tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20437770199886827222024-03-13T22:22:47.932-04:00blink and you'll miss ita quick peek into the daily insanitycaralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.comBlogger545125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-57585716193737780712017-10-11T17:14:00.002-04:002017-10-11T17:14:53.974-04:00A Married Woman... again<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been married for one full month.</div>
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Married.</div>
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Let's just let that sink in for a moment, shall we?</div>
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It seems impossible to me, on some days, that I've actually found someone who willingly puts up with the unadulterated chaos that is my life.</div>
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I have three tweenagers running amok upstairs as I type this, at least two of whom will not answer when I call because they have fallen into their technology and buried themselves between two headphones for the foreseeable future. It is absolutely certain that at least two of them will be fighting within the next 15 minutes, one will refuse to eat her dinner, and all three will be preventing us from getting an entire conversation in at a single go.</div>
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I am messy.</div>
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And unorganized.</div>
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And often late.</div>
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(which seems to be, by all accounts, the absolute bane of existence for a pilot).</div>
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I hate cleaning the bathrooms.</div>
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I often leave laundry IN the dryer for a day or so until it has to be folded and distributed.</div>
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I often think a bowl of cereal is an acceptable dinner item.</div>
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I am not an easy person to love.</div>
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Somehow. Someway. He does it anyway.</div>
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Don't mistake me - The Captain isn't always a peach to live with either. </div>
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No one is.</div>
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But we're here anyway.</div>
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One full month in to this whole married thing - which if we're being truthful - I didn't think I'd ever willingly walk back into. </div>
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I guess I'm just saying that I've lucked out.</div>
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Even on the days when we're both cranky, and work is hard, and one of us is stuck in a crappy hotel half a continent away for work... </div>
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I've lucked out.</div>
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caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-70364347209746988432017-01-29T10:15:00.000-05:002017-01-29T10:15:01.084-05:00Why I run...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">People ask me sometimes why I run.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I wish I could show them the snapshot of this morning now, each time they ask.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was warm in the house, and Bon Iver was rolling out in waves over the Bluetooth speaker in the front room. I was turning pancakes on the griddle and the kids were crafting on the island - making slime from toothpaste and glue and hot gluing tiny pieces of cardboard together... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was hard taking that first step outside. It's like waking up - that first blast of cold air that hits. The pup was high-stepping in the cold, re-smelling all his spots. And we started out slowly, slowly into the woods. But as we ran, we slid into a steady rhythm: step step step breathe step step step breathe, my muscles starting to ease into the movements. And a mile or so out it starts to snow. Big fat fairy snowflakes are coming down and catching in my eyelashes and the dog's fur. And the pup is stopping every 50 feet to jump up and try to catch the flakes in the air. And he's smiling. Don't tell me dogs don't smile. This pup, with his tongue hanging half out of his face, with that slightly maniacal gleam in his eye as he runs, he smiles. And we run on, our breath coming harder in deep gulps of freezing air. And as we forge on, in fits and starts, the snow turns harder, icier. And we're being pelted with small ice flakes. and we RuN. Don't let that dog fool you - he's a runner. That dog might just be my spirit animal - slow and lazy most days, but a runner at heart, when his feet hit the trail.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And the ice-snow comes down harder and my thighs start to burn we're running so hard - leaping fallen branches and dodging trees on the trail, and I swear to you that dog is still smiling, his tongue trailing back behind him like a slobbery banner. And as the house is in sight he pulls up hard, for no reason. And I stumble, barely catching myself, and sit hard on the packed, hollow-sounding earth of the trail. And we sit, silently, side by side, for the space of time it takes for the cold to completely seep into my running tights and my skin and deep into my sit bones. And we breathe and watch the ice-snow fall between the tangled branches above us. And we breathe slower and softer as we sit, not quite ready to stop, to return to the warmth and the tepid coffee and the half-eaten bone that await us. Not quite ready to give up the cathedral of the run just yet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I run because something inside me tells me I need to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I run because I feel more alive when I do.</span></div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-42982853471720502512015-08-15T22:21:00.001-04:002015-08-15T22:21:35.868-04:00Sixth-grade girls are rough<p dir="ltr">It is heart-breaking to watch cracks appear in your daughter's armor because of the harsh words of others.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sixth grade girls are assholes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Biz is at that age where I know I need to back off and let her find herself. I have to remind myself daily that I have raised her to be a strong, independent thinker; a young woman with a sense of self; an empathetic girl who thinks of others first. She is imaginative and creative. She's a reader and a dreamer. But it absolutely kills me to see her cry when sixth-grade girls act like...well...sixth grade girls. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Bitches be crazy catty, yo.<br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Feeling helpless is an inherent part of being a parent. So much of The Munchkins' day is spent out from under my protection as they grow up and out. And when their small spirit is broken on someone else's watch? Somewhere I can't be? There is an impotent fury that cannot be quelled. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Some days you just can't fix it all. Hell, some days you don't even find out about an incident until days later. And some days? The only solution to a tearful girl now questioning herself due to the cruel comments of other girls is to simply curl up in bed together crying and whispering and telling stories until tears start to dry and smiles cautiously peek out.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Your kids are going to be hurt. Tomorrow, next week, next year. It's going to happen. It's a part of the journey. And you'll have to trust that you've instilled in them all the strengths that will see them through to the next day after they've had a good cry.</p>
