Butterflies and Mud Pies

eight years old!

2012-01-31T06:05:00.000-06:00

Today marks the last of our family's many January birthdays, with Riley turning eight years old! Sometimes this little gal, who continues to maintain her "old soul" status, seems older than eight and THANKFULLY, sometimes she seems younger, too. Either way, I'm confident that she's right where she's supposed to be.

Riley's ultimate love is still gymnastics, but she's latched onto Zumba as well, as one of her coaches is an instructor. Not only is she flipping and upside-down most of the day, but she is demonstrating her funky dance moves all over the place. She lives for the attention of an audience. She's started taking piano as well and is loving every minute of it. She knows the names of bands that I can't even pretend to, and she has every lyric of every song completely memorized. (This is not always a good thing!) Anytime you want to goof around and dance or sing, Riley's your gal. Actually, she's usually game for anything!

Riley loves school, has lots of pals and has fun wherever she goes. She has a grasp of things I couldn't imagine to at her young age, and I'm not just talking about the bars. She tells me that she goes to bed the night before a meet visualizing what she wants her routines to look like. She already knows the power of her own will and is starting to realize how to put it into action. Just like Glinda the good witch says to Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, "You always had the power..."; we've tried to deliver the same message to our kiddos. Riley has gotten the message.

Riley is a great sister; the perfect middle child. She doesn't often get caught up in drama and shakes things off easily. She's more comfortable moving on than dwelling in anything and I love that for her! Of course, the envelope-pushing that peeked in around this age for Logan has reared its head with Riley, too. She's a champion foot-stomper and like me, she can emit a hefty, telling sigh. But she quickly gets over the things that don't matter and for that, I'm glad.

I have so many wishes for this wonderful girl who brightened our world in unimaginable ways just eight years ago today at 9:05 AM. After 24 hours of labor and 21/2 hours of pushing, I was barely afloat, but when Riley arrived, I would have gladly done it all again for her. She is beautiful and creative and loving and giving, and intense and smart and driven and STRONG. I love watching her make all her dreams come true. Every good thing will come her way, this year and beyond!

Happy Birthday to my sweet Riley girl. I love you!

tied for 1st!

2012-01-30T06:30:00.000-06:00

Riley had a great meet this weekend at the UGA Cowgirl Invitational. There was some stiff competition from other states and she still managed to tie for 1st Place All Around, but took 2nd because her tie-mate (and teammate) had the highest individual event score. It was a complete thrill and a huge confidence-booster for Riley, who felt great. I can't even describe how Mike and I (and Logan and Finn) felt!

gourmet girls and a date with daddy

2012-01-28T06:08:00.000-06:00

Our weekends have turned into complete blurs - filled with kid-related activity from beginning to end. This weekend was no different. Gymnastics practice and floor hockey were followed by a quick family gathering for Logan's and Riley's birthdays and then the Daddy-Daughter Dance at school. What a great day!

I have to say, I love my gourmet girls. Their palettes are bordering on "adult" at the ages of 8 and 10. They want to try every kind of ethnic or unfamiliar food they see, from sushi to Thai. This is very good news for parents that love to cook and eat. There were no grocery store sponge cakes for their birthdays, oh no. These girls don't mess around and while it's a lot of work, I love every minute!

For Logan, it was a chocolate cheesecake with a cookie crust and chocolate whipped cream on top. For Riley, a lemon meringue ice cream pie with a gingersnap crust. Both should have sat in the fridge up until the last second for easy cutting, but even though they were messy, they were DELISH!

After a quick party, the girls and Mike got dressed and headed to dinner and then the dance at school. They had a wonderful time and they couldn't believe Daddy wore a tie. (With jeans.) They each got a slow dance or two with Daddy and lots of giggle time with their friends. Mike had a great time, too.

Love this lifetime memory stuff - what a day!

waking up from a long winter's nap

2012-01-27T13:20:00.000-06:00

I have been asleep for 4 weeks. Looking back, my Topamax experience has been a wild ride and while I'm disappointed that it wasn't the easy fix that I was hoping for, I'm glad to say I've tried it and now I know better.

I went in with an open mind, not paying too much attention to the online complaints about this drug's horrible side effects and for the first two weeks, it wasn't so bad. My initial fatique dissipated and I must admit that I enjoyed my out-of-character lack of appetite. Life is a lot easier when you're not dreaming up fun dishes to cook each night! I laughed at my inability to find the right word at times and only experienced minor frustration with my suddenly absent concentration skills. Afterall, it would all go away at six weeks - that was how long I was committed to trying it out. I hunkered down, toughened up and dreamed of headache-free days.

But when week three began at a higher dose, my body hit the brakes like nobody's business. What felt like fatigue soon changed to something unrecognizable, that in hindsight I can only call depression. While throughout the day I thought things like, "I feel like I'm dying," or "This must be what people going through horrible treatments like chemo feel like," I still felt the need to go on, to make it work for both my family and me.

A trip up the stairs resulted in full-blown stars and lightheadedness, I lost the ability to be social in anyway without almost painful levels of concentration and my motivation to do anything fell off the radar. I was losing about a pound per day and rememberring the previous day as if I'd been totally drunk. I didn't care what I looked like or wore and as soon as Mike came home at the end of a day, I went right to bed, only to sleep in fragmented bursts, broken up by unsettling dreams and sleepless hours. This fed my unimaginable fatigue, making each day harder than the one before, and leaving me in tears at some point each day.

Sunday morning, I read an article by Neil Patrick Harris, the story of his lifetime relationship with partner, David Burtka. It was well-written and moving and made me realize one thing, I had felt literally nothing in the last four weeks; I was not engaged with my life at all and I missed my life. I called Mike and told him that I had to get off the Topamax.

So, I did. I am. I'm on the end of the 5 to 7 days it takes for what turned out to be poison for me, to leave my system. I am feeling things, I am happy, I have motivation and plans, I no longer feel like a spectator in my own life. Oh yeah, and with the return of my life came my headaches. And my appetite!

When I let my doctor's office know that I was quitting, they immediately tried to shove another preventative down my throat; this time one that alters the way your heart beats. I thanked them, but declined. Instead, I'm seeing a holistic chiropractor with hopes he can help me figure out how to heal myself. I'm jumping in with hopeful heart and knowing one thing for sure: this treatment has no adverse side effects. Right now, that's exactly what I need.

really? ten?

2012-01-18T14:27:00.001-06:00

It's truly unimaginable to me that TEN whole years ago Mike and I brought Logan Olivia into this world and began this wonderful and wild parenting odyssey! In what really does seem like the blink of my eyes, Logan has grown into such a beautiful young lady, with great manners, amazing creativity and such a wonderful sweetness about her. She's silly and giving and loving and honest - so many things I could have only hoped for my first daughter all those ten years ago.

This birthday seems like such a big birthday. Ten is closer to college than birth! (You may have just heard the deep breath I forced myself to take.) As a writer, especially as a writer that so frequently captures the daily ins and outs of our family life, I feel I'm especially sensitive to time and how fast it's actually slipping by. Even with that sensitivity, Logan's 10th birthday comes as a complete shock. As I climbed the ladder of her loft bed to wake her this morning, I just couldn't believe my baby girl was 10.

It's that simple. Not that she's 10. That she's my baby.

Happy birthday to my baby. My very first one. May your every wish come true.

temporary topamax blues

2012-01-10T06:19:00.000-06:00

After thirty years of headaches that have increased in both severity and frequency since having kids, I finally bit the bullet and tried another migraine preventative on January 1st. It was a big decision; I did lots of research and dug up as many folks as I could find who have actually taken it so that I could balance out the onslaught of online negativity about the medicine and its side effects. At the 9-day mark, it's been pretty darn good, with minimal problems. Some of the "brain fog" mentioned has crossed my mind throughout each day, but it seemed to be dissipating as the week went on. Until yesterday.

Completely by accident, I took an extra dose on Monday morning. This weekend, I'm supposed to step up to this dose, but I assure you that I'm no longer looking forward to it. It took me 12 hours to figure out what I had done, 12 hours of misery and wondering what kind of horrible virus I must have contracted. When I forced myself out of bed at 8 PM to take my nightly Topamax dose, I was shocked to see that the little pill wasn't in my pill box, so it could only be in me.

That explained everything.

I took it with my other pills around 9 AM. By 10:30 AM, I was freezing cold, wearing my winter coat in the house, with my brother Dan saying, "It must be the Topamax!" By noon, I was foggier than ever, forgetting the words in normal conversation. By 4 PM, I had a horrible stomach ache and was terribly nauseated, sure that I would never eat again in life. When Mike got home at 5:30, I got in bed. I couldn't sleep though, because my face was burning hot and my feet and hands were freezing cold. Finally, around 9, after realizing what I'd done and checking with the pharmacist about taking the regular nightly dose (which she said not to), I crashed.

I feel better this morning, but I am dreading the upgrade this weekend. Still, after nine days of ZERO headaches, I am confident that this is the right drug for me. I have had the typical precursor to my headaches; bad tension in my upper back and arms, four times this week, but no headache has followed. So many folks say that if you can hold out for six weeks, the side effects will all disappear. The first couple days will be the worst and then my body will start to adjust. And I'll still be headache free! I'm buckling down because I just know that it's all worth it!

So, out with the old..... and in with the new! This should keep me on track!

our champion emerges

2012-01-08T13:34:00.000-06:00

What a thrill it was to watch Logan at her swim meet this weekend!! She swam her hardest and took 1st in her heats for 50 Fly and 50 Free, 4th in 100 Back and had a great showing in her other three events. Always a great supporter of her siblings (and her parents success, too!) it was absolutely phenomenal to see her hopping out of the water for her heat winning "tags". Thanks to Nana and Tony and Uncle Dan for coming out to support her!

Way to go Logan!!!

christmas 2011

2012-01-01T13:02:00.000-06:00

Here are some favorite shots from this year's festivities!

uga home meet

2011-12-28T13:14:00.000-06:00

We were so excited to watch Riley take 2nd place AA at the UGA Home Meet! She was so excited to have Grandpa and Uncle Dan, as well as a few pals and her "regulars", in the stands!!

spirit

2011-12-23T07:57:00.001-06:00

I'm finding it difficult to find the spirit this season. I'm not sure why. The house looks great, all the presents have been wrapped for a week and my cookies are even baked. I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that it looks like mid-March outside. Gray and rainy and sort of warm - not Christmas weather. And there's no hope for the white stuff in our forecast. No White Christmas on its way.

But there are three kids in this house that have spirit for us all, who can't wait to rip open the presents that sit under the tree. I've never done that before - put presents under the tree before the big day - I think I did it this year with hopes that some spirit would exude. And it did, for the kids.

I loved the last episode of Modern Family on ABC, (if you don't watch it, you must) where this quirky, funny and abnormally-normal-in-every-way family rented a snow machine for their fake Christmas celebration in California. Maybe that's what I could do?

I suppose that wouldn't do the trick either. The Christmas spirit must come from within. I know it's deep down in there, buried under the pressures and stresses that accompany this time of year. Somewhere under the worries of whether or not I've bought the right gifts for the right loved ones, maybe just beyond the 200 samples of cookies I've tasted. It could be next to the mental menus and to-do lists, concerns over paying off the gifts, excitement for a houseful of loved ones for a week or the lurking weight of upcoming tax prep and personal and business-related New Year's resolutions.

Now that I've written that, I realize that the Christmas spirit isn't anywhere near those inevitable components of my full life, but instead resides where it always has, within my heart, within my actions. It's in the fleeting peaceful moments spent with my kids, a stolen dinner out with Mike alone (the first in at least a year), drinking coffee in the wee hours of the morning in front of the tree in a silent, sleeping house, the backdrop of Christmas carols playing during the day, the immense, unyielding gratitude for the year passed and the endless hope I hold for the year ahead.

It's in the deep traditions, however silly they may seem, that we give our kids each year. From too many cookies baked, to Uncle Griff's tree, to eating waffles for dinner on the day after Christmas; these traditions are their stronghold on family and what it means to be a part of one, in every way. Orchestrating and ensuring these traditions, this holiday, this family, is what the Christmas spirit is all about.

Who needs snow? I had the spirit all along.

finn's on fire

2011-12-23T07:20:00.000-06:00

The Finnism's have been flying as of late; he cracks me up every day. He surprises himself, too. A couple of days ago, while at the mall, he began reading the words on every sign we passed. With each word, the shock and awe of his own ability grew. It was hilarious. "Super Sale!" he'd exclaim. "As Seen on TV!" he'd yell. "Panera Bread!" Logan and I witnessed the whole world opening up to Finn right then and there, when he figured out that he could read absolutely anything.

_____

He made a pit stop in the Panera bathroom. Gone are the days of accompanying me into the gals' room - he's on his own in the mens'. As he ran off toward the bathroom, I yelled, "Just keep your coat on!"

A few minutes later, he emerged, coat in hand. "I had to take it off," he explained.

"It's okay, but where did you put it?" I responded, imagining bathroom floor germs crawling all over it.

