Quiet

The house is silent. The only thing to be heard is the clacking of the keys on my MacBook Pro as I type and the humm of our stainless steel refrigerator. Luke is at Kindergarten, Ella preschool. Olivia is sound asleep in the walk-in closet of our bedroom where, a closed door and 10 feet away, Dave is the same. I had planned on going to the gym. Called in an appointment for Liv in the "infant" room, which seems such a far removed word for her these days. But the morning came and went and she wanted to go back to bed earlier than I'd anticipated. Keep her up? Most Mom's know the answer to that... no way! So down she went, as easily and happily as she does everything. And I could still go to the gym, there's no reason why I should chose not to, other than selfish indulgence. I chose to enjoy and indulge myself in this silence.

So here I sit. Feeling like I should be doing something productive. Maybe cleaning those windows in the dining room and kitchen that are streaked with little handprints, among other things I'm sure. Maybe throw some laundry in the washer or make a few calls which need to be made for one thing or another. But I chose to do none of that. I am enjoying this big, over-stuffed couch I sit on and being alone with my thoughts.

My thoughts... which are all over the place. I thing about how lucky I am to have this life I lead. I think about the things I strive to do better with and the habits, all to important, that need to be reinforced. My thoughts lead me to bills I need to pay and appointments I need to make, what book will I read to Luke's class this Friday afternoon, when will I make Olivia's birthday banner? I wonder what I should get done at my hair appointment on Friday evening and whether or not I am going to buy Luke a bigger book shelf to hold all of his many books that now pour out of his mere 2 shelves.

The quite does not seem to lead to any amazing epiphanies. These are just thoughts that go through every busy Mothers head each day. Some may think that this life, one of a stay-at-home Mom, is mundane and slow. Draining and un-fulfilling. But I sit here, in the quiet of my usually chaotic home, and I feel peace and gratitude. I am thankful for every single insignificant detail of this life of mine. From making doctors appointments to parent teacher conferences. And from vacuuming to trying to find "me" time that simply seems to not exist most days. With all the frustration and all the craziness that is my life, I feel joy. I love this life of mine. All of it, down to the last drop.

So I will sit here for a little while longer and take it all in. And then I will gear up for all the hectic hours which will surly come soon. And I will not go to the gym, though my jeans are begging me to.

The chair

I have much to post about, namely my amazing trip to CA for a girls weekend (5 days!) with Jenny. But I had to post this. Because it makes me smile. And because I love this peanut more than words.



This was and is Luke's chair. He has had many an argument with Ella over the years about it. And today, well someone else discovered how cool it was. I think we may need to finally look into another, Im not sure Luke can take on both girls.

Poor Daddy!

Luke came home today, much like every day, excited about Kindergarten. He was very excited to show me all of his new offerings to be placed on our already cluttered fridge. As he took one item in particular out it became clear that there was something missing. Now I'm never one to point out errors in his art work. I ohh and ahh at pictures colored outside lines and body parts of all strange shapes and sizes. When he points out what something is I usually exclaim, "Thats exactly what it looks like honey!" But today I had a few questions.

"This is your Family?"

"Yep."

"Well, point out who everyone is"

"This is Ella, this is Mommy, this is O-live and this is me"

"Dont you think you may have forgotten someone very important to our family?"

Luke looks at his picture, study's it for a moment and then reply's.

"O' yeah!!! But the teacher said we couldn't draw our Dog."

I cant help but laugh. Dave is on the couch with just about the saddest face I have ever seen but also looking as though he's about to join in my laughter.

"Buddy, you forgot daddy!!"



Luke pauses. looks at the picture once more. And then starts to laugh. He points out that he drew an airplane over head to which i reply, in my dutiful Mommy voice, "thats exactly what that looks like"

"ummmm... Daddy's in the airplane"

Best picture yet Luke. I love you. And you chose a great word, your family is fun!!!

I know Daddy forgives you for leaving him out, seeing as how there is nothing more clear than the fact that you two are best friends. Now if it were me? I may not have laughed quite as hard.

For your listening pleasure

The best rendition of this song I have ever heard, and its not just because I love David Bazan (which I do)

Dave, my Dave, introduced me to many new voices when we started dating, most of which I had never heard before. And since he hated my music, and because he drove everywhere we went, most of these are my favorite to this day. David Bazan and Pedro the Lion (his old group) played in the background of many of our conversations, journeys, kissing sessions... you get the idea. It sort of became the soundtrack to our beginnings. We went to many of his shows throughout our Marriage. Listening to him brings back some of my most precious, giddy memories of my sweet husband. Holding hands in his blue Subaru, thinking the World was spinning only for us. I love that music can do this for you. And I love my David.

So here it is, my favorite of his covers.

One of the coolest things ever

Is this not the coolest bike you've ever seen? Check out the link at the bottom of my blog for a chance to win one of these babies. They're giving one away every Wednesday!

I love these guys

These guys make me so, so happy. That's about all I can say. I love my Family!!!!

She knows!

This morning, after I helped Ella open the back door so that she could let Bjorn out, she said something that made my day!!!!

"Mommy, I love you. You are always doing everything to help me everyday."

O' Ella. You are so sweet. And right.