3rd Anniversary of Family Day

Hurray!

More Theater!

Well, I auditioned for a part in a local production of Almost, Maine and I'm crazy excited. This is my first non-musical and I really can't believe I'm in it. We just had our first read-through this past Tuesday and the cast is really talented. I'm a bit nervous about memorizing lines, but even more than that I have a stage kiss. This is my first scripted stage kiss as well as the first kiss I've had that didn't involve my husband (pre and post wedding) in over twenty years. It will be fine, but I'm really out of my comfort zone right now. Excited, anxious, and uncomfortable actually feels good though.

Puppy Love

We're back and I should be in bed but I'm downloading pictures as I always do right after a trip and I decided I had to post this one. It shows Buttons love for the new puppy that is keeping my mom and her partner very busy.

Also, see the top on Buttons? Yup, I finished the Monica in Knit Picks Shine Worsted. She loves it and so do I.

The vacation with Hubby was fabulous as was the wedding we attendended. More on that later...must sleep.................

Sabbatical?

Have you ever had a job you really loved? You gave it your all and the rewards were fantastic and amazing? You worked many hours and not only didn't mind, but really enjoyed it? And then one day you have a really bad day and you wonder if you're any good at your job after all. All you wanna do is call in sick and take a sabbatical for a day or two. The problem with taking the day off is that the job I'm talking about is being a mom.

Remember the joy of dance class? Well, it turned into the week of "which lesson do I want to teach my child"? There's the "I'm always there for you" lesson or the "you can do something independently from me and I'll be there to pick you up afterward" lesson or the "if you cry and the teacher calls me to come and get you I will come...and then when I get there it's ok for you tell me you're fine and you'll stay as long as you know I'm close by and not going home to do the 4,000 things I planned to do while you were in dance class this week" lesson. Yeah, guess which lesson I taught her? I spent the week hanging out at the fitness center where she was having classes. I worked out, read a book, and finished a knitted tank top for her. However, I needed to unpack, clean and pack again and I'm nowhere near being there.

The whole week I kept thinking "ok, it's dance class and pretty intense but I'm here for her and on Friday I'll get to see how much she really enjoys the class because I'll get to see her dance." Well, today dance class didn't happen. There's a whole story there, but I'd rather not relive it.

You see, in Belgium, Buttons and I were together 24/7 and I think I'm in more of a need for a breather from my girl than she's willing to give. I'm glad she wants to hang out with me, but I'm feeling resentment about the loss of the rest of my week without the payoff and today I really wanted to take a sabbatical from my job of stay-at-home mom. And these feelings bring on that most helpful emotion: guilt.

You see, being a mom was a job I wanted for a really long time and I filled out resume after resume, answered very personal interview questions, and traveled the world before I finally became one. I remember the longing, the waiting and the promise to never complain once I became a mom. Yeah, that was dumb because everyone needs to vent sometime. However, I know there are some waiting moms who read this blog and I don't want to seem ungrateful, but today I just wanted things to go as planned. Then I wanted time off from my job. However, Hubby was busy at work, friends were unavailable and my mom lives 12 hours away. So, I had to figure it out and I felt trapped and alone.

I've been in a terrible mood all day and I can't seem to shake it. In a little over a week she has another camp and I have now learned a lesson. I am going to try sending her to this camp but if she asks me to come for her, I'm taking her home and she's not going back. Maybe she's too young and I'm definitely too cranky.

Would I quit this job? Never. No way. But Hubby and I are taking a 3 day/2 night trip while Buttons stays with my mom and I am counting the days. If you've made it all the way to this sentence, thanks for letting me vent. I needed it.

Wordless Wednesday

Buttons, C. and F.

We sure are missing our "Belgian Family".

Mostly Wordless Wednesday

Dancin' Feet

I want Buttons to play sports (really anything except football 'cause that sport is just asking for injury) and we have many "unisex" toys. I want her to know she is strong and she can find her own role in this world that isn't attached to gender.

So... is it so wrong that I found her especially cute in her footless tights, skirted leotard, ballet slippers and pig tails? I took ballet class as a youngster and I remember loving it and it was also one of the toughest things I ever did. I don't know if she'll continue, but I'm glad she's enjoying it so far. I sure am.

She did ask if boys take ballet too. I let her know that indeed boys dance too and I hoped she'd have at least one in her class. No such luck though. Too bad, because although she looked really cute, the most important thing was that she had a good time dancing to the music and getting to know how her body moves. Don't all kids deserve to experience that?

Happy (Belated) 4th of July!

We had a great 4th of July weekend with some friends on Long Beach Island, NJ. Let me just say that the best thing about it is that we did virtually nothing. We went to the beach, we ate, read books, played in the sand, dipped ourselves a little bit into the ocean, caught up with our friends and had a great time. The thing about doing nothing at the ocean is that it fills up your day, makes you feel really good about life and is exhausting.

Buttons attended her first fireworks and was mesmerized by it and then became very tired. We paid for a bit today, but it was fun to see the lights through her eyes for the first time. Thanks R. and D. for the lovely time.

Knaked Knitters

Last night some of my knitting buds and I got together and enjoyed a leisurely knit by the pool. We munched on Fritos, cream cheese with Pickapeppa sauce, chocolates and drinks. Now the drinks were coffee from B.'s new Senseo machine, ice tea, water and lemonade. No alcoholic drinks were imbibed (not that we're against that).

G. was busy with her pinwheel sweater, M. was working on her shrug, R. was taking on another pair of socks, L. switched from a scarf to a washcloth and B. was turning a heel. I was yet again working on a Ball Band washcloth. We were enjoying the evening with the fireflies (lightnin' bugs for you southerners), talking about our lives with job prospects and vacations and the stuff of life. P. came late and joined the conversation and didn't even wind up knitting. Yes, our get-togethers can be like that. We come with knitting, but we stay, often times longer than planned, because of the company.

Even though it wasn't the warmest night and I knew the water was on the chilly side, I wanted to swim. I brought my suit and a towel like a good girl should, but I'm a little naughty. So, I decided since it was dark and I was with good friends I would dare to do something I love to do. Yup, I shucked my clothes and jumped in the water for some good old-fashioned summertime skinny dipping shouting "I love to swim naked" once in the water. And you know what? Three of my six buds joined me (sans suits) in the water!
(After I told one of them "just take off your pants")

Have you ever been skinny dipping? It's divine! There's just nothing like it. And if you haven't, please find a friend with a pool or go to a lake and just do it. You'll thank me, I promise.

So last night, I knit, talked, laughed, swam (naked), gave thanks for such good friends and came home to give my hubby and sleeping daughter kisses. Life is good, isn't it?