An Incorrect Latte

I'll start with an explanation of the name of this post, my latte today was, in fact, incorrect. I ordered a non-fat mocha but was given a peppermint white mocha. Although it was festive, it actually wasn't what I wanted this morning, but at least it wasn't decaf.

For about 2 weeks I've been composing a latte in my mind on rearranging furniture. But that was an incorrect latte, what I've realized is that all of this moving beds, sofas, and dressers is all about sorting through more stuff. It is one thing to have a junk drawer or three throughout the house, but when you empty the contents of a huge cabinet it's hard to ignore all of the stacks of stuff. I spend so much time trying to organize all of the kids things, and, at least some of the time, I think I'm making progress. Lego pieces, barbies, dress-ups, and art supplies all have their place.

But what about all of my things? I don't seem to have a place for my books, pictures, and stacks and stacks of papers. My latte today is to be prepared, once you start rearranging things it might turn into a long process. I think that it has been metaphorical for sorting out all of the parts of my life. I will say that I now have a super-comfy place to watch TV in the den, but there is no sofa in the living room. I also have a huge basket of my own "stuff" to sort through while I sit on my comfy couch. Maybe tomorrow I'll start the day with a homemade latte so that at least I know I'll get the correct one.

90,000 miles

I recently rolled past 90,000 on my 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. Those miles all belong to this family, and I couldn't help reflecting a little on where we've been on our journey.

We bought the car brand new about a week before Mason's 1st birthday. We needed 4 wheel drive for Colorado, and we needed a place to put both a carseat and an excited 80 pound dog. 2 weeks after we got it, we took a 2 week road trip that started in Denver and included stops in Atlanta, Hilton Head, Boone NC, Ohio, and the Twin Cities to name a few spots. As a doting first-time Mommy, I spent much of that trip riding in the back seat so that I could entertain Mason who was still rear-facing in his carseat. Over the next 2 years, while still in Denver, we took trips to Vail, Aspen, Mount Rushmore, and Jackson Hole. Our sweet dog Sadie took her last ride in the back of the 4 Runner, and her nose prints were on the back windows for a long time after she was gone.

Once we moved back to Atlanta (loading up the top carrier for the ride), we soon added the third carseat to the back. Our kids don't have lots of extra space, but they do now have a DVD player for long car rides such as our annual trips to Hilton Head and Ohio, and 2 trips last year to Washington DC with a side trip to New York City.

All of those big trips add up to alot of miles, but most of the miles are probably from trips to the mall, doctors, karate classes and ballet, the zoo, and botanical gardens, and, of course, the coffee drive-through. In other words, everyday life with 3 kids who are getting bigger by the minute.

I realize that 90,000 isn't a huge milestone (hopefully) for vehicles these days. We're planning on keeping our 4 Runner for as long as we possibly can. It's not the greenest car out there, but at 25 miles a gallon on the highway, it's not a bad way to get my crew around town. My latte today came to me as I drove around town drinking a latte, take a break from all of the chaos of the holidays to reflect on your journey - and don't forget to buckle up for the ride.

A day in my life...

Years ago, when I only had one or 2 children who were under the age of 3 and who napped each afternoon, I use to wonder what moms did when their kids got older and spent some or most of each day in school. I couldn't imagine having hours each day of childless free-time. Little did I know that back in those days, before Facebook and blogs, homework and after-school activities, I actually had a little more free-time than I do now.

So, for those of you who might wonder what goes on once the kids give up naps and start school, here is what I for one did today: After making breakfast & lunches, getting a happy 5 year old, and sleepy 7 year old off to school, I got a call to substitute at Mary Jane's preschool. Since I was trying to get there early, we, off course, ran late getting out the door - homemade latte (soy mocha) in hand. After a busy 3 hours with 3 & 4 year olds, Mary Jane and I returned home with one of her friends along for a playdate. The next couple of hours were a blur of dress ups, snacks, cleaning up, and pick-ups from the elementary school.

More snacks followed and then the girls and I accompanied Mason to his first karate class as a new blue belt! We arrived home to produce a fairly well-rounded dinner followed by homework, pjs, books, and bed. Now the laundry is folded and the dishwasher is running. I've settled in with my laptop and some bad TV. There is nothing spectacular about my day, but I'm alright with that. My latte today is to take a minute to think review your day, all of your running around is an accomplishment even if you still have some things on your to-do list undone. And if your babies are still little and napping, enjoy it while it lasts!

