new friends

Since we moved back to Sacramento about 16 months ago, we've really enjoyed being back near our families. The kids love spending time with their cousins and Landon and I really like having so much support from our parents and siblings. One thing has been largely absent, however: friends.
Now, my sisters are my closest friends in the world, but they aren't around the corner, and their schedules are crammed pretty full. Through last summer, we were able to get together at least once a week to play and catch up, but Mason and Collin started school in the fall. Not long after that, Caitlin started working for our parents, so we just don't get to see them as much as we would like. As the months have passed without these regular play dates, I have really started missing having friends. Friends who live close by. Friends who have kids the same age (or thereabout) as my own. Friends who want/need to get out of the house as much as I do.
I have a hard time creating new friendships. I'm a little shy in group settings and I have some social anxiety (due, in large part, to the fact that I lack that filter in the brain that strains out the inappropriate things one thinks before they come out of one's mouth). There are a lot of very kind women who have their kids in school with Mason, but it seemed that they knew each other before I ever showed up. Everyone is very cordial and polite, don't get me wrong, but no one seemed to want to strike up a friendship with me (okay, no one was going out of their way to draw me out of my shell).
A couple of months ago, Landon told me that an attorney who had been opposing counsel on an old case had just enrolled his daughter in Mason's class. He sent me a link to the guy's website (I'm not sure why), and told me his daughter's name. The next day, I happened to drop Mason off and noticed the attorney from the website Landon had sent prodding his reluctant daughter to go join the other children on the playground. Mason had a hard time going to school that morning, so we had brought a carrot to feed the bunny. I introduced myself (huge deal for me), and offered to let his daughter help Mason feed the bunny. I made a big deal over her fancy, glittery shoes, and she decided I was okay. The next morning, I inadvertently followed her mom home on my way to go look at a house for sale that I had found on the internet (they live across the street from said house). I was a little worried that she was going to think I was a weird stalker or something. So, that afternoon, I explained why I had followed them home. We chatted a little about the house and the neighborhood.
Making this connection with one mom from Mason's school pushed me to be a little braver. I have invited our new friends out for ice cream and joined them on trips to the park. The success of such outings has given me some courage to invite other moms to play at the park or to other simple playdates with our kids, and I find that I am making friends. And it feels nice to have someone to chat with, even for a couple of hours as our kids play at the park. Heck, another mom gave me her mom card (like a business card but for a stay at home mom) after we randomly met at the park a few times, suggesting I call if we plan to head to the park. I feel almost like I picked up on someone. hahahaha
It's nice to know that I'm not a total freak, like I sometimes worry I am, and that people like to be around me. It's nice to have someone to commiserate with when our husbands are working all weekend like lawyers often do. It's nice to have an excuse to leave the house and let the kids run around and play or eat ice cream. It's nice to feel connected to other grown ups and not feel so dependent on Landon for human contact.
So, today I'm grateful for new friends, and to the hope that one day they might be old friends. : )

I love to sleep... How I love to sleep.

Last night, I was frazzled by the time Landon got home, as is more often the case than not. Every afternoon I think, "I'm gonna keep it together today and not be such a freak." Unfortunately, that usually just doesn't happen. I'm just a big freak.
Anyhow, since I was feeling all frazzled, I put a bottle of recently purchased chardonnay into the fridge to accompany our grilled chicken and spinach ravioli dinner I was preparing. I had about a glass, and since I'm such a cheap date, that was plenty enough for me. It took the edge off the day and I was able to relax. And by relax, I mean that I laid down on the bed, on my face, and passed out cold. At about 7:30. One minute, I was chatting with Landon, the next I was asleep. And probably drooling. Like this:I woke up for a little while in the night (my body just isn't used to so much continuous sleep these days), but I managed to go back to sleep and stay that way until around 7:30, when Mason finally came in for our morning snug ritual.
I was in bed for nearly 12 hours. Back in the day, the glorious days of sleep long before I was a mother, 12 hours of sleep at night wasn't an uncommon occurrence (see title). Nowadays, it most certainly is a freak, once in a blue moon, sort of event.
I feel better rested today than I have since I can't remember when, and that is a beautiful thing. I don't know if Landon bathed the boy last night, or what time he (Mason) got put to bed, but I don't really care. 'Cause I am rested. Hallelujah.
Thanks, Landon, for handling Mason's bedtime stuff... and thanks for understanding that I needed to catch up on some z's.
Side note: Landon totally sent out the above-posted picture to EVERYONE we know who has email after the birth of our son. People were very impressed with the sizable puddle of drool I had accumulated on my pillow. Having to care for a newborn after a c-section makes you tired, okay? Yah. That's it.

