Whew, we did it! Last Saturday, we moved from our suburban first home out to a little bitty town in the country. Robert says it's not rural enough to really be the country, but the way I see it our new town is surrounded on three sides by farms and the other side by a big mountain. Our house is in a typical cul-de-sac type development within walking distance to the cutest downtown ever. I don't think I could really be happier with the shopping situation here - in just my first walking sweep of a couple of the main streets, I found two womens and kids consignment clothing shops, an antique store, two local bookstores, a tea/ice cream/chocolate shop, a paper-crafting store, an italian cafe and a thai food place. Today we visited the library, which is just a stone's throw away from all of the above.
We have been welcomed by our ward (the RSP brought over a plate of still-warm-from-the-oven cookies today) and by the weather (two fabulous thunder-and-lightning storms since we've been here). Oh, and on day two of letting the cats outside for the first time in their lives, poor Gromit has had a run-in with two of the neighbors' dogs - almost every single one of our fence-neighbors, on either side, to the back, and at least one of the back corners, has a really big dog. It's a sink-or-swim situation, I'm afraid, for our poor feline friends. I think they will be learning the boundaries of our yard pretty quickly.
The house is shaping up, too, though there are still a few boxes here and there in just about every room. Don't even talk to me about the garage (i.e. Move-in Central); that's a project for later. We set up the kids' toys, our beds, clothes, and bathrooms - yes, that's right, that's bathrooms, plural, as in we no longer have to do potty dances in the hallway - and the kitchen, so we're settled as well as we can be for now.
We do miss our good, good friends (oh, my goodness, can I just tell you how amazing ... while Robert and I packed up the truck, a few of our friends took turns with the kids - all day long - and brought dinner and breakfast, and I just don't even know how to express my gratitude. I mean, most people have to beg or hire that kind of help; to me, it is just handed. Is it really possible to be so blessed with such outstanding friends?) ... but all in all, I do think we'll be very happy here.
Pictures. Soon. I promise. For real this time.
02 July 2008
18 June 2008
At this moment ...
Packing up our house, I'm listening to a mix of high-school music I made a few months ago for a themed party because it's the only thing really on iTunes here on this laptop, and feeling really nostalgic and melancholy. Those two always go together for me. Of course, I don't know anyone who doesn't feel this way while listening to Peter Murphy ("Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Love Poem" is surely one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs ever).
In other news, I recently almost finished reading "Proust Was a Neuroscientist" (my brain was just so tired by the time I got to the last chapter, on Virginia Woolf ... I do want to pick it up again, though, and really finish it). Good read. Fascinating stuff. Of course, there were a few things I wasn't so sure about, but I was really intrigued by the chapter on Stravinsky and the way that music - especially new music - effects and stretches our brains. I'd heard before that we get "stuck" in a musical rut by the time we're in our 30's, that from then on we usually just stick with our old favorites. The point of the Stravinsky chapter was that in order to avoid the rut, we really must pay attention to art. Listen to music we don't like at first ... and I would extend that to all the arts, though I'm not a smarty-pants neuroscientist. It just seems like common sense that in order to keep the mind active, you've got to put yourself in new situations, try new things, seek out new experiences. Maybe that's what moving - again! - is like. Who knows?
In other news, I recently almost finished reading "Proust Was a Neuroscientist" (my brain was just so tired by the time I got to the last chapter, on Virginia Woolf ... I do want to pick it up again, though, and really finish it). Good read. Fascinating stuff. Of course, there were a few things I wasn't so sure about, but I was really intrigued by the chapter on Stravinsky and the way that music - especially new music - effects and stretches our brains. I'd heard before that we get "stuck" in a musical rut by the time we're in our 30's, that from then on we usually just stick with our old favorites. The point of the Stravinsky chapter was that in order to avoid the rut, we really must pay attention to art. Listen to music we don't like at first ... and I would extend that to all the arts, though I'm not a smarty-pants neuroscientist. It just seems like common sense that in order to keep the mind active, you've got to put yourself in new situations, try new things, seek out new experiences. Maybe that's what moving - again! - is like. Who knows?
10 June 2008
This I Believe
Today ...
- I believe in the power of prayer. And ice cream.
- I believe that the best time to sit down and have a nice cup of tea, is exactly that moment when you don't have time for tea.
- I believe that shiny red rain-boots go with anything. Especially yellow dresses.
- I believe that children's art - no matter what the decorating magazines say - absolutely belongs on the refrigerator door.
- I believe that lawns are mostly not worth the effort. I'm planning on turning mine into a meadow.
- I believe, I believe, oh yes I believe, in poetry. Always, always poetry.
- I believe that Jim Henson was one of the great geniuses of our time. And so was Mr. Rogers. I miss them both immensely today.
- I believe in books. I learned today that Maurice Sendak's "In the Night Kitchen" is one of the most banned books in America. For some reason, this makes me all the more happy to own a well-loved copy, which gets read to my children often.
