And herein, I realized that fall really is my favorite time of year. Usually I say spring, er late spring. But man - fall has it goin' on!
Got to go for a run the other evening (hello! It wasn't 90 degrees and miserable!), with a friend, and celebrated wearing gloves, an ear cover thing and capris. First run of the season with those goodies. And it was fabulous! While I do love my early morning summertime runs, there's something about getting to go for a run whenever I want, totally not dictated by the weather, that makes fall the clear winner.
What's your favorite time of year? Favorite time of year to be outside?
Friday, September 27, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
To Be Bigger
Sometimes I think that I want to be bigger than what I am right now. And then I wonder, how is that even possible? Right now I stay home with my boys. Two mornings a week they go to preschool, to get a little outside perspective in their world. And I want to use those two mornings to expand my brain, embrace the things I love and enrich my world. But, you know what? I can't figure out what it is I want to do. So, most of those mornings go to getting stuff done without my two sidekicks attached to me.
I know that, soon enough, I won't have sidekicks. They'll grow and change and only need me sometimes, not all the time...or nearly all the time. And I still haven't figured out what it is that I want to be when I grow up. Being a mama is pretty awesome. But at some point I'm going to have two little boys who grow into bigger boys and I'll be in need of a new direction.
How do I figure out what it is I want to do? What is the mark I want to leave? Is there a mark I want to leave? How do I focus myself enough to figure it out??
I see these amazing women doing their thing and doing it well. Women who have started their own companies, who seem to do what they love and juggle it with their family's well-being. I want that. Tips???
Cheers -
Mama H
I know that, soon enough, I won't have sidekicks. They'll grow and change and only need me sometimes, not all the time...or nearly all the time. And I still haven't figured out what it is that I want to be when I grow up. Being a mama is pretty awesome. But at some point I'm going to have two little boys who grow into bigger boys and I'll be in need of a new direction.
How do I figure out what it is I want to do? What is the mark I want to leave? Is there a mark I want to leave? How do I focus myself enough to figure it out??
I see these amazing women doing their thing and doing it well. Women who have started their own companies, who seem to do what they love and juggle it with their family's well-being. I want that. Tips???
Cheers -
Mama H
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Summertime
...and the livin's easy."
My dad recently discovered that song, which is amusing because it's been around for a few (!) years now. When he comes to visit he finds it on YouTube and blares it on my computer speakers. He is awesome.
The livin' has been easy these past few weeks. We've been busy enjoying the freedom of running around our back yard, in the door, out the door, down the block to the neighbors, meeting new friends in the neighborhood and exploring new places. I love summertime.
We've taken two camping trips with our tent trailer, too. Getting the old girl dialed in - my husband's parents bought in in 1997 and have taken crazy good care of it. We have a perfect parking spot for it, so we get access to it any time we feel up to it, really. The boys LOVE the tent trailer, though camping with two kiddos ages 4-almost-5 and just-turned-3 also has its hazards. Baby H tends to prefer his camping au naturel and at top volume. ALL.THE.TIME. Poor neighbors. Big E thinks camping is just an excuse to ride his Strider bike like a crazy man all over our (and neighboring) camp sites. Again, poor neighbors. Are you sensing a pattern???
If you're in need of summertime inspiration, click this link: You're Welcome.
Cheers -
Mama H
My dad recently discovered that song, which is amusing because it's been around for a few (!) years now. When he comes to visit he finds it on YouTube and blares it on my computer speakers. He is awesome.
The livin' has been easy these past few weeks. We've been busy enjoying the freedom of running around our back yard, in the door, out the door, down the block to the neighbors, meeting new friends in the neighborhood and exploring new places. I love summertime.
We've taken two camping trips with our tent trailer, too. Getting the old girl dialed in - my husband's parents bought in in 1997 and have taken crazy good care of it. We have a perfect parking spot for it, so we get access to it any time we feel up to it, really. The boys LOVE the tent trailer, though camping with two kiddos ages 4-almost-5 and just-turned-3 also has its hazards. Baby H tends to prefer his camping au naturel and at top volume. ALL.THE.TIME. Poor neighbors. Big E thinks camping is just an excuse to ride his Strider bike like a crazy man all over our (and neighboring) camp sites. Again, poor neighbors. Are you sensing a pattern???
If you're in need of summertime inspiration, click this link: You're Welcome.
Cheers -
Mama H
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Remind me to laugh
This will probably come off kind of cheesy, but it's something that Big E has been saying to me recently when I put him to bed. And it made me think. Kids: it's what they do.
The last couple nights, he has looked at me and said, "mom, will you lay down with me for one more minute, so I can make you laugh?"