New Shoes

A couple of years ago I took all three of my (then very young) children to REI to get new shoes. At one point a woman who did not work there asked if she could help me at all. She was asking because I think I must have had that crazed, sleep-deprived, mother of three look, and she wasn't sure if I was going to make it out of the store without going completely crazy.

I've come at least a little way since then, random people don't usually ask if they can help me when I'm out shopping. But I'm still a sleep-deprived mother of three, and my kids still need new shoes every now and then. So off we went this afternoon - haircuts and shoe shopping for all. Mary Jane had a fever last night, but is in denial that she was sick at all. She had energy to burn, and she tried to use it all up by running around the small shoe store to try out various new pairs. Mason promises me that he will keep his shoe laces tied at all times on his new Nike's. I actually don't mind spending money on shoes for Charlotte because if she outgrows them too soon, I can save them for Mary Jane.

There was no chance to get a latte before we sat in traffic on the ride back home. Dinner for the last two nights has not involved any veggies, but homework is done and all of the right notes, checks, library books are ready for tomorrow morning (I hope). If Mary Jane sleeps all night, then tomorrow should be a good day to show off new shoes and haircuts for all. Perhaps in the morning I'll have a homemade latte - new shoes don't grow on trees. My latte today is to take a deep breath, and try not to be a crazy person when your out shopping with your kids. Be sure to thank the people who try to help if you are though, and eat something healthy!

Happy Thoughts

It's raining here - again. After years of severe drought conditions in Atlanta, we just finished up the second rainiest October on record. It's tough for moms and kids when all activities have to take place indoors. On top of the rain, lots of illnesses are going around these days, and I've been coughing for weeks. But I'm going to look on the bright side of things.

I once read somewhere that a good way to stay happy with your life is to write down three things each evening that made you happy during the day. So here are some of my happy thoughts from the last couple of days: 1) Watching all 3 of my kids have fun doing yoga poses from a set of cards I got them a couple of years ago. 2) Amelia Bedila books (they're really funny). 3) Making a moth costume for Mason to wear in his 2nd grade musical tomorrow without making a single trip to Target for supplies, and then getting called McGyver mom by a Facebook friend. 4) A gingerbread white chocolate latte! 5) Charlotte doing her ballet twirls all over the living room to show off her adorable skirt.

Even if your latte isn't as fancy as mine, find some things to be happy about today! It might help you forget the rain for a little while.

Reality

When I was not that much older than Mason, I knew who shot J.R. Ewing. Along with half the country, I watched Dallas on Friday nights. It seems that I have always enjoyed a good drama with a twist or 2. I was a huge fan of Beverly Hills 90210, Melrose Place, ER, and, of course, Desperate Housewives.

Reality shows, on the other hand, have never held much appeal for me. I was intrigued, though, by the Real Housewives of various cities. I've watched a few, and I'm here to say that they don't seem to match any sort of reality. How do I know? I am a real housewife of Atlanta, and it is not as glamorous as it is on TV. Last week I went on a 2nd grade field trip to the History Center, I painted an old dresser with a great paint off of the oops rack at Lowes, I grocery shopped, I raked leaves, and tried (not successfully) to keep up with the laundry. I'm not complaining, I'm simply pointing out my reality.

Mason seems to have finally caught whatever is going around, and so we'll be housebound for at least a few days this week until he feels better. That is my reality, I'll clean, do more laundry, pay bills, and take care of my sick little boy. I don't have drivers, house keepers, or professional landscapers, and that's alright. Today's latte is to find your own reality and embrace it - perhaps with an Eggnog latte, they're here for the season!

9 Years Ago Today

9 years ago today, we lived in a bubble. Jobs were everywhere and houses sold as soon as you put a "for sale" sign in the yard. 9 years ago September 11th was just another day on the calendar, and we never dreamed of paying more than $1.50 for a gallon of gas. 9 years ago the country was 3 days away from learning about recounts and hanging chads. 9 years ago our only baby was a 70 pound mutt, and Rob had never changed a diaper. 9 years ago we talked about having 3 kids someday, and we used cameras with real film.

9 years ago today we said "I do" and then we danced, and we started our adventure as a family. Happy Anniversary, Rob!

