Dream Come True

Lesly is taking horse lessons every Sunday. Megan has been invited to come watch but until today, she hasn't gotten the chance. Well, she did go with Kathy, Glen and Lesly one time to visit the horses and she still talks about how she got to feed them apples. Last night when we put Megan to bed, we told her that she would be able to see the horses with Lesly tomorrow. And of course that was one of the first things she asked about when she woke up this morning. I had school today so Josh and Megan went to the barn to watch Lesly's lesson and Megan's dream came true, she got to ride the horsey too! She is very comfortable on the horse and loves every minute of it. I asked Josh to ask them about lessons for her, how much and when she could start. I didn't say she was GOING to, just asking about it. We know full well that if she starts lessons, she will someday think that she might need a horse of her very own! Not to mention all that goes with that. The trainer said that she actually could start lessons but because of her age and bone development they would only be about 30 minutes, only half of which would be actually riding. The rest would be grooming and taking care of the horse. I can't imagine a cuter thing but we'll definitely have to think about it.

Yeah for a Working Hot Tub!

I'm not sure how long the hot tub was out of commission, but I'm pretty sure it was longer than we had it working. Anyway, we decided that one way to spend some of our tax refund was to figure out the problem and get it fixed. I think the last time Megan had been in it was before her 1st birthday. This is her second time in the tub since we got it fixed. The first time, she was still a little uneasy with her floaties. This time, she knew exactly what she was doing and figured out how to float and jump around without going under. She had a great time. We still have to figure out a way to get her out without offering bribes though.....this time it was "i peam".

I MISS this little girl!

Tami offered to take Megan overnight, first on Monday night and then tonight too. While it's been nice to have some time to get things done that I need to get done, it's been awfully quiet around here and looking at these pictures makes me miss her big time. It's good for her to get away too though, to have fun with her non-parents!

Megan and I met Danielle and Jace at Chuck E. Cheese for a playdate on Sunday. Both of us were without husbands for the day and thought we'd keep each other company at least for a bit. Both of the kids had fun. Both of them were very interested in where Chuck was until he came too close! The last time we were there, Megan was able to eat and and go play. This time, she didn't want anything to do with eating and JUST wanted to play. Jace was a calm, perfect example of polite 2 year old etiquette! Of course Megan didn't want to leave but we had to get home to see Daddy!

Playdate with Mimi and Grandma

I asked my mom if she could hang out with Megan for a while so I could use a gift certificate from Christmas to get my nails done. She said of course! Aunt Mimi came home for lunch too and got to spend time with Megan too. Looks like they had fun, these are the pictures they took on my camera while I was gone. It was so nice getting a relaxing treatment from someone I didn't know and could just sit and not think about what they were doing!! I ended up getting a manicure AND pedicure!

Her eyes are closed but she's posing with all of her aunties and Mama.

Kissing Mama from about the kindergarten era.

Children's Museum with Daddy

Josh took Monday off and we took him to the Children's Museum so he could see how much Megan loves it. Here are just a few pictures, since they all look the same as last time!

Oregon Gymnastics Academy

A friend told me about this place. I thought Megan would love it and I was right. It was a little chaotic, lots of kids running around and lots of demands to share and take turns which didn't go over so well with a lot of them including Miss Megan. It's hard to teach your child to share and take turns when the mom next to you isn't requiring the same of their child that just cut in line. We both got a bit frustrated, her more so than me. We ended up leaving early because it turned into a meltdown, all the way home. Maybe we'll go back when she has more of a concept of taking turns and sharing. She just learned the words "mine" and "Megan turn" which doesn't always work to our benefit! But here are the cute pictures I got. They also had big trampolines and a foam pit the kids could jump in and a spring floor. I always loved those when I had a brief time in gymnastics classes.

It is 2:11 a.m. and I am frustrated beyond belief of the 3rd day in a row where I am having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. I can't turn my brain off from everything under the sun, what I did today, what we're doing tomorrow, yard work that needs to be done, exercise that I wish I had time for, school issues from tonight, will Megan wake up again? So I finally gave up, grabbed my computer and here I am. First thing I always do is check my email and this is what I found forwarded from a friend:

TELL ME ABOUT IT ®
By Carolyn HaxWednesday, May 23, 2007; Page C10
Carolyn:
Best friend has child. Her: exhausted, busy, no time for self, no time for me, etc. Me (no kids): Wow. Sorry. What'd you do today? Her: Park, play group . . .