<p dir="ltr">That's not to say that I can't secretly think terrible thoughts about the little turd that made my daughter cry. Because I definitely am. Right now. RIGHT. NOW.<br>
But The Biz is strong. And she's starting to figure out who she is. And she'll be stronger for this... eventually.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0jHHMB45t9cTPe466Gkt8RdVtMINYXJY7cGT6TOYNR2N8-IoFexDzDx_Ro7yjHdRY3-hZwFmwGiMT6VUbDq2WNRQInlEf82Wa6leiRwunZ5od6z8xfQgSxVPyYFbhOaDqYZjMZfLSMU/s1600/20150815_192150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0jHHMB45t9cTPe466Gkt8RdVtMINYXJY7cGT6TOYNR2N8-IoFexDzDx_Ro7yjHdRY3-hZwFmwGiMT6VUbDq2WNRQInlEf82Wa6leiRwunZ5od6z8xfQgSxVPyYFbhOaDqYZjMZfLSMU/s640/20150815_192150.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-31195831334001395652015-08-06T23:00:00.001-04:002015-08-06T23:06:21.912-04:00zippered caseSweet little handmade pencil case for The Biz... who has been begging for one since the first day of school...<br />
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<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQM0UeLy1faLUqG94G9KY-vtYWXefzLQkc_SPExU-rFPNsHZV4gPq8ByLqqoPmm0tWAVN20vjjkMA-7v8YiRSeJKCshfgwYDUKqUk_t1mcyzEv7modRLZkaRxki52KIz1-8RsTd0HWVo/s1600/20150806_225641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQM0UeLy1faLUqG94G9KY-vtYWXefzLQkc_SPExU-rFPNsHZV4gPq8ByLqqoPmm0tWAVN20vjjkMA-7v8YiRSeJKCshfgwYDUKqUk_t1mcyzEv7modRLZkaRxki52KIz1-8RsTd0HWVo/s640/20150806_225641.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-30783774681940663282015-07-31T17:23:00.001-04:002015-07-31T17:23:50.386-04:00Vacation Logs: Heading Home<p dir="ltr">The worst part about road trips?<br>
The inevitable long trek home...</p>
<p dir="ltr">A part of me is desperate for this amazing week to never end. The rest of me just misses my bed.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqUx-69Zz3nPTl5HEE-S55Ww-1BItLTOq81MwOGRtuKnnnXoqjR5dVFmZ3Tp7jabPNdHgA3GeF_O9Mx-fKC3oqUrKIU0DsYpLJ48NfclkVeJcXXtoIGmi_RdFcDLkhkpBhhaoH1swpQ4/s1600/20150731_100320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqUx-69Zz3nPTl5HEE-S55Ww-1BItLTOq81MwOGRtuKnnnXoqjR5dVFmZ3Tp7jabPNdHgA3GeF_O9Mx-fKC3oqUrKIU0DsYpLJ48NfclkVeJcXXtoIGmi_RdFcDLkhkpBhhaoH1swpQ4/s640/20150731_100320.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-42398383307138105982015-07-30T17:36:00.001-04:002015-07-30T17:36:17.273-04:00Vacation Logs: First View of the Ocean<p dir="ltr">Today, The Munchkins saw the ocean for the first time.</p>
<p dir="ltr">We are salty, sand-covered, and full of hand-dipped waffle cone ice cream cones. We played old timey arcade games, strolled the Hampton Beach Boardwalk, and lounged on the beach. We dove into waves and built an epic sand castle complex.</p>
<p dir="ltr">What a day...</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuA1dI1qEtrXv7f6ziETgJPm2ewsgv2BEmJKyp87q3ygSogbImqxjyE29Oa1fFbmrxh_SUHC2AzuqxgzeZtMwb7uMAYbrWyaGg2oyeju0RjsNV6Jg1ua9SgNqpnnZSwl_BJDO-6mK9q9Q/s1600/20150730_140001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuA1dI1qEtrXv7f6ziETgJPm2ewsgv2BEmJKyp87q3ygSogbImqxjyE29Oa1fFbmrxh_SUHC2AzuqxgzeZtMwb7uMAYbrWyaGg2oyeju0RjsNV6Jg1ua9SgNqpnnZSwl_BJDO-6mK9q9Q/s640/20150730_140001.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-55332544145815116022015-07-30T17:07:00.001-04:002015-07-30T17:07:32.673-04:00Vacation Logs: Tuesday Pool Day<p dir="ltr">Some days you just need a lazy day poolside.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And by lazy, I mean so full of sun, diving, jumping, floating, and playing that the kids fall asleep in their dinner plates, bellies full of kielbasa from the grill...</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4_MhlHHGWeJL33Hwgq3KG9JNA_5o95gGY147mwd8C-DdjBte81f2QTQFsKM7WIsVeAzNbQ8xxBOtiVZ64xPb8fCslfiVIQYRYqp1nQqL1c8qHpEK5qtEo6ykxwRxPmpQ_KlTYqZO2co/s1600/20150728_144727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr4_MhlHHGWeJL33Hwgq3KG9JNA_5o95gGY147mwd8C-DdjBte81f2QTQFsKM7WIsVeAzNbQ8xxBOtiVZ64xPb8fCslfiVIQYRYqp1nQqL1c8qHpEK5qtEo6ykxwRxPmpQ_KlTYqZO2co/s640/20150728_144727.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-54011436126691706322015-07-28T11:16:00.001-04:002015-07-28T11:16:07.794-04:00Vacations Logs: Mt. Mansfield<p dir="ltr">Who hikes the highest summit in all of Vermont with three kids, two babes in backpacks, and a ten-week old puppy?</p>
<p dir="ltr">We do.</p>
<p dir="ltr">With the Adirondacks to the west of us and the White Mountains to the east, <u>we</u> trekked up Monday for breathtaking views of Stowe. The Munchkins bounded from boulder to boulder, ecstatic just to spend a day out of the car.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sister was in her element, hiking boots on, on of the twins rigged up on her back, pointing out landmarks and keeping up a constant patter of back & forth with the Luke on her back. I am im awe of her strength. Not even twins can slow that woman down. She has a new serenity about her that I don't remember from before the twins Nothing seems to rattle the half smile from her face. It's hard having her live so far away, but seeing her so stunningly happy eases that a bit. </p>
<p dir="ltr">This is the best version of you, Jane. The most YOU you will ever be; despite past conversations to the contrary. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Love you.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQD3_FCJ_vXuf0wcNNtvJ6UGLISX5JV3ng6qhEfkxjRGXRNx8zHoJ-328pPxkzBx6eU0iFjJmFjQEHkrylPQbcXH7JDwfaK9UuWxAAGgYqTbg9Lw2m7TEVN3wCJMkGii7OWuRpWEce1o/s1600/20150727_122257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQD3_FCJ_vXuf0wcNNtvJ6UGLISX5JV3ng6qhEfkxjRGXRNx8zHoJ-328pPxkzBx6eU0iFjJmFjQEHkrylPQbcXH7JDwfaK9UuWxAAGgYqTbg9Lw2m7TEVN3wCJMkGii7OWuRpWEce1o/s640/20150727_122257.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-51774687135729047492015-07-26T10:58:00.001-04:002015-07-26T10:58:02.106-04:00Vacation Logs: Holiday Road <p dir="ltr">Surviving an entire day in the car together? Check. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Surviving an entire night with three kids and a puppy all in the same hotel room? Check.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Standing awestuck together on the viewing bridge of Niagara Falls? Check. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Sometimes it's good for the soul to stand in the presence of something immense. With the roar of the Falls in the background, The Munchkins running with the pup in a shady spot, herds of people passing back & forth with cameras and phones attached to their faces, it felt good to just stand for a moment and breathe. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I'm fairly certain this trip has the potential to be the making or breaking of this little group. So far so good.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Not a bad morning, kids. Not bad at all...