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2012 and 2013

Written on January 10, 2013 by Jennifer in playing along, Quirky Me

Oh man, I’ve been SICK. Please forgive me for this mucho belated New Year’s post, those three of you still here reading this poor excuse for a blog.

Here’s last year’s list, and here the year before that.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

I RAN A HALF-MARATHON, you guys. YOU GUYS. I ran a freaking half marathon. I know, three readers, that I tend to talk about it a lot (A LOT), but DUDE, I ran 13.1 miles (MIIIIIIIIIILES). I just can’t shut up about it. Running has changed me. It’s changed my body, it’s made me proud of my body, saddlebags, cottage cheese thighs, and all. My self esteem is so much better, I have made such dear friends.

I have another race in a little over a week in Phoenix and I cannot wait.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Personal:

1. Calm, patient, less yelling. Yadda yadda yadda. Same ol’, same ol’. **OH THIS WILL BE ON MY LIST FOREVER. But! I do think I’ve improved quite a lot.

2. Drink more water! **I don’t understand why I have such a hard time with this.
3. Work with my kids to figure out how to serve others, maybe through donations, projects, volunteering, and/or random acts of kindness. **This is something I think about at least once every single day. I did get the kids to go through their old toys to donate, but I we need to do more to be kind to others.

4. Call family and friends. On the phone. Just to say hi. **Well, I texted more…does that count? Yes. Yes it does count.

5. Organize the basement and ~~attic~~. **The basement. I can’t even.

6. Be a better blog commenter. **I do an awesome job of clicking “like” on Facebook, but I still rarely comment. I read from my phone and it’s such a hassle, and that’s a lame excuse.

7. ~~Run a half-marathon.~~
8. ~~Run a 5K in under 30 minutes.~~
9. ~~Laugh more.~~
10. ~~Catch up on Harry Potter movies~~
11. ~~Read 40 books this year!~~ Let’s be friends on Goodreads!!!! Okay? Promise? It’s super fun! I think you can find me via my email address (playgroupie AT gmail DOT com.)

12. Find a TV show that Tate and I can watch together. **I GIVE UP. I’m just going to watch what I wanna watch. Watchers gonna watch.

Business: **I’m a MISERABLE business woman, though my business site is doing well–content wise. Just haven’t done any of the business-y things below….

1. Set up my business as an LLC.
2. ~~Grow my business, increase pageviews to the website and get more Facebook fans.~~
3. Sell advertising for my business and create campaigns with local companies that are mutually beneficial.

Spiritual: **God and I are having a very complicated relationship right now. I have a lot to say about it, maybe I will in a different post.

1. Figure out how God wants to use me and then do it.
2. Read books about other faiths
3. Read the Bible

This year’s goals:

Personal

1. Do a better job of keeping the house clean. (I’ve become verrrrrrrry lax in this area, and while I don’t care to have an immaculate, spotless home, it should be live-able.)

2. Plan a vacation to either Disney or Destin again for Fall Break. (Fingers crossed for Disney, we want to wait to go back until Ella is tall enough for the next set of ride.)

3. Organize closets and the basement. (That DAMN basement just won’t go away.)

4. Train Mae to heel, come, stay, to not jump, and stop being a thief.

5. Do yoga at least twice a week and get my poor excuse for a “core” back in shape.

6. Run two half marathons in the spring…and maybe one in the late fall. (Phoenix, January 20th; Knoxville, April 7th.)

Business

1. Make a decision by June whether or not it’s a worth continuing in terms of moola/benjamins/gettin’ paid.

Spiritual

1. Pray. Often. Without ceasing. With my listening ears on.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My brother and sister-in-law made me an Aunt! I’m Aunt Jennifer now to a beautiful niece.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?

None. But Tate went to Slovakia and Austria and I’m jealous.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

Last year’s answer was a clean house….and that’s the same thing I want this year. I’d also like to have a church home again.

7. What dates from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

October: Our trip to Destin. It was just so lovely, the whole thing.

