November is a memory

It is hard for me to believe that it is the last day of November, and this is only post numero cinco of the month for me.  It is especially hard to believe because so much has happened this month.  A bazillion post ideas have come across my mind.  And if I could go directly from brain to post without the interference of actually having to sit down at the computer, you might just call me a blogging fool.  Or something like that.

There are many reasons that I write this blog.  Today, I am going to focus on preserving memories.

Memory #1:  The Fall Festival
I am thrilled that the kids' new school takes the time and effort necessary to put together things like the fall festival that was earlier this month.  Prior to the show, Cortlan came home talking about how they were going to get to be on stage and how they were practicing new songs.  They were working hard.  And in my head, I had ideas about how both kids would do when their respective classes got on stage.  I was right on some counts and wrong on others. 

First up was Everly and her class performing a "Freeze" dance.  The music played, kids danced and swayed, and then the teachers would say "freeze" and the kids would.  Or at least some kids did.  Everly got on stage (we hid so she wouldn't freak out when she saw us), purse in hand, and kinda wandered around to the music.  Generally speaking, she slowed down when they said, "freeze."  Though, at one point when most of the kids were frozen, she did do some fantastic bunny hops.  Other super cute moments:  Everly clasping her hands (purse securely on her arm) during the Baby Bumblebee song and lying down on command for the Sleeping Bunnies song. 

We got to watch a few other classes perform and the soon enough, Cortlan was up with his class.  The kids lined up, and Cortlan did a little nervous stare out into the crowd.  That didn't change a whole lot once the music began.  Though, his lips may have moved a little bit.  He certainly didn't distract anyone or act out like a couple of the kids did.  The songs were adorable ones of leaves falling and turkeys gobbling, and Cortlan stood there looking adorable in his handmade and decorated fall headdress.  When it was all said and done, he was so proud of his stage appearance, and we were so proud of both of them.  My heart went out to the parents whose kids cried and screamed for them and wouldn't even get on stage.  (But I was really glad to not be one of them this time.)

Memory #2: Thanksgiving Weekend
So many great things happened over the weekend, which was awesome to begin with because it was our first days off since Labor Day.  A quick summary of a few:  On Thanksgiving, we hung out, watched the parade, and didn't get out of our PJ's until after nap.  (Well, I got out of mine during the kids' nap.)  We then went to my parents' house where we got to spend an awesome afternoon/evening with family and good food.  Friday, after some Black Friday shopping on my part, the Christmas decorating began.  I love my house all dolled up for the holidays.  Saturday, Cortlan woke, went into the living room, and then excitedly proclaimed his news.  Our Elf on the Shelf was here!  Last year, Cortlan named his elf Caische (I can't tell you how long it took me to figure out how to spell that) and his presence in our house has made for a fun tradition already.  After breakfast, we took the kids to see Santa at the mall.  Cortlan told Santa what he has been telling everyone that he wants for Christmas:  A grill.  That is it.  A grill.  As usual, Cortlan has not asked for more than one thing.  Though, he did throw in a suggestion for Everly: some Play-Doh.  The day ended with the decoration of the Christmas tree.  I was thrilled at how excited Cortlan was with even the thought.  He could hardly contain himself as the time to hang the ornaments drew near.  In his words, "I am so excited that no one could ever believe it!"  That excitement was only matched by his excitement Sunday morning when he saw that Caische had moved to a new location.

Memory #3:  Let's Talk
I am not quite ready to do another "He said, She said" series of posts just yet, but I didn't want to skip mentioning the blossoming vocabulary and speech of Everly.  What began at the beginning of the month as "Elly's pretty" has led to "I want more ketchup."  Ok, so to the common person it may have sounded like, "Aaant moe deh dah."  But to me it was crystal clear.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Part of me wants to write a long and poignant (and probably trite) entry today, Thanksgiving Day.  But, the other part of me is saying keep it short and sweet.  That is the same part who has enjoyed every moment of today so far, from the French Toast breakfast to watching the parade to the fact that we spent most of the day in PJ's so far (in fact, the kids are napping in theirs right now).  I am going to do my best.

When I was a kid, I didn't quite "get" this holiday.  It just seemed a bit odd.  I mean, I got the concept of the pilgrims and the traditional idea behind the feast, but mostly, it seemed to me to be a day centered around eating a lot of food.  And back then, I didn't like pumpkin pie, and I was so-so on turkey, and though I couldn't get enough of my mom's mashed potatoes, she did make them other days of the year, too.  So, the food thing was kind of lost on me.  But what wasn't lost on me was how awesome it was to go to Grandma's house and be around a ton of family.  To laugh, to play, to enjoy. 

And I am pretty sure that is all it has to be about for a kid.

I asked Cortlan this morning what he was thankful for.  His toy cars, he said.  And then, after a pause, he added, "And Mommy, and Daddy, and Everly, too."  Not bad, for a pushing-four-year-old.

As for me, every year, I have gained a greater appreciation for this special holiday.  Even though it marks the beginning of the madness of the Christmas shopping season, Thanksgiving is one of the few holidays not yet marred by commercialism (too much).  It is a day solely reserved for loving and being thankful and enjoying the company of others.  And reflecting.

I could write for hours about all of the things that I am thankful for.  But I am going to try to condense it:  I am thankful for every person who has come into my life, for they have made me who I am.  I am thankful for every challenge, every failure, and every triumph and success.  I am thankful for the blessings in health, material goods, spirit, and security that I have.  I am thankful that my kids are blessed with those things, too.  I am thankful for laughter and tears, and perspective.

I am thankful for all of the moments.

