january is gone

I wish I had some news to report. I wish I could tell you that we have new jobs and we are moving on with life. I wish I could tell you that life has been a crazy roller coaster.

But, I can't. Life has been more like a merry-go-round. We just keep going in the same circle over and over and over again as time just escapes us.

Some hi-lights for the month of January?

We house/dog sat for some friends, and they gave us a couple of tickets to a Gonzaga game. I had the pleasure of taking Graham with me and showing him where I used to stand as a student to cheer on the Zags. I don't get a lot of one-on-one time with Graham anymore. Back in the day, when Tony was away with the Navy all the time and before Alaina was born, Graham and I spent almost every waking moment together. I would take him everywhere with me. He was my little buddy. I miss those days, so when he sat on my lap in order to see the game better, I savored every second of that closeness. It was such a treat. I guess I'll have to carve out more time for dates with just Graham.

Alaina is growing into a happy, content little lady. She entertains herself throughout the day, but she is always by my side. Right next to me. All the time. She is saying lots of words, but none of them are very clear, yet. The words she says the most are "baby" and "doggie." Sometimes she even makes one word out of them "babydoggie." She is also growing closer and closer to her dad. She'll even ask for him when she needs comfort, instead of only asking for me. And, best of all, when she wakes in the morning, she hollers, "DAAAADDYY! DADA! Mommy? DAAADYY!! DADDYMOMMY??" It is pretty great. It's times like those I am grateful Tony is not off on some Navy ship making tons of money. As they say, money can't buy you love.

Tony and I have also had lots of opportunities to go on dates, since we live with my mom and she is always, always willing to babysit. This past weekend, we got to dress up and go to the Mayoral Charity Gala. It pays to be related to the mayor!

And, I guess that's January in a wrap.

One other thing I need to mention before I go, though, is that Graham is getting pretty good at skiing! I haven't had the chance to go to the mountain with him, yet, because all my snow gear is in storage with all our other stuff. Plus, I usually end up taking care of Alaina. But, next time he goes, I might just have to borrow some snow pants so I can see him in action and report here back to you.

Enjoy this cold, February day. 

joseph

I was a little worried that Graham would have trouble adjusting and fitting into his new school. Then, he came home one day and told me he was going to be the starring role of Joseph in the annual first grade Epiphany pageant.

I stopped worrying.

Obviously, his teachers trust him and his peers appreciate him.

I have absolutely no problem admitting how proud I am of this boy.

Good job, Graham! 

december

nostalgia

Feelings of nostalgia are getting the better of me this week.

Hope you're having a good holiday season.

Maybe my new year's resolution will be to start blogging again.

Maybe.

If I can stop crying over this video.

big brother teaches little sister the art of pumpkin carving

Happy happy Halloween, friends. 

a few things

Today, Alaina is 19 months old.

She's taken a turn over the past couple of weeks. She's a little less sensitive and a little more fun. She cries less and laughs more. She's turning into a bit of a tornado. She loves to explore and touch and grab everything, and she likes to run away from me. She thinks it's a blast for me to chase her, but it drives me insane. Help me! 

We took the kids to Seattle over the weekend. We showed them the aquarium and the zoo.

I conducted a sociological experiment and concluded something fascinating about parents. As I watched my kids react to all the fishes and animals with hoots and aws and jumps and roars, I looked up with a giant smile to see if anyone else noticed how perfectly darling and precious my children were. Instead, what I found were a bunch of parents doting over their own kids and then looking up to see if anyone else was watching their perfectly darling and precious children.

It was refreshing to see the love parents can give to their perfectly darling and precious children...

Graham got a hair cut last week. Gulp. I'm still crying over how short it is. Apparently, he hopped into the barber's chair and said, "I want it just like my dad's."

Hmm. He certainly looks a bit more like his dad with such a short cut, but nobody can deny it when I say that he is my baby.

That's all for now. Goodbye and have a very good week.

falling in love again with Eastern Washington

A little over eight years ago, 007 and I got hitched and moved across the country to Florida. I learned to love the beaches and sunsine, but deep down, I missed the crisp seasons of Spokane. Then, we moved to Oklahoma. I loved the plains and the friends I made, but I still really missed the mountains and trees and family in Washington. When we moved to Italy, I got homesick at first, but eventually it faded and I forgot to miss Eastern Washington. I got caught up with Michelangelo and cobblestones and cafe and forgot about my love for the American countryside.

I forgot how much I enjoy a good 'ole American fair.

Or freezing cold lakes in the summertime.

Or Grandma's patio and Grandma's company.

I forgot about Highway 2 and Lake Chelan and endless fields of wheat.

I forgot about farms and good friends and pony rides.

I forgot how good it feels to be around family, to never feel lonely, to sit around a fire and shoot the breeze, to see my children playing with the children of my best friends.

I think it's a good thing I forgot these things so that I could fully embrace Italy and traveling in Europe. I'm so glad I got to live in Italy. I'd go back to Naples tomorrow if someone gave us a ticket and a job.   I still can't talk or think about it too much without crying. Italy, I'll never forget.

Ever.

Even while I sit here and let myself fall in love again with Eastern Washington.