"Well," he continued, "I held it like this. Then I pulled my shirt up like this and my pants down like this," he demonstrated. In Panera. Thank goodness the nearby diners appreciated his five year old streak! There were more than a few chuckles as I struggled to keep him covered and get his pants pulled back up.

_____

Yesterday, when Grandpa stopped by, he asked him about reading. "Where did you learn to read like that?" he asked.

"At the mall," Finn said matter-of-factly.

_____

And finally, while sitting on my lap the other night, Finn wiggled all around. I was on the verge of telling him to sit still or find another spot when he said, "Sorry Mom, I had to stretch out. Sometimes my wiener gets stuck to my leg."

And that's life with Finn.

too much

2011-12-19T07:57:00.003-06:00

I can't believe that Christmas vacation is starting and I'm already THIS exhausted. I hate to beat the same old drum, but something has got to give. While the week and weekend brought much joy (like catching up with my Uncle John who I haven't seen in ten years, spending time with Riley's class on Friday, Logan and Riley's trip to the salon and Santa's awesome visit to Grammy and Jim's Christmas party), Riley eventually paid the price for our late night and running around at her meet on Sunday.

Lesson learned. There's too much going on for us to feel so tired - whether one of us is on top of the beam, watching from the stands, attempting to follow a Christmas cookie recipe, accidentally printing out ten copies of the same BINGO page for a school party or sitting up with insomnia all night Saturday worrying about the unknown location of a brand new camera. And of course, a migraine began yesterday by noon and is still in full storm. Much apologies go out today as I recap the last few days.

To our daughter, we're sorry we didn't get you home in time to get a decent night's sleep before your meet.

To the 2nd graders, I apologize for the most boring BINGO game of all time!

To anyone who eats my Christmas cut-outs, they may not be quite up to par.

Ugh, this is one boring post. That's enough! This week looks better - this week will be better!! I've got little work, I'm mostly wrapped and ready. All I've got left is family time, the remainder of my cards to get out and my all-time stress-reducing love, cooking. I can handle it!

catching my breath

2011-12-12T09:17:00.004-06:00

This weekend was ridiculous. I hate when our schedules are so packed that you can't even be in the moment with anything because "EVERYTHING" is taking up every ounce of your brain. We started Friday night with our annual ugly ornament contest in the 'hood - which I'm excited to announce that we won - after participating for many years! Looking back, even though it was another line item on the calendar, that party was pure relaxation in comparison to what followed.

Saturday morning, we took Riley to the gym at 8 AM. By 9, Finn, Logan and I were at Finn's pancake breakfast at school. At 10:30, we picked up Riley from the gym and went to Finn's basketball game, with Grammy and Jim, until 12. Mike and Finn dropped us off and went to get haircuts - Mike was really starting to look like a cross between Max Hedrum and Conan O'Brien. After what might be consider lunch, we packed up with our good pals, the Marienthals, and drove out toward DeKalb, to our traditional tree-cutting stomping grounds. Two unbearably frigid treks through two different farms resulted in zero tree choices; they were all too small! We ended up buying from a tree lot at the second farm! We went home and tried to decorate, but it was so late that we got little done and rushed the kids into bed so that we'd get a good night's sleep before the 5 AM wake-up call for Riley's meet.

Sunday at 2:39 AM, Finn arrived to tell us that he'd thrown up all over his bed. Every hour, for the next several, he vomited more; his little body wondering what the hell is going on. His ID Reaction, which had been almost healed, flared into craziness and all the spots became dark red and scabbed. At 5, I woke Riley, did her bun and headed out, without the rest of the fam, to the meet. I hate sitting there watching alone - it's so stressful!!

Riley rocked it like never before, raising her personal best by one whole point! She scored 9.3 on floor (personal best), 9.225 on beam (personal best), 9.150 on bars and 9.125 on vault. I can't describe the excitement on her face with each flashing score - I was one thrilled mama. She has worked her butt off for a meet like this! There was a stinging disappointment later, when she learned that at this particular meet, they don't announce places or scores, they just give everyone the same trophy. Our non-drama girl sobbed for an hour when we got home, but later, a good friend let us know that she was listed at the meet as placing 3rd All Around out of 56 girls that were not separated out by age. AMAZING! She felt better, needless to say.

We rushed home to decorate as this was our only chance before Christmas. This year, and every year from now on, we've decided to have an "Uncle Griff Tree", in the living room. Aunt Michelle generously donated her pre-lit one to our efforts. The kids made ornaments for it and left notes and we hung things on it that remind us of him. Yesterday was also Griff's birthday.

By 6:30 PM, we met up with Nana and Tony, Grandpa and Irene, Grammy and Jim, Tom, Michelle and Ellie to see Logan's Christmas Choir Concert and it did not disappoint! She is so adorable and growing up so fast. I couldn't believe my first little babe was standing up there, tall and proud and singing her heart out, with her requested straightened hair. How did she grow up so fast? Finn laid in my lap like an infant though, so at least I'm still needed!!

We ended the night at Potbelly's with Nana and Tony before they headed back north. What a whirlwind! Today, with Finn home, I'm trying to catch my breath, make last purchases and get a stronghold on what lies ahead. It certainly feels like the holidays. Looking to this weekend: Finn's school holiday festival, another choir concert, basketball game and meet, another Christmas party, a birthday party and an invite for drinks with friends. Will I survive? And when am I supposed to bake cookies?

the molluscum contagiosum support group

2011-12-07T13:13:00.001-06:00

Welcome to the inaugural meeting of the molluscum contagiosum support group. If there's any doubt, I hate this awful nightmare of a virus. What started out as a few bumps have grown into hundreds on Finn, flaring up his eczema and resulting in a treatment of blistering about forty of the bumps. The blisters, teetering on the edge of infection, are finally starting to show signs of improvement and healing, after a week off school and round the clock dressing changes. I THOUGHT we were rounding the bend to health since Finn did make it to school yesterday. But when I woke him up this morning, I was shocked to see a red, angry, itchy rash all over his entire body. No school again.

We went to the pediatrician - I needed an advocate to help make sense of the mixed messages we've gotten from the three dermatologists we've seen. She diagnosed Finn with an "ID Reaction." Apparently, his immune system is sending out a signal that it's in overdrive trying to fight off the molluscum and heal the forty blisters on his little body. There's no treatment or idea when it will go away, but it eventually will. In the meantime, there will be no more treatment on his skin of any kind. He's on Benadryl to control the itching. For all the poking and prodding and pain he's had in the last week, this kid is one hell of a trooper.

In unrelated news, I knew I heard Jingle Bells in the middle of the night last night.

surrender

2011-12-01T08:47:00.001-06:00

This week is total bust. What started out with a whole day spent searching for hair ribbons for the gymnastics team at five different stores on Monday, continued with helping a good pal with surgery all day on Tuesday, went on with Finn's horrible case of molluscom contagiosum (yes, we are living in a Harry Potter movie) needing extensive treatment yesterday and me starting a preventative migraine medicine after fighting it for decades, has now culminated in Finn unable to move from the horrible pain of the blisters all over his poor, tiny body and me having an adverse reaction to the new med. "Hey Rocky," Mike said to me this morning. One eye is totally swollen and the other doesn't look so hot either.

I am a totally deadline-driven person and can't stand to miss one. But with two articles due tomorrow and four videos that were supposed to be shot today, I think it's time to throw in the towel. No one wants to watch Puffy Eye talk about making holiday appetizers or decor. I am waving the white flag on this ridiculous week, getting under the covers with my little man and waiting it all out. Instead of filling my day with what I could be doing, I will fill it with what I need to do - nothing.

Tomorrow is a new day! Oh please let tomorrow be a new day.

bruised

2011-11-23T17:19:00.001-06:00

Sticking your neck out sucks when it doesn't work out. But sticking your neck out is what I believe in. I feel, with all my heart, that life is for taking chances, stretching your limits, leaving your comfort zone and above all, trying hard. And I guess, life's about failure, too.

I can't explain the unfathomable joy and utter shock that I felt when contacted by the producers of a new show for OWN six weeks ago, who had found me through my weekly column and asked me to throw my hat into the show's casting ring. After thinking it over and deciding if I might be a good fit, I jumped in head first and loved the excitement of filming video footage, doing Skype interviews and imagining all the possibilities that might lie ahead if it all worked out. It was so crazy fun and thrilling, then the wait was grueling and now the end result just plain stinks. For whatever reason, I didn't make the cut.

So, I want to cry, but just a little. I'm now forced to give up these OWN-related possibilities, but on Thanksgiving Eve, I am very thankful for the opportunity to get outside that box of mine and imagine more for myself. Even though it didn't work out, I still see it as a sign that I'm working within the flow my life is supposed to have; that I'm on the right track.

Pardon my self-preservation for a second, but I can't help but think (and desperately hope) that I'll watch this show someday soon and think, "THANK GOODNESS I DIDN'T MAKE IT!" because just I wasn't a good fit for it. I wholeheartedly believe that things happen for a reason. Just look at all the times J.K. Rowling got shot down; ANYTHING is still possible! Ideas have arrived and creativity birthed that might never have surfaced if this experience hadn't fallen into my lap.

So on I go. Bruised today - but not for long!

so it's true

2011-11-19T08:07:00.001-06:00

I must be 40. I mean, the other day I stopped in HomeGoods to look for a mirror for above our piano. I quickly learned that what I want is sitting in an antique shop somewhere, not in a retail store. Nevertheless, I looked around the rest of the place, hoping to find some clearance-priced diamond in the rough. I did.

For $9.99 I got the absolute-coolest collapsible step stool to slide into my pantry. For pretty much 40 years this vertically challenged gal has hunted around the kitchen dragging chairs or bar stools to the cabinet she couldn't reach, but those days are (finally) over. There will be no more begrudged trips to the laundry room to drag out the loathed heavy and broken metal one. Nope, this little lightweight durable cutie is all I'll ever need.

So now the reason I associate this delectable find to my age. Years ago, I wouldn't have looked twice at this stool, would have never been bothered enough by my daily inconveniences to search out a solution. But times have changed and this insignificant purchase leaves me feeling as if I've won a little bit of the lottery.

I think 40 makes it easier to find the good in every day!

career day

2011-11-17T07:53:00.000-06:00

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to go to Logan's class and talk to the kids about writing as a career. I was nervous that I'd struggle to gain their attention or keep them interested and did some research in order to present it in a way that would speak to them. Some things I think I hit on the mark, while other efforts were lost on them completely. I quickly learned that the best script means nothing, even in the hands of decent speaker, when kids are allowed to ask questions. As soon as it began, my time with them took on a life of its own. Here are a few of my favorite questions:

"Do you make lots of money?" (No)

"Have you written about any famous people?" (Not anyone that you'd consider famous.)

"What is your favorite type of poem to write?" (In my dreams I sit around writing poetry, not content on Smart Analytics integration for utility companies!!)

"This is not a question, but my mom has a company that sells cute hair bows she makes. Would you like to buy some?" (Ummm, I'll have to check that out!)

These are just a few of the fifty questions they asked. The only one that matters was probably the one about whether or not I ever have to edit my work. We had a great conversation about why editing makes you a better writer and how ALL good writers have to do it. It's actually one of my favorite things to do! We also talked at length about finding a way to turn what you love, whatever it is, into a career.

And the day ended with one child asking if I ever wrote for AT&T. Another asked about PWC. The next about White & Associates. Soon, every child in the classroom took their turn at asking me if I'd worked for their mom's or dad's company. It was pretty funny.

And Logan silently smiled the whole time.

and so it begins

2011-11-16T09:50:00.001-06:00

The new season of gymnastics kicked off with the purchase of a decent camera that has allowed us to capture our first inside, low-light images of our girl. Riley had an awesome meet! Can't wait to add to these with shots of Logan at her swim meets and Finn playing hoops!

home

2011-11-16T09:45:00.001-06:00

I just love this shot of Dempsey watching her beloved human who is just beyond her reach. The tree isn't so bad either. This picture just feels like home.

...fourteen...

2011-11-08T10:50:00.000-06:00

How time flies! It was a slightly less rainy day 14 years ago when this lucky girl married Superman at the Little White Church on the County Line with everyone we love squeezed in tightly around us. It's unimaginable that it could possibly be 14 years later, but it is, and we've got the three kids, three houses, four dogs, numerous vehicles, multiple careers, umpteen trials and tribulations and countless blessings to prove it. Happy, happy anniversary to the man of my dreams.

By the way, that's same man who signed his last name in the card he gave me this morning! (Just in case I didn't know....) Oh, how I love him so!!

"pit stain" steelers

2011-11-01T11:20:00.001-05:00

Finn now opts to watch football with Mike and I, rather than watch a kid-show with the girls on Sundays. It must be some genetic specific desire that begins at such an early age, a desire that I don't really have, I just want to hang out with Mike! It's so cute to see him glean an understanding of the game and learn the teams that he is supposed to hate (Dallas) and love (the Steelers), based on his father's opinions. Even that gets handed down, I suppose.

