Pre Christmas

The holiday season is upon us.  Is it just me, or does it seem like it's been ages since Thanksgiving?

In the usual way, right after Thanksgiving, we got all excited about the holidays and dragged our decoration boxes up from the garage.  I started the Santa preparations (the elves were very early this year) and even got our Christmas card all put together (not mailed yet).

And then, it was November 28th.  Not even December then.

Once again, Thanksgiving was really early this year.  I'm used to rushing, rushing and just barely making it to get everything prepared for Christmas.  Perhaps I'm one of those people who need a deadline, some pressure to get things done.  This is true.  It's also true with books.  When I check things out from the library, I read them.  When I purchase them (even books that I really want), on the shelf they sit.  Not because I don't want to read them, there is just no deadline to do so.  Tell me it works that way for you too.  Sometimes?  Just me?  

Ok, so I guess our Decembers in the past have been crazy.  Last year we had a newborn (no crazier time in a life, I'd say), and pretty much all the years before I was in school.  When you have finals until the middle of the semester, it does make December much shorter.

So now I get to sit back and relax a bit.  Hmm...I think it's time for a made for TV movie.  Love December!

Thanksgiving

It's funny the things that put me in the mood to celebrate a holiday.  This year it was the cranberry relish.  Relish?  Yes,it's cranberries, apples, celery, jello, all pureed into a beautiful concoction.   Honestly, it wasn't my favorite when we celebrated at home but now it's the thing that reminds me most of dinners at Grandma Lois'.  When I whipped it up last Wednesday, I finally got into the spirit of Thanksgiving.

After a trip to Genghis Grill with the Blake's (man that restaurant is good), I spent Wednesday night baking pies.  Do you really need 5 pies at a party?  Probably no, but that's the traditional way to do Thanksgiving.  Every Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, for as long as I can remember, we'd bake pies (I mean like 15) in my mom's kitchen.  It's the thing that puts me back home in my mom's kitchen, even when we're so far away.

 

We fried our first turkey.  And by we, I mean Heber.

Clark (smoked) and Heber (fried) with their turkeys.

Once again, did we need two turkeys?  No, not really.  But it was special and different and that is what holidays are for.   That and it gave the guys a chance to deep fry something.  You know that's a bonding experience. 

 

We ate lots of good food at the cousins (I die just thinking about smoked turkey and raspberry yams) and had a wonderful time together.  

This Thanksgiving, there was so much to be thankful for...Leo, Heber, Heb's job, my job (being a mom), good friends.  I can recognize this good time because there have been times where it's not been so good.  Even then though, there are things to be thankful for.  All the experiences have brought me to where I am now.

With all of this Thanksgivinging (that's a word right?  I'd say it is), I thought about all of the Thanksgivings before.  You know how nostalgic I get around holidays.  Well, this week, my grandparent's home was cleaned out and rented to a new family.  With Grandpa Dave moving to an assisted living center almost a year ago, his home has been vacant.  It's crazy to think that this is the first year that part of Christmas won't take place there.  All those memories of visiting that home.  I don't like that Leo will never go inside that home and see my grandparents there.  I don't like how things always have to change but I know it's inevitable. It's these holidays that make me think back on good memories and to appreciate the childhood I had. 

So that was quite the meandering post.  What makes you think of thanksgiving?

The Birthday Extraveganza!

It was Leo's birthday last week.

I think Leo knew that it was his special day too.  Every time I said "it's your birthday," he would look up at me with a big toothy grin (almost 6 teeth now!).

We threw two parties.  One with his little friends and one in the evening for another round of friends and family.  As you've read here, I am a part of a group of mom's with one young baby.  They have been so kind and supportive over this past year.  I don't know what I'd do without them.

The whole gang of littles.

The crazy fun!

Amy and Zach.

Best buddies Zach and Leo.

Rebecca and Will

Leo, Amanda and Jasper.

It was a very special day for us all.  Because, let's be honest, the first birthday is as much celebrating us as parents as it was Leo.  We made the transition to becoming parents.  We learned how to care for a baby and made it to one year.

Leo not loving his chocolate cake but loving ice cream.

