Wandering the beach today I realized how much I take for granted lately. I try as a matter of course to be appreciative of what I have and sometimes more importantly - what I don't have.
I think it's human nature to be so caught up in living that sometimes I forget to really appreciate what is in front of me. Or perhaps being caught up in living is appreciating what you have.
I love that I get to experience winter again - but with blue skies and sun. The short, gray days are few and far between on the coast.
I am so grateful I had 2 1/2 weeks with my mom here. She did dishes and helped with the girls. The girls loved having her here, and I really think she forged great bonds with them. It made my life easier while Dan has been gone so much over the last 3 weeks.
I'm happy that my girls are so polite and kind. They each have their moments - but for young children - they are amazing.
I'm so grateful to live in such a beautiful area.
There is so much more - but for today - that's enough.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
I love my shuffle.
Now that my computer has finally returned to me (minus my software.. waaaaah) I am finally able to use my Shuffle.
I love it.
At night when I sit up and nurse the baby (a million times a night) I can listen to music or podcasts.
I can not tell you enough how much I love podcasts. I love, love, love, love them. It feeds my need for knowledge. I can listen to podcasts about tech stuff, business, parenting. I am finally able to listen to all my favorite NPR shows. This American Life - ahhh now that's the way to go to sleep. In a good way I mean.
Yes, apparently what this makes me is a geek. I'm ok with that.
I love it.
At night when I sit up and nurse the baby (a million times a night) I can listen to music or podcasts.
I can not tell you enough how much I love podcasts. I love, love, love, love them. It feeds my need for knowledge. I can listen to podcasts about tech stuff, business, parenting. I am finally able to listen to all my favorite NPR shows. This American Life - ahhh now that's the way to go to sleep. In a good way I mean.
Yes, apparently what this makes me is a geek. I'm ok with that.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Steal my kisses...
Spending time searching the past can be a worthwhile endeavor, it can also be scary, powerful and moving. The lessons of our past are often overlooked, yet buried in our subconsious to be pulled upon later in the disguise as a "gut feeling". When you spend too much time looking back it's easy to get blindsided in the present.
Lately I have been in contact with a lot of people from my past. It's a strange situation. So many people I have been thrilled to hear from. Like "F". She was in my French classes in high school, and I always really liked her. She is amazingly friendly in addition to being smart, kind and interesting. I have loved hearing about her life now as an adult - and as a mother. I remember those first months with my first baby and the wonder of it all.
I've also heard from "T" who was a good friend of mine from elementary school on. It's funny to me how many times over a decade our lives twisted into each other - and still continues to another decade later. She's also a mom to 3 and in touch with some of our mutual friends.
There have been a half dozen more in the last couple weeks. It's great to hear from people and to find out where their lives have taken them.
This all leads me to finding "K". K is someone I loved very much during my high school and early adult years. He is the one person that stood between Dan and I several times in our relationship. K was really the first guy I ever "dated" (you can't really call it dating but for lack of a better word that's what we'll go with) that didn't exhibit the traditional male behavior. He was affectionate, kind and not afraid to show he was interested. There were no games. He liked me and made sure I knew it. He romanced me. He played me beautiful music that made me happy. It was the first time someone really "courted" me. The circumstances of how we met and the first weeks we spent with each other allowed for a very intense, deep connection that was incredibly difficult to break with even time and the 2,000 miles that separated us after that initial couple of weeks together.
There were letters. Lots of letters. More that that there were mixes sent (remember cassettes???) back and forth. I can remember spending hours deciding on exactly what to put on his tape. I remember reading miles into each lyric on the ones he sent me.
Seeing his smile and hearing from him a decade later has had a profound affect on me. It's not that I want to go back. It's not even that I regret my decision (choosing Dan). It's just that there has always been a little shimmer of "what if". What if I had gone to that college? What if I had ultimately chosen long distance over the convenience of a local boyfriend? Where would my life have led? Who would I be? Would I be happy? It's not regret. Regret indicates that I wish I had made a different choice. This is more a matter of curiousity.
Have you ever reestablished friendships from your past?
Lately I have been in contact with a lot of people from my past. It's a strange situation. So many people I have been thrilled to hear from. Like "F". She was in my French classes in high school, and I always really liked her. She is amazingly friendly in addition to being smart, kind and interesting. I have loved hearing about her life now as an adult - and as a mother. I remember those first months with my first baby and the wonder of it all.