</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4A1-S46EwlEtGfZWnZBGtXPHWABUlzC_HIb0tVXmax4R9-zsptWGVCks4uboNn152_hsVkFoT5Jhnm8RE6D8EY6UZWhC3nwrrO9dDihM5eqlqvQAkOGwl3zObwfH_R2DSLFDNrgfcGsw/s1600/20150726_092215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4A1-S46EwlEtGfZWnZBGtXPHWABUlzC_HIb0tVXmax4R9-zsptWGVCks4uboNn152_hsVkFoT5Jhnm8RE6D8EY6UZWhC3nwrrO9dDihM5eqlqvQAkOGwl3zObwfH_R2DSLFDNrgfcGsw/s640/20150726_092215.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-68336735556014366722015-07-25T19:53:00.001-04:002015-07-25T19:59:56.907-04:00Vacation Logs: Two States at Once!<p dir="ltr">When i was a kid, road trips meant car bingo and counting cows for points and seeing how many truckers you could get to blow their horns from the ultra-awesome rear facing bench seat in the family station wagon.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Just now, as we crossed from never-ending Ohio into Pennsylvania, and I stretched my arms out Air Jordan Wingspan style into the backseat, and proudly proclaimed "Two states at Once!!" I recieved a masterful eyeroll and whole body shrug from the eldest, deeply involved with her movie. Electronics rule this car. And don't get me wrong, this vehicle has been blissfully quiet for the past six hours... but couldn't they at least humor me about the crossing state lines? It's kind of my thing.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In other news, the puppy has slept almost the entire trip, and The Captain is rocking out to Danger Zone. We're survivng, folks!<br>
Onward & upward.</p>
<p dir="ltr">...Until next time...</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KrdMAPy0cgnWvMzI_2ebKmRrrTkR2R3YdMBRFoHMuyKFnEN_20OKzSAKGDL5dGGHN4AkuRLCYlsHEyt2edDSRaMZP3UK97_rynrnCeX04jZk9jWmuHAUs49FFB0FwHrWMeQdABwI0bY/s1600/20150725_182508.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KrdMAPy0cgnWvMzI_2ebKmRrrTkR2R3YdMBRFoHMuyKFnEN_20OKzSAKGDL5dGGHN4AkuRLCYlsHEyt2edDSRaMZP3UK97_rynrnCeX04jZk9jWmuHAUs49FFB0FwHrWMeQdABwI0bY/s640/20150725_182508.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-8157583069147640152015-07-25T14:20:00.001-04:002015-07-25T15:12:20.658-04:00Vacation Logs: The Beginning<p dir="ltr">So...this is happening...</p>
<p dir="ltr">As if a blended family relationship isn't fraught with enough daily pitfalls & perils & joys & challlenges & opportunities to annoy the everloving crap out of one another, we thought we'd add a cross-country road trip to the mix.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And? We're bringing the 10-week-old puppy too...</p>
<p dir="ltr">Indy --> New York Niagara Falls --> Stowe, Vermont --> Boston, Massachusetts or BUST!!!</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-00dS6HqYcHoY7UGyz4ZSm28hqBKOqHQh3ppFmxBBbtG3wLtGY2MyUjBTcWXo7nl-pGfdTUhKdRHbQ7vqxwYklP-V7xjURKJxbfTM_oUdK_nzAMQVaJN_wTMerNUQRHDPGw5gQDRsmc/s1600/20150725_140728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-00dS6HqYcHoY7UGyz4ZSm28hqBKOqHQh3ppFmxBBbtG3wLtGY2MyUjBTcWXo7nl-pGfdTUhKdRHbQ7vqxwYklP-V7xjURKJxbfTM_oUdK_nzAMQVaJN_wTMerNUQRHDPGw5gQDRsmc/s640/20150725_140728.jpg"> </a> </div>caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-90130115467731465022014-12-19T11:29:00.002-05:002014-12-19T11:29:12.200-05:00Believing in Santa<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> And so it's begun.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The eldest Munchkin approached me earlier this week, in the midst of struggling to get a sweater that's long belonged in the 'donate' box over my head. We were late for school and I rushed the answer to a question I have been preparing for since my kids were born.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Mom, is there <i>really </i>a Santa?"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">oh god. my heart bottomed out somewhere around my colon. What a terrifying string of words. Christmas is far and away one of my favorite holidays. Not just for the presents, but for the lights, the baking, the family; the way everyone lights up with a soft inner glow every evening as we wrap presents and arrange ornaments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And I botched the answer. I stuttered and stammered and asked if she <i>really</i> wanted to know? And then we had a sit down on the floor of my closet and talked about Santa. and I walked away feeling like I'd failed on a conversation I'd had in my head a million times.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This letter is my attempt to fix that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hello, Sweet girl:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I wanted to clear up a few things about our conversation the
other day. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
You asked a very good question – and you are old enough to deserve a very good
answer. I was just so surprised that I’m afraid I didn’t give you a very good
answer.</span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
Is Santa real?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Am I the one that puts the presents under the tree and in
your stocking at Christmas?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Let me explain: I have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always</i>
told you kids that I think it is important to believe in something bigger
than<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>yourself. Santa is no exception.
Santa is bigger than any one person. And his magic has gone on longer than you
or I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Your dad and I and Pat and
Penny are responsible for your gifts on Christmas morning. Just like my parents
were responsible for my presents when I was your age, and their parents were
responsible for their presents when they were your age. (Yes, your grandparents
were all once your age too). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But Santa isn’t about presents. Christmas isn’t truly about
presents either. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, and about
displaying your love and appreciation for others. And Santa is about teaching
people, especially children, to believe in something they can’t see or touch.
Santa was your first lesson in believing in something bigger than yourself.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Believing is a big job. And it’s a hard one, beautiful girl.
There are so many times in your life that I won’t be right there next to you,
and you’ll need to believe in yourself for both of us. You’ll need to trust and
believe in your friends and your family…you’ll need to put your faith in
someone outside of yourself. And that’s a hard thing to do, but you’ve had
practice. You’ll be all right.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, now you know the whole truth. <br /> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’m not Santa, but I’m on his team. And now? You are too.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Pay attention this year. Watch how your sister’s face lights
up when you’re crowding around the tree Christmas morning. Watch how <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my</i> face lights up to see you all so
excited. How we all glow a little brighter when we turn the tree lights on
every evening. I didn’t even know it was possible when I was a kid, but
Christmas gets <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">better</i> the older you
get. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’m so proud of you for asking hard questions. I want you to
keep asking hard questions. And I want you to keep accepting the answers with
the calm smile that you did the other day. Your heart already knew the answer.
