Happy Birthday Duffy

Happy 34th Birthday Duffy!

Princess Cruise

This was the only smile we could get out of her the entire time!


Awhile back, our friend Katie (she does a fabulous job making my hair look good!) gave Zoe tickets for a Princess Cruise. It was one of those Seattle harbor theme cruieses and let me tell you - it was overwhelming for everyone! Zoe got to wear one of her princess dresses and of course, it was one of the hottest days of spring. She refused to walk on the dock, the ramp or the stairs on the boat and every "princess" under 5 should have been napping; there were meltdowns all over the place on top of the ice cream sundaes they fed them! Zoe was scared of the princesses that were part of the cruise until the very end then she cried because she wanted them to come home with us! I've never seen so many grown-up women dressed as princesses in my life! Zoe still talks about it and tells everyone about going on her princess cruise and wants to know when we are going to see them all again. If only she would quit telling people her dad is going to sleep with Cindarella when we go to visit the princesses (in Disneyland)!

Phone Calls

Why is it that every time I am on the phone, my children start acting like wild animals? I swear, the last few phone calls I've had, my children have totally lost it! The other day, when I was talking to Kristi (who called to tell me she was pregnant and is now hoping to not have kids like mine) the girls got into an all-out brawl. They were trying to push the other one out of the glider/rocker in my room. They were screaming, pushing and when Zoe started using her feet to try and push Teagan out, I had to intervene. Then today, they started fighting over a baby stroller (one that Zoe only wants because Teagan likes playing with it). I think this is why I have all my phone conversations while in the car or while at work!

Change

I kind of like change - it keeps things fresh and new. It makes me excited and gets my brain thinking about all sorts of new possibilities.

About every 2-3 years, I get this urge to move and not just into a new house. Over the winter, I seriously thought I wanted to move to Alaska -Duffy was convinced I needed serious help and that it was only because of Men in Trees. Now, I have seriously considered trying to convince Duffy to move to Iowa (I miss my Darah, John and Guthrie and the houses are so super cute and CHEAP! I'm not sure what we would do to support ourselves though!) I think he would have me committed!

Don't get me wrong, I love Sequim. I am glad we choose to move here, but I know this isn't where we will live forever. When we moved from Olympia, it was a time in our life that we needed the change and we moved for all of the right reasons. Yet, I miss the friendships with people I have history with - people that have known me longer than 3 years! A little history about Sequim culture - it is made of up people who were born and raised here (typical of any small town) but the vast majority of people are from other places. I find it really hard to forge friendships with those that are from here - they are friendly and inviting but they already have their circle of friends, are content with their lives and starting new friendships seems to take FOREVER and not a real priority!! Most of our friends are transplants, like us. And anyone that knows me well knows that I just don't jump into friendships - it takes me awhile and it seems a lot harder when you have kids - you sort of become friends with who your kids know. We thought getting plugged into a church would help, and it has to some extent, but that has come with it's own set of issues for another post!

So yes, I like change but I think I sometimes like it for the wrong reasons. When I'm unhappy about something, change seems like a good idea. But it's really just a way to escape what I don't like. And in reality, I'm really happy here - my parents are close and I love being able to spend time with them; I have the funnest, most relaxing job any mom could ask for with employers that are more like family than bosses and we have friendships with really great people. I'll have to save my urge to move somewhere drastic for another time!

Jeans

I have a love/hate relationship with jeans. I love them, I wear them all the time. They are my pant of choice - you can dress them up, down, wear them long or short. They are my favorite article of clothing. Yet, I hate them at the same time. I'm 5'9" so my legs are long but my torso is average, thus long jeans are too long and average jeans are too short! And heaven forbid if I accidently dry a pair in the dryer for a minute too long (I have to get wrinkles out somehow!)

So, after 12 years of listening to me whine and complain and buy jeans that I wear only a handful of time, my husband got me the greatest gift for Mother's day, Indi Jeans. So, now, I will have no excuse; I will have jeans made just for me! I'll let you know how it goes!

Realization

Do you have someone in your life that just makes you crazy? I do - I literally feel like banging my head against the wall sometimes when dealing with them. I get all annoyed and irritated at the things they sometimes do and say. Then I had this realization and decided I have to ask myself every time I start to feel annoyed by anyone: Why do I care? Why do I let it bother me? Why do I let it irritate me like a bad sun burn - one that stings at first then itches like crazy? I am letting someone else's bad behavior ruin MY time and it isn't worth it anymore. I'm still not sure how I'll deal with some of my feelings but all I can do is pattern good relationship behavior and hope it rubs off - someday.

Birthday

So, Teagan's birthday is in 3 days and I have no idea what to get a 2 year old who has a ton of stuff already! Clothes are a no since my children have so many clothes, the are out-growing their huge dresser and closet already (hmmm, they take after their mom maybe???) I just found out that the one thing we did get her, my mom bought her too! So, I'm back to not having anything for her. Any ideas?? We already have a fully stocked kitchen, train and train table, princesses, dress-up, doll house, babies, bikes and trikes, wagon, and who knows what else!! I never thought this would be hard!!