I've also heard from "T" who was a good friend of mine from elementary school on. It's funny to me how many times over a decade our lives twisted into each other - and still continues to another decade later. She's also a mom to 3 and in touch with some of our mutual friends.
There have been a half dozen more in the last couple weeks. It's great to hear from people and to find out where their lives have taken them.
This all leads me to finding "K". K is someone I loved very much during my high school and early adult years. He is the one person that stood between Dan and I several times in our relationship. K was really the first guy I ever "dated" (you can't really call it dating but for lack of a better word that's what we'll go with) that didn't exhibit the traditional male behavior. He was affectionate, kind and not afraid to show he was interested. There were no games. He liked me and made sure I knew it. He romanced me. He played me beautiful music that made me happy. It was the first time someone really "courted" me. The circumstances of how we met and the first weeks we spent with each other allowed for a very intense, deep connection that was incredibly difficult to break with even time and the 2,000 miles that separated us after that initial couple of weeks together.
There were letters. Lots of letters. More that that there were mixes sent (remember cassettes???) back and forth. I can remember spending hours deciding on exactly what to put on his tape. I remember reading miles into each lyric on the ones he sent me.
Seeing his smile and hearing from him a decade later has had a profound affect on me. It's not that I want to go back. It's not even that I regret my decision (choosing Dan). It's just that there has always been a little shimmer of "what if". What if I had gone to that college? What if I had ultimately chosen long distance over the convenience of a local boyfriend? Where would my life have led? Who would I be? Would I be happy? It's not regret. Regret indicates that I wish I had made a different choice. This is more a matter of curiousity.
Have you ever reestablished friendships from your past?
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Neighbors and Friends...
I can't tell you how warm and fuzzy I feel on this cold and blustery winter day.
This morning I bundled up and walked Julia to the bus... traipsing through the foot of snow and drifts that we recieved yesterday. Then I came back home and began shoveling the van out from the 2 foot high pile of heavy and icy snow from the plows. My neighbor came from across the street and helped me shovel.
HOW COOL IS THAT!
Then later this afternoon the guy that's been building the house across the street came over and plowed our other driveway for us.
HOW COOL IS THAT!
So I guess I'll be baking some cookies and cupcakes to take over tomorrow to say thank you.
This morning I bundled up and walked Julia to the bus... traipsing through the foot of snow and drifts that we recieved yesterday. Then I came back home and began shoveling the van out from the 2 foot high pile of heavy and icy snow from the plows. My neighbor came from across the street and helped me shovel.
HOW COOL IS THAT!
Then later this afternoon the guy that's been building the house across the street came over and plowed our other driveway for us.
HOW COOL IS THAT!
So I guess I'll be baking some cookies and cupcakes to take over tomorrow to say thank you.
Please help if you can...
This is from my friend Kelly's blog, and I welcome an additional chance to help. I hope that we can remember that no matter how you feel about our intervention in the Middle East - that men and women are doing their jobs and putting their lives at risk. They deserve our support. They pay the price of our admission to live in this country.
"A Special Request to Help Wounded Soldiers
A dear friend of mine has a son serving in the Middle East. I received this special e-mail request from her and am posting it here in case anyone can help with a donation. If you can also help spread the word, that would be great too.
As the support of the war wanes, I see the unwavering support of our troops isstarting to diminish with respect to unsolicited letters of support, donated items to service members recovering from wounds. Whether one agrees with the war or not, those fighting deserve nothing but our respect and admiration. The Surface Navy Association has put out the call for donations. I am doing my part, as humble as it is, by forming a group to support wounded marines & sailors until family members can arrive to be with them and also to greet returning soldiers coming home from war.
Please take a moment and read the email below and contribute if you can. Please take another moment and forward it to friends and family. [Or post it on your blog]
Here's the email from the Surface Navy Association.
The Greater Washington Chapter is commencing a campaign to raise funds to purchase Portable DVD Players to be donated to the Sailors and Marines at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda. Your individual or corporate contribution will be used towards the purchase of the DVD players that will help entertain our wounded shipmates while they are recovering. Last year the chapter donated more than 400 DVD movies.
The GWC Board of Directors has authorized spending $500 to purchase players. At the February 7 Chapter Join-Up at Sine's in Pentagon City the chapter raised an additional $200. In addition, the chapter has received two generous corporate contributions to date. If you would like to donate to this special fund, donations will be accepted at the February 28 chapter luncheon meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City or accepted online with credit card at https://www.navysna.org/Events/dvd/dvddonation.asp .
