January was a month all about me reconnecting with my friends--old and new.
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Friday Favorites
In some ways 70 years feels like a lifetime ago (as it should, it is). But in other ways, especially when considering the atrocities that happened during WWII, it's too close.
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The Sun Also Rises
Have you ever noticed that oftentimes the most romantic moments in movies happen at sunset? There really is something about that light...it's romantic and beautiful. It really is the perfect setting for romance.
But I have a confession.
While I like sunsets, my real passion is on the other end...sunrises.
Not that I see a lot of them, or am able to really enjoy them if I do see them. Having a couple of preschoolers has made that a little more difficult.
But, when I am around for them, I love them. I love them because it's a new day and whatever seemed overwhelming in the darkness of night is washed away by the light.
And they are incredibly romantic.
Say what?
I have a reason for this--let me set the scene.
May, 2003. A chilly (very) early morning in Milwaukee. My alarm goes off and I begrudgingly force myself out of my warm bed, get dressed and make my way into the kitchen. Marc is already there, pouring coffee into a thermos. We exchange pleasantries and then gather the blankets and bag of treats and leave the house.
As we make our way to the lake side I wonder why this is so important for Marc to show me. He has brought up the sunrise on the lake so many times in recent weeks. At first I thought he was just telling me how pretty it was and that "one day" we should check it out. You know, "one day." But then he brought it up again...and again...and actually put a plan in place for us to see it. The urgency! We had just rolled into town the night before and now we were up early to go see the sunrise. I just felt tired and cold. I was a little grumpy.
He parked the car and we made our way down a beautiful staircase. A very long, beautiful staircase. All I could think is how much I was not looking forward to the return trip.
He found what he deemed as a perfect spot and we put out the blanket and sat down. I also covered myself in layers of blankets--it was cold.
The next thing I heard was a bottle being popped. Champagne? What was going on? I couldn't get over just how much he really loved sunrises.
So we sat, alternated between sipping our bubbly and coffee (a weird combo, but it worked--both were warming me up) and talked.
It was so nice. My grumpiness faded and we talked about everything. Our pasts, our present, our future. We knew we were going to get married. We knew we'd have kids. But we also knew we wanted a house and a dog, first. Oh the plans we made, the wishes we had.
Unfortunately for Marc, the sunrise wasn't exactly cooperating. It was a cloudy day and the beautifulness that he wanted to share with me was partly blocked.
And it was cold. After a couple of hours I mentioned how cold I was and asked if it was time to go. The sun had risen and although it was a wonderful morning, I was ready to get into a heated vehicle.
He agreed and we started to pack up our stuff. While packing we talked about ring shopping and I said I wanted nothing to do with that, I wanted him to pick me a ring. I trusted him and wanted him to do it all on his own.
"Ok, well, what about this one?"
When I turned around he was on his knees.
My first reaction was to laugh. I literally thought he was joking. Like he had just picked up a branch or something and quickly made a "ring."
But, as I looked closer, that was no branch.
The rest is a beautiful blur...there were tears, the most lovely speech and promises. There was love.
And it all happened at sunrise on Lake Michigan in Milwaukee.
Oh, and the "return trip" of climbing that very long, beautiful staircase I was so worried about? It was super easy because I floated up them.
This is why sunsets don't own the "most romantic" part of the day for me.
Because the sun also rises and it's the most beautiful thing.
www.writingwithbangles.com
Claiming Another Year
I'll embrace every gray hair (a sign of wisdom, right?), every bit of extra tummy flab (a couple of special kiddos were housed in there for a few months) and every new line that draws itself deeper into my face over time (the lines of laughter).
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Friday Favorites
I made a goal to read more. I put in place a plan that was a little ambitious but I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't aimed so high?
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Thoughts of a SAHM--Morning/Target Trip Edition
Many days when my husband comes home from work he says something to the effect of:
"Hey, slow down a minute, I'm home. I can help. Right now I just feel like I'm getting in your way."
He's right...he is. But it's not his fault. I'm alone with my kids (and three days a week with 2 other kids, too) all day with no one to talk to besides a houseful of toddlers and preschoolers (and a dog).
And my head.
I have lists in there. I have time tables. I have "this needs to get done before I can do that and I need to do it then because if I wait too long then {enter child's name here} will have a temper tantrum because that other thing isn't happening" circling in my noggin all day, everyday. So when my husband comes home it takes a bit for me to get out of my head and back to being a normal person. Well, as normal as this neurotic woman can be.
Which makes sense. My husband has a roughly 30 minute commute home to decompress and leave work behind. Not that driving in rush hour traffic is the most relaxing thing, but he still has that transitional period.
My transitional period is... well, considering I live where I work the transition from "the boss" to "the co-boss" is a hard one.
