Taking Stock

It's been a while since I've done one of these. Let's catch up...

Feeling - Motivated. I'm starting a new project at work, and although I don't handle change well, I'm determined to stay ahead of that anxious feeling this time. 

Watching - Superhero movies. We saw Black Panther last week, and watched Thor: Ragnarok this past weekend. Loved them both. (P.S. - I told the boys I want to be Hela for Halloween. Cate Blanchett is fabulous.)

Wearing - Sweaters and boots, boots and sweaters. It's winter. It's been a long, weird, wet winter, too, which has felt more like a very long spring. And I hate spring. I am certainly craving the warmer days.
Appreciating - Bad Yogi studio. I really like Erin's yoga classes, and they enable me to do yoga more at home. The classes are of various lengths, so I can choose what fits my schedule. I did a full hour on Sunday morning, but only had time for 20 minutes on Monday. More yoga makes for a happy Mary.
Eating - Lots and lots of veggies. Roasted. In Salads. Soups. I'm doing a good job getting my daily servings of veggies. (Which justifies my nightly dessert.) 
Reading - Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone. I adored The Nightingale, so I picked this one up right away. I'm about halfway through now, and it's keeping me up too late at night, because I don't want to put it down. 
Listening - Brandi Carlile, First Aid Kit, Glen Hansard, and Brian Fallon. I adore First Aid Kit. I'm watching the announcements for the Newport Folk Festival, and that's the name I want to see more than any other. 
Wanting - More time outside. The cold and dreary (but not cold enough for skiing) weather has been difficult. I need to get outside, take more walks, or hikes, something.
Anticipating - A trip to Costa Rica for Spring Break. Is it here yet?
Planning - Our trip to Barcelona in August, with a few days in London on the way home. 
Thinking - I don't spend enough time with my friends. And friends are important.  
Realizing - I turn 44 next month. 44. But then again, Cate Blanchett is 48, and she did this, so...
Loving- This weird phase of life, where I get to experience baseball games and superhero movies with my boys while I come to terms (or not) with my own age. 

Taking Stock - September 2016

Saturday mornings

Watching - Lots of soccer and baseball. Saturday soccer, Sunday baseball. I love watching my boys play.
Wearing - Dresses. I've been taking advantage of the warm weather by baring my legs more often. I know that boots and sweater weather is on its way. This may be the most comfortable dress I've ever owned. 
Loving - Our Halloween costumes. Yes, I already have them. I'm a planner, and it's fun to get excited. 
Eating - Salads every day at lunch. Small dinners. Ice cream. Raisin toast most mornings for breakfast - I'd like to have a healthier option there. I don't like overnight oats, but maybe there's a slow-cooker option that would make sense to try over the winter? Any of you have a suggestion?
Listening - A couple nights ago, Aaron asked me who Bruce Springsteen was. I sighed and realized that I am failing as a parent. We've been playing Bruce since then. Also - Letters to Cleo has a new album coming out, and we have tickets to see them next month (yay!). And a decent amount of Sleater-Kinney, inspired by my reading of Carrie Brownstein's book.
Wanting -  Sweaters. It's almost sweater weather! 
Reading - I will do a Recently Read post again soon. I just started The Life Intended.
Enjoying - My morning yoga. I've started to fall out of habit again, and I'm not sure how much I will be able to keep it up, but I love it so much. 
Drinking - A lot of water. I'm finally back in the habit of carrying my water bottle around at work. It's amazing how much more I drink when I bring it. 
Thinking - That I'd like our election to be over. It feels so terrible that nobody is happy with our choices this year. In previous years, I always had an opinion, but I wasn't scared if it didn't go my way. This time, I'm legitimately afraid. And not all that excited the other way either. 
Appreciating - My new sitter. In addition to watching the boys after school, she is also helping me out around the house. She's wonderful, the boys like her, and I hope she stays for a long time. 
Planning - School-year activities. I have most registrations complete, and the calendar updated. Baseball, soccer, piano, drums (!).  I need to update the calendar with the school events, and then I can start thinking about the next vacation. And of course the holidays are rapidly approaching. SO much planning this time of year!
Feeling - A little anxious. I start at a new client next week. New relationships, new commute, new project... Lots of newness can intimidate me. 
Working - At being more patient. When I'm going through a change, I lose patience much more easily. I have to remind myself that the boys are going through a transition too - new teachers, new processes, new classmates, new teammates... We all need to allow ourselves time to settle in.
Wondering - When we can go see a movie in the theater again. This is the time of year that good movies start coming out. I know I want to see this one.
Finishing - Stranger Things. Such a fabulous blend of X-Files sci-fi weirdness and 80s nostalgia. The kids make the show - but Winona Ryder is pretty fun to see, too. It's very fun. 

