Uptown Art Fair

Just some pics to share today! More later...

This picture kills me. She looks like a little girl.
Not a baby...sob sob sob.

A $6.00 "shaved ice" that was actually a crappy crunchy sno cone with a teensy bit of flavor. I don't think he minded nearly as much as I did. Ha.

Girlfriend loves a good dip. She will dip the tiniest piece of something about 10 times before actually eating it. She also tries to eat ketchup with a fork.

It was a very fun day. We all went to bed early...except for little tiny who has FOUR molar coming in at once. She is certainly the most miserable I have ever seen her. Poor thing.

Date Night in Minne

This has been a very much-needed, FUN, weekend. Last week was a little rough for me, just sort of bored and homesick, and I feel so much better after our fun-filled weekend. I got back from Atlanta on Friday afternoon, took care of a few things at home, and then picked the kids up early from school.

Next we went over to Nate and Sarah's house for dinner- Nate is on Davis' team and they have been good pals since Nate joined the team about a year ago. Anyway, the most interesting thing is that they have two kids, Brooks and Bennett, and Brooks is Davis' age, while Bennett is Holden's age...and they go to the same school. So when I told Davis at pick up that we were going to his friend Brooks' house, he looked at me with a huge smile and said "it's like a play date!!"

I didn't know how fun it would be, but we had the best time. We talked and laughed and Brooks and Davis played together until about 10. It was really nice. I left feeling super optimistic.

Saturday morning we went out for breakfast and then came home and did things around the house. After Holden napped, we all got dressed to go to the water park because it was finally sunny and HOT. We were all in our swimsuits, horsing around on our bed, when Davis bounced off the side and smacked his head into the corner of our glass side table. I panicked immediately. I knew it wasn't good. He was screaming and I reached for his head and my hand was covered in blood. I am NOT good in an emergency. I either freeze or panic...which is one reason why I'm glad I'm married to cool-as-a-cucumber, Bennett.

We jumped in the car and went to the urgent clinic. The cut wasn't huge, but we didn't want to dig in and see how deep it was. The bleeding wasn't significant, but there was blood. The whole way there, Davis kept saying "I don't want to go to the doctor. I want to go to the WATER PARK..." so we sort of knew he was somewhat okay.

Anyway- long story short- the doctor took one look and said he was totally fine. No worries. So yeah, that wasn't fun, but it ended up not being a major deal. THANK GOODNESS.

Last night, we went out for a date at a restaurant that Krissy recommended to me, Cafe Lurcat. It was so cute and we had the best time. We had raw oysters and an apple salad for appetizers, I had ahi tuna for dinner, Bennett had their raved about Chilean sea bass and he said it was hands-down the best fish he had ever put in his mouth. We had asparagus and Minnesota sweet corn for sides. The corn was definitely worth writing home about. So good.

And then for dinner we shared these little mini sugar/cinnamon donuts. We took half of them home for Holden and Davis and they were very pleased to have them for breakfast this morning.

It was just really nice to have a night out together, and to see a new part of the city, and enjoy a great restaurant.

The restaurant was in a very unexpected area- at least for me. We walked down this little alley lined with great old stone buildings and it was at the very end, on the corner, next to a gorgeous green park.

On the way there, we noticed this sign "Dance Here" and we peeked our heads in to see what was up. It's a dance studio. Tango lessons are on Friday nights. If tennis doesn't work out- this could be our new hobby. HOT TAMALE!

And I just want to take pictures of flowers everywhere I go. The colors are so beautiful- they don't even seem real...but they are. I love the purples and the bright green.

And then today we went to the Uptown Art Fair. But I'll share more on that tomorrow. Hope you had a great weekend too.

My favorite time of day

is a tie between the early mornings when Davis comes and quietly climbs in our bed to snuggle between Bennett and I...and the evenings when Holden and I rock in her room. Her hair is usually wet, she smells like baby soft lotion, and her skin is this flawless ivory. I could eat her up. I look at her every night and every night I think "She is the sweetest thing I have ever seen..."

