gotten really comfortable on the bike (with training wheels) and Sadie has totally mastered the scooter, so we've spent a lot of time taking family walks/rides in the neighborhood. I'm anxious (still!) for Sadie to learn to ride a bike, and she is at the point now where it is a source of embarrassment to her that she can't ride.With Eden clamoring to use the trail-a-bike and less content to sit in the trailer, and Sadie self-conscious about not being on her own bike, we are more limited with regard to family rides these days, which is disappointing. It would just make a lot of things easier if Sadie would learn to ride, already! As I watch her move her body fluidly to control the balance and direction of her razor, I'm hopeful that maybe this will be the summer that it happens with the bicycle. I've watched her evolve so dramatically in so many areas in the past 2 or 3 years, that I know absolutely, that she will master this when she is ready. I'm just impatient for her to be ready! I started this entry a few days ago, and in that time, Sadie and Evan have been working on the bike-riding in earnest. She is so almost there...I think in another few times out she'll have it. She is much less anxious, more confident and What a difference from our attempts last summer!
In other news, the girls started their gymnastics classes on Saturday. They had so much fun, both had huge grins on their faces throughout the entire session. This class only runs for 4 weeks, so I have a feeling they will be wanting to register for another session in May. I'll probably let them do it, and that will take them right into June and swim lessons.
Speaking of which...I'm starting to think about summer activities, and once again, I'm going with a pretty unstructured itinerary, at least for Eden. Both girls will have weekly swim lessons with Jamie again. Sadie will do two weeks of morning rec through OT, and one week of full day art camp through the MC Parks Program. Eden won't do any other structured activity aside from swimming. Now that she is in school, there will be lots of opportunities for playdates (in fact, she's going over to a school friend's house 'unescorted' today for the first time!) and a couple of her school buddies will be at the beach, so I think we'll be fine there.
Other than that, nothing new to report. More as it happens...
In any event, the wonderful weather has been conducive to doing, well...wonderful things. Outside things. Playgrounds, beach, walks, picnics...we've had a nice time doing all sorts of things lately.
Eden has gotten really comfortable on the bike (with training wheels) and Sadie has totally mastered the scooter, so we've spent a lot of time taking family walks/rides in the neighborhood. I'm anxious (still!) for Sadie to learn to ride a bike, and she is at the point now where it is a source of embarrassment to her that she can't ride.
In other news, the girls started their gymnastics classes on Saturday. They had so much fun, both had huge grins on their faces throughout the entire session. This class only runs for 4 weeks, so I have a feeling they will be wanting to register for another session in May. I'll probably let them do it, and that will take them right into June and swim lessons.
Speaking of which...I'm starting to think about summer activities, and once again, I'm going with a pretty unstructured itinerary, at least for Eden. Both girls will have weekly swim lessons with Jamie again. Sadie will do two weeks of morning rec through OT, and one week of full day art camp through the MC Parks Program. Eden won't do any other structured activity aside from swimming. Now that she is in school, there will be lots of opportunities for playdates (in fact, she's going over to a school friend's house 'unescorted' today for the first time!) and a couple of her school buddies will be at the beach, so I think we'll be fine there.
Other than that, nothing new to report. More as it happens...
Monday, March 29, 2010
Happy Silence.
I don't have a good excuse for not blogging much lately. It certainly isn't for lack of things to write about, as we've been happily, busily jumping from activity to activity since we've been back from our trip. Brownie events, school science fair, school carnival, International Night, birthday parties, Easter egg hunts...we've done it all. It isn't for a lack of time to write - work has been fairly quiet lately, and there were many times I thought about blogging, but the thought was just quickly replaced by something else.
I think the biggest reason for my silence is that I tend to write as a way to process things - either things I am thinking about in advance, or debriefing on post-mortem. And lately, I've just had one recurring thought, and it wouldn't be terribly interesting to simply write, "life it good."
But, there you have it. Life is good! My life--make that OUR life--is good. It is certainly far from perfect - there is the nagging sinus/allergy problem that will likely plague me for life, and the bills to pay that always seem to slightly outnumber the the money coming in, as well as the usual trials and tribulations of married life, of parenthood. There are bigger imperfections, too. My aunt, who is getting progressively more sick and less alive and I'm guessing who won't be with us much longer. Other friends and family members who are facing big and heartbreaking issues that I wish I could fix...and yet...in spite of it all, I just have this overwhelming sense of contentedness. This is the life I never knew I wanted, if that makes sense.
My mother often comments on how busy we are, how much running around I do, and how am I not exhausted? Truthfully, sometimes I am exhausted - this winter definitely helped me realize that I can't do it all. Even so, I love the busy pace of our life. I love carting the carpool kids around, socializing with the other moms at the various committee meetings and school events. I love our increasingly busy social life - as our circle widens and there are new friends to make. I love being involved at the girls' schools and knowing that in some small way, I am making a difference in their experiences there.
Everyone who has lived through it and come out the other side talks about how fleeting it is to parent children. And, of course, the part of that statement that refers to the actual biological ages of kids has always been obvious. But I'm starting to understand the other part of it, too...that one day, when the girls are grown, I'll have lots of time to myself. I had always assumed that this was a good thing; something to look forward to. And, in a sense, I'm sure it is, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it for what it is. But I also think that I will miss these days when the only time that is absolutely my own is the time spent either in the shower, on the elliptical, or in the 10 minutes between getting into bed and falling asleep.
In any event, if I haven't been writing, it is simply a happy silence.
I think the biggest reason for my silence is that I tend to write as a way to process things - either things I am thinking about in advance, or debriefing on post-mortem. And lately, I've just had one recurring thought, and it wouldn't be terribly interesting to simply write, "life it good."
But, there you have it. Life is good! My life--make that OUR life--is good. It is certainly far from perfect - there is the nagging sinus/allergy problem that will likely plague me for life, and the bills to pay that always seem to slightly outnumber the the money coming in, as well as the usual trials and tribulations of married life, of parenthood. There are bigger imperfections, too. My aunt, who is getting progressively more sick and less alive and I'm guessing who won't be with us much longer. Other friends and family members who are facing big and heartbreaking issues that I wish I could fix...and yet...in spite of it all, I just have this overwhelming sense of contentedness. This is the life I never knew I wanted, if that makes sense.
My mother often comments on how busy we are, how much running around I do, and how am I not exhausted? Truthfully, sometimes I am exhausted - this winter definitely helped me realize that I can't do it all. Even so, I love the busy pace of our life. I love carting the carpool kids around, socializing with the other moms at the various committee meetings and school events. I love our increasingly busy social life - as our circle widens and there are new friends to make. I love being involved at the girls' schools and knowing that in some small way, I am making a difference in their experiences there.
Everyone who has lived through it and come out the other side talks about how fleeting it is to parent children. And, of course, the part of that statement that refers to the actual biological ages of kids has always been obvious. But I'm starting to understand the other part of it, too...that one day, when the girls are grown, I'll have lots of time to myself. I had always assumed that this was a good thing; something to look forward to. And, in a sense, I'm sure it is, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it for what it is. But I also think that I will miss these days when the only time that is absolutely my own is the time spent either in the shower, on the elliptical, or in the 10 minutes between getting into bed and falling asleep.
In any event, if I haven't been writing, it is simply a happy silence.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Vacation
We are home! It has been a busy few days, settling in to being back at home and attending to all that was neglected while we are gone. The trip was amazing, and I want to be sure to properly memorialize it here, as it is easily one of my favorite family experiences. So, here's the lengthy blow-by-blow.
Friday, February 26th.
Our original plan was that I would leave work at 2pm and as soon as school was out, we'd hit the road, with the hope that we could get to Alyssa's around dinnertime (barring too much traffic). A few days before Friday, though, the weather report turned ominous. Another freaking snow storm was on the way! It looked as though it was going to start snowing on Thursday afternoon and continue right into Saturday morning. I'll be honest - I was not a happy girl. Frustrated and tense are putting it mildly. We tried to formulate a Plan B and decided that in the worst case scenario, we could leave NJ early, early, early on Saturday morning and drive through to Savannah in one day. It wouldn't be ideal, but it would put us back on track as far as our schedule of reservations.