And December 14th will forever be the day that 26 people lost their lives in Newtown, CT. This tragedy has absolutely shaken me and my faith in humanity, though I realize that there were so many GOOD people, heroes, that shined that horrible day. I just can’t help feeling that I’ve lost of a sense of safety and trust.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Well, DUH, my half marathon, silly.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Losing my blogging mojo. This blog used to be FUN.NY. I was reading some old posts and I thought, dang girl, you were so clever and witty. I wish I still had it. If you’ve seen my Clever and my Witty, could you please return them?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My magic pants for running, my foam roller, and every pair of comfortable pants I bought this year–including my jeggings. Yes, jeggings. Shut up. I look cute in them. (Those are affiliate links, by the way.)

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband at Christmas. It seemed like my Tate was back. He was so relaxed and happy. It was good to see him again.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Bad people with access to guns that never should have had access to using them to kill innocent people.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Amazon.com, our mortgage, running gear (I’m seriously out of control), and our Destin trip. I said this last year and I’ll say it again, I have little to complain about in life. I’m quite blessed, really.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Running, my friends, the Destin trip, working for Hallmark this past year.

16. What song will always remind you of 2012?

God’s Not Dead by the Newsboys. Ella LOVED that song and always wanted me to turn it up every time it came on the radio.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier, I guess. Thinner. Richer–but now that I have no freelance job, it’s soon to be poorer. And that’s okay. I needed to let some things go.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I wish I would have written here more.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Feeling jealous of others.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We spent Christmas day at home, opening presents, eating fattening food, and being lazy. It was AWESOME. The day after Christmas we drove to St. Louis and got to spend time with our entire family. It was also AWESOME. This was truly the best Christmas in years and years.

21. Did you fall in love with 2012?

Nope.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Hmm, maybe Breaking Bad? I’m really sad the show is ending, but truly–it NEEDS to end. I also adore CBS Sunday Morning, Ellen, and Parenthood–though I haven’t really watched beyond the first 4 or 5 episodes of this season because I just can’t commit to a weekly program! Yay for Amazon Prime Videos!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I really don’t like to use that word, hate. But no, there is not.

24. What was the best book you read?

I read SO MUCH this year. I can’t just choose one, but the BEST books I read this year were Those Who Save Us, The Fault in Our Stars, The Homecoming of Samuel Lake, and The Invisible Bridge . Each books was just so damn well written. These books just sucked me right in, authors who have the ability to craft a story and develop characters and write in such a way that is poetic and honest and smart just amaze me.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Nothing new really this year. I still really like Mumford & Sons.

26. What did you want and get?

A race medal and a sticker on my car that says 13.1. Yep. I’m one of those obnoxious people.

27. What did you want and not get?

I can’t think of anything, I’m a very lucky girl.

28. What was your favorite film of 2012?

I FINALLY saw Crash from years and years ago-WOW! What an amazing movie. I also finally saw The King’s Speech, which I loved especially since a long, long time ago, I used to be a speech therapist.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

While my husband was in freaking Europe enjoying sightseeing and weinerschnitzel, I had a lovely lunch date with my favorite daughter at our favorite sushi place. Then I had a babysitter come that evening while I went to my running class and afterwards I went out for Mexican and margaritas with my besties. Not a bad birthday for having been abandoned for three weeks, including my birthday. (HA! Tate, if you’re reading this, I’m just poking fun.)

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

A clean house.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2012?

Running clothes, paired with a ponytail.

32. What kept you sane?

Running and my friends.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

Ugh. I hate politics. What I hate worse than politics is discussing politics. NEXT QUESTION.

34. Who did you miss?

Family and friends who live far away, especially my niece. We couldn’t be there when she was born and haven’t had many opportunities to see her.

35. Who was the best new person you met?

All my running buddies. I can’t believe that I only met several of them last year.

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2012.

Don’t give up. Stick to your guns. Try something new.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“I’m not strong enough. Hands of mercy won’t you cover me. Lord right now I’m asking you to be strong enough for the both of us.” –Strong Enough by Matthew West

****

Did you write one of these? Tell me and I’ll come read it!

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Discoveries

Written on June 26, 2012 by Jennifer in blogging, Mommydom, playing along

(photo credit: Flickr)

I remember the thrill of the discovery, like I had unearthed a secret treasure.

Lonely and isolated as a new mom, I woke up each morning before the sun and with the cries of a hungry baby, followed by naps, laundry, more cries of a hungry baby, followed by more naps, more cries, bedtime. The next day was exactly the same, as was the day after that, and the day after that.