And we do this routine. She always wants me to reach over and grab her Minnie Mouse doll. She gives her a kiss, and a hug, and then lately she has given Minnie her binky. I use Minnie's hand to hold it in her mouth and I make the sucking noise, and Holden thinks it is so great. Until she wants it back. Then she rubs her belly to say "pease" and reaches to get it back, and then she lays her head on my chest and just looks up at me with her big blue eyes. And I know how lucky I am.

In those moments, I always know how lucky I am.

6 Month Check-In

It just occurred to me this morning that it's almost exactly six months through the year. Which gives me major anxiety considering how quickly time is flying. I was thinking about that saying "The days are long, but the years are so fast..." whoever said that was brilliant. And also a mom. Of toddlers.

But anyway, that is not what I was thinking of. I was thinking mainly that it's the perfect halfway point to check in on my 2013 New Year's Resolutions. I love resolutions. So here is my list from December 2012, with a little commentary in red on where I stand with them.

Get fit. Like really fit. (Not there yet, but I haven't given up. One of my absolute favorite things about working from home is the ability to go to the Y in the mornings during what would normally be my commute. It is an awesome way to start the day...and certainly is the key to getting fit, like really fit.)

Drop 15-20 pounds. (Same. Not there yet, but haven't given up.)

Play the guitar again/more. (Okay, so when I got really good at the guitar, I was in college at Baylor and I was super lovesick and lonely for Bennett, who was going to school in Vermont. He always asks me why I don't play more and my reason over the last couple years has been "I don't have time..." and that's been true. I also didn't really have a desire to get back into it. But I do now. Davis is SO into music and I think he will freak out when I play for him...even if I am incredibly rusty and have no callouses on my fingers...and I certainly have more time right now.)

Plug into something- find a group or cause I'm passionate about- commit to it and make a difference. (Yes, going to do this here. Need to figure out what that is. I was reading about foster homes last night and it made me feel incredibly sad and I'm not sure we are ready to foster, but if there is something I could do for kids, of pregnant young moms in particular, I really would like to do it. I need to look up some opportunities- I'm going to do that today.)

Stress less. (I'm actually doing brilliantly at this. Seriously. I'm like so stress-free you wouldn't even believe it. Some people are laughing at this because I am not an incredibly stressed person in general, but I still thought at the end of last year that maybe I should chill out a bit. We all should. So anyway- high five to me. Kicking ass on this one.)

Travel more. (Hello- just went to Wisconsin. Seriously though- this is on the agenda for SURE this year...so I'm excited about that. I want to go to Canada and I would like to go to Africa.)

Do something amazing. Shockingly good. Maybe at work. Maybe with aforementioned cause. (Holy shit- I better get on this...time is waning.)

Begin my 2nd authorial endeavor. (Start 2nd book).  
(Err, oops, this one too. I have so many ideas- I just don't even know where to begin...)

Be bold. Speak truth. Put myself out there. Be a leader.
(I think I'm doing well on this one. I don't have tangible examples- but it's more of a presence...)

Know God more.
(I talk to God a lot these days. It's a casual conversation, and I certainly should be reading the bible more and/or a devotional or something, but our talks are good, and mostly I'm trying to listen. I say things like "God, please lay on my heart what it is that I should be doing next. Please make it incredibly clear..." and then sometimes, like last week I also say things like "Dear God, please don't let me be pregnant. If I can just NOT be pregnant, I will never forget my birth control again...true story. And don't worry, I'm not pregnant!!!)

Laugh more. (For sure.)

Hurry less. (Boom, done.)

Move! (Holy cow, I had no idea what I was getting into when I put this one on the docket. But here I am in Minneapolis. And isn't that what's fun about life? Surprises? Sometimes I love picturing God giggling at things that I think are certainly going to happen, or not happen. I guarantee I crack him up.)

