Smiling & Winning

Posted on May 4, 2013 by simpleijustdo

The gods are smiling, and I am getting a much needed break today. Fabulous Babysitter has taken over for me, and I get to go to a 12 hour crop, which I probably haven’t done in a whole year. So no working, no packing and sorting, and no worrying about triggers and meltdowns for me, today. Just 12 full hours to look back on happy memories, to be creative, to do a little shopping, eating, and more than a little kibitzing with friends.

I hope you get to take a moment for yourself today. I think Spring is finally here, and there’s just something so hopeful and ready about May.

Cheers,

Annie

PS Rather than choose one winner from our two entries in the book contest, I’ve decided to give them both a copy! So Meg and Holly, contact me with your email addresses, and I will get your ebooks to you ASAP! Congrats!

Spring

Posted on April 28, 2013 by simpleijustdo

We are sitting on the front steps. He is folded over so his upper body is in my lap, his head facing east, eagerly anticipating his first glimpse of her. I am folded over him, arms around him, my baseball cap brim shielding his eyes from the sun, my head resting on his shoulder. We are waiting for the ice cream lady for the first time since last summer. We can feel the warmth from the sun on our backs, and it is one of those moments you wish you could bottle up and re-live again and again in the future.

Is it Really Spring? For Real?

Posted on April 16, 2013 by simpleijustdo

I’m not saying I have Seasonal Affective Disorder or anything, but a lack of sunshine up here in the winter months really takes it’s toll. And spring here is also cruel, giving us a few days of nice temps or sunshine (or if we’re really lucky, both at the same time!), but then the 30 and 40 degree temps come back in the end. And it isn’t until we’re well into May that we can relax and realize that spring is here, for another month and a half until it turns downright hot, and the switch is flipped to summer.

To all the people that call spring their favorite season, I understand why. The hope, the baby animals, the buds, yadda yadda… But where I live, it just doesn’t live up to the hype. Yeah, we have a few nice days here and there, but most of the time, we’re left wishin’ and hopin’ and prayin’.

Today is one of those pretty nice days: 65 degrees, although overcast, still enough of a breeze to require a jacket, and lovely little harbingers of warmer weather making their presence known:

(please disregard the weeds in the picture – I have no idea how they got there! And don’t get excited about the tulip-looking thing beside the crocus… My tulips are head-less….)

But I’m no dummy, and I ain’t gonna fall for it. I think we’re back down to the 40s again this weekend. The wait continues…

Getting Tougher Every Day

Posted on March 10, 2013 by simpleijustdo

One would think it would get easier, knowing we are so close to being done with the school year, and so close to being together with The Man for keeps. One would think that, wouldn’t one? But it doesn’t. At least not for me. It’s getting tougher. My patience is thinner for the same old, same old. I get lonely quicker and easier. It’s getting tougher to parent solo.

I suppose that means I really am ready for a change (or two, or sixteen). And I suppose that means I’m going to have to work harder this spring to maintain my patience, keep busy, and to be a tough mother. Along with working harder, I’ll have to make sure to get some breaks in there, too (pencil myself in, if necessary!). A massage here, an evening with friends there. And fun stuff with The Boy. Definitely that. A last hurrah of sorts for all of our favorite hangouts up here (our closest Target will be 45 minutes away, and the closest IKEA will be 6 hours away [sob!]).

14 weeks…