Of course, it wasn’t all bad! Motherhood was just…not what I imagined it to be. In boredom, I went online, clicking one website after another, when one day I read the words of a mother. I don’t remember them exactly, but her message spoke to my soul, the secret place inside of me that couldn’t admit outloud that I didn’t know what I was doing and that most days I wanted to escape, even if just for 15 minutes. This discovery, a mother–just like me, staying home with a baby all day–confessed in writing that being a mom was hard, wonderful, exhausting, boring, fulfilling, gratifying, and every other adjective I had also secretly thought only to myself.

It’s liberating to know you’re not alone, but it’s also enlightening to learn that your own knowledge of the world is not the only reality.

I have kept reading. For years, I’ve read about what other parents have dealt with, how they do what they do with each obstacle they face. I’ve read about triumphs and tragedies, daily quips and years long sagas. I have learned what they think of their vacuum cleaners and their congressmen and women. I read about parents who have such radically different parenting styles and beliefs than my own safe, sanitary bubble style parenting. I continue to read and learn.

Discovering women writers online has influenced who I am and the way I parent today. My world, which formerly consisted of only what I knew intimately and maybe of what I saw on TV or read in novels, is now wide open. Before blogging, I didn’t know anyone personally who homeschooled their children, or gave birth at home, filed for bankruptcy, was Mormon or Jewish, or was a single parent. I’ve found that it’s much easier to have an open mind about things I personally know nothing about, when you’ve read someone’s words and their story–and realized that their opinions and actions are shaped by their experiences just as my opinions and actions are shaped by my own experiences.

What I’ve read for these past six years has influenced how I feel about spanking, processed foods, vaccinations, potty training, education options, religion, cleaning products, and, oh, everything else that I might possibly have ever thought about. When I have parenting questions, the first place I look is online and the parenting writers are usually whose opinions I search and trust the most. In the past, I’ve even written about concerns I’ve had about my own children’s development and have received words of wisdom from friends and strangers far and wide, giving me a virtual pat on the back or hug when I’ve needed it.

Now that I work from home, an option that is partially available to me because of my online interactions for all these years, I’ve taken a cue from other working mothers to learn how to “do” this working thing. From organization tips, to quick recipes, reasonable expectations of babysitters, to balancing (or not!) work and home life, this online space has helped me figure out how to get it all into 24 hours each day.

This is the person that I am today, influenced by more than just my own little bubble wrapped world: the working mom of two school-age children, wife, half-marathon runner, wrinkle cream junkie, recycling fanatic, organic milk buyer, occasional coupon clipper, obsessive email labeler, friend, open-minded, woman writer.

I’ve partnered with Story Bleed Magazine and P&G to celebrate the launch of mom.me. To celebrate their launch, mom.me is hosting a carnival of stories to discuss how technology and online communities of moms have shaped the way we parent.

You, too, can join this conversation with mom.me. Let’s talk about how this little (huge) online world we’ve made for ourselves on the Internet is creating us, changing us as parents. Join this carnival, join this conversation.

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2011 and 2012

Written on December 31, 2011 by Jennifer in playing along, Quirky Me

Oh, I know. I’m so unique with my end of year review list thingy. Here is last year’s list.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

I ran miles and miles and miles. I started a business. I got paid as a freelance writer. I sent my baby to Kindergarten.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I actually feel pretty good about my resolutions from last year. I mean, I didn’t get all of them accomplished, but I still feel like I put a rather sizeable dent in my list.

Last year’s goals (2011):

Personal:

