The Touch
September 30, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 20 Comments
She remembers!
I know she does.
She heard my Dad using his electric razor but couldn’t see him. She called, “Dadda, Dadda…”
She remembers!
*the photo Eliza is touching was taken a couple of days after Daniel returned from his previous deployment. I brought it along and hung it above my kitchen counter so that I would remember.
Life is life…
September 28, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Daniel, Deployment, Eliza Dove, Eve, Life Stuff, Photos, Vermont | 15 Comments
I have three drafts sitting in my folder. Three times I have tried to write a post and bleh... they stunk like a skunk.
But this one is the one. I am determined to post it, good, bad, or otherwise.
I am not sure if, in the nearly three years I have been writing on this tiny space that is mine all mine, I have ever gone this long without posting. All I can say is, I am not me without Daniel. He’s my lighthouse.
Last weekend and part of this week, the girls and I spent time back in Vermont. Oh, it was happy. Very, very happy. I finally felt like I was home. Though the getting there was a wee too exciting for my liking. Little Miss Liza-Lu determined we needed a slight detour and landed herself in the ER for a dislocated elbow. It was terrifying because we didn’t know what happened. I thought she broke her hand or her arm! It took me right back to the last time Daniel deployed and Judah had his seizure. Thankfully the PA popped it right back in and she was her chubby happy self again. My poor heart though!
Once in Vermont much happiness ensued…
We went to the apple orchard that our little family has picked at since Eve was one year old. With the exception of last year, of course. I am planning on a “through the years post” of our annual apple orchard sojourn.
It was so thrilling for my heart to see how well Miss Eliza Dove fit in with the Vermont-ness.
It was fulfilling for me to see her perfect in her birthplace…
Our visit to Vermont was the best ever. Our friends spoiled us rotten. Rotten. It was wonderful! I was even able to connect with some friends and neighbors. Not much has changed and that was comforting. Though, you should have seen Eve’s face and heard her exclaim with indignation, when we drove by our little red house, that, “SOMEONE LIVES THERE!” Yup. They do. But it was much homier when we lived there. Poor little red house. I wish I missed it but after four years and two more children, we definitely outgrew the space. I’ll never outgrow the memories though.
Hey, catch this…. Liza got her ears pierced while we were in VT! Hooray! I even held her during the entire process. MAJOR victory. I am a big advocate (just like you) of my kids living pain-free. But I wanted her to have the earrings more. She barely cried… literally two tears. Eliza is one tough cookie. I can hardly picture her without earrings now. So happy!
Let’s see… what else did we do… We took rides on the Morton’s antique fire engines… like we did on the 4th of July a couple of years ago. The kids look so young; it was just Eve and Judah though Lizie was gestating in my belly.(Watching that slideshow made me realize that I really need to grow my hair back out. I love it long, it’s truly me). We made earrings and bracelets, Amanda made an awesome necklace. We saw a calf, just an hour old, try out it’s very shaky and brand new legs.
We visited Shelburne Farms (one of our favorite places and also where Eve did pre-school!), saw all the animals, I even braved the hen’s nest and came out with two eggs! And escaped with no pecking!
Vermont will always be in my heart. I really loved every minute we spent there this last week. Thank you Ginger and Erin and Ken for making me and the girls feel happy and at home.
We are back to normal life now. Phew. Today was our first real day of homeschooling. It was really wonderful! Eve remarked to me this afternoon that she didn’t want to go back to regular school anymore. I think we have embarked on a grand new adventure.
Life is life right now. And I miss my husband like crazy. I had no idea a heart could yearn in the way mine does. Sometimes I am okay and sometimes the loneliness washes over me and I can’t breathe… days where I can’t breathe for missing him so deeply.
Daniel, to say I miss you doesn’t even scratch the surface. What we have… it’s a soul thing. Every bit of me loves every bit of you…
Somethin’ is different…
September 16, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Life Stuff, Photos | 25 Comments
Do I look different to you?
No?
Are you sure?
Somethin’ is sure different, ya know.
Okay, it has nothing to do with my looks.
It has everything to do with my name.
Daniel and I finally share the same last name!
Hooray! It’s only been eight years, three months, and six days coming.