- And finally, I believe in early bedtime for mothers of young children. Especially when the dishes are piled in the sink. Believe me, they'll keep until morning. But sweet, sweet sleep is precious, and 5:30 - though it never looks good - is a lot less ugly when you went to bed earlier than, say, 1:30. With that, I will just now say good night to the dirty dishes and go to bed. (Oh, Mom, remind me again which one was it that said, "I believe I shall now retire to the seclusion of my boudoir"? I believe that, too.)
- I believe in the power of prayer. And ice cream.
- I believe that the best time to sit down and have a nice cup of tea, is exactly that moment when you don't have time for tea.
- I believe that shiny red rain-boots go with anything. Especially yellow dresses.
- I believe that children's art - no matter what the decorating magazines say - absolutely belongs on the refrigerator door.
- I believe that lawns are mostly not worth the effort. I'm planning on turning mine into a meadow.
- I believe, I believe, oh yes I believe, in poetry. Always, always poetry.
- I believe that Jim Henson was one of the great geniuses of our time. And so was Mr. Rogers. I miss them both immensely today.
- I believe in books. I learned today that Maurice Sendak's "In the Night Kitchen" is one of the most banned books in America. For some reason, this makes me all the more happy to own a well-loved copy, which gets read to my children often.
- And finally, I believe in early bedtime for mothers of young children. Especially when the dishes are piled in the sink. Believe me, they'll keep until morning. But sweet, sweet sleep is precious, and 5:30 - though it never looks good - is a lot less ugly when you went to bed earlier than, say, 1:30. With that, I will just now say good night to the dirty dishes and go to bed. (Oh, Mom, remind me again which one was it that said, "I believe I shall now retire to the seclusion of my boudoir"? I believe that, too.)
02 June 2008
For Cailean, and for Jessica
My little sister and I are 15 months apart, and our childhood was really bi-polar, I swear. We fought like tigers one minute and the next we were best friends. I was the smarty-pants and she was way more athletic, so I was always hurling insults (or rather, whispering them so I wouldn't get caught) and she was always throwing spot-on punches (I still have scars!). We fought dirty, too, sometimes: I once spit my toothpaste out in her makeup case because she wouldn't let me use the sink, much to the shock of everyone (except my sister who knew better, of course) because I was supposedly such an even-tempered child.
We also pretty much shared everything - from our room to our clothes - and I think that was one source of the fighting, but also where we learned to share with others.
I think in a Christ-centered home, fighting - at least among sisters - is pretty safe. Okay, that doesn't make sense. What I mean is, they're going to learn compassion from you, because that's what you're teaching. And they're going to learn about repentance and forgiveness from each other. Because they're sisters in an eternal family, they're not going to lose each other ever. Not as easily as you'd lose your best-friend-of-the-day at school, anyway. Fighting among girls in our society is less tolerated than it is among boys, so if you can't fight with your sister, who can you fight with? Does that make sense?
I guess the point is, don't worry too much. Just keep teaching them what's right, and they'll probably still fight, but they'll figure it out. My own sister just called me yesterday from Korea and we chatted for an hour. This is a common thing in our adult lives. We still have our differences, of course, but partly because she's seen me at my very worst (and I do mean my absolute, very ugly worst), there's nobody in the world (besides my mom and my husband) that I trust more than my sister. I don't know if we'd be friends if we hadn't been sisters first, you know? But because of our sisterhood, in our family and in the gospel, we can't help being friends now. And there's nothing in the world I would trade for that.
That's just my very long way of saying: keep it up, you're doing great, and they're going to be fine. And also, I love you Jess! You're seriously the BEST!
We also pretty much shared everything - from our room to our clothes - and I think that was one source of the fighting, but also where we learned to share with others.
I think in a Christ-centered home, fighting - at least among sisters - is pretty safe. Okay, that doesn't make sense. What I mean is, they're going to learn compassion from you, because that's what you're teaching. And they're going to learn about repentance and forgiveness from each other. Because they're sisters in an eternal family, they're not going to lose each other ever. Not as easily as you'd lose your best-friend-of-the-day at school, anyway. Fighting among girls in our society is less tolerated than it is among boys, so if you can't fight with your sister, who can you fight with? Does that make sense?
I guess the point is, don't worry too much. Just keep teaching them what's right, and they'll probably still fight, but they'll figure it out. My own sister just called me yesterday from Korea and we chatted for an hour. This is a common thing in our adult lives. We still have our differences, of course, but partly because she's seen me at my very worst (and I do mean my absolute, very ugly worst), there's nobody in the world (besides my mom and my husband) that I trust more than my sister. I don't know if we'd be friends if we hadn't been sisters first, you know? But because of our sisterhood, in our family and in the gospel, we can't help being friends now. And there's nothing in the world I would trade for that.
That's just my very long way of saying: keep it up, you're doing great, and they're going to be fine. And also, I love you Jess! You're seriously the BEST!
