Life Goes On...: 01/01/2010

19 January 2010

Evidence

I pulled into a gas station two weeks ago with the kids. It was windy and freezing and I didn't want to get out of the car. (Some days I wonder if I'll ever readjust to this weather.) I opened up the gas gauge with my fingertips because our car was dirtier than ever. DIR-TY. As the gas was pumping, I resisted the urge to jump back in the warm car and thought I could at least squeegee off the windshield and driver side window. I did it as fast as I possibly could. Like I said... freezing. I put the nozzle back, got my receipt and hopped back in the car in record speed. Alice greeted me with screams (not like her), Jane was dozing, and Jack said, "mom, that man is touching our car". What? What weirdo is touching our car?

I turned around just in time to see a big, rough looking fellow step from our car to his pick-up after washing my back window for me.

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Last week, a neighbor stopped by that we don't get to see much. Jeff and I chatted with him for a bit about the holidays and his family. He then explained that he'd recently felt he needed to bring me something he'd been working on. He had no idea why, but just knew he was supposed to. I was speechless (which honestly doesn't happen very often). I was stunned he would give something to me for no reason that either of us was aware of, besides his feeling that it should be in my hands.

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On Saturday, I finally resorted to cleaning said dirty car on my way home from the gym. (Kid-less... the only way to do it.) I vacuumed it out, then pulled into the self-wash stall and put quarter after quarter in until the vehicle was again recognizable. It was freezing. Cold mist is not fun on bare ankles and hands. I hurried to hop in, anxious to get home to relieve Jeff. Just then, a man knocked on my window. Again, WHAT? Why is a man outside my car and knocking? I cautiously opened the door, only to have this kind man ask if I need tow rope. He explained how he gets them free from work and had a few sitting in the back of his truck. I thanked him, took the rope, and drove away.

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I remember moving to Salt Lake from Logan shortly after Jeff's graduation. It was the first time in our married life that we had channels on our TV. Jack was only 1 week old, and having left school, work, friends, and all other responsibilities behind, I found myself using the TV for company. I watched a lot of news (and Dr. Phil) and was shocked that we were going through such a terrible spell of crime, child abductions, and violence in our country. I honestly thought, "why is this all happening at once?". I'd been living in a bubble, completely unaware of the world around me as I had spent every waking hour for the last five years studying, teaching, or practicing. This wasn't a bad spell. This was the real world.

Some days it's hard for me to remember that amidst all the bad out there, there is still a lot of GOOD in the world. I believe this to be true, but sometimes it's nice to have some evidence.

10 January 2010

My babies

Quite randomly, Jane will come to me with outstretched arms and say, "Look Mom! I'm growing up!"

I think, "Yes. Yes you are" with a tinge of sadness.

My babies are growing up.

Being a mother is a mix of emotions. Of course I'm happy they're growing up, but can't they just stay small a little longer?

This week Alice started sleeping in a room other than my own. We moved her into what we now refer to as "the girls' room", and she slept all night long. And guess who else slept? Me. Not all night, but most of it. It was nice.

Jane is really becoming her own little lady. She has very particular preferences and isn't quiet about them. She's always been a picky eater, at one time eating almost exclusively cereal, chicken, and sticky rice. She's slowly started expanding her food repertoire. The other night, she even ate CARROTS in her soup. CARROTS! This may sound a bit ridiculous (not to mention malnutritious, if that is even a word?) but it's been a struggle, so we called this a victory! Next maybe we'll work on her obsessiveness over having her bedtime blankets completely flat (I mean completely) before she can relax. Maybe.

Jeff picked Jack up from a friend's home last night. Here's a snippet of their conversation on the way home:

Jack: Dad, don't tell anyone, but Nicholas has a girlfriend.

Jeff: Oh, really? Does he KISS her all the time?

Jack: No.

Jeff: Does he hold her hand?

Jack: No. She is his girlfriend, but he isn't her boyfriend. She doesn't know.

First graders are already experiencing the confusion of young (young, young) love? What? Seriously?

Initially it seemed WAY too young, but I could tell you the name of the boy I "liked" as a Kindergartner, so maybe it's not so bad? I turned out OK, right?