Velcro Nation

If today were a normal Friday, I would have been at work for a little over an hour. The younger toddler teacher would have just taken her kids to their classroom and my few kiddos at school already, would be finishing up their breakfast. I would be playing with the ones who didn't bring breakfast, most likely in our kitchen area, because this is their favorite place to play; with the food, dress up clothes, babies and blankets. They would hold the babies on their chest, cover them with a blanket on the floor, pat their backs and say, "Night, night, baby."

One of my little girls would constantly be pointing out and saying the names of all the objects in the room that she knows and can now say. "Shoes! .... Chair!....Puppy!" As well as every object in the classroom being the color brown.

9AM would roll around and all my monsters kiddos that hadn't pooped yet, would come potty with me. They would try hard to pull their pants down by themselves, pull the tabs of their diapers, ask, "Help, please" if they can't and then throw their diaper away and sit on the potty, if they want. Some would sit, some wouldn't, some would even pee in the potty. After trying the potty, they would go to their drawer, full of their diapers, sometimes take out a handful, until I remind them, "Just one diaper, please!" They would put one or five back and enthusiastically show me Minnie Mouse "Min Mouse" or "Elmo" on the one they chose.

After snack, we would go outside to run laps around our playground (say it with me, "longer nap time") and my co-teacher and I would throw balls up on top of our shade umbrella and watch the balls roll down and our kids would laugh when the balls bounce on the ground. We could do this all day. They would fill their play shopping carts with balls, sit in the cars and tell their friends, "Bye, bye, see ya" and drive away. They would climb the side of the play tree and count 1, 2, 3, and "Jump!" They would pop bubbles with their fingers and feet and say, "Pop, bubbles, pop!" They would color with chalk on the sidewalk but only on the pictures their teachers had already drawn. They would point out the truck that just drove by, which sounds like a word that shouldn't be coming out of a one year old's mouth. They would shove their balls through the holes in the side of the tunnel and think it's hilarious when their teachers push them back through from the other side. 

Can we just take a minute to think about how simple happiness is when you're one, almost two. 

Everyday at work, I am reminded how simple life can be, how it's the simple things that really do make us happy. Yes, at times I get frustrated because I am surrounded by one year olds who are terribly emotional, dramatic and sometimes, mean and rough with their friends, but they continue to shock me with the words that come out of their mouths for the first time, how caring they really can be towards each other. When they rub their friend's back when their friend hasn't gotten their way, needed to be redirected or are mad at something, that no one else has a clue about but them, and are throwing a tantrum and crying on the floor. When they show each other where certain toys go or how the blocks need to be placed in the bucket to make them all fit. When they hold hands and just walk around the classroom or playground together or just give hugs in the middle of popping bubbles. It's times like these when I know I am doing something right and am in the right profession for me.

You couldn't pay me to work in an office. With adults.

I spend my days turning everything into a song, "Circle time, circle time, we all love circle time!" I make a fool of myself by talking in ridiculous voices. I don't have to shower because my kids love me no matter what I look like or smell like. I get paint on my clothes, arms, sometimes my face. I get boogers and tears on my clothes and on occasion, poop. I talk about simple things like colors, shapes, feelings and counting to ten, all day long. I read books with way too much enthusiasm and show my kiddos things like pinwheels, whistles, magnets and grass and it's all amazing to them. My days are filled with matching simple pictures of food, letters and shapes and teaching my littles to "turn the picture around so the velcro sticks." Velcro, who doesn't love velcro?

Simplicity, people. 

On a normal Friday, I would be so thankful that it's the end of the week. I would be saying, "TGIF" to all my fellow teachers that I pass in the hallway or on my lunch break. I would be counting down the hours until I was "child-free" for a couple days. All of you who work a full work week and then go home to children, well, you're super human. 

Our school is closed today for Spring Break so it's not a normal Friday. It's now 9AM and I'm still in bed, drinking my coffee, blogging; not encouraging potty use, saying, "Yay, you did it! You went potty" and clapping my hands. I can't believe I am saying this, but I would be fine with a normal Friday, that's what makes today so stinkin awesome! 

Here's to today! 

In a perfect world, Easter candy would be healthy.

I had a normal Saturday planned yesterday. Wake up, drink my coffee, catch up in the blog world, shower at some point, run some errands, stop at Barnes and Noble and make my way to Whole Foods. Well, I Skyped with my Mom at about 10AM and then 7PM rolled around and I still hadn't put a bra on or taken my sweat pants off. I got as far as catching up in the blog world and blogging myself. I figured at that point that I should probably do something with myself.