But his main complaint is that I don't really talk to him. I just run around him, might ask him to do something and if he doesn't do it like right.that.second. then I just do it. I keep going and going...as though I'm still alone, managing the kids, house, dog.
Reflecting on my mind activity the other day, I started to wonder what my daily thoughts were like and if I could try to capture them.
Here are some of the highlights of just a couple of hours in my head (because no one needs to be in my head for too long--you may never get out).
One kid awake.
5 more minutes.
Two kids awake.
5 more minutes.
Two kids awake yelling for me.
5 more minutes...
Ok, not happening. I need coffee.
10 minutes later.
Is the coffee done yet? What is taking it so long?
2 minutes later.
Ahhhhhhh, coffee.
What can we do today that's fun. Maybe we'll do some crafts? I was reading about this cool idea the other day, what site was that...maybe I can find it...
Oh, I have alerts from Facebook! Let's check that.
This coffee is so good.
What was I doing? Oh, yes, the craft...
Crap! What time is it! We're going to be late for preschool!
5 minutes later.
Why does E move so slowly? If I tell her we're late she moves slower. If I act stressed she'll get upset. So I'll just be calm and patient. I'll model patience. She needs that. I'll...
5 minutes later.
Ok. So I probably shouldn't have just snapped at her and told her to put her socks on her feet and not her hands. Now I have a crying girl.
5 minutes later.
Let's think about this. I need 5 minutes for her hair (those snarls!), we can get breakfast done in 15, I'll clean up when we get home. I'll line up boots at the door and get coats ready. Her backpack is on the door, shoes in it. I think we'll get there only like 3 minutes late. Which is basically on time. Actually it's early. We're totally fine.
5 minutes later.
Why do I get E dressed before breakfast. There's always a spill.
5 minutes later.
Ok, we'll be like 5 minutes late, still fine.
2 minutes later.
B needs a toy. And, of course, not just any toy, but the one car we can't find before we leave. Let's think about this. He likes to push his cars into tunnels or under things. Look under the couches. No. Look under the bench. No. Look in the heating grate...of course.
5 minutes later.
I shouldn't have scolded him. And now I have a crying boy. 7 minutes late. Just as long as I make it before 10 minutes. Because that's late.
1 minute later.
I forgot to feed the dog. I really am a horrible person. 7 1/2 minutes late.
1 minute later.
I need new mittens. I can't buckle the kids in with these darn things on. Maybe after we drop E off at school we can go to Target. That would be so nice. I can buy a nice cup of coffee, we can wander around, have some mother/son bonding. It will be the best morning ever.
2 minutes later.
I forgot E's bag. 8 minutes late.
1 minute later.
I'll get a mocha. No, I wonder if they'll still have gingerbread lattes. Maybe just an americano, I'm feeling simple. And a croissant. I am so excited. This is turning out to be a great morning.
2 minutes later.
I forgot my purse. It's sitting by the heating vent.
1 minute later.
Of course, since we are running about 8 minutes late there are no parking spots.
3 minutes later.
Why does she seriously move so s-l-o-w. I don't understand how she can take so long to take off her boots and slip on shoes. I wish I could just carry her. Not have to deal with boots. I could throw her over my shoulder and just carry her across the parking lot like a sack of potatoes. Anything is better than waiting for her to slip her boots off and slip her shoes on. That's literally all she has to do. Slip off. Slip on. It's like she knows I want her to hurry up. Is she being manipulative? Can you be manipulative at 4? Wait, where did B go...
1 minute later.
9 1/2 minutes late but under 10 minutes so I count it as a win. I rock.
10 minutes later.
Got purse, going to Target. I can't wait for my drink. B is so cute, he loves our errand mornings. This is perfect. We are so instagramable. Oh my god that is so cute. Instagramable. I obviously need to instagram our instagramable cuteness.
10 minutes later.
So I knew he could scream but I didn't know he could scream SO loud. My eardrum is shattered. I seriously think it's ringing. All because they were out of Madeleine cookies. How do you run out of those darn little cookies? Those are like mommy bribery central. It's their fault he got so upset. They should have had them.
1 minute later.
Ok. It might have been my fault a little. Whatever. He's happy now. So I rock again.
1 minute later.
What was I coming here for again...
Well I need bread. And milk. And cereal. When don't we need those things? What is going to be like raising teenagers? I already feel like they eat so much. Teenagers. I can't imagine. It feels so far away but with E starting kindergarten in just a few months and then B next year...it's going to be here before I know it.
1 minute later.
I will not start crying in Target. I will not start crying in Target. I will not start crying in Target.
10 minutes later.
I should not have stopped by the clearance section. Just a bad idea. I gotta get out of here before I find more that I need.
10 minutes later.
It is so darn hard getting B buckled in with these mittens. I really need a new pair...
Oh.
I guess we can come back tomorrow.
