Love at the Library
The library has been a big, bright spot in our summer. Two weeks into the unbearably humid, heatwave, rainy season, I was ready for it to be over. Then to top it off, when we did try to go out, every place was swarming with school-aged kids. It was more than I could handle to just make sure my wee ones didn’t get trampled by ten year old boys, and not very fun for my kids either.
But the library, oh how we love the air-conditioned, educational library where kids are sitting and participating in a free, structured environment!! There is a library branch about 1 mile from our house. If it weren’t so HOT we could walk, but I figure gas for 1 mile is ok, since that is pretty much the only place we have been going during the week. The first of June I scoured the library calendar and put all the events for our local branch on my calendar. I am IN LOVE with this little branch. We have been going to the library 2-4 times a week all summer long for story times, movies, magic shows, and story telling sessions.
I’m a pretty tough critic when it comes to magicians since my Dad and my father-in-law are magicians. Last week, the library brought in a magician who actually impressed me. He did all the standard tricks, but his delivery was impeccable and I could tell that he genuinely enjoyed working with the kids. And then he made a balloon animal for each kid (there were about 30 kids or so!). T-Rex promptly popped his tiger when we got home. Little Miss then begged me to put her balloon hat on her dresser where T-Rex couldn’t reach it!
And the summer programs? Perfect. There’s one story telling session that whenever we attend, we get 2 free kids meals at Bob Evans. The coupons are good through the end of September, and since there’s a Bob Evans just about 2 miles from our house – score!!! Cheap family night out.
But the coolest program might be the partnership with our local Major League Baseball team (which is actually at the top of the league this year!) If a child reads (or is read to) for a total of 24 hours, the child gets two tickets to a baseball game. There are little prizes along the way too as they “round the bases.” I think we’re only on hour 5, but this has prompted us to start something new with Little Miss – chapter books. I picked up C.S. Lewis’s “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe” and The Narrator has been reading her one chapter each night. She is LOVING it and begs me to read it to her during the day (but I tell her it’s Daddy’s special book to read to her). She’s even started pretending that she is Lucy, and T-Rex is Thomas, and I’m Susan, and The Narrator is Peter.
Even T-Rex is enjoying the library, but more specifically – the story lady. Ahem. Miss T loves the kids and T-Rex has a crush on her. I noticed it last week when some one else was telling the stories and she was sitting with the kids listening. T-Rex kept going over and saying “hi!” Then he started playing with her name tag. Next thing I knew, he’d take a few steps away from her, fall down on purpose, look back at her to make sure she was watching, and then giggle. Soon, he was sitting on her lap. She was loving it. Now, every time we go to the library he grabs my hand and starts dragging me to the story room. Then, he stands right in front of her while she tells stories, as if she’s only there for him. It gets quite interesting when I try to restrain him so the other kids can see the story too.
And so, for sooo many reasons 
we love our library!
Thirty-one
Today is The Narrator’s 31st birthday. Eleven years ago, we said “I do” a few weeks before his 20th birthday. I adore this man with all my heart. We grew from childhood to adulthood together, and there’s no one else I’d rather be spending my life with and raising a family with. What’s rather interesting is that our pre-marriage counselor said she normally wouldn’t recommend two people who are so opposite to get married. She was curious to see how we’d turn out in a few years. I should write her a letter It’s true, we’re as opposite as they come on many points, and I suppose that’s partly what drew us together, and it’s definitely what keeps life interesting!! So today, on his special day, I celebrate our differences. It’s that opposite-ness that strengthens us, stretches us, causes us to never stop dialoguing and sometimes is just plain entertaining!
His perfect vacation would be in the mountains. The last time I went to the mountains, I came home with pneumonia. Give me the beach, please!
He doesn’t like to be sandy. I love the sand between my toes.
His favorite color is black. Is that really a color or is it the absence of color? I prefer pink.
He is a mellow fellow. I’m wound as tight as a rubber band ball.
He has a killer tan. All year round. Even when we lived in Michigan. Without the help of tanning aids 
I’m fair skinned and burn at the sight of the sun. SPF 50 please!
