Thank you B!

The Godmother of the littlest guy has access to a summer camp thanks to her job as a public servant and she was kind enough to invite us to spend the weekend at this gorgeous spot at the end of our state, on the Chesapeake bay. The weather was ridiculous, the kids got along and we had a lot of unhealthy food and drink. It was a real gift to get away so completely in October.

Normally my spouse works daytime hours for 6 weeks straight & then he works 4 weeks of nights, 6 pm to 6 am. As I muddle through each day without much help I try to think of all the ladies who have husbands in Iraq or Afghanistan, some of their husbands will never come home. Thankfully, mine does come home each morning but it is a brutal schedule on all of us. He sleeps all day and works all night.By the second week it gets rough. I start to lose my patience with my older 2, helping my second grader with his homework can drive us both to tears if I let it. Last night I was up about half the night and everything seems extra hard right now . What got me through the night was knowing that it was his last night of nights, what really sucked is that this time they made him work an extra weekof nights, so this was week 5. I found out this morning they need him tonight too. I want to go on vacation and drink heavily, but that's not healthy so I'll probably strap on my big baby and walk in the woods to clear my head and go face the music all over again.

October, month of Mary

http://www.setonshrine.org/

That albino pumpkin won't leave me alone!

Blogger, you are acting like a butt again, not letting me post photos.

Since I can't put shameless pics of my little sweeties up here, I'll share a couple of things. Its been a very hectic October so far, way too many events, no time to stop and appreciate the leaves. This weekend we are going away, to celebrate the MAN of the house's birthday. I am very excited! We are going with good friends and with kids & it should be fun.

At my breastfeeding meeting tonight I was looking at the sign up sheet and I noticed these babies have some cool names. All of the babies looked fabulously cute and well loved, it is worth the trek each month to see these awesome babies & new parents figuring it all out. Here's the names: Marcello, Leonie, Killian, Aleksander, Siara & Wolfe! There were many, many more names, but they were all fairly normal. I have 2 normal names for my kids and 2 less normal. I like these bold names.

Always thinking of my boy who is not here...

From a great blog, http://ingliseast.typepad.com/ingliseast/
She describes losing a child so well;

"It is unfair that I am his mama, yet I don't know where he's gone. I'm supposed to know these things. I want to know why he couldn't stay, why he was ever hurt in the first place despite what should have been the refuge of my body.
It's not only his absence that aches. It's the knowing that his absence will never make sense."

Boyz on the hammock

More winery wonderland

The dog that would not leave!
Lushness
Baby on blanket with bro & wine
Sweet little river
Log cabin for kids

This is where we were yesterday. After Dinosaur Land. This is one of the most beautiful wineries I've ever been to. I dreamt of a vineyard in Virginia that was not snobby, not too fancy to bring kids to, not too shabby either. This place is run by a cute couple with teenagers and many rescue dogs. Its so laid back and I can't wait to go back. Sometimes just going out driving without a serious destination is how you can fall back in love with where you live.

Dinosaur Land

Second grader was thrilled to show all of us Dinosaur Land, the truly retro spot in the Virginia countryside that celebrates each and every dinosaur.
Freaky

Friday

Precious!

I cleaned up and had my oldest and very dear friend over with her husband and adorable baby Abby (see links). It was nice and I wish we could have more energy, stay up later, see each other more. One day I hope we are grandmas & grandpas together, all of us, still hanging out. And if her baby wants to marry my baby and make us in laws---even better, ha ha!

I had the radio on this morning and as I switched stations I heard a DJ talking about how he was totally NOT OK with women breastfeeding in public. It made him mad that mothers were demanding the right to nurse in public. Of course this was the station that is proud of their website with tons of photos of "hot chicks". That's the kind of weird dichotomy that makes America so weird! Why can't a grown man see a woman nursing and then just look away? What's even crazier are women who are offended by breastfeeding. I honestly don't get it. When I'm out in public I see lots of things that bother me, some things bother me for a long time, like a child getting hit or yelled at. But nursing? Somebody would have to really be reaching for something to get upset about for something so normal/quiet/healthy/adorable to bother them.