Stranger Things

A Few Things...

Inside Out is wonderful. Have you seen it yet? I keep thinking about it. It's really more of an older kid and adult movie, although my kids enjoyed it. It's very thought-provoking and incredibly imaginative and wonderfully done. Please go see it.

Gun Control And The Need For It. Wonderful post and accompanying videos.

Working moms have more successful daughters and more caring sons.  I think perhaps it's more about having moms who are pursuing personal goals, whether they are making money or not. It's also about having parents who are true partners, both contributing to the home.

My cousin Krista wrote another great post for Huffington Post.  This one made me tear up a bit.

Another frustrating but important article about parenting.  "Affluent parenting can deprive a child of fundamental life skills."  I especially liked the end of the article, comparing our kids childhoods with our own, and thinking about the experiences that we had growing up that our children won't get to have. I will admit that it does make me sad sometimes. I don't want to be as poor as my family was growing up, but I do want to make sure that those same values that I was raised with - responsibility, frugality, empathy... - are passed on.

Interesting article about how optimistic people are always late.  I'm never late. It's probably my biggest pet peeve. I am also a pessimist, so I suppose that fits. I have many optimistic-and-always-running-late friends, though, including the one who shared this article. It's interesting to think about how their minds work.

Free personality test.  It's a quick, 10-minute test. I am a sucker for doing one of these every year or two. They always say the same thing, so I don't know why I'm compelled to take them. My personality is pretty set in stone at this point.  I'm an ISTJ, through and through. These descriptions of strengths and weaknesses are pretty spot on.

This is very random, but I'm thinking I'd like a pair of cute, casual shoes like these Vans.  I'm not sure if I'll think they are comfortable enough, though. What do you think?

Well, this is a not surprising find: Screen addition isn't good for children.  My oldest (Aaron) is 8 and a half, and he already has friends who have their own smart phones. So many of them have been playing Xbox for years, and they've had tablets since they were toddlers. And let's not even mention TV! Just the other day, Aaron made a comment about when he'll be "...in the 5th grade and I'll have a phone...".  I guess he heard that a few of his friends were getting phones then and assumed that he would as well. I had to correct him on that. We'll see how it goes, but I'm going to keep all the screens to a minimum for as long as possible. One day they'll thank me. Or not. I don't care.

I had such fun sharing the Women's World Cup experience with my boys. They love watching soccer, and I love that there is a women's sport that is so awesome to watch.  I think it's important that my boys get to see women being amazing in sports.  I loved this article containing reactions from the 1999 team on this year's World Cup win.

A Few Things...

My fabulous cousin Tiffany gave a Ted talk, and it's finally online! Check it out and be inspired. She's amazing.

Oh my gosh this episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee cracked me up!

I'm bookmarking this for future gift ideas. How fun would it be to get an assortment of awesome gelato delivered to your door?

This might be the longest post ever, but the pictures are awesome, and it was like visiting Amsterdam all over again.

The Problem with Kindergarten.  As my youngest is finishing his first year of school, I am so grateful to his wonderful teacher for shielding him as much as possible from the many ways that kindergarten has changed over the years. It makes me sad to think of 5 and 6-year-olds feeling bad about not being able to read yet or not liking school. Our awesome teacher is retiring this year, partially because she has become more and more frustrated by the increased standards given to kindergarteners. I'm so happy that both of my boys got to learn from her.

