Hip Hop and CrossFit.
September 1, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Crossfit, Eve, Friends, Photos | 8 Comments
A few weeks ago I had to take Eliza to see the doctor. She had mysterious red bumps all over her chubby arms, legs, and face. At first I thought she had irritated her skin by rolling in the wiry New Mexico grass – she had been playing “birdy” with the other kids and the grass had been their nest.
What started out as five small red bumps on her cheek morphed into a full onslaught of red bumps covering her arms and legs by the next morning. I watched them closely for a few days but decided it would be best if I braved the germs at the doctor’s office and brought her in to be checked.
Suffice to say, the doctor had no idea what the bumps were from and she gave me zero solid answers. Or an answer of any kind. Very frustrating.
One interesting thing did occur from our fruitless visit to the doctor’s office. Eliza was weighed as part of the routine check-in… thirty-two pounds. A few days earlier Eve had weighed herself… thirty-four pounds.
My girls, who are four and a half years apart in age, are two pounds apart in weight. My Eve is a chippy bird. Teeny-tiny. I’m not sure the girl has ever been on the growth chart at any of her well-child visits. We haven’t been for well-child since we left Vermont but in the years prior, Eve would follow the chart but always be under it at every point. She’s just a tiny bit of a thing.
Eve, at seven, still wears a 5T and her friend Eleanor, who is six, hands her clothes down to us. All I can say is, she’s healthy and growing, she eats great foods and sleeps plenty. God made her beautifully petite, I guess.
This year we put Eve in a hip-hop class with her two best buds, Eleanor and Kelsey.
I was able to go and watch a class a few weeks ago and I was enthralled! And convinced that I would love to take a hip-hop class. The teacher is a hoot and there’s fun loud music… it’s totally great! I’m not convinced that it’s the class for Eve. She doesn’t really feel the music. What she does have is great hip-hop attitude and a superb hip-hop “face” as her teacher calls it.
Looking through the photos Daniel snapped tonight – he was able to watch her in class for the first time – I’m thinking she’d probably like ballet a whole lot more.
Daniel is convinced she’s gymnast material. Time will tell, I guess. For right now, we’re committed to hip-hop. Perhaps in San Antonio we can explore something else.
On a non-related note, my workout stunk to high heaven tonight. Frustrating to the max. And I’ve never sweat more in my life, I can assure you.
My only comfort is that although I had an awful time with the amount of weight and the movements -because of the weight- I worked hard and I’m stronger for it. Other than that… I’m sticking my tongue out and saying, “Pfffftttt….”
And now…. Bed.
Yesterday and Today.
August 31, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Friends, Photos | 2 Comments
Yesterday the three kids and I made a vat of applesauce. And by “vat” I mean… A Vat.
We are great lovers of applesauce in our home. I am deep down thankful that all it took to make this applesauce was some elbow grease. I appreciated not having to pay a single dime for all of this deliciousness. And I’m thrilled at the prospect of being able to eat applesauce all winter long. The only thing standing between me and a cold winter morning eating a piping hot bowl of smooshed apples is the canning process. (Well, that and a few months.)
Yikes. I don’t have my mom here to help me out this year. I’m a teesy bit afraid that I’m going to mess up. Fingers crossed that I won’t!
Today was… today. I feel like I accomplished nothing of importance. I did manage to remind myself earlier this evening that I successfully cared for three children; I fed them, schooled them, they wore clean clothes, they laughed and played, they even brushed their teeth today.
Fairly successful though not enormously productive.
Tonight we went to a fun birthday party for one of our friend’s little boy. His name is Jack and he turned four today. I loved how excited he was for his birthday! His mom, Miss Jessie, handed out dinosaur masks for the kids to wear… what a hit!
Can you hear her roaring at you?! I have a feeling that by tomorrow night I may be a bit deaf from the roaring I’m going to hear all day from my three very cute dinosaurs.
Shhh… don’t anyone tell her that her mask is on upside down. It’s so much funnier this way.
Even though today was just today… I’m happy. And I get to wake up tomorrow with a brand new day to enjoy.
Saturday.
August 28, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Daniel, Eliza Dove, Eve, It's What's For Dinner, Photos | 6 Comments
I never really know how Saturday is going to play out. Sometimes Saturday is great. Sometimes Saturday just sucks.
Last Saturday… sucky.
This Saturday… great.
I think the problem lies in Saturday being a wild card day, and I just don’t deal well with that. I have the same basic structure every day of the week with the kids. Sure we change activities once in a while but each day is pretty much the same. Routine is good for the kids and good for me.
