I have not posted ANYTHING here for over a year. That's kind of how things have been--just too busy for anything but quick Facebook updates.
However, things need to change. They have already started changing:
1. I'm pursuing a second master's degree (and just added a dual concentration, eek!)
2. We are starting to pack again, but this time to move into our "forever" house. *That's all you get for now, I don't want to jinx anything*
3. Finally, I'm taking my health into my hands and I am going to do something about it. Which is more than I've done in a long, long time.
So, I am going to add blogging to the mix. I am going to try to blog once a week, at least--and I am going to try to keep up with my journey. I've heard that if you make a weight loss journey public, that it is easier to succeed because you know people are paying attention. It's a scary thing, though--I'd much rather curl up in my yoga pants and a big sweatshirt and pretend no one notices me.
NO!
I can't do that--I've been doing that for years and years.
So here goes nothing--I'll let you know how it all goes!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Where I Resolve to Write More Often, Eat Less, and Save More Money.
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2012.
I love welcoming a new year in--I think it is because I can resolve to improve myself. I do the same thing at the start of the summer, and the start of the school year. I'm really, really good at making resolutions.
But...I'm not so good at carrying them out.
I imagine that I'm not the only person with this problem. My wife's solution is to never make resolutions, unless they involve not having sex with a man, or not getting addicted to crack cocaine...you know, stuff that she's guaranteed to be successful at.
If I were to make resolutions the same way, they would sound a little like this:
1. I will not drink more than five Diet Cokes a day.
2. I will not put my children to bed without reading them a story first.
3. I will not promise to take out the garbage, do more laundry, or scoop the litter every day.
This way, no one will be disappointed.
However, I am the eternal optimist in our relationship and so I must try to improve. So my resolutions will be:
1. To spend less money/save more money.
2. To lose weight and be healthier.
3. To be more prepared in the classroom.
4. To blog more often.
There you have it--simple, right?
I wish.
I'll let you know how it all goes...don't hold your breath, though. I've just eaten a Choco-Taco. (Then again, New Year's diets don't really kick in until we go back to school, and besides, I need to get the stuff out of my house, and since the diet hasn't kicked in....)
:) Happy New Year!
I love welcoming a new year in--I think it is because I can resolve to improve myself. I do the same thing at the start of the summer, and the start of the school year. I'm really, really good at making resolutions.
But...I'm not so good at carrying them out.
I imagine that I'm not the only person with this problem. My wife's solution is to never make resolutions, unless they involve not having sex with a man, or not getting addicted to crack cocaine...you know, stuff that she's guaranteed to be successful at.
If I were to make resolutions the same way, they would sound a little like this:
1. I will not drink more than five Diet Cokes a day.
2. I will not put my children to bed without reading them a story first.
3. I will not promise to take out the garbage, do more laundry, or scoop the litter every day.
This way, no one will be disappointed.
However, I am the eternal optimist in our relationship and so I must try to improve. So my resolutions will be:
1. To spend less money/save more money.
2. To lose weight and be healthier.
3. To be more prepared in the classroom.
4. To blog more often.
There you have it--simple, right?
I wish.
I'll let you know how it all goes...don't hold your breath, though. I've just eaten a Choco-Taco. (Then again, New Year's diets don't really kick in until we go back to school, and besides, I need to get the stuff out of my house, and since the diet hasn't kicked in....)
:) Happy New Year!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Karma (or, when we finally get what is coming to us.)
This has been quite a week.
The weekend began quite innocently, with Ella and Kat heading off to swim lessons on Saturday while Ben and I moseyed around at home, napping and generally being lazy. We knew a storm was rolling in but didn't expect much--after all, we seem to be lucky when it comes to the weather. When the ice storm of 2008 hit, we were without power for about 12 hours, and had a fireplace, a gas stove, and running (hot) water. The tornadoes last June didn't touch Barre, and even this August, Hurricane Irene didn't even flicker our lights.
Which, in hindsight, means we were past due.
