Posts from the “Love” Category

Frost

Posted on February 23, 2014

Her middle name is Frost, after her maternal great grandmother, so it should have come as no surprise that she’d take to skiing. We made our way to Vermont early, the winter sun ricocheting spectacularly off of the wide expanses of snowy Vermont country side. It was one of those drives that leaves me quiet, awed by the privilege of living in a place so beautiful it will make you believe in a god, magic, and fairy tale endings. Keeping it real, by the 50 minute mark we were whiplashed back to the land of, “How many more minutes” and “Um, my tummy doesn’t feel so good.” We survived, hopeful feelings and breakfasts still intact. After gearing up and purchasing lift tickets we spent…

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Categories: Love

Like the present

Posted on February 7, 2014

They started warning of a storm on Sunday, by Tuesday excitement was crackling, kids and parents alike were talking about backwards pjs and upside down spoons to help the storm along. It look incredibly flat and unremarkable to me. I kept the girls’ excitement in check with mild clucking and, “I don’t know girls, it doesn’t look very snowy.” They begrudgingly did their homework, but not before making me promise that they could go skiing with Sean if school was, in fact, cancelled. “Sure, but only if you get a good night’s sleep, ok?” I warned. They squirmed and giggled. Briar said, “Hey mom, since it’s almost, not quite, but-really-could-be-a-snow-day tomorrow can we do a sleepover tonight?” “Oh yes, mom. It is almost like…

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Categories: Love

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3 Day Weekend Expectations

Posted on January 19, 2014

Three day weekends have come to mean out-of-the-ordinary expectations. I don’t know how it started, but somehow the girls expect that something amazing is going to happen. Maybe teachers say, “Ok, kids. Have a great break, can’t wait to hear about all the amazing things you do!” Or maybe classmates boast, “Man, my family is going to go so many places and do so many things!” The thing is, it’s not just the girls. I find myself expecting great things of myself. I’ll bake bread, sew embellishments on the curtains in the girls’ rooms. We’ll craft and dance and just generally be happier than any other time of the year. Then the three day weekend hits and someone has a sty or I have…

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Categories: Love

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She Was Here

Posted on December 5, 2013

Sometimes when I meet people I have a visceral response, instantly feeling inadequate or unsure, other times there is nothing remarkable to note. I remember meeting Grace, Sean’s paternal grandmother, and feeling completely natural. I never tried to impress her, though she often remarked about things that made me feel grateful for her approval. Unsolicited praise for your parenting is just something that doesn’t come along that often, and when it does, it can smack of false generosity. Grace was not someone who suffered fools. She could even come across as salty at times, despite being an incredibly religious and kind person. I think it was because of that, when she would laugh or say a kind word, it always seemed very genuine. “Your…

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Categories: Love

Worth the Wait

Posted on October 22, 2013

“Can we wear our Hawaiian dresses?” Avery asked me. “We’re going to have to wait and see what the weather does,” I explained. “Or wait, wait, wait, can I wear my Halloween costume? Can I be a Grecian Goddess at the wedding?” Finley gasped. “Well, I think maybe we should keep your costume for Halloween,” I said. “But mom they aren’t going to wear dresses and I could help the ceremony have a white gown. Nana even loves my costume.” Briar chortled in the corner, “Good luck with that, mom.” “Listen girls, Nana and Jeannie are going to let you know what you can do at the wedding and I am going to let you know what you can wear. Ok?” They nodded. We…

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Categories: Love