Sunday, June 8, 2014

Are We There Yet?

I know summer is almost here because my hair is suddenly huge again. I almost forgot how much "fun" it is to tame this wild bird's nest on top of my head every day with only minimal flyaways so that I don't block traffic. It's worth every frizzy lock, though, to have summer at our fingertips. I've said this before -- I love, love, love the Pacific North West. It's a small sliver of heaven up there. The only sad face emoticon that accompanies our time there, though, is that summer isn't quite summer. I will tame all the irregular curls in the world in order to have our New England summers again. I am ridiculously excited that school is almost wrapped up for the year -- I am the most giddy one in this house by far. Jack finished up on Friday and as we pulled out of the parking lot on the last day of the year, he asked when he would get to go back and see his buddies. I'm your buddy now, my boy! Molly has another week and a half and while she's ready for school to be over so she can kick that yellow bus ride to the curb, she's also going to bummed not to meet up with her pals and write love notes to her teacher. It's really me who can't wait for the dirty feet, the afternoon ice cream treats, the lazy mornings, and random adventures. But I know my kids and they are up to the challenge of sticky fingers, late bedtimes, and wet bathing suits. Our summer schedule is most certainly not everyone's cup of tea and I'm conveniently ignoring the inevitable hum of being bored or the meltdowns that will ensue when I explain that we can't have slushies for lunch, because, well, those pesky realities don't penetrate my giant helmet of hair. Even excessive frizz has it's benefits.

In all seriousness, these days of having my little people still be little enough that they want to hang out with me are fleeting, so say the old timers. I'm soaking up our relatively unencumbered schedule while it lasts, because I know that it doesn't. I also know that I'm fortunate to have choices in how much I work so I want to honor the choices that feel best for us and keep my monkeys kicking around the back yard as much as I can. Because, really, they are pretty cute monkeys.

Wow, our lawn looked awesome earlier this spring. Thankfully it looks green now (even if it can't actually all be called grass) and is ready for the backyard aquatic madness that these two will concoct. 

Yes, please. I want lots of this...

And this, of course.


So does he, apparently.


Coming attractions this summer, right in the comfort of your own home: our traveling circus! Yes, we will show up on many of your doorsteps. My apologies in advance. 

This will be the summer of selfies, I just know it.

Meeting up with old friends without requiring an advanced degree in scheduling will be lovely...

As will spontaneous swim dates with new friends. 


I can't wait to hear the outcome of all the conspiracies.

And to see what totally random and always entertaining plans that we can come up with.

Happy (almost) summer!

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Light My Fire

I honestly can not tell you what Molly is going to end up enjoying when it comes to hobbies and extra curricular activities. Whereas my littlest little seems to always, always, always be on the move (even when he watches a movie, he does some laps or often does the stand up/sit down tango when we're reading a book or coloring) and loves sports and gross motor skills, my biggest little's attention wanders in many different directions. She certainly also gravitates towards things -- drawing, writing, reading, hanging from monkey bars -- but she also shows interest in a bazillion other things -- karate, dance, mothering, becoming a scientist rockstar, making sticky potions from soap and clovers. It certainly doesn't bother me that I don't see her "path" but I'm curious what, if anything, will light her fire (other than climbing trees and going through 45 reams of paper a week). I think there's tremendous value in being a generalist so if sticking her hand in many pots ends up being her thing, so be it and more power to her. Turns out, there's lots of cool stuff to do out there in that big, wide world of ours. Moreover, it's interesting to join her on her journey and it turns out that I also learn things -- like that I'm not a very good a putting her hair up in a bun but I can apply make-up on another person better than on myself. Aside from these critical life lessons, and okay, more importantly, I also like hearing her take on what she gets out of ballet or learning about her mind/body connection in karate because they're new to experiences to me. I think she and I have a lot in common (sorry to those on the receiving end of our short temper) but she's much braver than I am. While she craves a good hug and warm snuggle, she is also fearless and strong and utterly unapologetic in being true to herself. I hope she keeps her six-year-old sense of curiosity and fierceness long into the future because nothing looks better on a girl these days than a sense of self-worth and imagination.

At the MFA -- we do churn through a looooot of paper and markers. Maybe the art world is ready to be stormed?


First dance recital. First time wearing make-up -- both highly enjoyable experiences. Maybe Carnegie Hall is ready for my half-pint?

Post-dance, accolades were appreciated. So, maybe a diva -- watch out Celine, she has some pipes on her too (this is where our similarities detour. I have also have a set of pipes on me -- they're just leaky and broken)?


Fire station tour with Girl Scouts. She did bring her own fire hate... maybe she'll be fighting the flames someday? 

Her dad clearly has some skills to pass along, oh conqueror of the canoe. We'll ask him for advice...