(Pumpkin) Patch Work

Normally, I wouldn't dedicate a whole post to the pumpkin patch. I mean, it's kind of cliche, and I would probably just throw it in some sort of update/photo dump kind of post at some point.

My lil pumpkins with the pumpkins.

BUT

It was such a great experience for one simple reason: Peter had a great experience.

Okay, they were both a bit unsure of this one.

See, Peter can be Mr. Separation Anxiety. He just doesn't like it when his Mama leaves him. And that's very sweet and all. But I want him to run and explore and experience the world. He's (mostly) fine at home and a few other places, where he feels safe and knows his surroundings. He's reaaaaaaaaaally wary of people who aren't me (and sometimes Charles or Clare). When we're out and about, he tends to be very clingy, especially when we're with a group.

Not at the pumpkin patch. No sir-ee. I think he had the best day of his entire life. He had so much fun. He kept running off . . . and I'm so unused to having to keep track of him, that I kept "losing" him. I've never been so happy to not have a kid in sight range. At one point, he even decided he wanted to ride the train again, and did it . . . all by himself. #proudmama

I think Clare had fun, too!

And so, because Peter had so much fun, I had so much fun! I say it over and over and over again, but I love seeing my kids blossom and learn and really live. I love seeing joy on their little faces. Monday was all about joy for Peter. And me.

I cannot get enough of this picture. I mean, look at Peter's smile! You can't fake that.

Accidentally Amazing

On Friday, we accidentally had an incredible afternoon.

Charles had to go to Salina at lunchtime to work in a clinic there for the afternoon. He called on his way out of town, and as we talked, one thing led to another, and we decided that the kids and I would drive up with him and kill time for a couple of hours while he was working. We had no real agenda, just a decision that a little adventure would be fun.

So, I grabbed a bunch of stuff (water, snacks, shoes for the kids) and we were off. An hour and a half after Charles' initial phone call, he was dropped off . . . and I decided that rather than randomly driving around, hoping to figure out a plan for our down time, I would use my resources and Google it up. So I typed in park, figuring that running around and burning some energy would help the littles with the drive home.

And so, I happened upon Oakdale Park, which was huge and wonderful. I mean, maybe if you live in Salina you don't agree, but we loved it. We ended up staying until Charles texted that he was ready to be picked up. The weather was perfect: the sun was warm, and the breeze was cool; I was neither hot nor cold. The kids played and played and there was barely a squabble or shriek between them. 

Without plan or intention, it was the most perfect day. 

We saw the train.

Can you guess which kid was more interested?

We played. 

Clare was the "captain."

We made music.

We played some more. (And made a giant mess!)

And yes, they are both laughing. 

I mean, I know I keep going on and on about how great it was, but I mean it. We had the most lovely afternoon on a day I had planned on folding laundry and making a casserole. 

Isn't that how it goes oftentimes? We have these big, great plans that we are sure will bring us joy and wonder, and things go askew. For whatever reason, they just don't measure up.

Then, we let go and let God. We go with the flow. Grasp an opportunity. Do something that maybe even sounds a little crazy (e.g. drive two kids to Salina, KS, for an afternoon for no reason.) And it ends up being accidentally amazing. Totally amazing.

Why Yes, I Am Alive. Thanks for Asking.

I just haven't had much chance to sit down and blog. I have some ideas and thoughts that I'd like to turn into drafts, and maybe, eventually even hit publish. *Gasp!*

Charles had nights last week, and I made the decision not to try to blog during those evenings. I am a morning person, so when I try to write at night, it turns into mostly web surfing and, if I do write, it is pretty much not something worth reading or writing. I decided instead to just relax. I watched a little TV and read, and overall, it was just so.much.better. 

Otherwise, things have been pleasantly quiet here. Fall -- real fall -- is coming at the end of the week, and I'm excited. There's bread rising on the counter. Sweaters to pull out. New recipes to try.

Chalking. Helping in the kitchen. Eating apples. Blowing on "hot" food.