Kind of a random thing to say. I mean, I think we laugh a lot, all day long, or so I thought. However, the last two nights, both Big E and Big H have said something to me, as I'm laying there next to them, snuggled in, working to calm them down and usher them into that night's rest, that has made me laugh out loud, a deep belly laugh, the kind that you can't stop. And, hello nurse, those kids are excellent laughers.
So, the thought that came to me, as I lay there next to Big E tonight, watching him giggle because I was giggling, which then made him giggle more, and on and on it went, was this: I don't think I really laugh hard in front of my kids very often. I think I'm busy during the day, trying to make sure we keep on task, don't paint the walls, please don't close your brother in the closet, never, ever kick the dog (even if she just ate your favorite cookie), don't pee on the dishwasher, get to school on time, have a healthy lunch, don't smear pizza into the couch, don't squeeze the kitten, have fun at gymnastics, use gentle hands, etc, phew, that I don't always listen to what they're saying. And man, these little boys can be serious comedians.
So, I'm leaving you all with this excellent quote from Big H today. I asked to see his superhero mask and he turned to me and said, "mom, this is not a superhero mask. This is a Henry mask." And then he giggled and ran off. And I laughed.
Cheers -
Mama H
The last couple nights, he has looked at me and said, "mom, will you lay down with me for one more minute, so I can make you laugh?"
Kind of a random thing to say. I mean, I think we laugh a lot, all day long, or so I thought. However, the last two nights, both Big E and Big H have said something to me, as I'm laying there next to them, snuggled in, working to calm them down and usher them into that night's rest, that has made me laugh out loud, a deep belly laugh, the kind that you can't stop. And, hello nurse, those kids are excellent laughers.
So, the thought that came to me, as I lay there next to Big E tonight, watching him giggle because I was giggling, which then made him giggle more, and on and on it went, was this: I don't think I really laugh hard in front of my kids very often. I think I'm busy during the day, trying to make sure we keep on task, don't paint the walls, please don't close your brother in the closet, never, ever kick the dog (even if she just ate your favorite cookie), don't pee on the dishwasher, get to school on time, have a healthy lunch, don't smear pizza into the couch, don't squeeze the kitten, have fun at gymnastics, use gentle hands, etc, phew, that I don't always listen to what they're saying. And man, these little boys can be serious comedians.
So, I'm leaving you all with this excellent quote from Big H today. I asked to see his superhero mask and he turned to me and said, "mom, this is not a superhero mask. This is a Henry mask." And then he giggled and ran off. And I laughed.
Mama H
Monday, June 3, 2013
Sicky McSickerton
Well, I'm pretty sure I'm dying. From the worst freaking cold-sinus-chest-awfulness ever. Dramatic? Me? Never.
Truly, though, I've been sick since Thursday. I had to text a friend (it's like dialing a friend on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) to decide for me if I should go for a run on Thursday. Once I was honest about how blah I was feeling, she was very clear in her recommendation - nope, nada, there's no way this one run will help you feel better than taking a day off to take care of yourself.
Turns out Thursday was the last day before TODAY that I felt capable of doing anything, including getting dressed, getting out of bed, eating and being even remotely presentable.
I have no idea what this post is about except that it's heavy on the whine-factor.
I want to feel better! I want to not have dry-heaved in the Starbucks drive-thru line this morning (hey, Starbucks, yeah, no coffee, just oatmeal, woops, hold on....nope, I'm back!) or gotten dizzy at the nursery where I was searching for more plants for our back yard (someone.stop.me.).
I guess what I've really been thinking about is this: who takes care of us? I still feel like someone will tell me when I need to just go lay down and I've done too much. But it so doesn't happen. I should know by now, right? I mean, I know when my kids or my husband or my friends need to stop moving and take care of themselves. So how come I can't see it for me?
So, this week, my to-do's are: GET BETTER and LEARN HOW TO STOP.
We'll see how those go...
Cheers -
Mama H
Truly, though, I've been sick since Thursday. I had to text a friend (it's like dialing a friend on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire) to decide for me if I should go for a run on Thursday. Once I was honest about how blah I was feeling, she was very clear in her recommendation - nope, nada, there's no way this one run will help you feel better than taking a day off to take care of yourself.
Turns out Thursday was the last day before TODAY that I felt capable of doing anything, including getting dressed, getting out of bed, eating and being even remotely presentable.
I have no idea what this post is about except that it's heavy on the whine-factor.
I want to feel better! I want to not have dry-heaved in the Starbucks drive-thru line this morning (hey, Starbucks, yeah, no coffee, just oatmeal, woops, hold on....nope, I'm back!) or gotten dizzy at the nursery where I was searching for more plants for our back yard (someone.stop.me.).
I guess what I've really been thinking about is this: who takes care of us? I still feel like someone will tell me when I need to just go lay down and I've done too much. But it so doesn't happen. I should know by now, right? I mean, I know when my kids or my husband or my friends need to stop moving and take care of themselves. So how come I can't see it for me?
