Overheard.

Wesley: I'm gonna be a robber when I grow up.

Blind Vampire

This week (and part of last week) I experienced my first migraine headache. They are new to me and caught all of us off guard.

Frequent calls to the doctor, visits to the pharmacy, and regular life have left me wiped out. I think and hope we have found something to help with the pain but in the meantime I am

1. trying to stay in quiet places
2. avoiding all screens
3. avoiding reading
4. staying cool
5. flocking to dark rooms.

If you have any experience dealing with migraines and want to share, I'd love to know about it and how you treat them. The next step is a CT or relinquishing life to becoming a blind vampire on lots of drugs.

Overheard

Me: "Wesley, you at least need to put your underwear on before dinner."

Authentic Trust.

This weekend I went to a women's retreat in the NC mountains. There were almost three hundred women gathered to refresh, retreat, and giggle.

Over the weekend I thought a lot about trust and authenticity. They emerged as my personal themes and I worked hard on the trust element during my first ever horseback ride. At 3:15 p.m. on Saturday I rode a gorgeous dark brown quarter horse named Raven up and down a mountain trail! It terrified me to climb on top of this unknown independent creature. She was definately in control and I was at her mercy. However, towards the end I kind of wished that I had said 'Yes!' when my parents wanted to buy me a horse for one of my childhood birthday gifts.

Meanwhile, Clare did not get a horse for her 5th birthday (but maybe she will for her 6th so Mama can borrow it). She spent her day opening treats, being treated, going to a football game and attending her friend's birthday party. We plan on doing more celebrating at the end of this week now that I am back in town and ready to focus on five year old fun.

Around here.

We are preparing for Clare's birthday on Friday. Thus far our plans include an extra special breakfast and lunch, balloons, gifts, cake, and attending a birthday party for a friend. Mama is headed out of town for the weekend so we will have to do the party on another date. At first she was bummed but then I explained that it was kind of like having two birthdays and she was okay with that idea.

Wesley is enamored with his stuffed baby owl. (And we finally figured out a cure for the hitting and violence: taking baby owl away!)

I am obsessed with knitting hats, rearranging furniture, and running. If only it would get cooler, then I could test run all of these hats piling up around us. We are also planning our next camping trip, hopefully at the end of the month. I have a few more things to collect gear wise and today I bought my very own sleeping bag! Ahh, the possibilities. I could go anywhere now!

Mario is enjoying the start of football season and all things Buffalo Bills. He is also taking the kids for walks each night around the block in an effort to tire them out and to spend more time outside. This Friday night he's taking both kids to the Heathwood Hall football game for some quality bonding.

ISO: 2 things

1. Birthday ideas for a certain 5 year old to be girl. Mario and I are clueless...I spent a good bit of time at Target this morning wandering up and down the aisles of the toy section before my eyes glazed over. Suggestions welcome! Deadline: Friday.

2. An artist to sketch/draw/paint/color our current home and a picture of Bailey. I have pictures so I'm open to a non-local artist. Getting these two pieces made has been on our to do list for awhile but I wasn't sure where to actually find someone to do them. Suggestions welcome!

labor day weekend highlights

Evening beach trips.
Yard sale treasures.
Night swimming.
Brogens.
Popsicles on the stoop.
Knitting log cabin style.
Getting ready for ga/fl weekend.
Harris Teeter.
Double runs to think.
A marsh sunset.
The king sized bed.
Purging my closet.
Writing letters.
Frog sightings.
Four days as a family.

Thankful Thursday.

• for felt pads to promote easy furniture rearranging.
• for upcoming beach trips.
• for new library books.
• for the start of our fall routine.
• for a healed Achilles tendon.
• for oil change coupons.
• for many more good moments than terrible ones with the kids.
• for apple season.
• for clearance school supplies.
• for kid snuggles in the morning.
• for the coffee Mario makes me each morning.
• for growing friendships.
• for Mario's patient example.

ps: you can get your own set of listening ears here.

Listening Ears

He brought these home from school yesterday. I'm not sure if they work so we may need to make a new set.