On Sunday, when we were all jet-lagged from our 3 AM rising to catch a plane, Finn was beyond exhausted. He wasn't crabby or anything, just constantly finding hilarious ways to let us know that we had pushed him beyond his five year old limits. He kept falling down randomly, or running into things, even doing this sort of trance-like dance out of the blue. But the best thing he did, twice, was to scream out game-related excitement or frustration about the "Pit Stain Steelers." Even after our chuckles and corrections, he even went so far as to correct his sister: "That's not the Bears Riley, that's the Pit Stain Steelers!"

Considering that's one of the teams he's supposed to like, I wonder what Pittsburgh would think of their new nickname?

He passed out on the couch at 6:30.

halloween 2011

2011-11-01T11:02:00.001-05:00

Some pics of this year's festivities...

for the birds

2011-11-01T10:50:00.003-05:00

Our North Carolina trip was great for many reasons, but one of our favorites was a trip to the Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck. Our guide was amazing and our group, made up of all interests and ages, totally enjoyed every minute. The highlight was a nameless two-month old crane out for a walk with one of his caregivers. He bobbed up and down on skinny legs with knobby knees, with the same undying curiosity about everything around him that our three kids had while there. We spent about ten minutes getting acquainted and learning about each other. I don't think I've ever felt more connected to nature than at that moment, when I could barely tell a difference between the humans and the birds - we all just felt like "beings."

This place is so cool, supplying training, rehabilitation and more for zoos all over the country. They're personally responsible for keeping some species off the Endangered Species List. Kudos to them for a job well done and for an experience like no other.

surprise!

2011-10-30T10:35:00.000-05:00

What a great week we had last week when we surprised the kids and Mike's Dad with a trip to North Carolina for his 70th birthday! I think our arrival surprise was a true success and Alby loved it. We spent the next three days, without any agenda, enjoying each other, hanging out and catching up. I hope it was Alby's best birthday yet!! Here are a few shots from our trip...

40

2011-10-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

How did this happen? Oh well, onward and upward! My top 40 thanks go to...

40. opportunity knocking.
39. movies that make me laugh and cry.
38. great quotes - i'm a sucker for inspiration.
37. the indigo girls - galileo on a road trip might be the best.
36. nature's silence.
35. family movie night.
34. finn's super duper, from the belly, silly high laugh.
33. the feeling that i've still got it. sometimes.
32. my love of learning something new.
31. finishing my "homework" on friday's after school. those friday folders are a bear!
30. logan's sweet sensitivity about all things.
29. adele. ray lamontagne. van morrison. otis redding. blues traveler. janis joplin. james taylor.
28. the ability to teleport to age 22 with a few good friends and occasionally act foolishly.
27. the appropriate level of guilt i feel after number 28.
26. the forever friendships found in all stages of life.
25. family that shows up and loves like crazy.
24. in summer - a light mocha frappuccino, double blended. in winter - a skinny vanilla latte.
23. autumn colors.
22. riley's uncanny old soul perspective.
21. a day that starts bad, but ends great.
20. being surprised by life.
19. making a real connection.
18. cooking anything from scratch.
17. limitless reinvention.
16. the relationships I have with my brothers.
15. mike, always, but especially all the time.
14. a good haircut. and hilary, who gives it to me.
13. shopping at hot mama.
12. folding laundry, but having others put it away.
11. the ambiance and comfort of a roaring fire.
10. the mom-developed ability to turn a carpooling-related phone call into an existential discussion and then run out to pick up the kids from swimming.
9. resilience.
8. the fact that i'm figuring out the life messages i want to give my kids. and that they occasionally repeat them back to me.
7. asking the girls' opinions of an outfit and really wanting their answers.
6. hugging finn.
5. tightening the thread. this is how I describe my editing process. it's the feeling of it coming together just right. i think, at 40, we're tightening the thread and it feels great.
4. days when we're all home, something's cooking and there's nothing we MUST do.
3. the endless possibility of things happening that you never imagined.
2. mike, logan, riley, finn, jesse, dempsey, harley, and maggie. my immediate forever loves. my life.
1. the next 40 years, experiences, possibilities. the rollercoaster.

can you roll your tongue?

2011-10-05T09:43:00.002-05:00

Four of the five of us have the genetic trait that allows us to roll our tongues. For at least three years, the fact that Riley is the only one of us lacking this physical ability has frustrated her beyond words. Our girl, who can pretty much master any bodily task that she sets her mind on, cannot complete this simple movement.

Until now.

For some reason, her tongue rolling problem came up again this week. In her room and I suppose in class and on the bus, and in any available moment, this girl has been secretly and relentlessly training her tongue to roll into the perfect tube. This morning she proudly announced, and displayed, her victory over her genes.

It's seriously amazing. She can do it, but it takes some kind of mental focus I can't describe. The look on her face and effort she's putting forth into this one simple movement is completely intense. She can't hold it long, but she can do it. I swear.

All I can do is laugh. If anyone would be determined, competitive and strong enough to beat out her own genetic makeup, it's Riley! I so admire her strength.

...that guy...

2011-09-21T10:24:00.001-05:00

Let me start by saying that I'm not proud of this, but it must be recorded!

Yesterday, during one of many carpooling trips, Finn and I chatted. He asked why I wouldn't take him out "right now" and buy him an Indian Jones Lego set. I said that Christmas was coming and that I could put it on his list, but as of now I was saving up for Christmas.

He said, "What's the big deal about Christmas anyway?"

"Do you mean, why do we celebrate it?" I asked.

"Yes," he confirmed.

"Well, it's Jesus' birthday," I answered and immediately saw a perplexed look come over his face. "Do you know who Jesus is?"

He considered this for awhile and then said, "Oh yeah, is he that guy who gave us the ice skates last year?"

Sad, but true. (And pretty funny.) He was trying to be on the right track; remembering back to St. Nicholas' gift last year. The truth is that Mike and I have struggled with an absence of need for organized religion, but never our beliefs. It seems that Finn's initial understanding has been lost in our struggle.

I quickly explained and dusted off Bible Stories for Young Children. Even if we're not sure where our own trees are planted, it's time to give this kid some roots.

highland queen

2011-09-13T09:29:00.000-05:00

Some things just never get old. This is what we learned for sure during Granddad and Grandmom's Labor Day visit a week ago, when we traveled 45 minutes east so that Alby and Mike could visit the Highland Queen, famed ice cream joint from earlier days in both of their lives. I've been along for the ride before, but not with the kids along, which made it loads more fun.

Check out these pictures from our delicious adventure!

Outside with the sign - it remains the same!

rememberring

2011-09-11T09:21:00.000-05:00

Ten years have gone by in a flash. Like most Americans, I'll never forget that crisp, electric blue September morning. Feeling immense hope with my first child on the way, but so fragile from my ulcerative colitis diagnosis just a few weeks earlier; the world seemed both full of possibilities and kind of terrifying at the same time.

Mike called to tell me about a horrifying plane crash in NYC. Once I exited the train and arrived at work, the unbearable tragedy unfolded before us. I stood wedged in an office doorway, with my friends and co-workers leaning against walls and sitting on the floor, watching the only television we had.

We now have three children who don't know what happened that day, don't understand the emotion we all felt when we watched the towers fall. With Bin Laden's death and the 10th anniversary, they've started to talk about it at school. Today, I decided to tell them my honest, but child-friendly version. Logan and Riley became teary-eyed as I explained how regular people became heroes that day, in so many ways, to ensure the safety of others. "Super heroes?" Finn asked. "Definitely," I said.

Later we visited our downtown memorial, where thousands of pairs of shoes lined our village streets to represent those people never recovered, including a basket of baby booties symbolic of the numerous unborn children that died that day. It was breathtaking.

I will never forget the details of the day, the sacrifices made September 11, 2001, those made throughout the ten years that followed and those still being made today. These heroes deliver us our freedom, they ensure our safety and allow us to raise our children with the belief that goodness is intrinsic to our world. I am forever grateful.

crash

2011-09-07T12:31:00.003-05:00

If you glance out the window and see your child on a bike, wearing snow boots and holding a sled in the summer, I strongly urge you to immediately drop what you're doing to investigate further. Last Thursday this exact thing happened, and in the two minutes I took to finish a conversation before sending Mike out on a Finn search, all hell broke loose.

In his infinite and boyish wisdom, our 5-year old decided to helmet-less-ly travel across a forbidden busy street to sled down hills in an area of our subdivision under construction. When his wheels hit the gravel, his snow-booted feet weren't up to the challenge and he bit it, hard. Here's what he looked like:

X-rays showed no fracture, but his swelling was nothing short of freakish! The healing power of kids is amazing and he's well on his way to having a miraculously decent school picture next week. And while we have new rules in place and a new bike helmet thanks to Granddad, I can't knock this little dude's creativity. Lord help us in the teenage years!

alaska bound

2011-09-01T12:18:00.005-05:00

Finding out my brother Dan was packing up and head north, WAY NORTH, to finish up school in Soldotna at the University of Alaska, was not the best news I've ever heard. But I couldn't be more excited for the adventure he's undertaken, the life experience he's sure to have and the fact that he's living out a dream. Bunches of us gathered, last minute, at our place to send him off right and say "goodbye for now" last Thursday night. Logan and Riley had many tears to shed, but they were relieved by thoughts of him flying home for Christmas. On Friday morning, he was off!

My Dad and Dan traveled over 3700 miles through five days and all sorts of climates and terrains and arrived in Anchorage on Tuesday. They were laughed at by locals who found their summer clothes amusing and almost grew accustomed to seeing a mama bear playing with her cubs when they crossed a river or driving through a heard of buffalo. They've made pals with Santa's reindeer, so the Anderson kids have nothing to fear this year!

They've told me that the land there is far beyond what we can even imagine in terms of beauty and that Mike and I must, no matter what, begin saving so that we can find a way to get up there with our kids to see Dan in his new, truly awesome habitat. It seems plans for our romantic 15 year anniversary celebration (next year) in Italy will be swapped out with a family-style Alaskan adventure. But that's okay - we wouldn't miss it for the world!

Here's to Dan's adventure, remembering to grab life with both hands and to loving every minute of it!!

alone

2011-08-30T09:25:00.004-05:00

I am a sucker for milestones.

It's been ten years since I was alone all day and even then I spent my days commuting to the city and working hard. Times have surely changed and as I dropped my (gulp) last KINDERGARTNER off at his first day of school today, I couldn't help but tear up. Believe me, I want the peace and time to grow my business, but I will miss them and all their sweet silliness beyond words. For weeks I've been feeling a bit like I'm standing on the edge of some great unknown, armed with only the information that I must jump, soon. This morning I jumped.

So as the last little birdie leaves my nest for the majority of his waking hours, I forge ahead into another of life's phases, excited about the future and oh so grateful that together, Mike and I made it work. Somehow, without delving too deep into debt and exhaustion, our efforts and will allowed me to be at home with these wonderful little beings that I doubt I deserve. Today, I just feel blessed. And that, as they say, is that.

In hindsight, I'm thinking the timing of all this is just a bit off. Maybe my whole world shouldn't be flipping over on the eve of the monumental birthday I'm about to experience.

And then again, maybe the timing is perfect!

forgive me.... buttcheeks.

2011-08-10T17:34:00.004-05:00

Some folks might avoid posting this little gem all together, but I cringe at the thought of this lovely memory not making it's way into the family vault. Sadly, I received one of those calls today that all parents dread. The, "the other day when Finn was over..." call. I knew something was awry before she even uttered a word.

Apparently, after many minutes of suspicious high-pitched giggles between Finn and his buddy, my friend finally intervened. When she asked what they were playing, "The Buttcheek Game" was their enthusiastic answer. Hmmmmm.

Now, I'm not exactly sure what The Buttcheek Game entails, nor do I ever want to know. What I do know is that, while it must be flipping hilarious, an updated "private parts" discussion was in order and commenced within in minutes.

I can't pretend to understand why silly body parts, stinky smells, farts and burps appeal to these mysterious creatures called boys. I can't imagine what goes through his five year old mind when I start talking about private parts, inappropriate touching and all that necessary stuff. I guess I don't need to understand. I'll just take it as it comes, one buttcheek at a time.

if you got it, use it

2011-07-27T20:46:00.003-05:00

First of all, I'm in love with my new hipstamatic app.

Second of all, I'm in love with my garden. As the veggie crop multiplies daily, I've gotten smart about cutting some flowers and giving the indoors a boost from the outside. These Annabelle hydrangeas are crazy gorgeous and make me smile every time I see them peeking through the side of the deck railing. Now they keep me smiling in the kitchen, too. The best part? The bouquets I've created would probably cost $60 and they last more than a week.

The frugal side of me is screaming "Whoo hoo" for using what I've got!

forethought

2011-07-27T20:41:00.004-05:00

Sometimes the maturity and forethought of my children amazes me. Today, when driving home from here and there, Finn asked, "Mom, when I get on the plane to go to Grandmom and Granddad's next summer with the girls, who will hug you at the airport?"

I caught my evading breath and answered, "No one, Finn. That's gonna be a rough day."

"I know Daddy will rush home from work that day," he answered back. "He'll give you a big hug."

And then he added, "'Cause you'll really need it."