This is a long but thought-provoking article, written by one of my favorites, Dr. Atul Gawande. No matter what you do for a living, it's worth thinking about how to be the very best at it.

A great interview with Cameron Crowe.  Some of his movies are among my favorites of all-time, and I love how he incorporates music into his stories. I'm disappointed to see generally negative reviews about his new movie, Aloha, since I had been looking forward to it. (Of course I'll still see it anyway.) Regardless, I did enjoy this interview.

This post by Sheryl Sanberg made me cry. I'm inspired by her strength and ability to share her feelings so eloquently with the world.

A Few Things...

I know, I know...I haven't posted here in so long. I am definitely out of practice, and the longer I go without posting here, the harder it is to do for whatever reason. I will find my rhythm again, though. For now, I thought I'd share some of the links I've bookmarked recently. 

Happy Patriot's Day!  Today is the Boston Marathon, Patriot's Day, the unofficial start of Spring in New England, a morning Red Sox game, a vacation day for most...and even though it is cold and rainy today, it's still one of the most beautiful days of the year. 

Sara's on Design Mom!

Exhaustion is not a status symbol.  No it is not. Taking breaks, acknowledging your accomplishments, setting boundaries...these are good things!

What ISIS really wants.  This article made my head hurt, but I do try to read things that make my head hurt from time to time. I may have to go back and re-read this one - it's so difficult to get my head around it all!

How one stupid tweet ruined Justine Sacco's life.  An incredibly important article for our time. When the time comes for my boys to start their internet life, I hope I can make sure they understand the responsibility that comes with it.

A growing divide.  This article made me sad and frustrated. What else can we do to help?

Another post by my cousin Krista, this time reflecting on her own childhood experience with divorce.  It is very similar to my own, and I appreciate her honesty, as always.

This article on parenting cracked me up.  It's so refreshing.

Essential movies your child must see before they turn 13.  I'm so excited to share more of these classics with my kids.

I'm intrigued by this app and may start monitoring my own phone use. I definitely want to do
what this author did and place limits on when and how I use my phone. I am so sensitive to the fact that my boys are always watching me.

An interesting Harvard Business Review article about navigating the tradeoffs in a dual-career marriage.

Meals like this are probably my favorite part of Spring.

Memories and Snow...

It's time for me to start meditating on a regular basis again. I have never been very good at it, but just the act of sitting still for a few minutes and calming my thoughts does wonders for me. Last night, I found myself getting snippy with my kids and then my husband, and I know that I get that way when I'm stretched too far. My goal for the coming weeks will be to find a way to sit still and take a few deep breaths from time to time. 

We watched the movie "Boyhood" last weekend, and I can't stop thinking about it. It's not exciting, and my husband dozed on and off throughout the movie. But it's beautiful. There were several aspects of the boy's childhood that I could relate to my own, and I thought about what my own movie would look like. What are main memories I have of my childhood - the big moments as well as the little, seemingly insignificant ones that have stuck with me all these years?  They've been playing in my head all week. How did they influence who I am today?

As I read to the boys this week, one snuggled in on each side, I thought about their childhoods. They are really only now getting to the point of forming lasting memories, especially my little Nathan. I think about the kind of childhood they're having. On one hand, I only want them to have happy memories, and yet at the same time I know that we all grow through the hard parts. I also know that I will not always be the biggest influence in their lives. Love is letting go, little by little, and allowing them to grow. Figuring out when to hold on and when to let go is the trick, and we're only at the beginning.

"Boyhood"

After too much work lately, I am very much looking forward to a family-focused weekend. We're set to get our first snowstorm of the winter tomorrow, which means movies and hot chocolate and snuggling in front of the fireplace. On Sunday, after the storm passes, we will be playing in the snow. Hoping to get a day on the slopes nearby.

Making memories...

Keira and Amy...

I just wanted to pop in and share two things I enjoyed immensely last week.

The movie Begin Again. My sister told me several months ago that I should see this movie. I finally had the opportunity to see it, and she was absolutely right. It's somewhat similar to Once, and it's directed and written by the same person. It's perhaps not a classic in the same way as Once, but it's a really lovely movie with beautiful music, and I found myself smiling throughout. Highly recommend.