So, this week, my to-do's are: GET BETTER and LEARN HOW TO STOP.
We'll see how those go...
Cheers -
Mama H
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Margarita Mama
 |
| Margaritas from my trip to San Diego - it was happy hour. |
It is quickly becoming the time of year when a delicious margarita is just the answer to a long, sometimes stressful, very often exhausting day spent with tiny children.
Here are two of my favorite margarita recipes - one with tequila and one without! Both incorporate carbonated beverages (beer or lemon-lime soda), which give both drinks a lovely slight effervescence. Fresh limes are a must and I should clearly state that I do not believe in blended margaritas. Blech - no point to all that slushiness!
Beer-ritas -
Ok, so the name needs work, but these are my favorite margaritas ever (homemade, anyway).
You need:
- (1) can frozen limeade (light if you prefer less calories)
- (1) can of light beer
- (12 oz.) water
- (10 - 12 oz.) tequila (I use a "Silver" tequila)
- (2 - 4) Fresh limes
- Salt
Thaw the limeade, pour in pitcher and mix with beer, water, and tequila. Cut limes in half. I've used anywhere from 2 - 4 limes, depending on their size and how much you like lime. (I love lime.) Squeeze limes into pitcher, reserve a lime or two and throw the rest in the pitcher. Makes it waaayyyyy prettier.
Take your reserved limes and rub the lime juice on the edge of the glass you are serving the margarita in. I grind sea salt onto a small plate and then invert the glass onto the salt. The lime juice makes the salt stick nicely to the rim of the glass.
Add ice to your glass and pour margarita into the glass.
Garnish with a lime.
Virgin Margaritas -
You need:
- (1) can frozen limeade (light if you prefer less calories)
- (1) can of lemon-lime soda
- (12 oz.) water
- (1/2 oz.) orange juice
- Fresh limes
- Salt
Thaw the limeade, pour in pitcher and mix with soda, water, and orange juice. Cut limes in half. I've used anywhere from 2 - 4 limes, depending on their size and how much you like lime. (I love lime.) Squeeze limes into pitcher, reserve a lime or two and throw the rest in the pitcher. Makes it waaayyyyy prettier.
Take your reserved limes and rub the lime juice on the edge of the glass you are serving the margarita in. I grind sea salt onto a small plate and then invert the glass onto the salt. The lime juice makes the salt stick nicely to the rim of the glass.
Add ice to your glass and pour margarita into the glass.
Garnish with a lime.
Voila! Heaven on a sunny afternoon!
Cheers -
Mama H
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Mom today
I've been thinking a lot about moms and being a grown up and having friends and how all this changes us and what happens next, after we've mastered this whole mom thing and our kids grow up and move out...and, yes, that was supposed to be a run on sentence. You're welcome.
No, really, the last few years have been so intense. We went from the craziness of trying to get pregnant (two years of SUCH FUN doctor's visits!) to the relentlessness of being new parents. And just when Big E was getting a little more mobile and a bit less needy, we decided to try again. The drugs worked and we were blessed with Big H. My boys are a little less than 21 months apart. Which means that, today, as I write this, Big H is about to turn 3 and in a few short months Big E will turn 5.
Side note: My mind can almost not comprehend the fact that I will have a FIVE YEAR OLD.
Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about how I'm not getting any younger (I'll be 35 this summer) and if we're really done having kids. I used to jokingly say that I wanted five children, to spread out my crazy and make their lives easier. And after having two children, I can tell you, I'd like to have more. I'm just not sure I can handle the pregnancy part or the first year/breastfeeding/sleep deprivation part. Which is kind of a problem. And I know that adoption is an option, but I have watched a few friends go through that process and if you thought infertility was gut-wrenching and took strength to live through, you can safely assume that adoption is it's own crazy ride.
So, what happens to us once we've figured out this mom thing and then our kids grow up??? I love being a mom. I love staying home with my kids and watching them grow into little people. I love that I get to bear witness to their daily realizations about the world around them. But I know that in a few short years, the view will look completely different. Don't get me wrong, I know they'll always be my boys and that, god-willing, we'll still talk, and play, and spend quality time together. But it will be different. These moments right now really are priceless. And even on the afternoons where Big H has given himself a bloody nose with a garden stake, and Big E is screaming at us because we're not playing with the dump truck the way it is SUPPOSED to be played with, and Ginger the dog has thrown up on a pile of clean laundry, and Olive the dog is whining from the bedroom because she's old and can't figure out how to walk down the hall and find all of us - even on those afternoons - if I can hear my thoughts through the chaos, I try to pay attention to the quietest thought. The one that says, "this too shall pass and damn, will you miss it."
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