Anyway, it turns out the snow came earlier than predicted and the girls and I ended up with snow days on both Thursday and Friday. I spent Thursday packing and as soon as the snow stopped (noon on Friday), we were out of there! We made it down to Maryland by about 4pm and enjoyed some extra time hanging out and relaxing with Alyssa, Jim and Kayleigh. So, it really worked out better than the original plan and we felt we lucked out (this would become a recurring theme on this trip).
More than a little excited about the trip!
Sunday, February 28th
Sunday morning we got up around 8, showered, loaded up on breakfast and headed out. We were going to make a short stop in Jacksonville to visit my cousins and hoped to roll in to Disney by mid afternoon. After being in the car all day on Saturday, it was a little hard to do it again so soon, and the relatively short drive to Jax (2.5 hours) seemed longer than it should have, I suppose. We had a nice visit/lunch with Phil and Leslie and family and were back on the road by 12:30. The two hour drive from Jax to Orlando was smooth and the kids were so keyed up and excited that they found everything (look! dead armadillos on the side of the road!) fascinating. We pulled in to our hotel at 3pm sharp and happily said goodbye to our car for the next few days. We spent our first afternoon hanging by the hotel pool. It was not exactly warm, but that didn't stop the girls from going in. I knew that the next day was supposed to be considerably warmer, so I was able to get out of swimming by swearing to them I'd go in the next day. So, without me there to hold her, Eden had to develop some bravery about the water pretty quickly, and the result is that she seemed to grow fins.
The girls spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool, while Evan and I enjoyed drinks, poolside. That night, we explored the boardwalk area. We had dinner there, then strolled around enjoying the various 'street' performers. We even rented a surrey bike and rode the girls around, somewhat drunkenly (us, not the girls). Lots of giggles ensued. I knew we had a big day ahead of us, and I was determined that we were going to make it to EPCOT for rope drop (9am), so by 9pm, I had hustled us back to our room and in to bed. We all went to bed happy to finally be there, and excited for the next day. For the 2nd night in a row, I think I was asleep first and only moments after lights out.
Monday, March 1
The alarm went off at 7am and I sprung out of bed. We were all up, dressed, breakfasted and ready to go by 8:20 - a record for us, for sure. We were on the ferry to the park by 8:30.
And waiting for the park to officially open by 8:45.
We had debated whether or not it was necessary to rent a stroller for Eden. After all, she hadn't used one since her naps at the beach last summer. In the end, we decided $15 was more than a fair price to pay for not having to carry an exhausted child around. I'm so glad we did! She ended up riding in it a lot, as the park is big and we covered a lot of ground.
Our first stop was Soarin'. I had been dying to go on this ride ever since we planned on returning to Disney, and had, in fact, added EPCOT to our itinerary for just this purpose. The ride did not dissappoint. I'm not even really a 'ride' person but this experience is phenomenal. Evan and the girls loved it, too, and we ended up riding it again later in the day.
The crowds at the park were minimal and we ended up riding everything we wanted to in Future World with no wait. After lunch, we stopped at the character greeting area so the girls could meet some friends...
...and then walked back to the hotel to take advantage of the warm weather. After all, a pool and a poolside bar were calling our names! Plus, the night before, as I was putting the girls to bed, I asked Eden what her favorite part of the day had been. "Going down the water slide," she replied, "which I will do tomorrow!" So, she was on a mission. I don't think it is an exaggeration to say those girls went down that thing a dozen times each. Who are these brave girls????
That slide is HIGH!!!!
We headed back to the park at 5. This time, we focused on the World Showcase. We loved exploring all of the different countries, and especially loved the boat ride in Mexico.
Sadie did not love the ride in Norway (Maelstrom), but that was the only ride she was really afraid of during the entire trip - a very different experience from the last time we were here! We had a late dinner in Germany at Biergarten (fun!), then ended the night watching Illuminations, which was spectacular.
We were back to the room, exhausted but kind of high from the whole day by 9:45. We felt so lucky to have had such a hassle-free, fun day...one where everything seemed to work out just as it should. We looked at the weather report for the next day and saw the prediction for rain. The girls got anxious that we couldn't go to Magic Kingdom in the rain. "Don't worry," we assured them, "we brough rain ponchos and rain just means the crowds will be smaller. We're still going." I went to bed, content about the day we'd just had, but secretly anxious myself about the day to come. Would we still go in the rain? And even if we did, how could we top the amazing day we'd just had?
Tuesday, March 2nd
At 6am, I was awaked by thunderclaps and realized it was torrentially raining outside. My heart sank. Rain poncho or not, we couldn't go to the park in this weather. Aside from the dissapointment of not going, I couldn't help but think about the non-refundable money I had just shelled out on tickets only a day before (note to self: never, EVER, buy tix in advance. I thought I was being smart by not buying the tix before we arrived, but in hindsight, we could/should have just purchased them when we arrived at the park.) I started trying to devise a backup plan in my head. Maybe we could stop through Orlando on our way back up from Sanibel and use our day 2 tickets. This would push back our arrival in Athens, though, and once I whispered the idea to Evan, he quickly shot it down. I decided to take a shower and clear my head and readjust my attitude before the girls woke up, so I could present a positive spin on things, if necessary.
When I stepped out of the shower, the rain has quieted down, and, after looking at the weather channel, we decided it looked like we had maybe a three hour window before it started again and that we'd better get moving. We quickly woke the girls, ate, dressed and packed up our belongings (we were checking out) and were in the lobby waiting for Evan to pull around with the car by 8:30. By 8:45 as we pulled in to the parking lot, the clouds had dissappeared and the sun was shining. We couldn't believe our luck. These things usually don't happen for us!
In addition to the luck of weather changing, it seems that for whatever reason (time of year? day of week? weather forecast? who knows...?) everyone stayed away from Magic Kingdom that day. Seriously, the park was empty. We walked on to every single ride (some, multiple times). I had gotten Fast Passes for Big Thunder Mountain and we never needed to redeem them. In fact, most attractions didn't even have their FP machines available. Sadie overcame her fears and rode Pirates of the Carribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, Stitch's Great Escape (all things she was terrified of last year), and Eden...well, what can I say about her...she's a daredevil, for sure. The scarier the ride sounded, the more she wanted to go on it, though, we did have to find the emergency exit at the Haunted Mansion (another story for another time). The only wait we had anywhere in the entire park the whole day was about 20 minutes to meet Ariel. Last year, we waited over an hour (much to my aggravation) for this. I can't overstate how perfect the experience at MK was. I'm certain I'm ruined for future trips, as not waiting for anything is unheard of.
We had originally planned to stay as long as the weather held out, but by 2pm, we had done everything we were hoping/planning to do, and instead of hanging around for the 3pm parade, we decided to hit the road for Sanibel. Left to my own devices, I think I would have stuck around for the parade, as I remembered what a thrill it was for the girls last year, but Evan seemed itchy to go and in the spirit of just going with the flow, I agreed. The girls seemed wiped out and made no objection to leaving, so before we knew it, we were back on the road, this time headed for South Florida. We left on such a high, thankful for our luck in having a non-rainy, empty day at the park, when earlier in the morning, it had seemed as though we weren't going to have any day there at all!
I should note that a couple of days later (in Athens, GA, actually), it occurred to Eden that we never saw the parade, and she was not too happy about that! Oh well, an excuse for a return trip someday, I suppose...
The drive to Sanibel went smoothly. Both kids konked out and slept much of the way there. We crossed over the causeway bridge and arrived on the island around 5:30pm. We checked in to our hotel...
Right on the beach!
...and then headed out to dinner. We ate at a really good place, casual and tasty and just the right place to put us in a 'beach vacation' frame of mind. After dinner, Evan dropped me and the girls at the hotel while he swung by the grocery store to pick up food and drink for the next couple of days. I got the room organized while the girls watched TV and we were all asleep by 10, I think. The day had been cloudy, maybe even rainy before we arrived, and we all went to bed hoping for a sunny day tomorrow.
