Memories

When I was about 4 or 5 years old, my parents purchased a rickety, old cabin on a lake in rural Kansas. I basically grew up at this place, spending my summers swimming for hours on end, looking for fireflys and lizards to keep as pets, staring at the stars that were so brilliant on those dark nights in the country. This weekend I took my daughter there for the third time in her life, and it was the first time she really enjoyed herself. Watching her beg to stay in the water and play, look for bugs and sit on our boat all wrapped up in towels made me happier then I’ve been in ages. To think that someday she’ll have a head full of memories from that wonderful place…I can’t wait to go again.

The Circle of Life

First of all, thanks to the few of you that emailed or left gift advice for Lu’s birthday in the comments of yesterday’s post. I ended up getting a very fun gift, with some inspiration from all of you. I’ll post a picture on Monday, but for now, just know that my gift for Lu involves whales, monsters, bubbles and an airplane or two.

To say the last few weeks have been hectic would be a complete understatement. We haven’t really spent time at home in at least four weeks, and the small amount of time we have has been riddled with sickness or work or something else in life. After our big NYC visit this past weekend, Lu came down with a super-illness. Not only does she get to deal with a fever and stuffy nose, but, lucky her, a throat so sore she can barely talk. And how the hell is she supposed to catch an airplane if the pilot can’t hear her shouting at thirty thousand feet?!

To top it all off, and prove that timing really is everything, tonight Trent’s dad and stepmom come into town for a long awaited visit. They haven’t seen Lu since Christmas, and suffice to say, she’s changed. Just a bit. OK, maybe she’s an entirely different species now, but I don’t want to alarm anyone. I think she’s still human.

In order to make up for what I’m sure will be a snotty, runny, grumpy weekend for our guests, I spent most of the afternoon cleaning the crap out of our tiny house. Who knew it would take so long to clean four rooms? I think the ant infestation in the kitchen added at least an hour. I even went so far as to ask our very-nice-but-sometimes-a-bit-strange neighbor if she could cut me some of her roses to put in vases throughout the house. By the way, do you says vay-ses or vaaa-ses? I can’t decide which is correct and it’s driving me bananas.

Trent had the audacity to ask me why the heck I was scrubbing the whole house for a short visit from his dad when it dawned on me. My mother used to do the exact same thing. My parents house in general looks like a wannabe contestant on Clean House, but when company was coming, no matter who it was, my mom was on her hands and knees in the kitchen, scrubbing the crap out of the yellow linoleum. And I know that because she would repeatedly tell me, “I’m in here scrubbing the crap out of this floor and what are you doing?! Go be helpful!” And I would think, “Who the hell is going to care if our kitchen floors are spotless when you can’t close your closet door due to the amassing of junk that ends up there when company comes over.” But I wouldn’t say anything because I was a bit of a rule follower and nothing scared me more than my mother being mad while cleaning floors. Deadly combination.

But look at me now. Just twenty years later, and it’s official. I’m her. Pass the mu-mu and Diet Coke. I may as well go quietly.

City Hangover

Every time I go to NYC, I leave wishing I could put a downpayment on a small, ridiculously expensive apartment and move there within the week. But a few weeks ago I was at the in-laws’ farm and got to watch the sunset over the pond whilst typing away on the back deck. And on that day, all I wanted to do was move to the country. So I guess that makes me a very indecisive person, and partially explains why I am never the one in charge of making large decisions regarding our family living situation. I’d pack everyone up and two weeks later mention how I miss the humid air of Kansas honeysuckle and Trent would slap me upside the head.

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Home

We’re back in KC. And the NYC plus the dirty Jerz really took us for a trip! Lu is sick, Trent is a grump and I am just plain exhausted. But it was totally worth it as the wedding was phenomenal and I got to spend the weekend with the lovely Scott and Erin. And yes, Scott is very lovely. And fairly furry, just like his baby brother.

I’ll post some pictures after I have 8 or 80 hours of sleep. Until then, just revel in the fact that I was able to cross two items off my 100 Things list. Yay me! And also, yay alcohol, apparently.

47. Drink wine in Central Park
92. Drink a fancy cocktail on the roof of an apartment building in NYC – OK, so it was champagne. And, technically, it was the roof of a church. But it still counts. Because I make the rules around here!

Time to get it all out / adventures in babysitting

No, you cannot skip dance class.

No, you cannot have another brownie just because your brother did. Stop crying. It’s just a freaking brownie.

Get out of your sister’s room or I’m calling your father!

OK, I’ll just call your coach and tell him you don’t like soccer anymore and want to quit the team, since you can’t manage to put your shoes on.

Yes, I have to go to work. I know your mom doesn’t, but that doesn’t make me “weird.”

You are going to be grounded for the rest of the summer!

We’ve watched this episode of Zoey 101 three times already. No, it is not a different one, it is the EXACT SAME ONE.

No, we cannot get ice cream, we’re late for dance and soccer.

I know you don’t want to go, but the note from your mom says you have to, so YOU HAVE TO.

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