Trust your heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Love always,</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">Mom</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WALMdfFqKS1dHViRnLyywSTlHXKnEuazimHjFTSZK7sqQVQ_-4lmfrYCiA-mjB8wTjNB6axewMyE1LDXx835qVkRJ4desa_Y6xE0gfWggnE9Uf4utjq9V50e5-XbnbxIMFaZ7qPIr7U/s1600/santa-claus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8WALMdfFqKS1dHViRnLyywSTlHXKnEuazimHjFTSZK7sqQVQ_-4lmfrYCiA-mjB8wTjNB6axewMyE1LDXx835qVkRJ4desa_Y6xE0gfWggnE9Uf4utjq9V50e5-XbnbxIMFaZ7qPIr7U/s1600/santa-claus.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-76728528592655023302014-10-01T15:03:00.000-04:002014-10-01T15:03:29.974-04:00Off its Hinges<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And then...this happened...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And while it was, physically, easier to remove a door from its hinges than I thought it might be? Mentally it was like arming up for battle.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucRaVsdi0CMTFpSDe7LVQJYvu68LbT2YKSt-Ndc2jRoRVgSaamF2hG20lQV8Z84TCzZFdLgZfp9CQV3ejyudKgGBccWm08OVaW86fph5U03qKxlWhQbGflop_Q-25kIljjFMcjrtROvM/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjucRaVsdi0CMTFpSDe7LVQJYvu68LbT2YKSt-Ndc2jRoRVgSaamF2hG20lQV8Z84TCzZFdLgZfp9CQV3ejyudKgGBccWm08OVaW86fph5U03qKxlWhQbGflop_Q-25kIljjFMcjrtROvM/s1600/unnamed.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sometimes? You've just got to stand your ground... </span></span></div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-53013103775676836842014-09-29T22:36:00.000-04:002014-09-29T22:50:18.085-04:00Hard Nights<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiA3zxMUr5bxh86yyBA3JOH5Jo5bZGHld-IXWldSKyDpdJCKhrtc2egAYw2KZ5bow3cY4z7TdlvHP_9s5xb1RajExBF3vkUX4SC5mJJdHJCZcI9jOj23T5Eoe9WVmW15Fk0lTUJiz8oE/s1600/baz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHiA3zxMUr5bxh86yyBA3JOH5Jo5bZGHld-IXWldSKyDpdJCKhrtc2egAYw2KZ5bow3cY4z7TdlvHP_9s5xb1RajExBF3vkUX4SC5mJJdHJCZcI9jOj23T5Eoe9WVmW15Fk0lTUJiz8oE/s1600/baz.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight was a hard night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nine-year-old boys are an entire species unto themselves, I’ve
decided. They are at the same time hard and soft, decisive and indecisive, all
arms and legs and emotions at once. And? There is no one right way to deal with
them. Except to love them. Especially when they are unlovable.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tonight? I backed myself into a verbal corner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I saw it happening and was powerless to stop it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The boychild had been pushing buttons since the word bedtime
first left my lips. He wanted a snack but didn’t know what. He wanted a drink
but nothing we had. He wanted a smore (no). He wanted a popsicle (no). He wanted
cake (heck no). And when the 15 minute snack window had come and gone and he
hadn’t fixed himself something he was furious. He was furious he had no snack.
He was furious we didn’t have time to watch his movie. He was furious he has to
live in a house full of girls. He was furious for every reason and no reason at
all. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AND then? He slammed the door. <br />
AND he locked it. <br />
AFTER removing the lockpick from atop his door lintel. <br />
AND when I picked the lock anyway (because I’m badass like that.)? He screamed
at me. <br />
And it was the well-planned, long-rehearsed-in-his-head screamed rant guaranteed to break a mother's
heart in a thousand pieces.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now. I remember being young, and scared, and angry. But I also remembering thinking it
was a cardinal sin to scream at my parents. So I’m unsure where I screwed
things up along the way for this kid to think he was perfectly justified in
screaming at me? But there it was. And there was nine-year-old hate in his
eyes. And my heart broke. And I lashed out. The more he screamed, the calmer I
became, and the more I started taking away. First? Minecraft. Two weeks (is
there any greater punishment to a boy than this?). Second? Grounded from
playdates and sleepovers for those same two weeks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he Kept. On. Arguing. And screaming. So next?
His door. I mean, honestly, that was a given. Slammed and locked? Ohhh...that sucker was coming off. Just you wait...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And here, folks, is where I’d clearly bitten off more than I
could chew. As soon as it was out of my mouth I knew I’d goofed. Because, kids?
I’m not strong OR tall enough to remove the door from this kid’s bedroom. So I
informed him it would happen in the morning (because I’m also assuming that
these things take time and no small amount of noise to complete).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And he burst into tears. Still in the midst of telling me he
hated me and I was the worst mother that ever existing, he was sobbing and hiccupping.
And I was too bone-weary to fight any longer. I very quietly told him that he had
made me very sad and that I was done arguing for the night. I closed the door
and walked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And I held strong.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I did. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For about 15-20 minutes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The entire time, I was hiding out downstairs, consuming vast
quantities of guilt-ridden Reeses that were on the top shelf of the pantry. I
was wracking my brain wondering how much ground I’d lost as a parent…or if
perhaps I’d won ground since I hadn’t dissolved into tears or yelling myself?
Did I get points for staying calm? Did those points contribute to my overall ‘good
parent’ quota? Or had HE, in fact, won that particular battle because I had to
walk away with the door still on its hinges??</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And after nearly 20 minutes and five Reeses, I realized that
NEITHER of us had won that particular encounter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
NEITHER of us had gotten what we wanted out of that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And so, I decided to swallow my pride and head back upstairs
to my still-sobbing son.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Because at this point neither of us were sleeping without a resolution. And sleep was worth more than my pride in the end (apparently).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I crawled under his loft and laid down next to him.<br />
And we breathed.