You may also forward this notice to your friends, colleagues and shipmates to invite them to contribute. You do not have to be an SNA member to contribute. Anyone can participate. We will accept contributions up until March 15, 2007.
Thank you for your support!
Admin Staff
SNA GWC
2550 Huntington Avenue
Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22303
navysna@aol.com
www.navysna.org
703-960-6800
703-960-6807 (fax)"
THANKS YOU GUYS!!
"A Special Request to Help Wounded Soldiers
A dear friend of mine has a son serving in the Middle East. I received this special e-mail request from her and am posting it here in case anyone can help with a donation. If you can also help spread the word, that would be great too.
As the support of the war wanes, I see the unwavering support of our troops isstarting to diminish with respect to unsolicited letters of support, donated items to service members recovering from wounds. Whether one agrees with the war or not, those fighting deserve nothing but our respect and admiration. The Surface Navy Association has put out the call for donations. I am doing my part, as humble as it is, by forming a group to support wounded marines & sailors until family members can arrive to be with them and also to greet returning soldiers coming home from war.
Please take a moment and read the email below and contribute if you can. Please take another moment and forward it to friends and family. [Or post it on your blog]
Here's the email from the Surface Navy Association.
The Greater Washington Chapter is commencing a campaign to raise funds to purchase Portable DVD Players to be donated to the Sailors and Marines at the National Naval Medical Center at Bethesda. Your individual or corporate contribution will be used towards the purchase of the DVD players that will help entertain our wounded shipmates while they are recovering. Last year the chapter donated more than 400 DVD movies.
The GWC Board of Directors has authorized spending $500 to purchase players. At the February 7 Chapter Join-Up at Sine's in Pentagon City the chapter raised an additional $200. In addition, the chapter has received two generous corporate contributions to date. If you would like to donate to this special fund, donations will be accepted at the February 28 chapter luncheon meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City or accepted online with credit card at https://www.navysna.org/Events/dvd/dvddonation.asp .
You may also forward this notice to your friends, colleagues and shipmates to invite them to contribute. You do not have to be an SNA member to contribute. Anyone can participate. We will accept contributions up until March 15, 2007.
Thank you for your support!
Admin Staff
SNA GWC
2550 Huntington Avenue
Suite 202
Alexandria, VA 22303
navysna@aol.com
www.navysna.org
703-960-6800
703-960-6807 (fax)"
THANKS YOU GUYS!!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
blah, blah, blah
I don't have much to say.
Not that it's new but I stare at the screen and just don't feel it. So instead, a Valentine to my girlies...
I love my girls. I love them so much. They frustrate me and make me tired, but they provide me with every ounce of motivation to be a better person. They make me smile. They make me complete.
I love my girls.
Not that it's new but I stare at the screen and just don't feel it. So instead, a Valentine to my girlies...
I love my girls. I love them so much. They frustrate me and make me tired, but they provide me with every ounce of motivation to be a better person. They make me smile. They make me complete.
I love my girls.
SNOW DAY!
Julia has her first snow day today.
We are in for one heck of a storm. We have a couple inches on the ground - and about half a foot to a foot more to come. Later this afternoon we're expecting 70+ mph winds too. WOW.
We woke up... enjoyed our Valentine's Day presents... had some breakfast and now lots of fun. Maybe later we'll end up outside sledding.
SNOW DAY!
We are in for one heck of a storm. We have a couple inches on the ground - and about half a foot to a foot more to come. Later this afternoon we're expecting 70+ mph winds too. WOW.
We woke up... enjoyed our Valentine's Day presents... had some breakfast and now lots of fun. Maybe later we'll end up outside sledding.
SNOW DAY!
Friday, February 09, 2007
A son....
I have something I thought I'd never have... a son.
Anna has declared that she is a boy. For three days she's sticking to her guns and is adamant she is now a boy.
Julia has been pushing her gender stereotype agenda - making sure that Anna embraces the pink/purple, tiara, princess lifestyle that any self respecting little girl would love. Anna is rebelling and bucking against the system. Julia keeps telling her that she is, indeed a girl and needs to stop telling people she's a boy. Anna just laughs at her. She knows she's a boy.
The argument that she is a boy:
- Blue is her favorite color and blue is so obviously a boy color
- She wants Cars pull ups and we all know only boys can like cars
- She has a cooking class for boys (the other two kids in her class are boys)
- She likes trains
- She likes pirates
- She says she's a boy
The argument that she is a girl:
- I change her diaper. I KNOW she's a girl.
