L'aventure américaine

We took a field trip to Evansville today and it was fantastic. Lunch at the Hulsey’s with the kids’ favorite foods (primarily raw fruits and veg) and my favorite foods (primarily cheese). We were agog at the Christmas decorations and got to see Juanita’s (relatively) new house. A great way to spend the last day of the year. Thank you to our hosts! Happy New Year!

Sending all my healing thoughts to this superstar on the left. The manliest man who lets his great nieces brush his hair, who has stellar fashion, who reads more than most people I know, and who has a wicked sense of humor.  Get well soon so that you can stand and fish for years to come. 

Our second cocktail party with the Dickens and Jochims was a success. A much-needed, laughter-filled, trivia and cocktail party. Did you know that “jingle bells” was the first song broadcasted from space?

Just kidding. Randal isn’t a fan. The kids and I were though. We put on our fancy pants and enjoyed the nutcracker. Beautiful! 

We didn’t go go Iowa as anticipated due to multiple fevers in our house. (Marian had approximately 200; I had two; Milo and randal are powerhouses.) But, we have had a good, albeit low key week and a wonderful thanksgiving. And Marian is fever free and has the energy to prove it for the first time since Monday.  Also- in case you were wondering about the snowman. It finally melted today, never having fallen over. A winter miracle. 

What would we do without PBS kids? Milo is fully immersed in his character as Olympia from Odd Squad. Marian is fully dedicated to whatever Milo tells her to do. They saved the world from a lot of villains today.  (PS after this photo, Milo spent ten more minutes putting his costume together with a tie and red sunglasses and later a ponytail to compete the Olympia look.)

I know that you all prefer pictures of my kids. But, I have been watching the snowman melt for a week and it is fascinating. I have also had to rescue it several times from neighborhood boys who can’t seem to stay away from it and just want to kick it. I am not sure how it is still standing, but believe it or not, the head is even lower today than it was yesterday. Amazing. 

What a surprise on Saturday morning! But, we made the most of it with our cheerful little snowman and some snowball fights.  Snow: an example of our environment being totally transformed overnight. What a beautiful gift. 

No one can accuse me of complacency. I voted last Friday and wore my special voting outfit. Milo and I encouraged people to vote on Tuesday. I have been talking to my students about voting for weeks and wasn’t sure if anyone heard me, but then I got this email from a student on Tuesday night. So, there’s one. 

There is too much happening and we’re barely holding on. So, if you’ll allow for simply picture and no text… we’ll see about some more regular posts.  And never fear… I’m still practicing gratitude. Every day. 

I had my first class today. It’s a 3 credit hour course, so we meet two times a week for 2.5 hours each time for the remainder of the semester. It’s Stress Prevention and Management. Something that I’ve had extensive experience with… (haven’t we all?) And it went well. My students were attentive. I felt prepared. The topic was interesting. And I am grateful for all of that.  Also, for the leaves. They are so beautiful right now.  (I don’t have any pictures of those things, so here are my cute kids. They’re great too.)

Is it bad to be grateful for the kids’ bedtimes? Sometimes, there’s so much noise. So many questions.  So tonight (please soon), I will be grateful for silence and sweet dreams. 

My brother turned 43 two days ago and deserves a post.  He is the funniest person I know. He’s tolerant of me sending him feminist literature. He is kind and patient. He loves my kids like his own. He supports me - but will challenge me if I’m out of line. And he shares my history via inside jokes and outdated movie quotes.  So, happy birthday Charles. I’m grateful for you. When you’re around, it’s all violin-playing goats. 

How do I express gratitude for all of the things? For the outpouring of birthday wishes, sweet and thoughtful gifts, generosity, spending a perfect day with my best friend? I don’t take it lightly. On my run yesterday, I reflected on the last year. There were a few weird illnesses, some scary events… weird things. Things that made me think- am I not supposed to make it to 40? Stephanie died at 39. It wasn’t a given.  So, yesterday, I felt grateful for all of the concrete things and people… but also, so grateful for life. For breathing and feeling. For my ability to run and laugh and be still and move. For the gift of our kids and our family and friends. For 40 years through thick and thin.  It’s not a given and I am grateful. 

Today, in one of my classes, the instructor asked how stressed we are: extremely stressed, moderately stressed, or happy.  I chose happy. I was the only one.  But, I am thrilled to be on this trip with my love- who knows me so well that he booked first class for our flight out. (“It doesn’t take much to make me happy”, I said, “just a decadent trip to NYC.”) The moon is shining outside of my plane window, the free drinks are plentiful, and my favorite person is by my side. I am grateful. For so damn much. 