The snow started falling around 3 p.m. and was steady right from the start. We bathed the kids and got them into bed, and I settled in to sync my iPhone while Kat fell asleep on the couch. Around 9:30, the power went out. "Super!" I thought sarcastically, and used my iPhone to light the way to the living room, where I joined Kat on the sofa and we dozed for a while. After all, we didn't have any flashlights. Or extra water in the tub. Or even extra food.
In the morning, the power was still out, which was no big deal, since the snow had stopped, the sun was rising, and our friend Brendan was still slated to visit that afternoon. It was a little chilly, so we played Hullabaloo to keep warm and then played outside in the two feet of snow blanketing our front yard. Ben hated it (makes sense, since he couldn't even walk in it!) and Ella loved it. Then we ate PB and J for lunch (which I NEVER do if I can help it, but it was actually kind of yummy and adventurous...) and waited for Brendan to come by.
Anyway, to make a long story short, we ended up heading over to Eagle Hill for the night, figuring it would be better than staying home in the cold, especially with the kids. Of course, when we got there, they didn't have power either, only a few generators keeping the kitchen and dorms running. I think I was expecting to show up and be showered with warmth and Internet and cable TV and hot water and some kind of yummy, fabulous meal. It didn't quite turn out that way--instead we had grilled cheese for dinner in the dark dining hall, and then showered in a handicapped stall in a dorm where every student was hanging out in the common area right outside. Then we went up to the infirmary for the night, where I spent a cold night sharing a twin bed with Ben. Ben, who would not sleep. (More on Ben later....)
In the morning, Kat headed to her classroom to teach the little cherubs, while the kids and I headed back to Barre for more stuff--clean clothes, etc. We had to turn around several times and I was shocked by all the damage I saw. Hardwick was a trashed mess, and even the gas station was closed! As I drove, I was sure we'd be stranded at Eagle Hill for days. I started worrying about how I would get to school, and what I would wear, and if my children could live on grilled cheese and water, and on and on... But as we hit the center of Barre, I noticed that the BP station was open...and Subway, and the little diner on the corner. Hope sprang eternal in my breast, and as we pulled onto Union Street, I started cheering. Our lights were on! I definitely did the happy dance, both in my brain and then literally as we got out of the car.
Okay, so we didn't have it that bad, I realize. I still have co-workers who don't have power or heat. My school is going on the 5th day (yep, that's all week) of no school due to power outages and unsafe roads. All in all, we are lucky. But you'd better believe that next time, I'm filling the tub. And finding the flashlights!
Of course, that doesn't end the week. We got our power back on Monday. Tuesday, I took a feverish, cranky Ben to the doctor, who informed us that he had double ear infections and a swollen throat. When we got home, my mom, sister, and niece came by to spend the night, as well as one of Kat's co-workers. Yesterday, Ella and Ben went back to school (with a delay) and we had to say goodbye to Benny's teacher. (SOB!) Then, last night, we had a house full of folks--my mom, sister, brother, sister-in-law, two nieces (both 2) and one nephew (2 months). Plus our family.
No biggie--all of these things could have happened separately, and it would have been okay. But put them all into one week, and we start getting a little crazy.
But karma is not done with us yet. As you are probably well aware of, we have been blessed with two lovely children. Physically adorable, with big blue eyes and cute little dimples and funny, chattery voices. For the most part, they go to bed early and do what is asked of them.
However...I've mentioned before that Ben has been showing us hints of the terrible twos...and he has been in rare form this week. I don't know if the fact that he hasn't felt good has anything to do with it, or that things are different at daycare, but he has turned into the wicked incarnation of his former sweet self. Hitting is the big thing, and the worst part is, he'll go over and say "sowwy" and give a hug to the recipient of the smack, and it's so damn cute that you (I?) just want to forgive him. Then, there is the running away naked, the fussing at bedtime and all through the night, and the lack of eating. It's really hard to be the perfect stern parent when he looks at you with those big blue eyes and his little under-eye dimple pops out and he grins with his mouth with all the gaps where his teeth haven't come in yet...then he wallops you. He also shouts "NO" and "MINE" and grunts and screams and throws things...
Did I mention I'm going on my FIFTH day off from school? That will make for a whopping NINE days home. So I might ramble a bit. Or scream. Or go bake some more sugar cookies....