Wednesday and Thurday, March 3 and 4
We woke to a somewhat sunny day, which was good. However, we quickly learned that the sun and even the temperature don't matter much when there is a strong, steady WIND blowing off the gulf. That wind blew the entire time we were there, only subsiding the night we left (grrr....!). We explored the island, the nature preserve, rented bikes and rode around, walked on the beaches (which were teeming with the most incredible shells and live creatures) and the girls swam in the pool (not me!). We tried to make the best of it, but the truth be told, it just isn't that thrilling to be on a beach vacation when it is too chilly to really enjoy the beach. The big dissappointment of the trip was learning that the dolphin cruise we were booked on was cancelled due to rough seas. :(
It is ironic because the whole trip was centered around going to Sanibel and yet, after the excitement and fun of Savannah and Disney, that part of the trip fell flat. I learned two important things, though. 1) I will never again plan a vacation to a place that is solely dependent upon good weather. It ended up being fine for the 2 1/2 days we were there, but it would have been a disaster of a vacation if we had planned an entire week there. 2) As wonderful as the idea of a beach vacation sounds, I realize that we are really more of an 'active' family. Maybe it is because we have the beach here whenever we want it, but I think that even if we'd had 'beach' weather, our two days there would have been enough. By Thursday evening, I think we were all looking forward to moving on to the next adventure. We did enjoy a last dinner out at an exceptionally good restaurant then headed back to the hotel to pack up and get ready for another middle of the night departure. We had a long drive ahead of us, and Evan and I planned to wake at 3:30 and repeat the routine from the trip down. We were all asleep by about 9:30, I think.
Unfortunately, I didn't stay asleep. That afternoon, I had felt a sore throat coming on and though I did my best to ignore it, by midnight it was obvious I'd been hit with a head cold. Sleep was impossible for me, and, by extension, for Evan. Finally, at 2:30am, we decided that rather than lying in bed waiting for 4am to arrive so we could leave, why not just leave now? So, crazy as it sounds, we brewed a pot of coffee, loaded up the car and were on the road by about 2:45am. Ironically, as I stepped out on to the balcony to collect Eden's swim vest, I noted that the winds had dissappeared and the ocean and sky were the calmest they'd been our entire visit. Even the temperature seemed warmer. I'm certain that Friday probably blossomed into one of those perfect beach days, but oh well...we were ready to move on.
Friday March 5
I drove for the first few hours, then slept for a couple while Evan did. I woke up in way north Florida around 8am. I looked and felt like a zombie, as this ended up being the worst day of my cold (the lack of real sleep probably didn't help). The drive day went smoothly once again, following much the same pattern as the ride to Savannah. We rolled in to Athens at around 3.
It was so great to see Paul and Megan (and Sophie). We all picked up like we'd just seen eachother the day before. Good friends are like that, I guess. We had a mellow afternoon and evening. Paul cooked us a beautiful dinner and as soon as I got the girls to sleep, I took a hefty dose of NyQuil and put my sorry ass to bed.
Saturday March 6th
Saturday dawned a gorgeous, sunny, warm day. Warmer than in south Florida! I'd had a great night of sleep, my cold seemed to have turned a corner and best of all, it was my birthday! What better way to celebrate your birthday than by being on vacation?!?! It was also neat to get phone calls and Facebook messages with birthday wishes from people near and dear. Gotta love technology.
After breakfast, we headed out on a walk into downtown Athens. Athens is a great little college city. It reminds me of a cross between Eugene and Denver. Lots of funky shops and a beautiful university right in the center of town. We had a nice lunch out at a cute diner where I tried (and loved) a Georgia specialty: fried pickles! So delicious, I'm definitely going totry making have Evan make them at home.
Friday, February 26th.
Our original plan was that I would leave work at 2pm and as soon as school was out, we'd hit the road, with the hope that we could get to Alyssa's around dinnertime (barring too much traffic). A few days before Friday, though, the weather report turned ominous. Another freaking snow storm was on the way! It looked as though it was going to start snowing on Thursday afternoon and continue right into Saturday morning. I'll be honest - I was not a happy girl. Frustrated and tense are putting it mildly. We tried to formulate a Plan B and decided that in the worst case scenario, we could leave NJ early, early, early on Saturday morning and drive through to Savannah in one day. It wouldn't be ideal, but it would put us back on track as far as our schedule of reservations.
Anyway, it turns out the snow came earlier than predicted and the girls and I ended up with snow days on both Thursday and Friday. I spent Thursday packing and as soon as the snow stopped (noon on Friday), we were out of there! We made it down to Maryland by about 4pm and enjoyed some extra time hanging out and relaxing with Alyssa, Jim and Kayleigh. So, it really worked out better than the original plan and we felt we lucked out (this would become a recurring theme on this trip).
More than a little excited about the trip!
Saturday, February 27th
At 3:30a.m., the alarm sounded and Evan and I got up, put the overnight bag in the car, drank a cup of coffee...tried to stay positive despite the fact that it was, yet again, SNOWING...briefly debated waiting for the snow to stop before leaving...then decided just to go for it. We picked up the sleeping girls, loaded them in the car and by 4am, it was official...we were on our way and on vacation!
The drive down to Savannah (10 hours) went so much better than I could have hoped for. It was so peaceful to be on the road at that hour. We made incredible time and I guess we were both too amped up about the trip to feel sleepy. The girls slept until 8:00 and we stopped for breakfast by 8:30 in Weldon, NC. It was there that I got to introduce Evan to the wonder of Waffle House. I hadn't been to one since my days of traveling to Charlotte for CogArts (1998), but it was as good as I remembered. Evan was leery of stopping there but three bites in, he was sold.
We stopped again at around 1pm for a late picnic lunch somewhere in South Carolina. The weather was warm and the girls were happy to get out and run around for a bit. A last little stretch in the car and we pulled up to our hotel in Savannah at 2:55 (for a 3pm check-in...nice timing, right?). The girls wanted to hit the indoor pool, but we convinced them that there would be time for that later...Evan and I were determined to make the most of our one afternoon/evening in Savannah. So we headed out to explore. What a beautiful city! I can't even really describe the ... aura (?) that emits from that place. Very seductive. I stupidly didn't bring my camera, but I don't think photos can accurately convey the beauty of that place.
Our first stop was at Moon River Brewing Co., where we ordered apps and beer and toasted our first night of vacation. We then walked along the river walk, popping in and out of shops and admiring the enormous cargo ships that came up the river. I had my heart set on eating at a place I had read about and we took a liesurely walk through the city to get there, only to find it closed until the next week. :( We decided we'd just walk around until we found something, or if all else failed, return to Moon River. On our walk back, we came across a restuarant that had been recommended to us by my parents and decided to give it a try. It was fabulous. Evan and I weren't terribly hungry, given the appetizers and beer we'd had only and hour or two before, so we ordered the girls dinners and shared an appetizer between us. I also had a really yummy 'peartini' there.
The drinks, the fresh air, the walk all on top of being awake since 3:30am finally caught up to us and we headed back to the hotel at around 8. Since we had promised the girls a dip in the pool, we headed down there and gave them 20 minutes. Then, it was up to bed. I'm sure I was asleep before my head hit the pillow and I imagine everyone else followed suit instantly.
At 3:30a.m., the alarm sounded and Evan and I got up, put the overnight bag in the car, drank a cup of coffee...tried to stay positive despite the fact that it was, yet again, SNOWING...briefly debated waiting for the snow to stop before leaving...then decided just to go for it. We picked up the sleeping girls, loaded them in the car and by 4am, it was official...we were on our way and on vacation!
The drive down to Savannah (10 hours) went so much better than I could have hoped for. It was so peaceful to be on the road at that hour. We made incredible time and I guess we were both too amped up about the trip to feel sleepy. The girls slept until 8:00 and we stopped for breakfast by 8:30 in Weldon, NC. It was there that I got to introduce Evan to the wonder of Waffle House. I hadn't been to one since my days of traveling to Charlotte for CogArts (1998), but it was as good as I remembered. Evan was leery of stopping there but three bites in, he was sold.
We stopped again at around 1pm for a late picnic lunch somewhere in South Carolina. The weather was warm and the girls were happy to get out and run around for a bit. A last little stretch in the car and we pulled up to our hotel in Savannah at 2:55 (for a 3pm check-in...nice timing, right?). The girls wanted to hit the indoor pool, but we convinced them that there would be time for that later...Evan and I were determined to make the most of our one afternoon/evening in Savannah. So we headed out to explore. What a beautiful city! I can't even really describe the ... aura (?) that emits from that place. Very seductive. I stupidly didn't bring my camera, but I don't think photos can accurately convey the beauty of that place.