Don't get me wrong. I think it's great. I'm all for gender bending discovery. I don't believe in the notion of "boy/girl" toys, colors, ideas. I think that plays into the mindset that later holds women back and men not accountable. I like to say that the only thing a man can do that a woman can't is pee standing up. The only thing a woman can do that a man can't is give birth to a baby. Those things just boil down to physiology.
I'm all for letting Anna be who she wants to be. Julia too.
Julia was apalled to learn that when she was two she also loved cars, dinosaurs and blue. Her transition into the world of pink and princesses started when she was three.
So for now I'm going to enjoy the experience of mothering a son.
Anna has declared that she is a boy. For three days she's sticking to her guns and is adamant she is now a boy.
Julia has been pushing her gender stereotype agenda - making sure that Anna embraces the pink/purple, tiara, princess lifestyle that any self respecting little girl would love. Anna is rebelling and bucking against the system. Julia keeps telling her that she is, indeed a girl and needs to stop telling people she's a boy. Anna just laughs at her. She knows she's a boy.
The argument that she is a boy:
- Blue is her favorite color and blue is so obviously a boy color
- She wants Cars pull ups and we all know only boys can like cars
- She has a cooking class for boys (the other two kids in her class are boys)
- She likes trains
- She likes pirates
- She says she's a boy
The argument that she is a girl:
- I change her diaper. I KNOW she's a girl.
Don't get me wrong. I think it's great. I'm all for gender bending discovery. I don't believe in the notion of "boy/girl" toys, colors, ideas. I think that plays into the mindset that later holds women back and men not accountable. I like to say that the only thing a man can do that a woman can't is pee standing up. The only thing a woman can do that a man can't is give birth to a baby. Those things just boil down to physiology.
I'm all for letting Anna be who she wants to be. Julia too.
Julia was apalled to learn that when she was two she also loved cars, dinosaurs and blue. Her transition into the world of pink and princesses started when she was three.
So for now I'm going to enjoy the experience of mothering a son.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Requested recipes...
Here is the recipe for the dipping chocolate... it's pretty basic, but I was impressed with the results. I've looked up recipes for this and they recommended more wax, but the amount I used was great and it didn't taste waxy.
Dipping Chocolate
1/3 stick of Gulf Wax (wax will melt faster if shaved or chopped up)
4 oz semi sweet chocolate
12 oz chocolate chips
Heat and melt slowly in a double boiler.
Needhams (which are a Maine thing --- but I've had them before as "creamy coconut balls")
NEEDHAMS
1 1/2 med potato
1 lb pkg. confectioner's sugar
7 oz. flaked coconut
1 tsp. vanilla
Pare and cook potatos to make mashed potato (not seasoned) (or bake in oven at 400 degrees if you prefer). While potatoes are warm, mash and slowly add sugar, vanilla and then the coconut by mixer.
Mix well, then turn into a buttered jelly roll pan, or use wax paper covered cookie sheet. Spread evenly. Place in a cool place to harden. After an hour, cut into squares and then continue cooling for another hour.
When fully cooled, dip into chocolate. Don't use this chocolate for other candies because the coconut stays in the chocolate, and the potatoes will start to thicken the chocolate.
I promise you don't notice the potato taste. It's weird, but fun. The kids LOVED using potatoes to make candy.
Dipping Chocolate
1/3 stick of Gulf Wax (wax will melt faster if shaved or chopped up)
4 oz semi sweet chocolate
12 oz chocolate chips
Heat and melt slowly in a double boiler.
Needhams (which are a Maine thing --- but I've had them before as "creamy coconut balls")
NEEDHAMS
1 1/2 med potato
1 lb pkg. confectioner's sugar
7 oz. flaked coconut
1 tsp. vanilla
Pare and cook potatos to make mashed potato (not seasoned) (or bake in oven at 400 degrees if you prefer). While potatoes are warm, mash and slowly add sugar, vanilla and then the coconut by mixer.
Mix well, then turn into a buttered jelly roll pan, or use wax paper covered cookie sheet. Spread evenly. Place in a cool place to harden. After an hour, cut into squares and then continue cooling for another hour.
When fully cooled, dip into chocolate. Don't use this chocolate for other candies because the coconut stays in the chocolate, and the potatoes will start to thicken the chocolate.
I promise you don't notice the potato taste. It's weird, but fun. The kids LOVED using potatoes to make candy.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Yummo...
This weekend I went with Anna and Julia to their special edition cooking class. They were making chocolates for Valentine's Day. I was the only mom to stay - but I was also the only mom with a kid under 4 or so.
