The first sentence; a beginning. It's the doorway in to the story. Once you've pushed it open and stepped over the threshold you can begin to look around at the wonder the door held in. And time can slip away as you lose yourself in it.
I'm stuck. The story to follow comes as effortlessly as snow falls from the sky, but the opening line...it escapes me.
The characters have taken up residence in my mind, longing to escape. to be free and tell their tale. The door is closed. Bolted. I scramble to look for the key, to compose the sentence that opens the door. The rest of the story begs to be told.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
evie-isms
My child is a comedian. If she didn't look so much like Andy and I, one could perhaps wonder if we brought the right child home from the hospital. We aren't particularly funny people but she makes life hilarious! Over the past couple of days, Evie has been full of more funnies than Facebook can keep up with. So, pull out your courtesy laugh and humor me...
It was a damp, dark night. I was behind the wheel with Evie strapped safely in the seat behind me. She filled the car with her stories and songs, her cheery little heart declaring her love for the world around her. I reached into my purse for something and came across a sucker in between my wallet and day planner. And so...I turned up Evie's CD, to cover any plastic sounds, carefully unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth with the stick facing left. We drove on, Evie in happy oblivion, and I, reveling in my stroke of genius. It took about 2 minutes but then, I heard it. The sound of that little nose poked up into the air, trying to catch a whiff of something. "Mom, what's that smell?" she asked. I played dumb, "What smell?" "That smell I keep smelling. Is that a sucker?" More sniffing the air. "I SMELL A SUCKER!" she declared. And indeed she did.
I will preface this with a little background. Our mail carriers are typically women. As a result, Evie has decided that all mail delivery people are "mail ladies." We don't correct her, unless we are talking directly to a male mail carrier and need to clarify things. And this did indeed happen one time, only I didn't think to correct her and the mail-"man" gave us a little explanation. Today, as we were driving home, we passed the Post Office and saw a long line of mail trucks parked. "Oh Look!" Evie exclaimed,"It's a mail-lady splosion!"
We arrived home from our errand doings. On normal days, we make a stop at our post box before heading inside. Today, however, there was no mail due to the Presidents Day Holiday. She was very confused by this. "Mommy," she asked,"why can't we get the mail?"
"The mail lady is not bringing the mail today," I said,"so we don't need to go to the box. It's empty."
She looked unsure. "Did the mail lady take our mail? Is she going to bring it back?"
"It's Presidents Day," I explained, " a holiday to honor presidents. The mail lady doesn't bring mail on Presidents Day."
"OH GREAT!" she exclaimed with delight," It's presents day! When do we get to open presents? Can we open them tonight?"
She never did grasp the meaning, but she hasn't mentioned the presents since, so I think we're okay.
Evie loves tools. I think she loves tools almost as much as her daddy does. They regularly work together with tools or read books about tools. She often pulls out tool names and incorporates them, completely out of context, into every day life. A few months ago she called out "wooden mallet" all the way through our shopping trip to Target. Today, I was snuggling her before her nap. She likes to burrow into my arms, her fuzzy blanket wrapped around. She closed her eyes, her breathing slowed and then she startled me with a loud voice, "C-CLAMP!" This was followed by rounds of raucous laughter, she started it and I couldn't help but join in. Never one to let a laugh get away, "C-CLAMP" was regularly repeated, then followed with much laughter. I put her to bed, she was still laughing. The perfect way to fall asleep...
Evie piped up. "He's Grandma's favorite."
"Who's Grandma's favorite?" I asked.
"Brad. Brad is Grandma's favorite. (long pause) I love Brad. Brad is my favorite."
How good God is to give me such a gift. I could fill pages with stories of her sillies. Today though, I hope you find a little cheer to lift your heart as you see life through the eyes of an Evie....
It was a damp, dark night. I was behind the wheel with Evie strapped safely in the seat behind me. She filled the car with her stories and songs, her cheery little heart declaring her love for the world around her. I reached into my purse for something and came across a sucker in between my wallet and day planner. And so...I turned up Evie's CD, to cover any plastic sounds, carefully unwrapped it and popped it into my mouth with the stick facing left. We drove on, Evie in happy oblivion, and I, reveling in my stroke of genius. It took about 2 minutes but then, I heard it. The sound of that little nose poked up into the air, trying to catch a whiff of something. "Mom, what's that smell?" she asked. I played dumb, "What smell?" "That smell I keep smelling. Is that a sucker?" More sniffing the air. "I SMELL A SUCKER!" she declared. And indeed she did.