Yesterday, lice descended on the house. It threw our plans in disarray. When I told my gentle reader that I wasn’t feeling particularly grateful, she noted, “at least it wasn’t bedbugs.” And I’m grateful for her and that perspective. Because even despite the lice, the kids cooperated, randal was an equal partner, and I have a great washing machine.  Here’s to gratitude in unexpected places. 

It was a full and busy day. I also got my flu shot. Is that why I’m so tired?  Anyway- I’m grateful for my bed and no plans tonight.

Today I talked to an old friend on the phone and met a new friend for coffee. With both dates, I laughed so much and we shared our lives… being working moms, families shifting, trying to exercise and take showers alone… those things that are common to moms of young kids.  I am grateful for these friendships. For sharing my life with some spectacular women and the love and understanding laughter they offer. 

As the beautiful fall weather starts, I have increasingly thought of this poem. This is from a collection that I got in my early 20s and now, as I launch my last week in my 30s, I still love them.   I am grateful for these lovely fall days and all of the other days in between. I am so grateful for the gift of time and the life that goes with it. 

We didn’t imagine when we chose our house in Bloomington that we would be moving onto a street with people who would become some of our closest friends. Last week, I went running with my good friend, Laura. I twice celebrated Rosanna and Jorge who became American citizens last Wednesday. Aria gave Milo Spanish lessons. Samantha and Matthew passed down pants for the kids.  And these are all gifts from our neighbors- just in one week! I am so grateful to share our Bloomington lives with these wonderful people.  (The picture above is from two nights ago. Jorge texted us to tell us his telescope was set up to look at Jupiter and its moons at its closest in 59 years. We all piled out in our pajamas. Milo brought a space book out to tell us about the planets. It was wonderful.)

I had a great weekend with the kids, but felt like I was moving the whole time and little got accomplished. So, today I’m grateful for preschools and elementary schools. We are lucky to have wonderful schools where our kids not only are safe, but learn so much and have so much fun. They have friends; they get to be outside; they come home with interesting facts.  And also… I get time to do the things I’m working on without a chorus of “Mom?” behind me.  I am just SO grateful for that.  Here are the kids on Milo’s first day of first grade!

Randal went to a funeral last week and was gone for a few days. The house ran fine without him… a little more stress and chaos and mess, but the kids and I did ok. But, I was so glad when he came home last night. All of the silly minutiae and inane stories that I had stored up came tumbling out. I could boast about what I had accomplished this week. It was just better.  I am so grateful to have such a partner who makes it all better. 

Today, I’m grateful for my mama. Randal and I are going to NYC in two weeks and Mom is going to stay at the house and watch the kids. Our lives are not simple… schools, classes, picky eaters, pets… but this superstar mom spent the night last night so she could learn the routine and let us sneak away for five days.  I do not take this for granted. So many friends of mine never get away without kids. I am so grateful for this and the tough and fun mom who enables it. 

Day 2 and I nearly forgot. Fortunately, when clearing my inbox on this Friday afternoon, I saw another gentle message from a faithful reader asking about a new post. So… here we are.  This picture is a little old, but I evidently haven’t gotten one of the doggoes recently. I am grateful for having the best dogs. They’re so sweet with the kids, with guests, and with our new kitten who moved in last month. They are low maintenance and affectionate and just the best.  So, thanks dogs. Even though I don’t tell you every day and sometimes I yell at you for being underfoot, I love you so much. 

I got another gentle (ahem!) prompt from a faithful reader about how I haven’t posted in awhile. This, combined with my need to finish designing my course that I’m teaching this fall means I need to relaunch my public gratitude journal. (I’m teaching stress management. Gratitude combats stress.) So, we’ll aim for another 30 day challenge with gratitude.  Starting with this kid. He turned seven a couple weeks ago and he was so fun to celebrate. He’s smart and funny and loving and kind. I love the way he treats his little sister. He’s curious and imaginative. And he lost one more tooth last night. I’m grateful for you, Milo!

I failed at getting a card in the mail for this landmark birthday, but I will spend the day thinking of my aunt Cookie who turns 80 today! She is a role model in numerous ways, but namely in how she remains such a young 80 by exercising regularly and eating right. And not just run of the mill exercise… belly dancing and yoga and probably countless other classes that I don’t even know about. She stays up to date on current events, is always reading new books, and loves fiercely. And did I mention a fabulous fashion sense?  Happy birthday Cookie. May you stay forever young- as you are today. I love you! *modeling (backwards) a great hat we got from aunt cookie…