Weekends though… we flail.
I don’t like flailing.
Today I took the bull by the horns. I planned ahead and decided that I would keep the day as much like our regular week days as possible. You know what, it worked beautifully.
The only thing that changed was that we didn’t work on any school. Judah was sad and grumpy about that. I tried to appease him by telling him that we could work on a small school project but I just realized that I forgot to. I feel terrible! The boy loves school and I am stinkin’ thankful for that.
This morning and into the early afternoon all five of us worked on chores around the house. We cleaned and laundered and vacuumed and mopped; I even took the kitchen table out to the driveway and scrubbed the tar out of it. Sadly I think I may have scrubbed a little hard because I actually took the varnish off. Our poor little table looks awful now. I’m bummed!
Lunch time and nap time stayed the same, we played with friends afterward, and dinner was normal. Our day worked and I am happy.
Gosh, you know, as I write this I realize that at times I am a slow learner. I should have realized that the loss of routine was the problem way before now. I guess the saving grace is that at least I’m learning.
Daniel made sure to spend some time with each of the kids individually today. He’s been working long days and time at home has been somewhat limited. One of the characteristics my husband has that I appreciate is how he plays with the kids in the way that works for them. Today with Judah he built a high tech airplane out of legos; with Eliza he played house; with Eve he played monopoly.
Eve mopped the floor with her Daddy! And clearly, she felt terrible about it.
Daniel and Eve… two peas in a pod. Terrifically alike in every way.
Eliza and I spent some time beautifying ourselves this evening. The girl is crazy about nail polish; when she spied me painting my toes her main focus in life shifted from sucking her thumb to having her fingers and toes painted too.
The weather was pretty iffy which meant at one point we were polishing amidst sprinkles. But it was fun and she was happy as a clam. And if you’ve ever seen Eliza happy as a clam you know that there’s not much you wouldn’t do to make her be that way again. She’s delightful.
Dinner tonight was BLTs and if you know me at all you know that bacon is one of my love languages. I was a happy girl. I even had two sandwiches. I’ve cut bread out of my diet by about 95% so this was a big deal! I loved every bite.
I rounded the day out with an awesome (and hard!) CrossFit workout. I even learned a new movement – the “push jerk.” Learning it took me more than a few tries, but that was okay! I had ninety-three times to figure that bad boy out. From what Daniel, my coach, said – I got it. I’m pretty stoked about that!
I have to be honest here, I feel like I’m always saying that my day was great… Let me be clear on this, there are times in every single one of my days that are bad – maybe even awful. But when I stop in here at night to think on and write about my day, I can’t help but focus on the happy parts and thankfully, the terrible, horrible, very bad parts slip out of view.
So are we perfect here? No way! We’re just really good at forgetting the yuck.
Re-enlistment Day! Bug Club Day!
August 27, 2010 | Filed Under Air Force Life, Air Force Physician Assistant Program (IPAP), Daniel, Eve, Military Life, New Mexico, Photos | 3 Comments
Daniel has been active duty Air Force for twelve years this past July. Today he signed up for four more years. He wasn’t technically due to re-enlist for another seven months or so but since being accepted into the PA program, he needed the retainability in order to begin and finish IPAP.
Daniel has to agree to stay in the Air Force for ten years beyond his coming commission, so today wasn’t a mile stone or the result of a big decision we had to make on whether or not he would stay in for four more years.
It was an exciting day, nonetheless.
And what was especially exciting was that the kids and I actually made it to the ceremony on time. Quite a feat, I’ll tell you.
There were showers for four (that makes it sound so easy, doesn’t it? It’s not.), blow drying hair for three, styling hair for three, ironing three little outfits, breakfast for four, make-up for one, removing traces of breakfast from three sweet faces, shoes on eight feet, brushing four sets of teeth, all the necessary gear into the truck. And then, finally, the actual driving, which was difficult because I was forced to maintain my good attitude in front of the children even though I got stuck behind two incredibly slow cars. Why must that always happen when one is pressed for time?
Anyway, we are in a (mostly) loving and committed relationship with the United States Air Force for at least… well, a really long time. Like thirteen more years. But more than likely, eighteen years. Let’s not think too long on that because I might cry. Sometimes I just want a home I can call my own.
Moving right along…
Today was also a much anticipated day for Eve. Today was “Bug Club” day with her little girlfriends. My daughter (very much the planner) has had her bag of supplies packed since Wednesday. But she left it in the room that she shares with Eliza. Unluckily, at “bug club” time Eliza was napping and there was no retrieving of the bag. Poor girl was crushed. We made do with another not quite as cute but serviceable bag and all was well. Now, I’m not sure what is exactly involved with the “bug club” but I do know that I think it’s hilarious. My daughter – the one who freaks out over bugs of any shape or size, is in a bug club. Highly amusing. And so very cute.