I will preface this with a little background. Our mail carriers are typically women. As a result, Evie has decided that all mail delivery people are "mail ladies." We don't correct her, unless we are talking directly to a male mail carrier and need to clarify things. And this did indeed happen one time, only I didn't think to correct her and the mail-"man" gave us a little explanation. Today, as we were driving home, we passed the Post Office and saw a long line of mail trucks parked. "Oh Look!" Evie exclaimed,"It's a mail-lady splosion!"
We arrived home from our errand doings. On normal days, we make a stop at our post box before heading inside. Today, however, there was no mail due to the Presidents Day Holiday. She was very confused by this. "Mommy," she asked,"why can't we get the mail?"
"The mail lady is not bringing the mail today," I said,"so we don't need to go to the box. It's empty."
She looked unsure. "Did the mail lady take our mail? Is she going to bring it back?"
"It's Presidents Day," I explained, " a holiday to honor presidents. The mail lady doesn't bring mail on Presidents Day."
"OH GREAT!" she exclaimed with delight," It's presents day! When do we get to open presents? Can we open them tonight?"
She never did grasp the meaning, but she hasn't mentioned the presents since, so I think we're okay.
Evie loves tools. I think she loves tools almost as much as her daddy does. They regularly work together with tools or read books about tools. She often pulls out tool names and incorporates them, completely out of context, into every day life. A few months ago she called out "wooden mallet" all the way through our shopping trip to Target. Today, I was snuggling her before her nap. She likes to burrow into my arms, her fuzzy blanket wrapped around. She closed her eyes, her breathing slowed and then she startled me with a loud voice, "C-CLAMP!" This was followed by rounds of raucous laughter, she started it and I couldn't help but join in. Never one to let a laugh get away, "C-CLAMP" was regularly repeated, then followed with much laughter. I put her to bed, she was still laughing. The perfect way to fall asleep...
Evie piped up. "He's Grandma's favorite."
"Who's Grandma's favorite?" I asked.
"Brad. Brad is Grandma's favorite. (long pause) I love Brad. Brad is my favorite."
How good God is to give me such a gift. I could fill pages with stories of her sillies. Today though, I hope you find a little cheer to lift your heart as you see life through the eyes of an Evie....
Saturday, February 18, 2012
let's put the "sun" in "sunglasses"
The sun beckoned. We climbed into Frosty the Sable, buckled our seatbelts and enjoyed the trip with the rosy glow magnifying it's warmth through the glass of the windows.
Target. A place to go when you need groceries or just want to see what people, other than the ones you live with, look like. A place to escape when winter's chill captures the world around you and holds you hostage within your own four walls. A place to find a cute outfit for cheap.
We spent some time there, found what we were looking for. And yes, a few good sales from which we found a new pair (well, two pairs) of darling little dress up shoes for an Evie, who grew out of her others, and also some new pink sunglasses. Evie loves sunglasses. She especially loved her Hello Kitty sunglasses, which mysteriously vanished a month ago, so we were pleased to find a pair of replacements. It was a toss up between the sparkly pink Barbie glasses and the simple pink ones. Her pick? The plain janes. I tried again for the Barbies, she pointed to the Spidermans, we settled on the regulars. A fair choice.
A few more treasures to tuck into our cart. Listening to Evie sing "Do to Mothers as you would have them do to you..." at the tippy top of her warbley little voice. A poker faced cashier. A mad dash to the car. The mad dash? When a 2 year old is set free from a shopping cart and looks at the February sunshine through new sunglasses.
Home again. And then the phone rang. I answered it, "Hello?... Yes.... Just me and Evie.... Really? ...We'll be there in a minute...Thanks... Bye."
It was the sunshine calling us to come out and play. Evie made sure that I grabbed my sunglasses too before we headed outside for a sunny day adventure...
Target. A place to go when you need groceries or just want to see what people, other than the ones you live with, look like. A place to escape when winter's chill captures the world around you and holds you hostage within your own four walls. A place to find a cute outfit for cheap.