Love Bennett, Holden and Davis with all of my heart. (YES! And having so much time with them here is really great. Already so thankful for that)

Be more compassionate. (I need to work on this still, I think...but it's not something I have forgotten.)

So what do you think? I think I'm batting like 50% so far...which isn't bad. But I need to turn it up for the rest of the year. 

Lets see, what else do I have to tell you, blog? I am going to Atlanta again tomorrow, working, doing a client dinner, and then meeting Courtney's little brother Blake and his girlfriend, Katie, out for drinks after. I'm coming back Friday, and then Saturday I got a sitter and I made reservations at this restaurant called Cafe Lurcat that Krissy recommended. I'm excited to be out with Bennett, trying something new. I hope it's sunny this weekend so we can user our season passes to the little water park too. 

OOH, and also the Rennaisance fair is coming up. Bennett thinks it's a total creeper fest- and I do too- but I still want to go. We would always go when I was little and every year I would get one of those flower/branch wreaths with the long ribbons down the back. And I would pretend those ribbons were my incredibly long and flowy hair. When I think about it, I realize that I probably spent 50% of my young life pretending my hair was long...and that I had a retainer. I was so cool.

Happy Wednesday. How are your resolutions coming?

Oh and thanks for the sweet note on my last post, Sommer! Miss you. 

Confidence.

The idea of confidence has been on my mind a lot lately...for two reasons, really. The first is that while we were driving to Hudson Wisconsin the other day, Bennett and I were talking about Davis and Holden and what they will be like and what will make them happy and how important it is to figure that out rather than project things on them...

And the second is that I recently reconnected with one of my best friends from my youth, and the topic of confidence came up again...and whether or not I am as confident as I come across...and it certainly caused me to think about my own confidence, where it came from, etc.

When talking to Bennett, I said something like "I mean, I have always believed I could do or be anything I wanted to be. Like really, anything. Always. I know that comes from my mom, but I don't remember the articulation of it. I think it was less of what she said, and more of what she did." For example, in kindergarten, when I wanted to be 'Sam' she got on board. I'm 32 and still Sam. When I told everyone I wanted to be a squirrel when I grew up, she didn't correct me or make fun. When I wanted to be a mechanic, she gave me her dish washing gloves and let me tinker in the garage for hours. When I was in the 6th grade, and I was CERTAIN I was as good as Michael Jordan when it came to basketball, she just encouraged me, saying I would certainly be so good.

Not to say I don't have insecurities, I'm human. Of course I do, but man, what a gift my mom has given me, and my sister too. Watching them both, so smart, so capable, so focused on going after the things they love...has made a huge difference in who I am.

Bennett and I also talked about Holden, and how tough it is to be a girl, and have so much focus on being pretty. That's also something we NEVER talked about. I didn't realize it until I said that aloud to Bennett. My mom never suggested we put effort into being pretty...that we try hard to be pretty. I mean, it didn't even occur to me until college that it was unusual to show up EVERYWHERE with soaking wet hair and sans makeup. I sort of felt like that was what everyone did. Now, she did tell us we looked cute and things...and we weren't total slobs. We dressed cute and wanted to look nice and feel comfortable, but but being pretty was never our focus.

I hope I can do the same for Holden. I hope I can encourage her and show her that some of the most beautiful people, the most sought after people, are simply the most interesting people. The people with confidence, with some sort of zhuz. I hope I can live a life that shows her that too.

And I hope Davis is attracted to people that are interesting, challenging, inspiring. Not pretty, but beautiful. Inside and out. As cliche as that sounds.

All of these thoughts made me think about this:

And that's what I'm trying to do. Not just for them though...but because I don't get to do this again and I want to make sure I use my time working at being who I want to be. Which made me think of this:

 

I believe it, believe it with all my heart. And I think if you're really living, it should feel like you are constantly doing the things that God placed in your heart when he made you YOU.

