Plans

Other than the grocery or my commute, I can't tell you the last time I've been alone. And I LOVE to be alone - one of my most favorite past-times is to go to the movies - ALONE. Mike is aware of this so he planned an outing for him and the kids to a Bluejackets game.

Well a certain 15 year old got a little mouthy about the quality of our seats. He is under the impression that his $8/hour part time job warrants box seats, so he relinquished his ticket to me.

Oh joy.

My evening alone was stolen right out from under me. Instead of sitting in the silence of my house, I sat in the noisy arena. Instead of stretched out cozy on the couch with my blanket, I was bundled with a fleece and a scarf in section 202. Instead of getting ahead on my to-do list, we rushed home and jumped into bed for school the next day.

And I'm so thankful because if my plans wouldn't have changed, I wouldn't have gotten to witness the joy and excitement seeping from Molly's every pore. And I'm sure I'll carve out some alone time for myself, eventually (probably after hunting season).

Walk With Us

I had to train Molly's teachers how to administer her epipen on Friday. Its been 2 years and 4 months since her reaction and its not any easier to leave her with someone new. It could be worse. We know worse. But its still scary.

Researchers are closing in on a treatment but not soon enough. A 13 year old died in her father's arms in June after suffering an anaphylactic reaction to Rice Krispie treats. Even though her father is a physician, her parents administered the epipens, and called the paramedics they still lost her.

If you're available on September 22 please consider joining us at the FARE food allergy walk. This walk means so much for Molly because its the one time she's not alone; she spends the afternoon with kids just like her!

Many

We shared the many face of Molly in 2009, 2010, and 2011. 2012 came and went without a face photo shoot. Now that Molly's 4 1/2 she's graduating into the Many Poses of Molly.

Flying

Although I often feel the days flying through my finger tips and the to-do list never getting any shorter, its a blessing to spend sunny days practicing super powers.

Days Like These

The weather is simply perfect; warm but not hot, sunny but not blistering, breezy but not knock your shingles off windy. Days like these throw me for a loop.

In summers past we've spent most July days up to our necks in the pool trying to catch some relief from the sweltering heat, with highs in the mid 70s the pool is out of the question. So what if we've taken bike rides and walks instead of swimming? Does it matter that we've had picnics at the park instead of picnics under the pool umbrella?

It doesn't matter. But the time with my family does.

Doing, Designing, and Dancing

To say this summer has not been what we expected would be an understatement. We had the best plan: a calendar full of low key events (library reading club, lemonade stand, swimming, and outdoor concerts). But even the best laid plans can be turned upside down, so instead of a lemonade stand we're making the best of this summer that we can!

On Mom's very first HOURS at home, a large tree was knocked down during a thunderstorm. The positive is that no one was hurt and it fell the one way possible to avoid hitting one of the three buildings around it and Molly learned how to roll logs with her cousins.

We did find time for a face party with friends! We had so much fun designing these lovely faces with bling; lots and lots of bling!

And then it was a week of camps. Alec headed off to sleep away camp where he spent lots of time outdoors; building forts, meeting new friends, and having fun! Molly spent the evenings at Princess Dance Camp which is right up her alley!

I plan to make the last two weeks of summer meaningful. But we know what usually happens to my plans......

Growing Old

Last night Mike and I were able to have a date night without arranging for a sitter because Alec was with friends and Molly had her first ever sleepover. We didn't realize this benefit of them growing up - we knew the benefits of sleeping through the night, of potty training, of driving, but this one was a bonus!

We were able to go to three difference venues - 3! There was no rushing, no counting the hours to determine how much we were paying the sitter, and no lists for those in charge. We just dropped kids off and were free! Well as free as we could be holding our phones - which were on vibrate - while in the movie theater, just waiting for the call saying Molly wanted to come home (which never came).

It was an awesome night but we were so excited to catch up with the kids this morning, well at least for the 15 minutes Alec was home before headed out to hang with friends again!