Anyway, I'll leave you with this--it is the essence of my son at this point in time. Just let me know if you want to borrow him. Or his sister. At least you won't be bored....
The weekend began quite innocently, with Ella and Kat heading off to swim lessons on Saturday while Ben and I moseyed around at home, napping and generally being lazy. We knew a storm was rolling in but didn't expect much--after all, we seem to be lucky when it comes to the weather. When the ice storm of 2008 hit, we were without power for about 12 hours, and had a fireplace, a gas stove, and running (hot) water. The tornadoes last June didn't touch Barre, and even this August, Hurricane Irene didn't even flicker our lights.
Which, in hindsight, means we were past due.
The snow started falling around 3 p.m. and was steady right from the start. We bathed the kids and got them into bed, and I settled in to sync my iPhone while Kat fell asleep on the couch. Around 9:30, the power went out. "Super!" I thought sarcastically, and used my iPhone to light the way to the living room, where I joined Kat on the sofa and we dozed for a while. After all, we didn't have any flashlights. Or extra water in the tub. Or even extra food.
In the morning, the power was still out, which was no big deal, since the snow had stopped, the sun was rising, and our friend Brendan was still slated to visit that afternoon. It was a little chilly, so we played Hullabaloo to keep warm and then played outside in the two feet of snow blanketing our front yard. Ben hated it (makes sense, since he couldn't even walk in it!) and Ella loved it. Then we ate PB and J for lunch (which I NEVER do if I can help it, but it was actually kind of yummy and adventurous...) and waited for Brendan to come by.
Anyway, to make a long story short, we ended up heading over to Eagle Hill for the night, figuring it would be better than staying home in the cold, especially with the kids. Of course, when we got there, they didn't have power either, only a few generators keeping the kitchen and dorms running. I think I was expecting to show up and be showered with warmth and Internet and cable TV and hot water and some kind of yummy, fabulous meal. It didn't quite turn out that way--instead we had grilled cheese for dinner in the dark dining hall, and then showered in a handicapped stall in a dorm where every student was hanging out in the common area right outside. Then we went up to the infirmary for the night, where I spent a cold night sharing a twin bed with Ben. Ben, who would not sleep. (More on Ben later....)
In the morning, Kat headed to her classroom to teach the little cherubs, while the kids and I headed back to Barre for more stuff--clean clothes, etc. We had to turn around several times and I was shocked by all the damage I saw. Hardwick was a trashed mess, and even the gas station was closed! As I drove, I was sure we'd be stranded at Eagle Hill for days. I started worrying about how I would get to school, and what I would wear, and if my children could live on grilled cheese and water, and on and on... But as we hit the center of Barre, I noticed that the BP station was open...and Subway, and the little diner on the corner. Hope sprang eternal in my breast, and as we pulled onto Union Street, I started cheering. Our lights were on! I definitely did the happy dance, both in my brain and then literally as we got out of the car.
Okay, so we didn't have it that bad, I realize. I still have co-workers who don't have power or heat. My school is going on the 5th day (yep, that's all week) of no school due to power outages and unsafe roads. All in all, we are lucky. But you'd better believe that next time, I'm filling the tub. And finding the flashlights!
Of course, that doesn't end the week. We got our power back on Monday. Tuesday, I took a feverish, cranky Ben to the doctor, who informed us that he had double ear infections and a swollen throat. When we got home, my mom, sister, and niece came by to spend the night, as well as one of Kat's co-workers. Yesterday, Ella and Ben went back to school (with a delay) and we had to say goodbye to Benny's teacher. (SOB!) Then, last night, we had a house full of folks--my mom, sister, brother, sister-in-law, two nieces (both 2) and one nephew (2 months). Plus our family.
No biggie--all of these things could have happened separately, and it would have been okay. But put them all into one week, and we start getting a little crazy.
But karma is not done with us yet. As you are probably well aware of, we have been blessed with two lovely children. Physically adorable, with big blue eyes and cute little dimples and funny, chattery voices. For the most part, they go to bed early and do what is asked of them.
