If you don't do it this year, you'll be a year older when you do.

This quote got to me today for a couple of reasons. The first is because it's Conrad's birthday. The pictures highlight the girls and me getting the house ready for Dad (sadly Bronwen has inherited my OCD for cleaning), the party, and some of Bronwen and Ava just loving life.

After cake I asked Conrad if he accomplished everything he wanted to for the year. "Yeah, pretty much everything." We got the house sold and finally moved to WA, he's making ground at work, and basically everything else is good. That got me thinking about myself. Will I accomplish what I want? The truth is, I'm not really sure what I want, and the cool part is that I get it's okay.

As many of you know, I was a chemist at Sandia National Labs for seven years. Work was very rewarding. I generated results, won awards, and truly loved my job. I figured with my background I would easily get hired on somewhere up in Seattle. I'm now near month four. The funny thing is the more I stay at home, the more I go from being depressed and not really knowing what I should do with my life (go back to school to change professions? stay at home and have more babies? keep flooding the job market?) to being deliriously happy. Love fills my heart to be the person Bronwen and Ava run to when they get hurt. It's rewarding to see the results of teaching them (Bronwen is starting to read/write, and Ava is matching sounds to letters to begin sounding them out). The love is almost palpable in the house because we're together all the time and relaxed.

Anyway, my take away is screw worrying about the timeline, as long as the interim is good.

Honest Critics

Two people who weigh under 40 pounds aren't afraid to put me in my place (and I'm their lifeblood!).

Latest Episode:
Bronwen, Ava and I went up to OR again to visit my family. The weather was gorgeous on Thursday, so we took advantage and went swimming. After living in NM for so many years and seeing the effects of too much sun exposure (think cataracts at 40 yrs old, friends with skin cancer, women who look like human shammies), Conrad and I are pretty vigilant when it comes to sun protection. Nonetheless, the girls got a little bit of a tan, which made their skin look beautiful. I commented to Conrad, "Look how beautiful their skin is. It's like peaches and cream." Bronwen then looked at me, smiled, then said, "But yours doesn't." I was laughing so hard I could barely read the book she brought me.

Early Summer Episode:
When we first moved to our house I missed the highway exit twice to get back home. Finally on the third try, success! I was so excited I started yelling, "Yahoo! Your momma is so smart, we did it! Hooray!" Instead of joining me in celebration, Ava looks at me seriously, "Momma, you're not a cowboy." Ha!

American Idol Episode:
What can I say, but I love American Idol. It's entertaining, and one of few shows that Conrad and I can watch with the girls in the room. During the tryouts, a girl sang The Power of Love (by Celine Dion). Bronwen was pretty quiet during the audition. Afterward, she looked at me and asked, "Momma, do you know how to sing that song?" I said, "Yeah!" then proceeded to sing a verse. It was a beautiful moment. Bronwen and I had our eyes locked. She looked mesmerized by my voice. When I finished singing the song, I foolishly asked her, "Do you like that song?" She said, "No." I felt about 10 inches tall.

Well, at least I know who to turn to when I want an honest opinion.

Fun Forest

I mentioned in a previous blog that I couldn't wait to go back to Seattle Center, and a few weeks ago I did just that! I'll start by saying it's amazing how much fun it is to be a kid again.

My sister (Auntie Bianca) came up again for a day of whirlwind fun. Each time she visits I like to go out and really have a good time. Her company makes me feel more adventurous (she is the human compass, therefore we never get lost), and because I imagine how special the memories will be for the girls of them spending time with their Auntie. Since Bronwen and Ava loved the Children's Museum last time, we decided to check it out again. As you can see in the pictures, we managed to get sidetracked while walking from the parking lot to the museum.

Out in front of the Space Needle, Children's Museum, Museum of Science Fiction, etc. (told you it was a great place!), there is a variety of amusement park rides (actual name is Fun Forest). The best part is that both Bronwen and Ava were tall enough to go on them! We ended up spending the majority of our time there, then stopped at the museum. Just be forewarned, it can get expensive. As I wrote in our bill register (after I laid out the grand total), "Fun = Pricey" (not "Priceless" like Mastercard advertises). ;-)