Less is not more…
October 29, 2009 | Filed Under Life Stuff | 23 Comments
Sometimes less is not more.
I’ve been working on eating less food. And for this girl, the one who loves food and eating in general, it’s not easy. Or fun. And no, I’m not on a diet, I’m just trying to learn moderation, that’s all.
Last night I was at Wegmans (kid-free, mind you!) picking up a “few” necessities; I, with self-will on over-drive, walked by the fresh bread, (carb-lovers unite!) the pistachios, the cheese… At the health food store, I picked-up and put down the snack sized animal cookies I love so much, I walked by the display of Nana’s cookies, and the bulk section.
I came home and unloaded my groceries, my stomach growling the whole while. I had determined I was going to make a smoothie but time got away from me. And really, all I wanted to do was gnaw on a big hunk of cheese.
I am a late night snacker from way back. I love eating in the evenings. But, everyone in the know says that is bad. Bad, bad, bad. Kill joys.
So, I implemented the “no eating after 7 pm.” rule. And you know, I am a rule follower so there has been no eating after 7 for weeks now. Sigh.
I have noticed a difference in how my jeans fit me. And I feel like I sleep better. I don’t own a scale so I have no idea if there is a pound difference. But, I am happy that I am depriving myself, I mean, exercising self-discipline.
In a week I am starting a kick-boxing/Crossfit workout session at a local Crossfit gym. The session runs for nearly 2 months and will bring me right up to Daniel’s return.
While I exercise because it is good for my body and my mind and blah, blah, blah… really I just want to look better naked. Because in all manners of honesty and vanity, that matters to me.
So here’s to saying no to waffles this morning because I had already eaten a bagel, staring longingly at the pumpkin cake in the fridge after the kids have gone to bed, and looking better naked…
I may have to begrudgingly admit that maybe slightly less is more.
Eliza and the dangly earrings.
October 27, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Photos | 12 Comments
A little on the dangly side for the tender age of one… almost two. But she loves them; often swinging her head around so she can feel them move.
And I must say, they look especially darling on her.
Can I pull off the “rockstar” sunglasses?
October 25, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea | 32 Comments
I’ve been working up to trying “aviator” style sunglasses for like, I don’t know, 28 years now.
I’ve always wanted to try them out and see if I liked the way they look on me. Because the way sunglasses look on a person really matters, wouldn’t you agree?!
I found a pair of the aviators at Old Navy for 6.99 and I thought, “Hey, I’ll give them a whirl for that cheap price.”
The first time Eve saw them on me, she put her hand on her hip and said, “Um Mom, no.”
End of story.
The next time Eve saw me wearing them she put both hands on her hips and after a minute of checking me out said, “Mom, rock stars wear those kind of glasses.” Which clearly implied that I am not a rock star.
End of story.
To her, anyways.
I shot back with a witty, “Well, I’m Daddy’s rock star!” ( So there!) (Take that!) (Put that in your pipe and smoke it!)
She “hmmmff-ed” at me and walked away.
What-EVER.
So, can I pull the rock star sunglasses off or is Eve right?
Love me always, boy…
October 23, 2009 | Filed Under Judah, Photos, Quotes | 10 Comments
(Judah in beautiful abandon)
“Love me always, boy, whatever I do or leave undone.
And–God help me–whatever you do or leave undone, I’ll love you.
There shall never be a cloud between us for a day; no, sir, not for an hour.
We’re imperfect enough, all of us, we needn’t be so bitter…
And life is uncertain enough at its safest, we needn’t waste its opportunities.”
Taken from “Jackanapes”
Written by Juliana Horatio Ewing
Reading this quote (I have no idea where I saw it first) today really made me stop and think. There is so much truth packed into it…
Unconditional love; not letting anger get a foothold even for a moment; the blessed assurance that none of us is perfect so let’s allow grace to rule and move on already; the reality that life is delicate and shaky at best so live with abandon…
I love quotes. I have a book that I use to collect tons of them into. But now, I am noticing a shift in my thinking… a more thoughtful, quiet, slower way of looking at life (I am, after all, an old lady…pushing thirty.).
