Let's Pretend...

Yesterday we decided to pretend it was summer... you see, if it weren't for all the blasted snow days that we had, I think we would be on summer break...right...now.  As it is, Mike has all of this week left, and the boys and I have 4 days NEXT week as well! While we realize that life is not over, and that many are suffering in much more tragic ways, we still are chomping at the bit for summer. So, yesterday we decided to pretend, just for the day, that it is indeed summer.  Pretending is a lost art, I believe, and possibly highly underrated.  WE (the family of pretenders) spent a wonderful, perfect day on our own tiny slice of the beach... i think it even made facing reality today a bit less painful :)

Ever heard of Mother's Day Monday?

If you've never heard of Mother's Day Monday, don't feel bad...few have.  But I love it!  Mother's Day Monday was created in my family this very year by my mom, my sister, and me. And we plan to celebrate it annually.  I understand that it would seem that one would celebrate Mother's Day with her children, it's almost a given, I suppose.  This year my boys and I celebrated earlier in the week, with cards and gifts they chose themselves, and a wonderful Life Books Royal Wedding magazine from Mike. They really went all out being considerate and thoughtful this year, and I want to give them the credit they absolutely deserve!  I felt very special and honored. I love all three of my guys, and am so thankful for them.  Then, as an extra bonus, Mike agreed to a plan my sister and I cooked up to spend Sunday afternoon, evening, and all day Monday with Mom on a girls' mini-escape.  Hoff (brother-in-law) and Dad also agreed... let me just take this moment to publicly say to the  three guys...THANK YOU! The extra time, effort, and funding required from them for us to enjoy this time together was not lost on us, and we say THANK YOU!!!

Life gets busy, full, hectic, and expensive. Sometimes we feel like there is barely time for a long chat on the phone, let alone 24 hours away together.  But this time of Mother's Day Monday was all we had hoped for...we stayed at a hotel in downtown Indy thanks to Kelly and a cheap deal through hotwire. We leisurely window shopped in Broad Ripple.  We ate knaffa (a delicious dessert with orange blossom on top!) outside at a restaurant by the river and the Monon while we enjoyed a rare slice of sunshine.  We soaked in the hottub and talked. We had beauty night and colored hair. We looked at magazines. We went to sleep late (some of us later than others, as Mom & Kelly both snore! ;), and we watched the Today show as we got around the next morning. We had lox and bagels for brunch. We shopped at Circle Center where I bought three pairs of shoes all at once! We walked and laughed and talked. We enjoyed each other's uninterrupted company and the blessing of mothers, daughters, and sisters.

I remember what Kelly was talking about, and Mom thought she was hilarious, but I think I'll keep the story to myself!





Mother's Day Monday...may the tradition never end.

Memories of Spring Break... # 1

Spring Break has come...and gone. And I would have told you about it sooner, honest I would have, but we have had some major internet problems...like no internet at all at home, since the very day we got home from Spring Break.  So...be prepared for post palooza ( my fancy shmancy title for catching up on blogging!) Because, as any teacher or parent knows, MUCH happens in the life of a youngish family during April.
I make no promises of any kind that posts will be in any type of chronological order, only that I hope to write them!  Now, back to the topic of this one...Spring Break.

The heart of every child beats a little quicker at the mention of those two words..Spring Break...(pitter patter, pitter patter)  The heart of every teacher nearly goes into cardiac arrest (beep!beep!beep!) at the mere mention of Spring Break, we are so excited.  So imagine the atmosphere at our house, with two children and two teachers.  Gravity did not exist.  I should write a quick disclaimer right here ... we get this excited when we have somewhere to go. While we prefer a balmy destination, we are still rather content just to have a destination. Preferably with loved ones.  This year did not disappoint.

This year we went to Kentucky with our dear friends, the Grants, ( in case I've not previously introduced you all to them, these people are so special that our children consider each other cousins, and the terms Aunt and Uncle preceed the first names of all four adults to the corresponding kiddos. This being said, our kids do actually realize that they aren't biologically related, which is a good thing, because Isaac is betrothed to their only daughter, Kenna. Yes, that's right, we are very much in favor of arranged marriage.) We began the trip as soon as school let out Friday afternoon, as we could wait no longer to escape the cold and rain and see our friends. On the way we stopped in Indianapolis for dinner at Bob Evans with Kelly & Hoff ( my sis & brother-in-law).  Why Bob Evans you ask? (just pretend you asked, okay?) Because when I asked Grant to think of one thing he really wanted to do on Spring Break for fun, his answer was,"Let's go to a restaurant, like Bob Evans! Yeah! Let's go to Bob Evans!" The child is just so hard to please.
Then, it was onward to Louisville.

The beginning of our little vacation was spent with the families divided...Mike and Isaac went with Darin, Kohl, and Klay and some other friends to Red River Gorge near Lexington for some hiking and camping.  Angie and I opted to stay at her cousin's house in Louisville with Kenna, Kye, and Grant, sleeping in real beds with real showers, and familiarizing ourselves with nearby parks, cupcake shoppes, and gelato shops.  Mmmmm!  

<><><><><><><><>

<>

<><><><><><><><>

Spring Break011