I decided to work out. 

I realized, I hadn't done laundry and that my only pair of yoga pants that were clean, were purple. Now, I don't know about you, but I can't work out in purple yoga pants and a shirt that's a different color than white or black. I just can't look foolish. Even if I'm working out in the comfort of my own home. I honestly don't think there's anything that gives me more motivation to work out, than new work out clothes. I haven't always been this way. In fact, years ago, I owned this soccer T-shirt of mine from high school, that said 'Gestalt' on the back. "An organized whole that is perceived as more than the sum of it's parts." First thing in our season, my soccer team had decided that that would be our motivating word for the year. Anyways, I wore the shirt to practice and worked out in it so often, you know exactly what happened. The armpits became holy and I ended up bringing scissors into the picture and making it a cutoff. I don't know why, but I loved working out in that shirt. Probably because it showed off my arms and my torso, somewhat, but each time I did, even years later, Joel would laugh and tell me I looked like a lesbian. Well, I know a handful of great lesbians, so I just wore the shirt more often. Joel could laugh all he wanted. 

I'm a Taurus. I'm stubborn. I figure, in this life, if I own something that gets the job done, why spend money on something new? This rings true with my tennis shoes. The Nikes I own, I've had since probably 2005 and when I bought them, they were great workout motivation. I can't say the same for today. "You can link up your ipod while you run and track how many miles you've gone, calories you've burned," said, the salesman. Well, at the time, I didn't own an ipod, I was seriously the only one. But I still bought them and felt great motivation in just wanting to wear them, not necessarily work out in them, and I did eventually buy and ipod too.

Over this last Christmas, my Mom brought a book for me to read. I've always been thin but that doesn't necessarily mean I've been healthy. Thank you, Dad, for the high metabolism, because if my body looked the way it eats, yikes! The book she brought me, is called, "Keto-Adapted" by Maria Emmerich. Have you heard of it? If you have any interest in becoming healthy, I say, "healthy" instead of "healthier" because it's an 'all or nothing' commitment. Honestly, I would have to seriously dedicate myself and try with everything in me to eat entirely the way she does. I love dairy, cheese in general, and carbs! I am a carb girl! And cupcakes, I love me some cupcakes. Maria believes in absolutely no gluten or dairy, no sugar and a diet that is low-carb, low-protein and high fat based. Yes, high fat, the good fat though. The book is super interesting. It pretty much tells you that everything we've been taught about the foods we eat, is inaccurate and that's why people have so many internal health issues. Even things like autism and asthma, joint pain, sleep deprivation, head aches, you name it, it's all effected by the food we put into out body and it makes total sense. A prime example of this is the fact that I give my cats only all natural dry food and yesterday, I let them lick the extra tuna out of a bowl of mine. Well, Olive is now throwing up next to me and I was lucky enough to step in a pile with my bare foot after hopping out of bed this morning. This is how the day greeted me, you guys.

Everyday, I think to myself that I could be healthier. Eat better, work out, go on bike rides, walks, but it's so hard for me, probably because I don't look out of shape to myself. And after a day of work, chasing two year olds, I want to just sit when I get home, sometimes in complete silence. And, well, because I convince myself that chasing two year olds, running around outside with them, well, that's physical activity, right? Gosh, I don't have a clue how you Moms have any sort of work out routine, finishing a work day, working out and being a Mother. Power to you! Hopefully, some day, I can relate. 

As for today, I'm going to be present. Joel is in Alaska on tour and scheduled it not having a clue that Easter was this weekend and not at the end of April. Interesting that Easter is based on a lunar calender. Now, that I think of it, the first year we moved out here, Easter was on his Birthday, March 31st. So, today, I'll be alongside the people who have become my family here in Colorado, the people I am most thankful for here, the people that are most similar to my own family in terms of acceptance and loving in a non-judgmental way. You better bet that I'll be pushing them together for, probably the last family picture I'll be able to take of them. I'm taking in all these final moments of our life here in Colorado. 

Now, Happy Easter from 2010. 

Go be present today.

It's getting more and more real.

The beard beanie I just couldn't resist.

Happy Birthday, E!

A lumberjack themed Birthday party helped us celebrate this guy turning 1. 