I’m compelled to obey all the rules all the time. He’s a free jaywalking bird!
He is deeply artistic and creative. My stick people look bad.
He’s a dreamer, a big-picture thinker. I see the little details that have to happen along the way.
He has music playing in the background all the time. When I’m alone I prefer silence.
He knows all the words to every single song he’s ever heard even just once. I can’t remember the words to the songs we sing at church every week.
He sings along with the radio. I prefer to just listen, or hum.
I’m a worrier, he’s full of faith.
Happy, happy birthday, Narrator!!!!!
Filed under The Narrator | Comments (3)5:30 a.m.
For three days in a row this week, I have gotten up around 5:30 a.m. to go to the YMCA. Only my Mom and The Narrator will understand how big a deal this is for me. I only know one other person who is more night owl than me – my father-in-law. I’m sure that’s why he and I get along so swell. My most creative and productive times have always started at 9 p.m. Last week, after not making it to the Y at ALL, I conceded that the only regular time I will ever get to take care of myself and attempt to train for a race is early mornings. I sat down and had a long, hard think about it. Something had to give. Honestly, it can’t be sleep, because I can barely keep up with my two little ones (T-Rex has hit FULL toddler mode). That meant I had to re-arrange my evenings so I get to bed earlier so I can get up earlier. For a long, long time I have used the “I’m not a morning person” as an excuse to, well, not do mornings! I had no idea whatsoever if I could even convince my body to get out of bed, but then The Narrator gave me an ultimatum, “If you set the alarm and you’re not out of the house by 6 a.m. then I’m heading out to the Y.” He’s graciously giving me his mornings at the Y since he can still work out over lunch with the guys.
Monday morning, 5:50 a.m. I rushed out the door. Thirty seconds into my drive, I realized it could be quite dangerous to jump out of bed and start driving a car. I started smacking my face to wake up. I made it there and back safely and shocked my system for running thirty minutes straight. Not very fast, but I did run. And the kids gave me a beautiful gift that morning – they slept in until almost 8 a.m. Sweet wonder, I had a great morning – I read a little, started some laundry, straightened the house and tidied up the kitchen.
If only all days could be like Monday. Tuesday I made it out the door a little earlier. I’m slowly changing my patterns so my body will adjust. Each night I try to to go bed a little earlier and get up a little earlier. 5:40 and I was out the door. I had another nice workout, but by the time I came home, BOTH kids were up. Now this presents a problem because there is NO WAY I can skip a shower. When I exercise, I seriously sweat. My clothes are practically dripping. There is nothing ladylike about me after a workout. I once heard that ladies don’t sweat they “glisten.” Whatever. Fortunately for me, The Narrator had slept in and was still getting ready, so I quickly dashed through the shower while he shaved.
Wednesday, Wednesday. Let’s not repeat Wednesday. Ever. It started out great. I set the alarm for 5:15 and I think I left by 5:35. I’m giving myself a few minutes to wake up before driving a car!! My legs were pretty sore so the running wasn’t all that great, but it was better than sleeping in. Did I really just say that??? When I got home at 6:45, BOTH kids were up again. I was instantly grumpy. Instantly REALLY grumpy. I looked at The Narrator in desperation, “This really isn’t fair!! I’m trying to take care of myself. The least they can do is sleep until their normal time of 7:30!!!” T-Rex and Little Miss were both yawning, and then the whining and crying started. The Narrator left for work, and I was left to figure out how to get a shower. I put both kids in T-Rex’s crib with all the stuffed animals. They often will ask to play in his crib while I vacuum or just because they feel like playing in there. I thought this might work for me to get a shower. Five minutes into my shower Little Miss started crying, “T-REX BUMPED MY NOSE!!!!” Sigh. We survived, and I did finish my shower, but the rest of the day pretty much followed suit.