I wouldn't even talk about it here, beacause its such a no brainer to accept nursing in public, but there are still people like this DJ who just don't get it. So... since we suck at making women feel secure nursing in public, I'll share 2 kick ass Australian ads that really make it clear how weird we are in the U.S.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUN6Snu2WnA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnReJeQrK0k&mode=related&search=


thanks to Elizabeth for the eating in the bathroom ad!

Back from South Carolina where we visited the most adorable girl baby, little Sadie. It was so great to see my family down there and see the beginning of a new family. Here are a few pics of the little sweetness:

Thankful?

at his school, where he is always a little angel...

OK, I am trying here. I don't know if I'm feeling it today. I did think of one thing earlier today, I'm definitely glad to be in area that is so diverse, with so many friendly people from all over the world. I was out walking with the Creature in the jogger and little Joaqueeny strapped on & an Indian woman stopped me so she could look at the sleeping baby. She talked to me for a little while about enjoying the kids and appreciating them-because the time flies by. She has 2 grandchildren and is really enjoying that part of her life. I needed to hear that today because my 4 year old is anything but enjoyable these past 2 days. He's a challenge, a child that maybe Brangelina might like to adopt? :). That's how I felt yesterday. Everything I do, he fights me. He wants to hit people bigger than him, he makes devilish faces as he thinks of new mischief. I am going away for 2 days to see my cousin's precious little girl. I am thankful for that. I am only bringing my nursling. My Creature can be so loving, but I hope my little break will give me renewed energy to work with his relentless energy.

Here's something that bugs me, although I'm trying to stay thankful & positive these days: I am so over ostentatious & big houses. I think obnoxiously broadcasting wealth & putting priorities on stuff is just weird. On TV I'm sick of it; "The Girls Next Door", "Cribs" "Run's House" & all the other shows that emphasize stuff, money, cars, fabulousness, who cares? Starter castles everywhere in the suburbs with no trees around them, just house, no greenery. If I could have a house of my dreams it would probably look like a Hobbit house, one big round space with an upstairs loft built into a hillside. Like this: http://www.irishartprints.com/gallerythreethumbs/viewpages3/hobbit.html

Thankful 30, hmmm, let's think

Today I am thankful that my neighbors dog came home. My neighbors are from Russia (Belarus actually) and they are the nicest people. They have a college sorority daughter and a wild haired 13 year old son. Their boy had wanted a dog his whole life. They researched dogs for a long long time and finally all agreed upon a miniature schnauzer. Probably not my first choice, but you have never seen a family so in love with their puppy, when he arrived last November. They named him Gorsha and he is lovingly walked many times a day by the dad, the mom, the son & the grandmother. Grandma doesn't live there, but comes over just to walk Gorsha. Needless to say, the dog is a part of the family & in a cool way has brought this family closer as their son leaves childhood mostly behind.

So... it was a horrible moment last week when I looked out the window and saw the little guy fleeing his fenced in yard. I thought he was on the leash at first, then I realized he was going way too fast to be with anyone. I went out on my deck and Grandma was on her deck, almost hysterical, she was terrified she would never find him again. The dad came straight home from work and they took off in the car, looking all through the neighborhood. I drove around looking for him too. Amazingly, little Gorsha found his way back home and there was peace in the kingdom that night. He had dug a hole under the fence a la the "Poky Little Puppy". Now when I walk past the house, his bark sounds a lot less annoying.

They all look like babies when they're sleeping.


it was actually dark in each room, my flash is bright!

Thankful for 30

OK, I'm feeling inspired by my friendly neighbor's blog. She is writing everyday about something she is thankful for. I will try to do it too. It will help me to stay positive in my frantic suburban spin cycle, I hope.