Our first stop was at Moon River Brewing Co., where we ordered apps and beer and toasted our first night of vacation. We then walked along the river walk, popping in and out of shops and admiring the enormous cargo ships that came up the river. I had my heart set on eating at a place I had read about and we took a liesurely walk through the city to get there, only to find it closed until the next week. :( We decided we'd just walk around until we found something, or if all else failed, return to Moon River. On our walk back, we came across a restuarant that had been recommended to us by my parents and decided to give it a try. It was fabulous. Evan and I weren't terribly hungry, given the appetizers and beer we'd had only and hour or two before, so we ordered the girls dinners and shared an appetizer between us. I also had a really yummy 'peartini' there.
The drinks, the fresh air, the walk all on top of being awake since 3:30am finally caught up to us and we headed back to the hotel at around 8. Since we had promised the girls a dip in the pool, we headed down there and gave them 20 minutes. Then, it was up to bed. I'm sure I was asleep before my head hit the pillow and I imagine everyone else followed suit instantly.
Sunday, February 28th
Sunday morning we got up around 8, showered, loaded up on breakfast and headed out. We were going to make a short stop in Jacksonville to visit my cousins and hoped to roll in to Disney by mid afternoon. After being in the car all day on Saturday, it was a little hard to do it again so soon, and the relatively short drive to Jax (2.5 hours) seemed longer than it should have, I suppose. We had a nice visit/lunch with Phil and Leslie and family and were back on the road by 12:30. The two hour drive from Jax to Orlando was smooth and the kids were so keyed up and excited that they found everything (look! dead armadillos on the side of the road!) fascinating. We pulled in to our hotel at 3pm sharp and happily said goodbye to our car for the next few days. We spent our first afternoon hanging by the hotel pool. It was not exactly warm, but that didn't stop the girls from going in. I knew that the next day was supposed to be considerably warmer, so I was able to get out of swimming by swearing to them I'd go in the next day. So, without me there to hold her, Eden had to develop some bravery about the water pretty quickly, and the result is that she seemed to grow fins.
The girls spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool, while Evan and I enjoyed drinks, poolside. That night, we explored the boardwalk area. We had dinner there, then strolled around enjoying the various 'street' performers. We even rented a surrey bike and rode the girls around, somewhat drunkenly (us, not the girls). Lots of giggles ensued. I knew we had a big day ahead of us, and I was determined that we were going to make it to EPCOT for rope drop (9am), so by 9pm, I had hustled us back to our room and in to bed. We all went to bed happy to finally be there, and excited for the next day. For the 2nd night in a row, I think I was asleep first and only moments after lights out.
Monday, March 1
The alarm went off at 7am and I sprung out of bed. We were all up, dressed, breakfasted and ready to go by 8:20 - a record for us, for sure. We were on the ferry to the park by 8:30.
And waiting for the park to officially open by 8:45.
We had debated whether or not it was necessary to rent a stroller for Eden. After all, she hadn't used one since her naps at the beach last summer. In the end, we decided $15 was more than a fair price to pay for not having to carry an exhausted child around. I'm so glad we did! She ended up riding in it a lot, as the park is big and we covered a lot of ground.
Our first stop was Soarin'. I had been dying to go on this ride ever since we planned on returning to Disney, and had, in fact, added EPCOT to our itinerary for just this purpose. The ride did not dissappoint. I'm not even really a 'ride' person but this experience is phenomenal. Evan and the girls loved it, too, and we ended up riding it again later in the day.
The crowds at the park were minimal and we ended up riding everything we wanted to in Future World with no wait. After lunch, we stopped at the character greeting area so the girls could meet some friends...
...and then walked back to the hotel to take advantage of the warm weather. After all, a pool and a poolside bar were calling our names! Plus, the night before, as I was putting the girls to bed, I asked Eden what her favorite part of the day had been. "Going down the water slide," she replied, "which I will do tomorrow!" So, she was on a mission. I don't think it is an exaggeration to say those girls went down that thing a dozen times each. Who are these brave girls????
That slide is HIGH!!!!
We headed back to the park at 5. This time, we focused on the World Showcase. We loved exploring all of the different countries, and especially loved the boat ride in Mexico.
Sadie did not love the ride in Norway (Maelstrom), but that was the only ride she was really afraid of during the entire trip - a very different experience from the last time we were here! We had a late dinner in Germany at Biergarten (fun!), then ended the night watching Illuminations, which was spectacular.
We were back to the room, exhausted but kind of high from the whole day by 9:45. We felt so lucky to have had such a hassle-free, fun day...one where everything seemed to work out just as it should. We looked at the weather report for the next day and saw the prediction for rain. The girls got anxious that we couldn't go to Magic Kingdom in the rain. "Don't worry," we assured them, "we brough rain ponchos and rain just means the crowds will be smaller. We're still going." I went to bed, content about the day we'd just had, but secretly anxious myself about the day to come. Would we still go in the rain? And even if we did, how could we top the amazing day we'd just had?
Tuesday, March 2nd
At 6am, I was awaked by thunderclaps and realized it was torrentially raining outside. My heart sank. Rain poncho or not, we couldn't go to the park in this weather. Aside from the dissapointment of not going, I couldn't help but think about the non-refundable money I had just shelled out on tickets only a day before (note to self: never, EVER, buy tix in advance. I thought I was being smart by not buying the tix before we arrived, but in hindsight, we could/should have just purchased them when we arrived at the park.) I started trying to devise a backup plan in my head. Maybe we could stop through Orlando on our way back up from Sanibel and use our day 2 tickets. This would push back our arrival in Athens, though, and once I whispered the idea to Evan, he quickly shot it down. I decided to take a shower and clear my head and readjust my attitude before the girls woke up, so I could present a positive spin on things, if necessary.
When I stepped out of the shower, the rain has quieted down, and, after looking at the weather channel, we decided it looked like we had maybe a three hour window before it started again and that we'd better get moving. We quickly woke the girls, ate, dressed and packed up our belongings (we were checking out) and were in the lobby waiting for Evan to pull around with the car by 8:30. By 8:45 as we pulled in to the parking lot, the clouds had dissappeared and the sun was shining. We couldn't believe our luck. These things usually don't happen for us!
In addition to the luck of weather changing, it seems that for whatever reason (time of year? day of week? weather forecast? who knows...?) everyone stayed away from Magic Kingdom that day. Seriously, the park was empty. We walked on to every single ride (some, multiple times). I had gotten Fast Passes for Big Thunder Mountain and we never needed to redeem them. In fact, most attractions didn't even have their FP machines available. Sadie overcame her fears and rode Pirates of the Carribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, Stitch's Great Escape (all things she was terrified of last year), and Eden...well, what can I say about her...she's a daredevil, for sure. The scarier the ride sounded, the more she wanted to go on it, though, we did have to find the emergency exit at the Haunted Mansion (another story for another time). The only wait we had anywhere in the entire park the whole day was about 20 minutes to meet Ariel. Last year, we waited over an hour (much to my aggravation) for this. I can't overstate how perfect the experience at MK was. I'm certain I'm ruined for future trips, as not waiting for anything is unheard of.
We had originally planned to stay as long as the weather held out, but by 2pm, we had done everything we were hoping/planning to do, and instead of hanging around for the 3pm parade, we decided to hit the road for Sanibel. Left to my own devices, I think I would have stuck around for the parade, as I remembered what a thrill it was for the girls last year, but Evan seemed itchy to go and in the spirit of just going with the flow, I agreed. The girls seemed wiped out and made no objection to leaving, so before we knew it, we were back on the road, this time headed for South Florida. We left on such a high, thankful for our luck in having a non-rainy, empty day at the park, when earlier in the morning, it had seemed as though we weren't going to have any day there at all!
I should note that a couple of days later (in Athens, GA, actually), it occurred to Eden that we never saw the parade, and she was not too happy about that! Oh well, an excuse for a return trip someday, I suppose...
The drive to Sanibel went smoothly. Both kids konked out and slept much of the way there. We crossed over the causeway bridge and arrived on the island around 5:30pm. We checked in to our hotel...
Right on the beach!
