About music...

Last month Emma attended a birthday party where Top 40 music was played.  It seems nearly every girl there knew all of the songs.  Emma did not.   So before a sleepover last weekend she decided to learn about this music some call popular.  She remembered a couple of names--Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.   In an attempt to help, I created a Taylor Swift Pandora station.  Emma sat down and began her research, which resulted in one of my favorite Emma quotes ever.

"She's a very good singer, but here's the problem, I'll listen to this music, learn all the songs, go to school ask someone-  do you like this song or that song better and then they'll say---oh Emma!  nobody listens to those songs anymore.  Really I'm kind of just wasting my time here".

 At 9 she already knows something that some thirty somethings I know still don't....it's never a good idea to try to be someone you're not.  Of course I realize that knowing something in your brain doesn't equate to knowing it in your heart. Which means that in this little house of ours we have many years of trying on all sorts of hats before figuring out just who we all are.  This figuring out who we are stuff is hard and occasionally heart breaking work but I get glimpses all of the time of just who these people are going to be and let me tell you, every single hard moment is worth it.  

So, back to the music.  Emma was also worried about the words in the songs and said they made her feel uncomfortable.  I felt so proud of her to express those super awkward things to me but I also wanted her to know that for the very reason she expressed those feelings to me, I am ok with her listening to some of that (trashy) music.  I explained that sometimes we listen to music for the beat or the sound of a voice but the words are horrible and we just don't agree.  And then I did something that I never do with anyone, because it's just too embarrassing...I showed her my running playlist.  That thing is chock full of horrible music, the likes of Katy Perry and Kesha.  What a laugh that gave her!  I told her the catchy songs helped me run as fast as I could but no way would I EVER listen to that garbage in the house!  She said she understood--kind of, but wouldn't it just be better to put on music I love the words and sound of and run to that.   Her dad does that.  I cannot.  She and Him, The Decemberists, Mumford and Sons, they just really don't cut it for me when I'm running.  They are however the soundtrack of our days.  At that point we switched the station to Passion Pit Radio and Emma in a sweet sigh said, 'why can't my friends just like good music!".  And if beams of happiness didn't shoot out of my eyes, well I'm shocked.   Good (and let's be honest here, really, really crappy) music will be right there helping Kevin and me and all three of our girls, as we figure all of this out...together.

Hip hip
Hip hip
Hip hip
Hip hip

When you're on a holiday
You can't find the words to say
All the things that come to you
And I wanna feel it too

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

Hip hip
Hip hip

When you're on a golden sea
You don't need no memory
Just a place to call your own
As we drift into the zone

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

We'll run away together
We'll spend some time forever
We'll never feel bad anymore

Hip hip
Hip hip
Hip hip

On an island in the sun
We'll be playing and having fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can't control my brain

We'll run away together
We'll spend some time forever
We'll never feel bad anymore

Hip hip

We'll never feel bad anymore
No no
We'll never feel bad anymore
No no
No no
No no

Island in the Sun--Weezer

I Love Running

I ran this morning and felt no pain!  Praise, praise, praise!!!! Not running bums me out and nutty as it sounds, a haze feels like it's been lifted.   Trust me, it shocks me too.

 Me + Running = Love ????  Wow!

I started running 6 years ago, but I've never considered myself a runner.  My start was slow and bumpy. My mom signed me up the GO! Marathon Relay.  It was only 6 miles but training for that thing was awful.  After that race I was done running.  Until the next January when I signed myself up for the half marathon.  If I thought I'd disliked training for 6 miles well that was a blast compared to training for the half marathon.  Then I ran it and declared I was never running another half marathon.  Until the next day, when my friend Lisa asked me if I'd consider running a half marathon with her.  And I signed right up for that....and I guess that's when I got hooked but that's not when I became a runner.  Not being able to run during this injury has made me realize I. am. a. runner.  I'm not a sleek runner, I'm not fast, I don't have cool running clothes, I sweat buckets, my playlists have terrible taste and even though I'm not supposed to, I love the treadmill.   Yes, I'm a runner.

Coach here (who happens to be upstairs right now NOT napping) offers in home classes.  

It seems that now that I've decided I'm a runner I'm going to have to branch out a little.  After years of complaining about my core strength and overall flexibility I'm ready to try yoga and/or Pilates.  Since I seem to be slow to warm up to new things I suppose I'm going to have to give myself at least 6 years to fall in love.

My toddler

If I've taken anything at all away from this past week it's to cherish my kids, love them like crazy and learn from them.  All of my girls are marvelous teachers, each one with her own lessons.  Number 3 is a lesson in letting loose, having fun, and living in the moment.  She's also a lesson in patience, in seeing the big picture and taking lots of deep breaths so you can remember and practice all of those other lessons.  