I find myself mulling over and over again, certain writings; figuring out if they are truth or just someone blowing hot air up my skirt. And this one? Truth. I hope to walk out this simplistic profundity all of my life.
Sometimes I reach out my hand.
October 21, 2009 | Filed Under Deployment, Lovers, Photos, Uncategorized | 29 Comments
I sleep on the same sheets we’ve slept on for years now. The same sheets we slept on before you left last time. The same sheets I slept on alone, before. And now, alone, again.
They started out as creamy flannel. And now they are silk, softened with use. Pregnant with memories.
Sometimes I slowly reach out my hand even though I know my fingers won’t collide with your body. I do it because I like to remember that they have. And one day they will again.
Sometimes I curl my body into a half moon and wish to once again feel your strong arm glide over and wrap itself around my middle and pull me into you. And if you did, I would lay there nestled in the place that was made only for me.
Our slow quiet breaths sometimes mismatch, sometimes harmonize. But together we would breathe in this abiding love.
I miss feeling you lay next to me. I miss your warm breath on my hair. I miss laying with you, as close as we possibly could be but always wishing it would be closer. I miss falling asleep, our legs and fingers and hearts tangled.
Come home, my love. Our sheets miss you.
We found a new place to play…
October 18, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Eliza Dove, Eve, Fall, Judah, Life in New York (the apple trees and dairy cow part... not the city!), Photos | 18 Comments
I love finding new places to take the kids on hikes…. they call it “trailing.” That term always makes me giggle a little.
With three (active) kids, one who is particularly prone to wander,
…walking on the sidewalk through town doesn’t work out so well. Besides…. snore…. boring.
The other day, while on the hunt for a road-side stand that sells spaghetti squash (still looking, by the way), my eyes found a new trail! One that I have driven by approximately 48,297 times over the course of my short-ish life of 28 almost 29 years.
Hooray! The kids loved it. And I loved it because the wanderer…
…could wander all she liked and I didn’t have to worry a bit. The trail was quiet, except for one very sneaky biker (Scared me twice! Who knew a bike could be so quiet on crunchy leaves!). We played and played.
And took pictures… I like this one in particular. Miss Eliza is giving her brother the look that sums it all up… “the sideways look.” You know, the look that says, “I’ve got your number.” And oh, she does. She’s a force to be reckoned with, that one.
It was a fantastic time. We couldn’t wait to go back!
So today, after the kids did the jumping, begging, clapping hands thing, I said, “twist my rubber arm… we can go again!” Immediately I was crowned “Mother Of The Year.” And I stayed “Mother Of The Year” until the next time I told them, “No.” to something they wanted. Fickle, fickle small children.
The girls were so staid; quietly walking down the trail hand in hand.
The boy? Like a bull let out of the pen!
Three year old boys are such a phenomenon. He makes me laugh, he makes me cry… Long-suffering sigh… All I’ve got to say is, “Thank you, Lord, for little boys and their birthdays.”
I would be at fault if I failed to mention that Miss Eliza Dove chose her red shoes today. And I commended her, you know. Because every day is a good day for red shoes, I say. Even “trailing” days.
We had a great time until we hit the wall. The “cold” wall. And then it was time to take our chilly selves home. We had nachos and pumpkin bread with cream cheese frosting to eat, and “101 Dalmations” to watch. Nobody fussed, not even poor Eliza… though sometimes it’s really tough to be the little guy.
Happy Sunday! Here’s to a great new week….
Beauty
October 14, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Photography, Photos | 30 Comments
A couple of months back I had my friend Amanda, who is a brilliant photographer, take some photos of just me. I wanted to send them to Daniel, just so he would be able to remember what a I look like. While we do use Skype, the connection is so slow that I am a blurry blog of girl to him on the computer screen.
I wanted a photo for him to look at and be able to say, “My wife is gorgeous.”
My photo session was a blast, at times it rained, at times it was sunshiny; I stood in the middle of a road, stuck my toes in a puddle, dressed up, I even put lipstick on…! And I laughed a lot. Three hours of feeling absolutely beautiful. With photos to look at and remember long after my special afternoon had passed.
