the dumbest thing i ever heard of

so.
we sold our house.
we ended up with a fair price,
and a tidy little profit
to put down on the house
next door.
and start again.

my neighbor told me that when
she told our other neighbor
what we were up to -

and yes, apparently everyone
in the neighborhood knows
pretty much everything about us,
which is oddly creepy and comforting
at the same time -

our other neighbor said,
"moving next door?
that is the dumbest thing i ever heard of."

ignoring the grammatical nightmare,
i was offended!
how dare she say that!
it's our business what we want to do!
it's our decision!
it's a bigger house!

then.
we started looking around at all this stuff.
17 years of marriage stuff.
three kids with stuff.
and all the stuff in between.
the reality of our great idea has hit.
hard.

so now i think i agree with her.
it pretty much is
the dumbest thing i ever heard...
of.

stay tuned.

summer of sleep

this summer the kids
have finally learned
the fine art of sleeping* in.

8:30!
9:00!
9:30!

pure bliss,
a mother's dream come true!

until.
until 11:00 - pm!
and they are still awake!!!

dang.

*except for vacation when
they got up at 6:00 everyday.
wth?
grrr west coast time.

sunday confession

someone is coming to see our house,
for the fourth time.

and while i am thrilled at the idea
someone wants to see our house
that many times,
and likes it so much...

do i really have to clean it for him again?

what's your sunday confession?
the confessional is open.

wordless wednesday

lake tahoe

in a snap

in a snap
we found our way
to children's hospital -
fast

in a snap
we learned about
growth plates

in a snap
we watched our daughter
get an iv,
x-rays,
anesthesia,
a bright blue cast
for her wrist

in a snap
we saw what she is made of
and she is amazing

in a snap
we worried about the worst,
we paced every inch of the floor,
i even cried,
a little

in a snap
we were grateful for doctors,
nurses,
the nice juice cart lady

in a snap
we were thankful
for friends,
family,
coaches,
kind strangers

in a snap
we realized
how lucky we are
indeed

the tenth year

one new bike
two lost teeth
three harry potter books
four beautiful seasons
five dollar footlongs
six sides of the trouble dice
seven new friends
eight gymnastics meets
nine point one on bars
ten crackle-polished toes

it has been quite a year.
happy birthday to m, the big 1-0.

castles in the sand

everyday you go out,
you pick a spot.

you get started,
building the castles.

some days,
it is easy,
relaxing even.

you notice all the details,
the warmth of the sun,
the cool of the breeze,
the feel of the sand.

other days,
waves crash into the castles,
knocking them down,
piece by piece,
over and over.

and then you don't notice any details,
you are just trying to protect the castles.
help them stay together.
safe.

yet you still try,
everyday,
you build.

sometimes you listen to passersby,
use wet sand,
move up the beach a bit,
build moats.

sometimes you don't listen to passersby,
you build your own way,
right or wrong,
or sometimes oh-so wrong.

but on those other days,
the days when you build right,
and desperately try to remember for tomorrow,
it is worth it.

worth all the time,
the energy,
the worry,
the hassle,
all the crazy.

totally worth it.

happy fourth!

new at 11 - party girl finally crashes

crazy eight

dear g,

you are eight!
i have something to tell you.
you may already know this,
but i am a tomboy.

when i was little,
i loved -
bikes,
blue jeans,
basketball,
creeks,
bugs,
frogs,
salamanders,
rocks,
and old bottle caps.

forts,
cap guns,
matchbox cars,
baseball cards,
pocket knives,
war games,
legos,
comic books,
star wars,
and superman.

i still do.

so, on your birthday,
i just want you to know
how fun it is to have a boy.

i thank my lucky stars for you,
today and everyday.

happy birthday, g-money.
xo,
mom