110 with Rachael and Ben: Cousin time!

Today was an absolutely gorgeous Friday! Perhaps the universe is making up for the days and days and days of rain we've had this spring/summer with the gift of an 85 degree, lower humidity day in July! This kind of day = unheard of in our neck of the woods!

We started the day with a trip to the YMCA pool with our neighbor friend, Evan and his mama. Super fun way to start the day! After a good swim and lunch/nap, our cousins, Alex & Aidan arrived with their mama (Allyson) and Nana (Ann Marie). Allyson is like a sister to me and it's even more special that our kids are close in age -- Ben and Aidan are just 3 1/2 months apart! Don't worry....Rachael's not intimidated by 3 boys...she can handle it all in stride and make each one of them play with a tea set and a tiarra all in one afternoon. 

This week was a particularly busy/stressful one with my Mom having a Crohn's flare. {As I write this, she is on the mend and will hope to avoid surgery!}Mike was (as always!) very generous to just let me pick up and go to be with her while he held down the homefront. The thing is -- he did so much more than hold it down - - I came home to happy kiddos, a mostly clean kitchen, a folded basket of laundry and a new shelf in the laundry room! He is a partner -- and even carries more of the load than he should and for that I can say, I AM the luckiest!

110 with Rachael and Ben: A visit with good friends!

Katelyn (8), Lauren (5), Ben (2), Rachael (3) enjoy the pool at BaBa's lake house!

Today the kids and I went to visit with Alicia, Eric and Barbara (lovingly known as BaBa to her grandkids) while they were all at BaBa's lake house. It was (as always) too short and so much fun! The kids warmed up to each other and played games in and out of the pool. Alicia and I talked fast and furiously, trying to catch up on 6 months of life while keeping an eye on the kiddos. My friendship with Alicia is 18 years old.....and it's as easy to be with her now as it was then. We've lived with each other and have survived break ups, hangovers, parties, Spring Break trips, broken hearts, engagements, bridal showers, weddings and baby showers and child-rearing together. She went MBA, I went MS. She stays in Jersey, I stay in NC. But, no matter the distance or the time apart, there's nothing like coming together with someone that "knew you when".
I can only pray that Rachael and Ben will build friendships like the ones we are blessed to have. I truly hope seeing these friendships in our lives will influence the way they make friends.

What a great way to spend one of our 110!

xoxo

 

110 with Rachael and Ben

Today is a FIRST.

It's the first Friday of my 3/4 time work schedule which I asked for in January 2013. You see, over the Christmas holiday, Ben and Rachael were so much fun. Each day was a new (and tiring!) adventure. Each day slipped away too quickly. And, I took pause and thought -- I don't want to miss any more days with these two.

But, I know myself well enough to know, I'm not "full-time, SAHM" built. I have the utmost respect for full-time, stay-at-home Moms...theirs is a job I don't think I could handle. However, I knew something needed to change about my full-time, out of the home work schedule.

Then, when we settled in to January 2013, we got the year end statement from the wonderful daycare our children attended. $32,000! In ONE year! My feelings were confirmed with data -- something needed to change.

And so, it will. I asked for a switch to a 3/4 time schedule. I searched high and low for a preschool that would meet the kids' needs and my schedule's needs. I found it -- PHEW!

TODAY is the first of 110 Fridays at home with Rachael and Ben.

I vow to myself and to them to enjoy these Fridays more than I dread them. To allow for mistakes and cranky days. To cherish the sweet moments, the extra hugs and kisses. The extra time to spend together...making things, doing things, playing things and JUST being - with each other.

I know, these Fridays will go too fast. I know, they will end as quick as they came. And, to Mike, thank you for supporting my goal to make this change and for being a true partner with me in these adventures. (I'm hoping these Fridays will give me the chance to make our family happier, healthier and better than ever!)