Life is good.

Bike Trip

We went. We saw. We survived another Bike Trip with 2 kids.

Don't get me wrong. Bike Trip is an awesome experience, and the scenery/weather/location cannot be beat. I mean, come on: the Colorado mountains in early fall with changing leaves and 70 degree weather. Yep. Heaven.

But the trip is not exactly designed for kids. It ideally features days filled with Colorado adventures -- hiking 14ers (mountains of 14,000 feet elevation for the flat-landers), ridiculous bike rides (that, let's be honest, I'd never be able to do, given my extremely poor biking skills), and other such adventures. For those of us with kids (and there are plenty of us!), it's a lot of walking around town. Going to the marina or the playground or nap time.

Then, nights are filled with a) lingering dinners and time with friends or b) taking cranky and/or sleeping babies to bed and immediately crashing yourself or c) both.

We stay at condos, which is great -- fridges and food and snacks and a wee bit more space. 

Yep. Ugly.

Peter used the opportunity of us unpacking to gather up all of the remote controls, as he will.

Blurry because baby on the run.

Clare got to play with a view until Peter tried to start throwing toys off the balcony.

Sunny. Green. Gorgeous.

We did a little hiking. Clare did a great job of getting up . . . and a very, very whiny job of getting down. But she did it, and got a lot of praise for it.

Yes, I used Clare's backpack as as day pack. How else were were going to have snacks at the top?

The absolute best part of the trip was probably Mass on Sunday morning -- there was a big group of us at the early service, and then a few of us went to breakfast after. It just felt good to worship and fellowship with friends in a way we haven't lately.

The highlight/lowlight (as you will) of Bike Trip each year is the Sunday night dinner. It is a nice affair with dresses and courses and menus. It would be a lovely date night, but with kids, it's just hard. It is a bit much for them, and a runs more than a bit late. This year, the dinner was at this restaurant with a gorgeous setting in Vail, right on the creek (pics are, of course, on Charles' phone). There was lots of baby walking (walk alllllll the babies!) happening on the patio we strategically seated ourselves beside. Then, mid-way through the apps, Clare laid her head down on the table and just peacefully fell asleep . . . and basically slept all night. Peter pushed through entrees, but both were out by dessert. I should have taken a picture of Clare asleep, but was too busy keeping Peter calm/quiet/asleep.

Monday, we did some wandering around Breckenridge, complete with a pre-dinner visit to Breckenridge Brewery. 

Clare was really, really fascinated by the ducks.

Peter was going to town on his water.

Then, at the closing dinner, they have an "awards ceremony" with silly/fun awards. Thanks to her performance on Sunday, Clare won the "Sleeping Beauty" award, complete with a new blanket.

She has slept with it every night since.

Some other friends gave her their headband and star-glasses set, so that pretty much made her trip. "This (the headband) makes me a princess, and these (glasses) make me a rock star!"

Post-trip photo essay. No glow-in-the-dark action.

We made it home Tuesday evening after the windiest drive ev-er, and are happily getting back to the day to day. It was a good trip, but there's no place like home.

My 7 Tips for Surviving Long Drives with Little Kids (7QT 09.11.15)

Today, we're on our way to Colorado! Woo to the Hoo!

While we're no Haley & Co., we're pretty experienced with the long-haul drive. We've reached the point where 8 hours in the car "isn't that far at all" and do it several times a year. We've done it at all ages from 4th trimester to newly potty trained. I've done it pregnant (but admittedly not 3rd trimester). Here are some of the things that help us get through it. Admittedly, nothing is going to stop the whining or the meltdowns (from kids or adults!) entirely, but this certainly helps:

1. Accept that it's going to take longer than Google Maps says. We add about 20 minutes for every 2 hours, plus an extra 15 minutes for lunch if we're stopping to eat. Today's drive will be 10 hours door to door. When that's the expectation, stopping feels like it's a low-pressure situation. We usually start early, but only start really, really, really early when we're doing crazy drives, like 12 hours of drive time in one day crazy, which we do en route to and from Arizona.