They had a great time and I learned SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much about making chocolates. They made raspberry and maple truffles, peppermint patties, chocolate peanut butter balls and Needhams.
I have never heard of Needhams before, but I've apparently eaten them. They are the chocolate in the mixed chocolate box that has a creamy coconut filling. It completely freaked me out how they make them. With potato (?????!), powdered sugar and coconut. then dipped in chocolate. Crazy but delicious.
This chocolate that they dipped everything in was perfect. I'm so glad I have the recipe. I am going to use it for my strawberries this year - I think it's going to be PERFECT.
The girls had fun. Their teacher does a great job and made it fun for them. Other than Anna - the kids really did make them themselves. I think it was a little overwhelming for Julia. She thought she would be Anna's helper and show her the ropes. She was very surprised to see that Anna not only doesn't need but also doesn't WANT any help. "I do it myself" is her battle cry. She also isn't the least bit shy - where Julia is naturally a bit tentative, so I think she was surprised to be in Anna's shadow.
They had a great time and I learned SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much about making chocolates. They made raspberry and maple truffles, peppermint patties, chocolate peanut butter balls and Needhams.
I have never heard of Needhams before, but I've apparently eaten them. They are the chocolate in the mixed chocolate box that has a creamy coconut filling. It completely freaked me out how they make them. With potato (?????!), powdered sugar and coconut. then dipped in chocolate. Crazy but delicious.
This chocolate that they dipped everything in was perfect. I'm so glad I have the recipe. I am going to use it for my strawberries this year - I think it's going to be PERFECT.
The girls had fun. Their teacher does a great job and made it fun for them. Other than Anna - the kids really did make them themselves. I think it was a little overwhelming for Julia. She thought she would be Anna's helper and show her the ropes. She was very surprised to see that Anna not only doesn't need but also doesn't WANT any help. "I do it myself" is her battle cry. She also isn't the least bit shy - where Julia is naturally a bit tentative, so I think she was surprised to be in Anna's shadow.
Anna
I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I find the thought process and verbalisms (yeah - I'm rocking that word) of a 2 year old fascinating and humorous. I think that 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 might be the best age - ever.
So - here are some Anna sayings from the last couple of days. She's not so strong with her L's - and she still kind of smooshes words together. It just adds to her charm.
____
"Momma, I gonna cyimb up da walls yike Spiderman"
"oh, you are going to climb up the walls like Spiderman"
"No, Momma, I just peetendin. Dat would be vewwy, vewwy twicky for me to cyimb up the walls"
____
"Juya (Julia), you are my best friend. I wiwwy, wiwwy (really, really) wove you. I mean, WIWWY, WIWWY love you." Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
____
"Momma. I don't want a Dora birthday. I don't want a penwin (penguin) birthday. I don't want a princess birthday. I want an Anna Bewwa Eweese birthday. You can put my picture on the cake. With the candews. But not on my picture."
____
"Yook momma. It's snowing. Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo! YES! It's amost Chrismas again"
____
"Momma, yets (lets) go break Juya out of school."
____
"Momma, yets go watch Pinky Doo. Dishes not fun for me" (me either, kiddo)
____
"Momma????????? Ami (Emma) needs you to take her poop out" (she had a dirty diaper)
____
So - here are some Anna sayings from the last couple of days. She's not so strong with her L's - and she still kind of smooshes words together. It just adds to her charm.
____
"Momma, I gonna cyimb up da walls yike Spiderman"
"oh, you are going to climb up the walls like Spiderman"
"No, Momma, I just peetendin. Dat would be vewwy, vewwy twicky for me to cyimb up the walls"
____
"Juya (Julia), you are my best friend. I wiwwy, wiwwy (really, really) wove you. I mean, WIWWY, WIWWY love you." Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
____
"Momma. I don't want a Dora birthday. I don't want a penwin (penguin) birthday. I don't want a princess birthday. I want an Anna Bewwa Eweese birthday. You can put my picture on the cake. With the candews. But not on my picture."
____
"Yook momma. It's snowing. Wooooooooooo Hoooooooooooo! YES! It's amost Chrismas again"
____
"Momma, yets (lets) go break Juya out of school."
____
"Momma, yets go watch Pinky Doo. Dishes not fun for me" (me either, kiddo)
____
"Momma????????? Ami (Emma) needs you to take her poop out" (she had a dirty diaper)
____
Monday, February 05, 2007
and Anna...
Here are some pics of Anna from today too. In the one of her hair... she is wearing her "spider witch" costume. Love it.
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