It's slowly getting more and more real, the fact that Joel and I are moving 15 hours away from this family, my best friend here. Alyssa and I both transferred to the same center, from centers we loved dearly but moved too far away from to continue to work at. I started a week before her and felt totally understanding to the tears she shed after her first day, when we closed the school and walked to our cars together. "I cried after my first day too," I told her. Bonding over the fact that this center, by no means compared to the ones we started at, I had a feeling about her and a great friendship. Eventually, we both moved on to other centers, where we were happier, the same company in different towns and we stayed close. I was thankful for my time at the first school, because I developed such a great friendship, as well as another with my co-teacher at the time. As we've gotten to know each other well these past few years, she is who I will miss the most, when I think about the people we've met during this chapter in our lives, the people we are leaving behind in this beautiful state. Getting to be apart of your life, getting to know you and yours, seeing your little man grow so much and develop such a fun personality, is something I will miss and treasure dearly. You have my permission to call me and make me become a phone person once and awhile, and I hope you do. I'll do my best to do the same. Being younger than me means nothing, you have taught me so much. You are my own personal Google and I will miss you like crazy. 

Everyday, I take in the sunshine in our living room, the comfort of our backyard, the trees, the outdoor couches, the fact that we have a backyard, the feeling like we're in the country when we're really in town and I feel so grateful that we found this place and so sad to be leaving it in two months. Saying goodbye to our first place together is not going to be easy.

Joel recently returned from back home, where he put in the new flooring in the basement of our future home, the house I grew up in. Frequently, as my end date at work draws near, I have been asked "So, you don't love Colorado as much as you thought you would? Why are you moving back home?" The truth is, with me being a teacher and Joel being a full time musician, us having jobs that we absolutely love and are passionate about but don't make much money for, we would spend the rest of our lives saving money to buy a house. The fact that my parents are allowing us to buy the house that I grew up in, for a great deal, well, we will be thanking them for the rest of our lives. I didn't always know that Hudson, Wisconsin was where I wanted to raise my family. Before I moved away, I knew that I hadn't been enough places around this amazing world to know where we wanted to set up shop, do the family thing. In our case, it took us moving 15 hours away, into another time zone, to realize that nothing compares to your roots. I know this isn't the case for everyone and that makes us feel even more lucky. Some people go away and have no desire to ever go back to where they grew up. There are people and things and mountains we will miss greatly, but we are ready to no longer watch all the babies in our lives grow up through Facebook and Instagram. We are ready to be involved in every single family event and never miss a wedding, anniversary dinner, reunion or graduation party again.

One more note, before I get on with this obligation free Saturday; my wonderful, caring, loving, encouraging, understanding, (I could go on but do I really need to?) other half turned 28 on the 31st of March. Twenty eight! We always talk about how fun growing up is and how old we thought, even a 20 year old was when we were still in high school. That just seemed so ancient. The fact that we are both now, closer to 30, well, we love it. And I'm convinced we are the only ones. 

Here's to you and how much more fun you make my life, just being in it.

Doing life with you is so wonderful. 

The Day In Still Lifes

"Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet, and the winds long to play with your hair." | Khlil Gibran

Although, she's rarely still outside.

Joel is in the mountains with his best friends from high school. I'm so happy they were able to make a trip before we move back East. (photo credit to Joel or one of his buddies)

My Mom sent me this picture of her and my Dad. They are on Vacation with my Aunt and Uncle. (photo credit to either my Aunt or Uncle)

 

My name is Oscar and I get drunk.. off sleep.

Just being hilarious.

Everything is better in a mason jar.

And lets not forget about my ridiculously cute Nephew who is two months old (and two days).

(photo credit to either my Brother or Sister In Law-- probably my Sister In Law) ;)

Gosh, I just love pictures. 

Whoever invented the camera is brilliant. 

Love is

Love is a new Nephew; his perfectly round face, smile and little baby coos and sounds that come out of him. 

Love is art, museums, and holding hands while walking through them. 

Love is a cozy home to call your own, sunshine, a fireplace that you can rearrange with, and plants and animals that give our lives a little more life. 

 Love is learning to remind yourself of the things in life that you feel thankful for.

I love fringe too much and I wear clothes that say my Boyfriend's name.

You guys, it was 75 degrees the other day. 75 degrees! In January! I thought I was being Punk'd. I was hot in just my work polo and my class ate their afternoon snack outside. In January! I couldn't get over it. I went home and sat outside with my cats for a solid hour and a half and after, thought to myself, "It's 5:45 and it's not dark yet. This is amazing." The fur babies got a good brush, I was playfully bitten by a toothless mouth and then I put lipstick on because I was excited.

This is what 75 & sunny in January looks like.

 The amazing Colorado weather isn't the only thing that has me excited lately. After a little over a week of being away, Joel returned home from his Florida tour and with presents. 

