Bach To Reality

If you see me tomorrow and my mascara is running down my cheeks...well...I guess just ignore it. I was a hot mess earlier this evening... but... ...Then Eleanor got out of bed for the 100th time - this time to remind me we forgot to put lotion on. ...Then I had printer problems. ...Then I heard Eleanor get out of bed for the 101st time. ...Then my hand writing sucked. ...Then I felt bad that the evening got so rushed. Now I'm just exhausted and don't have the energy to be said.  But that's probably aiding in my emotion. Let's get something straight right now. I am SO proud of her. But how is it time for First Grade? Oh, that's right. She's not a baby anymore.  She's growing into the most beautiful young lady. Right before my eyes. And she tests me. Every moment of every day.  She tests me. Pushing limits and boundaries. Because she is my daughter.  And I am her mom. And it's a beautiful, complicated thing.  Even at 6. I hope she ...

Remember when I ran my first 1/2 marathon? Not so good. Then there was #2 . Not bad. And now there is number three.  Madison Mini Marathon 2015. I'm not sure when, but closely after giving birth to Oliver, my friend Sara suggested we run the Madison Mini marathon together.  I must have still been on the "birthing high" because I agreed.  I probably wasn't even cleared to start running yet.  And I agreed.  I had to start from square one.  There are days I wanted to quit...but I kept going.  I started training very early, almost doubling the normal training schedule.  When I started training in April, I was running for 2 miles.  And last Saturday I ran 13.1. The night before the 1/2, we drove up to Madison and stayed at a hotel RIGHT at the starting line. The run started at 7 AM and at 6:50, we decided we should probably head to the start line.  If there is something more than convenient, that's what this was! Of course I had th...

Sunday we celebrated Oliver's birthday. What?   His 1st Birthday! I mean.  I can't even.  How is my baby 1?  That year went by SO fast.   But we had an amazing party to celebrate our "little slugger".  I had a lot of fun planning O's party - especially the decorations.   I promised Oliver that this would be the last time I used the vintage baseball theme for something of his!  (We'll see if I keep good on that promise...I'm getting really good at it!)  The high chair used to be my sister's 40 years ago - Then it was mine.  Then Collin used it, Miles, Eleanor and now Oliver.  I just knew I needed this high chair for the party. Oliver's big plastic one was just not going to cut it.  So my parents dragged it all the way out to our house for O! We had to have a game or two and given all the baseball players we had in the group, I thought this vintage tin can baseball throw game was great! I love...

One of my children think I'm the greatest mom on the planet...one of my children could potentially think I'm the worst.  We tend not to tell Eleanor things ahead of them happening because 1) it's SUPER fun to surprise her and 2) it's just easier to not have to deal with the drama if something doesn't work out (which actually is a TOTALLY unfair statement because Eleanor has always been pretty "go with the flow" as long as she understands).   Any who.  Andy told Eleanor that I was going to be coming home for lunch today.  When I got home, I learned that she had already taken a 45 minute nap (which is helpful when you wake up at 5:50 AM).  I asked where she wanted to eat lunch and she told me I could decide.  I asked her if she wanted to eat lunch at State Fair.  Her eyes got HUGE and she started jumping up and down.  She proclaimed us the best parents ever and then ran around.  Unable to contain herself.   We had decided earl...