Not every day, but a lot of days, I put a note on a napkin in Baylor and Auggie’s lunches. Sometimes they’re funny, but mostly they’re just little love notes and wishes for a good day.
Yesterday, I got a note back. It was so simple, but it touched me so much that B would keep her napkin until she was back in her classroom and then remember to write a love note to me.
I need it on my desk forever – especially on the days I’m not feeling so awesome ❤
You hear about things that are happening to others and it makes you stop and realize how very lucky you are. Today is one of those days where the worst things I’ve got going on are a kiddo who is slightly under the weather, 6 pounds of baby weight that won’t budge and a to do list the length of my arm and only one hand to tackle it with …and in the midst of feeling a little overloaded, I feel like I’m big time winning.
I’m thankful for my health and a body that is still a little chubby but can carry two kids and squat down to get dropped keys, my families’ health, a wonderful husband, crazy kids, health insurance, a warm house, clean sheets, a refrigerator full of food, the ability to ignore the refrigerator full of food and order in, PW’s busy job, a nice sister, a step family that I genuinely like, more friends than fingers, faith in God, a lettuce table that didn’t freeze, a baby who likes to sleep 5ish hours at night and being able to enjoy a glass of wine while to kiddos sleep soundly in their beds.
My mom always says to be thankful for the boring times. Today, I am incredibly thankful for the (relativity) quiet!
Like most Phoenicians do, I dread summer time in Arizona all winter long. I hate the thought of the air conditioner running non stop only cooling the house to 81 degrees and yet getting a $400 electricity bill. I loath having to cool the car down after leaving the grocery store to avoid giving Bay and myself third degree seat belt burns. I despise watching my lovely garden wither and die despite numerous shade devices, water and love.
But last weekend, it hit me…I kind of do love summer. Yes the heat is horrible, especially in August and September when you know the cool weather is so close, but there are some great parts about summer around here:
~the smell of Water Babies sunscreen and chlorine
~tan skin and swimming
~blueberries, strawberries, watermelon and summer salads
~getting into the great restaurants because everyone else has skipped town
~summer vacation: Montana! San Diego! Flagstaff!
~Arnold Palmers
~this summer I’ll have to do without delicious margaritas, but a girl can dream
~Baylor’s birthday, my birthday (hello 3-0!) and our anniversary (what’s the 7th anniversary gift? sunscreen?)
~4th of July fireworks, patriotic music and bbq
~baseball
~coming up with ridiculous ways to enjoy being outside sans pool – like rigging a hose to the top of the slide and putting a wading pool at the bottom under an umbrella and a mister
Sure all these things exist year round, but there’s something so right about enjoying them in 110 degrees that makes them even better than any other time of year. Maybe it’s the heat that has warped my brain, but at least I am enjoying the results.
This picture is my happy place. Happy girl reading a book on our front patio filled with flowers.
The first time I met Melissa, she came by on a sunny afternoon. As I answered the door, Baylor and her cousin Zoe were having a hair pulling / screaming match in the background. The pretty lady at the door said “Hi. I’m Melissa. We met a few weeks ago – but I was wondering, do you drink wine?”. My sister-in-law and I burst out laughing. My response? “Do you hear this shenanigans? Of COURSE we drink wine!!”.
Flash forward a few months and PW and I have become friends with Melissa. We’ve gotten to know her and it’s been a blast!
The other night, I realized while making dinner for friends (who were due in less than an hour) that I was totally out of balsamic vinegar. Despite my obsessive list making, the vital ingredient in my balsamic reduction for the caprese salad was no where to be found. Thankfully, in addition to working for a wine supplier, Melissa is a trained chef so there’s a good chance she will have whatever item I’ve forgotten at the grocery store.
Sadly, she too was out of vinegar. I hung up the phone and began dialing PW to ask him to stop on the way home when my phone rang:
“I felt bad that I didn’t have any vinegar so I’m running to the store. See you in a few minutes!”
And not 10 minutes later, there was smiling Melissa with a full bottle of vinegar. She explained she didn’t want me waiting too long to make the reduction as it leaves the house smelling quite pungent and she didn’t want our guests to arrive and immediately fall over from the smell.
seriously, who does that?! Best. Neighbor. EVER!!
The Goon Room 