Mountain Mama

Home again

We're home. Finally. We lost our Internet connection Thursday and did not get it back at the beach house before we left Saturday. No matter. We all left early Saturday on our separate journeys--Dad and Stephen back home, Mom and David sticking around for David's flight back to Oregon Sunday, and Paul, the girls, and I on to my mother-in-law's house for the night. Today we woke at my MIL's, went to church there, then on to my brother-in-law's for a party for several graduating family members. We didn't get home until 3ish this afternoon.

I was ready to be home, happy that there had been rain during the week and my plants didn't die. In fact, the garden looks great! Tomorrow (Monday), we'll check on it more closely.

Summer school starts tomorrow (Monday) for me, but other than the one class it is now officially Summer Break for us. Owen will not go to school. Paul will not go to work. My mom will not be coming to take care of Barrett. We have exactly three months until Fall semester begins. I find the prospect both thrilling and a tiny bit frightening.

Given our new schedule of ongoing family togetherness punctuated by my class, I will not be as frequently in front of the computer. I will likely only have the evenings, after the girls go to bed, for blogging and reading blogs. So for my blog friends, let me apologize in advance if I do not comment as often on your posts. It doesn't mean I'm not reading them, just not as frequently and as much as before. I do hope to keep up posting regularly and that you will keep reading.

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Our vacation was wonderful and I won't bore you with it for too much longer. Just some highlights ans last photos.

1. I have to say the best part of the whole trip was watching my girls charm my brothers. My oldest brother David lives in the Western part of the country and we only see him once a year, if we're lucky. He had not even met Barrett until this trip. My brother Stephen lives in Charlotte, so we see him more frequently, but still not too often and certainly not for long when we do. They were both able to spend time with the girls and I loved watching them.

David and Boo Bear

Stephen and Owen Jane

2. I also loved watching my girls enjoy the beach so much. And, of course, I enjoyed taking pictures of them. Here are a few of my favorites:

3. To view most of the entire set of photos from our trip, go to my Topsail Beach Flickr set here.

For now, it is late and I am very very tired, so I will go to bed.

Fishing

The guys have been trying to fish since we got here. They tried the pier about a mile down the beach. Too cold. Catching only skates and sharks. Then they tried surf fishing. No bites, and, well, for Dad it was a tad difficult to concentrate on his own line...

Then we found a lovely town park for an afternoon. We girls played on the playground while the fellows went fishing in the inlet. Nary a bite.

Then we joined the guys and Dad let Owen try a little crabbing.

Success.

She caught seven or eight of them (with help, of course), and we all enjoyed fresh fresh seafood for supper.

 

Except Owen, who said politely, "No thank you."

Wordless Wednesday: From the beach

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Note: Technically, my brother David took the two top photos. But he did use my camera, so I get to post them.

Photo Update: So far

It was a Happy Mother's Day for me. At the beach with my girls, my sweetie, and my family...

Barrett on the evening of our arrival: she loved it immediately.

Owen couldn't wait to play in the waves when we arrived.

Owen, Daddy, and Uncle David in the waves yesterday.

Barrett and Grandma Saturday evening.

Owen and Daddy (with Daddy's summer haircut).

Grandpa and Uncle Stephen watching.

As you can see it was a touch chilly yesterday, but that didn't keep the girls (or the rest of us) from enjoying the beach. Rain, wind, and thunderstorms drove us inside for a little while, but today is clear and sunny.

We'll be out there again soon.

Off we go

to the beach, to the beach...I'll post when/if I can, but if I get too busy playing with my girls, relaxing on the deck, digging my toes into the sand, you will forgive me won't you?

See you soon!

Unbearable sweetness

You woke prematurely from your nap and did not like it. Crying as if your heart would break, yet barely able to open your eyes, you would not lie down again.

You couldn't tell me what was wrong, could only cry and burrow into me.

I gave you a PopTart to make you happy and it seemed to work. You wanted to eat it against my chest. You fell asleep that way: jelly across your cheek and my shirt, fingers grasping my arm.

