April 7: Quintessential April

As per the post before this one, this week has been pretty hectic.  Thursday (this day) felt like four days rolled into one.  I had the great pleasure of being in/around the city of Brotherly Love (sorry Talu!  I would have called but it was in and out in under 5 hours), and was so proud to see the happy faces of students who had been admitted, and, enrolled.  It's April in admissions, which means, "don't stop, get it, get it".  It's my favorite time of the admissions cycle but also one with some crazy work hours and time commitments, which means..."The Mike, Henry, Alice Show!" 

On this particular day, amidst the crazy of late meetings, long checklists and countless emails, Henry made me smile as big as the cheshire cat when, without help or prompting, he woke up and got himself dressed.  Picked out clothes (that matched?  What??), put them on correctly, came downstairs and asked if he could make himself breakfast.  I said sure, as long as you make mine too (kidding...sort of). 

What a little sweetheart.  He was in such a good "non-tudey" mood this morning that I was pretty surprised to receive the following text on my way back  from Philadelphia:
"Hen threw up 2X...Alice is crying now, I think she's very tired. Laika (dog) dug up the flower garden to uncover a baby rabbit."

Oh April, I love you and loathe you all at once.

April 6: Kitty-Daddy Cuddlebug

Outfit change for everyone!  I'm trying to figure out what exactly happened to prompt this photo, but for the life of me, can't recall.  I know that there was spit-up involved, and possibly a work shirt, but beyond that, I'm stumped.  The funny part of all of this is that this photo was taken on Wednesday, today is Friday, and I am clearly a boatload of crazy this week.

Pooey baby!

April 1: Helloooo Picksburg!!!

I really shouldn't be posting right now.  I've got a ridiculous list to accomplish before bed tonight and I've got a dangerous case of ADD brain.  Clothes to pack, toys to remember, lunch to prepare...all of it for our weekend trip to Pittsburgh ("Picksburg, where Shane with an Ssss lives, and I'm Henry with an H and we will plaaaaay!")  In addition to cousin Shane (just a year older than Hen and a celeb in our home), we'll see nearly the entire Williams clan, minus my cousins Fred, Matt and Hunter who went all "college" on us.  What you might not understand is that "the entire Williams clan" (my nan, my mom, her sibs and their families) amounts to just under 70 people.  Yes David, this is real life.

One of my tasks before the night ends (does it ever end, really?) is to prepare lunch and snacks for the ride.  I'm putting together curried chicken salad wraps for Mike and I and trusty ol' PB&J for Hen.  Here is a shot of the ingredients I've pulled out of the cupboard to prepare this meal:

Oh, I'm sorry dingus, did you not know that mini marshmallows and space shuttle were necessary ingredients in curried chicken salad?  I know what you're wondering, and yes, it is difficult to be this refined.

P.S. What is my husband doing right now?  He's being super helpful and not at all annoying, snoring LOUDLY from the family room, while Ghostbusters plays through (almost as loudly) on the tele.  I keep going in there and yelling politely suggesting that he take those precious Zzz's upstairs.  He oddly refuses. Oh really?  Seems like an appropriate time to use all of the loudest kitchen appliances we own.  Sleep while I'm cleaning?  H to the No, M.Boegs.

March 30: A Lasting Vow

 The other night, my sister Mary and I were locked in a brainwave, both of us spending copious amounts of time surfing the internet for good wedding songs.  Her reason? She's getting married this July.  My reason? I am a strange weirdo who spends too much time on the internet.  Obviously Mary had good cause to be googling, groove-sharking, youtube-watching and itunes-shopping.  She and Brian are very musically inclined and their playlist, like their wedding, will no doubt be thoughtful, personal and fun.  I, however, have no excuse, other than to say that I just really love weddings, and am probably too excited for Mare & Brian's big day.  I mean, look at these faces, how could you NOT want to celebrate their wedded bliss? 

 

This is insaaaane!  This looks like the photo that comes with the frame, or the clipart image that is a result of the search "Perfect Couple".  Attractive! Successful! Wearing all black! Holding a camera! Rockstars at life!