The Day After...

We survived. You may remember from last year that Halloween is not my favorite holiday, but this year it seemed to take on a life of its own, as well as most of the month of October. After not buying new costumes last year, we more than made up for it this year with numerous new holiday ensembles. The good news is that the kids had many occasions on which to wear their costumes.

Mason was Harry Potter every chance he got, Charlotte went back and forth between Silver Mist (a fairy friend of Tinkerbells), and Sharpay from High School Musical. Mary Jane has 2 Dora costumes and one of Daphne from Scooby Doo. Of course, yesterday she ended up wearing a fancy dress and some wings. Mason was not happy with her for not wearing an actual costume. I have lots of pictures, and I promise to share them soon.

Mason decided about 6 weeks ago that he and his sisters should have a Halloween party. They made a list of friends they wanted to invite and they started making plans. Who am I to stand in the way of a good party? Especially on that involves about a dozen over-excited small children in costumes on a cold and rainy day? As I said, we survived. We had help, Mason's first grade teacher made an appearance and she told scary stories to the wild 7 year old boys. Mason planned an art project that involved toilet paper tubes and pipe cleaners, but he was having too much fun to even get to it.

Here's the good news, the house is very clean, Mason entertained himself all morning making a cardboard cage for Hedwig (his stuffed owl for those of you who don't speak Harry Potter), and I didn't have to spend too much time out trick-or-treating in the rain thanks to Aunt Allie and Alex. Here's the post-Halloween latte, remember that most things in parenthood are not about the parents, they are about the kids so put up some Halloween decorations and buy a little extra candy at Target, put on a costume, and enjoy!

A loved bear...

If you know my family or if you've been reading this blog for the last year, you're sure to know all about Bunny, Mary Jane's very expensive lovey that I had to replace last fall. She still carries it with her most places that she goes. Before there was Bunny, or even Mary Jane or Charlotte, there was simply Mason and Rooty Bear. Rooty Bear was a gift from a friend in Vancouver. He arrived soon after we brought Mason home. A little red bear that has bearly been able to withstand all of the love that he has received through the years.

I once spent 40 minutes back-tracking through the streets of San Francisco when we realized that Rooty Bear had fallen out of the stroller. I actually cried when we found him. On Monday, I spent an hour doing some repair work on the poor bear. He was about to loose an arm and a leg, Mason was not happy about it. For better or worse, Rooty Bear is made of fabric, not fur. When Charlotte was about 6 months old, I realized that she had a little pair of pants that matched the fabric. I'm still cutting those pants up for patches. Mason now makes a point of leaving his bear in his bed each morning. I don't miss the bed time Rooty Bear hunts. He seems so tiny and fragile now, Mason told me that I now need to patch his face and maybe make him some new ears.

I don't know why our kids get so attached to certain objects, but if a little red bear or a $77 bunny from ebay brings some comfort to my child, than I will patch or pay to keep everyone happy. So today's latte, from a house that needs to be disinfected because we've had too much coughing and sickness here this week, is to realize that sometimes there is no substitute for a bear or a bunny or a real latte with lots of caffeine!

What do you see?

Let me start this post with a story about me and my husband. We first met as co-workers 12 years ago. Not long after we met, we went to a team building meeting and one of the activities was to look at a painting and list what we saw. I saw a clock, Rob saw anguish. It's often good that we have more than one perspective on things. We now have an abstract painting that hangs on our dining room wall. We got it at an arts festival in Denver, and the other night our kids started telling us what they saw in the painting.

Mary Jane saw a rocket, Charlotte saw a lady with "broom brush" feet, and Mason saw a gun. I don't mean that in a violent or disturbed way, he literally sees a gun in the painting. I never noticed that there is a silver outline that looks alot like a gun. Now I see it every time I look at the picture. As Rob says, he is my son. He and I have the same literal perspective on many things. We crave the same sense of order (despite my chaotic house), we both fear change, and we both remember all of the details.

My son and I are so much alike that, at times, it is hard for us to communicate effectively with one another. He is spending the night with a friend tonight, and I miss having the chance to tuck him in - stalling tactics and all. Tonight's latte (or blueberry martini as the case may be) is to pay attention to what your children see. Even if they share your perspective on most things, they might help you see something new.