2. Speaking of stopping, we do it frequently. We plan on stopping every 2 to 2.5 hours, though we'll sometimes manage a 3+ hour stretch with napping kids after lunch (never wake a sleeping baby!). When we stop, we almost always do it at a gas station/truck stop/similar. We top off the tank, everyone potties (or gets a fresh diaper), we grab drinks, and most importantly, everyone who's mobile moves around, even if it is just laps around the convenience store. When the kids were still nursing, I'd nurse every stop (pretty much the only time I ever nurse in the car) while Charles filled up and walked Clare. Then we'd take turns hitting the restroom. We switch drivers every stop, too, so that we all stay fresh. 

3. We keep a potty chair in the trunk. Anyone who has a newly potty trained little one knows that you can take them to the bathroom as frequently as you'd like, but when they have to go they have to go. And if you've driven across Kansas as many times as we have, you know that places to stop aren't frequent. Solution: potty chair in the trunk. My dad has memories of tiny me going on the side of I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson with semis roaring past. We're just keeping the tradition alive!

4. Have food and a plan. We have plenty of food in the car with us. Clare knows that there will be fishy crackers and little boxes of raisins for the taking. Now, she's also figured that I have a secret stash of M&M-infused trail mix. Part of our goal is to minimize buying expensive and bad-quality convenience store food. Part of our goal is to placate whiny kids with more snacks than they normally get (see: fishy crackers). The first day of driving, we often take sandwiches and fruit for the car -- for economy of time (eager to get to our destination) and money ($25+ on fast food = yuck). Plus, when you're away from home, you eat out more, so having one more healthy lunch is just the mom thing to do. I also make sure to have pasta and sauce waiting for an easy dinner when we get home. It prevents a desperate pizza order we don't want to make after a long day, and usually having something semi-homemade tastes pretty good by then. 

5. Even more important, I have a beverage plan. Seriously. I've (finally!) got a beverage plan that keeps me going. When we started the long drives, I frequently found myself feeling badly dehydrated on the road, so I started working to combat that feeling. The problem is a tendency to drink too much caffeine (gotta keep going!) and not enough water (don't want to have to go to the bathroom!). When you accept that you're going to stop, you don't worry as much about beverage intake -- even pregnant. I start with coffee, because starting early requires coffee. I have water with me, and make sure to finish the bottle by the time we reach our final destination. Additionally, at our first stop, I get Gatorade, which I rarely drink, but helps a ton on long-haul drives. At lunch, I drink water. If we stop to eat, I'll drink water with my food and then get a Coke. Otherwise, it's just water. At our third stop, I play it by ear, but usually end up with soda or coffee. If we have a 4th or 5th stop, I continue alternating water and caffeine as best as I can. And let's be honest, by the time we reach our destination, a beer is sounding pretty dang good. ;-) 

6. Load up on in-car entertainment. Who hasn't had this experience? You're on the road. You've already listened to your awesome road trip playlist. Twice. You're starting to feel a little road weary, but you still have 6 hours of drive time to go. And those 6 hours are straight across I-70 through Kansas and eastern Colorado (read: boring), so staying focused is key. What I've found many times over is that the spoken word is much more engaging than music. I love to listen to audiobooks or podcasts on the road. And Clare has discovered Glory Stories, so I'm sure we'll be listening to those, too. In fact, I have two new CDs for her on today's drive, because you can only hear about Bl. Imelda's First Communion so many times. I mean, I love that that's the thing that she wants to fill her little head with while in the car, but . . . a girl can only take so much. (Side note: Dad, I'd like to formally apologize for the drive to San Diego listening to "The Count Counts a Party." I get it now. I do.) 