Amy Poehler's new book, Yes Please.  I devoured it in a couple days, and it left me wanting more.  She does the obligatory behind-the-scenes stuff, describing life at SNL and on the set of Parks and Recreation, including information about each of her co-stars, and tid-bits about some of the SNL hosts.  All that is fun, but the more personal information is way more interesting to me. That she's from Boston, is in her early 40s, and has two little boys are just some of the ways I could relate to her. In short, I loved it.

A Few Things...

I just love this picture posted to UNC's instagram.

Beyond Work/Life Balance - Living the Life You Want.  I think this post speaks to my thoughts about the word "balance".  There is no such thing.  There's no right amount of time you're supposed to spend at home versus at work.  No set time guidelines on playing with your kids or achieving a personal goal.  I don't want to think about it that way any more.  I just spent two years at home, and it was wonderful and great for us as a family.  I'm back at work, and even though I'm spending less time with my boys, I believe it's good for us as a family too.  And I'm working to make sure that the time I do spend with my boys is quality time, that they still know that I will always be there.

Bill Murray is doing a Christmas special.  This news just made me smile.

I've always been a little conflicted about GMOs.  I mean, since the beginning of farming, humans have cross-bred species and come up with ways of making crops stronger.  I remember learning about the guy who won a Nobel Prize for coming up with a new species of wheat - it was shorter, so they could grow more of it in a smaller space and therefore feed more people.  Brilliant!  So when all the uproar began about GMOs, I didn't understand at first. I get it now. I found this report to be especially interesting.  Bill Nye the Science Guy summed it up very reasonably in this short video.

25 Feminist Lessons for My Sons.  Yes, yes, yes. I work so hard at this. I know that I am not the only influences in my boys' lives, but I do want to stay the loudest for as long as possible. At least until some of these lessons are firmly ingrained in who they are. They are already influenced by so much at school, and I have to push back. I remind them that girls can like legos and superheroes, and boys can wear purple. And I am certainly making sure they know how to do laundry, cook, and put the toilet seat down.

I saw Gone Girl last weekend.  It was just as good as the book - creepy, twisted, strangely captivating, and ultimately disappointing.  I do adore Ben Affleck, and this clip on The Ellen Show made me laugh.  Oh and speaking of Ben, did you see Jennifer Garner confirm her baby bump on Ellen?  I have had a huge girl crush on Jennifer since she was Sydney Bristow on Alias.  This just made it stronger. 

I loved hearing Ryan Adams' cover of Alice in Chains. Such a great song.

A Cure For Hyper Parenting.  Another good article reminding all us parents to calm down. Let's just do the best we can. It's all good.

A Few Things...

Just a few random things for your reading pleasure...

This salad.  My garden is very full of romaine lettuce and kale at the moment, so I searched my pins to find a new way to use them.  I chose this salad recipe and holy cow is it good!  It has pretty much been my lunch for the last two weeks, and it will most likely continue to be for a while.  I tried adding apple, which was okay, but the next day I added an avocado and some brown rice....perfection.  Seriously.  Sooooo good.

A Conversation With Neil Degrasse Tyson About Cosmos, Race, and Celebrity.  I love Neil Degrasse Tyson.  He's such an interesting person, and every time I listen to him, I want to go out and learn something.

Pixar's new movie.  It's called "Inside Out" and won't be released until next year.  It sounds fascinating, though, and I'm already looking forward to it.

An Important Post About How to Prepare Your Teen for Certain Situations.  I appreciated this post.  I'm still several years away from having to deal with most of this stuff, but I find myself looking forward, preparing myself for the harder conversations.  Helping my kids navigate the teen years.

Conor Oberst performing at NPR's Tiny Desk.  If you haven't listened to his new album yet, check out this sweet little concert.

A beautiful last article by Rick Reilly, a popular sportswriter.