I shouldn’t have been surprised on day three that things would fall apart. I never should have expected that making positive changes in my life would be easy. And as I continue to learn, physical discipline is affecting every area of my life. I’ve been getting up early, listening to sermons while I run, having good quiet thoughts and prayers on the drive there and back, and structuring the rest of my day to make sure I get the most possible done in less time since I’m heading to bed two hours earlier than I used to. It’s healthy. All very healthy. Potentially life changing for me. Of course there will be resistance. And so, I press on. I asked for forgiveness for getting very grumpy. Then The Narrator had a conversation with me tonight about food, and what I should be eating before I head out the door. I think blood sugar contributed to the grumpiness this morning.
Live and learn. Press on.
But tomorrow, I’m taking a break. For two reasons – I’m not sure my legs can take any more and need a day of rest. So what better day to rest than after having stayed up late to watch Project Runway???HAHA!!
Filed under Story Girl, triathlon, trying new things in 08 | Comment (0)SE(X)Y INTELLIGENT
Apparently that’s me. (Or so I was told.) How’s that for contrasting blog titles? Now that I have jolted your attention, on with the story. HA!
The last weekend in June The Narrator and I celebrated our 11th anniversary by attending a co-worker’s wedding on Captiva Island. It was a beautiful day (albeit hot and sticky). The bride was gorgeous and the sunset and storm that rolled in (after the ceremony!) were stunning. Since The Narrator works for a company with only about a dozen employees, this wasn’t your typical co-worker’s wedding scenario. We actually know all of his co-workers and their spouses/significant others, and it’s like a mini-family type situation.
The bride and groom smartly seated all of us together, in the very, very back corner of the reception hall. Actually, we weren’t even in the same room as the reception!! We were in an adjoining room connected to the main hall with french doors. We all laughed when we saw our table. I can imagine the seating discussion, “Your co-workers are all coming? That’s nice; they can sit here in the very back corner of the adjoining room. We’ll put them next to the bar so they really won’t mind, and they can have all the fun they want without disrupting anyone else!†She is one smart, smart, smart bride. The groom did well for himself!
This past year, the company hired their first female employee. I felt badly for her at first, because I know how boy-ish the office can get. But she quickly proved she can handle her own, and all of them. The Narrator and I had not had a chance to get to know her husband yet, so we thoroughly enjoyed some great conversation with him over dinner. He’s career military and was stationed in Alaska for awhile (The Narrator was born there and his family has spent a lot of time in Alaska). We had delightful conversation and enjoyed getting to know their story a little more.
A few days ago, The Narrator came home from work and said, “Apparently you made a good impression on K’s husband.†I raised my eyebrows and waited for the explanation. He smiled and said, “She told me he said you had a se(x)y intelligent vibe about you.†I started laughing out loud. The Narrator grinned. (For the record, the day The Narrator passed this compliment along, I had not taken a shower, I had no makeup on, and I was exhausted from lots of whining.)
The part that meant the most to me was the intelligent part of the compliment. The Narrator reminded me that he is a fairly high-ranking military officer who works with intelligent people and issues every day. This confirms that motherhood has not turned my brain to mush. After a day that has been full of whining and sibling disputes, Dora and potty talk, I often wonder about the state of my brain cells. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that my brain often feels like mush not from lack of use, but rather from over-use.
As I pondered this topic a little more, I began to realize that motherhood has taught me invaluable people skills that I failed to gain in 8 ½ years in the work place. Motherhood is certainly trial by fire in the people skill department. In fact, I have a theory that mother’s intuition is founded in our ability to subconsciously observe. That “eyes in the back of our head†really is just that – eyes buried in our subconscious mind that are always observing and taking in our environments. I think that God flips a switch in women that is permanently “on†once they become a mom. We know when kids are sick before they do. We know when a new tooth is coming in because of the type of fuss and chewing. We know when they have to go potty just by the look in her eyes and slight wiggle of the hips. There are thousands of nonverbal cues that we have internalized and just “know†what they mean. Our brains really are incredible.
Those little people skills translate well into big people skills too, I believe. I’ve found myself unconsciously observing people and conversations, and sometimes I walk away from an interaction sensing much more than what was actually said. My senses and spirit often are tuned in to a frequency that I had missed prior to motherhood.
I’m just beginning my motherhood journey. I can only imagine how in-touch my brain will be in another 15 years!