The reason I went down to New Mexico was so that I could get a New Mexico driver’s license. Lame, huh. Believe me when I tell you, my back was against the wall and it was the only way I could once again be a legal driver.
Long, stupid story, man.
Part of the process of changing my driver’s license from Alaska to New Mexico was changing my last name to match Daniel’s. That was no easy feat, let me just tell you. My awesome friend, Janna, and I had a WILD and CRAZY time getting my name changed.
I can laugh now. Wowza!
Anyway, I now totally belong to Daniel. My brand spankin’ new Social Security card says so. My heart says so too. I feel totally different. Happier. Peaceful. Settled. More in love (if that’s possible!).
I really feel like I should don a white dress and walk down the aisle again.
Eat some delicious wedding cake (carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, thank you!) and open a present or two.
Though, I would settle for a simple engraving on our wedding bands. Or even just a kiss.
Yeah, definitely a kiss.
Alive?
September 14, 2009 | Filed Under Deployment | 28 Comments
I know! What the crap happened to me?
Well, for those of you who are more observant… you know that it is almost that time of the month.
Not that time.
It’s the time of the month that marks the day Daniel deployed. For some reason I get sucked into a funk every month at this point. I swore it wouldn’t happen this month, yet, here I am.
Funktified.
I cried when I opened the door at our storage unit in New Mexico on Thursday. I broke down and cried at the wedding Amanda and I photographed on Saturday…. during the dancing… whaaaat?! I cried at church when I mentioned Daniel’s name to a friend. I’m crying right now.
See! Funktified.
My e-mail is chock full of mail I haven’t responded to. I have phone calls to return. A (very upcoming) trip to plan.
And here I am, all…. ick.
I just miss him. And I miss my life.
I know you guys are pulling for me. I appreciate that. I guess I just need to be sad right now. And that is alright.
You don’t mind if I cry on your shoulder a bit, do you?
Leavin’ on a jet plane…
September 11, 2009 | Filed Under Uncategorized | 12 Comments
Heading back to New York today. The break away from everything has been really nice.
Seeing all my friends was wonderful. Eating awesome Mexican food was so much fun.
But, I need to kiss this squishy face.
And get hugs from the other two monkeys.
And I will soon!
Wish me a safe couple of flights, please!
And I thought I was having a bad hair day…
September 8, 2009 | Filed Under Perspective, Photos | 5 Comments
But, I guess perspective is everything.
Cookie Time!
September 6, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Photos, Recipe | 24 Comments
I’m going to state for the record that Miss Eliza Dove has never met a cookie she didn’t like.
Never. Never ever, ever.
She and I are a lot a like.
Yesterday I made Peanut Butter cookies with chocolate chunks in them. Because pairing chocolate and peanut butter together surely makes the angels sing just a little bit louder. Don’tcha think?
Me too.
I sweetened the cookies with lots of honey and about a quarter of a cup of (unnecessary) raw sugar. I do that so the kids can eat as many of them as they want and I don’t worry about the amount of sugar they are consuming.
Eve and Judah ate about half a cookie. They were more interested in playing. Eliza and I… we didn’t even leave crumbs.
I thought I’d give you a little play by play of Eliza and her cookie. Because…. I can. And because she’s very chubby and cute. And, you know you love her. Besides, she learned how to smile on demand this week and it melts me like butter on a hot knife. And I wanted to share that experience with you.
Cookie…
Cookie, cookie…
Do you see this cookie? Take a good, long look at it because it is about to be history, baby…
I swear, she unhinged her jaw. I mean… wow. Just, wow.
Bye, bye!
Waste not, want not… she ate every last crumb.
What? Do I have something on my face?
Smile!
Tell me you aren’t feeling a bit like melted butter now too… I just love having my very own (cute as a button!) cookie eating partner!
What’s your favorite kind of cookie?! Mine… Trash cookies (aka: pimped up No Bakes) or my Chocolate Chip or Molasses Crinkles or… I could go on. And on. And on.
Well then…
September 3, 2009 | Filed Under Daniel, Deployment, Deployment Blog, Military Life, Photos, Recipe | 18 Comments
I was a bad mom today. There was much more frustration than happiness. Much more ick than good.
Nobody needs to make me feel any worse or beat me up. I’ve done far more of that to myself than anyone else ever could.