Six Things You Should Know About Spotify.  I spend a lot of money on music.  If I joined Spotify, I would most definitely save money, but I don't think I could ever do it.  It just seems wrong somehow. If I'm spending less, it must mean the artists are getting less, and they're already not getting much from album sales.  I find myself buying t-shirts as much to support the band as to wear.  Do you use Spotify?  Or rely on Pandora for your music?  So many of my friends don't buy music at all anymore, and it makes me sad.

The Newport lineup is complete.  And awesome.  Now I just need the schedule so I can strategize.  I think I'm most looking forward to seeing J. Roddy Walston & the Business - I think they will be a ton of fun to see live.  And The Oh Hellos.  And Jack White.  Have you listened to Jack White's new album?  Really, really good.  Oh and Shovels & Rope!  Man I hope the schedule is conducive to my wishes.

photo by Carli Nicole

Muscle Shoals

Since I had the opportunity to fly by myself last weekend, I decided to rent a couple movies to bring with me.  The first was "About Time", which was sweet and lovely and the message is important - live every day, every moment.  

The movie I watched on the way home was Muscle Shoals, a documentary about the music industry in a tiny town in Alabama.  Some of the biggest hit songs ever were recorded here.  It's absolutely wonderful.  The stories, the people, and of course the music.  I highly recommend it.

A Few Things...

I know I haven't written much lately.  Not sure why, except I haven't quite been able to organize my thoughts enough to express them.  I've been reminded of the fragility of life lately, and those heavy thoughts can weigh you down if you let them.  The one-year anniversary of the bombings brought many tributes and articles - mostly hopeful and inspiring stories, but they also brought tears and more heavy thoughts.  

So I go outside, look at the sky, and lift myself up again.  Life is good, full of the little treasures that keep it beautiful.  Hugs and snuggles from my boys, the start of baseball season, blooming daffodils, a (mostly) clean house, the return of Mad Men, a challenging book, good friends, future plans...  Next week brings Easter, Patriot's Day, and a trip to Wilmington, NC.  It is shaping up to be a good one.  I'll find my groove and write more soon, I promise.  In the meantime, more links (some fun, some serious) from around the web...

This is one of the articles I was talking about.  It's about the Richards family, who lost their 8-year-old son in last year's attack.  My heart aches for them.

The trailer for Gone Girl.  I know how it ends, and I still wanna see it.

10 Things This Child of the 80s Wants Her Kids to Know.  Classic list.  Singles seems a bit out of place, but I adore it as much as the others, so I'm okay with its inclusion.

Generation X gets really old: How do slackers have a midlife crisis?  Long, but really interesting article.  I can name quite a few pretty well-accomplished Gen Xers, and of course there will always be exceptions, but it's intriguing to evaluate the entire generation as a whole.  To think about my own personal life, where I fit with the Gen X mold and where I might be a little different.  Much of this resonated with me.

Why Teaching Poetry Is So Important.  I love poetry, and yet I'm not exactly sure where I came by this.  We did spend time on it in high school, but I think it was a college literature class that really drove it home.  I wished I could've taken another class more solely focused on poetry.

The Pernicious Rise of Poptimism.  An interesting take on the current state of music reviewers.

This documentary about Elliott Smith is another movie I want to see.

The Hunger Games, Cookies, and Beer

The fabulous Jennifer Lawrence

The title of this post pretty much sums up the weekend.  We did get to see Santa at the library, and the boys attempted to drive me crazy by running and screaming through the house over and over again.  They didn't want to go outside in the cold…come on snow!  I spent most of Saturday in the kitchen, making granola and filling boxes of goodies to send to my siblings for Christmas.  By the end of the day, Kevin and I were both very glad we had lined up a sitter and were able to escape for a bit.  (I love my boys, but containing the ridiculous amount of energy they have can be exhausting.  Breaks are good for all of us.)

We went to see the latest Hunger Games movie.  I think I may've liked it even more than the book, which is rare for me to say about a movie.  All the actors were perfectly cast and put in wonderful performances.  Jena Malone is especially memorable as Joanna.  We also saw the movie in a "premium cinema" that has reserved, large seats, and alcohol.  I may never see a movie anywhere else.