27 May 2008
Making Memories for Memorial Day
We began the holiday weekend with no plans, as usual. Then, after talking with friends about their plans for Monday, I began to feel Oh So Boring. Decided to do something about that. We ended up in Tacoma at the Children's Museum there - lucky us, they were supposed to be closed! But they weren't after all, and we almost had the whole place to ourselves the whole time we were there. It's on the small side, but I appreciated that there wasn't really any place to get lost.
Charlotte LOOOOOVES to climb things.
Cookin' in the kitchen, learning about nutrition. Which I'm all for, of course, but they had not even one little fake cupcake in the whole kitchen. I mean, really, how healthy is that?!
Meanwhile, Calvin finds a broom he's allowed to play with. We have got to get him a little janitor set or something - I swear, I cannot clean the floors without the little Scooter chasing after the broom or the vacuum like it's a long lost lover, wailing heartbrokenly when I take them away. I know, I know, I'm such a meanie.
After the museum, we had lunch outside and then took a walk around the block.
The only thing Charlotte likes better than climbing things is jumping off of them. Sheesh, we're really in for it, aren't we?!
Oh, yes, and she adores taking her very own photos with her very own new camera. Thank you Auntie Ali! We're having a blast!
You see a post, you've got to twirl around it. That's what being 2 is all about.
Aaaand, she's spent!
Later on, we made cookies with Sophia! Despite the constant tasting, and ignoring the grubby little hands in the dough - or maybe it was because of the tasting and grubby hands - they actually turned out really yummy!
Charlotte LOOOOOVES to climb things.
Cookin' in the kitchen, learning about nutrition. Which I'm all for, of course, but they had not even one little fake cupcake in the whole kitchen. I mean, really, how healthy is that?!
Meanwhile, Calvin finds a broom he's allowed to play with. We have got to get him a little janitor set or something - I swear, I cannot clean the floors without the little Scooter chasing after the broom or the vacuum like it's a long lost lover, wailing heartbrokenly when I take them away. I know, I know, I'm such a meanie.After the museum, we had lunch outside and then took a walk around the block.
The only thing Charlotte likes better than climbing things is jumping off of them. Sheesh, we're really in for it, aren't we?!
Oh, yes, and she adores taking her very own photos with her very own new camera. Thank you Auntie Ali! We're having a blast!
You see a post, you've got to twirl around it. That's what being 2 is all about.
Aaaand, she's spent!Later on, we made cookies with Sophia! Despite the constant tasting, and ignoring the grubby little hands in the dough - or maybe it was because of the tasting and grubby hands - they actually turned out really yummy!
19 May 2008
Loop in Blue, or Halou on Friendship
I just have the words to this much-loved (by me, anyway) song by Halou stuck in my head today:
Must be something important
To make your eyes this wide
Must be something enormous
You're all alone, who can you trust
And we see sweat gather on your brow
Makes you cynical
And we see your eyes are getting dark
Must be something important
Must be something important
We must admit we're curious
Must be something that's urgent
I advise you confide in one of us
And we see your heart is tied in knots
We want to help you out
And we see you're not feeling quite yourself
Must be something important
And I know we don't know
What's on your mind
But we know you'll make it through
And though things may seem
Much larger than life
At least you know we're behind you
(You know we're backing you)
It's much better when you hear it sung, of course, but maybe you get the idea anyway. I remember, by the way, the first time I heard this band ... it was a multi-band show to benefit our local awesome radio station. I went with Robert and the Dorkestra. It was at the Crocodile Cafe (R.I.P., you grimy, smelly, fantastic club!). It was love at first band-sight. If you get a chance, definitely check out Halou.
Must be something important
To make your eyes this wide
Must be something enormous
You're all alone, who can you trust
And we see sweat gather on your brow
Makes you cynical
And we see your eyes are getting dark
Must be something important
Must be something important
We must admit we're curious
Must be something that's urgent
I advise you confide in one of us
And we see your heart is tied in knots
We want to help you out
And we see you're not feeling quite yourself
Must be something important
And I know we don't know
What's on your mind
But we know you'll make it through
And though things may seem
Much larger than life
At least you know we're behind you
(You know we're backing you)
It's much better when you hear it sung, of course, but maybe you get the idea anyway. I remember, by the way, the first time I heard this band ... it was a multi-band show to benefit our local awesome radio station. I went with Robert and the Dorkestra. It was at the Crocodile Cafe (R.I.P., you grimy, smelly, fantastic club!). It was love at first band-sight. If you get a chance, definitely check out Halou.
12 May 2008
Three Little Words
So I just came from Charlotte's room ... She had woken up needing to use the potty. I carried her to the bathroom, helped her with her clothes and diaper, etc. and then carried her back to bed. And then, taking Mr. Rabbit in her arms as I tucked her into bed, my daughter whispered simply, "Thank you, Mommy," rolled over and went back to sleep. And I am overcome. Three little words, whispered in the middle of the night, across the lips of a child - my child. There is just nothing sweeter.
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