She loves pajamas.

She loves her passy.

She loves to make noise.

She loves to dance and sing.

She loves me and tells me so all of the time.

She is also like a small tornado.

Take a look at the basement behind her.  I bet that took her about 3 minutes.

And her face.  She can't ever just paint paper.  

No kidding, just as soon as I can cover her up and turn around she is out of bed again.   

 We've begun Lucy's transition from a crib into a big girl bed (which is just her crib missing one side).  I need a quick attitude adjustment because I don't want to do this.  Emma moved into a big girl bed at a couple months shy of 3 (and a few months before I was really ready) and Eleanor was a few months over 3 (perfect!).  In my humble opinion I see absolutely no reason (other than safety) to move a toddler into a bed until at least 3.  Of course leave it to Lucy to use my safety caveat to begin this transition many months earlier than I want.   So far it's not really been awesome.  No nap yesterday, no nap today.  Questionable sleep last night.  I think another lesson this girl has (and has always had) for me is to be flexible and to expect change, even when I like things just the way they are. This is hard for me but gosh if isn't good for ol' stay the same forever me!  She spices things up, keeps me on my toes and helps me remember that stretching and changing and growing keep us happy.

Distracted...

I'm having a hard time focusing on just about anything but these guys.  

They are my friends and I care about them so much.  On Thursday, baby Oliver passed away.   Words aren't enough, in fact I have none.

Off to a good start

We began 2013 with a weekend worth replicating!  Right now I'm thankful for-

 

 kids who are willing to give new things a try.  Kevin and I watched this episode of American's Test Kitchen  earlier in the week.  The girls watched it yesterday morning and we all decided it would make a great Sunday night dinner.  It's cooking right now and from the smell of things we were right.

time alone with this girl and great conversations.  Yesterday we had one about music and growing up, it's worth its own blog post.

our errand runners who didn't mind one bit (well, except for the small issue of a forgotten wallet) going to Hobby Lobby or the library.

a date at the Chase!  Kevin's office party was last night and in a terrific stroke of luck it was at The Chase.  We had such a good time.  My mom and 

Gordon stayed with Eleanor and Lucy (Emma was at a slumber party) and we stayed at The Chase. 

 

creative girls!  They each started their own blogs today.  Eleanor's is a cooking blog, she filmed her first post today....her famous spinach salad!  Emma's is about all sorts of things and she began with a book review.  

January

As fun as the holidays are January always feels like such a fresh breath.  It starts slowly and purposefully, with goals and high hopes.  Everyone trying hard to be their best person.

Last year I wrote 3 goals for myself-
1. Run a sub 2 hour half marathon (Achieved)
2. Do a better job of planning our meals and saving on our weekly grocery bill (semi-acheieved...the work goes on!)
3. Read a fun book a month (miserable failure)

I don't have any clear goals this year, they are all fairly vague and for now that feels ok.  My back is still in bad shape, and I'm in more pain than I'd hope to be by now.  I can't run.  Against doctor's orders I tried yesterday and it didn't go well.  So I'm walking, not loving it but at least I'm moving.  Seems silly to write a goal around running when I'm not exactly sure where this is leading.  My goal instead is something like, keep moving and stay positive.

As for a home goal I'll continue to try to decrease our grocery bill but that's not my overall goal.  Right now I'm thinking my goal is going to focus on providing as many learning opportunities as possible for my kids, and to be more deliberate about that.   Some of this just happens naturally but I feel like before Emma and Eleanor were in school I was much more purposeful.  I'm really excited about how this might shape up.  I have a lot of ideas!

Finally, as my personal goal I want to spend more time praying and reading my Bible.  This will take the most discipline....just like my goal to read a fun book a month.   I think the key here will to build it into my regular schedule.

I'm so thankful that I don't have to write a goal to have more fun, to live in the moment or spend more time with my family.  This is such a blessing.

I should probably take a cue from this girl and carry a book with me at all times just in case an extra 30 seconds pops up in my day.  She seizes every single moment.

Happy Birthday to Eleanor!

Yesterday we rang in Eleanor's new year!  It's really hard to believe that 7 years ago our little baby Ellie was born!  She is an amazing girl; sweet and thoughtful, strong and sensitive, funny and headstrong, super smart and fun loving.  I could tell a whole lot of stories about her that show you just how terrific she is but then I'd be gushing and that's one thing she cannot stand...a whole lot of gushy attention.  So, I'll just sprinkle those stories in all through the year, that's why I have a blog!