On Sunday, we had some friends over for brunch.  When they left, we were all feeling full and lazy, especially on another cold and dreary day.  Kevin and I didn't feel like being productive, so we decided on a movie afternoon.  What a good call.  Since we were in a Hunger Games mood, we rented the first movie for ourselves and put on The Polar Express for the boys.  The boys and I then decorated Christmas cookies.  It was peaceful…and quiet…and lovely.

Weekend Recap

Winter is coming.  As we ate breakfast this morning, the rain turned over to big fat snowflakes, and I got excited thinking about the coming season.  Of course, it also meant that I had to make Nathan wear pants today, so he trudged off to school this morning with an epic pout on his face.  He's mad at me, and that's okay.

The weekend was pretty good.  I am fighting a cold, so all I really wanted to do was sit on the couch.  I worked in the yard, raking and planting, for a few hours Saturday morning, but then I ventured back inside and enjoyed several hours in front of the fireplace.  I read an entire book!  I can't remember the last time I did that.  Thank you, Kevin, for keeping the boys occupied all afternoon and allowing me that luxury.  The boys stayed outside helping dad dig holes and plant bushes.  They love to help.  

That night, Kevin and I went out to dinner and a movie.  We saw Gravity in 3D.  Now, I am prone to motion sickness, and I generally hate 3D movies - those glasses are so annoying and hurt my head after a while.  But I can honestly say that I am happy I saw this movie on the big screen in 3D.  It was totally worth it, and it was so intense that I never once thought about the glasses at all.  If you can see this one on the big screen, do it.

Sunday included brunch with friends and more working in the yard.  I then cooked up a big pot of this minestrone, which I very much enjoyed and the boys very much hated.  I guess I know what I'm having for lunch the rest of the week.  It's really good, though.  I used some of my homemade walnut pesto from the freezer, and it adds just the right flavor.  I also used up the last of the kale from the garden - I think the garden is officially done now.

Monday was a holiday, so the kids and I enjoyed an extra day at home.  We planted our tulip bulbs, fed our jack o'lanterns to the pigs at the farm, played on the playground, practiced piano and guitar, rode bikes, went to swim lessons, and wrote some letters/postcards.  

Overall, it was a good weekend, despite my annoying cold.  I'm appreciating a bit of silence now, and soon I'm going to dive into the week's to-do list.   

Have a great week!

Out on the Town...

My sister and her family were with us for three weeks, including the week at Lake Ontario.  During our time at home, we were able to enjoy two (two!) double dates.  Thank you, Mom!  

For our first evening out, and much-needed break from the kids (I love them like crazy, but they can also make me crazy), we went to our favorite local restaurant.  We enjoyed probably the best meal I've had all year.  My mouth waters just thinking of it.  And my sister had probably the best drink I've ever tried.  It was so good, she waited 45 minutes for them to make the second batch (it requires infusing vodka with cilantro!) and then proceeded to lick the glass when she was done.  Makes me smile just thinking of it.

For our second night out, we went to a brewery for dinner and followed it up with a movie.  We avoided the giant multiplex in favor of a tiny movie house that we had never been to before.  It was quiet and small and perfect.  The movie we chose was The Way Way Back, and I loved it.  Highly recommend.  

Now it's time for me to plan our next date-night.  It's always nice to have one to look forward to.  

Yes we took pictures at the bar.  We're cool like that.

A Few Things...

Day 26 of The Challenge.  Something you read online.

liz.rusby via flickr

20 Things Every Parent Should Hear.  Things we all know and yet need to remind ourselves.  And often.

No, The Pope Didn't Just Say All Atheists Go To Heaven.  I thought this was a really interesting and optimistic article.  Perhaps there is a path to more openness from the church.  Regardless, the idea that whatever our beliefs, we should all strive to do good, is a worthy one.

I want to see this documentary.  There doesn't seem to be enough time to see all the movies I'd like to see.  But Summer's almost here.  As TV shows end, the time for movies increases.  This one is on my list for sure.

And in the theaters, I really want to see Before Midnight.  I do think I need to go back and re-watch Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, though.  I didn't love Before Sunrise when I first saw it, but then I saw it again later and realized all I had missed.  They are movies full of talk and very little action, but they are compelling and true and beautiful.