  Megan and I were looking at this photo a couple of months ago while going through a stack I had printed of the family.  She agreed with me on all points of couple perfection...and then, turning to the next photo, shrieked with laughter, discovering something that looked a lot like this:

Creepy mustache!  Neon cat-eyes!  Walt Disney shirt from Goodwill!  Probably didn't wake up until 1pm!  Yes indeedy alright, hitched mah wagon to that star and I am NOT sorry about it.    Megan couldn't help but to laugh at the comparison, "Molly, HOW are we all from the same family?!"

When I think about Mary and Brian I am overwhelmed with joy.  I truly have faith in their love for one another.  Brian has been a part of our family since he was a rising junior in high school.  In my eyes, he has been my little brother for years now.  The reality of this becoming "official" honestly makes me cry every time I think of it, which is why I totally lost it when, in my crazy-lady search for wedding songs, I stumbled upon this video.

Aaaaahhh!!  Tears!  Tears!  Sniffles!  More tears!  Blotchy-face McGinty!

This song, this video, this couple, this wedding.  It's a beautiful demonstration of a genuine and lasting love for another person, an emotional acknowledgment of the commitment you make to that one life partner. 

Which, of course, always brings me, personally, back to this:

our commitment, our partnership, and in the spirit of this post, our song

I can't wait for July 2nd, when I will witness Mary & Brian's vows to one another, and be silently reminded of my own.

February 22: No day like a snow day

 

Mr. B is home today thanks to more than a few inches of snow on the ground.  When I was a kid I thought there was nothing better than a real, old-fashioned snow day.  Not the wimpy 1-hour or 2-hour delay, no, no, no, I was only ever interested in the Full Monty, the no school snow day.

This is why I was shocked and, almost appalled, when Mike complained about school closings.  He loves the 2-hour delay, hates the "8-hour delay" as he put it.  With the patience and reasoning skills of 4th grader, I rolled my eyes, twirled my hair, smacked my gum and said "Ugh! Why do you hate school closings so much?!  Two-hour delays are stupid!  Most people have to WORK...you should be happy...so ungrateful."  Mike shot me a quizzical look, unsure as to whether this was a joke or not, and blankly said, "Mol, if school is closed, I have to make the day up, if it's just a delay or early closing, it counts in full.  Didn't you know that??"  I felt a little embarrassed, because, well, he's right.  I'd much rather been in school/work during the awful month of February (truly...is it not the WORST month ever?  Winter wasteland, ew) and off school/work enjoying the darling buds of May/June.

Today Mike will be channeling his handy side as he takes the first step in the finishing of the basement.  I will be doing my usual mommy stuff with Alice and then, when she goes down for a nap, I will pick a work-out video from comcast on-demand, complete half of it and watch the other half from the couch  while eating a brownie.  This is a completely true statement (except for the part where I do half of the workout...that's being generous).

Happy snow day!

February 21: Toytown USA

Population: 4 (1 easily distracted preschooler, 1 cranky baby, 2 busy parents, up to their ears in messiness)

I was on the phone this morning with my very dear friend, Talu discussing plans to visit our other very dear friend (and new mom to twins) Lulu.  I've just written that sentence and already I feel judged--no, I did not make them up, they are real people and no, those are not their given names, but nicknames given affectionately during our high school years.  I wish I could have been more present during that conversation (sorry Talu), instead, I spent most the 30 minutes or so pleading with Henry to pleeeease put away some of these toys before we are all buried alive.  Apparently his listening ears were not on...not even close.

I am usually very self conscious about mess and tidiness in my home.  I often wish that things were better organized and am very uncomfortable entertaining any guest when I feel like my space is in disarray.  My dad always encouraged organization (I use the word "encouraged" quite generously), but it didn't really stick for me.  I try my hardest to find a place for everything, and to keep everything in its place.  It's just not that easy for us.  Mike and I are what I'd kindly call, "creative", which translates as "people who are so taken with their own imagination and pursuits of happiness that they hardly notice that they can't see the top of their dining room table any longer".