Monday I was able to give Jen her special day…
Four children in six years, a homeschooling mama; she’s a wonder.
There was no rushing, no children; we had so much fun. And now Jen has beautiful photos to hang up on her wall so when, as she said to me, she’s “covered in spit-up” she can look at those photos and remember.
Do you have photos that show you just how beautiful you are?
I think it is desperately important for us women to see ourselves as we truly are, absolutely beautiful. Because we are.
You are!
I know, it is the state of our heart that is treasured above all else. But, it sure is nice to have a photo of this lovely woman that God created.
My life right now looks like…
October 11, 2009 | Filed Under Andrea, Deployment, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Life Stuff | 28 Comments
this…
I am so busy my head spins. I am pulled in every direction, so thinly that at times I am certain you can see right through me. Everybody needs a piece of me, right now.
I have lost myself along the way of this deployment. I’ve known this for awhile. But, I can’t care. It’s not about me right now. Life is about the kids, about keeping Daniel’s spirits up, about keeping life moving along.
There are moments, more often than I’d care to acknowledge, even in the vein of this honest post, that I feel I just can not go on. Not another moment. Not another breath. I can’t deal with anymore, anything. And then I do. I do and I do and I do.
Sometimes I cry. I gnash my teeth. I yell. I pout. I stomp my feet at God. I feel that all of this is very unfair.
And then I move on. Because I must.
I am doing pretty good right now. Usually at this point in the month, I would be very funktified and yet, I am not. Even amidst the craziness of life, the kids and I have been having a lot of fun; we are enjoying Fall and enjoying homeschooling. We have had a long string of really good days dotted with some terrific outings. And there are plenty more on the horizon. With five birthdays in the next two months and all of the holidays… none of us can wait!
But keep praying for me, will you? I sure do need it.
More than half way through now…
Fall in my pocket…
October 5, 2009 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Fall, Judah, Life in New York (the apple trees and dairy cow part... not the city!), Photos | 21 Comments
Fall in my pocket
Miss Eliza deemed me her treasure carrier tonight on our walk. My pocket was full of acorn tops, leaves, and a pine cone. I drew the line at the sticks and the rocks…
Fall is unequivocally my favorite time of year. I love it. Love it.
Fall in my hand
Here at my house (probably like yours!) we are eating apple pie, pumpkin pie, drinking apple cider, eating homemade applesauce, burning apple cinnamon and french vanilla candles, plotting our dinner plan for Thanksgiving, smelling woodsmoke, wearing fleeces… the list goes on and on.
Fall is our favorite
This week my goal is to find free apples. I want to make more applesauce to can, and lots of it! My kids inhale the stuff. While I love going to an apple orchard to pick apples, the amount of apples I want would put me in the poorhouse. So, I am determined to scour the countryside for abandoned apple trees or non-abandoned apples trees with very generous owners! Wish me lots of apple finding luck…
Fall underneath me
Today I bought two pie pumpkins from a stand on the side of the road. One dollar each. I am planning on roasting them and then making pumpkin pie for our breakfast this week. The kids think that pumpkin pie for breakfast is the most natural thing in the world. And I love that!
Fall all around me
Some of my favorite fall things include: the smell of woodsmoke and leaves, having to wear a sweater but not a jacket, the sound of leaves crunching under my feet, my kid’s rosy red cheeks, cool rainy days, the colors of the trees, and the food, of course!
Fall above me
Tell me, what do you love about Fall?
One year ago today: I didn’t post… for shame!
Two years ago today: A Fall Delight
Ugliest Pie I Have Ever Made
October 1, 2009 | Filed Under Fall, Photos, Recipe | 16 Comments
Seriously, ugly. I stuck the flowers in the photo as an attempt to distract you.
Wouldn’t you know, I even forgot to dot the apples with butter before I put the crust on. And then I forgot to do an egg-wash and sprinkle sugar on top.
That will teach me to stray from my beloved crumb topping apple pie. If it’s not broken….
Well, I guess all that this means is that I need to make another pie to try to salvage my reputation.
Darn.
It’s “M” week here… Mexican Rice and Beans, anyone? We had this meal for dinner last night… delicious!