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A lot of parenting manuals I’ve read (and trust me, I’ve
read a few) will instruct you to have calm, rational conversations with your
children in order to root out the source of their confusion or discord. And
still other books will insist that you need to hold a hard line on rules and
not go back on your word in order to maintain boundaries. And still others will insist that you need to allow your children the physical space to learn to process their emotions on their own. But sometimes? As
<i>people</i>? We just need to know someone else is there. Sometimes we just need
someone to breathe with us when we can't quite manage to do it on our own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t apologize. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Neither did he.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I figure that can all come later, when we’ve calmed down.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But for tonight, just squeezing into his tiny loft area and
curling up in a giant tangle of arms and legs was enough to get back on solid
ground together...to get our heartbeats back in sync.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kids, I've never once pretended to have all the answers.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In fact, most parents I know are sort of bumbling through the whole process like me, just praying to god we haven't screwed up our babies irrevocably along the way.<br />
But I know that going back up there tonight was not a sign of weakness. It was not going back on my word. It was not giving up. Discipline is only part of my job as a parent. It's not my whole job. And in a house where I frequently have to play both good cop & bad cop simultaneously, sometimes you have to choose. And friends? Choose love. You'll sleep better at night. I promise.</div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-71827914737233218562014-09-11T15:45:00.003-04:002014-09-11T15:45:31.405-04:00Pent up<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have not sewn in weeks.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shortening the straps on the girls' new dresses by hand does NOT count.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The itch in my fingers is a palpable thing.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have boxes upon boxes of fabric calling my name in the basement nook that will soon by my sewing desk. My poor machine is still in her box. I've pinned close to a hundred patterns and styles and sewing desk makeovers lately all in an attempt to quiet that inner voice that keeps whispering (seeeewwwwww something)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">ugh.<br />Haven't written.<br />Haven't sewn.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Haven't created.<br />No <i>wonder</i> I've been in such a crappy mood all week.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It's all bottled up in there driving me slowly insane...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgoF4eUSuOOUSWZym3GK-3W4Aj5CIYPXLdWf0QK4Kw6Xtv06GCP7D8Rxv0C4QpDFSh3nGBGMON8usonkt3EOngG5a7twu1Hvz5vR8p2wm2znxqeA3AzZbTOs8k-lQy0EmwReZQmWK_aI/s1600/t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgoF4eUSuOOUSWZym3GK-3W4Aj5CIYPXLdWf0QK4Kw6Xtv06GCP7D8Rxv0C4QpDFSh3nGBGMON8usonkt3EOngG5a7twu1Hvz5vR8p2wm2znxqeA3AzZbTOs8k-lQy0EmwReZQmWK_aI/s1600/t.jpg" height="320" width="280" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-79278285898721591002014-08-11T09:29:00.002-04:002014-08-11T09:29:18.640-04:00moments worth noting<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some days, you blink, and look around, and things are good.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Really, really good.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And it's as if you're surfacing from a dream, where all the edges are just a little hazy...just a little unstable. And you're not sure when you woke up. You can't quite pinpoint when that clarity hit, just that it's there.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My life right now? It's that soft edge of waking.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I wouldn't have it any other way.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn95bCCcOrCDsW7ymT_VQ7XxwGPN_-Fz3cIdnRfDI28xkNbxzIM3ERAkRMUPWqeHuZVNOA0THMA04VfmoupIiB48C-ls3GBIYeDW_HiuVrUoWgwKsZ8SbuSeOg5XwfQtcAY9646ZMv3GE/s1600/badminton.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn95bCCcOrCDsW7ymT_VQ7XxwGPN_-Fz3cIdnRfDI28xkNbxzIM3ERAkRMUPWqeHuZVNOA0THMA04VfmoupIiB48C-ls3GBIYeDW_HiuVrUoWgwKsZ8SbuSeOg5XwfQtcAY9646ZMv3GE/s1600/badminton.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I remember when the kids were young... three under the age of four... and every deep breath I took hurt. Every moment my eyes were open was a struggle. But I remember it abstractly, as if I read it in a book and can recall it in muddied images. And I look back almost fondly now at those years; and wish I could remember with more clarity how my children looked, when they sweetly rubbed the sleep from their eyes, told me they loved me in the soft lisp of a two-year-old. But I know that it's just my body's self-defense mechanisms kicking in, protecting me from the sharp edges those memories also carry.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39Iom8oz8jWs3xiPTSJ2gT_v1rZjG5-4b2qudVWLpyL19IWhBs9TF_kWgYq0ffKZn3ZevKp6Y1CvtGbQ5VqmkacIGBB5D-nfswIsHI1mRY03q2n1OZWlzb81Zv2Yi08tLTxQVl9BGpZc/s1600/keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39Iom8oz8jWs3xiPTSJ2gT_v1rZjG5-4b2qudVWLpyL19IWhBs9TF_kWgYq0ffKZn3ZevKp6Y1CvtGbQ5VqmkacIGBB5D-nfswIsHI1mRY03q2n1OZWlzb81Zv2Yi08tLTxQVl9BGpZc/s1600/keys.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And I don't want this year to be like that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />Years with extremes tend to be just that: Extreme.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">And this year has been amazing. We've managed to compact years of joy and tears and firsts into just a few short months. And I am already afraid that ten years from now, I'll look back at this year with the soft edge of memory, forsaking all those brilliant sharp edges that made it worth remembering.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those sharp edges? They give clarity. They extend meaning beyond the soft blur. They're the good stuff. Hell, sometimes they're the best stuff.</span></div>