He couldn't be more right.

fish

2011-07-26T20:27:00.000-05:00

I don't remember trying out for too many things in my childhood. I mean, when I really think back, the first I recall is a play in junior high and then for cheer leading the summer before senior year. Both memories evoke my old fear of public speaking; the flushing, hot cheeks, the uncontrollable nerves. Thank God I've grown out of that.

The number of times our kids get up and strut their stuff all for the acceptance and judgement of others astounds me. They confidently balance on apparatuses high in the air, they sing a cappella, they recite lines. They fearlessly seek achievement and advancement in a way that makes me proud. If they don't get what they want, their momentary disappointment melts away and they move forward toward the next challenge, the next experience to drink up. Their desire to be good and be adventurous is insatiable. I pray to God they never grow out of that.

This week, Logan tried out for the local affiliate USA Swimming team and made it. We are beyond proud and look forward to our fish making a big splash.

all good things must end

2011-07-26T07:23:00.004-05:00

Maybe it's the fact that, until now, our lives have been full of tutus and hair-do's and all things girly, but whatever the reason, the end of Finn's first baseball season is sad for both Mike and me. As things wrapped up last night, our team of Flying Squirrels lingered about. I'm betting that most of us parents knew we had experienced something really special in the last six weeks as we watched our little guys (and gals) morph from distracted and clueless, to kids that pay attention and know the rules (within reason, of course!)

We were the last to leave the baseball park, us Flying Squirrels. That says a lot when you consider that eight full teams and all their fans were there along with us. Our little men and women happily bounded off the diamond, proudly wearing their medals and bouncing with excitement toward whatever lies ahead. And us change-resistant adults seemed to long for it to last just a little longer, to watch a few more baseball bloopers while they're so young and silly, to keep them at this bobble-head in a batting helmet stage for a bit more.

No such luck, he's growing up. But boy has this season been fun!

gaston photos

2011-07-20T07:19:00.003-05:00

Like I said, there were good times, too. Here are a few of our favorite shots...

gaston 2011

2011-07-20T06:58:00.004-05:00

As I write this, I wish I was leisurely enjoying a cup of coffee on a miraculously breezy North Carolina morning while looking out on the lake. I wish I had a day ahead whose most stressful moments involved choosing who would tube or ski first or dreading the next sunscreen application. But alas, those days are behind us and and we have 51 weeks of waiting to enjoy that kind of relaxation again.

This year was different from the rest. Lake Gaston was the one time each year that we all saw Griff. Just as Mike, Mary, Alby and I were petering out from the kids' do-it-all-in-one-day attitudes and boundless enthusiam, Griff would arrive, with all his toys and limitless energy in tow. He'd ask them interesting questions, take them for jet-ski ride after jet-ski ride, snap lots of pictures and video and spend time getting to know them as best he could. Then he'd entertain us all by teaching himself something new, like how to wake board, or how to do some sort of behind-the-boat trick. He was like a hurricane of energy, a windstorm of contagious excitement that we looked forward to each year.

Griff's loss was felt all week long. The nagging feeling you get when you've forgotten something came often and was quickly followed by, "I just can't believe this." We've found that with kids, you're fabulously catapulted into the present and your grieving comes in tiny private bursts when your thoughts break through the chaos of your days. Within the peaceful backdrop of Lake Gaston, Griff broke through.

I'm sure he'd be glad to know that it was a good week, too. Lots to discuss and catch up on, loads of fun provided by the kids and several visitors filled our days. The kids made sure we were moving full speed ahead, but even they, especially Logan, brought Griff up several times.

I guess there's no "getting used to it". There is forever a hole where there used to be something so much larger than life. It's unimaginable that people figure out how to go on with giant holes like the one Griff left, but they do. And we are.

lights, camera, action!

2011-07-19T20:36:00.004-05:00

Well, in hindsight, today was a bucket-list day. I guess this little adventure was never actually on my bucket list, but I know now that it should have been. I was taken totally by surprise a few weeks ago when my editor at GateHouse Media asked if I'd be interested in shooting a quick video spot to become available with my Shoestring Living column when it runs each week. So this writer jumped at the chance, veered left and ventured into some video work. Not ever having done something like this before, I was excited, but nervous, too.

All I can say is thank God for reality TV, because while we shot the first four video spots in my home and our neighborhood today, I thought of the many comments I've heard from judges on shows like The Next Food Network Star. "Look at the camera. Tell a personal story. Smile. Show energy and personality." In one spot, I assemble a recipe I've created. Let me tell you, it's an art to get all those things together without the spoon flipping out of the bowl or forgetting to put in an ingredient!

Anyway, it was such a great experience; one I look forward to continuing. I think I was the most excited after it was all over and I realized how much I truly enjoyed the whole process.

Stay tuned for some links to my video debut!

june blues

2011-06-29T13:52:00.004-05:00

Busy doesn't even begin to explain the last month of our lives. Between swimming, gymnastics, baseball, camp and more, I am pining for some summer relaxation. On top of it all, is my gross underestimation that I could survive the summer with a sitter only one day a week; filling in the gaps at night and on the weekends. This, my friends, is impossible.

Maybe I should have had kids earlier so youth would now be on my side. But alas, "40" is peeking at me with open eyes, taunting me with her snicker right beyond September, making me feel exhausted to the point of tears with my current load. Yes, this over-stretched mama has the June blues.

But right in front of my pal "40" is my true friend "vacation". I can't wait for lazy mornings, water sports, long nighttime boat rides, feeding the fish, soaking up lake life with the kids and PEACE. I can't wait to not drive my car for days. I can't wait until, a few miles from our destination, my AT&T service peters out as it always does. I can't wait to feel the wind in my face, the Carolina heat on my skin and to fill my tummy with the best chicken salad and local tomatoes around. Heck, I can't even wait for the drive.

In the meantime, I'll survive by tapping into the every-three-year revival of the best ice cream flavor on Earth - which coincidentally falls within the range of my "blues" theme - Oberweis' Blueberry Pie. I'm eating it right now. For lunch.

our natural

2011-06-23T16:55:00.004-05:00

Yes, there have been many amazing parenting moments that have whirred past me during the last nearly 10 years. The arrival of much anticipated bundles of joy, us never once knowing their genders, can never ever be topped. But something strange and untraveled is occurring this summer of 2011, and it most definitely makes the highlight role.

The arrival of baseball in our lives has added a whole new dimension to our existence. No longer does he flop and sprawl on bleachers, creating cars from paper cups and dust bunnies just waiting for his sisters to finally finish whatever it is that they're doing. Gone are the one-sided days of Finn cheering on Logan and Riley from the sidelines. Nope, the times, they have changed.

Now, our little man frets over rain cancellations and strike outs. He learns new rules unimaginable to him just days ago. He makes friends in the outfield while scrambling after a wayward throw. He, and every one of his teammates, hits the ball, forgets to run, forgets to drop the bat and stops to remove the batting helmet - every single time - while parents and coaches happily shout reminders from beyond. He has one hand in glove and one in his pocket, while he chews his over-sized gum. And our baseball player loves every minute.

We have never been so amused. Look for the Flying Squirrels in a town near you!!

security breach

2011-06-19T13:06:00.004-05:00

What it shocker it was a few weeks ago when Logan approached me right before leaving for school to announce that two neighborhood friends had told her that Santa was not real. She started her conversation by saying, "Mom, you know all the things that I believe in?" That question threw me for a bit of a loop, but she soon added,"Like Santa and the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny?" I chuckled that this is the sum total of what my nine year old believes in.

She quickly told the story of two little gals who informed her that, even though I would tell her differently, her parents really are those things. They even went so far as to try to convince her by adding, "Our Moms are who told us!"

I stood, stunned, waiting for a direct question, to which I instantly decided that I would not answer with a lie. It never came. Instead, Logan said,"Mom, I just asked them to please stop saying these things to me. I said that I'm just not ready for this to be over for me yet."

Sadness rushed over me. In her heart of hearts, she knows, but she's mature enough to know that she's not ready to know. I did not confirm or deny for now, but I fear her days are numbered. Still, she's making a big push for both an iPod Touch and a Nook for Christmas this year. When I say that those are two expensive gifts and that she can't ask for both, she says, "But Mom, Santa won't mind how much it costs!"

What a tangled web we weave!

artichokes

2011-06-08T06:40:00.008-05:00

I recently caught the tail-end of an interview with author, Neil Pasricha, who wrote The Book of Awesome. The thing that caught my attention as he rattled off a verbal list of life's true and tiny pleasures was when he said, "People just don't realize that the best things in life really are free."

This was quite a revelation to a gal with a weekly column about frugal living. After two years of writing it, I've had occasional struggles generating fresh ideas on a very popular topic. I find the column has slowly morphed into a bit of a simple living column, focusing more on finding ways to live your best life, within the confines of financial peace. The fact that the best things in life really are free made perfect sense to me.

Later that night, the five of us sat at the table outside eating a late summer dinner, which has already become the season's norm. For me, that alone falls into the "best things in life" category. It was only made better by what we were eating: artichokes.

What a soul-filler-upper it was to gather together and eat full artichokes, each one of our kids enjoying them just as much as Mike and me. We scooped and slurped and piled the leaves onto bona fide artichoke plates, given to a younger, artichoke-loving Mike by his Grandmother Taggart. There were the gentle reminders to only eat the bottom of the leaves, the quiet arguments over the last puddles of melted butter and the yummy noises only heard when something as delicious as an artichoke is being enjoyed.

All that work, leaf after leaf, tiny morsel after tiny morsel, only to arrive at the scary-looking and unexpected choke. But it did not detour us, we kept at it, worked hard, scraped away the unappealing and arrived at our destination: the heart. Funny how the artichoke is sort of like life. Aren't they both all about the heart anyway?

We all agreed. For us, eating artichokes is most definitely one life's greatest pleasures.

good character

2011-06-03T17:00:00.004-05:00

Of all the things to be known for, I'd say that good character might be the best. Today, Logan was surprised by being honored in front of the whole student body as one of two representatives from the 3rd grade class who best represent good character every day. I just wish we could've been in the crowd to watch!! Our little neighbor community cheered her on, as I'm sure Riley did, too. They were all so excited for her.

Proud doesn't even begin to cover how we feel! Take a look at her certificate. GREAT JOB LOGAN!

griff's trees

2011-05-15T09:41:00.000-05:00

It's overwhelming how people come out of the woodwork and show how amazing they are when bad things happen. We're so blessed to have such wonderful folks in our lives who've shown their generosity and friendship by honoring Griff's memory through trees for yard.

From Tiffany, Jeni and Matt, a gorgeous prariefire crabapple that we can watch bloom a glorious pink each spring. Our high school coach, Brent Johnston and his son, Danny drove out to our place with the tree and did all the work planting it. It was just a little bit amusing to watch Mike "watch" as other folks did work around his house. This is not his comfort zone! It was great catching up with Coach and the good vibes continue to emanate from Griff's crabapple every time we look at it.From the Marienthal's, Sack's, VanGilder's and Ayers', a gift card to one of our favorite places on earth, The Growing Place, was used to purchase a lovely Bloodgood Japanese Maple that we planted right outside our dining room windows. It's leaves peeking in at every holiday meal will be the perfect reminder of Griff.

Words cannot express our gratitude for good friends and fond memories.

finn turns 5!

2011-05-15T08:54:00.007-05:00

It is truly amazing to me that my youngest child is five years old. Five seems like such a solid, round, old number to me, putting our little man in a new category entirely. He rarely needs me for things like shoe-tying, prefers I have no input at all regarding his attire (this is scary if you know his father) and would already, mostly, run off to play with "the guys" instead of curl up with me.

But I know that's really not true. He's big on hugs and cuddles, too. He loves to tell you about his latest "larious" stories or personal accomplishments, he's achieved a new level of awareness and appreciation for us cheering him on from the sidelines of anything. Yesterday he scored a goal in his soccer game and we witnessed his realization of what it feels like to have his posse behind him; the crowd erupted - his crowd erupted - and he liked it!

Finn is smart and strong, reading like a champ and up for pretty much any challenge. He stresses a bit before any athletic event, worried about doing well and winning. Mike says he was exactly the same as a kid. Then he gets out there and shows some serious athleticism. (Another "just like Daddy" thing.) He insists on reading a book to us each night and so proud of moving on to the next, more challenging read. He loves his school and pals and is all boy - from his mannerisms to his commentary. He makes me laugh every single day.

At night, when we put him to bed, he still searches out "Whoa Whoa" his lifelong polar bear pal. Whoa Whoa no longer sits up, has barely any stuffing inside and has multiple worn hairless patches along his backside from an experiment with those ridiculous Nexcare tattoo band aids. But that ramshackle little bear, that Finn chose from a veritable banquet of stuffed animals in his first room, is loved like no body's business. Finn says he talks to him, but no one else can hear. I'm sure he does. They have a serious bond when bedtime hits and I hope it never ends.

So as my youngest baby turns five at 11:01 this morning, I remember the pure joy and excitement when I learned that I was blessed with a son, in addition our two glorious girls. I am so grateful to have this tough little mini man to learn from, love and lead for a long, long time.

Happy, happy birthday Finn. I wish you a long, healthy lifetime of abundance, peace, love and joy.