7. Accept that sleep might be unpredictable. I can't sleep in the car. Charles sometimes can. You might get a magic 3 hour nap from the kids. You might be singing and dancing like a lunatic in the 3rd row to keep kids awake 15 minutes before lunch (not that I have any personal experience with that one . . . and no, passing cars did not gawk and stare, thankyouverymuch). Don't worry about schedules and just roll with it. You can get schedules back when you get to your destination or when you get home. Kids are more flexible than we schedule-freaks give them credit for.

Happy(ish) Driving, y'all! 

(And it wouldn't be a September 11 without prayers for peace in a world still rocked by violence, all these years later.)

{Linking up with Kelly, because it's Friday, and I haven't in forever long.}

In Thanksgiving (In June)

Eucharist means Thanksgiving.

We were reminded of that yesterday morning at Mass, as our priest reflected on the Eucharist in celebration of Corpus Christi -- the Body and Blood of Christ. He suggested that, during Mass, as we prayed, and as we fight the distractions that can make focusing on Mass so difficult, we offer our prayers of thanksgiving for the blessings in our lives.

And really, I am so blessed.

It's something I try to remember frequently, but I need to remember it constantly. And not just in November.

I am so blessed.

I have clean water. I have a lovely house in a safe neighborhood with a fully equipped, fully functioning western kitchen. I have food to cook and the means to buy it. We have clothes on our backs and shoes on our feet. We have more: so many luxuries that we don't even remember that they are luxuries anymore -- dishwasher, washing machine, central heating and cooling, cars, televisions, computers, telephones -- tools that are the stuff of modern life, yes, but in truth, they are luxuries. 

I have the best family -- an incredible husband; two beautiful, healthy children; extended family and friends who love me and miss me. I love all of them more than they can know. 

Little Blessings

I have faith. That alone means more to me than words can express.

Today, instead of grumbling through my chores, sighing when asked another question, or whining about my imperfect kitchen, I pray that I give thanks for the ability to do my chores (and all that entails), for my healthy, developmentally normal, inquisitive children, and for my perfectly imperfect kitchen. I take so much for granted. 

I need to practice gratitude and giving thanks where it is due. And to God goes all the glory. 

7 Quick Takes, Vol. 56

Linking up with Jen and the rest.

1. I never officially declared my 7 in 7 intentions this weekend. Then, a Monday blog post never materialized. I am, however, pushing myself to do 7 in 7 a day late, with Monday being my 7th post. Saturday and Sunday are always my sticking points on these things, so we'll see how it goes this weekend.

2. I have never been happier that February only has 28 days. It has been one thing after another this month, so I'm glad that tomorrow will be the big calendar flip. March and all of your crazy goodness, Welcome! We're glad to have you!

Via

3. That means Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday. Which is late, but still somehow sneaked up on me. Like, I was so used to it being "late this year" and still a few weeks off that suddenly, here is it. I'm still sorting out exactly what my plans are, especially given that I will, essentially, be pregnant for the first half and in the newborn haze for the second half. 

Via

4. Charles finalized his rank order list for residency this week, which is good, because it was due on Wednesday. Anyway, there was lots of hemming and hawing and debating over slots 3-5, but I think we both feel good about the final list. 3 more weeks of waiting, then we'll finally know our fate. This whole residency applications thing has been a long, long process that I will not be sad to see end.

5. Today, my cousin's daughter is turning 8, which I'm pretty sure is not actually possible. My cousin is like an extra sister to me, so that means O is like my niece. I remember like yesterday the day she was born: sitting frustrated in rush hour traffic trying to get to the hospital; holding that sweet, long awaited bundle of joy; knowing, for the first time, that rush of unconditional love that only new little babies can bring. Happy Birthday, sweet girl! Just do me a favor and stop growing up!

6. When Charles was doing his nights in the ER, I sent him a lot of random pics of Clare, including a few of her sleeping. They make great filler:

7. Today marks my 35/35 point: 35 weeks pregnant, 35 days until my due date! It is definitely an exciting sign that the end is near. This week, I've been feeling a few more occurrences of baby hiccups (but still not as many as Clare had in utero) and gobs of crazy baby movement. Mr. Man feels like he's somehow dropped even lower in the last couple of days, which, um . . . yeah, I don't love. My interest in sweets has also been on the uptick for the first time this pregnancy. I had an appointment on Monday, and everything still looks good.{Hopefully, I'll actually update with a photo this afternoon!}

Have a lovely weekend!

