It feels weird to be home today, nothing to do and no where to go.
When we left summer vacation was just starting, and now, here we are at home with the summer before us and it all sort of seems weird. Nothing to do and no where to go.
Planning for the trip started about 10 weeks ago - hotel reservations, where we would stop, the routes we would take. But, the idea for the trip had been something Mike and I had been talking about for some time. The timing never right though, or the kids not old enough.
My mom rented a house for a week in Rockaway Beach, OR. The original plan had been to fly in to Portland and stay the week on the beach. But, then we had thought, it would be nice to see my brother and sister-in-laws new house in Seattle. And, the redwoods. And (since we were so close) San Francisco. When one of us said, "Well, why don't we just drive." And the idea took root. And started to grow.
Twelve years ago Mike and I and our friend Tom took a similar trip cross country to go to the High Sierra Music festival in Quincy, CA. Mike and I got engaged on that trip, somewhere in the middle of Wyoming. It had been such an amazing trip, watching out the window as the land and features of our country ebbed and flowed and changed. It had felt like magic.
Over the past 3 weeks, we traveled around 6500 miles through 16 states. It was an amazing trip. I am glad to be home, but, if we could get back in the car and do it all again, I would.
I had meant to blog during the trip, but we were always so exhausted by the time we ended our days. If I had been to write before the trip, I would have described the anticipation, the excitement. Twelve years ago, life quite literally changed as a result of the trip. Mike and I married, had two children. I don't know if any change will come of this trip. But, now that we are home, that same feeling is there. My world is bigger, my eyes open, my heart full.
Wednesday, July 16, 2014
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Reminders
The mornings are usually pretty hectic, no matter how organized or prepared I think I am.
Lunches need to made, library books gathered, plans for after school made.
Because of this, I trust the kids to get dressed themselves in the mornings.
Kate's outfits are usually .... unique. I usually don't argue too much about it. Except for the day she wanted to wear three skirts and her orange fish-net stockings. Or the one day she wanted to wear shorts over jeans. Today is all peace signs. It even sort of matches.
David is the easy one. A reminder about changing his underwear is needed, but otherwise it's pants (or shorts as soon as the weather hits 65) and a t-shirt.
I think that's why I was so surprised this morning.
The bus came a couple minutes early and the kids were getting ready to board. I turned to say goodbye, but instead, this came out:
Me: David, what are you wearing!
David: blank stare
Me: You're pants are dirty!
No, not dirty. Filthy. Gross. Disgusting. Covered in grass and mud and leaves and food and who knows what else.
Me: Want to go in and change. I can drive you ...
David: They're clean. They're fine.
And he got on the bus.
I'm resisting the urge to bring him a clean pair to school.
Reminders for tomorrow: No fish net tights. Only one skirt. Clean underwear. Clean pants.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Lunches need to made, library books gathered, plans for after school made.
Because of this, I trust the kids to get dressed themselves in the mornings.
Kate's outfits are usually .... unique. I usually don't argue too much about it. Except for the day she wanted to wear three skirts and her orange fish-net stockings. Or the one day she wanted to wear shorts over jeans. Today is all peace signs. It even sort of matches.
David is the easy one. A reminder about changing his underwear is needed, but otherwise it's pants (or shorts as soon as the weather hits 65) and a t-shirt.
I think that's why I was so surprised this morning.
The bus came a couple minutes early and the kids were getting ready to board. I turned to say goodbye, but instead, this came out:
Me: David, what are you wearing!
David: blank stare
Me: You're pants are dirty!
No, not dirty. Filthy. Gross. Disgusting. Covered in grass and mud and leaves and food and who knows what else.
Me: Want to go in and change. I can drive you ...
David: They're clean. They're fine.
And he got on the bus.
I'm resisting the urge to bring him a clean pair to school.
Reminders for tomorrow: No fish net tights. Only one skirt. Clean underwear. Clean pants.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Happy Halloween
Witches and ghosts and goblins, oh my!
Flew through the night of a Halloween sky
Looking for children of just the right size
to bake, boil, saute and fry
So children be warned of the pieces you eat
of that delicious chocolate you get
when you say "trick or treat"
by: jen mitchell
Flew through the night of a Halloween sky
Looking for children of just the right size
to bake, boil, saute and fry
So children be warned of the pieces you eat
of that delicious chocolate you get
when you say "trick or treat"
by: jen mitchell
Monday, March 11, 2013
Kate-isms
Kate: Mom, have you ever been to California?
Me: Yes.
Kate: I bet every one there eats cotton candy all the time. I think maybe even for breakfast. It's magical there.
Kate: Even without a bad guy, weddings can be difficult.
Kate: Do fish get married?
Me: No.
Kate: Then how do they have babies. Husbands and wives have to kiss for babies to be born, don't you know that? Wait. How do the fish kiss?
Me: Um. Well. So. The girl fish lay eggs, and then the boy fish help them take care of them. They are just fish, they don't do things like people.
Kate: Well, they do they live together in the tank forever and ever. I think that's okay.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Me: Yes.