This morning I am thankful that my brother, who just moved back here from Montana, got a job. Not any job, but the job he was most excited about, being a Mac Genius for Apple. I am thrilled for him and I'm sure he will like it and excel at it. We drank champagne with him on Labor day weekend when he got the call for a second interview and now we need to celebrate because he's hired. Good luck on your first day of work, Pablo!

Getting carded!

I got carded yesterday when I went into Trader Joes to get a six pack and some stuff to bring to dinner at my girlfriend's house. The cashier was pretty adamant that I show some ID. This wasn't the first time, it seems lately they are more intense about carding folks, but this was weird b/c she wouldn't let it go. I had only my debit card, the fambly was in the car, I got dropped off. She just stood there and stared at me when I said my ID was in the car. She's like," I'm sorry, no beer!" I was like, "I'm loving that you think I'm 20 or younger, but I have wrinkles and grey hair!" She stares at me and says "no, I don't see them." I said, "I am 35!" She still wouldn't let me buy beer. I said "ask me something about the 70`s?" She finally said, "Fine, here you go, Oh & I do see your wrinkles now"
"oh, great , thanks, bye.."

I haven't had too much to say or too many pics to post because I am so busy in my domestic suburban world here. Back and forth to private school, preschool, activities and the rest. I have encountered some unbelievable rudeness among the Catholic school moms, but I have also met some amazing women and men there too. I have been keeping up with all the fundraisers, picture days, school picnics & back to school nights. When i think about starting this blog 2 years ago, a lot has changed. I am a lot more organized, generally more positive & through some of the toughest toddler years ever. I still have more to look forward to.

But enough about me, my super awesome cousin Tracy & her husband Joe had their first child last night, little Sadie Anne. I am so happy for them, I can't wait to meet this new litle girl. the world is already altered because a new person is here, its so amazing to me every time.

Bamboo

I have wanted bamboo floors since I first heard they were making floors out of bamboo. Finally we got them put in & I am so house proud for the first time. I have always been happy to have a home, even one with all original everything, but bit by bit we are trying to improve. I am excited about having a clean new looking house, but scared this floor will get destroyed by BOYS.

The morning of the install, Friday, the bamboo had been acclimatizing to our house, here it sits behind the Creature & my Friendly Neighbor's adorable daughter.
Sunday afternoon.
The kitchen, still in progress, paint & shades to come...
Brotherly love with bamboo background.

A steamy day at a winery. It was too hazy to really enjoy the view, but the wine was good and the boys had fun.

This is how I found the boy Creature on Saturday morning, yelling "Pull me!"

The moonflowers that took 4 months to bloom!

Dude, try cleaning the factory & then you won't have to mention so much stuff on the label, nasty!

For my sanity, I really need to be in bed right now. I had to watch the Video Music Awards though, Britney's comeback is like, boring. Then I saw the ultimate performer, Chris Brown. It is impossible not to smile when this guy (he's a baby, like 18 or something crazy) dances. He is ridiculous! The poser punk rockers of this generation weren't smiling, but just about everybody else in the place was on their feet, loving him when he was done. Tomorrow I will put the video up, he is pure joy to see. Chris Brown, I left my cozy room just to blog about you!
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1568788&vid=173459

Scenes of a baby around a really old and very interesting house in Norfolk

Labor Day

Meerkat at the zoo

uld you put on my sunscreen mama?
Party on the pier
Adorable baby kitty

The man of the house had to work and the kidz and I went to visit family in Norfolk/Va Beach. More beach time and some fabulous outdoor meals were had. The second night we had a crab feast and cocktail hour on a pier across the street from my cousin's house. The family that lives in the house with the pier were such neat people, a retired pilot, his artist wife & 3 grown girls. They had adorable teeny tiny kittens that the boys fell in love with. We also went to the zoo, which was walking distance. It was a great weekend, what was best about was that I am trying hard to be better as a mother, to devote equal time to the offspring and to stay positive with them. There were stressful moments but I kept my cool and for the first time in the year since I've had 3, I feel like its getting almost easy.

Now that I've said that, watch all hell break loose!