Some Holiday Perspective

Yesterday, I was traipsing through my house, stumbling over items strewn across the floors, thinking to myself, "This house doesn't even look like there's a mother around." And then, in an instant, like a flashback, I remembered the whole morning of playing with my sweet little girl--from snuggling on the couch with a good book, to beauty salon, to friendship bracelet-ing. I literally had to speak to myself and say, "Wait a second. There has been a mother around the house--and she's been spending precious time with her sweet little girl."

Sometimes I need a little perspective--it's easy in this busy time of year to be overwhelmed by all that I haven't accomplished, all the dust underneath the garland on the piano, the crumbs and wrappers of eaten candy left around, the piles of not-yet-put-away Christmas presents, and so on and so forth. But then I have to take a moment to remind myself of the higher priorities; that sometimes a less than perfect house is an indication of a mom who chose to make a lasting memory instead of a fleeting shiny floor (and yes, sometimes a messy house reveals my laziness...).

All this to say, I'm trying these days to make a conscious effort to choose the lasting memory instead of the feel-good productivity. Sometimes checking off my to-do list is just not as important as the moments that can't be as easily recorded, but that leave a greater mark on my family.

(and sometimes I wash dishes too.)

"We Love You Ms. Hannigan!"

We don't really "do" Halloween in our family--but this year we decided to have a family costume night and hide candy and light up the house and make a memory. Can you guess who Julia and I are?

We've got Annie on the brain--the first Broadway musical we saw while in NYC a few weeks ago. What an amazing experience it was, but not without some drama, and what may be my most embarrassing moment ever. Let me explain.

In the middle of the first half of the show, Julia just "had to go bafroom." seriously. And if you know Julia, when she has to go, she has to go. Well, we were on the second row of the mezzanine (the balcony), and I motioned to Luke to the sign that said "exit," inquiring if that was the door I should go out of, you know, not wanting to cause a scene or draw attention to ourselves or anything. He nodded "yes." Thanks Luke. So Julia and I slither out, and I sort of push her out the exit door, only to be hit with a huge draft of wind, the sound of clinking scaffolding below our feet, and the noise of traffic! Panicking, I dragged Julia right back in quickly, and slipped her down a side set of stairs thinking they surely must be the exit. But no, just the stairs to the very front of the next level, still in front of the whole audience. At this point I'm crouching and hiding, literally, trying to figure out what to do next.

So, I brace myself, don't make eye contact whatsoever, and push her back up the stairs and all the way up the next set of stairs past the whole audience to the very back, down the flight of stairs, and into the tiny two seater bathroom with a loud flusher, just a few feet away from the audience.

Let me just tell you that going back into the show was the last thing I wanted to do.... But we did it, and Luke motioned to me like "Why the heck did you go out the exit door? Obviously, that meant exit to the street. I was pointing over there." Hmm. Thanks but no thanks.

Sentimental

*warning: trader joe's has made it's way into my blog. something's wrong here.*

Times are changing around here, in a big way; and it's the talk of the town--Trader Joe's. It's almost embarrassing what a big deal it is. But it is what it is, and I will take part. So I strolled through the familiar store with my little guy tucked into the basket this morning, minutes after the store opened. I was smart enough to wait a week before attempting this, since the craze is just a little more mild this week. What I love about this store is the sample coffee in the back--there's something comforting about a stroll through a tiny grocery store sipping a tiny cup of good coffee.

My first experience with Trader Joe's was in California, of course, with Naomi. And Luke and I always stop in whenever we get the chance too. But last time I was in California, Naomi and I stopped into Trader Joe's before we even made it home from the airport, shopping and drinking coffee, and later we picked out little goodies for the kids. And of course chocolate for us, I'm sure. So today, I bought myself a bar of chocolate, thinking to myself, "If Naomi were here, what would we get?" So here's to my dear Naomi, who I miss with all my heart--

wish you were here to sip coffee and nibble a chocolate with me.

Home again

The Empire State Building, in all its foggy glory. Really, quite a tremendous view
from the top of the Rockefeller Center.

A taste of culture, a snapshot into another style of living, is what we enjoyed experiencing with our girls last week (Landis stayed home with his grandparents). We may not have even stood on the steps of a museum while we were there, but I have to say it was kind of intentional. We've been to museums, they have their place, but really what we wanted was to explore, walk, experience different kinds of transportation, people watch, etc. There's so much learning in just absorbing what you see, trying to figure out if so-and-so was a tourist or a local, learning which streets to walk on to avoid the crowds, figuring out that tourists walk with their heads pointing towards the sky, while locals keep their heads buried in their chests, either totally oblivious of what's around because they're so used to it, or just trying not to make eye contact with the millions of tourists, who knows.