We spent some time there, found what we were looking for. And yes, a few good sales from which we found a new pair (well, two pairs) of darling little dress up shoes for an Evie, who grew out of her others, and also some new pink sunglasses. Evie loves sunglasses. She especially loved her Hello Kitty sunglasses, which mysteriously vanished a month ago, so we were pleased to find a pair of replacements. It was a toss up between the sparkly pink Barbie glasses and the simple pink ones. Her pick? The plain janes. I tried again for the Barbies, she pointed to the Spidermans, we settled on the regulars. A fair choice.
A few more treasures to tuck into our cart. Listening to Evie sing "Do to Mothers as you would have them do to you..." at the tippy top of her warbley little voice. A poker faced cashier. A mad dash to the car. The mad dash? When a 2 year old is set free from a shopping cart and looks at the February sunshine through new sunglasses.
Home again. And then the phone rang. I answered it, "Hello?... Yes.... Just me and Evie.... Really? ...We'll be there in a minute...Thanks... Bye."
It was the sunshine calling us to come out and play. Evie made sure that I grabbed my sunglasses too before we headed outside for a sunny day adventure...
Yay for sunshine and new sunglasses and fresh air!
And we're off...
We decided to keep walking, right into the little nature path that makes city folk feel a little countryfied. We talked about what we might see walking through the trees. She demonstrated some squirrel moves for me.
We looked up. Nothing but blue.
This face? Awestruck. Yes, the warbling bird calls and squirrel chirps were too exciting for words. We've actually worked on some bird calls. She has "chickadee-dee-dee" and "churley churley" down pat. After she listened to them sing away for a while, she sang right back.
"Mom, this is really crunchy. Is this a chip or something?" We did not sample it...
Most of Evie's treasures were small, pocket sized and then we passed this branch. It was much too exciting to pass up. So, for the next 15 minutes, she dragged it along, singing in rhythm to it's scraping sound. And then, when we were out of the woods and back into the sights of the city, but not close enough to home, she tired of her branch and got cold. Too cold to walk. Now, I carried an Evie and a small tree. Not sure that I wanted to continue this for the next two blocks, I laid it to rest beside a large tree in front of an elementary school.
It was Februarly warm, but we stayed out just long enough to stir up the chilly pre-spring breezes. Rosy cheeked, we arrived home, pleased to have answered the call of the sunshine...
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
falling in love
It's Valentines Day. The day of love. And I fell hard.
Literally.
On the ice. In my driveway. This very morning.
My arms were full of Evie and my large purse as I sped out to the car to visit a friend when...whoops! My feet slid forward and then the rest of me fell flat as a flapjack on the cold, hard ground. Things like that seem to happen in slow motion and fast forward all at once. I remember thinking that I needed to protect Evie and my head. And both survived. But the rest of me took one for the team and keeps reminding me of that.
Oh my stars, I hurt. Badly. And even more badly as the day tick tocks on.
And so, I try to exchange my thoughts of misery with more glorious ones. Honeyed memories of the days when the easy, newness of rose-colored love filled the moments between work, life and sleep. Recalling them brings a smile to my face. Love is still sweet and every day I share with my man is even more wonderful than the day before, but let's be realistic. After real life and marriage and parenthood set in, love becomes sweeter as we work at it. It takes much of us to give as selflessly or forgive as easily as love requires. But it does, and the payoff is the stuff dreams are made of.
Today marks the 8th Valentines Day that we celebrate together and each one has been as unique and wonderful as life can be. But now my eyeballs are threatening to fall out of their sockets. So I will rest my poor head on a soft, white pillow and dream of the celebration yet to come (and pray that I feel well enough to enjoy the promised trip to Menards and Grand Old Creamery).
So, my love, here's to you and to me and to forever. Happy Valentines Day!
Literally.
On the ice. In my driveway. This very morning.
My arms were full of Evie and my large purse as I sped out to the car to visit a friend when...whoops! My feet slid forward and then the rest of me fell flat as a flapjack on the cold, hard ground. Things like that seem to happen in slow motion and fast forward all at once. I remember thinking that I needed to protect Evie and my head. And both survived. But the rest of me took one for the team and keeps reminding me of that.
Oh my stars, I hurt. Badly. And even more badly as the day tick tocks on.
And so, I try to exchange my thoughts of misery with more glorious ones. Honeyed memories of the days when the easy, newness of rose-colored love filled the moments between work, life and sleep. Recalling them brings a smile to my face. Love is still sweet and every day I share with my man is even more wonderful than the day before, but let's be realistic. After real life and marriage and parenthood set in, love becomes sweeter as we work at it. It takes much of us to give as selflessly or forgive as easily as love requires. But it does, and the payoff is the stuff dreams are made of.