Now that we have kids, we are both much more aware of the state of things in our home, and we do work together to keep our mess small and contained.  The family member that could give two hoots about the joys of a clean and organized home is, of course, Hen-Bo.  Going against my general need to display a picture of order to the outside world, I'm posting photos of the family room.  This mess took about 3 minutes and has only gotten worse.  I honestly don't know where to start.  I'll eventually get everything back to its home, but it will last for about 20 minutes, and then, toy mania once again. If you're in the area, come on in and embrace the chaos.

February 12: Lovebugs

This photo doesn't even come close to capturing how sweet this moment was. I spend all day with Alice, and often, much of the day with Henry and still there is nothing that melts my heart more than seeing them with Mike. Sometimes, when we're all in the same room, which is often--Alice doesn't really do her own thing yet, and Henry would much rather be with us than without--I look around and think, "how did I get this beautiful family?"

Today was a lovely, low-key day with our little foursome. Delicious eggs and bagels for breakfast, new glasses for Henry (a weaker prescription--yes!!), a stop in to our favorite local shop, Miss Ruth's Time Bomb where we filled up on cupcakes and I enjoyed a mimosa with my girl Sarah and a lazy afternoon at home. We're calling it a day soon with some plain and simple comfort food: sloppy joes, sweet potato fries and corn. Saturday, I love you.

February 9: Forever in the rinse cycle

two minutes later...


Notice something different? Yes, you are so observant, Alice is not wearing any clothes in the second photo. This was costume change #4 for the day, perhaps a record for my stinky little kitten-baby. She goes through more clothing than her father and brother combined, and that is quite a feat. At 2 going on 3, Henry practically invented the word "mess". Apple juice, milk, pudding, tomato sauce--you name it, we've washed it. The most endearing part, is the heartfelt "sorry!!" that follows every spill. Of course we give him a big hug and kiss and explain that we understand it was an accident and that he's not in trouble. Still, his clothes have seen the spin cycle so many times I'm surprised they're still in tact. As for Mike*, he changes after work each day then wears something for an hour and it's in the laundry basket. Honestly husband, do you really think it got that dirty in 60 minutes time? While I'm on the topic--who washes their jeans after two wears? TWO wears?! Denim sacrilege! I'll hold off to the bitter end before I throw my jeans in the wash. Maybe I'm revealing too much here? Are you thinking of me and finding this image coming to mind? I'd say between the three of them--Mike the outfit-changing wonder, Henry the bull in the china shop and Diaper disaster Alice--I've got about a load of laundry a day. I truly have NO clue as to how I'll keep us stocked with clean clothes once I go back to work. And with that, I'm off...to throw the wash in the dryer. Just another exciting day in Mollywood.


*should note that Mike was borderline offended by this exaggeration of life in our house as he has been very good about cutting back on his dirty clothes pile. I recognize and appreciate that immensely and in no way mean to suggest that he is a burden...I love him dearly and would marry him and his pile of laundry all over again today if I could. ;)

February 7: My original muse

As I look through our iPhoto at the seriously daunting number of pictures that we've accumulated over the years, I can't help but to notice a very clear (and understandable) shift in subjects that occurs right around March, 2008. Before Henry and Alice, there was always Elsie. Our first real shared responsibility, Mike and I adopted her from the Rutland VT Humane Society on January 21, 2006. This date marked our one year as a couple and we did things in style, by picking up a pooch. We knew it would be a lot of work, but were blissfully ignorant of the true impact that caring for another creature would have on our lives. Elsie is a really good dog, honestly, I go so far as to say "the most well behaved dog ever", and I don't tend to speak in superlatives (ha! so false, I know, but it sounded good). However, when we got our second dog, Laika, Mike was quick to remind me of the maaaaany shoes, rugs, clothes, pieces of furniture, home decor accessories, pillows, comforters etc. that Elsie chewed through. I guess having a dog is a lot like having a baby--involves patience, love and a very selective memory!

Here's to my original muse, Elsie Mae, and many more years of life with the prettiest and most well behaved dog ever.