(Thanks to Karen Loffing Photographs for these great shots of Finn!)

mother's day breakfast

2011-05-09T07:18:00.000-05:00

This year, Mother's Day celebrating began on Friday for breakfast at Finn's school. Grandmom and I were invited to share some time with Finn in his classroom and we had a great time. Most notable though, was the priceless letter from Finn, all about me. This, my friends, is a "keeper" in the truest sense of the word. Thanks to almost-five-year-old Finn for a morning that I'll never forget!

Just for the record, I've worn a wedding dress ONCE, and I assure you that Finn was not there!

solo

2011-05-08T06:54:00.002-05:00

At the age of nine, I would have never dreamed of auditioning for anything, much less for a solo singing part in the school musical. I am so proud of Logan for throwing caution to the wind, trying out this spring and snagging a part in this year's Third Grade Musical.

The kids were all so amazing, fearless, supportive of each other and excited about their performances alone and as a group. It was a perfectly-timed show that kept the crowd interested; even the youngest audience members. We had a great turnout, with Granddad and Grandmom here for the weekend, Nana and Tony, Grammy and Uncle Jim, Uncle Tom, Aunt Michelle and Ellie all up front and present to watch Logan's big moment. As I looked around, I thought how touching it had to be for Logan to know that her family just plain shows up, time and time again. I am thrilled that she will not know it any other way and will always look out to see a plethora of smiling, supportive faces in the crowd facing her. Gratitude beyond words to all that came in support of her big solo debut and have made this kind of family life the reality for our children!

Oh, and her lines weren't too shabby either.... she sang them beautifully!

"It's my own voice
It's my own choice
To do my best!"

the wisdom of finn

2011-05-05T07:02:00.003-05:00

Last week, I had the opportunity to ask Finn how he was feeling about Uncle Griff's death. Kids are so resilient and they do move on so quickly - a blessing for sure - but I want them to know that we're available to talk about this, or anything, at anytime. While coloring with chalk on the driveway (we were drawing an elaborate mural of Whoa-Whoa) I asked.

"How are you feeling about Uncle Griff?"

"Sad," he said.

"Was it hard for you to be at his funeral with so many people who were so sad?"

"Yeah," he answered.

"How did it make you feel when you were there?"

"Sad. It was bad," he commented. "But it was the worst for Nana. I was so sad for Nana because she lost her son."

"I know," I said. "Come here and hug me."

"Why do you want to hug me?" he said. "Did you like what I said?"

"Yes I did," I answered. "But I want to hug you because I have a son to hug."

And right there on the driveway, surrounded by chalk drawings and dust, we hugged like crazy. Because we could.

young fox valley singers

2011-05-02T06:47:00.000-05:00

Logan completed another wonderful year with the Young Fox Valley Singers at the spring concert on May 1st. I can't tell you how blessed we feel to have our daughter be a part of this group of incredibly talented musicians and vocalists. She is learning things we could never dream of teaching her, thriving and loving it. The performances they deliver never cease to amaze us!

Congrats to Logan on completing her second year with the group. Can't wait to see what they do next!

bravery

2011-04-06T06:56:00.003-05:00

When I was 9, I highly doubt I would have had the guts to audition to sing, alone, in any kind of production. As a matter or fact, I would have faked sick to get out of talking in front of the class when I was 9! Logan's ability to cast her nerves and shyness aside to try out for solos in both the Young Fox Valley Singers and the 3rd Grade Musical: Get in the Game, makes me so proud of the young woman she is turning into. I love that she sets her sights on what she wants and does what needs to be done to get it.

In the end, she landed a solo in the musical, which will be held on May 5th. We can't wait to see her in action!

YAY Logan!!

Griff

2011-04-01T10:36:00.006-05:00

Is there any doubt that life is too short? It is with great sadness that I enter this post into the collection of our lifetime stories on this blog. On Monday, March 21st, we lost Mike's brother Griff. Unexpected and tragic, his passing carved a hole never to be filled, but created a poignant awareness of all the blessings we have and how much we love Griff for the amazing individual that he was. I have dreaded this entry, but have known it must be entered as his loss is forever part of the five of us; ingrained in the fabric of the soul of our family.

God bless the many family members and friends that have come to support our extended family in ways unimaginable, even as they experienced their own sadness. From a peace plant to caring for pets to the most warm hug, we've witnessed greatness in every walk of our lives. God bless those that call for daily check-ins, plan visits and email support and prayers. God bless my children as they process Griff's loss with their unyielding resiliency and boundless hope for the future. God bless my husband, who is focused on supporting all those who need him while he feels his own deep grief. God bless Jessica as she finds the strength to go on each and every day. God bless Mike's wonderful parents as they forge ahead in spite of an unfathomable loss.

God bless you, Griff. We're so grateful to have had you with us, if only for a short while. We wish you peace and we know we'll meet again.

Riley's State Meet

2011-03-18T22:00:00.001-05:00

What a thrill it was to watch Riley compete in her first USAG State Meet. She pulled off her best meet ever with her usual entourage in tow: Nana and Tony, Grandpa, Grammy and Jim, Auntie Janet, Uncle Tom, Aunt Michelle, Emily and Ellie joined the four of us to cheer her on.

In the end, she scored 9.250 on bars - 3rd place

9.15 on floor - 9th place

9.4 on vault - 10th place

and 8.05 on beam, her 2010-2011 nemesis

All-in-all, she had a GREAT first season as the youngest member of her team. We just love that she had fun and tried her best - lots of good life lessons in this for her (and sometimes us!) We couldn't be more proud of our flippin' girl and her great teammates!!

the road to state

2011-03-18T07:02:00.004-05:00

The road to state is paved with anxiety for Mommy. I swear, if I could get my hands on some Valium and knew I could take it and still stay awake, I'd probably medicate myself this afternoon. There is just something so disconcerting about your tiny seven year old, balancing alone, four feet or more in the air with a panel of strangers judging her. It just doesn't seem right.

But, for as hard as it is for me, Riley is in love with the sport and more dedicated than I could imagine for such a young girl. She works hard and shakes off mistakes better than most adults I know. And as she heads into her first USAG State Championship at 5 PM tonight, I could not feel more proud about who she is. How she performs is irrelevant to me; I just want her to leave feeling great about what she's already accomplished.

Her posse will be out in force tonight. The car windows are painted and signed by all the neighbors and pals and Logan has made a pink and blue sign with silver glitter to hold in the stands. We've all adopted "RA RA Riley" as our official cheer! All her hard work is behind her with just this one performance lying in wait.

When it's over, and I can't wait for that moment, I will be having a large cocktail to celebrate her 6 month competition hiatus (and the lowering of my anxiety levels.) But in the meantime, I've got to get ready because my favorite gymnast performs tonight!!

"RA RA RILEY!!"

us humans have it all wrong

2011-02-24T13:19:00.003-06:00

In September, we got a new dog. We already had a fine canine at home, but as usual, I tend to seek out ways to complicate my own life and bringing home another bouncy, happy lab puppy was just what I sought out to do. For the record, I'm a big fan of the two-dog family; anyone who remembers Harley and Maggie knows why. So now we have Jesse and Dempsey.

Dempsey moved in and took over. All 7 pounds of her asserted herself into Jesse's space, and ours for that matter. She is an alpha dog to the core and has let us all know. A recent visit from a friend and her dog sealed the deal for me - Dempsey nearly tore my arm off in her fury to have this female out of her yard. That wasn't embarrasing at all.

Now she's 40-some pounds and I still find it unsettling how she can ellicit a tiny whimper and have Jesse scurrying out of her own bed or dropping her favorite toy. It literally pisses me off that she waltzed in and took charge and that all the books say that we have to accept it. As much as I love her, it's just not right.

See, I'm not that kind of gal. If there is something less than mainstream about my personality, I tend to opt to correct instead of just accepting myself. If I need something, I have a hard time asking for it. If someone doesn't seem to like me, I'll probably worry about it. Holy *&*^%, I'm the beta!

While thinking this over earlier today, I firmly (thought I) believed that we humans didn't subscribe to the same pecking order rules of the animal kingdom, but following some introspection, I know that we do. We all have someone in our life that exibits despicable behavior and we just accept it. Some of us would rather do without than just go get what we want. However, there's one small difference between our furry friends and ourselves: we can choose to change.

Reality check for me.

my best cooking tip

2011-02-16T19:32:00.003-06:00

It takes a few moments for your brain to process the fact that you're on fire. I think this is the scariest thing about what happened to me at dinner tonight; imagining how much worse it could have been and feeling so unbearably grateful that I didn't have to process that.

I was cooking dinner with a dressy scarf tied around my neck - it had been there all day. Mike walked in and we were talking while I was cooking, facing away from him. All of a sudden, I noticed sparks flying up in the air. It seemed like forever until my eyes found the source: the scarf that was currently TIED around my neck!

I quickly headed for the sink while trying to quell the flames with my hands, but I was flailing and scared. I tried to pull it off, but I couldn't get it loose. I tried to lean into the sink and get my neck under the faucet, but my 5 foot stature would not allow me the leeway needed to get it under. I finally screamed, "Help me!" and Mike, who was just a few feet away, patted it out with his hands and then quickly untied it.

Being the non-crier that I am, I even shocked myself when I burst into tears. A moment later, Mike and I were laughing hysterically - it's amazing how many emotions a person can feel within the span of ten seconds. I'm pretty sure I covered them all!

Anyway, take my advice all you scarf-wearing fashionistas. Don't cook with your accessory on - it can really mess you up!

reserved for party

2011-02-16T19:13:00.003-06:00

You gotta love when, as the mom, you're the funniest thing that happens at your child's birthday party. Riley had ten or so good buds join her for a showing of Gnomeo and Juliet this Sunday in honor of her big day and now I can officially say that Birthday Palooza has ended.

But, Birthday Palooza insisted on going out with a bang. During our one (miraculous, huh?) trip to the bathroom, I stayed behind to wait for the last little gal. At that moment, while standing outside the bathroom, I had the strangest sensation that everyone around was smiling at me. "What a friendly place!" I thought.

As we walked back to the theater together, my young friend said, "Um, Miss Molly?"

I said, "Yes?"

She said, "You have a sign taped on your back."

"I do?" I chuckled and stretched to remove it.

And there it was, the cause of all the smiles, in giant black letters: RESERVED FOR PARTY.

Funnily, I am totally grateful for this moment! I have gotten more laughter and stress relief from reliving it all week than I could have ever imagined. I keep thinking about in so many ways. It's just plain funny to have a sign on your back. It's pretty hilarious to ponder my partying self hanging with Steve Martin and Dan Akroyd as one of the "wild and crazy guys." And then I think, maybe it's a sign from above. Maybe it's a reminder to chill out and enjoy life more...be ready for anything, you know?

And then I think, "Naw, it's just $@#!& funny!"

large fries. and a cheeseburger. stat.

2011-02-12T15:56:00.003-06:00

Five weeks into healthy eating and exercising my butt off, literally, has netted me a loss of 9 pounds. I am super happy with this, but of course my human need for instant gratification demands a faster rate of loss. After momentary frustration following my Saturday am weigh-in, I succumb to what I know for sure:

Any loss is a LOSS. Slow loss is forever loss. All this change can only result in a healthier me.

I'm basically half way to where I want to go, which isn't so bad. The Weight Watchers new program I've been following is something I can really get into and follow with ease and I've got no doubt that I'll forever be more mindful of how many minutes on a treadmill equal a serving of chips and dip. Better food choices (for the most part) will likely follow me around for some time to come.

That being said, with each successful weigh-in and each healthy week, I have begun to crave a restaurant-produced cheeseburger and fries like no body's business. Let me just say I rarely eat beef - maybe once every few months and not much meat besides that. The fact that I am day dreaming about a "huge hunk of meat" (thanks J.B.) baffles me to say the least. But nevertheless, it grows larger and looms over me each week. The fries are no mystery. If you ask me, they may just be the world's most perfect food. Hands down.

Tonight I will cheat! I need a break and WW works in a way that allows you to take one every now and then. So tonight, I will forge a path to Portillos, with an anxious heart and watering mouth and order those deliciously crispy-salty fries (LARGE) and a burger to go alongside. I will enjoy the first few bites of the burger that I've hankered for and then I'll pass it on to Mike, who's sure to finish it. But those fries.... those fries are a different story entirely.

From first to last, I will not share. No, not tonight. I will dip these crinkle-cut spears of golden perfection into ketchup (Heinz, there is no substitute) and savor every bit of oral revelry as I devour them one by one. I'll do it slowly, so I can survive on the experience for the next five weeks when I'll once again give in to that culinary satisfaction only the french fry can deliver. In a couple short hours, I'll be there. Care to join me?

blizzard of 2011, continued

2011-02-02T10:36:00.003-06:00

A few more pics of the craziness!

Snow Dog

Making a path to the front door

Happy Kids

blizzard of 2011

2011-02-02T10:30:00.003-06:00

In all my life, I've never experienced anything like the 70 mph winds and thundersnow last night. School's off, activities cancelled, Mike's work closed and a travel ban. Snowly Cow! Here's a bit of the aftermath....

Watching Dad

Digging Out

Can you find the girls?