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caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-19449543264975466112014-06-12T11:45:00.001-04:002014-06-12T11:45:23.182-04:00Tiny Heart Attacks<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A hundred tiny heart attacks...for the next six weeks</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">New chapters in life are both terrifying and exhilarating. <br />And it is only right that they should be both.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How else will you know you're alive if you're not terrified of taking the next step every so often?</span></span></div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-51516203631213813852014-05-22T16:11:00.001-04:002014-05-22T16:11:26.383-04:00Resiliant<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you had told me prior to this, that in less than a month after major spine surgery, The Monkey would not only be up and about like normal, but also running, jumping, wrestling with her brother, and playing violin on stage at Hilbert Circle Theatre again; I'd have called you a liar in a heartbeat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cXTZjyzzKqf1TgI0oOog0tZWzI3cDKflfEycbojQo1wVamDx8n07MJilt4bs8j2DOVf3U-mY0VMCLTav5oJkCzJH-oyH363UALAo5vBtzTenrrmXPSiJot_a7hByqGITGBL9CYeBz_4/s1600/IMG_20140414_133001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCySupEzWCl15fHRvA3Vtb6zxTDEqCfjHh-RyaYX0Kqe7hYXAnqEHUJ8a9vmK-PPj6DQy6G29e7M205NIASPj5lGTUW9Uk0Cl0ij57WwOZ3ERZnW3ROC3NeVjSz1IA7uj8CRLkX5kPYuU/s1600/IMG_20140414_132652.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCySupEzWCl15fHRvA3Vtb6zxTDEqCfjHh-RyaYX0Kqe7hYXAnqEHUJ8a9vmK-PPj6DQy6G29e7M205NIASPj5lGTUW9Uk0Cl0ij57WwOZ3ERZnW3ROC3NeVjSz1IA7uj8CRLkX5kPYuU/s1600/IMG_20140414_132652.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I've been absent this blog too long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My apologies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But life has this habit of getting in the way of things.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGltU2I7m1mIs9hLKtzFBx21GiNHUwf06wOwBTuyXbSi1EkXzEIlMqrvBBdwhDsB-EEM1qt13G5EXDEq1ECrkLmGWs7wKObUobVA8G-wEraPDz6P4SYmTX9wVQHzfdAj-HtmPAkNGQXo/s1600/IMG_20140414_133301.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLGltU2I7m1mIs9hLKtzFBx21GiNHUwf06wOwBTuyXbSi1EkXzEIlMqrvBBdwhDsB-EEM1qt13G5EXDEq1ECrkLmGWs7wKObUobVA8G-wEraPDz6P4SYmTX9wVQHzfdAj-HtmPAkNGQXo/s1600/IMG_20140414_133301.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Exhibit A: The Monkey undergoing a Posterior Spinal Fusion at St. Vincent's Payton Manning Children's Hospital this April.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtieKS0MojVo4BkSxJvOAi6JQg4gtFnwyHVC5j-5I5bn0z3gBAlAHhXD1JGawqkWPAak-daEiB_fw5HyBAM8czr6HAyUJWJBFisDv8nqwdTwYor-9R4FcznilJo2FqMGXLtV3avgsXz0/s1600/IMG_71821.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtieKS0MojVo4BkSxJvOAi6JQg4gtFnwyHVC5j-5I5bn0z3gBAlAHhXD1JGawqkWPAak-daEiB_fw5HyBAM8czr6HAyUJWJBFisDv8nqwdTwYor-9R4FcznilJo2FqMGXLtV3avgsXz0/s1600/IMG_71821.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm not sure where April went, honestly. It flew by in a blur of hospital waiting rooms and family surgery centers and humming fluorescent room lights and reflective tile flooring and the soft buzz of sympathy and machinery hooked up to my child...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9mkLJUPiA2fSJMRwYYFme72l1c8zMxhcy-k47UC7FOSI9_SixkA8iHGD-vcjp0RWQ1z3lcG9to-WVLI2lXomxXOuRVo8PNqbF0pGA3K7MHwJEX7dHJX7k5deY8OxuedQ-TJY7vk5qic/s1600/IMG_20140417_035412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9mkLJUPiA2fSJMRwYYFme72l1c8zMxhcy-k47UC7FOSI9_SixkA8iHGD-vcjp0RWQ1z3lcG9to-WVLI2lXomxXOuRVo8PNqbF0pGA3K7MHwJEX7dHJX7k5deY8OxuedQ-TJY7vk5qic/s1600/IMG_20140417_035412.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you haven't hugged a nurse today? Do it. Right now. Those people are the strongest, most caring group of men and women I've ever had the privilege of being with. They are at the same time soft and hard, caring and insistent. They move mountains and wipe tears with the equilibrium of someone who has lived a thousand lifetimes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv89I8HVxD0Jl5a4OSsKKjSQE30jdsmvjrUF662iyUWUgnsgIoXvEmTLKQzNbJKBhnDD39qXV7UNNx56n6-ZaGM7OVsUzC2OsZmB1cMoTLhOunElA6savISJ82EZOs1U0kE1smNE-rq8/s1600/IMG_20140417_035029.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNv89I8HVxD0Jl5a4OSsKKjSQE30jdsmvjrUF662iyUWUgnsgIoXvEmTLKQzNbJKBhnDD39qXV7UNNx56n6-ZaGM7OVsUzC2OsZmB1cMoTLhOunElA6savISJ82EZOs1U0kE1smNE-rq8/s1600/IMG_20140417_035029.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And, while I've purposefully left off grand details of The Monkey's particular ordeal, because the memories of that little body post-surgery still brings the sting of tears to the back of my throat, I will say that the capacity the human body has to heal has absolutely stunned me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">By all rights, this kid should still be in bed somewhere, and yet here we are...back in the thick of things again. And, while I white-knuckled every new step she took post-surgery, I've finally come to the point where Sophia's back isn't my first and last waking thought. She's healing. In the way that only that scrappy little monkey can - at warp speed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVYbJQD-ioxf8l2Q53FwgtqWxDrtmy2xs4IgS2g2qkKAFC_vGui__cs0EUpbU8GKJ_dGdhQuujw_VMMHoKX92bx9C0fhPpH47NFUPtYrnIUbq4cdARL8sQruWqgHLFgINUgufhVNoZ2U/s1600/20140417_093840.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVYbJQD-ioxf8l2Q53FwgtqWxDrtmy2xs4IgS2g2qkKAFC_vGui__cs0EUpbU8GKJ_dGdhQuujw_VMMHoKX92bx9C0fhPpH47NFUPtYrnIUbq4cdARL8sQruWqgHLFgINUgufhVNoZ2U/s1600/20140417_093840.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">god help us all...I think that kid could do just about ANYthing she puts her mind to.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cXTZjyzzKqf1TgI0oOog0tZWzI3cDKflfEycbojQo1wVamDx8n07MJilt4bs8j2DOVf3U-mY0VMCLTav5oJkCzJH-oyH363UALAo5vBtzTenrrmXPSiJot_a7hByqGITGBL9CYeBz_4/s1600/IMG_20140414_133001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cXTZjyzzKqf1TgI0oOog0tZWzI3cDKflfEycbojQo1wVamDx8n07MJilt4bs8j2DOVf3U-mY0VMCLTav5oJkCzJH-oyH363UALAo5vBtzTenrrmXPSiJot_a7hByqGITGBL9CYeBz_4/s1600/IMG_20140414_133001.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<br />caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-47669873405460124302014-05-15T16:49:00.000-04:002014-05-22T16:49:32.925-04:00Shit I've Made This Month...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Predictably, when my life starts to spin a little out of control, the amount of baked goods and crafts I turn out increases exponentially. I crave the control that I can exert over these small things...when I start to lose it in other areas. The last 30 days have been no different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Things I've purchased in the last 30 days:<br />4+ yards of miscellaneous fabric<br />2 yards elastic</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6 spools of thread</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">two new skeins of yarn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">two new crochet hooks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">half pound felt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">new needles for the sewing machine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">6+ yards nylon cording</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">12 D-rings</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">5 onesies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">2 packs iron-on letters</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">... </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's a sickness. I know.