However...I've mentioned before that Ben has been showing us hints of the terrible twos...and he has been in rare form this week. I don't know if the fact that he hasn't felt good has anything to do with it, or that things are different at daycare, but he has turned into the wicked incarnation of his former sweet self. Hitting is the big thing, and the worst part is, he'll go over and say "sowwy" and give a hug to the recipient of the smack, and it's so damn cute that you (I?) just want to forgive him. Then, there is the running away naked, the fussing at bedtime and all through the night, and the lack of eating. It's really hard to be the perfect stern parent when he looks at you with those big blue eyes and his little under-eye dimple pops out and he grins with his mouth with all the gaps where his teeth haven't come in yet...then he wallops you. He also shouts "NO" and "MINE" and grunts and screams and throws things...
Did I mention I'm going on my FIFTH day off from school? That will make for a whopping NINE days home. So I might ramble a bit. Or scream. Or go bake some more sugar cookies....
Anyway, I'll leave you with this--it is the essence of my son at this point in time. Just let me know if you want to borrow him. Or his sister. At least you won't be bored....
Monday, October 10, 2011
Perfect.
Okay, nobody is perfect.
My kids, however, have taught me that perfection truly is out of our reach.
Don't get me wrong, I adore my children. They make me laugh and amaze me every day.
But they are FAR from perfect.
(This is not to say that they are not the perfect match for us. God certainly knew what he was doing when he designed their little DNA structures. I think that this is karma for all of Kat's blasphemous ridicule of organized religion, but that is neither here nor there right now.)
Ella.
She is big blue eyes and dimples and shiny thick hair. She is tall and leggy with a round belly and big feet. She is brilliant mathematical logic and biting sarcasm and obsessed with money.
She is also completely unaware of her spatial surroundings (as well as the volume of her voice). She is drastically moody, swinging from loving sweetness to overflowing rage in seconds. If you ask her to pick up the toy by her left foot, she can't find it. If you tell her to do something in a new way, she shuts down and refuses to do it at all. She is stubborn to the nth degree. She couldn't stay on her bottom during dinner or schoolwork if her life depended on it.
But she is mine, and I love her.
Today, at gymnastics, I was reminded again that she is not perfect.
For starters, we decided to add another class to swimming, and thought we'd try out gymnastics this year as a way to introduce Ella to coordination. (Ella, meet Coordination. Coordination, this is Ella. Good Luck! No wait, please come back!) There are 25 kids in the class, and 2-3 teachers. It is a disaster, and I'm not sure why we're paying $63.00 a month...no, wait, I know exactly why. Because she LOVES it.
Ella is by far the most uncoordinated kid we know. (And between the two of us, we know a LOT of kids.) We thought it would be a great idea to take this child, who is also tall and bulky and solid and kind of wimpy to boot, and throw her into gymnastics with 24 other petite, coordinated children. I'd like to say it was a mistake, but what else could we do???
The teachers do their best to ignore our daughter, unless she's causing a logjam in the rotation because she physically cannot get herself onto an apparatus. When the kids are stretching, Ella lounges and makes half-hearted attempts to touch her toes. When being escorted across the balance beam, she hangs on for dear life and makes herself as stiff as a board.
Now, I have spent several years teaching swimming to all ages. I know how hard it is to teach those kids who are "bigger" and "scared." Small, scared kids? No biggie. Big, brave kids? Fine, easy as pie. Big, scared, uncoordinated, independent kids? The hardest kids in the world to teach a skill to, be it gymnastics or swimming or dance or karate or anything else.
I know how the teachers feel about kids like Ella. Annoyed, frustrated, tempted to pass them by. I get it. And yet, my inner psycho-helicopter-mom persona wants to tell them to give her a break, it's not her fault that she's tall and clumsy and stubborn!
Today, because of the holiday, there were only twelve kids in class. It was great--Ella got some attention and actually improved!
However (and this is my imperfection, I know....NOT hers!) every time I watch her at gymnastics or swimming, I cringe. I want to shake her and tell her to pay attention and TRY, Goddamnit!
Then, I have to remind myself that I've had 33 years of practice...and I still can't find the remote on the cushion next to me, and I am apt to trip on my own feet occasionally if I'm not paying attention.
But all I want is for her life to be easier, and better than mine was. Is that too much to ask???