Wednesday and Thurday, March 3 and 4
We woke to a somewhat sunny day, which was good. However, we quickly learned that the sun and even the temperature don't matter much when there is a strong, steady WIND blowing off the gulf. That wind blew the entire time we were there, only subsiding the night we left (grrr....!). We explored the island, the nature preserve, rented bikes and rode around, walked on the beaches (which were teeming with the most incredible shells and live creatures) and the girls swam in the pool (not me!). We tried to make the best of it, but the truth be told, it just isn't that thrilling to be on a beach vacation when it is too chilly to really enjoy the beach. The big dissappointment of the trip was learning that the dolphin cruise we were booked on was cancelled due to rough seas. :(
It is ironic because the whole trip was centered around going to Sanibel and yet, after the excitement and fun of Savannah and Disney, that part of the trip fell flat. I learned two important things, though. 1) I will never again plan a vacation to a place that is solely dependent upon good weather. It ended up being fine for the 2 1/2 days we were there, but it would have been a disaster of a vacation if we had planned an entire week there. 2) As wonderful as the idea of a beach vacation sounds, I realize that we are really more of an 'active' family. Maybe it is because we have the beach here whenever we want it, but I think that even if we'd had 'beach' weather, our two days there would have been enough. By Thursday evening, I think we were all looking forward to moving on to the next adventure. We did enjoy a last dinner out at an exceptionally good restaurant then headed back to the hotel to pack up and get ready for another middle of the night departure. We had a long drive ahead of us, and Evan and I planned to wake at 3:30 and repeat the routine from the trip down. We were all asleep by about 9:30, I think.
Unfortunately, I didn't stay asleep. That afternoon, I had felt a sore throat coming on and though I did my best to ignore it, by midnight it was obvious I'd been hit with a head cold. Sleep was impossible for me, and, by extension, for Evan. Finally, at 2:30am, we decided that rather than lying in bed waiting for 4am to arrive so we could leave, why not just leave now? So, crazy as it sounds, we brewed a pot of coffee, loaded up the car and were on the road by about 2:45am. Ironically, as I stepped out on to the balcony to collect Eden's swim vest, I noted that the winds had dissappeared and the ocean and sky were the calmest they'd been our entire visit. Even the temperature seemed warmer. I'm certain that Friday probably blossomed into one of those perfect beach days, but oh well...we were ready to move on.
Friday March 5
I drove for the first few hours, then slept for a couple while Evan did. I woke up in way north Florida around 8am. I looked and felt like a zombie, as this ended up being the worst day of my cold (the lack of real sleep probably didn't help). The drive day went smoothly once again, following much the same pattern as the ride to Savannah. We rolled in to Athens at around 3.
It was so great to see Paul and Megan (and Sophie). We all picked up like we'd just seen eachother the day before. Good friends are like that, I guess. We had a mellow afternoon and evening. Paul cooked us a beautiful dinner and as soon as I got the girls to sleep, I took a hefty dose of NyQuil and put my sorry ass to bed.
Saturday March 6th
Saturday dawned a gorgeous, sunny, warm day. Warmer than in south Florida! I'd had a great night of sleep, my cold seemed to have turned a corner and best of all, it was my birthday! What better way to celebrate your birthday than by being on vacation?!?! It was also neat to get phone calls and Facebook messages with birthday wishes from people near and dear. Gotta love technology.
After breakfast, we headed out on a walk into downtown Athens. Athens is a great little college city. It reminds me of a cross between Eugene and Denver. Lots of funky shops and a beautiful university right in the center of town. We had a nice lunch out at a cute diner where I tried (and loved) a Georgia specialty: fried pickles! So delicious, I'm definitely going to
We got back to Paul's at around 2 and the rest of the afternoon was spent hanging out in the yard, shucking oysters and drinking beer. Low country living for sure! A great, relaxing way to spend my birthday. My memory of settling down for the night is a bit fuzzy (must have been all those oysters!) but next thing I knew, it was time to get up and face our last, epic day of driving.
Sunday March 7
We rolled out of Athens right on time (4am) and sped through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina before the girls woke. We stopped for breakfast just over the Virginia border. "Virginia," I thought, "that's one of those close to Maryland states...I think we were through the whole state in four hours on the way down. We're really cruising on this drive." Ha! Who knew that Virginia, especially when approached from the very southwestern corner, is a very. big. state.?!?!? Lots of people, I'm sure, but not me. It was a long day of driving. I knew that the trip home would be harder than the trip down (isn't that always the way), and it was.
For the amount of time the girls spent in the car over the 10 day trip, they did amazingly well. But somewhere around noon on Sunday, when we still had another 2-3 hours ahead of us, I think we all were just ready to be done. At this point, Evan had caught my cold and was feeling miserable.
So, we arrived at Alyssa's (where it all began!) at around...wait for it...3pm! Alyssa made us a fabulous dinner ( I believe Eden declared the steak 'the goodest ever') and we all had an early bedtime. The trip was essentially over at this point, and it was just a matter of getting up and driving home on Monday.
Monday March 8
We pulled into our driveway at noon on Monday, thrilled to be home and just as thrilled to see that all of the snow that had blanketed our yard for a month was GONE! The sun was out, the air was warm, the birds were singing...it was like we had brought spring home with us. The girls ran around the house squealing, "my room! my tv! my couch!" and I unpacked, cleaned out the car, did laundry and basically got ourselves in order. I'm glad we had the better part of the day to do those things, as since we've been back it has been like being thrown right back onto the merry-go-round of busy, daily, life.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip - perhaps the best I've ever experienced. I loved the adventure of driving, of getting up in the night and driving and driving and arriving in a different part of the country. It definitely appealed to my hidden adventurer side.
I loved all of the different experiences we had, and I'm so thrilled to have had them as a family. I'm certain I've never been so relaxed and content on a vacation in my life. My usual M.O. is to have rigid expectations and plans and set myself (or others) up for dissappointment or frustration. There was none of that this time. I really set myself up to just go with the flow, and to model that for the kids. Every morning before we headed out on the day's adventure, I would ask each of the girls and Evan what was their hope or priority for the day - the one thing they really wanted to do that day. I would then tell them mine. Then, we made a point each day of making our best effort to hit them. Some days we had very specific priorities (riding Soarin', swimming in the pool) and some days were more general (explore, relax, eat at a fancy restaurant). This really worked well, because I think it left everyone feeling like their desires were being fulfilled, and it also forced each of us to consider what was important to us that day. This is definitely a strategy we'll employ on future vacations (and yes, we're already talking about where we'll go next year. and yes, we'd even do another driving vacation, if the destination allowed for it).
So, all in all, a fabulous time and a wonderful start to 2010.
Sunday March 7
We rolled out of Athens right on time (4am) and sped through Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina before the girls woke. We stopped for breakfast just over the Virginia border. "Virginia," I thought, "that's one of those close to Maryland states...I think we were through the whole state in four hours on the way down. We're really cruising on this drive." Ha! Who knew that Virginia, especially when approached from the very southwestern corner, is a very. big. state.?!?!? Lots of people, I'm sure, but not me. It was a long day of driving. I knew that the trip home would be harder than the trip down (isn't that always the way), and it was.
For the amount of time the girls spent in the car over the 10 day trip, they did amazingly well. But somewhere around noon on Sunday, when we still had another 2-3 hours ahead of us, I think we all were just ready to be done. At this point, Evan had caught my cold and was feeling miserable.
So, we arrived at Alyssa's (where it all began!) at around...wait for it...3pm! Alyssa made us a fabulous dinner ( I believe Eden declared the steak 'the goodest ever') and we all had an early bedtime. The trip was essentially over at this point, and it was just a matter of getting up and driving home on Monday.
Monday March 8
We pulled into our driveway at noon on Monday, thrilled to be home and just as thrilled to see that all of the snow that had blanketed our yard for a month was GONE! The sun was out, the air was warm, the birds were singing...it was like we had brought spring home with us. The girls ran around the house squealing, "my room! my tv! my couch!" and I unpacked, cleaned out the car, did laundry and basically got ourselves in order. I'm glad we had the better part of the day to do those things, as since we've been back it has been like being thrown right back onto the merry-go-round of busy, daily, life.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip - perhaps the best I've ever experienced. I loved the adventure of driving, of getting up in the night and driving and driving and arriving in a different part of the country. It definitely appealed to my hidden adventurer side.
