Favorite Read: There’s a Wocket in my Pocket

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Last week, while our pizza dough was rising, my kiddos and I sprawled out in the living room with a stack of books and bowls of Cheerios. There’s a Wocket in my Pocket by Dr. Seuss took center stage. Any Dr. Seuss book is a favorite in our house, but this one has been especially popular lately. 

We had so much fun munching and reading while we waited for our next job in the kitchen.

I was tempted to sneak away to my computer to catch up on e-mail with the little bit of "downtime" we had, but I’m so glad I didn’t.

I’ve been trying to live in the moment with my little ones a little more. They truly are so much fun to be with. These pictures don’t do our little book fest justice, but let me tell you, we had a blast. So much so that I think I’m going to start trying to plan every meal so we have 20-30 minutes of book time before we sit down to eat. It is optimistic, but it would be great if I could find a way to make it happen. 

 

 

Life Lessons from Evan

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This morning Evan asked me what day it was. I told him it was Friday, and he looked up from his breakfast and said, “It just keeps going around and around.” He’s right. It does. We wake up, have breakfast, get dressed, take on the day, eat dinner, have a bath and go to bed—all to wake up and do it again the next day. Day after day. 

It can seem monotonous, even to a three year old. But really it is day by day that we build a life. The seemingly meaningless moments that shape our days really do affect who we are. I think that that is what excites me and scares me the most. It is so easy to squander away a day instead of using it to its fullest. Yet, at the same time, we have a clean slate each day. Fixing dinner, wiping noses and finishing a work project can all take on more meaning when we realize that they are moving us closer to our greater goals.  

So, yes Evan, it’s Friday. Friday means ice skating and lunch at the food court. We’ll sit at our table by the fountain. You’ll ask me for pennies and I’ll slowly dole out five that you’ll toss in the water. Madelyn will sit on my lap and watch your every move. You and Madelyn will both fall asleep on our way home and, fingers crossed, stay asleep when I carry you in the house. Later we’ll read books, play cars and fix dinner. I’ll coax you to eat four more bites while Madelyn gobbles up everything in site. You’ll have a bath, we’ll read more books and I’ll lie in bed with you until you fall asleep. I’ll tuck the covers under your chin and sneak out of the room—just so we can wake up tomorrow and do it all again. 

But, it isn’t just a Friday—it is a stepping stone. 

It is our little routine that is shaping us both into who we’re meant to be. Thinking of our days reminds me of my favorite Ernest Hemingway quote: "There are some things which cannot be learned quickly, and time, which is all we have, must be paid heavily for their acquiring. They are simple things, and because it takes a man’s life to know them, the little new that each man gets from life is very costly and the only heritage he has to leave." 

My biggest hope is that I can find a "little new" in each of my days. 

 

 

Red Hearts, Sources and Special Occasion Planning

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This week:

–I am bound and determined to add some Valentine’s flair to our house. I love the 3-D garland above from Pottery Barn Kids. It isn’t available anymore, so I might tackle it as a DIY project. 

–I hope to find sources to talk to me about resonant macrosonic synthesis for a feature due next week. It is turning out to be even harder than I thought it would be. Any recommendations are welcome.

–I will catch up on e-mail and phone calls. I can’t thank my friends enough for being patient with me! You know who you are!

–I have to clean like crazy. I think every room in my house needs attention. 

–I might shed a tear when I attend an open house to learn more about kindergarten options for Evan. When did my baby stop being a baby? 

–I am going to try not to get distracted by the new-to-me blog the Nie Nie Dialogues. 

–My little guy and I will pen Valentine’s cards for his class. 

–I will plot out birthday plans for the special boys in my life. Their special days are coming up fast.

 

Kid-Friendly Office Space

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This corner desk for my little guy is one of the best features in my home office. As much as I try to avoid working with my kids in the room, there are times when it is unavoidable. This desk and the Fisher Price Cool School Computer were gifts from my in laws, and now Evan has his own place to work. We spruced up his "office" with his original artwork that we can rotate out as new creations come home from preschool. Now he gets right to work when "we" have important projects we’re trying to wrap up.