Okay. I've done Internet searches, I've talked to parents. I don't get it. What do stay-at-home moms do all day? Please no lists of library, grocery store, dry cleaners . . . I do all those things, too, and I don't do them EVERY DAY. I guess what I'm asking is: What is a typical day and why don't moms have time for a call or e-mail? I work and am away from home nine hours a day (plus a few late work events) and I manage to get it all done. I'm feeling like the kid is an excuse to relax and enjoy -- not a bad thing at all -- but if so, why won't my friend tell me the truth? Is this a peeing contest ("My life is so much harder than yours")? What's the deal? I've got friends with and without kids and all us child-free folks get the same story and have the same questions.

Tacoma, Wash.

Relax and enjoy. You're funny.

Or you're lying about having friends with kids.

Or you're taking them at their word that they actually have kids, because you haven't personally been in the same room with them.

Internet searches?

I keep wavering between giving you a straight answer and giving my forehead some keyboard. To claim you want to understand, while in the same breath implying that the only logical conclusions are that your mom-friends are either lying or competing with you, is disingenuous indeed.

So, since it's validation you seem to want, the real answer is what you get. In list form. When you have young kids, your typical day is: constant attention, from getting them out of bed, fed, clean, dressed; to keeping them out of harm's way; to answering their coos, cries, questions; to having two arms and carrying one kid, one set of car keys, and supplies for even the quickest trips, including the latest-to-be-declared-essential piece of molded plastic gear; to keeping them from unshelving books at the library; to enforcing rest times; to staying one step ahead of them lest they get too hungry, tired or bored, any one of which produces the kind of checkout-line screaming that gets the checkout line shaking its head.

It's needing 45 minutes to do what takes others 15.

It's constant vigilance, constant touch, constant use of your voice, constant relegation of your needs to the second tier.

It's constant scrutiny and second-guessing from family and friends, well-meaning and otherwise.

It's resisting constant temptation to seek short-term relief at everyone's long-term expense.

It's doing all this while concurrently teaching virtually everything -- language, manners, safety, resourcefulness, discipline, curiosity, creativity. Empathy. Everything.

It's also a choice, yes. And a joy. But if you spent all day, every day, with this brand of joy, and then, when you got your first 10 minutes to yourself, wanted to be alone with your thoughts instead of calling a good friend, a good friend wouldn't judge you, complain about you to mutual friends, or marvel how much more productively she uses her time. Either make a sincere effort to understand or keep your snit to yourself.

Write to Tell Me About It, Style, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071, ortellme@washpost.com.

Back to the Zoo!

We bought a zoo membership the last time we went so I want to make sure we get our money out of it! We invited Billie, Jaxon and Gabriel to meet us there today. I was a little hesitant when it was only 30 degrees when we woke up this morning. It was in the 40s when we got there and the 50s when we left. We bundled up and stay pretty warm though. When Megan woke up this morning, I went into her room and asked her if she wanted to go to the zoo. She gasped and said, "Yeah!!!!" and jumped up and down in her bed. She was talking about it all morning until we actually left. We got to see all of the animals. The last couple of times we've gone, they've all been out to see. Its so much more fun that way!

Jaxon and Megan looking at the duckies together.

The first thing we saw were the sea lions. They were being fed and doing tricks. I've never seen that at this zoo!

All of the monkeys (okay chimpanzees - I think) were enjoying the sun, except the one with the sweatshirt. Maybe he was trying to block the bright light!

This elephant was inside and it made you realize how enormous they are when they are so close! He also did a little trick when he got fed some hay. He knealed down on his front legs.

After we had our lunch, Jaxon and Megan enjoyed running around on the grass and then on the animal statues.

Megan LOVES elephants. Here she is kissing the statue.

The Play Boutique

Yesterday Megan and I went and picked up Grandma and then went to the Play Boutique. She has so much fun there. She can just run around and play with all sorts of toys and most of all play with other kids her size and burn off some energy. She found this camera and was taking pictures of all of us. She was trying to see the pictures on the back of the camera.

Mimi surprised Megan by coming to play too. She handed over the camera and cheesed.Taking a rest. Pretty cute.Hoopin' it up

Mommy got a good smile from her too.

Weeeeeee!

Kissy to Mimi

Megan just sat in the wagon letting the boys pull her around. They are already fighting over her!