Do you want to know how my husband made my day end so well? I had mentioned earlier in the evening that I really wanted to drive out – way out – and watch the moon rise. The nights are beautiful here and because it’s unbelievably flat and wide open you can see the whole sky for what seems like a million miles. At eight o’clock tonight Daniel burst through the front door and told me get in the truck; we were headed out to watch the moon rise. He remembered!
God bless my man, he sat in the truck with me for nearly forty-five minutes waiting and watching for the moon. He even fielded highly suspicious questions from want-to-be cowboy cops as to why we were pulled over on the side of a dirt road with our truck lights off. They totally didn’t buy the moon watching thing. Ha!
The moon was gorgeous tonight and the fact that my husband took me out there so I could watch it rise was wonderful.
An exceptionally good Friday, friends. Happy weekend!
A normal, every day, day.
August 26, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Homeschool, Photos | 6 Comments
Today was a simple day of routine. The kids woke up happy and bouncy; the sun shone brightly without burning, the air was crisp in a New Mexico kind of way.
I liked today.
Sure, there were the usual accidental spills, and the bumps that make all children run for mama kisses; there was the typical bickering over a stupid toy. But there was camaraderie and hugs and “I love you’s.” And Eliza sported curls which always foretells of an especially good day.
Today was normal, every day, day.
School was accomplished; Eve was able to recite her entire poem and I videotaped it for posterity. Judah and Eliza recited theirs a few days ago:
Untitled from andrea hub on Vimeo.
Eliza’s poem from andrea hub on Vimeo.
But Eve’s was longer and required more hard work.
Untitled from andrea hub on Vimeo.
I love teaching them though I woudn’t mind a few more “productive” things to keep Eliza busy at the table. As much as I love her chubby little body, her constant plea to sit on my “yap” (lap) does tend to disrupt the flow. I always let her sit with me when we read, she likes to be the first to see the rare picture in our book. Today’s reading made me choke up but I hid it well… it’s just my mama heart that gets all emotional sometimes.
Eve had a great day, being that as soon as she finished school she shot out the door like a bullet and spent the entire afternoon playing with her friends; and then promptly headed off to hip hop class. A perfect day in her book. I did manage to wrangle her little body into stillness for a few moments so I could slip braids into her hair before class.
Post class Eve was wound for sound… I had her burn off some energy on the back porch. She played on the rings and swung and… did the jig, naturally.
I’ll be sad when Eve becomes self-conscious and holds herself back. I enjoy her zest and unshackled ability to be herself.
I didn’t get to accomplish much of anything for myself today. Partly, I’m sure, because I didn’t make a list. The other part, the main part, was because I was entirely present in everything we did. While I can’t do that every day… things do have to be accomplished, I enjoyed our day.
The greatest part, I confess, was that I kissed my husband this evening. After Daniel having a humdinger of a cold (his once a year bout of sickness) for the past week, I’ve missed his lips. Thank the Lord that although everyone else caught it – though much more mildly than Daniel – I was healthy and well and able to carry everyone through.
She’s got the at-ti-tude.
August 20, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Eve, New Mexico, Photos | 5 Comments
Girlfriend started taking a hip-hop dance class a few weeks ago and all of the sudden… POOF!
Attitude.
Nah. That’s not the truth. Eve’s had attitude forever but in a sweet, fun way. And tonight… she brought it.
Here’s her “cute” face. She is realizing that she can be cute. I love observing her self-discovery moments.
But then her shoe fell off. Oh Lordy.
What the girl has more than attitude… is drama. And she ALWAYS saves it for her mama.
I have NO IDEA where she gets all of this personality from.
P.S. Those cute straight from the 80’s sunglasses are from Goodwill. One never knows what treasures can be found in that magnificent store!
Eliza+zucchini=baby
July 16, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Military Life, New Mexico, Photos | 21 Comments
Daniel has been working nights this week so our normal schedule has been a little more interesting. There’s been lots of whispering and walking like “tiny mice” and a few threats thrown in, naturally.
“If you wake your father up…. ”
And the very meaningful usage of entire names, in a very loud whisper, of course.
“Eve Shiphrah!!!”
It’s not been all whispers and tiptoes though. We have had a lot of fun at the library and the pool, playing at the park and chilling with our friends. And lots and lots of one on one time with mama.
That’d be me.