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQDWbAHotVa2BW6epvY7Js9otdMN5AUg6jaiv3f91L70_R3B4KKFeM4NKUxsezv5KiB318ZEizgetBQ1ZpbLBmUhVpNIIoTN-5BsTYQ5_QOwHmTcbuyrfd9n9wv4Wu38Lw2aZxqkZYMk/s1600/IMG_20140419_131346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQDWbAHotVa2BW6epvY7Js9otdMN5AUg6jaiv3f91L70_R3B4KKFeM4NKUxsezv5KiB318ZEizgetBQ1ZpbLBmUhVpNIIoTN-5BsTYQ5_QOwHmTcbuyrfd9n9wv4Wu38Lw2aZxqkZYMk/s1600/IMG_20140419_131346.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One handmade 'Owie Doll'<br />Both machine & handstitched cotton blend body & face, felt accents and accessories.<br />Complete with 30 handstitched, multi-colored band-aids, machine stitched arm sling, faux-casts, head wrap, eye patch and roll of 'injury tape'.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Both sets of clothing for the doll are reversible - so she's got four outfits (one of which looks shockingly like a hospital gown. Go figure, right?). This was, obviously, too labor-intensive a project for a kid who couldn't even play with the finished product until <i>after</i> she left the hospital. But it kept me occupied in the wee hours, when I would otherwise be obsessing over our impending hospital stay.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcHosKiQUsFSNeQ5FDQdtKY2Z6ZfBO4x0MinG-v2b_o1xC6BHLAYlfdCsj1hoWH7w5JKX1jUIuzIgdCq9mJ4dXv4l5rUDOpw_SScjGRTWXvrsDtdAA9XkJV-8lPbbXyWw4WJ4yNT0kO4/s1600/IMG_20140419_120902.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcHosKiQUsFSNeQ5FDQdtKY2Z6ZfBO4x0MinG-v2b_o1xC6BHLAYlfdCsj1hoWH7w5JKX1jUIuzIgdCq9mJ4dXv4l5rUDOpw_SScjGRTWXvrsDtdAA9XkJV-8lPbbXyWw4WJ4yNT0kO4/s1600/IMG_20140419_120902.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One (of three made) machine stitched, front-tie shirt for The Monkey</span>. <br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Post-surgery the kiddo couldn't dress herself, let alone lift her arms up enough to put on a regular Tshirt. Everything itched, or hurt her incision site, so I altered a pattern from Meg Mcelwee's 'Growing Up So Liberated". I added internal and external side ties, rather than finishing off the full side seams. I also opted out of binding the neck and arm holes to make the shirt as simple and quick and <i>soft</i> as humanly possible for The Monkey. She lived in these 100% cotton knit shirts for nearly two weeks.</span><span class="author notFaded" data-width=""><a class="a-link-normal" href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&field-author=Meg+Mcelwee&search-alias=books&text=Meg+Mcelwee&sort=relevancerank"></a></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2avcT7eqmdIPuAxTGc-jz-8jzyioltwjoW-WzqGVMd_-pSCHnTY4B1StRAzJ3DF2xR_IaDGc7huqKTsD1w6R2DyRwsUsFdNX3qc2MiqltTyOWuAYZI06O1nU0taBNwO5Kq6ekdzvgis/s1600/IMG_20140423_190602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2avcT7eqmdIPuAxTGc-jz-8jzyioltwjoW-WzqGVMd_-pSCHnTY4B1StRAzJ3DF2xR_IaDGc7huqKTsD1w6R2DyRwsUsFdNX3qc2MiqltTyOWuAYZI06O1nU0taBNwO5Kq6ekdzvgis/s1600/IMG_20140423_190602.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Necessity being the Mother of all Invention...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made belts this month.<br />The Munchkins are outgrowing every stitch of every thing that they are wearing. Belts included. And I refused to buy $50 in new <b>belts</b> of all things. So a quick trip to the notions aisle at Joann's resulted in $20 of yards of nylon cording, a couple spools of ribbon, a handful of D-rings. Ultimately turning out about nine new belts for the kiddos. <br />There are an abundance of tutorials out there on making your own belts, but I was just sort of winging it and they all turned out just fine...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Word to the wise - tighten your stitched reinforcing lines nearest the D-rings as possible, kids. Trust me on this one. </span></div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVtDzD001C-4iCkvZvi7GZ9zspHudkSSl6u9M0ugMr_rxlOGjceVaeoNw3Y1U0eZFelcsPhy_FVlTCz9g6loXBGdPdkaqUXMCrHMSCOPTMAseUDcA4mCrvErihPQlmoKQm-h6OOzYkhDY/s1600/IMG_20140323_161844.jpg" height="320" width="320" /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Random onesies for the sister with the new twins. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Because I couldn't help myself. And it only took 15 minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I love it when a project both turns out AND can be completed in under 20 minutes...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So, there you go. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Midnight crafting continues to be my coping mechanism.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I want to say "it could be worse" but you haven't seen my fabric stash lately...</span> </div>
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caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-60091093910464091722014-03-06T11:54:00.000-05:002014-03-06T11:54:06.997-05:00Quotable<div style="text-align: center;">
"<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I am lonely, yet not everybody will do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't know why, some people fille the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">gaps and others emphasize my lonliness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In reality those who satisfy me are those</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">who simply allow me to live with my <i>idea of them.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><i>-Amais Nin </i> </span></div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-39310286992786121482014-02-18T22:51:00.001-05:002014-02-18T22:55:10.494-05:00It takes a Village"We made that" the ex-hubs nudges me with an elbow, smiling and nodding toward our nine-year old perched on a riser at the front of the school gym, singing with the choir.<br />
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"Yes," I agree, recalling the obstinate tilt to her head & the tip of her tongue that peeked out in concentration earlier when she was accompanying on the xylophone. "But I think there's more of you than me in there today..." her crystal blue eyes flash up at us with a quick pre-teen twist of a smile lobbed at us both, squeezed from her almost painfully in front of the throngs of parents and friends in attendance.<br />
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The strains of Carole King's 'You've Got a Friend' bring pinpricks of tears to the backs of my eyes, and I glance up at the gym rafters and blink. Hard.<br />
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"Nah" he continues. "She practices! That's all you...that dedication"<br />
I snort softly, instantly taken back to days of endlesd band rehearsals and auditions. These kids all have their father's music in them at a cellular level. It sems like just yesterday they were climbing into his guitar case, curling up in the body of it like a nest While he picked out a tune & crooned soft, nonsense lyrics to them as toddlers. A lifetime ago.<br />
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But it's comfortable, this patter between us.<br />
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Meanwhile, our youngest slips her hand stealthily into Penny's a few feet away, and my phone vibrates, a message from The Captain. And I marvel at how lucky we are to have built such a cocoon around The Munchkins. To have found people so willing to accept them into their hearts.<br />