1. Continue to work on being more calm, less rushed, less prone to yelling
**I am still working on this. I think I will always be working on this. I try to remember the quote from Ann Voskamp, “Life is not an emergency,” particularly when I’m practically a damn ringmaster with a whip, freaking out about how NOT QUICKLY the children are moving when it’s time to go somewhere.
2. ~~Lose two pants sizes~~ DONE! (Actually it was 3 pants sizes, but whose counting?!)
3. Drink at least 64 ounces of water everyday
**I–I just am unable to remember to drink water, or any liquids, except when I’m suddenly dying of thirst. I’m keeping this on my list for next year.
4. Bake bread from scratch
**Nope. Not really feeling this one for 2012 either.
5. ~~Run two 5K’s~~ DONE! (I think I ran 4 5K races and 1 10K race.)
6. Have an email/social media/computer free day per week
**I did such a good job on this for the first few months of 2011, but then I just didn’t. I do try and and reduce my computer time on the weekends, but I just can’t have completely email/social media/computer free days.
7. ~~Read a whole bunch-a books~~ (again) Mostly done. Will try to read 40 books this year!
8. Help teach my children to be kinder and more thoughtful by doing random acts of kindness.
**What kind of a loser sets this as a goal and doesn’t do any of it?! This kind right here. I’ll admit that this one feels uncomfortable to me, which is probably why I SHOULD do this.
9. Get a passport and ~~travel somewhere~~ out of the country ~~with Tate for our 10th wedding anniversary~~. DONE-ish! We went to Hilton Head, SC for our anniversary. I was…disappointed when we initially set up the vacation there. I wanted tropical, all-inclusive resort in a foreign paradise. Tate wanted safe, familiar US soil. Hilton Head was such a lovely place, though. I just fell in love with it that I hope we can go back there every summer.
10. Keep in touch better with my extended family members
**I suck at this.
11. Initiate more with friends, be the one to call, the one to invite out for dinner…
**I suck at this, too.
12. ~~Catch up on Mad Men~~ DONE! Also got caught up on Friday Night Lights. This year’s plan includes Breaking Bad.
13. Organize our basement and attic
**Ha! Ha ha ha ha, ha. No.
14. Have a garage sale and/or ~~donate to a worthy organization~~ (any suggestions?) (DONE!)
15. ~~Buy all new make-up with the help of a friend to tell me what to buy~~ DONE!
16. Be a better blog commenter (comment on at least 10 blog posts per week)
**I’m keeping this one for next year. My blog commenting got even worse this year.
17. ~~Take more risks even if it means that I might look stupid or embarrass myself~~ I guess starting a business counts as taking a risk? It feels like a risk. It feels like I look stupid quite often.

Photography:

1. ~~Take photos of at least 3 families~~ Kinda done! I took photos of one family and one newborn, plus a wedding. Photography is a lot of work and I’m pretty sure that it’s not something I want to pursue as a profession.
2. ~~Get more photos printed~~ DONE! They are in a box, though, not displayed. *shrugs shoulders*
3. Make a photo book of my favorite shots
**Nope. Didn’t get this done. Maybe this year. Probably not, though
4. ~~Get better with photographing and editing shots taken in artificial light.~~ I’m calling this one DONE, even though I still have a lot to learn. Lightroom has been a big help with fixing white balance, as well as the Clickin’ Moms class I took.
5. ~~Learn to use my external flash (affiliate link)~~ Another one that I’m calling DONE, but still have SO, SO MUCH to learn.
6. ~~Shoot a wedding~~ DONE! NEVER AGAIN.
7. Instead of Project 365, complete a Project 52, choosing the best photos from each week in 2011.
**I need a photography project for this year because I’m going weeks without even picking up my camera. I don’t want to lose everything I’ve learned, but I also don’t need yet another thing to make me feel overwhelmed.

Spiritual:

1. ~~Write one post about my faith that explains how much it means to me~~ DONE!
2. Read books about other faiths
**I need suggestions.
3. Remember to pray before every meal
**I’m usually so hungry and ready to get dinner over with, cleaned up, and the kids to bed that I forget to pray. (See above regarding my goal to stop rushing.)
4. ~~Lead a prayer outloud~~ DONE. It was semi-awful the three times I did it. I don’t feel confident in HOW you are supposed to pray outloud. I usually just talk to God like he’s my dad sitting next to me on the couch, except silently and in incomplete thoughts, and I don’t know how to do that outloud with other people listening.
5. ~~Lead a study in my women’s group at church~~ DONE! (Actually I co-lead a study, but I’m counting it!)

This year’s goals (2012):

Personal:

1. Calm, patient, less yelling. Yadda yadda yadda. Same ol’, same ol’.
2. Drink more water!
3. Work with my kids to figure out how to serve others, maybe through donations, projects, volunteering, and/or random acts of kindness.
4. Call family and friends. On the phone. Just to say hi.
5. Organize the basement and attic.
6. Be a better blog commenter.
7. Run a half-marathon.
8. Run a 5K in under 30 minutes.
9. Laugh more.
10. Catch up on Harry Potter movies
11. Read 40 books this year!
12. Find a TV show that Tate and I can watch together.