View out from the garage.

First look out the front door this morning.

happy 7th birthday riley!!

2011-01-31T11:16:00.004-06:00

We should have known what we were in for when our second gal popped out into the world with broad shoulders, a crazy shock of black hair and almost instantly telling us her name. "Riley" wasn't even in our top three, but Mike and I took one look at her, looked at each other and said, "She's Riley!" She knew who she was the wondrous day of her arrival, seven years ago today.

This girl of ours takes the world in in a quiet way, not talking too much about her observations unless necessary. Her feelings and opinions come out in unassuming but profound ways, like when she described Logan's sadness about moving perfectly to us adults when she was only three years old. It has always been that way, as if Riley has a keen understanding of the world around her and the ability to not sweat the small stuff. Too often, I rely on her to be the one that goes up to grab something for me or helps me out - I've got to remember not to abuse her always agreeable nature!

Riley didn't surprise me at all when she blew school out of the water, missing only the spelling of the word "fin" on all her tests and quizzes in any subject this year. Her teacher just loves her and even said that if she were just thirty years older, she want her as a best friend. She's so easygoing and dependable, like her Daddy, she's just refreshing to have around.

And then there's this athlete inside of her, ready to come out at any turn. Her little six (now seven) year old bod atop the high balance beam with ability and confidence I could only dream of. Her Daddy and I sit and watch, fingers crossed and breath held, refusing bathroom trips and siblings' questions until her performance is over. What a ride this gymnastics thing has already been!

My love is endless for this sweet-natured, old soul who showed me that my heart could grow to unimaginable sizes when she arrived. My wishes for her are just and boundless, with a long life of health and happiness leading the charge.

Happy 7th birthday Riley!

it's a good thing

2011-01-19T06:40:00.004-06:00

I've been driving the girls to school lately in lieu of having them bus it; it's much easier to get Finn out the door if he's forced to do it with them. After we drop them off, we shoot straight over to his school. The five minutes we spend waiting in line before the school doors open for the girls are some of my favorite moments of the day.

For whatever reason, it seems big topics surface right before the girls jump out, usually leaving me deep in thought for the ride to Finn's school. We've discussed cheaters (due to the parents who INSIST on cutting in line and not following the school traffic rules), bad people (the cheaters are not really bad people, I explain), issues with friends and once had an in depth discussion about God, right there in the line.

But my favorite had to be when the girls were talking about their daily walk inside the building, beyond the arms of my Honda Odyssey or the mommy bubble I try to keep them in. They discussed their ritual of chatting and then staying "goodbye" at the stairwell where Logan ascends to big kid world and Riley hangs a right to the first grade corridor.

And Riley said matter-of-fact-ly, "And then we hug and go to school."

I was shocked. Don't get me wrong they are great sisters, but they're competitive, too. They can argue and wrestle like professional lawyers, and well, wrestlers! "You guys give each other a hug?"

"Yes!" they both answered like I was ridiculous.

"Every day?" I asked.

"Yes!" they giggled.

I know it won't last forever, but I was bubbling over with the most happiness a person could hold at that moment. The idea of my two little gals hugging in the busy school hallway, if only for a moment and then confidently going out in to their worlds, knowing someone there loved them and had their back, was almost too much to bear.

In that one moment, I knew Mike and I must be doing something right. Now that's a day-maker!

happy 9th birthday logan!

2011-01-18T05:43:00.005-06:00

Holy cow! It's unbelievable to me that this is our last year with all our kiddos in single digits. I woke at 4 am this morning for a bathroom break - showing my age - and immediately thought of the early hours, nine years ago, at 4:12 am, when when a four-week early, 5 pound, 15 ounce Logan Olivia made me the happiest mom on earth.

Our girl is the sweetest, smartest, most compassionate, sensitive, creative, silly, beautiful, loving gal around. She's a perfectionist, with a soft heart, who tries her hardest and loves to please. She likes to cuddle like nobody's business and would still be carried around at times if she didn't weigh 60 pounds! She is the easiest person to give a gift to, appreciates anything well-thought out, whether it's a paper clip with meaning or the latest gadget. She sings beautifully and writes songs that will break your heart. She's a great big sister, currently vacillating between my helper and one of the hinder-ers, but that's just being a kid. She's a friend to all and although she's a self-starter and independent, truly loves personal attention. I know for sure that great things lie ahead for Logan Olivia Anderson.

I treasure Logan more than she'll ever know, want all her dreams to come true and more than anything, wish her happiness throughout a long, healthy life. How blessed I was those 9 years ago. How blessed I am to have her each and every day.

maritime murders

2011-01-18T05:31:00.003-06:00

Most important Christmas gift for Logan: a fish.

Most gruelingly awful gift ever to be withstood by her parents: a fish.

Our 3rd and 4th fish died this morning, in the wee hours of Logan's 9th birthday. Based on the fact that each of them has died exactly 48 hours after arriving in their new tank, you'd have thought we could have come up with better timing for this latest attempt. Oh well, I think she's getting more used to the losses as we struggle to entertain the thought of ever trying again.

We tested the water, bought a replacement filter and heater, added all the necessary supplements, bought the most hardy fish and still, 48 hours later, they die. I feel like a maritime murderer. The picture of Logan's first coming home in a bag with her beaming smile has become the prelude to aqua-pet demise in my mind.

After a long talk with a knowledgeable fish expert at an aquarium store last night, I suppose we will try again. She's worried that there may be a toxic level of ammonia in the water, which Petco does not test for. It's made worse by using flake food and as soon as the fish stop eating due to feeling bad, a few extra flakes of food can make the ammonia levels out of control. I hope she's right. I don't think Mike and I can handle killing another.

Ugh.

Didn't we all just have bowls with water and goldfish? I don't remember it being so complicated!

RIP Oreo, Rascal, Angel and Shadow.

wicked good

2010-12-28T05:23:00.000-06:00

In honor of their upcoming birthdays, Mary and I took the girls to see their first real theater production today at the Cadillac Palace. Wicked was amazing and totally worth the wait to see. The girls were enthralled from begining to end and moved tears at times, just like their mommy. We had a great lunch at Petterino's beforehand and lots of fun with the whole experience. It's so nice to know that they are old enough to really appreciate stuff like this - can't wait to take them to see something else!

In case you're wondering, "No one can bring me down!" was out of this world!

egg nog fog

2010-12-25T05:04:00.002-06:00

6 Christmas celebrations

2 puking incidents

1 round of antibiotics

too many late nights

6 days of wonderful house guests

3 tired kids

1 vow to take Christmas Day off next year!

Happy Holidays were had by all, but if I didn't learn my lesson to simplify this year, I don't think I ever will. I have already promised my kids, who begged for it on the way home Christmas night, that we would spend next year in jammies, lounging, eating, assembling and playing. I think we need to enjoy a Christmas at home with toys and no responsibilities at least once before they grow out of this whole toy thing!

finn

2010-12-19T05:02:00.000-06:00

and we spend money on toys.....

pineapple classic

2010-12-17T04:47:00.001-06:00

This week marked a first for us, a first of something I doubt we ever thought we'd do. We took Riley out of school for a gymnastics meet at the age of SIX! Some years, in order to serve all the gymnasts in the state of Illinois, meets must be scheduled on weekdays. We woke at 4:30 AM, shipped Logan off to a super helpful and understanding neighbor's home so she wouldn't miss the last day before Christmas break and headed north to Schaumburg with a two-days post antibiotics strep-recovering Riley.

While it wasn't her best meet, it was a good one. She placed 6th on vault, 8th on floor and 12th all around. The medals around her neck at the meet's end were quite impressive!

As soon as we arrived home, she broke out in hives, which continued throughout the weekend. Apparently, her strep was made of a super strong bacteria that was fighting through the meds every time she was due to have them. All we want is for her to have fun and try her best, and she continues to do that, strep and all!

and the angels sang.....

2010-12-12T04:37:00.001-06:00

Sunday, December 12th marked Logan's 3rd official concert with the Young Fox Valley Singers. It was an amazing show. The kids are so talented and the vocal teachers second-to-none. As a special treat, world renouned soloist Tamara Wilson, who spent her own vocal formative years with the group, returned to perform alongside the children. She moved me to tears with her rendition of "O Holy Night." This was such a treat for the audience, but more for the kids, who had the opportunity to rehearse and perform with her, ask her questions and imagine their own vocal futures through her successes.

We were so proud of Logan who learned that the show must go on when the day's blizzard ripped her headband, made for "The March of the Wooden Soldiers", from her hands never to be seen again. Her disappointment was palpable and I thought her initial frustration might prevent her from having a good time, but it didn't. When I picked her up in the warm up room after the show she said, "I have the best choir. They told me I was as cute as a doll without my headband!" And, of course, she was.

can you say "Grizzwald?"

2010-12-03T10:01:00.004-06:00

I'm not trying to be a scrooge, but this holiday season is sputtering to start. It came out of nowhere and it seems as if everything is just a little, well, off. With a schedule boardering on - for real - unimaginable, I finally determined that tomorrow between 8 AM and noon is the only window of opportunity between now and Christmas that all of us Andersons can go get our tree. (I still haven't found a decorating timeslot.) This is earlier than I'd hoped; but probably just what the mischievous puppy, a.k.a. Dempsey Doodle, wishes for. That should be interesting.

When I say things are off, here's what I mean: plans to simplify Christmas events have already gone awry, early shopping has led to too much shopping, our house looks ridiculous with half of our garland lights out, a baby deer that won't light up and crooked and crumpled outside entry trees. What's more, each year I buy an expensive poinsettia from a neighbor as a sport's fundraiser. These plants are the most gorgeous I've seen and they last and last. I was so relieved to see it immediately change the mood to a festive one around here when it arrived last night.

After bedtime, I enjoyed my most favorite part of the day (not really), when my butt hits the corner cushion of the couch to watch some DVR'd episode of a show I love. (Last night, it was the Sons of Anarchy season finale!) After literally thirty seconds on the couch, just as I was really starting to exhale, Mike and I heard the strangest creaking noise and turned quickly toward it. In one full swoop, five of the seven huge branches of my gorgeous red poinsettia fell and dropped from the table.

All we can do is laugh! There's money well-spent! Merry Days!

lots to learn

2010-11-12T06:41:00.005-06:00

Let me start by saying I'm not proud of this, but it's just too good to stay in my head.

In the last month, I've noticed a huge jump in Finn's vocabulary. He's using words that I'm shocked about (in a good way) each and every day. On Tuesday, we sat at the kitchen table after school talking about his day. He asked me why there are so many vegetarians at his school. Surprised that he knew the word, I asked, "Finn, do you know what a vegetarian is?"

"Yes!" he said proudly. "People with darker skin and hair."

Finn attends a Montessori school that is vastly multicultural and I've seen the the lunch specifics that include not only allergies, but multiple dietary life choices for kids of all cultures. I immediately spun into a frenzy as a result of his racially slanted comment, although I know that's not how he meant it, that's just his experience at school. Grasping my "teachable moment", I asked, "Do you know what vegetarians DO?"

"Sure. They don't eat meat," he said.

At least the intelligence component was there! I quickly assured him that people of all looks, races, colors and creeds can be vegetarians, I mean, his own mommy has spent months at a time living that lifestyle.

Makes you think about how some misunderstandings begin and makes you want to uncover them all. At four.

down on the farm

2010-11-10T06:30:00.007-06:00

Logan, Riley and I took a much needed trip to see our great pals in Iowa this weekend. It has been SIX months since we last got together; some kind of despicable record. We made up for it in spades with late nights, endless gab sessions and a serious dive into nature. (Oh, and we ate!) While the girls explored the woods behind the house with deer running right alongside of them, Amy and I talked about literally everything. It just filled me up to spend time with her - life has gotten so busy for us both.

The highlight of the weekend was surely our trip to Amy's friend's farm, where something like 9 horses, 22 chickens, 15 sheep, several cows, cats and a myriad of dogs welcomed us. The excitement about the animals was only surpassed by our host, Sharon, and her willingness to let us and our girls truly experience farm life. From getting the horses ready to ride, to feeding the chickens, we did it all.

Riding a horse is one of my favorite things to do in life, period. Amy let Sharon know this, and she delivered. Delivered me right to her horse, Caesar, who I familiarized myself with for several hours as she and Amy led the girls around on Bella, a good ole sway-backed mare. I seriously thought I was in heaven! At the end of our time there, Sharon and I went out on her 130 acres and not only saw the beauty of her amazing property, but cantered those horses a bit. There is nothing like that in the world.

So, with a unimaginably sore ass, I'm telling you we had an awesome weekend, one and all. Watching the kids get down and dirty chasing silly chickens, bothering horses and feeding calves made me yearn for a simple, country life. Feeling the crisp, dusty air in my face as I charged ahead atop Caesar makes everything else seem small. Reconnecting with an old friend in such an earthy way was priceless.

I am so grateful for the experience.

mixed up

2010-11-04T13:20:00.003-05:00

Riley brought home her first non-perfect school work the other day. On her weekly spelling test, she missed one word, meaning she did not get to participate in the Challenge Word List for the week. For our little perfectionist, this was not good news.