Madelyn’s workstation is her Jumperoo, which is positioned between my desk and Evan’s. Now I can get a solid 30 minutes of screen time in when necessary. Phone calls, however, are out. Between the music from the computer and the Jumperoo, it sounds like you’re in the middle of a Chuck E Cheese. But for sending e-mails or proofreading a final draft of a story, it’s perfect! 

 

The Power of a Snapshot

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Ten years ago, I stood in this spot and shot broadcast stand ups for a CBS station in Vermont. With the Capitol as my backdrop, I told stories about Sen. Jim Jeffords switching political parties and Paul McCartney lobbying on Capitol Hill. I tracked bills and told the folks back home how the latest legislation would affect them. I was obsessed with news and loved that I got to be on the front lines.  

Today I stood in the same spot and held my baby girl. I pulled her hat over her ears and put gloves on her hands. I kissed her chubby cheeks and wiped drool from her chin.

With the Capitol in the background once again, I thought about my life then—in broadcast—and my life now as a mom and a freelance writer. How very lucky I am to have already had three of my life dreams come true. Sometimes I forget to count my blessings. Sometimes I need a simple reminder, and a snapshot can be a very powerful tool.

Why is it that most of my photos live in my computer or buried in a box? Do yours, too? I think it is time to go on a little archeological dig and unearth the photos that have special meaning and put them out where we can see them. Reminders of all that we’ve accomplished and the things we hold dear can be powerful things. 

 

An Awesome Book from my Bookshelf

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You know those little things that make you smile—like twisting the lid off the jar when no one else could and getting buried under a pile of blankets on a cold night? Neil Pasricha is a genius and compiles them all in his book, The Book of Awesome, and on his blog, 1,000 Awesome Things. 

My sweet friend Sandy gave me the book last year and it instantly became one of my favorites (hence all of the fingerprint smudges on the cover). I smile every time I read it. I love paying attention to the little things in life and this book inspires me to notice the awesome things all around me.

While the book was gift enough, Sandy took it to the next level and slipped customized notes into the pages of the book. They recount memories of each other—talking on the phone late at night and road trips we’ve taken together. She also let me know she is hoping I can get some much needed sleep! 

A friend that gives you a perfect gift and then makes it even better with a personal touch? AWESOME! Thank you, Sandy, for adding this great book to my bookshelf. I love it! Thanks, too, for being such a great friend. 

Snow.

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Last week the D.C. area had its first major snowstorm of 2011. We lost power for 24+ hours. We searched for flashlights and replaced batteries. We piled blankets on our beds and wore layers. Evan got to wear his Spiderman snow boots. We had peanut butter sandwiches for breakfast. I learned how to cook pasta and chicken nuggets on a gas grill. Bryan shoveled the driveway and Evan helped. We played Candyland and superheroes. I realized that no matter how long the power is out, I will still flip a light switch when I walk into a room. And I decided that we should unplug and stay in just a little more often. 

Pat the Puppy, Bunny and Cat

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Shhh….don’t tell Evan, but I let Madelyn read his copies of Pat the Puppy, Pat the Cat and Pat the Bunny books last week. These are some of Evan’s favorites, so I know he’d reach over and rescue them from Madelyn’s grip if he knew she liked them. And definitely don’t mention that the corner of one the books ended up in Madelyn’s mouth. It will be our secret.

These have been some of Evan’s favorites for years. He knows every word in each of them and heaven help me if I can only find Pat the Puppy when he is in the mood for Pat the Bunny. Tears. Tears I tell you. I try to make sure all of our Pat books are together on the shelf to reduce the risk of a pre-bedtime meltdown. Have any of you read the Pat the Pony or Tickle the Pig books in this series (if you can call it a series)? I’ve seen them on Amazon but I haven’t read them yet. They might be good additions to our collection.