I loved all of the different experiences we had, and I'm so thrilled to have had them as a family. I'm certain I've never been so relaxed and content on a vacation in my life. My usual M.O. is to have rigid expectations and plans and set myself (or others) up for dissappointment or frustration. There was none of that this time. I really set myself up to just go with the flow, and to model that for the kids. Every morning before we headed out on the day's adventure, I would ask each of the girls and Evan what was their hope or priority for the day - the one thing they really wanted to do that day. I would then tell them mine. Then, we made a point each day of making our best effort to hit them. Some days we had very specific priorities (riding Soarin', swimming in the pool) and some days were more general (explore, relax, eat at a fancy restaurant). This really worked well, because I think it left everyone feeling like their desires were being fulfilled, and it also forced each of us to consider what was important to us that day. This is definitely a strategy we'll employ on future vacations (and yes, we're already talking about where we'll go next year. and yes, we'd even do another driving vacation, if the destination allowed for it).
So, all in all, a fabulous time and a wonderful start to 2010.
Friday, February 12, 2010
On snow days, forced relaxation and learning to just love what you have
Crazy week we've just had, weatherwise. Two 'winter events' (blizzards) in the course of 5 days. Lots and lots o' snow. The first occurred over the weekend and the 2nd mid-week. So all in all, four days of pretty much forced relaxation in the past week. I have to say, I really enjoyed it. The first snow day happened right on the heels of a very hectic last week and it was a really great feeling to wake up to a snowstorm on Saturday morning and know that there was no reason to get dressed and nothing to worry about doing all day except relax. We played cards, we watched movies, we read stories, we napped (ok, just me), we baked cookies...just a really peaceful day.
Sunday was all about clearing out the snow and going sledding. I am a masochist, but I actually enjoy shoveling. There's something so satisfying about doing it. Plus, I love the workout I get. Sledding was fun, but after the ease of tubing (love that tow up the hill), we were a little wiped out from having to actually walk back up after each run.
Wednesday's storm didn't really manifest until mid-afternoon, so having the day off felt a bit like a freebie. Carolyn and I took the kids to Chuk E. Cheese (had the whole place to ourselves) and then out to lunch (again, a nearly empty restuarant) and got back just as the storm started picking up. Yesterday was spent once again clearing out snow. It was a gorgeous day (sunny and high 30's, which felt balmy), so the kids were content playing outside for much of the day and were pretty bushed by dinnertime.
I was actually a little dissappointed to have to come back to work today - whereas normally that many days off inside might give me a bit of cabin fever, this time it was just...nice.
For whatever reason, winter isn't bothering me one bit this year. I don't know if it is because I know we have a warm escape planned at the end of the month, or if I'm just starting to see the value of a forced day of of relaxation, but I've actually welcomed the snow. The older I get, the faster the seasons seem to fly by, even cold and snowy winters. I know that before too long, it will be spring and then another school year will have ended and my kids will be that much older, so I'm just trying to hold on to what we have, while we have it. Snow and all.
In other updates, Sadie's lipy sync routine went off beautifully on Friday night. I'm so proud of her. I love seeing her up there enjoying herself and being a part of the school community. She's already thinking about next year's act (considering a solo routine, even!).
Another Sadie update - she has finally found a book series that really has grabbed her, to the point that she spent the better part of the past two days reading and proudly finished a 217 page book all by herself last night. It does this avid reader's heart good to see her so absorbed in a book.
As for Eden, I'm happy to report that the first few weeks of being four are definitely a promising improvement to the 'terrible threes.' Her 'cooperative switch' seems to have been turned on again, after a two year hiatus and it is a welcome change. I thought it might never happen! She has been a lot of fun recently.
She is also growing mentally and physically at the speed of sound, it seems. She is reading anything and everything she sets her eyes on, which just continues to amaze me. The other day she wrote the following on a piece of paper:
I luv yoo Sade en Dad
Aside from the fact that I was wondering where I was in that equation [ok, not really, the girl is 100% a mama's girl so if she wants to throw the others a bone from time to time, I can live with it ;) ], I was astounded by her ability. I don't know where this kid gets her brains from, but it is so exciting to see them in action.
She is also starting to figure out simple 'mental math' and can add all sorts of combinations of single digit numbers in her head. My little brainiac - she sure makes me proud.
So, all in all, the kids are good, we are good, life is good.
Sunday was all about clearing out the snow and going sledding. I am a masochist, but I actually enjoy shoveling. There's something so satisfying about doing it. Plus, I love the workout I get. Sledding was fun, but after the ease of tubing (love that tow up the hill), we were a little wiped out from having to actually walk back up after each run.
Wednesday's storm didn't really manifest until mid-afternoon, so having the day off felt a bit like a freebie. Carolyn and I took the kids to Chuk E. Cheese (had the whole place to ourselves) and then out to lunch (again, a nearly empty restuarant) and got back just as the storm started picking up. Yesterday was spent once again clearing out snow. It was a gorgeous day (sunny and high 30's, which felt balmy), so the kids were content playing outside for much of the day and were pretty bushed by dinnertime.
I was actually a little dissappointed to have to come back to work today - whereas normally that many days off inside might give me a bit of cabin fever, this time it was just...nice.
For whatever reason, winter isn't bothering me one bit this year. I don't know if it is because I know we have a warm escape planned at the end of the month, or if I'm just starting to see the value of a forced day of of relaxation, but I've actually welcomed the snow. The older I get, the faster the seasons seem to fly by, even cold and snowy winters. I know that before too long, it will be spring and then another school year will have ended and my kids will be that much older, so I'm just trying to hold on to what we have, while we have it. Snow and all.
In other updates, Sadie's lipy sync routine went off beautifully on Friday night. I'm so proud of her. I love seeing her up there enjoying herself and being a part of the school community. She's already thinking about next year's act (considering a solo routine, even!).
Another Sadie update - she has finally found a book series that really has grabbed her, to the point that she spent the better part of the past two days reading and proudly finished a 217 page book all by herself last night. It does this avid reader's heart good to see her so absorbed in a book.
As for Eden, I'm happy to report that the first few weeks of being four are definitely a promising improvement to the 'terrible threes.' Her 'cooperative switch' seems to have been turned on again, after a two year hiatus and it is a welcome change. I thought it might never happen! She has been a lot of fun recently.
She is also growing mentally and physically at the speed of sound, it seems. She is reading anything and everything she sets her eyes on, which just continues to amaze me. The other day she wrote the following on a piece of paper:
I luv yoo Sade en Dad
Aside from the fact that I was wondering where I was in that equation [ok, not really, the girl is 100% a mama's girl so if she wants to throw the others a bone from time to time, I can live with it ;) ], I was astounded by her ability. I don't know where this kid gets her brains from, but it is so exciting to see them in action.
She is also starting to figure out simple 'mental math' and can add all sorts of combinations of single digit numbers in her head. My little brainiac - she sure makes me proud.
So, all in all, the kids are good, we are good, life is good.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
almost through it.
So, small cause for celebration: Tonight is the first night all week that the four of us will sit down to a real dinner together - that right there is progress, right? I never thought we'd become one of 'those' families, and yet, it just happened so fast. Obviously, the busy theme I lamented about last week continues, but there is an end in sight.
I ran myself ragged last weekend finishing up the soliciting for the chance auction, then sat through a long committee meeting on it Monday night and finally I feel like I can take a breath on that front.
Sadie's show is tomorrow night (though, it looks like we might get snowed out), and this whole week has been about final costume adjustments and rehearsals. She is really looking forward to the show (I am, too), but I will also be happy to see this one behind us.
so, if all goes as planned, after tomorrow night, the weekend is completely free and clear of any obligations. No auction soliciting. No girl scout cookie selling. No sick relative visiting. No get togethers with friends (ok, I of course enjoy those, but trying to squeeze it in after a full day of everything else makes it feel more like an obligation than fun). To top it all off...we're expecting snow. Lots of it. So, if that doesn't say stay in and chill out, what does?
I ran myself ragged last weekend finishing up the soliciting for the chance auction, then sat through a long committee meeting on it Monday night and finally I feel like I can take a breath on that front.
Sadie's show is tomorrow night (though, it looks like we might get snowed out), and this whole week has been about final costume adjustments and rehearsals. She is really looking forward to the show (I am, too), but I will also be happy to see this one behind us.
so, if all goes as planned, after tomorrow night, the weekend is completely free and clear of any obligations. No auction soliciting. No girl scout cookie selling. No sick relative visiting. No get togethers with friends (ok, I of course enjoy those, but trying to squeeze it in after a full day of everything else makes it feel more like an obligation than fun). To top it all off...we're expecting snow. Lots of it. So, if that doesn't say stay in and chill out, what does?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Busy Indeed!