Take me Out to the Ballgame

At the beginning of the month, Charles mentioned that Spring Training Opening Day was Feb. 26. As luck would have it, he was off (thanks ER scheduling!) and I off-handedly mentioned that we should go. Cue Valentine's Day and lawn tickets for yesterday's D'Backs-Dodgers game in my card. Awwww. No, really, it was a great  the perfect present!

So, yesterday morning, we coated ourselves in SPF 50, loaded up the diaper bag, bought our maximum number of factory sealed bottles of water, and headed to the ballpark.

It was a glorious Arizona spring day. The kind of day that brought Spring Training to Arizona in the first place. 80ish. Wispy clouds that spelled a bit of the sun drench. Good game. Big crowds. Junk food. We plopped ourselves on baby blankets on the lawn and soaked it all in (well, not all since we all survived with nary a sunburn -- go us!). Charles and I had a great day, but Clare had a BLAST. She ran all over the sloped lawn seating area (which I'm sure is the toddler equivalent of running stadiums), ate more carbs in one sitting than she is ever allowed (crackers and French fries are a balanced meal, right?!?), saw other babies, took a mini-nap in her stroller, clapped right along everyone else, and learned to say, "Yay Dime-baks!"

I only managed to snap two pictures before we dragged our sun-soaked selves home, exhausted but content in the way that only a day of fun in the sun achieves.

Lawn sitter

Stroller napper

5 Favorites, Volume 7

Wednesday link-up 5 Favorites Style.

1. My iPhone. Of course. I need not say more.

Via AT&T website last week

2. Touch and Feel books -- Clare loves them and that, in turn, melts my pathetic, book-loving, easily meltable heart.

3. Kindle App -- I'll never enjoy reader-reading as much as I enjoy reading real books, but the convenience is undeniable. As such, I've actually found myself reading again! A reading Ashley is a happy Ashley.

Too lazy to resize my screen shot. Forgive me.

4. Living close to family -- In one week, I've gotten the chance to see lots of family: my in-laws, my cousin and her kids (twice), my aunt, and I hope to see my dad and his SO in the next few days. I'm spoiled and I'm taking it all in, 'cause I know it might not last forever.

Clare playing at Grandma's and Grandpa's

5. Straw cups for Mama -- It's getting hot 'round here, which means that without an IV, you're probably not getting enough water. I do better with the straw, and I know other people who feel the same. Anything to avoid dehydration.

Via

Visit Hallie for more.

7 Quick Takes, Vol. 17

Super late, super short Quick Takes for this here Round 17. 

1. Like I mentioned a couple of days ago, we took Clare to the actual playground in my in-laws' neighborhood for the first time the other day. She was tired, so not too interested in swinging on her own, but did enjoy swinging and sliding with me.

2. We also had one heck of a jam session with Grandma's instrument collection. We were pretty much laughing hysterically through the whole thing.

3. As I type, we are watching our recording of Tuesday's Papal Inauguration Mass. Incroyable!

4. Mmmmm....blueberries! And yay for going straight from the high chair to the bathtub!

5. Belmont 64, Arizona 81. Bring it, Harvard!

6. Yesterday was Charles' last day of that particular rotation. I don't want to besmirch anyone, but I'm so glad it's over. What I learned: if Daddy ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

7. About two weeks into Lent, it always seems like it will never, ever end. Then, all of a sudden, Holy Week is around the corner. Have I had a good Lent? I don't know. I've had better. I've had worse. When you're considering Lent, what I better, what is worse? I'm not here to be a theologian. I'm just marveling that Sunday is already Palm/Passion Sunday.

As always, have a lovely weekend, and visit Jen for more!