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Co-parenting is a rough road. Whether you live in one house or two, whether there are one, two or four of you, it's just rough. And it takes time to hone out what everyone's roles are along the way. There's no right answer, no cookie cutter that fits everyone. You try and fail and try again. Our village is ever-changing, ever-expanding.<br />
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We've clawed our way into a good place, though, think.<br />
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And for this I am so, so grateful.<br />
<br />caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-13999662426313807382014-02-13T13:49:00.000-05:002014-02-14T13:49:21.426-05:00default settings<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy is not everyone's default setting. And that's okay.</div>
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There's a lot of beauty that can come out of sadness. Out of anxiety. Out of being uncomfortable.</div>
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<img alt="Get to that place where you are comfortable with being uncomfortable. #ConsciousDaily" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/3a/a2/0b/3aa20b497100b10e12d2e023f8761dc1.jpg" style="height: 450px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 40px 0px; width: 600px;" /></div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-40987238930561230802014-01-16T08:53:00.002-05:002014-01-16T08:54:31.636-05:00Scrap Bin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This morning was an rough morning.</div>
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The girls were bickering.</div>
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Everyone's cereal was 'too soggy'</div>
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The Boychild locked himself in the bathroom.</div>
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I was on my knees removing a doorknob at 7:40 this morning.</div>
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I cried, very quietly, the entire car ride from school to work.</div>
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It was one of those mornings that makes me question if I'm doing the right thing here.</div>
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You know?</div>
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Yep. you know.</div>
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You have those mornings too. I know you do.</div>
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It's what keeps me moving.</div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1V0qdeyaxwF3US5AI0DVfS4P2lr9yvqsZNWr2yMCXLu7VZlIgipylymUE4OJgetFDokXET0lwZnBJIF1OS6Zzt2rqKobAqvys6kJscCmZ-69rCWrm2ZUlCB7s_sVth_AoYSFaMAQ-l5Q/s1600/doll1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></div>
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this weekend I let The Munchkins play in the scrap bin and this is what we came up with</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVB_3YkI6VP60tc_lzxB56c9hl9hRUgdC9yWG8lOC6xU3o8Bn4hUJz6zXDTXSqgNsj9EG_KVLzbgYmlgROWW6ep3AQpVpV4UNF7yhANxUSyzXqKfEG3FZxaOdJ7bG5Uohnk9Alj0X4ME/s1600/doll2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVB_3YkI6VP60tc_lzxB56c9hl9hRUgdC9yWG8lOC6xU3o8Bn4hUJz6zXDTXSqgNsj9EG_KVLzbgYmlgROWW6ep3AQpVpV4UNF7yhANxUSyzXqKfEG3FZxaOdJ7bG5Uohnk9Alj0X4ME/s1600/doll2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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These little guys are just filled with beans & polyfil (beans help them sit up a bit better).<br />
They're cotton flannel bodes + felt faces & accessories. All three came together in about an hour and the kids got a kick out of stuffing their own dolls, picking out body & hair & eye color, picking faces and expressions...</div>
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speaking of expressions - this kid lost her first front tooth this past weekend. She lisps now. I make her say difficult words just to hear the soft shushing sound of her tongue sliding between her teeth. </div>
caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-39905450402231001752014-01-05T12:29:00.001-05:002014-01-05T12:35:35.244-05:00SnowcremeWhat's to do when the snow outside is accumulating faster than you can shovel it?<br />
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Make Snowpocalypse Treats of course!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaC1qxwvb8MHsVLQfU1fzGn8lrL2ypZa1q25ELs5bZ3yNJfOPeDdpZqbVOpXZ0YflXrkHETIahZX5FJEiOYb8Oks4hMDOHFvMg6VTBHy26ReK5RzPwlqZPM4h95b5x6B7swSmS8VPkvc/s1600/IMG_20140105_121134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEaC1qxwvb8MHsVLQfU1fzGn8lrL2ypZa1q25ELs5bZ3yNJfOPeDdpZqbVOpXZ0YflXrkHETIahZX5FJEiOYb8Oks4hMDOHFvMg6VTBHy26ReK5RzPwlqZPM4h95b5x6B7swSmS8VPkvc/s320/IMG_20140105_121134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Snowcreme How To:<br />
Hands-On Time: 10 minutes<br />
Ready In: 10 minutes<br />
Yield: Serves 4 excited children (or two VERY excited adults!)<br />
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Ingredients: 1 cup half and half or milk<br />
1/3 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to your taste)<br />
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract<br />
4 to 6 cups clean, freshly fallen snow<br />
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Directions: In a large bowl combine milk, vanilla extract and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes.Stir in snow, a cup at a time, until the ice cream magically forms! Freeze for several minutes if desired before serving.caralynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15252396636160373693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2043777019988682722.post-80309549682213910532013-12-31T12:11:00.000-05:002013-12-31T12:11:11.325-05:00Resolutionists<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2014</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Instead of striving for happiness I will try to be grateful. I will make time to make art. I will walk slowly. I will stride I will read. I will try to learn what my fear is so desperately trying to teach me. I will make stress my friend, instead of just the crazy friend that has been living on my couch the past few years. I will travel, even if it is just outside the boundaries I have made for myself. I will endeavor to appreciate all that I have without adding the "but wouldn't it be great if..." caveat to everything I do. I will strive to remember that I am enough. I will be great. I will wake up early and breathe deeply. I will run...far and fast and for the pure joy of it. I will play more. I will make less rules, but follow those that I have put in place. I will take fewer pictures, but make the ones I do take, count. I will be open to the possibility of love.</span></span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>And...because I can...here's 2013 in (picture) review</b></i></span></div>
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