as cozy as spring

Blessings

Is there any better feeling than being overwhelmed with birthday wishes?  From Margaret, who called me first thing this morning to ask if she could poke fun at my spooky banner up there (of course!) to all my yarnie friends on Ravelry to real life friends and family and facebook and emails and oh my, I just can't keep up.  Thank you everyone! I got to see my brother and sister for the first time in months and welcome my new sister-in-law to Texas.  My husband and children spoiled me with attention and love (and presents!).  It's been a happy, happy day.  

At the end of a long day...

...I served my children a simple plate of broccoli and pasta for dinner and my daughter said, "Mama, this looks delicious." 

And that made everything better.

Welcome Home!

I hope you will all join me in welcoming home the sailors on the USS Reagan (most especially my little brother) which arrived in Hawaii just a little bit ago.  

He's still so far away, but it feels very good(!) to have him back in the United States.  And, even better, to know my mom and dad are there to welcome him home.  I get a little teary about it all.  The Navy seems quite secretive and I never really know where my brothers are/were nor what they are/were doing.  For this reason, I tend to keep a little quiet about their deployments.  Alas, this is in the news on the internet so I claim it's sharable here.  

Photo credits to my dad and reprinted here without his permission with the note:

"Robert's ship coming into port. it's not really his ship. it actually belongs to the navy. actually, it belongs to you and me."

Thanks to all of the men and women serving.  Sniff, sniff.

11

I was crying one night over some imagined problem (because that's just what I do) and my husband smiled and hugged me and said, "Honey, don't worry. You're my lobster."  And it was one of the sweetest moments of my marriage. Why did it mean so much?  Because he was telling me that I was the only one for him and because he told me this in a way I would fully comprehend by quoting a 'Friends' episode.  There's little more I enjoy than watching reruns of old sitcoms - it's my favorite way to unwind and get out of my head (which is desperately needed when I'm crying over some imagined problem).

We've been married 11 years today.  We're not that big on traditional ideas of romance.  He truly does make every day wonderful; by buying me chocolate when I'm insisting I'm too fat to ever eat again, bringing me goodies for the garden every few days, never questioning how much yarn I buy ("It makes you happy."), and by keeping me sort of sane and balanced (a big job!).

I doubt every decision I've ever made, except the decision to marry him.  He always makes everything better. He's my lobster. 

September

It's been a rough week and the more I look around, the more I see that it's not just me.  Most children are back in school and it seems mothers are either missing their babies or, in my case, wondering yet again if we are choosing the right path.  This morning, I looked at a photo of my sister's children in their little British school uniforms (oh, the hats they wear!!) and felt a stab of envy at the opportunities they have at their school (and the way they can frequently dash off to France, but that's another story).  Talking to my sister, it seemed (sorry to paraphrase Chris) that she felt that same way reading over everyone's home schooling plans for this next year.  We both agreed there is no easy answer.

So there's a bit of a cloud over my head this week.  The slightest thing can set me off - my pediatrician lecturing me about socialization got the ball rolling and I think I will remain a little wistful for a while.  

I think September forces us to face the reality of our children's growth and the weight of caring for these bodies and these precious souls seems heavier than in the bright summer days.

I was planning on writing about chicken salad this morning.  I made it.  It was good. 

For the road

We've returned to an full activity schedule now and there are a few things I need to make all the driving a bit easier:

1) A good stash of picture books for my son while my daughter is in ballet or piano.

2) A knitting project that will travel.  I'm knitting Hedgerow Socks right now in the Sunshine Yarns Classic Yarn in 'Seaweed'.  

3) An excellent audio book for the travel time.  My children argue far less when listening to a great story and I can consider it "lessons".  I'm currently playing King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (Classic Literature With Classical Music. Junior Classics) read by Sean Bean.  It's very good and my opinion is not based upon the fact that Sean Bean is so dreamy.

I need suggestions for our next audio book - do you have any favorites?  (Sean Bean need not be involved in your recommendation.)

A little rant

When comparing my husband's days to my own, I always feel like I have the advantage because I could take a nap if I wanted and he could not.  I am wrong.

Also: A few days with bad allergies can make me feel like I have the flu.

So I've felt awful all week and every single day, I'll take a dose or several of benadryl or whatever else I can find and try to take a nap.  My instructions to my 9yo and 5 yo: "Don't answer the door for anyone, don't go outside, and don't bother me unless there's an emergency."  

Things they think are an emergency:

"I can't get these Legos apart."

"Can we watch the Magic School Bus?"

"Can I have some fishies?"

"I'm bored."

It's like every two minutes!  I mean, OK probably it's for the best that I don't leave them unattended while I lightly nap, but I feel so sick.  And they both think that if they whisper while asking a question it's somehow less annoying.  So they whisper "Mama?  Mama?  Mama?" with increasing volume and urgency until I finally growl "What?!?"

I give up.  I always give up.  So now I'm just as tired and sneezy but also really, really bitter.  I still think I have the better job than my husband because I really do love the little pests but in the end, I think he has a better chance of taking a nap.

Life Snippets (and a winner!)

My daughter is nine today.  She asked for three things, chief among them: "Mommy, please don't cry on my birthday."  Is this hilarious or really, really sad?  I can't decide.  I do know I've been scolded several times this morning for even looking wistfully at my baby girl.  A new year begins for us all today as we start to look forward instead of back.  

That's all for this morning, but I did draw a winner promptly at 9:00 CST, using the random number generator.  And the winner is Marcia!  I'll email you in a minute to get your address.  Thank you everyone for the comments.  Happy Monday friends!

 

For just one more day.

He's four.  This morning he woke up with his Star Wars sheets and all five of his favorite and necessary blankets and the bear he received on the very day he was born.  My little baby boy. 

My baby boy.

My son turns five in a few weeks.  He has asked for two birthday presents; Star Wars legos and a suit with a green tie so he can marry me.