The decor.  Putting it together was like a walk through this past year.  Oh how he's grown.

The whole day I just felt grateful (and very tired by the end too).  So grateful that Leo is in our family.  Grateful for Heber because I couldn't have done it without him.  He is ever my support.  

Our cousins.  They love Leo and are so sweet with him.  So glad we live close.

Leo and BJ (Boolean Junior).  The Blake's have a schnauzer named Boolean and they got Leo a little twin schnauzer.

Our friends, the Blake's, who have become part of our family out here.

Our families were able to join in to see the festivities through skype.

Thinking back on it, I am overwhelmed by the love and support we received from our family and friends.  There were so many sweet gifts, phone calls, and people who joined us to celebrate at the parties.  It was just wonderful.  Thank you all. 

Celebrating Holidays

It's Thanksgiving tomorrow.  Obviously, it's the holiday of giving thanks of being grateful for all of the things we have in our lives.  While I feel very grateful, I don't really want to talk about that. 

I want to talk about food.  Shocker. 

All my years growing up and even as an adult, I lived in this sheltered world where holidays happened and beautiful meals made it to the table with very little effort on my part.  I was completely naive to all the effort and energy that goes into making these "special" days.  So, now we are on our own (to some extent) and have to play a large role into making the holidays happen. 

The sad realization of what actually goes in makes me tired thinking about them.  There's planning, grocery shopping, coordinating with people to come, decorating and cleaning your house (which I thankfully will be avoiding because we are heading to the cousins for thanksgiving) and then the colossal task of actually cooking all of the food for that many people, with my sweet one year old crawling laps and hanging on my ankles.  

As you've read before, I am usually completely on board with making the effort to make days special but after Leo's birthday (a big extravaganza), I don't really want to do it.  In fact, let me sit down.  I'm tired. 

So, perhaps most of all this year (in addition to all of the wonderful things in my life, and it really is a good life at the moment), I'm thankful for my mom (especially), and Grandma Barbara and Grandma Lois and all my Aunts who went to all the effort to make the holidays special.  Year after year, they made it look effortless.  Now I realize how not effortless it is and I am so thankful. 

I guess I'll go get baking.  Bummer. 

The Big One...

Something in the Email This Morning...

Dear Artist, 

thank you for submitting to the New Works: 3^rd Annual Faculty and Student Exhibition here at the Workhouse. This email is to confirm your entry into the exhibit. Attached is an art work label for the back or bottom of your piece. Please have you work labeled when bringing it in for drop off.

Public Opening Reception: Friday, January 4, 5-7pm

Thank you for participating!

That's me, the artist.  My heart is just swelling.  

Here is the project I submitted.  All the large beads were made by me and then I put the piece together.  

A Year

It's been almost a year since I became a mother. 

I can't believe that A) I have a one year old and B) that I survived infancy.  If you're a mother, you know what I mean.  Being a mother is not for the faint of heart.  It's one of the most challenging, yet joyful things I have ever embarked on and I'm only one year in. 

I feel like I have grown and changed a lot in a year.  If you looked at my life before, compared to what it is now, it's very different.  I have a sweet little buddy with me almost all the time.  Everywhere we go and every decision that we make takes into account our Leo.  The friends and life we've built has been very impacted by Leo.  

As I've prepared for his birthday celebrations, in a way I'm celebrating all that we've learned.  Part of me though is somewhat sad.  He's not a baby anymore.  He's a "stair climbing, sleeping through the night, going to be walking here soon" boy.  As with anything, things change but it seems so much more evident as I've watched him grow so quickly this past year. 

I am deeply changed because of Leo.  And just think, it was only a year ago that I held him in my arms for the first time.  I looked at his little face there in the middle of the night and knew nothing would be the same again.  Just a year.   

Thank you Jenny Lewis for the beautiful shots of us together.

Reality Check

Did you read my last two posts?  What's come over me, healthcare and politics?  The two topics in the world that I would prefer never to think about.  This must be bad if that's what I write about on my blog.

Well, I guess you could call it a writers block.  I just haven't had much to say.  Or perhaps it's that my life's in a bit of a rut lately.  Leo was sick and teething (best combination ever.), then I was sick, then Leo was sick again.  It's been no fun.  We've been home a lot and had to pass on many of our regular activities.