Here's the word she missed:

fin: as in a membranous, winglike or paddlelike organ attached to any of various parts of the body of fishes and certain other aquatic animals, used for propulsion, steering, or balancing.

I'm sure you can guess how she spelled it:

Finn: proper noun. as in a tow-headed nuisance who she couldn't love more.

Trick or Treat 2010

2010-11-03T11:59:00.004-05:00

It was a great Halloween, filled with parties, parades, lots of trick or treating and our first-ever SCARY haunted house. Finn and Riley loved it, Logan, not so much. Nana and Tony even came along; it was Nana's first one, too!

Here are a few shots of our geisha girl, our rainbow sorceress and Snake Eyes.

good "remembers"

2010-11-03T11:47:00.002-05:00

Man is Finn full of it this week...

He was recently asked to join a playgroup of four year old boys in our neighborhood that meets on Wednesday afternoons. He was really excited and I was happy for him; telling him about who he might know that would be there.

"I think you took a gymnastics class a long time ago with a little boy named Andrew," I reminded him, not really expecting him to remember back that far. "Do you remember him?"

"Oh, yeah!" he said not-so believably. "I think so."

A pause.

"Mom, you have really good remembers! I don't remember so good like you!"

Love that.

finn's feet bestow some wisdom

2010-11-01T16:29:00.004-05:00

I had a few uninterrupted moments with Finn today, likely because I have such a ridiculous Halloween hangover (not alcohol-induced - Halloween activity-induced. I'm exhausted!) When I picked him up from school, all I wanted to do was lie down on the floor and hang out with him.

We did airplanes and lots of tickling and then I did this silly thing I used to do when they were really little: I sniffed his still baby-feet and put up a huge fuss like they were the stinkiest things on earth. In between his belly laughs and gasps for air, he said, "Remember that Mom? Remember when we used to do that?"

"I do, " I thought as I marveled as his near-adult like observation. "And the time I make for these moments is much too little." There is nothing like the uncontrollable laughter of your child from a good tickle. You know that at that moment, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that they are full to the brim with joy. All because of you.

What am I doing depriving myself of that?

teachers are my heros

2010-10-26T15:12:00.003-05:00

I'm volunteering once a month in both Logan's and Riley's classrooms and have to admit, it's harder than I thought. Today was my first time in Logan's room managing groups of ten as they measured perimeters of squares and rectangles made from rubber bands on geoboards. It sounds more complicated than it is, because 8 out of 10 in each group seemed to grasp it with ease. And then there were the "others."

As a mom, I can certainly imagine that teaching is beyond difficult and requires unheard of stamina and patience. In the one hour and fifteen minutes I was there today, I ran out. Fast.

There was the little girl I know from another walk of life that tried to make silly jokes throughout my "teaching". There was the boy that flat out refused to listen to me - he just kept spinning the globe at warp speed. I finally said "Hey you!" I know, totally inappropriate, but I didn't know his name! Logan said, "MOM! His name is Tony!" And I tried with Tony, I really did. But minutes after making his acquaintance, all I wanted to do was send him to the Principal's office. Then there was Wyatt, who refused to do the project, but created the most elaborate rubber band designs on record. None of which he got credit for because the child refused to make even one square on the stupid board.

I watched that clock tick down like it was 2:55 pm in 1989 and I was waiting for the bell so I could see my high school boyfriend. When my stint was done, I cleaned my desk and exhaled as Logan's awesome teacher sent them all away and back to their desks. As she came over and smiled, she said, "You survived!" And I said, "You're my hero. It's official!" And then, "Time to go!" I like her so much because she totally laughed. She gets it and then some.

Here's to all you teachers out there! I thought my job was hard....

birthday dinner

2010-10-26T14:53:00.002-05:00

Don't you just love when something comes together perfectly?

After a long weekend of required activities resulting in not the best birthday on record, Mike and I took the kids to La Sorella di Francesca's on Sunday night for my birthday dinner. I mentioned to a few people that we were taking the kids and they thought us nuts. But it was perfect. They tried new foods, practiced manners and ordering and plowed through dessert with us like little celebrating gourmets.

When do we ever do something so nice? Not often, I'll tell you. While we sit together regularly, doing it in a swanky place, with delicious food and someone else cooking and cleaning up makes it a truly special occurence. From appetizers to wine and our ending cappucinos, I just kept thinking, "this is perfect."

If that's not a happy birthday, I don't know what is.

grateful times 39

2010-10-22T07:18:00.002-05:00

This year I'm grateful for...

39. Coffee. Especially in the winter. I still long for the best cup I ever had on August 8th of this year at Glencoe Roast Coffee. It was a vanilla latte that can never be surpassed. Wish I lived closer.

38. Living in a little bit of country. The fog through the trees and over the cornfields at sunrise is amazing. Better with coffee.

37. Writing. The real stuff. It feeds my soul.

36. The fact that shirts got longer. I'm sure they'll cycle back again, but I love hiding the belly bulge.

35. My minivan. Who would've guessed?

34. DVR. It may just be the single best invention during my motherhood. I can finally relax at bedtime on Thursday nights.

33. Our bed. Good for so many things; there is no better feeling than falling into it at night.

32. Autumn. I really do like everything about this fleeting season. From the colors to the smells, it is everything that I love.

31. Feeling proud of my kids. The effort they put into most things is admirable and they deserve to feel great about themselves. They certainly make me feel great about them.

30. Crest Advanced Whitening White Strips. Seriously, these are the best. Nothing improves the
wrinkle-scene more than brighter whites.

29. Good quotes. I'm one of those people who they truly inspire.

28. Working in the dirt. I'm just a novice, but I love it. Need a bigger gardening budget.

27. Cooking. One of the most important things I do. Complete peace comes over me when I'm deep into it. Just need to learn not to take it personally when it doesn't turn out!

26. Lindt Chocolate with a Touch of Sea Salt. MMMMM.

25. The fact that Mike likes to clean up when we entertain. It's one thing I almost never need to worry about.

24. Good dogs. I've been lucky every single time.

23. Good doctors. They're far and few between, but it's worth the research to find them.

22. The way Finn plays with two items. Whether they're cars or birds or spoons, he retreats for a few moments to his own world.

21. How doing the right thing gets easier with age. Are we just too tired of the hangover? (Whatever kind of hangover it is?)

20. Logan's unstoppable excitement. I wish I had her happy energy. It does seem to be somewhat fueled by chocolate though.

19. Our vacation to Napa Valley. Still one of my most treasured experiences. I go back in my mind often.

18. The resiliency of adults. People say kids have it, but I think they just carry everything - it's all they know. Adults have no choice but to let go.

17. Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen. Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin. The Indigo Girls - I love they they make me think, for a moment, that my voice knows what it's doing.

16. Riley's athletic prowess. What a thrill she gives us each time we watch her compete.

15. Being blessed with both daughters and a son. I love learning about their differences, good and bad, each and every day.

14. Good friends: those lifetimers that have been along for the ride for a while, and those met only recently. Life would not be complete without any of them.

13. Family, the whole Logan - Anderson lot. The great, the good, the bad and the ugly. They're
mine, they're perfect and they're treasured.

12. Extra dirty Grey Goose Martini's with blue cheese olives.

11. Good food. Of any variety. For me, eating is one of the greatest pleasures in life!

10. Unexpected great times. We recently had a Sunday dinner with friends that turned into
what felt like an eight hour scene from The Big Chill. Great music and all.

9. Hosting Thanksgiving. My favorite holiday, hands down. Full of eating, cooking and all that's fall, it has none of the holiday hustle and bustle stress. And it's ALL about the gratitude.

8. Finn's uber cuddly-ness. He literally melts into your body and will stay for hours. I get a little anxious thinking about how I'll feel when it ends. I guess it would be weird if it didn't, huh?

7. Mike's strength. Physical and emotional, he has it all. When I wear out, he holds it together. Where would I be without him?

6. Dinner for five. Most nights, we accomplish this and don't take it for granted. As I hear rumbles about the TV going off or call them to the table for the tenth time, I do get frustrated. But once we're all seated and stories of the day are unfolding, I feel I have succeeded at something very important. I will hold on to this with both hands.

5. Logan's songs. They are a direct line to her soul and although they sometimes scare her Daddy with their adult-like topics and candor, her dedication to writing several per day is resulting in quite the little songwriter.

4. Riley's adult-understanding of most situations. It's like she knows a lot about everything.

3. The health of my kids, my husband and myself. It's true, "When you have your health..."

2. Logan, Riley, Finn and Mike. They all must sit here on one line, because without one, family, as we know it, would not exist. They are my reason, my purpose, for everything.

1. Making it this far. For all these blessings, quirks, loves and wonders bestowed on me and the many more that didn't make the page, I am grateful to the core. I am blessed, lucky, in the right energy field, whatever you want to call it. And I've made it this far!

Here's to another 39 - at least!

Unencumbered

2010-10-21T18:43:00.005-05:00

Yesterday I worked like a dog. I worked like a dog; writing four articles and doing and hour of website work, all inside the three and half hours Finn was away at school, so that I could "play hookie" today. You see, my birthday is tomorrow and Finn doesn't have school on Fridays. My productivity soared under the goal of a few unencumbered moments alone this morning.

It's funny how our ideas of "me time" pare themselves down from year to year, until finally, they land at what I did today. I spent almost two blissful hours alone, un-showered, at the grocery store. I had the biggest bill I've had in months, even after saying "no" to my devilish side's urging to buy Ben and Jerry's Key Lime Pie ice cream (it's a limited edition, you know) and sharp cheddar cheese with Carr's whole wheat wafers (it's a combo you must try.) I did accomplish the first Christmas present purchase, a big ticket item on sale, a bonus.

By the time I arrived home and unpacked, I had an hour and twenty minutes left before pick up. I managed a 45 minute workout DVD (currently on day 5 of Turbo Fire by Beachbody) and a really fast shower. My face was still beet red when I pulled up in Finn's carpool line. And although my morning alone and not working was not so exciting, I must admit, it was fully satisfying.

I guess the lesson is to remember that the most simple things can recharge and refresh us, so we should find ways to take advantage of them more often. I'm sure that I've been a better Molly all day today.

My last day at 38. I'll miss you '38'!

I Scream

2010-10-16T06:09:00.003-05:00

Sometimes the best laid plans... well, you know. This actually happened about a month ago, but it's too darn good to pass up.

During our trip to North Carolina this summer, my mother-in-law Mary gave me a clip from the local paper with a great at-home make-your-own ice cream recipe for kids. I immediately thought of doing this with Riley's Daisy troop, of which I'm the leader (and that's a whole other story.) Anyway, during a summer planning session with our sister Brownie troop, the one Logan belongs to, the idea was accepted and we chose this for our craft at the first meeting in September.

Allow me to set the scene: 24 girls arrive at our gorgeous neighborhood clubhouse - they have not seen each other in three months and are VERY excited. While they cartwheel and scream and laugh, I sit behind one of the kitchen counters with two other moms measuring amounts of sugar and cream, salt and ice in various sizes of ziplock bags. I realize now that I should have found some way to do this ahead of time.

I don't greet even one of the new Daisy members or their parents and as our precious hour ticks away, I have yet to complete the prep for our craft/snack combo. The girls are literally WILD. I am sweating. The room we are in has a migrane-inducing echo. Moms are throwing each other eye darts like nothing I've seen and finally.... we finish. We hand out the bags.

What ensures is nothing short of a horror movie, with the most unruly girls (who are always the same and shall remain unnamed) banging their ice-filled plastic bags over the high-end furniture, into the ping pong table, rolling it onto the couch. The idea of "kneading" seems to not have a home in their 8 and 6 year old brains. And then the bags start popping.

Salt water is EVERYWHERE - 24 bags full of it. As soon as we get one cleaned up, another pops, flooding the ping pong table, shimmering on the floor like a lawsuit waiting to happen. Some girls are laughing, others are on the verge of tears. Forty five minutes in, I'm hoarse, breathing like I've just finished an Insanity workout and I literally want to die. But even with the holes, at least half the girls are sitting and enjoying their DQ-style masterpiece, and liking it! We have a two minute break to clean before all hell breaks loose again.

While the older girls go completely bonkers on the indoor swing set (why are they on it? No one knows, but they are outside my jurisdiction), I try to wrangle my Daisies into a circle so I can at least introduce myself and my awesome co-leader, Jennie, to the girls. These sugared up 6 year olds do an amazing job of getting focused and we have a few "normal" moments together. As we walk through the 8 year old circus in the adjoining room to hand the Daisies over to their parents, I almost die of embarrassment and I'm certain they will never leave their children with me again. (As much as I hate my failure, the thought of this thrills me to the core!)

After an hour of rubbing salt water off every surface in the rooms we inhabited that afternoon, I drop my kids off with Mike and run to Jennie's house for respite and a recovery libation.

This job is driving me to drink.

This blur called life

2010-10-14T14:20:00.004-05:00

Where is the time going? It seems just yesterday I was blogging regularly and then mid-summer hit. Now it's already the middle of October, my calendar feels as booked as Obama's and I just realized I better get busy on Christmas lists. Ugh. Where is the fun in all this running around?

