THE ROOM REVEAL

Finally the grand reveal. It took a lot longer than we thought it would (doesn't everything?) but we think it turned out pretty well. Claremarie did have a little trouble understanding why it was taking longer than it does on Extreme Home Makeover. We tried to explain that mom and dad do have some other responsibilities. The inspiration for the room came from the comforter on the bed, kind of an Arabian nights theme I guess. Sam built the loft and I painted the walls. The wall color is hopscotch heather (lavender). The border at the top is razzmatazz (magenta). The loft is painted Daphne rose (lilac).

Although it was bittersweet when Claremarie asked if we could change her room from the pink and white striped walls and the butterfly comforter to something else, I have to say the room re-do does reflect more the tastes of a tween. (Is almost 9 a tween or is it still a kid? I'm not sure of the definition.)

Her personality has developed more dimension. Her relationships have become more complex. Her company has become more rich. Now all of these things are reflected in the colors and design of her new room.

Now onto the next project.....aliens for Camden???

NOT A GOOD DAY.....

The weekends when Sam works are always rough around here but today was a particularly bad day. It was one of those days when my children's behavior baffled me. Why do they do the things they do? How come our teaching is not getting through? Then the enemy uses their actions to accuse me....."You are a terrible mom! If you were any good at motherhood your children would never behave like that." That, in turn, led to not so stellar behavior on my part towards my kids. If I would have only used those moments to teach instead of yell and complain. What a vicious circle......

Very thankful that Sam is home now, that is is almost bedtime, and that there will be a clean slate tomorrow!

EASTER 2009

SAMANTHA-OUR AMERICAN GIRL DOLL

Last weekend while we were in Minneapolis, the girls ate breakfast at the American Girl Doll Store in the Mall of America. Claremarie got Samantha for Christmas this year and so we thought it would be fun to finally take her out of the box. The doll eats with you as you will see in the pictures. I would be lying if I said that it had always been a dream of mine to take Claremarie to this place, but it was an enjoyable morning....one that I think Claremarie will always remember. In this day and age, where kids are in such a hurry to grow up, it was good to see lots of girls and their moms (aunts, grandmas, etc) enjoying the simple things like dolls and clothes, and books. The books (and some of the videos) really are our favorite things about the dolls. Samantha's story is based in the 1800's but that didn't stop Aunt Rhonda from giving Claremarie the money to get her ears pierced.

MY SHOPPING TRIP......

Just got back from Wal-Mart. I know, I know some of you hate Wallyworld (I can hear all your eyes rolling) and it is not my favorite but I'm on a budget here people and many of the products I buy cost $.50-1.00 higher at Hy-Vee, so once a week I grit my teeth and make the trip. Usually Camden is with me so I have to hurry before the whining sets in but tonight I was solo since my parents are here. BP (before parenthood), I had no idea how enjoyable a solo trip to Wal-Mart could be. Anyhoo, all that to vent about the following. There are certain feminine hygiene products that a woman has to have. It's a fact of life. (Apologies to any male readers.) Do they really have to cost $7.26 a box?? Same thing goes for contact solution. As far as I know (unless there is some kind of homemade formula that I don't know about-Robyn and Jenny could you look into that for me?) anyone who wears contacts has to have it. Tonight I paid $6.96 for one box. I must be getting old if I'm complaining about prices. What's next......talking about the weather with everyone I know? By the by it is supposed to snow 6-9 inches here this weekend. :-)

E.R. AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME

... we get to thinking of life as an inexhaustible well. Yet everything happens only a certain number of times, and a very small number, really. How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps twenty. And yet it all seems limitless. -Paul Bowles

Just sitting here watching the finale of ER has made me a little melancholy tonight. (Actually I gave up watching the show several years ago after the writers were continually pushing their liberal social agenda, but that is a story for another post.) The preview show where they showed all the old clips actually made me cry (especially the flashbacks to Dr. Greene dying, Carter and Lucy getting stabbed, and Dr. Ross and Nurse Hathaway's reunion). Every Thursday night I would look so forward to watching ER, sometimes by myself or with Sam and sometimes with friends. Everyone I knew watched it and we always discussed it around the water cooler on Friday mornings.

When the show started we were still living in the 90's. 1994 to be exact. We were two 25-year olds, married 3 years and living in Minneapolis. I was just starting grad school. The thought of having kids wasn't even an idea that was being entertained. There were lots of long conversations about our hopes and dreams for the future.

Flash forward (and it does seem like a flash) and now we are in the 2000's. (Is that still weird to anyone else?) We will be celebrating our 18th anniversary this summer (as 40 year olds?!). My graduate degree is not much more than a certificate in a frame and good memories of a wonderful learning experience. After 8 years of navigating this maze called parenting, the magnitude of the task still seems overwhelming at times. Many of the dreams of our youth have died leaving more realistic, adult if you will, expectations and realizations in their place.

Things like a tv show ending are not important but the conclusion of this one has helped me mark the passage of time. I guess that's why a few tears have been shed around here tonight.