A couple of days ago we picked our first tomato from our little garden. We were so excited!
We chopped it up, added in some basil (also from the garden), along with a little bit of ham and made some delicious scrambled eggs for breakfast this morning.
Tonight the kids picked two zucchini from our monster zucchini plant.
Eliza immediately started mothering her zucchini. Apparently when she was walking around this morning with a ball under her dress saying she was pregnant, it was with a zucchini.
Great news! I’m a grandmother!
Of a zucchini.
We have all been itching to make some zucchini muffins (with chocolate!). So tonight we did! Working together was a lot of fun and everyone walked away with a sense of muffin ownership.
And bonus… They were delicious!
We are looking forward to having Daniel home but we’ve had a really nice week with lots of quality mama and kiddo time!
Anybody else have a garden this year? What are you picking right now?
I guess we are related after all!
July 15, 2010 | Filed Under Andrea, Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah | 26 Comments
Here’s the deal. I carried Eve in my belly for 9 months. I birthed her at home so I know there was no switching of babies. I did all of the hard, hard work and I swear, she looks nothing like me. She looks like Daniel, acts like Daniel, has the same taste buds as Daniel…
Last night I whipped out my camera at dinner. Because what’s better than capturing people mid-chew? Actually it was because Eliza was looking so cute sitting in Daddy’s chair; she loves to sit there whenever Daniel’s not home. Her greatest goal in life is to be just like the big kids, you know.
Anyway, Eve made this face:
Instantly my mind went to this photo of me:
I realize I’m scary looking. I apologize. It was post-Crossfit workout and I was bright red and sweaty, waiting for Daniel to finish rowing a 2k, and acting like a dork.
But look! We made the same face!
I’m grasping at straws here, but I feel validated. We really are related. And you know what, God bless her, she’s getting my freckles. I could not possibly be more tickled!
Photoshoot at the laundromat.
July 6, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, New Mexico, Photos | 13 Comments
We drove by. I saw gorgeous natural light. I made Daniel go back. I shot photos. I was happy.
I would totally do a full on photoshoot in that laundromat. It’s funny how the places we often overlook because they are ordinary can be so interesting.
A Happy 4th of July brought to you by the grumpy children.
July 5, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Holiday, Judah | 4 Comments
Happy Fourth of July, dangit.
Hope your day was wonderful and filled with exceptional company and food!
If this photo doesn’t make you…
June 23, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, Love is..., New Mexico, Photos | 7 Comments
laugh…
(post playing in the dirt, hot dog roasting, s’mores eating and pre-bath)
Or smile…
(anyone who has a younger/older sibling totally gets this photo)
Or melt a little…
(they are best buds)
Maybe we should have a ‘lil talk!
I’d love for you to vote for me today if you have an extra half minute. It’s a once a day vote on this photo that I submitted to “My Air Force Life.”
Vote Here for my photo – #673 – (I’m on page 7 today)…. no registering or info involved!
If we were neighbors, I’d bake you copious amounts of cookies for doing this for me! Instead a simple thank you will have to do.
Thank you!
Vote for me, please!
June 21, 2010 | Filed Under Daniel, Eliza Dove, Eve, Military Life, New Mexico, Photography | 18 Comments
I submitted a photo in the “My Air Force Life” photography contest today!
This one, in fact:
Since this contest is vote-based, would you consider voting for me, please? The contest ends on July 4th so I am a little pressed for time. But, the good news is it takes a little less than 1 minute to vote and there is absolutely no registering or sharing of information. They could not possibly have made it any easier! Just click on “View and Vote!” my number is *673* on page 7 and click “Cast my vote!”
You can actually vote once a day if you are so inclined.
I appreciate you and your vote (and your friend’s and your grandma’s and your neighbor’s vote) very much! I would surely do “the happy dance” if I won!
Freedom!
April 21, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Judah, New Mexico | 4 Comments
Sometimes kids just need some space. Space to be free. To breathe. To run until their bodies can’t run anymore and not because they have run out of yard or the sidewalk ends or mama says to watch out for the road.
Sunday we took the kids to a long dirt road. We saw two cars. And a whole bunch of cows.
It was deep down relaxing to get away even if the “getting away” was less than five miles from our house. Daniel joked that it was nice to get some “country air.” It was a joke because we live in the country, friends. But it was nice to just breathe and not smell exhaust or someone’s food cooking or hear dogs barking and kids screaming.
And who’s to say that New Mexico isn’t green, huh?! Ok, it really isn’t. It’s “selectively” green.
I think the kids kind of loved our Sunday dirt road… I know I did.