Today marks the 8th Valentines Day that we celebrate together and each one has been as unique and wonderful as life can be. But now my eyeballs are threatening to fall out of their sockets. So I will rest my poor head on a soft, white pillow and dream of the celebration yet to come (and pray that I feel well enough to enjoy the promised trip to Menards and Grand Old Creamery).
So, my love, here's to you and to me and to forever. Happy Valentines Day!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
unforgettable (parts 1 & 2)
After a weekend that left my expectations out to dry, I had nothing but great hope for Monday. Monday did not let me down. For Monday was my birthday and it was simply unforgettable.
Though my childhood is now a distant memory, my birthdays still hold the same magic they always have. I love the decorations, the sweet treats, being surrounded by my family. I love being celebrated, feeling loved. It does a heart good to have a birthday.
I opened up my day and discovered a bag. A beautiful bag full of sweet treasures that I would spend the day unpacking. Each moment a celebration to cherish.
Breakfast with my family celebrated under the bright colors of birthday trimmings. A waffle, no, make that two, a rousing rendition of happy birthday and a good laugh. A sweet start to my day.
Sheri and Hannah singing me wishes. Cards in my mailbox. Rays of sun bringing the glory of the day into my living room. A fancy, cozy cup of tea and Fernando Ortega's soothing music as the soundtrack of my day.
Evie was determined to find the caterpillars in my bulb garden. After I moved the garden to a safer spot, we put a table cloth on her little table and sat down together to enjoy our lunch.
And then we all took a glorious nap. As I advance in years, I find napping to be as necessary as a good meal. And you can quote me on that.
Darkness fell and the evening of surprises began. We dropped Evie off at my parents and walked along the river in Anoka, stopping here and there to enjoy the quiet, the moon and some history.
The moon was full and bright and beautiful. We took our time. On the dock, near the old amphitheater, we discovered a fresh bouquet of flowers that had been placed there. They were not for me but we imagined all sorts of reasons why they might be there. We meandered back to the car, and as we did, Andy got a text. I asked him about it. He told me that it was his brother, Rich, and came up with a great story about what it said. Made sense to me and I bought it.
We were in the car and driving away, off to play skeeball at the bowling alley for a little while before our late dinner reservations. He drove like a maniac, odd for him, and nearly missed the second entrance to the alley. Surprisingly, I didn't think twice about that.
We walked in. Wayne, Jane, Christina and Paige Davis were there. I waved, said "hi." And then...I saw my mom, smiling. There was Jill, holding Evie feeding her a banana. There was Dad, Jeff, Denise, Nicole, Kyle, Joyce and cake and a box of pizza. I was surprised, very surprised. I think I might remember picking my jaw up off of the floor. Then I laughed.
SURPRISE!
(Thank you, Christina, for your snapshot skills!)
Jeff and Denise Winters created the heavenly masterpieces...
Chocolate for the glutenistas and a strawberry angel food or carrot/ginger cake for the GFers
Getting my game on
Strike!
Uncle Kyle & Ebbs
Pizza party!
He's a looker and a bowler.
I married well.
Mom & Dad
Concentrating (and perhaps pondering what life with twins will be like)
Denise & Nicole
This girl is a serious bowler.
Great job, Joyce!
Uncle Al
Bumpers are our friends!
And so, we bowled and laughed and celebrated the night away...and I took more pictures. But, they disappeared from this post and it's too late to call my sister for tech support. (sigh)
So, stay tuned....there's more birthday to come.
UNFORGETTABLE (part 2)
I suppose I could/should have added another post entirely, but somehow, I figured out how to add the missing pictures. Must be some of the wisdom I've gleaned in my advanced age...
Kyle & Jill
I am loved.
We bowled. We chatted with Jody & Katie who also came to bowl on .99 cent night. We ate cake. We danced to the silly, loud music. We I took pictures, lots of them. I think I might have annoyed people, but it was my birthday after all and I wanted to capture every memory I could. I was blessed with 2 new jelly roll pans and a stainless steel cookware set (goodbye teflon!). It was all so much more than I could have imagined.
We said our goodbyes and drove home, my heart full of joy and my lap covered in boxes of leftover cake.
It was a good night, unforgettable.
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