She's Normal, Right?

One of Amelia's favorite toys is a Christmas Mr. Potato Head. She likes to pull off all the pieces and carry them around in the potato body. Every piece except for this one....

I think it makes her look like a festive Hannibal Lecter. Don't you agree?

Linking this up with:

I'm on Fire

I have read a ton of books this summer and  I have neither the energy, nor the desire to recap them online. Who knows, maybe I'll revisit that part of my blog later this year, but for right now, I'll just leave you with a pictorial list of the reading I've done. I can honestly say that I've really enjoyed them all. Some more than others, of course, but I can't think of a single book that I would tell anyone to skip. It's been a wonderful summer of reading for me.

So there you have it. The SIXTEEN most recent books I've read! If you have any questions about any of them, feel free to ask me in the comments. If you've read any of them and want to tell me your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

I can't imagine I'll be able to keep this pace up through the rest of the year, but I've already accomplished my New Year's reading goal so I feel like I can relax and read anything that catches my eye. Also, I've put a nice sized dent in my "to be read" bookshelf which means I can start buying books again!

Full Circle

It's been far too long since I've written a post for Mama Kat's workshop. I feel like I just haven't had time to squeeze good writing into my blog this summer. I've been too busy posting pictures and fluff about kids and vacations - and the chaos that engulfs our family when we go without a schedule - to actually sit down and compose a post.

I miss it.

Not only writing, which was the reason I started this online adventure in the first place, but also the comments and companionship that comes with sharing in something bigger than just me, alone, banging out my thoughts on a laptop; between the naps, swimming lessons, play dates, and temper tantrums.

Initially, it was the silence of blogging that enticed me. Taking time, alone, to put my thoughts or feelings into words without worrying about what they sounded like outside of my head. Being free to express publicly my opinions and ideas without the fear of judgement because no one was really reading my blog anyway!

As this space grew though, I felt the excitement of being alone WITH other people. I'm still able to have that time with myself; time to sort through the endless days of diapers and dinner and laundry. Time to ruminate on my seemingly epic failures as as wife and mother, as well as time to quietly pat myself on the back for what may seem to others to be the smallest of accomplishments. While simultaneously, sharing all of those days, failures and accomplishments with people who "get it." People whom I've never met or spoken to, yet whom - through our online exchanges, twitter feeds and one-way diatribes - I know.

I miss you.

I miss writing about me - my ideas, feelings, or fears - being hesitant to hit publish, only to find a comment a few hours later full of support, understanding and often validation for what I'd been afraid to express. It was wonderful to discover that, although my thoughts are unique and my hopes, dreams and fears come from my own personal experiences, there are others who share some of the same feelings. I don't have to be alone in my failings and I can share my successes with people who understand why some days the fact that I didn't pack a bag, get in the car and drive to Mexico is a success!

I miss that.

This summer has been chaotic. I got so wrapped up in the trips, errands, and activities, while at the same time trying to keep up with the household chores and work, that I got lost. I wasn't able to use my "me time" for anything besides catching my breath. I didn't write. I didn't run. I started smoking again. I read book after book, but mostly as an escape. It took all my energy just to tread water and now I'm feeling somewhat depleted.

So I'm turning again to where I have found so much comfort in the past. I'm writing in the quiet about something that's been screaming in my head for the past few months.

It's been far too long since I've written a post for Mama Kat's workshop.

Written in response to a prompt from Mama Kat's.
#4. Write a post that begins and ends with the same sentence.

There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch

 You may have occasionally wondered how far our family would drive for free food. Well, wonder no more. Last weekend we found the answer to that question...75 miles. Let me repeat that, seventy-five miles.

Elijah's uncle sent us a $100 gift certificate to Cooper's BBQ that he won in a golf tournament. We'd planned on using it last Saturday but I balked at the fact that it's located 75 miles west of us, in the town of Llano, Texas. Elijah thought it'd be a nice little adventure while I thought it'd be better to order the food online for delivery and eat it later that week, after the kids went to bed. However, since Elijah's idea meant we wouldn't have to figure out what to make for dinner that night, we packed up the two happiest travelers on the planet and headed out.

The drive really wasn't that bad, aside from Amelia's new favorite saying..."Amelia talk" which she uses whenever any one else is speaking, followed by high pitched screaming until she is acknowledged and responded to. The drive took us through some interesting small towns; I enjoyed exploring our westerly neighboring areas.

