things i love

It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. Today I am channeling Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music with a few of my favorite things. (Nick has never seen that movie - how is this possible?!?)


Coffee. I really can't live without it. My favorite is an iced tall half the chocolate white chocolate with cream americano. Nine times out of ten, though, I drink drip. It does the job.


Sleep. I really, really, really, really, really, really, really love when Nick let's me sleep in.


On that note, I love my husband.


Reality TV. Go ahead and judge me. I've lived in the shadows long enough. 


Legwear. I love you, Tim Gunn, but I don't care what you say about leggings, I will wear them, maybe everyday if I have to. Oh, and tights - especially in fun and funky colors.



Retro and vintage clothing. I wish we could bring back the days when women wore dresses and aprons everyday. Like a whole Mad Men-esque world. I thought this before that show existed - does that make me cool? 


When someone puts the laundry away. Someone being Nick. And he does, because I never, ever do.


My family, obviously.


Trader Joe's. Good food, good deals, free samples, lollipops and stickers that make shopping with three little dudes much, much easier.


Feeding my family healthy, nutritious food that tastes good.


And on that note, donuts.


Reading a really good book. I rarely make time for this, though. There are currently eight books on my nightstand that are collecting dust, but I WILL READ THEM.


Having parties. For so many reasons, mostly seeing friends and family. Good food and an excuse to really clean my house is a close second. 


Photography. I am trying to expand my scope beyond the boys in 2011. 


Art projects. I think I currently have 27 in the works, and I probably won't finish 24 of them.


Anthropologie. That place makes me happy, and it makes me feel poor.  But everything is just so pretty. 


Did I say coffee?

timely

I almost never answer my phone if my children are awake. It isn't because I don't want to chat or hear what's going on or answer a quick question or... whatever. It's because whenever they can even sense that my attention is focused elsewhere, they suddenly turn into wild monkeys. Okay, wilder monkeys. 


So this afternoon when my phone rang, my first reaction was to ignore it. But then I realized they were all occupied with their afternoon show and I wouldn't be interrupted. I picked up to hear a friend from church on the other end. She was calling to say hello while she waited in the car to pick up one of her five children from school. She'd been thinking of us and just wanted to check in, asking how things were with the boys. I gave her my usual response - "Everyone is doing great, they keep me busy, they are such good boys..." All true statements. 


But then she said something that hit home. She told me she remembered how hard it was when her oldest two were little. Adjusting to more than one small child in the house, nothing seemed easy, and while it was wonderful, it was also very, very hard. Truer words have never been spoken. At least not today.


I think sometimes I feel the need to only show the rosiest sides of our family life. I wouldn't trade one single day I've had with my boys. They are nothing short of undeserved, amazing, wonderful gifts in our lives.  But man, they are a lot of work. The little menial tasks that fill up my day: changing, feeding, cleaning up after, entertaining, teaching, playing, reading, disciplining, comforting, cleaning up again (and again and again) - leave little time for much else. But, like I said, I'd never trade it. They are who I am - and not in the sense that I've lost my identity to motherhood, but that I've found it. This is who God created me to be, and I am so very thankful.


I am also very thankful for a timely phone call from a sweet friend who had just the right words for me as I started to sweep for the seventeenth time today. God is good, and He knows when to send the encouragement we need - we just have to be ready to listen.

i dare you

There is no one on this planet like my husband. On our first date, Nick called ahead to have candles and flowers put on our table at a totally unfancy Greek restaurant. While he was away from the table, the owner, who went by "Mama", came over and told me he was a keeper. And I believed her. After dinner, we took a long walk through town, asking each other the usual what-is-this-person-all-about questions when Nick said he needed to use a bathroom (romantic, no?).  We were on a residential street, no restrooms in sight. 

"I dare you to knock on someone's door and ask to use theirs," I said.

Without hesitation, he replied, "I'll do it."

And off he went, knocked on a stranger's door, used their bathroom, and came back out to meet me. 

I was sort of impressed. Here was a guy who made arrangements with "Mama" for a special dinner, provided plenty of stimulating conversation, and was willing to accept my dare. I don't think I would have done it.

Looking back over the last eight years together, he hasn't changed. He doesn't hesitate when most people would. It might be something funny like accepting a dare, dominating a burger eating challenge, or always ordering the weirdest item on the menu. But what I have come to appreciate maybe more than any of his other qualities, is his willingness to accept life's challenges, and let's face it, my hair-brained ideas. Like taking a two year old on a nine hour flight to London for a last minute adventure or building a salon in our basement. Saying yes to adoption without question, even when I was already four months pregnant. Taking three crazy, rowdy boys to the park after an eleven hour work day so I can get a moment of peace. Putting his arm around someone (even from afar) to show support in a time of need when nobody else will. 

He will always say "yes" if it means making something better for someone else. 

Mama was right. That boy I met eight years ago - he's a keeper.

just for kicks

The other night I decided to time how long Lute took to eat his dinner. I mentioned meal time can be painfully slow. To preface, I made things he actually liked: cheese, avocado, toast, chicken. Finger foods, easy to eat, no excuses.


54 minutes.


Seriously.


But he ate it all, and without complaint. So, he got dessert. Guess how long that took to eat?

90 seconds. 

reflections

The past two weeks have buzzed by so quickly, and yet I feel like God gave me the gift of time to really enjoy Christmas and all the beauty it brings. My gifts were purchased and wrapped days before the 25th, which may be the greatest step toward overcoming my procrastinating ways in personal history. We were able to celebrate with both of our families, as well as have our own quiet (as quiet as it gets with the rascals) morning together opening gifts before Mass. We even got ready and out the door to church after presents and breakfast and in some sort of Christmas miracle, the boys were tranquil and we were able to really focus on the celebration in the service. While singing O Come All Ye Faithful, I felt the swell in my heart and the tears in my eyes, imagining our little family before the Holy Family on that miraculous day. It was a gift, and it drew us into the real meaning of it all. 


This last week has brought sweet relief as our babies are finally getting over their bout of ear infections and the crankiness that comes with it. Eddie has regained his energy (which I didn't know he actually lost, but my oh my, that kid has cranked it up a notch). George is trying to talk and - dare I say it - stand. Heaven help me. And Lute is Lute and keeps me laughing all day long.


As we usher in  2011, I can't help but wonder what it will bring. There is so much possibility for new adventures, and I am thankful that I have a man in my life that likes to dream big dreams with me and work toward reaching them. But even as we sit and think about what we want to do more of, less of, and work toward in the tangible, what I am most grateful for is the intangible - to be partnered with someone who wants, more than anything, to grow in love and faith. So, while I'm not much for "resolutions", I am for working toward a better self and a better family, and I know for sure that God has given me just the right one to do it with. 


2010, you were great. Here is to an even better 2011... Blessings to all!