*****
I hope you survived that jaunt into my brain. Luckily you get to leave. I'm stuck living here.
{P.S. If you like reading about imagined thoughts, check out this time I wrote about what I imagined my daughter was really thinking throughout a day.}
xo Sara
If you love this, follow all my adventures via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook!
May I Have This Dance?
My grandma turned to me and advised that having dates with your spouse is important. She added that dancing forces you to be close--emotionally and physically. It makes you accept missteps. They happen, but you keep moving.
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Friday Favorites
Today's Friday Favorites is featuring a fast five. Hang on to your pants, here we go!
1. After a month of spending a lot of time in my home (I went a whole week, from Christmas Eve until New Year's Eve, without leaving my home ONCE) with my family (which I loved, except for the sick days) I'm back to connecting with friends and having some new adventures. Just this week we had dinner with old friends of my husband and their kids; I took my daughter to watch my grandma and grandpa square dance; I hung out with a friend and watched "Funny Face" (I love classics and that's one I'd never seen...I just adore Audrey); tonight I'm going out to dinner with another friend; tomorrow I'm giving a presentation on social media and later meeting some blogger friends for karaoke...whew!
2. Living in Minnesota has its pros and cons and the deep freeze we were in until recently is certainly a con. I don't mind cold weather and snow (I am a born and raised Minnesotan) but those bone-chilling, -40 degree windchill days is a bit much. However, a perk to those days is when the temp starts to climb it feels downright tropical. Who would have though 20 degrees could feel so warm? And then 30? And...gasp!...almost 40 tomorrow? I think that's shorts weather, right?
3. E has started swim lessons and I love seeing her develop an even deeper love of the water and confidence. Especially considering number 4...
4. I am currently planning...well, maybe counting down is a better way to put it...our family trip to Florida. My husband's parents rent a condo each February in Ft. Myers and we are joining them for a week. The last time we visited them in Florida was back in 2009, pre-kids. They have a nice pool and are right on the beach; I'm so excited for the kids to have this experience. Plus, as the big baseball fans my husband and I are (did you know prior to kids we would take trips to see the Twins play in different stadiums?), we loved going to spring training last time and will do so again. I really can't wait...I don't even think the airplane ride with the kids will be that horrible (or is that just wishful thinking?).
5. Finally, I'm super-extra-can't wait excited for my post on Monday. It's something I've wanted to write forever and I finally am. Plus, it's dedicated to a couple of very special people. I'm still working on it and can't wait to share it with all of you. A labor of love.
There you have it, a fast five round-up of my favorite happenings. Share your favorite current activity/event/anything in the comments and let's make this the happiest of Fridays, friends!
{P.S. If you love random posts about various things, check out this or this! And if that wasn't enough of an incentive to click on those posts, then I don't know what would be.}
xo Sara
If you love this, follow all my adventures via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook!
Times My Son Has Made Me Laugh
I always say that my kids make me laugh more than anything. It really is hard to be in a bad mood around them. Not impossible, we have our days, but hard. Here is a small sampling of a few times my son has made me laugh...or, at a minimum, smile...recently.
B likes to sing himself to sleep sometimes and over the holidays he was kind of obsessed with Frosty the Snowman. One night I heard him sing a new version:
"Mom-my the gi-irl,
was a jolly happy girl."
Often when I change his sheets, he'll go to the front of his fire engine bed (which he calls 'Lightning') and says:
"It's ok, Lightning, we're fixing you. It's ok. It's almost done. It's ok...there! All done. Don't you feel better?" (All the while patting the top of the bed.)
Neil Diamond was singing on the TV. B points and yells:
"Daddy!" (I AM married to a rock star! Who knew?)
Regarding bedtime/naptime being over.
In a demanding mood:
"Mommy! Open. The. Door. NOW!"
Begging:
"Mommy, you want to open the door pleeeeeeeeeease?"
Encouraging:
"Mommy, you can open the door! Try! You can do it!"
When putting the towel around his waist after a bath to keep warm while I put lotion on his arms and face, he says:
"Ok, like Tarzan. AHHHHH-EEEEE!!!"
(Not so recent but I giggle every time I think of it. From last summer.)
Kids are anxiously awaiting Norah's arrival to celebrate her birthday.
"I see her! I see Norah! Oh, no. That's not Norah, that's a house."
Finally, according to Brandon "happy new year" is too broad. Ever since January 1st, he's been saying, each morning:
"Happy New Day!"
Each day is a "new day" full of new opportunities for him to make me laugh. Which he does.
Happy new day, friends!
{P.S. Here's a time I used E's words to describe her year.}
xo Sara
If you love this, follow all my adventures via Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook!
2015 Word of the Year
This is not a healthy relationship. I don't like the feeling I get after the "high" of procrastination--the feeling of "catch up." Or of failure because I didn't do something I wanted/needed/desired to do.
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