Vacation Logs: Tuesday Pool Day

Some days you just need a lazy day poolside.

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...

Vacations Logs: Mt. Mansfield

Who hikes the highest summit in all of Vermont with three kids, two babes in backpacks, and a ten-week old puppy?

We do.

With the Adirondacks to the west of us and the White Mountains to the east, we 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.

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.

This is the best version of you, Jane. The most YOU you will ever be; despite past conversations to the contrary.

Love you.

Vacation Logs: Holiday Road

Surviving an entire day in the car together? Check.

Surviving an entire night with three kids and a puppy all in the same hotel room? Check.

Standing awestuck together on the viewing bridge of Niagara Falls? Check.

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.

I'm fairly certain this trip has the potential to be the making or breaking of this little group. So far so good.

Not a bad morning, kids. Not bad at all...

Vacation Logs: Two States at Once!

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.

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.

In other news, the puppy has slept almost the entire trip, and The Captain is rocking out to Danger Zone. We're survivng, folks!
Onward & upward.

...Until next time...

Vacation Logs: The Beginning

So...this is happening...

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.

And? We're bringing the 10-week-old puppy too...

Indy --> New York Niagara Falls --> Stowe, Vermont --> Boston, Massachusetts or BUST!!!

Believing in Santa

 And so it's begun.

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.

"Mom, is there really a Santa?"

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.

And I botched the answer. I stuttered and stammered and asked if she really 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.

This letter is my attempt to fix that.

Hello, Sweet girl:

I wanted to clear up a few things about our conversation the other day.

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.
Is Santa real?

Yes.

Am I the one that puts the presents under the tree and in your stocking at Christmas?

Yes.

Let me explain: I have always told you kids that I think it is important to believe in something bigger than  yourself. Santa is no exception. Santa is bigger than any one person. And his magic has gone on longer than you or I.  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).  

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.

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.

So, now you know the whole truth.
 

I’m not Santa, but I’m on his team. And now? You are too.

Pay attention this year. Watch how your sister’s face lights up when you’re crowding around the tree Christmas morning. Watch how my 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 better the older you get.

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.  I do.

Love always,

 
Mom

Off its Hinges

And then...this happened...

 

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.

 

 

 

Sometimes? You've just got to stand your ground...