22.9.10

Happy Place

While living in the house on the hill I was a little bit in love with the seven o'clock hour.  It was post the madness of soccer/taekwondo/tball/computer/art/homework afternoons and the momentary chaos as dinner was discovered or picked up.  It began as soon as the phrase, "I'm done" was uttered at the table.  Cowboy and Girlfriend would clear their plates and head up for shower/bath time.  As they did this those of us left downstairs would enjoy adult conversation about the children's hilarious antics as we cleaned up {if I was in charge of dinner it took less time as it was simply a matter of throwing out the takeout cartons}.  This gave the children about ten to fifteen minutes up there on their own.  Then the grownups {I'm numbering myself in this group} would walk up those stairs to hear Cowboy singing HAIRSPRAY at the top of his lungs and Girlfriend fumbling around in the drawer for lotion.

Then we had pajama choosing time, boy would be decisive {unless he was layering 14 or 17 pair of pajamas} while girl would contemplate each option and the effects it would have on her sleep {the 'slippery ones' felt nice but made her slip, the 'footed ones' got really hot, the 'dog ones' were cute but rolled funny if she rolled ect. ect. ect}.  15 more minutes would pass and before we knew it the clock read 7:35.  Teeth ... timers on and songs sung through the mouth full of goop, happy children!  Then we would all jump into the bed in the Princess room with books in hand.  We read and we read.  Depending on the guest that evening there may have been voices as some of our favorites were read.  When Cowboy chose the 'truck' book he would chime in as each page turned announcing his favorite, the 'digger' or the 'wator' {how I miss his speech issues}.  Girlfriend would remind us of the end often before the beginning if she was tired as she has needs the happy ending to be confirmed to have happy sleeps.  The kiddos would find a comfy place and close their eyes as they listened to the familiar lines.  By the time the clock read 8:03 both would be out, flailing around the bed in sweet slumber. I often lingered there in the peaceful moment that ended their day, knowing that the next day would bring a bit more chaos but smiling because I knew the end would be the same.


This reading routine was in my house growing up, both morning and night we were read to. We were capable children and all of us were reading on our own at a young age but there is just something familiar and comforting about hearing the voice of those that love you most reading the tales that make you laugh, cry and wonder about life.  Papa read calmly and with an ease while Mom read with the energy of a child.  Mom read in the morning, Papa at night.  And then there is my favorite read of the year ... Gramps.  As he reads the story that gives Life and Love to my favorite time of year I can close my eyes and be the seven year old lying half on the carpet half on the wood floor in the family room of the Lake Forest house with my feet almost in the fire to keep them warm, Papa watching closely so that his little girl doesn't go up in flames.  Gramps has a voice that can command attention, sooth my hurt heart, and calm any frustration.  I love it.



I'm at a happy place in life, a very happy place.  And although I cannot give credit to one grand moment for putting me in this happy place I do give credit to a gazillion little moments, to the countdowns, to the faces that surround me and in this particular post, to the voices that read to me.  In the last month the voices have ranged from Papa to Ace to CA to Ace to Jack to Ace {Ace happens to be a fantastic reader and my roommate at present, its incredibly convenient}.   I curl up in the perfect train blanket I have commandeered for myself on the big black LoveSac and listen as stories are told of monsters, alphabetic demises, and floating princesses.  I find myself laughing as characters take familiar yet intriguing shape.  And as the story unfolds I find myself wondering if my friend realizes just how much of himself is found in his characters, his creations.  As that low bass tells the familiar stories of us I find myself lulled into a needed slumber and forget the worry that was creeping up on me only moments before.  I am enchanted with these moments, they are my happy place in an already joyful life.

14.9.10

Reason #897...


... to plead for a family of boys!!! 

8.9.10

Raindrops on Rooftops

I love thunderstorms, love them.  I love walking in them, love watching them, love hearing them, and above all love falling asleep as they occur outside of my safe and warm home. 

However, last night I was in bed and asleep prior to the stroke of midnight and was awoken by a clap, a loud clap ... actually it was more of a
BOOM!

... it was in the house, I was sure.  I sat straight up, heart pounding, luckily not hitting my head on the ceiling {I love my loft bed}.  For a moment, it was brief, I was sure that Ace had somehow acquired a firearm of some sort and shot Beany or the downstairs neighbors had finally had enough of the eleven o'clock sing-a-long hour and taken action with a rifle.  I shook that fear out of me quickly, guns and I are not friendly with one another.  Then another BOOM!!  Fright led to flight and I jumped out of bed {in my Jumpin' Jammerz obviously, yep!}, there was no way I was going to get back to sleep with gun fire going off all around me.  By the time I hit the door my mind had found footing and realized that it was a thunderstorm outside, a tremendous thunderstorm.

Ace and Beany were wide awake and not caught up in the shock of it and I quickly mirrored their calm, although with my own twist of mumbling and inaudible sounds.  With a pat on the shoulders and an assurance that there were no fire arms in the vicinity, I climbed back up to bed.  But I was up.  I called CA, explaining through his laughter ~ as I had told him earlier in the day that I would be asleep by 11 ~ that I was asleep but woken by the storm.  In my explanation he heard a

CLAP!

..."WOW!"  He then stopped laughing, sensing that the late hour and my lack of sleep over the weekend was causing a bit more emotion from this girl than normal.  He began humming sounds from my favorite film and like a trained Pavlov dog my mind started to list happy and good things ~ the humming continued.
  • The mountains and I finally have a great relationship, I love seeing the sun rise behind them!
  • Work is 8.7 minutes from my front door
  • Friends and siblings are close at hand
  • Bleu is happy and working after another cross country trip
  • A cloud created in the likeness of Mickey will soon be in my possession ~ for real!

  • Bedtime usually includes a story or a song, I'm currently in love with my living situation
  •  Beans and I both had a moment, me on a plane and he in the van ... we sure do like each other a lot
  • Chez and Baby Paige have stolen my heart

  • This past weekend reminded me of what I truly want and desire
  • Watching the 'student' become the 'master' causes happy tears and sincere joy, again reminding me of what I need to work toward and strive for

  • Trucks make me happy and normally those that drive them
  • Pajama parties {yellow and cheetah print are en route!!!}

  • Papa's texts
  • Mom's messages
  • Gchat conversations
  • Blonde hair
Falling asleep to CAs voice and happy thoughts ... not gun shots ... Life is good.  Life is actually great!