Judah especially loved it. If we hadn’t needed to head home to relieve someone’s bladder, I’m certain he could have stayed out in this field for hours. I wish he could have. I think it would have done his little four and a half year old heart good.
Miss Eliza was content to stick close to Daniel and me. I’ve always said she’s going to be our buddy. She likes to stay within “pick-up” distance. We don’t mind a bit.
Our ordinary day – in photos.
April 17, 2010 | Filed Under Eliza Dove, Eve, Homeschool, Judah, Life Stuff, New Mexico, Photos | 10 Comments
Now that I am sitting here thinking over the day, there are so many more photos I should have, could have taken.
Like school, for instance. A big part of our day is devoted to learning. Yet, no photo. (slaps head.)
Or the massive amounts of rollerblading that takes place in my house every.single.day. Nobody wants to simply walk. They must rollerblade. Everywhere.
Or the french bread that I wanted to give you the recipe for.
Or the tantrums. None caught on “film.” You can thank me for that.
Regardless of all that I forgot, I relish this ordinary day’s moments. I know that I’ll really enjoy looking back on these photos someday.
Our pseudo-snow. We have (had) a gorgeous pink flowered tree in our front yard. The tree’s beautiful blooms have made me smile everyday, watching as they toss their gorgeous heads around in the sun. But the wind has been so cruel. And now we have a blanket of petals. Which, in reality, is beautiful in it’s own mournful way.
A combination of: flowers from Daniel, Gerbera Daisies, and free-flowered queenly Irises. There is something so spectacular about pairing red and purple. Looking at these flowers together made me think about my wedding. But that’s a topic for another day.
Dinner prep starts early around here. It must, otherwise my day is gone and dinner is non-existent. And quite frankly, there are five tummies who will loudly protest that ever happening.
Honestly, someone should teach that girl how to sweep up the dirt properly! Oh, I guess that would be me. I’m just thankful I have a girl old enough to sweep up after each meal. And that she does it cheerfully!
I’ve never eaten purple (black?) grapes before today. But I’ll be eating them for the rest of my life. Crispy and sweet. A perfect change from my typical red grape in the Barbecue Chicken salad.
Girlfriend asked for the beater before anyone else. So, she got it. And she relished it. I can’t really believe that I am the one handing out the beaters. Seems like it was just the other day I was licking the beater. (Well, what my stingy mom left on there. It’s the truth, isn’t it, Mom?!)
My friend Sarah texted me the other day and said she was making a Strawberry Cream Pie and thanked me for posting the recipe. From then on, I couldn’t stop thinking about the creamy deliciousness. So, I made one today. (p.s. Use a deep pie dish and double the cream filling. It gives you more than you need but it will fill up your pie better than a single batch. And, it’s awesome.)
I tried teaching Eliza to use the potty on her own without me having to ask her if she had to go. Failed. She’s not ready for that step. Or tall enough to reach the toilet, even with a stool. And since she started to straight up refuse to go pee at.all. I resorted to bribery. It’s working beautifully.
Our crazy weather has given us rain on and off for the last couple of days. Subsequently, there has been a hint of humidity in the air which gives my girl some soft curls. I can’t stop touching her hair when it’s like that. It feels like silk.
I love the way Judah looks when he has just woken up from his afternoon nap. April has been a tough month for my boy. And in turn, me. But, things are beginning to come around. He started school this week and he loves it. Math-U-See primer, Explode the Code for learning to read, a neat language arts program, Handwriting without Tears for learning to write, a very interesting science book… and you know, life, which is truly the best teacher.
Almost seven. And asking me to take her photo. Where does the time go? Wasn’t I just giving life to this child? She is a dream daughter. And I am exceptionally thankful for her.
That is my day. Or at least a few glimpses of it. I rather love ordinary life.
Jealous.
March 11, 2010 | Filed Under Daniel, Eliza Dove, Eve, Military Life, New Mexico | 10 Comments
Mornings with Daddy rarely happen. Unless it’s the weekend. Early morning is our time; I get up with Daniel at an ungodly hour to make his lunch and feed him a hot breakfast. We have a few quiet moments together before he heads to base with coffee in one hand, food in the other, and a kiss on his lips.
I’m jealous of this time we have together. I don’t share it with the kids even though I know they would love to see Daddy before he leaves for the day. Yesterday was an exception. Daniel was catching a ride into work with his boss who was running a bit late. So, everyone was up together while I made Daniel breakfast and got his lunch packed.
It was special and I mostly enjoyed it. But it’s not going to become a regular event.
I’ve never been very good at sharing.