And I don't know if this makes sense to anyone else, but it does to me. It gives me a happy heart, as Davis would say. 

Sweet Holden Eloise

was home with a low grade fever today...it was nice to spend time alone with her. she is so sweet when she is sick, she really tries to smile and be happy, no matter how horrible she feels.

Now davis, he is a bit different when he is sick. he really just needs everyone to understand exactly how horrible he feels...all. day. long. he reminds me of me in that sense. ha.

Speaking of davis, we had so much fun tonight. we played catch, we ate some pizza, we cleaned off the back porch and then we had fun talking about Qubert, for about an hour. Who is Qubert? A fly that was flying around while Davis was in the bath. I started saying things like "I think that fly is just waiting for you to get out of the bath so he can take one..." Davis was so intrigued, so of course I created a whole life for Qubert and the night ended with us laying out pajamas for him (Q) to borrow, and talking through what we would serve him for breakfast. Pizza, of course.

Not much to say today other than that- it was kind of boring...just called in sick to work, ran some errands, took a nap, and then went to the YMCA.

back in the saddle tomorrow, i hope.
peace out.

Three Strikes, You're Out

And I'm not talking about t-ball here, folks. We have all but decided that it will be better for the Bennett 4 if we don't EVER go back to t-ball. I'm talking about some new rules at our house. We have talked a lot about it lately and have realized that Davis is tough because he's not really afraid of anything. Yelling doesn't work (nor is it pleasant or a good habit), we don't spank, taking toys away is not a big deal to him, and threats are also not the best practice, nor does he seem to be bothered by them at all.

The one thing that really gets his goat is when he can't play with us. So, Friday, for example, he was just being such a pill so Bennett removed him from the playroom and he cried and screamed while watching through the windowed doors while the three of us played without him. So our new thing is "3 strikes, you're out..." three incidents, in a short period of time, and he's simply removed from the situation. It. Kills. Him. VICTORY.

Also, 3 strikes you're well, IN, at bedtime. Meaning, if he gets out of bed three times- his door is locked. We had this problem of constantly wanting to give him another chance- and he could read that- so we're trying to be super tough and stick to the three chances. He totally gets it. In fact, just five minutes ago he came out of his room and I said "Davis- I'm going to lock your door..." and he said "No, that's just strike one, mom." :-/

So that's that, and/but we had a great weekend even though it sounds like Guantanamo around here. Saturday was rainy so we went out for brunch and then played at the house. Saturday night I took Davis to see Turbo- which is really cute- and then today we decided to take a day trip to Hudson, Wisconsin. That's right- we're cheeseheads now. It's official. Also, we are going to make a Minnesota bucket list and try to accomplish all of it before we head back to the ATX.

Anyway, it was gorgeous and lovely outside and we just played at the park by the St. Croix river, which I constantly referred to as the "Hudson River" all day like a total geographic know-it-all...and then we came home and played Fireman Sam. I basically had to sing the theme song over and over for a good 45 minutes, with the only breaks being used to shout "FIREMAN SAM! THERE'S a FIRE IN THE KITCHEN!!!"

Davis is in Dallas tonight through Tuesday- and he gets to see B since they're going to the same conference. I'm excited for him. He just called me and said "Oh man, it feels good to be back. And I don't even like Dallas." :-)

Anyway, here are some stills from the weekend. Stills...doesn't that make me sound so sophisticated?

Probably because Davis and I have been speaking to each other for the last hour (outside of playing Fireman Sam) with amazing british accents...all while wearing his dad's giant sombrero.

Play date at the indoor playground. Three stories tall and sort of like a crazy jungle/tree maze.

umm. i'm not really sure about climbing in there with you.

really, i won't do anything that warrants a strike. i promise.

i love this photo. it says just about everything about her. a little bit pink striped pajamas pants, a little bit home depot apron, and a lot spiderman. 

 

surveying all she will conquer...

the hudson st. croix river. and holden.

 the world is your oyster, little one. jump in.