We delighted in the memories made, the colors of fall, spending a whole day walking the streets in the rain with cheap ol' umbrellas, sipping single cup drip coffee on top of Chelsea Market, eating our Hale & Hearty soup, riding bikes in Central Park, gripping our children's hands soooo tight while riding the subways, using the secret stair well that no one else in the hotel seemed to use (who instead waited for the ridiculously slow elevators--we have no time for that people!), sharing a tire swing with a sweet little city girl (they really are hospitable, those locals), making fun of the angry cab drivers (who aren't really angry at all, it's just a way of life, I think), finding the hidden little coffee/pastry shops before the other tourists wake up, seeing my sweet girls enamored by Annie and Mary Poppins, their first Broadway shows, and more. The memories keep popping up, such a sweet time with my sweet family.

My heart goes out to those right now who are having to deal with that hurricane--I can't believe we barely beat it home!

Blueberry Bonanza

So, I have a deep and probing question for all you grocery shoppers out there: Who in the world designed the tiny, flimsy little blueberry containers you buy, that hardly stay closed and slip ever so easily out of one's hands? I'd like to know.

I found myself at the grocery store by myself the other day, which is a rare and prized occurrence. And as I innocently shopped for my items, I carefully picked out my two little pints of blueberries for Luke's birthday dessert. And then I promptly dropped one on the floor, and of course it spilled out everywhere. Immediately, the cute little man with the broom and dumpster scurried behind me, kindly swept up the mess (before I stepped and smushed them all to pieces); thanks little man.

Ah, you'd think I'd be done with messes after that. But no, as I helped bag my own groceries (since they were short on help), that other little carton of blueberries slipped out of the bag and, yet again, spilled all over the floor. This was in the same shopping trip, people, and my kids weren't even with me! And who came over to clean them up and go retrieve me another container? Yep, that same little man...and I tried desperately to hide my face and not make eye contact, hoping that he didn't put two and two together and wonder what in the world was wrong with this lady! (yeh right, I'm sure he knew it was me).

And if you think this is a very random post to add after so many months away from blogging, let it just be a glimpse into my life right now...

Sweet Friend

I know, I know, it's been way toooo long since I've blogged. But I'm sure most of you have been just as busy doing exactly what I've been doing--entertaining children during a very hot summer. Not to mention all the other stuff we mommas do to keep busy....

And I'm sure there are many stories to fill these blog pages with from these past couple months, and slowly but surely I'll work my way through them. For now, the thing closest and dearest to my heart is the fact that I had to say goodbye to yet another dear friend. It's bitter-sweet--having dear friends all over the country, and out of the country; bitter because of the times spent missing them, wishing you could just stop in and hang out; sweet because of the way God brings so many wonderful people in and out of our lives. What a blessing to have a life that has been enriched with friendship!

So my sweet friend Hillary, and her sweet family, followed God's call in their lives to move all the way back to New York state to be near family--to love them and hopefully impact them for the sake of the Gospel. God kept them around way longer than they had planned, but finally sent them on their way. I will miss weekly meetings with Hillary, studying good books, sharing Scripture, praying, eating pastries, and doing nails. Our times were so encouraging and uplifting to me.

But I'm thankful for modern technology--texting and phone calls that will hopefully help keep us in touch!

And after crying quite a few tears, one day early this week I received a package in the mail--a sweet gift from Hillary, thoughtful and exactly what I had mentioned wanting. I couldn't call her to say thanks because I knew I'd burst into tears yet once again. So now I have something to remember her by, and she has a bathtub to remember me by (yep, we sent them with an old antique bathtub we'd bought along time ago...really, just so she will never ever forget me...man, I should have signed it!)

Random Lessons from a Momma....

...in no particular order....

*Sometimes, when you walk into a messy room, or peak into a not-so-tidy closet, it's a sign of creativity and ingenious; a sign of people who've been about, using their imaginations and hands to keep themselves busy and their brain cells multiplying...

*Using a timer as the objective decider is a mother's secret weapon..."Oh, you want a turn with the car too, honey? Okay, let's set the timer and when it beeps it will be your turn." or, "Yes, I can definitely play in your fort with you, but when the beeper goes off (5 minutes later) I have to get back to cooking dinner." Genius.


*Lollipops are the way to a little boy's heart...or poop, whichever way you want to look at it. Go ahead, try it; I assure you, he will poop on the potty every time...


*When you come upon the random box full of an assortment of things meant for the empty basket laying right beside it, pass over the "What???" and think, "He was busy.  His hands were busy. Unloading and Reloading is a very important developmental skill." Move on (but make sure he practices that skill by "unloading and reloading" back).

*Just turn on some music, people! Worship, classical, children's praise songs...it seriously lightens the mood and I'm telling you, my kids get happier, and so do I!