With Strength Comes Confidence.

This post may come off a little preachy but, again, now that it’s out of my head I can move on to other topics…

Onward…

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A vacation from my vacation.

We somehow managed to schedule back to back vacations with our families these past couple weeks.  We returned home last Tuesday.

I only just finished unpacking yesterday.

I’m exhausted.  It’s so great to get away and we had so much fun on both trips but my brain is tired from trying to figure out packing for two small children which almost always ends up with me forgetting things for myself (how did I manage to pack only ONE shirt and NO socks?!).  When my husband and I travelled for six and  a half months everything we owned was packed on our bicycles.  Now days a weekend away means a car packed to the point that you can’t see out the back window!

It’s good to be home.

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Thank Goodness I Didn’t Blink

My four year old consciously, without coercion, whining, or complaining just ate a vegetable.

The whole thing.

We were in the garden and I was showing her how the snow peas were growing (like overnight!) and she found one ready for picking, plucked it right off and into her mouth it went.

I’m a little in shock.

I wonder what she’ll do when the brussel sprouts are ready for harvest…

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Lessons Learned: jammin’

“I don’t know how you get anything done.”  – my mom

“I don’t.” – me

I actually have really great kids, good kids, but what I wouldn’t give to have two more arms and hands.  I would be totally be ok with all the staring because I know everyone would be looking at me with envy.  I would have used those extra appendages to hold my unusually fussy baby while trying to make raspberry mango jam I was working on with my mom this afternoon.

Eyes in the back of my  head would also be handy for so many reasons that I know my fellow parents would recognize.  Today I would have used those eyes to watch my daughter swinging on her indoor jungle gym when she said, “Mom!  Look at meeeeee!”  while simultaneously stirring the raspberry mango jam.

What did I learn today?  That doing  all the above AND make granola at the same time may not have been the best idea.  At one point in the afternoon I asked my mom, “How did YOU get anything done with three kids?”

“You were all angels.” – mom

OK, that is a total lie.  I know, I was there, so she must be suffering from some sort of parental amnesia, whatever, it wasn’t helpful.  But things were done and now we’re all pooped and the kids went to bed pretty easily.

And so will I.

I have made no secret about  my love of toast so this small batch will not last long at all in my house.  While very easy to do, I still find myself a little intimidated by the whole canning process. It’s that element of danger with all those bubbling, boiling fluids.  I only got splattered a couple times so I’m calling the day a success.  My goal is to continue with small batches to increase my confidence.  Luckily between my mom and my foodie sister I will be a pro in no time.

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Lessons Learned…

 

Today alone has taught me a few things…

1. It just doesn’t pay to be in a hurry in the kitchen trying to get something done while the little one is asleep.
2. The bottle of vanilla and the bottle of soy sauce are very similar (THAT was a close one).
3. Always secure valuables and breakables when driving as you never know when you’ll have to slam on your brakes to avoid running over a baby rabbit (the laptop seems to have survived).
4. Businesses in rural areas do not have the same hours as businesses in the city (I have NEVER heard of a coffee shop closing at 6pm!).
5. My husband is way better about putting the baby to bed than I am (and that is so okay with me).

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It is Futile to Resist.

We have been blessed (?) with children who are early risers.  I can’t remember the last time I slept past 0800 or 0730 for that matter.

Like before 0630 despite all efforts to change that time to later we have resigned ourselves to this fate.  When we lived in the city and we only had Sofia I would make her some toast and jam and lay on the floor while she ate.  Now days we’re trying a new tactic.  A morning walk about.  Yes, Sofia is still in her pajamas.  I think I might have been too!

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This Little Sponge of Ours.

We have two actually.  Both girls.  And I sometimes forget that we have to teach them soooooooo much.  We aren’t their only teachers, thank goodness, but we’re the first.  Perfect example:  How to eat a soft serve ice cream cone.

There’s actually a lot of math and physics involved.  Timing, patience, strategy, reasoning, and so on.

I am really bad in both of those subjects but when you couch it in the form of not wanting to waste ice cream, well, let me be your guide…

Only, I didn’t turn out to be so great as I fretted over the lopsided base, the importance of knowing when and where to lick, etc. I just was so intent on not wanting to see the ice cream top fall off onto the ground, thus bumming everyone out, that I do believe I became rather annoying to be around.

Luckily, my husband had the where-with-all to turn to me and say, “Sherry, it’s just ice cream.”

 

Hi.  Hellooooo.

Perfect example of Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.

Learn from me people.

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Take the Plunge

Have you ever taken the plunge into something amazing, something you never thought you would/could do?

I hope you answered “Yes!”

Everyone should.

I just celebrated my 39th birthday which, is no big deal, in fact it feels pretty good.  What has me wistful though is that on my birthday several years ago my husband and I (pre-kids) boarded an airplane and began a trip to travel the world.  It wasn’t a roundtrip ticket, it was one way and our itinerary was loose to put it mildly.  We had quit our jobs, sold the condo, and left the cats with my parents.

But before we did all that we planned.

And thought.

And made lists.

And discussed.

And hemmed.

And hawed.

We did all this for over a year until finally we looked at each other and said, “So, when are we leaving on this trip of a lifetime?”

It was a big deal, huge.  A risk, a commitment, a chance.  It was scary, overwhelming and thrilling.  It was all of the above all at once which may be why it took us so long to buy those one way tickets.

To take the plunge.

But we did and once the deal was done there was an amazing feeling of relief.  A giddiness that had us clutching hands and smiling so hard.  A weight taken from our shoulders.  What had, up until that time, been all talk was now very much a reality.

When we returned and resumed a “normal” life people would say how they wished they could do the same, that we were brave to do what we had done.

Honestly, anyone could do something of that magnitude and the only brave thing we did take that plunge, that first step and like many other big steps in our lives, it’s a doozy but it can be done.

By anyone.

Here’s hoping you’re able to bring some giddiness to your life story!

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Behind the Scenes

One year already

Recipe to follow

this does not bode well for my neighbors chickens

Mud-a-rrific!

“Another” pretty rock.

Texture check

My gardening partner.

The work is never-ending!

Long days of travel

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Down, But Not Out.

My dad, who’s been sick for many months now (could it be a year already?) took a unexpected, and rapid decline.

And then, even more unexpectantly, he passed away.

Needless to say events of late have felt – unexpected.

Hence, my absence.

My four year old seems to be coping but the death and dying questions that can only come from a four year old can be emotionally wearing and, at times, I could do with less questions or a repeat of the sequence of events related to “Pop’s” death.  I think it’s so important to truthfully answer these questions as age appropriately as possible.  I try my best.

She’s processing.  We all are.

 

But, life has this way of moving forward and I plan on moving right along with it.

Have a fantastic week!

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