Filed under Story Girl, The Narrator | Comments (4)Jesus Speak
Even though I grew up in church, my children’s love for Jesus has taken me by surprise. Maybe I didn’t expect them to understand until they were a little older. Maybe I just underestimated the power of Jesus’ love. But there is definitely something about Him that speaks to very young children. Never underestimate how much your babies and toddlers are picking up from you and your church community.
A few nights ago I was rocking T-Rex to sleep and humming to help calm his squirminess when he said, “Jesus song!!!” It took me a second to comprehend what he’d said. “Jesus song, is that what you said?” He looked up at me and said, “YES!!! Jesus song!!!” I figured he must mean “Jesus love me” since my Mom sang that to the kids every night she was here. So I started singing. “Again!” And I sang it again and again and again. After we had finished multiple rounds of the song, I taught him to say, “Praise Jesus!!” whlie lifting his hands. Finally I laid him down in his crib and couldn’t help but smile the rest of the night. A couple mornings later, I woke up to T-Rex singing in his crib words and a tune that sounded very close to “Jesus Loves Me.” The routine continues every night: “Jesus song! Again!” But tonight, he added a new twist. As soon as I started singing he raised his hands saying, “Praise Jesus!” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. It was one of the most precious moments I’ve shared with him in his nineteen months.
One afternoon while Little Miss Sunshine and T-Rex were playing she said to him, “Sit on my stomach!” She laid on the ground and he came over to sit on her, but he sat a little higher up on her chest. She squealed, “NOOO! Don’t sit on my heart!! You’ll squish Jesus!!” (I really don’t know where she picked up the “Jesus in my heart lingo” – The Narrator and I do our best to stay away from church catch phrases. I’m sure it must have been at church!)
Just last night, T-Rex and LIttle Miss Sunshine were in their swimsuits cooling off in a little plastic pool on the lanai. I was sitting in a chair watching as they ran around burning off energy. At one point they stopped and stood still while Little Miss inspected T-Rex’s belly button. “Is he in there?? I think he is.” T-Rex looked at her and said, “Yeah!” Then she looked at T-Rex and pointing to his belly button said, “I think that’s how Jesus gets in and out!”
A few days ago Little Miss developed this intense fascination with needing to see Jesus. She kept asking where He was and why she couldn’t go see Him. I found myself stumbling around with words that she could understand without unnecessarily complicating things. So we have awhile to go yet But in the mean time, they both have a precious developing love for Jesus that I pray will last their whole life time. I pray that loving Him never becomes complicated. And as I watch them, I begin to understand this “faith like a child” that Jesus referred to.
Silence is golden
I was re-capping the past couple weeks in my head last night when I realized it’s been times of high contrast. I’ve been to a wedding and a funeral. I had a two-day getaway with The Narrator, then he went to D.C. for three days for work. I got up super early, by choice, to watch the sunrise on the beach and look for shells. I got up super early (or is it super late), not by choice, to help little ones go potty and back to sleep (and more than once). I’ve sewn a cute summer dress and a skirt. I’ve bought clothes at the mall. I found shoes for $6 at Payless. I paid too much for a purse on the island because I forgot I needed a brown one for the wedding.
All in all, it’s been a memorable few weeks. Maybe even life-changing in some points. It was incredibly nice to have my Mom here for a week and a half. When The Narrator found out he had to go to D.C. for 3 days, Mom was able to change her ticket and stay a few days longer. What a huge blessing for me! One morning, I took T-Rex to the doctor and Mom stayed home with Little Miss. By 10 a.m. that day, I had taken T-Rex to the doctor, made a run to the bank, and a decent sized grocery run. I forgot how quickly and easily you can get things done with just one child in tow! And when I decided at 8 a.m. two days later that T-Rex needed to go the doctor again? I was able to get there by 8:30 because Mom was there to help T-Rex get dressed and Little Miss could stay at home with her, so I only had to get myself ready to go. It was just lovely (and he’s fine, just a funny rash on his scalp that’s going away).
So, I’ll be back this week with some fun stories of our adventures!
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