My gosh, when I said my strategy for getting though the dead of winter was to stay busy, I don't think I knew what I was setting myself up for.
The last few weeks have been busy in a way that I can't remember being since my college days. Some of it is fun busy, but a lot of it is, well, just busy.
We're in the heavy soliciting period for the Chance Auction for Sadie's school, so it seems that any spare (read: non-working) time that I have has been spent either calling or visiting on local merchants. I have a list of a few dozen to get through and it is surprisingly time-consuming. It is a worthwhile cause, so in that sense I am happy to do it, but jeez...I'm looking forward to this phase ending.
Sadie is once again performing in the talent and variety show at school and this year I've taken on a more active role of working with the group of girls. We've had a tight timeframe to pull an act together and rehearse it, so evening rehearsals (to the tune of several times a week) are added in to the mix, as well. This weekend I need to run around and get the costumes pulled together, too.
Add to that school store and the family item drive we are doing for Blossom International and I am freaking busy.
Work has actually been insanely busy, too (start of the semester and all that), so it feels like from 7am to 11pm, I'm walking around kind of buzzing with a list of 'to-do's' in my head.
As much as I do enjoy the hubub (sp?) of being busy and I've gotten to know some really nice women through volunteering, I think it is time to say enough is enough for right now. I definitely don't like that between the soliciting, committee meetings and rehearsals, we don't always get to sit down together at dinnertime. And, I don't like that the one thing that I feel I have wiggle room to drop off my daily 'to-do' list when time is tight is a trip to the gym. So, the T&V show is the first week in February and once that is over, I'm not looking for other activities. I had actually volunteered to be on the planning committee for my 20th (gulp!) high school reunion, but I am rethinking that one.
Anyway, I guess all of this has been a good exercise in figuring out how much is too much and being more selective about what I get involved in.
We've had a bunch of fun busyness, too (dinners with friends, birthday parties, snow tubing), but there is something less fun about fun activities when down time is at such a premium. I'm definitely looking forward to a quieter February.
The last few weeks have been busy in a way that I can't remember being since my college days. Some of it is fun busy, but a lot of it is, well, just busy.
We're in the heavy soliciting period for the Chance Auction for Sadie's school, so it seems that any spare (read: non-working) time that I have has been spent either calling or visiting on local merchants. I have a list of a few dozen to get through and it is surprisingly time-consuming. It is a worthwhile cause, so in that sense I am happy to do it, but jeez...I'm looking forward to this phase ending.
Sadie is once again performing in the talent and variety show at school and this year I've taken on a more active role of working with the group of girls. We've had a tight timeframe to pull an act together and rehearse it, so evening rehearsals (to the tune of several times a week) are added in to the mix, as well. This weekend I need to run around and get the costumes pulled together, too.
Add to that school store and the family item drive we are doing for Blossom International and I am freaking busy.
Work has actually been insanely busy, too (start of the semester and all that), so it feels like from 7am to 11pm, I'm walking around kind of buzzing with a list of 'to-do's' in my head.
As much as I do enjoy the hubub (sp?) of being busy and I've gotten to know some really nice women through volunteering, I think it is time to say enough is enough for right now. I definitely don't like that between the soliciting, committee meetings and rehearsals, we don't always get to sit down together at dinnertime. And, I don't like that the one thing that I feel I have wiggle room to drop off my daily 'to-do' list when time is tight is a trip to the gym. So, the T&V show is the first week in February and once that is over, I'm not looking for other activities. I had actually volunteered to be on the planning committee for my 20th (gulp!) high school reunion, but I am rethinking that one.
Anyway, I guess all of this has been a good exercise in figuring out how much is too much and being more selective about what I get involved in.
We've had a bunch of fun busyness, too (dinners with friends, birthday parties, snow tubing), but there is something less fun about fun activities when down time is at such a premium. I'm definitely looking forward to a quieter February.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
January
Trying not to let the winter blues set in, but it is hard. January is just such a long, cold and dreary month. I'm doing my best to keep us busy so hopefully, the month will move along.
Eden's fourth birthday is next week. I can't believe my 'baby' is turning four - how did that happen? We're having her party this weekend, though I've been keeping the discussion of it pretty low-key. After all, this is January and it isn't inconceivable to think that she could end up sick the day of and we'd need to reschedule it. But, if all goes as planned, we're having about 10 kids to the house for lunch, cake and games. She has all these adorable little classmates, so I think it will be a good time.
I'm on the committee for the big chance auction dinner Sadie's school holds every spring. This is actually shaping up to keep me very busy over the next few months, between meetings and the actual work. It's been a great way to meet people, too. Anyway, I plan to spend much of the long MLK day weekend running around hitting the bulk of my assigned list of businesses to hit up for donations.
The following weekend, we are going away to the Poconos for the weekend with the Gills. This will be a blast, I'm sure. We're going to tube at Camelback one day and hit the local sledding hill the other. If I hadn't sworn off alcohol for the next 7 weeks (trying desperately to get bathing suit ready for our FL trip), I would say I was looking forward to lots of partying after the kids were in bed. Oh well, I suppose one can party with perrier, right???
The last weekend of the month we've got Saturday night plans with the game night crowd at Melanie and Dave's and a tentative plan to head into the city on Sunday.
So, there you have it...I've just raced us through this dreaded month in the space of four paragraphs. Let's see how that works out. ;)
Eden's fourth birthday is next week. I can't believe my 'baby' is turning four - how did that happen? We're having her party this weekend, though I've been keeping the discussion of it pretty low-key. After all, this is January and it isn't inconceivable to think that she could end up sick the day of and we'd need to reschedule it. But, if all goes as planned, we're having about 10 kids to the house for lunch, cake and games. She has all these adorable little classmates, so I think it will be a good time.
I'm on the committee for the big chance auction dinner Sadie's school holds every spring. This is actually shaping up to keep me very busy over the next few months, between meetings and the actual work. It's been a great way to meet people, too. Anyway, I plan to spend much of the long MLK day weekend running around hitting the bulk of my assigned list of businesses to hit up for donations.
The following weekend, we are going away to the Poconos for the weekend with the Gills. This will be a blast, I'm sure. We're going to tube at Camelback one day and hit the local sledding hill the other. If I hadn't sworn off alcohol for the next 7 weeks (trying desperately to get bathing suit ready for our FL trip), I would say I was looking forward to lots of partying after the kids were in bed. Oh well, I suppose one can party with perrier, right???
The last weekend of the month we've got Saturday night plans with the game night crowd at Melanie and Dave's and a tentative plan to head into the city on Sunday.
So, there you have it...I've just raced us through this dreaded month in the space of four paragraphs. Let's see how that works out. ;)
Monday, January 4, 2010
Reflecting
There were a number of times over the past couple of weeks that I thought to sit down and write this post, but it seems as though I was always busy, running somewhere, preparing for company, recovering from a late night...so, my end of the year reflection post will just have to happen in the New Year. Better late than never, I say.
In a way, the past few weeks have really been representative of 2009. I looked back at the goals for the year that I set at this time last year (exercise more and really put an effort into having girlfriends), and I really think I did well on both fronts. I think it is safe to say that I have become a pretty committed gym rat. I make it there 3-4 times a week, and enjoy my time there. A big part of this was the result of me making it a priority, rather than just something I tried to squeeze in around everyone else's schedules. It is nice to just put myself first for something, and I'm thankful for Evan, who easily and happily holds down the fort while I go.
As for making and nurturing friendships - 2009 was a great year, too. I definitely put more effort into tending to the friendships that I've had for years, with plenty of girls night out, couples 'dates' and family get togethers. One of my friends told me that my 'let's get together' spirit inspired her to get out of her cocoon, and it is safe to say that unlike past years, I do feel that we were invited out as much as we hosted and made our own fun, if that makes sense. So that is a good thing. I also made some new friends this year, and while all of them aren't that close comfortable fit that you have with people you've known for years, it has been fun getting to know new people and feeling more a part of the social fabric of the town, if that makes sense. the soccer field, PTA meetings, and school events are now filled with with friendlier faces. Finally, I've posted before about how awesome and friendly our neighborhood is, but something really clicked in 2009 where we no longer feel like the 'new kids on the block' (I guess after four years, we no longer are). We had a lot of fun socializing with neighbors, both casually and formally this year. We are so blessed in so many ways, but mostly by the people that surround us (physically and emotionally).