The Doctor's Office

In the 16 months that we've lived here, we haven't made that many trips to the doctor's... we've mostly been only for well baby visits, and then there was the time Landon decided we were done having children. At any rate, after Mason's babyhood, which included fairly frequent trips to the doctor for the various things that afflict babies (ear infections, scratching the cornea with laundry detergent, you know, normal kid stuff), I was proud of how healthy/safe we have been... that is up until 3 weeks ago. In 3 weeks, we've been to the doctor 3 times. Once for a crazy rash: Then again for an ear infection, and now today for an eye infection.
I'm really grateful for modern medicine, antibiotics, our doctor and especially for our medical insurance (which, so far, seems to be much better than the previous two plans we had). Having said that, I'm really ready to be healthy again.
Bring on the end of flu season. I'm ready!

Chalk Soup AKA How We Spent the Afternoon

I did this:
My kids did this:
And this:
(more than once):
She wanted in on the action too:
It was fun. It was messy. It was one of those days that you remember as you grow up even though nothing in particular happened. You just have warm feelings as you remember making chalk soup, and your mom laughing while you sample your "yummy" cuisine.
I'm a lucky lady. And I'm grateful for the days I get to have like today... where Mason and I plant seeds together... where Mason creates a culinary masterpiece (everyone is going to be eating "chalk soup" in the future!)... and where the kids have fun stirring and sharing and just playing together.
*Sigh* I hope we get to have a lot more afternoons like today.

My Beautiful Weekend

This post is several days overdue, but sometimes that's just how my life goes. I don't sweat it too much.
Landon and I did manage to get away together, alone, last weekend. It was a beautiful, restful, fun and relaxing weekend, and I think it made both of us want to make doing little things like this together more often. We had time to visit, to reconnect, and to have some grown up time without worrying whether our kids were going to wake up, interrupt, etc. It was lovely.
Saturday, we went to Napa and visited three wineries. I took some nice photos (mostly of plants, much to Landon's displeasure). For dinner, we ate at an amazing creole restaurant in downtown Napa. Oh my gosh, it was delicious and wonderful. I tried alligator and ate some yummy corn chowder, gumbo, jambalaya, and bread pudding. And the wine was excellent too. Just a very nice end to a beautiful day.
We slept in a little Sunday morning after passing out around 9:30 the night before (I know, we're super exciting). It felt very indulgent and wonderful. Then we drove over to Sonoma to visit Landon's favorite winery. Without much on our stomachs, we both got a little tipsy there and bought a ton of wine, chocolate and vinegars. Then, we had a leisurely drive home, stopping for lunch at a small fruit stand where we got some good salami, cheese, bread, and, of course, fruit. By the time we got home, we were starting to miss the kids a little. We were pleased to arrive as they were waking up from naps ready to snug. Mason requested a picnic for dinner, and we obliged.
It was such a beautiful weekend. It gave me some time to recharge my batteries, reconnect with my busy husband, and appreciate how much having my kids around really does make me feel happy and complete.
Thank you, Landon, for my beautiful weekend away. I'm so very grateful.

Cautious Optimism

So, we have everything lined up for a weekend away this weekend... I just booked the hotel for a screaming good rate. Kelly's set to arrive tomorrow morning. I've got most of the house chores complete, or at least in a state that is complete-able today. Now, we just have to go.
Today, I wait with baited breath, cautiously optimistic that Landon will actually be able to go to Napa with me for two quiet days away from our kids. The first night alone for us in a very, very, very long time. Since before Marissa was born. A lifetime ago... at least it feels that way.
I'm grateful for the hope and the hint of what's to come.
Should I proceed with an appointment for a tasting at Cakebread? Mmmm. Cakebread.

Ahhhhh....

This morning, my house is quiet. And still. And dirty as all hell, but peaceful nonetheless. Mason's been sick for over a week, and his little cold turned into an ear infection (complete with piercing shrieks and inconsolable cries of pain). We braved the cats and dogs that were being issued from the sky above Monday morning to get him into the doctor and then again to pick up some antibiotics from the store. After an extra day of rest yesterday, he's back in school this morning.
Let me tell you, it feels so good for him to be back in school today. Ahhhh. I'm really, truly and completely grateful for antibiotics. I know that Mason's ear isn't bothering him anymore and I get a morning off while he's at school and Marissa naps. Ahhhhh.