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Things I've Learned Since Joining Weight Watchers.
Typically, I like to write about my children's antics, but tonight, I'm going to focus on a bit about me. About 2 weeks ago I decided to sign up for Weight Watchers. I'm not really sure why--yes, I need to lose a fair amount of weight, but it wasn't like I suddenly had a big epiphany and got motivated.
It might have been better if I had!
In the past two weeks, I've learned quite a few things about myself.
1. I eat (ate?) a lot of CRAP. Things that I miss eating? Giant bowls of ice cream, chips and french onion dip, caramel swirl iced lattes, apple pie, and many other things.
2. I have (had?) absolutely NO self-control with anything food-wise, and am (was?) a complete and utter SLOTH. Seriously.
3. I actually like whole wheat pasta (when you mix in Ragu sauce, steamed broccoli, and a little shredded cheese).
4. I still don't like yogurt.
5. Like most things in my life, I am really, really bad at keeping track of what I eat. Even though I have "an app for that".
6. Stopping at McDonald's because "nobody tells me what I can and cannot eat" is only sabotaging myself.
7. Fiber One bars make me fart. A LOT. I was eating one each day for breakfast, but it was getting ridiculous to try to teach for the rest of the day.
8. I drink too much Diet Coke.
9. The Wii actually counts towards my activity points! (Which is good, since it's the only activity I've done.)
10. Even though I'm not really doing a very good job at staying on track, I've still lost about 4 lbs.
11. Drinking water during the day ACTUALLY makes you feel good!
So, I'm not sure if this is going to work out or not, but I'm going to keep trying! After all, I've already paid for four months, so I have to at least stick to it for that long!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The TERRIBLE Twos...closer than they appear!
Yesterday, Ben turned 18 months old.
Today, he let us know loud and clear that he is not, in fact, the sweet small boy we have come to expect. Ben, Ella and I headed over to Eagle Hill to meet Kat for dinner. As soon as we arrived, Ben started screaming. He screamed throughout the entire meal, except when he was throwing things on the floor and eating bananas. His dinner tonight? THREE bananas and a handful of oyster crackers.
(I'm hoping there are no adverse effects to eating that many bananas in one sitting. I'll let you know!)
Actually, yesterday was the first day he got "in trouble" at school. Ben's daycare providers, Miss Jenna and Miss Jen, are two amazing women who spend their days with five or six or seven (I can't keep track, which is why I don't run a daycare) little boys who range in age from 18 months to around 2 and 1/2. Of course, my sweet boy has always been the darling of this rough and tumble group...until yesterday.
Jenna and Jen fill out updates on all the kids, which we get every day. One of the sections is called: "Today I was: ______________". Previously, Ben has been described with lovely words like "creative", "happy", "curious", "lovable", and "adventurous".
Yesterday, Ben was "jealous" with an added note, letting us know that he was throwing toys at anyone and everyone who would not give him what he wanted, including our beloved Miss Jenna.
So it appears that our loving son is well on his way to teaching us to never underestimate the power of an angry toddler.
On the other hand, he's just learned how to say, "I love you!" and gives big squeezes when asked....so I guess he still has a couple of redeeming qualities.
Then again, he's not two yet!
Today, he let us know loud and clear that he is not, in fact, the sweet small boy we have come to expect. Ben, Ella and I headed over to Eagle Hill to meet Kat for dinner. As soon as we arrived, Ben started screaming. He screamed throughout the entire meal, except when he was throwing things on the floor and eating bananas. His dinner tonight? THREE bananas and a handful of oyster crackers.
(I'm hoping there are no adverse effects to eating that many bananas in one sitting. I'll let you know!)
Actually, yesterday was the first day he got "in trouble" at school. Ben's daycare providers, Miss Jenna and Miss Jen, are two amazing women who spend their days with five or six or seven (I can't keep track, which is why I don't run a daycare) little boys who range in age from 18 months to around 2 and 1/2. Of course, my sweet boy has always been the darling of this rough and tumble group...until yesterday.
Jenna and Jen fill out updates on all the kids, which we get every day. One of the sections is called: "Today I was: ______________". Previously, Ben has been described with lovely words like "creative", "happy", "curious", "lovable", and "adventurous".