This year, more than ever before, I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

My apologies

Coming off of a series of stressful and beyond-busy weeks that included all day Saturday rehearsals, followed by all day Monday rehearsals, followed by performances that began last Tuesday, followed by the end of the fall play season at 1:30 AM Sunday morning, and being that it was an uncharacteristically, amazingly gorgeous, November day with temperatures in the upper 60s, and being that it is now, officially, week seven of my 6-8 week doctor-ordered hiatus from running, it seemed an appropriate time to hit the pavement.

So I did.

I got home from school, quickly changed, grabbed my i-pod, tied up the laces, and headed out the door.

Wow, did it feel great to be out there again.  But who knew I would lose so much endurance, speed, stamina, and lung capacity in seven weeks?

Yes, running to my dentist appointment seemed like a great idea at the time.

But, I would now like to make a couple of formal apologies.

First, I would like to apologize to the dentist for being ten minutes late to my appointment.  I knew I wasn't going to be exactly on time, but I was thinking maybe a not-so-noticeable 3, 4 minutes late.  I obviously hadn't calculated for the molasses in my legs (or the crosswalks).

Second, I would like to apologize to the hygienist...for forgetting how much I sweat.  I have had more embarrassing moments, but laying there on her chair...well, maybe you can picture it.  It wasn't pretty.

Yep.  It seemed like a great idea at the time. 

And we won't discuss the fact that running home was my only option upon walking out of the dentist's office.

At least I wasn't late for dinner.

And on that day...

I was folding laundry at nine o'clock last night, when I found myself reminiscing of a life past.  Of a time when...

• I could watch Oprah any day of the week at 4 o'clock.  Even horizontally aligned, snuggled under a blanket, dozing, if I so desired.
• I had a very clean house.  Crazy clean, by my current standards.  Like, the kind of clean that I might be willing to pay top dollar for right now.  And I didn't even mind cleaning because, hey, what else did I have to do?
• I made fancy dinners and tried all kinds of new recipes that had all kinds of new ingredients.  I didn't mind being in the kitchen.
• I didn't step on a single toy for years at a time, as opposed to hours.
• I looked for things to do.  And often that meant seeing a movie.  Or shopping.  (Or cleaning.) 
• I watched the entire football game on Sunday instead of heading to the store (because that also happens to coincide with nap time and the stores are less crowded because everyone else is at home watching the game).  Oh, and I knew the players names and could even talk about awesome or not-so-awesome plays the next day at lunch.
• I had current music in my collection.
• I exercised 4-6 days per week for at least an hour each day.
• My husband and I enjoyed working on home improvement projects.  And we did them together.  At normal hours of the day.
• I could finish all of the laundry for the week in one day, if I wanted to.
• My house was quiet.

And as I reminisced, I found myself insanely jealous of some of my friends.

And then it hit me.

I will be able to lay on the couch and watch TV at 4 o'clock again someday.
And I will be able to make fancy dinners again someday.
And I won't have very much laundry to do someday.

And my house will be quiet again someday.
Too quiet.

And on that day, I will remember when...

Here comes November

After a long and frustrating day, I am about to sit down with my work computer on the couch in front of Glee (so that it doesn't feel quite as work-ish).  Work is not what I feel like doing.  But I need to, just to keep my head above water right now.  November, into December, is notoriously the craziest time of the year for me.  And here it is.  November 2.  Already.  So, in an effort to do something that I want to do before doing something that I have to do, I am going to share a few quick stories here. 

• Halloween - quite a success.  Both kids were totally into the pumpkin carving/painting scene.  Ev loved the "guts" and lots and lots of paint.  (Might have to add some pictures here.)  Cort loved the design process and scooping out the guts - with a spoon.  And making ears on the pumpkins, which was very important to him.  Trick-or-treating was a bit chilly, but otherwise awesome.  Everly was in her element.  Any day she has a reason to put something into a bag that she can carry on her arm is a good day.  Cortlan used his best trick-or-treat manners at every house.
• Two in-service days in a row were much welcome.  Not that I don't love teaching the kids, and honestly, I generally prefer to do so.  But I desperately needed a catch-up day.  Obviously, I didn't get as much caught up as I'd hoped (as only half of one of the days was not consumed by meetings).  But there are a few additional bonuses of the in-services:  1.  We get to wake the kids up just a touch later than normal and take our time getting ready and getting to school. 2.  John and I get an hour and a half for lunch.  Read: the best we can do for a date.  Yay! for being the first into Miyako on a Monday that happened to be the last day to use the Entertainment book coupon.
• Everly needed new tennis shoes so she and I made a trip today to find some.  There were definitely highs and lows to the process.  Once Everly saw the shoes, she wanted all of them and started ranting and tearing off the shoes she was wearing.  Store 1: None her size in my price range.  Store 2: Found a cute pair that had laces.  The ones with velcro cost three times as much.  (They know what parents want.)  I decided to risk it and get the ones with laces.  I figure we will have to get up earlier in the morning as a result, but hey, I saved some money.  And Everly LOVES them.  In fact, she screamed the entire way home about them.  She was mad that they weren't on her feet.  (Is it bad that after trying to calm her down numerous times I just turned up the radio really, really loud?)  But the best was that when we got home, she had to have them on to "show Daddy."  The problem was that Daddy wasn't home.  She waited by the door crying for Daddy with her shoes on until he came home (at least fifteen minutes later), at which point she ran proudly around the basement in what Cortlan has dubbed "her running shoes."  Disclaimer:  Everly is getting two teeth, and is ultra sensitive these days.
• We got to vote today, and the kids got to share in the experience with us.
• Cortlan declared, "I don't like girls anymore.  But I love you, Mommy."
• Everly said her first sentence, "Elly's pretty."  (Elly is our boxer.)