But, it is good for me to think about what I want to remember, to think it through and write about my life.  It brings clarity and perspective.  So, I'm going to make an effort to write. 

Oh, and preferably about things I actually enjoy.

Healthcare

I am picky about healthcare.  I want a doctor who will take the time to listen to what I'm saying, who will explain their reasoning behind pursuing different options.  I want a doctor who isn't too busy or self important to really listen to what I'm saying.  Oh, and one that will check with my insurance company to assure that an unnecessary test is covered.

Is this too much to ask?  Perhaps.

I've had some bad luck with doctors in Virginia but I've learned to be a proactive patient.  Had I not learned this, Leo may have been born via c-section.

There was a span of a couple of years where I spent an average of 118 minutes a week waiting at a doctors office.  Twice a week I would go in to receive a shot for allergies.  Week after week, I was injected with the pure form of sagebrush (I grew up surrounded by sagebrush) and dust mites.

While this is not exactly how I would have preferred to spend my time, it was worth it to not have to deal with allergies anymore.  The positive side was that I was on a first name basis with everyone at the clinic.  All the doctors (not just my practitioner), nurses, CNA's, receptionists, even the people who worked at the pharmacy across the lobby.  I didn't even have to check in after a time, they just knew.

The care I received at that clinic was outstanding.   Now, I don't expect that I will ever get service like that again but it's hard to go back after that.  I have to admit that leaving that office was one of the hardest things about moving from Logan.  Finding a good doctor that fits your personality is difficult, but, it makes you really appreciate it when you find it.

Is healthcare on your mind too?

Politics

Tomorrow is election day.

I don't consider myself excited about politics, or politicians or parties, even taking into account my history of working in a politicians office.  I was excited at one time but I think the excitement was lost (another story for another post). 

We, here in Virginia, are living in a battleground state.  Every day, we get multiple mailers.  It's all over the news and commercials are never ending.  And now, I'm tired.  If I hear another political ad or another story on our presidential candidates, it will be too soon. 

I have been somewhat on the fence as far as the candidates go.  Each have things that I disagree with.  I realize that there is no perfect candidate and I have to make a decision. 

As I was eating breakfast this morning, I heard about a political rally.   Having lived in Utah for much of my life (not what you'd consider a battleground state for the presidential election), I've never had the opportunity to attend a rally. So I went.  Me and Leo.  I have to say that it was exciting to see people passionate about something. 

Halloween

The consummate Halloween post.  That's right.  It was a fairly low key affair with the hurricane blowing through the days before, it kind of took all momentum out.  Truthfully, Heb and I have been pretty blah since the storm blew through. 

As you have read, Halloween has never really been my favorite holiday.  I'm confused as to why we would want to have children go door to door.  And the decor...skulls, tombstones, spiderwebs...not my fav.  Also, it's one of those that is not nearly as fun as an adult.  But I have to say that this year I may have enjoyed it a little more. 

Dressing up Leo this year, it reminded me of being a little girl.  Mom L would sew up costumes for us and we could be whoever we wanted to be...Minnie Mouse, an Astronaut, the Tooth Fairy, Rupunzel...then there was my Scarlet O'hara costume in second grade.  I was even a Pink Bunny one year.  Talk about awesome, I loved pretending to be a pink bunny.  I remember what it was like to put on my costume as a child.  It felt different and fun. 

I wanted to create a costume for Leo that would live up to that long line of creativity.  I dreamed up this little owl costume for Leo and am so happy with how it turned out.   I love when my projects turn out better than expected (it doesn't happen that often). 

Out at lunch in Occoquan (a historic fishing village).

Lately, I've been thinking about one year ago (you know that it's something I do quite frequently).  I can't get over how different our life is from a year ago.  A year ago, we were still in the new phase of being in DC.   Moving is hard.  There's no other way to say it.  It's hard to not know anyone and to make new friends.  One thing Halloween made me very thankful for was friends. (And yes, I do know this is not a thanksgiving post).  So there, enough mush for one post. 

With the moms from my mom group.

Our cousins and their friend on Halloween.