The Snowy Day

Yesterday, we went for a hike in just lightweight shirts. Today, we got our first real (and likely only) snow of the season.

Every Song is Beautiful

Sometimes, I need to decompress after work and so on the way home, I'm guilty of giving E$ the iPod and letting him watch a show. It is the kind of thing I always said (pre-kid) that I said I would never do and here I am, mashing up my foot to fit it into my mouth. But sometimes, I just need twenty minutes of quiet, to think through my day or to just focus on the road with NPR in the background. So yeah, I hand over the iPod and enjoy the quiet.

However, there are days when we don't turn on the iPod or the radio. We just talk. My almost four year old is a glorious conversationalist. He sings the songs from music class; he asks, politely and genuinely, "how was your day?" We tell jokes, share what we had for lunch. He tells me about the playground antics; I tell him about the books that we're reading. I often make up songs about our days and today, he just said to me, "Mom, your songs are beautiful. Every songs are beautiful." If you heard me sing them, you might disagree, but that's the wonder of a preschooler. Sometimes, there are these gems that I just hold onto. One day, not too long ago, we were talking about zombies. In his class, they made a list around Halloween of "Real or Not Real?" and zombies, of course, were Not Real. (Note: My son, he is obsessed with zombies, specifically the zombies in the Thriller video and Michael Jackson. See evidence in his Halloween costume:

In the fall, when his interest was a part of our daily life, we talked about how the zombies were just people in costumes. While he still loved the zombies, Christmas brought new things to think about. And just a few weeks ago, in the car, on the way home, he suddenly got very quiet. I glanced into the rear view mirror to see if he was okay and he just seemed to be thinking. Finally, he spoke and we had this exchange:

E: Mom, zombies are Not Real, right?

Me: Right. Just people in costumes.

E: But people are real.

Me: Yup.

E: Costumes are real.

Me: Yup...

E: So if zombies are just people in costumes, zombies are real. 

Me: (crickets chirping)

I had no idea what to say. It was hard to argue with his logic. I love these conversations; I look forward to these conversations. Sometimes, I am so amazed at the person he is becoming. He is smart and curious and funny (he seriously has an amazing sense of humor), but he is also equal parts rough and tumble boy. In all of the rambunctiousness that comes along with raising sons, I am happy for these car conversations and the glimpse into him that they give me. 

My Other Love is Pinterest

10 Minutes: A Birthday Wish

I want to be under my covers, reading Bossypants by 10:30, and I still need to wash my face and move clothes into the dryer, so dear blog, you get 10 minutes tonight (but that's better than nothing!).

Yesterday was my birthday. I turned 32. Not that 32 is a particularly special birthday, other than in my world, birthdays are always super special events and as I found myself saying multiple times yesterday (when asked if I wanted more cake, a longer nap, etc), you only turn 32 once! It was an awesome day-- brunch with some friends, a nap with my boy, dinner out to my favorite restaurant with Jason and Myles and then home early enough for a bottle of wine, a fire, a foot rub and a movie on TBS. I spent some time with my family today and took another nap. A perfect way to usher in a new year.

I don't mind moving into my thirties, other than the usual complaint that it all goes too fast. As I approach my birthday every year, I make time to reflect on how much I have in my life to appreciate. I have an amazing husband who really is my best friend, three incredible boys who push me to my limits and teach me more about myself every day, a job I love. I'm healthy. We have enough in our life-- a house that is a home, cars that get us to where we need to be. I have some luxuries, but also simplicity. We eat dinner together as a family most nights each week. We are getting better about saving and knowing when to treat ourselves. I have a bucket list of things to do and places to see that are all attainable. I live a charmed life.

So thank you-- to those that read, because you are what keeps me writing. And when I write, I feel more sane, more balanced. It's part of the person I want to be; a priority that isn't always set at the highest level but one that offers great rewards. It's the same feeling I get when I go for a run, but this is much warmer. :)

And I know it's (probably) not your birthday, but happy birthday anyway. Happy day-to-count-your-blessings. Happy day to celebrate you and all that you are!

"It is not happy people who are thankful; it is thankful people who are happy."