A good mother would likely go back in time and write posts for every remarkable, funny or important thing that has happened in the last several months. I guess I'm not that good of a mother. All I can do is try to recommit myself to what I consider an imperative part of my life and a story that must be told, if only for those participating in it. Someday, Logan, Riley and Finn will only have these words and their childhood memories.

In the meantime, I'll continue at warp speed, pausing only to wish my jeans were looser and my hair more often brushed. I'll deliver everyone to where they need to be, donate my time when needed, plan for the future, make sure teeth are brushed well, help them study the world's oceans, lead the Daisy troop, cheer on the athletes, work on things that might be lagging behind, write my butt off, drum up business, urge my kids to "eat a rainbow", catch my husband at some time during his 31/2 daily hours of commute, study tax requirements, cook, clean, hope and dream.

As I write this, I realize I have not posted for one reason only: the tag line of this blog. In truth, "finding good in every day" has not been something that has come easily lately. I'm sure it's pretty obvious from this Debbie Downer of a post. There's only one gal who can change this ship's course: me.

I've felt especially cheated because I hate feeling downtrodden in of all months, October. Autumn is hands-down my favorite season and I can't think of many others where I've felt so blue. But the fact is that it is just another season and soon to be over at that. Change is a comin'.

Debbie Downer signing off...for good.

Obviously this parenting thing is working...

2010-09-03T14:33:00.004-05:00

An excerpt from a conversation with my ailing child (Riley has been sick all week, now Finn is coming down with the same thing.)

"Press PLAY!" demands Finn.

"What?" I say.

"PRESS PLAY!" Finn repeats. Louder.

"What are you missing, Finn?" I ask.

"YOU - because you need to get over here and press play!" he responds.

Glad to see all my efforts are paying off.

Growing

2010-07-15T08:11:00.006-05:00

I love my garden. It's twice the size of last year's and I'm already concocting plans to expand, again. I love the experience of growing something from nothing. Of seeing a tiny seed morph into a six foot plant, bursting with fruit, right before my eyes. I love witnessing the change that one good rainstorm can bring and the unbelievable growth inspired by the warmth of the sun. I love the taste of it all, whether it's a spicy Caribbean chili pepper, deep green basil or the complex burst of flavor from a tomato still warm from the sun. And I love that the kids love it. They're just as excited as I am to see a new cucumber or revel in the gargantuan blossoms of the zucchini plants. They'll pass by and pop cherry tomatoes in their mouths right in the middle of a round of tag. They'll run inside to announce the first yellow bell pepper. They're invested in it, too.

I realized the other day that working with the garden and the other plants around our home is such a great lesson in life for us all. When we arrived on this vacant lot and decided to break ground three and a half years ago, it was nothing. Now it is full of trees and shrubs and flowers and vegetables. It's alive with green life and we're thrilled to be in the middle of it. We learn from our mistakes and wait out changes in our tactics and find out what works. We test our theories and try new ideas. We see the ramifications of our actions. And things bloom, or die or multiply, just like life. How lucky we are to have this living metaphor that feeds us in so many ways.

It's coming....

2010-07-13T08:39:00.003-05:00

I can feel the dread slipping in just like last year... a solo plane trip on the way again, but this time for both Logan and Riley. A quick two hour ride for them to North Carolina, but the longest two hours of my life.

I learned in my debate to let Logan go or not go last summer that I just have got to let them go. One thing I can say for sure is that my children are not afraid. They are confident. They stick their necks out. They want to spread their wings. They feel free enough in their own skin to try (let's hope not) everything. From tasting something crazy to making pets out of bugs (I'll never forget my shock when Riley introduced me to her pet "spider", who in actuality was a tick named Blaze), these kids are excited about everything and searching out every new experience they can wrap their minds around. Fostering these amazing qualities is my responsibility, my desire.

This is exactly what I want for them. While I'm always up for something new, like joining a networking group, there is a notable amount of self-talk before I walk in the door. There's a little fear of rejection, a bit of worry about how I'll be perceived, some hesitation as to whether I'm good enough. I know these things aren't true and don't matter, but somehow that itsy bit of doubt sneaks in and taints my thoughts just a little.

Parenting is all about creating a life for your kids that is better than yours. I want to give them everything in terms of experience. I enourage them to follow their curiosities, dreams and passions. I want them to crave adventure and always be able to conjure up freshness in their spirits. I want worry to have no part in their futures.

So off they'll go, with no sign from me that I'm worried or hesitant. No sign other than the streaming tears, that will be certainly uncontrollable. And they'll fly off. And they'll land safely. And they'll call. And I won't be able to wait to see them again.

Fireworks through Finn's Eyes

2010-07-11T13:05:00.001-05:00

This video from the 4th of July says it all....

Cover Girl!

2010-07-05T08:56:00.002-05:00

How lucky am I? My upcoming article on Sports Safety will be the cover story with the best cover model of all - Riley! After a recent photo shoot by my client, little miss R landed the cover!

The magazine runs nationally in newspapers across the country and should be out later this month. I'm working hard to get more info on distribution.

And as you might have guessed, someone is pretty excited about this!

One more...

2010-07-04T10:54:00.001-05:00

Can't leave out the dream team!!

More catching up...

2010-07-04T09:16:00.003-05:00

Now on to the fireworks... Happy Independence Day!

Catching Up

2010-07-04T08:53:00.004-05:00

June, in a nutshell, has probably been the busiest month of my life. I've never felt so strapped for time, exhausted or so active. Even with so much going on, there's been much excitement and fun to be had. Here's our highlight roll and a couple of posts of pictures to get us caught up...

Logan was accepted to the Otters swim team and begins weekly meets that run into the wee hours. She's doing great and becoming an awesome swimmer.

Riley began USAG team practices and logs 7.5 hours in the gym each week.

Finn is learning to roller blade and ride his bike with training wheels.

We took our first family trip to Great America. The kids loved ALL the rides and measured up to 51 inches (Logan), 49 inches (Riley) and 40 inches (Finn). They're already excited to see what rides they'll qualify for next year. There was nothing like Finn's face as he drove those old antique cars all by himself - remember those??

Daddy, Riley and Uncle Dan participated in a family relay with Logan for her time trials meet. They were the "Dream Team"!

We've experience major summer storms and power outages, with the strongest destroying our trampoline. We're hope to get some replacement parts for next year!

Logan attended a week-long Brownie camp at Camp Dean near Sugar Grove. It was an awesome experience and she got to experience things like archery, canoeing, creek stomping, hiking and so much more.

We've been swimming almost every day.

Riley had her first visit from the tooth fairy.

Logan and Riley got their ears pierced!

We visited the Geneva Swedish Festival.

We even rode to the top of the Sears (I mean, Willis) Tower and had flaming cheese in Greektown.

Sounds like the summer of "the kid" to me!

NPR Link - Permanent Audio

2010-06-11T16:04:00.001-05:00

Here's a link to permanent audio for today's NPR show:

http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/06/summer-travel-on-a-shoestring

National Public Radio Appearance

2010-06-11T13:35:00.009-05:00

What a thrill! I had the honor today to participate in a discusion on NPR's On Point with Tom Ashbrook. The show focused on summer travel on a shoestring, which I was happy to talk about after this week's Shoestring Living column Summer Travel on the Cheap discussed the exact same thing. Thanks so much to the team at On Point for a wonderful experience.

Even when budgets are tight, it's so important to find ways to get out of the day-to-day and to reconnect with our loved ones. Dream vacations may have to wait a few more years for us, but we still plan to take some fun day trips here and there, as well as our annual week in North Carolina at Lake Gaston with family. While raising young kids is the most rewarding job on Earth, it's the most exausting, too. Listen to the show in the "Past Shows" section, read my article and peruse the comments on the On Point site for some great tips on getting away, one way or another, this summer.

Finn's FOUR

2010-05-18T15:40:00.005-05:00

Our little buccaneer turned four this Saturday with a pirate-themed party and Spiderman running through his veins. It was an over sized event, more than 30 friends and family attended and another fifteen neighbor friends joined in the evening. The kids had a blast!

Finn is serious and funny and risky. He is super cuddly and loving in a way that only a boy could be. He can play cars forever and has a whole super friends dialogue going on with his "guys" at all times. He loves his good buddy, Blair. He talks like he's ten, but makes most behavior-related decisions like he's four. When he grows up, he plans to be Darth Vader and live where it's sunny all the time. His favorite sport is football (Mike's chest puffs up) and he LOVES Jesse.

I've said it before, but having a boy is truly unique. I was so blessed those four years ago.

I said, "I think it's a girl."

Mike said, "I think it's a boy."

The doctor said, "IT'S A BOY!!"

And Mike says he's never right!

Worn out from the "what-if's"

2010-05-11T13:49:00.003-05:00

My kids are into this "what if" thing. It's like, "What if an adult ate holding their spoon like this?" or "What if someone did a cartwheel like this?" or even "What if there was poop on my spoon right now?" There are so many what-if's that they all blend together. I try to pay attention to the absurd combinations they come up with or scenarios they create, but the fact is that I'm just too tired to care about goofy cartwheels or poop on spoons most of the time.

I'm not sure what they're getting out of it or why it's so fun for them, but they are definitely having a helluva time. This goes on all day and all night and I can't even escape bedtime without being asked something like, "What if my face looked like this all the time?" Use your imagination on the goofball faces displayed.

The exhausted and running behind Mom that I am just wants to scream "What if NOTHING? What if I didn't answer you? What if I don't really care if you had a waffle as big as the house or if Whoa Whoa learned to ride a scooter?" But, of course, I don't say those things. I pretend I've heard every word and answer as if my responses are well-thought out. I'm the Mom. It's my job.

What if I didn't? Happy belated Mother's Day to all the wonderful Moms out there!

Time to Make the Corn

2010-05-06T06:59:00.004-05:00

We had botched plans last night when a babysitter forgot about her gig and Mike and I scrambled so both of us could attend a meeting about Riley's move to team gymnastics. (Read: date night turned into cereal for dinner.)

When we finally got home and picked up the kids from our neighbor Jennie's house (I mean, "savior" Jennie), it was nine o'clock and way late for bedtime on a school night. I was yelling like a wild woman to get these three kids in bed and asleep so we could sit down and digest the amount of money requried for Riley's new endeavor.

I yelled Finn's name several times and he finally flew around the corner of Riley's doorway, where he was looking out her window onto a huge cornfeild to the side of our house. He said with all the excitement his little bod could muster," Mommy, I heard you but Daddy was showing me that farmer on his tractor and he is out there making corn RIGHT NOW!!" It was his hand motions, the inflections of his voice and the speed of his words that got me. I would have let him stay up all night so we could sit around imagining the sight of the farmer "making" corn right now.

Voices of Angels

2010-05-04T13:07:00.006-05:00

We spent Sunday afternoon in the front row of the new Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College listening to the most beautiful children's' voices I've ever heard. Logan is a member of the Young Fox Valley Singers, which operates in conjunction with the Young Naperville Singers. The kids benefit from all the wonder of musical exposure, the incredible skills of their classically trained instructors and have loads of fun, too.

I spent the last three songs in tears. Even when I couldn't clearly make out the words, I was completely moved by the emotion tied to the soul-touching sound. I've always wondered if an opera would affect me that way. I've still never seen one, but I'm sure I would love it after experiencing this concert.

The director of the organization believes singing keeps kids' hearts soft. She wonders at what age or point in life we lose the exuberance to stand up and sing our hearts out like the children in her company. It's a shame it ever happens since music and singing take so many of us to another place, another reality, a spiritual high. As a parent, this extra-curricular activity feels so right. I don't worry that Logan is doing something too taxing or too old for her. I just feel that she is doing something wonderful and child-like that is most certainly filling her up inside. It is obviously keeping her heart soft.

Congratulations (and gratitude) for Logan on an amazing performance!!

Celebrating an AWESOME day with a HUGE strawberry shortcake at Ted's Montana Grill!!

Professional Gymnastics Shots

2010-05-04T11:32:00.003-05:00

I had to get these amazing pictures taken of Riley at a recent meet up on the blog. It's going to be tough not to buy them every time if they turn out a good as these.

Congrats to Riley on meet number three - she earned 2nd Place All Around out of the thirteen six year olds there. It was stiff competition, but she did great!! On to the State Competition in Downers Grove on June 5th and 6th.

all RILED up!

2010-04-29T15:05:00.004-05:00

Holy cow are we excited for Riley, who was selected this week to join our gym's USAG team next year and will begin practicing with them 7.5 hours a week starting in June. She has worked so hard all year and is turning out to be a killer little athlete. I am living vicariously through her as my closest thing to "athlete" is my cheerleading days. Oh, and of course, INSANITY!

Riley's new gym status comes with overwhelming responsibilities for us all, but she is so totally thrilled that we'd do almost anything to make it a reality for her. It will be a stretch for sure, but worth every bit of stretching. As the youngest member of the team, I have no doubt that there's lots of work ahead. I also have no doubt that Riley's up to the challenge.

Congratulations Riley Elizabeth Anderson, how very proud of you we are! Here's to all the good things to come!