Actually, the last couple of days have been kind of ornery for me. I think I have too much on my plate, now and in the very near future. And well, I just don’t do so good with that. Also, I accidentally published a prayer on my other blog, Dear Me, and it made me cry. It was so personal and not suppose to be published. Not that what I have written over there isn’t personal, I mean, I did blatantly talk about the s(ex) word, after all.
I certainly learned my lesson on being more careful to not push publish on something that is only suppose to be a draft. Goodness gracious.
Have I mentioned that I am going down to New Mexico for a couple for a couple of days next week? ‘Cause I am. And boy, am I nervous! I think it might be a little hard on my heart, seeing how I thought the next time I was in New Mexico it would be a HAPPY time and our family would be WHOLE again.
I am very excited to see my friends again, though. And see some of those sunsets that I love so much. And check on my roses, should no one live in our house yet.
This Saturday I am working as second shooter on a wedding with Amanda. And I am excited! I’ve never photographed a wedding before.This one is sounding like it’s going to be pretty awesome. I’ll let you know how it goes. Wish me lots of creative luck!
Daniel is doing good. It’s like groundhog day over there; every day is very much the same. And very, very hot. He starts his last class required for his Physician’s Assistant program application package, this week. We are excited for him to have everything put together and ready to submit. Especially because Daniel’s career field just went to something called “One to One.” Which means a cycle of: 6 months of deployment, 6 months home.
Tell me that doesn’t totally rot. The mere thought of that becoming my reality strikes a whole lot of fear into this woman’s heart.
A bunch of you expressed interest in buying some of my photos… I totally blushed when I read of that. I have thought it over and generally over analyzed it as, you know, I do… and much to the relief of my biggest cheerleaders, decided that I am willing to set something up where you could purchase prints.
If you want to, of course.
Tomorrow I’m going to be a cleaning FOOL. I feel Fall coming on and that spells CLEANING to me! Oh, and baking too. I took my favorite recipes out today ( I keep them in a ziploc bag. Fancy, eh!) and felt this feeling of happiness and comfort wash over me.
I felt like they were a little piece of home. Worn out, stained, scribble upon, and treasured. Sounds like home to me!
Let’s have a happy Friday. Shall we?
Sigh…
September 2, 2009 | Filed Under Eve | 10 Comments
{A few more hours left in my photo giveaway!}
I can comfort myself with the knowledge that she doesn’t know how to pose yet…
But still. Already?
Really?
It just seems awfully soon, doesn’t it? She’s only six, after all. The fact that she has a bunch of sticks in her hand and a big ‘ol black ash smudge on her face and barefeet… well, all of that makes me feel marginally better.
Still…
Little girls need to stay little girls for as long as possible. Don’t you agree?
Delicious Peach Pie…
September 2, 2009 | Filed Under Photos, Recipe | 10 Comments
A few more hours left in my photo giveaway!
It’s peach season here in New York!
I have been looking forward to this time of year since… forever! At least it feels like it, anyway. I remember sitting on the porch swing of our house in my teeny-tiny home town, eating sweet, ripe peaches. My friends and I would peel off the skin and eat the peach naked. Because really, who enjoys eating the fuzzy peach skin. Ick.
I haven’t had the chance to pick or eat fresh peaches since I have had my own family. And while this year we couldn’t actually pick the peaches… we sure are eating them! Some family friends brought back a bushel for me and the kids! Whoo-hoo! We have been eating them hand over fist these last few days. Yum!
I don’t know if there is a fruit that tastes more drastically different store-bought to fresh, than a peach. At least in my “never been to Hawaii and eaten a fresh pineapple” opinion. Please do feel free to correct me should I be wrong.
I am planning on making a peach pie this week because thankfully, after the canning/freezing session, I still have plenty left over.
I made this peach pie last year and it was good. But, I have a feeling that this year… it’s going to knock my ever lovin’ socks off! I sure wish I could send a piece to Daniel. I did freeze a bunch of sliced up peaches so I can still make him a pie. What a nice thought that is!
As a side note, as long as you use a butter pie crust recipe (you have to scroll down to near the bottom of the post), the peach pie recipe is egg-free. Hooray!
Long live the peach!