Business:

1. Set up my business as an LLC.
2. Grow my business, increase pageviews to the website and get more Facebook fans.
3. Sell advertising for my business and create campaigns with local companies that are mutually beneficial.

Spiritual:

1. Figure out how God wants to use me and then do it.
2. Read books about other faiths
3. Read the Bible

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My neighbor had the cutest baby boy ever. Besides Carson, of course. I think this link will work to see the newborn pictures I took of him.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank God.

5. What countries did you visit?

None.

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

A clean house. Organized papers.

7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

October 8-13, our trip to Disney! Everything about the trip was just so MAGICAL.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Losing weight, sticking with running for longer than a month, and starting my business.

9. What was your biggest failure?

I feel like I lost my funny this year. I read every post I wrote here in 2011 and I had nothing funny to say at all. I feel so bogged down with work and life and school and everything else, that I notice that I don’t find things as funny as I used to. I want my funny back.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Our vacations.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Everyone I know who did something kind for others.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Too many people. Jerry Sandusky and everyone who covered up for him definitely stands out.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Mortgage, our new car, vacations, and Kroger. I should never complain about my life.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

God, Running, Friday Night Lights, Hilton Head, Disney World

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts. My kids were obsessed with this song and we listened to it over and over and over. Also, You are My Sunshine. I sang that to Ella many nights this year before bed.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

Happier and sadder, thinner, richer

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Spending quality time alone with Tate.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Being so serious.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

We spent Christmas here at home with my parents. Christmas day was relaxing and lazy. The weekend before Christmas we enjoyed a visit with Tate’s family. Our holiday season was wonderful as always. Except for all the new stuff that I have no idea where it will go and the lack of Christmas spirit I felt this year. Other than that, it was GREAT. Just great.

21. Did you fall in love with 2011?

I did re-fall in love with Tate after our anniversary trip and trip to Disney.

22. What was your favorite TV program?

Mad Men and Friday Night Lights.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I really don’t like to use that word, hate. But no, there is not.

24. What was the best book you read?

I feel like I didn’t really read that many good books this year. If I had to pick the best, it would be Cutting for Stone. (affiliate link)

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Mumford and Sons

26. What did you want and get?

Thinner thighs and hips so that I could wear skinny jeans with tall boots.

27. What did you want and not get?

I can’t think of anything, I’m a very lucky girl.

28. What was your favorite film of 2011?

I really enjoyed Inception and The Social Network.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 36 and my in laws came into town to watch the kids so that Tate and I could go to Nashville for the weekend. It was perfect.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More laughing and having a better handle on juggling working with parenting and wife-ing.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept of 2011?

Trying hard not to look frumpy. Always avoiding the frump.

32. What kept you sane?

Saturday and Sunday.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?

That Rick Perry video sure was disturbing.

34. Who did you miss?

Family and friends who live far away

35. Who was the best new person you met?

Heather from TheMommyhood.com

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Trust your instincts. Pray. You can do anything you put your mind to. Kindness always wins.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

See? I can’t think of a single song lyric when put on the spot like this.

********

Happy New Year, everybody! Hope 2012 will be a great year for all of us!

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Mario and Sonic and Carson and Ella at the London 2012 Olympic Games

Written on December 13, 2011 by Jennifer in Little Monkeys, playing along

We received SEGA’s family friendly game, Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games (affiliate link) as part of a family game night package that also included popcorn, nuts, and candy for free. I received no other compensation. All opinions are my own…and my children’s own.

Left to their own devices, my children, especially Carson, would love nothing more than to spend all day, every day playing Wii. I’ve had to set limits on Wii play, they’re only allowed to play on the weekends and only for two hours.

Both kids love all things Mario. We are well stocked with Mario games, their favorites being Mario Sports Mix and Mario Kart. These games can easily be played by young kids, unlike several games in our library that cause nothing but screaming fits because they are so complicated. I’d seen Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games advertised and had considered it for a Christmas gift for them, so I was VERY excited that I was contacted to review the game with the kids. When it came in the mail I just couldn’t wait until Christmas to give it to them.

Luckily Carson, age six, and Ella, age four, both easily picked up on how to play Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Ella actually loses interest pretty quickly in playing Wii, but she loves to watch her brother battle it out as one of the characters in discus, swimming, volleyball, track, and gymnastics.