Processed Meats too dangerous for human consumption and Does grilling cause cancer?  I've been telling this to my husband for years, but only after reading the first article is he ready to give up hot dogs and sausage.  I only buy all-natural, nitrate-free sausage for him at home, but he's a big meat eater and sausage is one of his favorite foods.  Now he's thinking twice.  And supporting me when I tell Aaron he's not allowed to eat hot dogs away from home.  (Where again, I do allow the occasional nitrate-free version.)

Why Do I Think My Salary Pays for Child Care?  I don't know that I thought about it exactly in this way, but I definitely did the math over and over again, comparing my salary to the cost of child care, housecleaning, commuting, gas, etc.  I found I did align my salary to the boys' expenses overall, but maybe because I was the one generally paying them.  (I buy their clothes, for example.)  It's interesting to read and think about.  Perhaps we need to separate those thoughts more than we do.

before midnight

Weekend Recap

Another awesome weekend.  Actually, I'm going to back up to Thursday night, because that's when the fun really started.  In our school auction several weeks ago, I won a night out at a yoga studio.  I was able to invite a bunch of my friends to join me for a yoga class, followed by wine and refreshments.  Doesn't that sound awesome?  Well, it was!  I was a little nervous about it, because I honestly wasn't sure how many friends I could round up on a weeknight, but there ended up being nine of us, and it was perfect.  We had such a great time, talking and laughing without having to manage the kids at the same time.  Actually, we were having such a good time that I neglected to check my phone.  If I had, I might've noticed that my husband was calling and texting me, wondering why I was so late!  I guess we were having too much fun.  Kevin pointed out later that perhaps it's an indication that I don't go out enough, and I think he's right.  I can't remember the last time I went out with girlfriends.  I need to do that more.  

Saturday involved mostly yard work, prepping the garden beds for planting.  It was fun to get dirty and see progress in the yard.  (Oh!  And have I mentioned we're getting a patio?  The workers are here as I type, laying brick and getting us ready for a summer of being able to eat outside.  Yay!)  We interrupted our yard work to take the boys for ice cream and play frisbee.  That night, we watched the movie The Impossible.  Have you seen it?  It's the true story of a family that survived the tsunami in Thailand.  It will definitely keep your heart pumping, and you will cry.  Even Kevin cried.  Big happy tears.  That is a movie that will stick with me for a while.  

Sunday was a social day.  We started with having friends over to our house for our usual Sunday morning pancake breakfast.  They have three little girls, and the five of our kids had a blast playing together.  We had fun too - winners all around!  We fit in a little more yard work, and then we went over to another friend's house.  Lots of playing and talking and laughing.  An awesome end to a beautiful weekend.  

Weekend Recap

Neighborhood farm at the start of the parade route

What a fun and happy weekend.  The weather was picture-perfect from start to finish, and we enjoyed every moment outside.  We kicked it off on Friday with pizza and brownies to celebrate Kevin's birthday.  He's now 38, which makes me feel a little better.  That month between our birthdays where he is two years younger irritates me just a bit.  

On Saturday morning, Aaron put on his new baseball uniform and walked in a parade with the rest of the town little league teams.  They walk right in our neighborhood and end at the fields next to our house, so it was very convenient.  It was also ridiculously cute, these little guys (and yes a few girls!) in matching outfits.  Tonight is their first game.  

Aaron attended a birthday party, and Nathan and I played at home while Kevin got started on the yard work.  That night, Kevin slept on the couch while I watched 'Lincoln'.  I knew that it was a long movie, so I expected it to feel rather slow in parts, but I was engaged the entire time and thought it went by very quickly.  The acting was tremendous, as expected, and I really enjoyed it.  

We went to the Red Sox game on Sunday, and the difference between last year and this year was striking.  The boys were much more interested in what was going on in the game, especially Aaron.  Nathan was still mostly interested in pizza and ice cream, but he had fun seeing Wally and did not complain.  Aaron asked lots of good questions, and we talked about the players, positions, and the rules during the game.  He was actually upset when we decided to leave before the last inning in order to beat the crowds.  Very cool and very fun.  