2009 also was a year of immense growth and change for the girls.
Right before my eyes, Sadie is blossoming into a more social self-confident little girl. This was the year she learned to swim, joined a soccer team, performed in the school variety show. As this new year begins, she is busy learning a new skill (ice skating) and preparing for a repeat performance in the school show next month. She is learning to deal with bullies and all sorts of things that as parents we wish we could protect them from, and doing it with such confidence and finesse that it makes my heart so happy. Her teacher has recommended her for pull-out enrichment, which makes this mama super proud, too.
Eden really transformed from a toddler to such a grown up little preschooler this year. I won't lie - three was not our easiest year with her, but as the year ends and her fourth birthday looms close on the horizon, it does seem as though we have pulled through the worst of it. The traits of hers that have made this year a parenting challenge (stubborness, determination, confidence, ambition) will serve her so well in life, so I have tried my best not to squash them (ha, as if I could). We had a moment this week that I think really sums up where we are in the journey of making it through the terrible three's...she was eating lunch (salami sandwich and a side of applesauce). She had finished half of her sandwich and all of her applesauce. She asked for more applesauce, and I told her she needed to finish her sandwich first. She made her trademark "hmph!" sound that often preceeds a bout of whining and then stopped. She said to me, "I almost had a fit, but then I didn't", and then finished her sandwhich without any drama. This is a turning point! She also continues to amaze me with how bright she is. Since pulling her from daycare at Cindy's house, we have not made any effort to keep up with her reading. I didn't want her to feel pressured, and I had read a compelling article which basically argued that little children only have the opportunity to be little children once in their lives - there is no need to push them to learn/do what they will most certainly learn and do at a later age. This really resonated with me and we completely backed off. Well. Just because we backed off, doesn't meant that Eden has (that whole determination/ambition thing), and she has really continued on her own, attempting to read everything from words in books to the back of the cereal boxes to street signs. Her teacher suggested to Evan and I that we should consider moving her up a level to pre-K (we're not going to, btw...for a few reasons), and again, hard not to feel so very proud of her. I can't even begin to imagine what this next year will bring for her in terms of learning and exploring, but I'm looking forward to watching it unfold.
Finally, this year was good to Evan and his business. While he sometimes laments at how little money he is actually making, we both feel so fortunate that he has found his vocation and gets to actually earn money doing something that he loves. I know his business will only continue to grown, so if this is the lowest point we will be financially, well...it's not such a bad place to be.
I guess that brings me to goals for this next year. Aside from the mundane (finally stop biting my nails) I really want to get our financial picture secure and healthy. We have made great strides in this area in the past year (setting and keeping to a monthly budget), but we have plenty of work still ahead of us. While we have done well sticking to our budget, I would love to have a little more breathing room in said budget - I really don't want to feel one big car or home repair away from disaster. I'd also love to be able to indulge in things from time to time (dinners out, or an excursion into the city with the girls) without having to do all sorts of scrimping and planning and creative budgeting to allow for it. This, of course, depends on our expenses going down and/or our income going up. I've already got some irons in the fire as far as our expenses (and, congrats to me...as of last Tuesday, I just paid my very last student loand payment), but mostly I'm putting my hopes on the latter. The year is off to a good start, with Evan's pipeline starting to fill up already, so I hope the trent continues.
Anyway, it will be fun to check in this time next year and reflect again. I have such a feeling of optimism about this year and sometimes I just think that attitude is half the battle. So, farewell 2009 - you were so good to us, and hello, 2010!
In a way, the past few weeks have really been representative of 2009. I looked back at the goals for the year that I set at this time last year (exercise more and really put an effort into having girlfriends), and I really think I did well on both fronts. I think it is safe to say that I have become a pretty committed gym rat. I make it there 3-4 times a week, and enjoy my time there. A big part of this was the result of me making it a priority, rather than just something I tried to squeeze in around everyone else's schedules. It is nice to just put myself first for something, and I'm thankful for Evan, who easily and happily holds down the fort while I go.
As for making and nurturing friendships - 2009 was a great year, too. I definitely put more effort into tending to the friendships that I've had for years, with plenty of girls night out, couples 'dates' and family get togethers. One of my friends told me that my 'let's get together' spirit inspired her to get out of her cocoon, and it is safe to say that unlike past years, I do feel that we were invited out as much as we hosted and made our own fun, if that makes sense. So that is a good thing. I also made some new friends this year, and while all of them aren't that close comfortable fit that you have with people you've known for years, it has been fun getting to know new people and feeling more a part of the social fabric of the town, if that makes sense. the soccer field, PTA meetings, and school events are now filled with with friendlier faces. Finally, I've posted before about how awesome and friendly our neighborhood is, but something really clicked in 2009 where we no longer feel like the 'new kids on the block' (I guess after four years, we no longer are). We had a lot of fun socializing with neighbors, both casually and formally this year. We are so blessed in so many ways, but mostly by the people that surround us (physically and emotionally).
2009 also was a year of immense growth and change for the girls.
Right before my eyes, Sadie is blossoming into a more social self-confident little girl. This was the year she learned to swim, joined a soccer team, performed in the school variety show. As this new year begins, she is busy learning a new skill (ice skating) and preparing for a repeat performance in the school show next month. She is learning to deal with bullies and all sorts of things that as parents we wish we could protect them from, and doing it with such confidence and finesse that it makes my heart so happy. Her teacher has recommended her for pull-out enrichment, which makes this mama super proud, too.
Eden really transformed from a toddler to such a grown up little preschooler this year. I won't lie - three was not our easiest year with her, but as the year ends and her fourth birthday looms close on the horizon, it does seem as though we have pulled through the worst of it. The traits of hers that have made this year a parenting challenge (stubborness, determination, confidence, ambition) will serve her so well in life, so I have tried my best not to squash them (ha, as if I could). We had a moment this week that I think really sums up where we are in the journey of making it through the terrible three's...she was eating lunch (salami sandwich and a side of applesauce). She had finished half of her sandwich and all of her applesauce. She asked for more applesauce, and I told her she needed to finish her sandwich first. She made her trademark "hmph!" sound that often preceeds a bout of whining and then stopped. She said to me, "I almost had a fit, but then I didn't", and then finished her sandwhich without any drama. This is a turning point! She also continues to amaze me with how bright she is. Since pulling her from daycare at Cindy's house, we have not made any effort to keep up with her reading. I didn't want her to feel pressured, and I had read a compelling article which basically argued that little children only have the opportunity to be little children once in their lives - there is no need to push them to learn/do what they will most certainly learn and do at a later age. This really resonated with me and we completely backed off. Well. Just because we backed off, doesn't meant that Eden has (that whole determination/ambition thing), and she has really continued on her own, attempting to read everything from words in books to the back of the cereal boxes to street signs. Her teacher suggested to Evan and I that we should consider moving her up a level to pre-K (we're not going to, btw...for a few reasons), and again, hard not to feel so very proud of her. I can't even begin to imagine what this next year will bring for her in terms of learning and exploring, but I'm looking forward to watching it unfold.
Finally, this year was good to Evan and his business. While he sometimes laments at how little money he is actually making, we both feel so fortunate that he has found his vocation and gets to actually earn money doing something that he loves. I know his business will only continue to grown, so if this is the lowest point we will be financially, well...it's not such a bad place to be.
I guess that brings me to goals for this next year. Aside from the mundane (finally stop biting my nails) I really want to get our financial picture secure and healthy. We have made great strides in this area in the past year (setting and keeping to a monthly budget), but we have plenty of work still ahead of us. While we have done well sticking to our budget, I would love to have a little more breathing room in said budget - I really don't want to feel one big car or home repair away from disaster. I'd also love to be able to indulge in things from time to time (dinners out, or an excursion into the city with the girls) without having to do all sorts of scrimping and planning and creative budgeting to allow for it. This, of course, depends on our expenses going down and/or our income going up. I've already got some irons in the fire as far as our expenses (and, congrats to me...as of last Tuesday, I just paid my very last student loand payment), but mostly I'm putting my hopes on the latter. The year is off to a good start, with Evan's pipeline starting to fill up already, so I hope the trent continues.
Anyway, it will be fun to check in this time next year and reflect again. I have such a feeling of optimism about this year and sometimes I just think that attitude is half the battle. So, farewell 2009 - you were so good to us, and hello, 2010!
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