My Personal Trifecta

When I was in late middle school/ early high school, I only wanted three things. I felt, with all my heart, that if I had these three things,especially during the summer vacation time, I would be whole, complete, fulfilled, and very very very happy.

Wow!, you may exclaim. What on Earth could these three things be? Good health, love and a family who loves me? Good friends, wealth and insight? A sense of purpose, a sense of humor and a sense of well-being?

No.
Remember, I was about 13 when I decided on these things.

This was my personal trifecta of perfectness:
1. A boyfriend
2. Long hair
3. A good tan

Over the years I have had varying degrees of success with this list. Of course, Dan counts as my boyfriend so that one is now pretty well wrapped up. The long hair comes and goes and I am happy to report that my hair now is on its way to being on the long side. The tan... well, the tan is always tough for me and my fair Welsh and German skin. I am really not meant to be tan but I wage the battle all the same each summer. I have tried self tanners, tanning beds, spray tan (what a nightmare: messy and ridiculous standing naked in a glass tank and posing like an Egyptian to make an even coat... I was embarrassed in front of myself) but have discovered on a fun trip to Sephora my newest plan for maximum tannage: TANtastic Body Bronzer and Luminizer. Just the name alone is fun and it works beautifully. Dark color and lots of shimmer. Delicious. And I am luminous.

So, now that I have bared my somewhat embarrassing (and I might add no longer really applicable- I mean, I am in my 30's now) list, what are the things you thought were important years ago? What were your middle school goals?

Today's Serendipidy

Dan was mowing the lawn last weekend and came around the side of the house and found this:











It is a gorgeous climbing rose that we didn't even know was there... and look at the beautiful flowers on it. Unexpected joy.






Here is another flowering bush we've had for a few years and it never really took off... never really got enough sunlight. So we moved it mid-summer last year to a new, sunnier spot and now take a look...

Our newly-minted Second Grader

Can you believe that? Second grader? How is this possible? How can my little baby, who I stared at for hours as she slept while I held her, be old enough to be in second grade? But, alas, it is true and today is our official First Day of Summer Vacation. Michaela had a birthday party to go to today and I was a bit irrationally annoyed that I had a structured activity to plan around today. But she had a great time- they had a cotton candy making machine and a huge dragon Bouncy-Bounce you could climb inside of- and now I am little calmer.

We went to a local bookstore today to get the gift for the party and I told the girls they could each get a book (you know, to spur on that summer-time reading and all, just like a Good Mother would do) and of course we walked out with two stuffed dogs. And no books.

We have officially spent more money on stuffed dogs than we would have if had just bought a real dog and housed, fed and groomed it for the last four years.

Anyway, before first grade slipped by, Michaela had an Open House at school and showed off her pictures, poems, and writing from the last few months. It was fantastic! Her poems were wonderful, including my favorite, Ode to a Cupcake. (See picture below.) Michaela is a great writer and it was a joy to see her grow this year in every area. Here are a few pics from the night.

Today's Joy

Today's Joy is realizing that at this moment, Jenna and I are not in a tepid indoor swimming pool with a group of five other strangers and their children singing the Hokey Pokey for the ninth time.

At one of Jenna's first swim lessons, one of the teachers said, "I have a hankering to do the Hokey Pokey!" and literally two months later I cannot get that phrase out of my head.

It swirls around in there and pops up at the weirdest moments and the only thing that gets it out is to say the phrase out loud and that's just plain embarrassing.

Today's other Joy happened this morning as I was helping Michaela get ready for school. It is Field Day at school today and she looked adorable and sporty and wanted a ponytail. I was combing her hair too aggressively (which meant the brush was actually touching hair on her head) and she started screaming and whining and she said to me, "Please don't get me upset!!! Today is a Special Day!!!"

A Special Day indeed.

Some Days It is A Waste of a Good Brain to be Home with My Children

Actual transcript of Michaela's Father's Day card to Dan:

My Dada

My Dada mows the lawn a lot in the Spring. My Dada is the best of all dads. My Dada has Big hands and Big feet. My Dada likes to eat spaghetti. My Dada's favorite color is blue. My Dada also likes to eat brownies. My Dada likes to play games with me and my Dada mostly loves Me!

P.S. and My Dada loves himself.

+++

You just can't make this stuff up. I could analyze this card for the next six months: all the layers of subtext, observations of a six year old, and things/ activities that made the cut to be included. There is something so Oedipal/Elektra about it...