Ahhh....the fun part of Spring has arrived, and I am excited!

Long Weekend Recap

We had a quiet long weekend at home.  Quiet doesn't mean not fun, though.  Sometimes a quiet weekend at home is absolutely perfect.  We spent a lot of time playing scrabble, watching sports, reading, and enjoying snacks in front of the fireplace.  

On Saturday night, Kevin and I enjoyed a night out.  We had drinks and dessert at our favorite place, and we then saw Silver Linings Playbook.  Really, really good.  I'm not sure what I expected, but it was even better than I thought it would be.  I didn't even realize going in how many Oscars it was nominated for!  Having seen it, I'm so happy the actors were nominated, because they made absolutely beautiful performances.  The movie is sweet, funny, emotional, surprising, and ultimately rewarding. 

We spent Sunday at our local ski hill.  It was warm and slushy, but it was an opportunity for the boys to practice, and it was worth it.  Nathan is as focused as your typical 3-year-old boy, but it does feel like he made a little progress.  I get so excited when I think about the coming years and family ski trips.  Spending all day outside makes it feel even better to spend the afternoon/evening in front of the fireplace.  More scrabble, more games, more snacks...  

Monday was the bonus day.  We went to a school fundraiser at a gymnastics place.  The boys had a blast running around with their friends, and Kevin and I had the opportunity to use their fitness center to get in a workout.  A perfectly lovely weekend all around...

Silver Linings Playbook

Lots and lots of running and playing superheroes

A Few Movies...

We're getting ready to enter the dead zone of movies - although some of the December releases are still out, most movies that come out to the theaters between January and Memorial Day are crap - so I thought I'd share a few rentals that we've enjoyed recently.

Pitch Perfect - I laughed throughout this movie - loudly.  It was predictable and geared towards girls much younger than me, and yet I enjoyed every minute of it.  My husband did too!  He even stayed awake until the end, which is saying something.  Highly entertaining and one I absolutely recommend!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower - A sweet, beautiful, and thoughtful movie.  It's based on the novel by the same name, and it's about a boy named Charlie.  He's a freshman in high school, and he becomes friends with a group of seniors.  It's about first love, loss, friendship, bullies, internal struggles, and more.   I also enjoyed the music choices - probably because the story is set in 1991-1992, which was my own senior year.  Mostly, though, I just loved the story.  

Arbitrage - It's a suspenseful movie, and the acting is tremendous.  I am not even a really big Richard Gere fan, but this is his type of role.  I was sucked in the entire time.

Weekend Recap and Goals

It was a lovely October weekend here in New England.  Well, actually, it was a lovely Saturday here in New England.  We submitted Aaron's passport renewal application (yes it's worth mentioning, because it is such an arduous process that it feels like such a relief to have it complete!).  We went to the farmer's market and played with friends.  We raked the leaves and the boys had fun playing in the leaf piles.  We watched football.  All good stuff.  

Saturday night was date night, and Kevin and I went to see Argo.  It was a very good, suspenseful film.  It was also the first time in a really long time that I sat in a full theater, where everyone clapped at the end and stayed to watch the credits.  We both really enjoyed it.  We then went out for dessert and drinks.  A great night!

Argo

Sunday was less lovely, but it was still fun.  It was a gray, dreary, and wet day.  My mother-in-law came.  We got a few things done around the house.  We went out to brunch.  We enjoyed a rather lazy afternoon, managing to get outside a bit later in the day.  

Goals for this week:

1.  Pick out something else for the house.  (We still have a lot of decorating to do.  The list includes kitchen stools, a mirror, pictures and artwork, floor lamp, small end table, bedroom chair, oh and living room furniture... Needless to say, it's going to take us a while to complete this list, so we're just prioritizing and trying to at least start picking things out.)

2.  Yoga

3.  Get a desk calendar and fill it up

4.  Write a full week's menu so I can stay away from the grocery store for at least a week (I seem to be going every few days lately).

5.  Deep breaths