I decided to let you rest and I eased back onto the couch so that I could hold you in my arms and watch your sticky, sleep-soft face and bask in the unbearable sweetness of you.

For an hour I could let it all fall away: the half-swept floor, the unfinished laundry, the dishes in the sink, the packing. Those will be the there when you wake. But this moment will be gone forever.

Let the panic attacks, uhm, fun begin

We're heading for the beach on Saturday. Morning. Early. It is now 10:10pm Wednesday. And here is a list if things I have NOT yet done to prepare for the trip:

I have not packed.

I have not done all the laundry of the clothes to be packed.

I have not cleaned the house.

I have not cleaned out the car.

I have not researched and printed directions and distributed them among the family members.

I have not put together a list of emergency numbers for the individuals looking after the house and dog.

I have not bought groceries or put together the items from my pantry.

I have not cleaned out the fridge.

I have not planned my meal for the trip (we are dividing up the labor of meals so that each person has one dinner to cook for everyone--breakfasts and lunches on our own).

I have not collected the toys/art supplies/books I want to take for the kids.

I have not gathered the bed linens and towels and beach blankets and other miscellany to take with us.

I have not cleaned off the deck.

I have not figured out what books to take for myself to try to read but not be able to read while there.

I have not found my hat. I have not found our games.

I have not taken Barrett to her doctor's appointment to follow-up on her ear infection (tomorrow morning).

I have not wrapped the Mother's Day gifts: for Paul's mom (which we are giving to her when we drop off the dog Saturday morning) and for my mom (which we are taking with us).

I have not written the Mother's Day and Anniversary posts I wanted to schedule for this blog while we're gone.

I have not had Owen draw pictures and write notes to her teachers to say goodbye since her last day at preschool is Friday.

Here's what I have done:

Turned in grades (yay!)

Bought Mother's Day gifts and cards and anniversary card.

Bought the girls' bathing suits, cover-ups, hats, and sunblock.

Started a pile of clean clothes, towels, sheets, sunblock, bathing suits, etc. to take with us (it's all thrown into a Sterilite container in our bedroom as I think of things).

Started a grocery list for when we get there.

Planned the schedule of meals (who cooks what day).

Arranged for my friend Cathie to come over Saturday night and drink margaritas with Paul and me on the deck of the beach house (critical task, essential to my vacation).

Arranged to meet our friend Jeannette and family and possibly Laura and family to meet us in Cary for lunch on our way back across the state.

Washed a bunch of clothes/towels (the laundry seems endless around here).

Collected some items from my mom's house to take with us: the pack and play, the booster seat, the umbrella stroller.

Made a bunch of lists: a packing list, a to do list, a grocery list.

Cleaned the toilet. I've cleaned nothing else, but I did clean the toilet.

It's going to be a busy couple of days. But then...then the family fun will begin. Or the panic attacks, whichever the case may be.

Wordless Wednesday--Photo session

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Only Tuesday

She won't go to sleep. She won't eat anything I give her. She makes a droning whine all day not matter what I do. She pulls at me and demands my every. single. minute. of attention. While I'm typing this she is in her crib screaming. Screaming.

The only time she's been pleasant all day was the brief time Paul was here for lunch and we went to vote. Of course.

Already, I feel like a total failure as a mom: and it's only my second day of being home alone with her.

1:55pm Edited to add: She's napping now, finally. After screaming and crying, she fell asleep almost instantly when I finally picked her up. Of course, I'm going to have to wake her in an hour and a half to go pick up sister.

Why is it that when things with the children don't go smoothly, we women feel inadequate and inept, while men have the ability to not think of these things as an indictment of their parenting? Not that he should take it personally, just...why do I?

Or is that just me?

Weekend Photo Update: A good day in the garden

Coming along nicely: brussels sprouts, parsnips, radishes, onions, cabbage...

broccoli...

lettuce...

and strawberries:

Planted today: potatoes...

more lettuce, lots of cilantro, and cucumbers...

Still to be planted: tomatoes, peppers, beans, peas, squash.

A growing a garden with and for two growing girls...

With a visit from the neighbor:

Yes, a good day indeed.