Yesterday, Ben was "jealous" with an added note, letting us know that he was throwing toys at anyone and everyone who would not give him what he wanted, including our beloved Miss Jenna.
So it appears that our loving son is well on his way to teaching us to never underestimate the power of an angry toddler.
On the other hand, he's just learned how to say, "I love you!" and gives big squeezes when asked....so I guess he still has a couple of redeeming qualities.
Then again, he's not two yet!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
The Cousin Connection.
So, it's a Sunday night, and I have a million things to do.
Make lunches. Iron. Balance the checkbook. Pay bills. Submit online coursework. Correct 60 projects. Pick out an outfit for Picture Day tomorrow. Etc.
Instead, I want to write about my weekend.
We had a crazy week last week. Kat finally started teaching, and all of sudden, she's not around as much. (Duh!) Ella had her first gymnastics lesson on Monday, Wednesday I had a girls' night out with the teachers, Thursday I started a class, and Friday we had our Back to School dance. We also lost a principal, gained an interim principal, and I picked up some new responsibilities, like helping out with the Peer Leaders. (This may be babble to most, but it makes sense to me!)
Anyway, I think I saw my kids about five minutes a day this past week.
After all of that, you'd think we'd say, "let's just stay home and veg this weekend." If you do think that, you clearly don't know us very well. Instead, we packed everyone into the car and headed up to Maine early Saturday morning.
First, we stopped at my Aunt Ky's house. She has, among other animals, NINETEEN alpacas. I have a little boy who is OBSESSED with alpacas. As soon as we pulled into Ky's driveway, Ben started screaming, "al-pac-a! al-pac-a!" and fussing to get out of his carseat. As soon as we released him, he ran right over to the fence and called to the alpacas. Of course, they were a bit nervous and began to dash around in the pen (although later Ky said they were just really horny boy alpacas....). This did not phase Ben one bit. He had the biggest grin on his face, and cried when we dragged him to lunch.
Once we returned from a delicious lunch (if you are ever in Wells, ME, you have to eat at least one meal at "Jake's Seafood" and I'm not just saying that because I'm family!!) we were able to go inside the alpaca pen, thanks to my cousin Alexis, who is amazing with both animals and small children. Ben was mostly interested in checking out the communal poop pile and watching the alpacas go pee, but he did get to snuggle on one friendly alpaca who knelt right down on the ground and let us (yes, I even got down on the ground and hugged her too...) hug her and have our pictures taken with her!
Then Ella got to sit on Haley, the horse. Of course, this was after Ben picked up some of Haley's poop and tried to eat it, so he didn't get to see her sit on the horse.
Ky and Jake also have two dogs and several cats, as well as sheep. I think I am going to have to send Ben to them in the summers so that he can get his alpaca/farm fill! It was a lovely fall day and a wonderful visit.
(I also got to meet Ky's first grandchild, Fisher, who is as cute and adorable as I expected him to be, and I'm very sad that his parents and grandparents love him so much, because I would have liked to take him home with me.)
Next, we went on to visit my cousin, Betsy. Betsy and I are about a year apart, and GP's two oldest grandchildren. I used to spend a week in Maine with her family every summer. We went to Camp Albany together when we were little (way too little to go off to summer camp, I think) and she let me sleep with her pet rock because I was homesick. (Yes, you read that correctly. She gave me a ROCK to sleep with.) We have always had a "cousin connection." This time, it was Ella and Max (who is 6) who shared a special bond. Right from the start of the visit, they were having fun.
I can't explain how amazing it was. If you know my daughter at all, this should surprise you as much as it surprised me. Usually when Ella meets "new" people, she can be prickly and shy, and sometimes downright unfriendly. None of this happened with Betsy's boys.
Betsy's husband Josh and I were talking about it on the way to church this morning, and he brought up the "cousin connection" thing, and it made a lot of sense. Then I got to thinking about cousins.
Cousins have been a HUGE part of my life. On the Wheeler side, there were six of us who spent a lot of time together growing up. We'd play spy games at Granny's annual Christmas Eve parties, and shout ridiculous things while jumping off the diving board one right after the other. We'd get together a couple times a summer, maybe more often, but it was always like meeting up with a best friend. (I could write a lot more about cousins, but that list of stuff at the top of this blog is still waiting for me.)