Carson loves the new-to-him characters like Sonic and Vector the Crocodile. His favorite game to play is the 4 x 100 meter relay, with Sonic, Silver, Shadow, and Knuckles.

“Watch this cool trick, Mom,” he’ll say as one of the Sonic characters performs some cool stunt that puts them in the lead.

This game is apparently not just for kids. After Carson and Ella were carefully tucked in bed, I caught my husband picking up the Wii remote to play a little Mario & Sonic. I keep catching him as Sonic on the parallel bars in the gymnastics game.

This game is available for Wii right now! Which? Is perfect for Christmas! It will be available for the Nintendo 3DS in February.

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Eavesdropping

Written on October 25, 2011 by Jennifer in Mommydom, playing along, working mom

“Can I ask you a very candid question?” her voice boomed across the small seating area of the local coffee shop. Her hair is state fair hair and I can smell her perfume all the way over here.

“Of course,” she replied tentatively. Black suit, unassuming haircut. Quieter. She looks like she hasn’t slept well in about 13 years.

“You seem so OVER it all.”

I can’t even hear the reply, their voices are suddenly hushed.

I have six articles due by the end of the day. My eye is twitching, reminding me that I really need make that eye appointment. I forgot to buy a hula hoop for Carson’s birthday this Friday and I’ve looked at my calendar and can’t figure out how I could possibly fit in a shopping trip.

I hope I get to shower today.

I can hear the women talking again.

“Do you think it’s because you regret volunteering for it?”

“I felt backed into a corner. You know how she is. I should have said no.”

Ella has a fall party at school today, but I’m not going. I feel really badly about not going, other parents will be there and I hope that she won’t feel sad when I don’t show up.

I did send in some pretzels, so there’s that.

It’s just that I can’t be in two places at once I have this long list of deadlines and…

Really? I’d just rather go to my running class than serve candy corn and pretzels to four-year-olds.

I’m not OVER it all, though. Not really. I wish that I had more to give everyone, sure, but I feel like I’m giving something to myself for a change.

She probably won’t even miss me at her fall party.

Booming voice lady isn’t really listening to black suit lady. She keeps trying to convince her to keep giving. More and more and more.

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They wore their helmets

Written on September 21, 2011 by Jennifer in Little Monkeys, Pictures, playing along

We don’t waste these gorgeous fall days. Sunshine and warmth tucked between the rain and gloom, Carson and Ella rode their bikes on chalk outlined race courses. Around and around. Everyone gets a chance to win.

In our front yard, they ride, hoping the neighbor kids will see them and come play, too. A whole gaggle of bike riding kids with their sweaty heads in helmets. I get to be the kool-aid wench. It’s all so much fun, until it’s time to go inside for dinner, bath, and bedtime. Promises are made to play again tomorrow, sometimes through tears, sometimes with eager waves.

Didn’t someone say once that parting is such sweet sorrow?

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Join Story Bleed Magazine and the Go Go Gang in celebrating Worldwide Day of Play. Story Bleed is hosting a blog carnival, all the details on how to join are there, and help celebrate this day of play. Two entries will be published on the magazine!

Like GoGo squeeZ on Facebook and when the GoGo Gang is 100,000 members strong, GoGo squeeZ will team up with Action for Healthy Kids to renovate a play space in an under-served community. Cool, huh?

This post is sponsored by Story Bleed on behalf of GoGo squeeZ as part of the #GoGoDayOfPlay photo carnival.

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Crumb trail

Written on September 20, 2011 by Jennifer in Mommydom, playing along, working mom

I’ve stopped going barefoot in my kitchen. Too many crumbs. Too many things to do to do anything about the crumbs. My eyes and my time are directed at the computer. Click, click, click. Crumbs on my feet.

I can hear the kids downstairs with their vroom vroom noises. Wait? Is that an “I’m hurt” cry? No, not this time. I’m relieved, yes that the cry isn’t one I need to run to, but I’m relieved they are occupied without me. Without the TV. It makes me feel less guilty. They’re playing, old fashioned, get on the floor, run trucks back and forth against the carpet playing.

It’s just a matter of time, I know it is, before I hear their step, step, steps up the stairs. Click, get a glass of milk, click, click, break up a fight, click, “I’m sorry Carson, will you tell me that again, I didn’t hear what you said the first time?” He knows better. He knows about the crumbs. They stick to his feet, too.

I wonder where the broom is?

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