As for the food, we ordered a little of everything they had, ate a ton, and brought back a tub full of ribs, pork chops, brisket, and chicken. We figured that since we weren't probably coming back anytime soon, we might as well use the whole amount of the certificate at once. We've been nibbling on the leftovers all week.

Nothing gets the school year started off right better than a meat filled tub!

2nd Grade, 1st Day

Today was Asher's first day of Second Grade! He started his very last new school, I swear we're never moving again, I promise you, today.

As you can see, he looks picture perfect; totally ready to start this new year off right. In case you're wondering, yes he does have something on his shirt, and yes it IS the toothpaste mess that I watched him wipe off his face this morning in the bathroom. I only share this to prove to myself, and all my readers, that I am not OCD. An OCD mom would've made him change into another one of the six pre-matched outfits sitting on his dresser. Having two kids has seriously made me apathetic. Also, note the Christmas Tree doormat we're still rocking. Might as well wait four more months until it's back in season, right? You may laugh, but these are the things that make me think my life is in shambles...talk about needing a little perspective!

From his report, he had an alright day. He's convinced that the recesses are shorter at his new school and that he will be forever stuck playing on the "baby playground" where the only thing worthwhile are the swings. I told him to give it a full week before deciding that his life was over because seriously, I'm NEVER moving again.

I'll let you know how it goes...

My Baby Can Read!

My Baby Can Read! from Miss Marina Star on Vimeo.

Blah, Blah, Blah

I'm back again and I know I have a ton of catching you up to do! Just let me get this longish post out about prepping for the new school year and we'll be back to business as usual around here.

I'm relieved that we are on our final summer lazy week, but also a little anxious about heading into the new school year. I still haven't gotten Asher's school supplies and he desperately needs a pair of new shoes. What can I say....it's classic me. I start strong and am pretty deflated by the end of summer.

Asher has taken full advantage of this week. He's been up the past two nights well past midnight (we didn't give him a bedtime this week, but we aren't staying up with him either). Last night I found him munching away on his secret stash of junk food at 0245! He'll likely sleep past ten today and we'll move him back to a normal bedtime a few days before the start of school, but he's really enjoyed having this freedom.

My final week isn't turning out to be so relaxing. Yesterday I think I folded and put away at least six loads of laundry. Stripped the sheets, straightened the house, unpacked the kids, I am getting just a sick of doing all this things over and over again as you are of reading about it! I really hoping to have more interesting things to write about. Maybe I should start some anti-laundry experiment and report back. Since we're all online it shouldn't matter that I'd be blogging in dirty clothes, right?

Anyway, thanks for hanging in here. I can't imagine this was anything more than cathartic for me. I am looking forward to having something more interesting to write about soon!

Summer Recap

Summer is winding down. The heat has been oppressive but our days have still been packed with activities. I severely miscalculated the need to sprinkle in some down time and we are all feeling the strain of not having had enough 'lay around days.' I vow to do better next summer, although I'm sure by next April I'll forget how exhausted I felt this August and will once again schedule too much summer fun.

Asher and Amelia only have one week left of camp before they're home with me all day for the next two weeks and I'm thinking it's probably time to get that Xanax refilled. We will spend one more week in Oklahoma - swimming, staying up late and visiting family - before the highly anticipated last week of summer vacation. The kids and I will spend our last week of summer laying in front of the TV, munching on popcorn and pizza, dreading the following Monday's 0645 alarm. I always try to give them one full week of lounging. I figure that way, they remember summer as being long lazy days filled with junk food episodes of The Simpsons.

Looking back, I realize how lucky we were this summer. We got to take our first family vacation with all four of us. Elijah and I were be able to reconnect with distant relatives and the kids were introduced to more people who love them. We all came home bronzed after spending time in the sun with sand between our toes. We've all been healthy and the kids, rather than stagnating, have grown physically, socially and mentally. I wake up every day grateful for the opportunity to be overbooked and stressed about how much fun we packed into these ten weeks.

However, I am also looking forward to this coming year. Asher will be heading into 2nd grade, and Amelia will spend three, YES THREE, days a week at preschool. The thought of structured days and routines after the chaos of summer is comforting. I will miss being able to put off dishes and laundry for days at a time, but I'll also enjoy having the weeks more or less planned out. I am also hoping to work more in the coming months in an effort to fund some of our bigger house projects.

So there it is, three weeks early but a summer recap nonetheless. I think I wrote this early because I'm anxious for Fall. I'm ready for a season of shorter days and cooler weather. Hopefully, in spite of being ready to move on, I can help us all squeeze a few more good memories out of these remaining weeks.