That was how Ella and Max were this weekend. How awesome is that?
Cousins RULE!
Make lunches. Iron. Balance the checkbook. Pay bills. Submit online coursework. Correct 60 projects. Pick out an outfit for Picture Day tomorrow. Etc.
Instead, I want to write about my weekend.
We had a crazy week last week. Kat finally started teaching, and all of sudden, she's not around as much. (Duh!) Ella had her first gymnastics lesson on Monday, Wednesday I had a girls' night out with the teachers, Thursday I started a class, and Friday we had our Back to School dance. We also lost a principal, gained an interim principal, and I picked up some new responsibilities, like helping out with the Peer Leaders. (This may be babble to most, but it makes sense to me!)
Anyway, I think I saw my kids about five minutes a day this past week.
After all of that, you'd think we'd say, "let's just stay home and veg this weekend." If you do think that, you clearly don't know us very well. Instead, we packed everyone into the car and headed up to Maine early Saturday morning.
First, we stopped at my Aunt Ky's house. She has, among other animals, NINETEEN alpacas. I have a little boy who is OBSESSED with alpacas. As soon as we pulled into Ky's driveway, Ben started screaming, "al-pac-a! al-pac-a!" and fussing to get out of his carseat. As soon as we released him, he ran right over to the fence and called to the alpacas. Of course, they were a bit nervous and began to dash around in the pen (although later Ky said they were just really horny boy alpacas....). This did not phase Ben one bit. He had the biggest grin on his face, and cried when we dragged him to lunch.
Once we returned from a delicious lunch (if you are ever in Wells, ME, you have to eat at least one meal at "Jake's Seafood" and I'm not just saying that because I'm family!!) we were able to go inside the alpaca pen, thanks to my cousin Alexis, who is amazing with both animals and small children. Ben was mostly interested in checking out the communal poop pile and watching the alpacas go pee, but he did get to snuggle on one friendly alpaca who knelt right down on the ground and let us (yes, I even got down on the ground and hugged her too...) hug her and have our pictures taken with her!
Then Ella got to sit on Haley, the horse. Of course, this was after Ben picked up some of Haley's poop and tried to eat it, so he didn't get to see her sit on the horse.
Ky and Jake also have two dogs and several cats, as well as sheep. I think I am going to have to send Ben to them in the summers so that he can get his alpaca/farm fill! It was a lovely fall day and a wonderful visit.
(I also got to meet Ky's first grandchild, Fisher, who is as cute and adorable as I expected him to be, and I'm very sad that his parents and grandparents love him so much, because I would have liked to take him home with me.)
Next, we went on to visit my cousin, Betsy. Betsy and I are about a year apart, and GP's two oldest grandchildren. I used to spend a week in Maine with her family every summer. We went to Camp Albany together when we were little (way too little to go off to summer camp, I think) and she let me sleep with her pet rock because I was homesick. (Yes, you read that correctly. She gave me a ROCK to sleep with.) We have always had a "cousin connection." This time, it was Ella and Max (who is 6) who shared a special bond. Right from the start of the visit, they were having fun.
I can't explain how amazing it was. If you know my daughter at all, this should surprise you as much as it surprised me. Usually when Ella meets "new" people, she can be prickly and shy, and sometimes downright unfriendly. None of this happened with Betsy's boys.
Betsy's husband Josh and I were talking about it on the way to church this morning, and he brought up the "cousin connection" thing, and it made a lot of sense. Then I got to thinking about cousins.
Cousins have been a HUGE part of my life. On the Wheeler side, there were six of us who spent a lot of time together growing up. We'd play spy games at Granny's annual Christmas Eve parties, and shout ridiculous things while jumping off the diving board one right after the other. We'd get together a couple times a summer, maybe more often, but it was always like meeting up with a best friend. (I could write a lot more about cousins, but that list of stuff at the top of this blog is still waiting for me.)
That was how Ella and Max were this weekend. How awesome is that?
Cousins RULE!
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