Kate: I bet every one there eats cotton candy all the time. I think maybe even for breakfast. It's magical there.
Kate: Even without a bad guy, weddings can be difficult.
Kate: Do fish get married?
Me: No.
Kate: Then how do they have babies. Husbands and wives have to kiss for babies to be born, don't you know that? Wait. How do the fish kiss?
Me: Um. Well. So. The girl fish lay eggs, and then the boy fish help them take care of them. They are just fish, they don't do things like people.
Kate: Well, they do they live together in the tank forever and ever. I think that's okay.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
When I rule the world
David has decided that he is going to be the President of the United States when he grows up.
We were discussing his coming Presidency at dinner the other night.
Me: Will you make any new rules when your President?
David: Everyone will have to play video games for an hour and a half everyday.
Me: Have to? Like a law?
David: Yes, playing video games everyday will be law.
Me: What happens if they don't play video games everyday?
David: They'll go to jail. (Cue evil 7 year old laugh)
I would start investing in some video games.
We were discussing his coming Presidency at dinner the other night.
Me: Will you make any new rules when your President?
David: Everyone will have to play video games for an hour and a half everyday.
Me: Have to? Like a law?
David: Yes, playing video games everyday will be law.
Me: What happens if they don't play video games everyday?
David: They'll go to jail. (Cue evil 7 year old laugh)
I would start investing in some video games.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
One of my favorite things
The first half of the year, I was up by 7am, showered and dressed by the time the kids woke up.
The second half:
I'm throwing my coat over my pajamas to wait with David for the bus.
It's nice being a stay at home mom.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The second half:
I'm throwing my coat over my pajamas to wait with David for the bus.
It's nice being a stay at home mom.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Movie Night
Movie Night Rules:
1. There must be popcorn, soda and juice.
2. Movie picking order: Dad, David, Kate, Mom
3. Absolutely no crying or complaining over the movie choice. Crying gets you sent right to bed and you forfeit your next choice.
4. The movie we watch can not be one we have seen before.
5. Everyone has to be there.
I'm not sure when exactly movie night started, sometime last spring I think.
But, it has become a ritual in our house.
Last night was Kate's night to pick. I thankfully had one bag of popcorn left. It's not a real movie night unless Rule #1 is followed.
Rule #4 came about because we were constantly watching the same movies when it was the kids turns, over and over and over. Kate would choose Caillou Christmas. And, honestly if I had to watch Caillou one more time, I was just going to snap.
It took her about an hour last night to pick. She and I went through Netflix after dinner and watched trailers of anything that sounded good to her. She decided on Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue.
And that's why Rule #3 came into existence. David immediately announced that he wasn't going to watch. I reminded him of the rule.
"That's fine. You can go right to bed and we'll skip you on your next turn."
David decided to watch the fairy movie.
To be honest, I sort of wanted to go to bed too rather than watch Tinkbell rescue anything. But, my turn is next (Rule #2) and picking the movie is a pretty big deal.
Movie night movies are hit or miss. My last pick was Men in Black. We still talk about what a disaster that was.
Tinkbell and the Great Fairy Rescue was a hit. It was a cute movie. Really. Even Mike laughed.
The best part of movie night, of course, is that we all snuggle up on the couch to watch. And share a big bowl of popcorn. And laugh, and cry, or, on occasion, even shout at the tv.
Together.
Which is why Rule #5 is the most important.
1. There must be popcorn, soda and juice.
2. Movie picking order: Dad, David, Kate, Mom
3. Absolutely no crying or complaining over the movie choice. Crying gets you sent right to bed and you forfeit your next choice.
4. The movie we watch can not be one we have seen before.
5. Everyone has to be there.
I'm not sure when exactly movie night started, sometime last spring I think.
But, it has become a ritual in our house.
Last night was Kate's night to pick. I thankfully had one bag of popcorn left. It's not a real movie night unless Rule #1 is followed.
Rule #4 came about because we were constantly watching the same movies when it was the kids turns, over and over and over. Kate would choose Caillou Christmas. And, honestly if I had to watch Caillou one more time, I was just going to snap.
It took her about an hour last night to pick. She and I went through Netflix after dinner and watched trailers of anything that sounded good to her. She decided on Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue.
And that's why Rule #3 came into existence. David immediately announced that he wasn't going to watch. I reminded him of the rule.
"That's fine. You can go right to bed and we'll skip you on your next turn."
David decided to watch the fairy movie.
To be honest, I sort of wanted to go to bed too rather than watch Tinkbell rescue anything. But, my turn is next (Rule #2) and picking the movie is a pretty big deal.
Movie night movies are hit or miss. My last pick was Men in Black. We still talk about what a disaster that was.
Tinkbell and the Great Fairy Rescue was a hit. It was a cute movie. Really. Even Mike laughed.
The best part of movie night, of course, is that we all snuggle up on the couch to watch. And share a big bowl of popcorn. And laugh, and cry, or, on occasion, even shout at the tv.
Together.
Which is why Rule #5 is the most important.
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