Not pictured: a pair of sweat pants to match his from 'The Original' Ron Jon Surf Shop, which I have yet to capture a picture of. Maybe if you're lucky, we'll take one together, because, yes, we are that couple. Sweat pants, that I've already spilt bacon grease on a mug to add to my ever-growing collection, a quote to hang on the wall, which Joel says are his thoughts, completely, even when he's on tour, and Minnetonka Moccasins. Could my Boyfriend know me any better? I think I'll marry him. 

As of January 12th, I am an Aunt. Before January 12th, I never knew what it felt like to love somebody I haven't met. I, still, a couple weeks later, just stare at pictures of him. Technology, this is when I appreciate you most. Since January 12th, I now think I have officially seen the cutest baby. I'll think this until I have my own someday, I'm sure, mainly because they'll be just that, my own. I anxiously awaited the birth of my Nephew, texting my Sister in Law everyday, literally, everyday, asking if there was a baby yet. I cannot wait to be back home and be able to see and spend time with and make this awesome little human smile and gut laugh, to see my Brother as a Dad. My nephew is the cherry on top of life right now and I long for the day to finally meet him and squeeze him and litter him with kisses. 

Johnny Appleseed.

best friend visits Colorado: 4 days

Ben Howard concert: 8 days 

Lana Del Rey at Red Rocks: 102 days 

(this is worth a count down)

the closing of our Colorado chapter: 122 days 

These countdowns sure do give me butterflies. 

 

I literally Googled "How to get yourself out of a funk" last night. 

I sat on my couch, Joel in the other room, giving me my space like the smart man he is, and I read to myself, taking mental notes and then found laughter in what I was doing. We all have days or weeks that you're feeling funky, you're in a funk, things that don't usually annoy you, make you want to cry or just drive and not stop for anything but maybe a salted caramel mocha. Well, I am in funky town, people. And I'm not talking about the place that Lipps Inc. sung about in 1980.

I don't know what it is, but it has taken me over. I have always had a hard time with this. I am an emotional person, but can usually put bad moods into perspective. Right now, negativity is on me like white on rice. And I don't have the answers to why. But chocolate does sound amazing so perhaps I need to look at my planner. Ladies, who's with me? While reading up on how to kick this bs in the tush, I realized that I should probably blog. This was one of the things in the article to destroy a funky mindset. It's been a bit since I've blogged last. The classic phrase of, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all" really does ring true. Usually, if there's a lull or a nice, long break in posts, this is probably the conversation I'm having with myself. Do I blog about my thoughts and feelings, with a chance of making people in my life uncomfortable or possibly a little hurt; Make them wonder if it's them that motivated a blog post of mine? Or do I just not write down my thoughts at all? There's your answer. 

The other weekend, I had someone in my life, bring up a time I had hurt them. In middle school. In middle school. I can't stand those years and have a hard time being sensitive to such undeveloped, terribly immature brains, even though I know I was there. I was an awful 14 year old. I felt bad, I apologized but that wasn't enough. I didn't even remember the situation that was brought to my attention, but it obviously hurt her enough to mention it to me in our twenties. I was disgusted at the fact that I hurt this person so much that, as a grown woman, an adult, she felt the need to belittle me, to say something hurtful, to 'get back at' me for something that was said during our middle school days. After my apology for how immature I once was, I quickly realized that the conversation was going nowhere and that a good click of the 'defriend' button, was the best choice. Although, I felt bad for the past, the fact that she came off as immature and hurtful as she did, as an adult, well, I by no means have room for someone like that in my life, even if they are just an acquaintance on Facebook. I like to think that I've done a lot of growing and maturing since middle school and I am nowhere near who I was then. Joel and I have talked various times about how we think we will parent our children some day. I know I will be the more disciplinary one and one hundred percent, he will be the more sensitive one, the more understanding one, mainly during those lovely teenage years. We would hate to hear that our child was bullying or disrespecting others, or not being accepting of people's differences. Mine and Joel's conversation came a day before this woman had mentioned how I had hurt her. I felt so bad about hurting someone's feelings to the point where she was thinking about it 12 years later and if I could go back and change things, I would. But that's just not how life works, is it? 

It reminded me that all I can do, is live from this point on, the best that I can. I can try my best to accept that people are different and at times, people can change and do, for the better. I've also realized in my life lately, that some people aren't understanding of people's differences. There are adults in this world and in my life that still judge and still talk down about how people live their lives differently. I, for one, feel confident about who I am and how I live my life. I blog about things in my life that I find funny, interesting, beautiful, things that make me feel good. Blogging, in itself, makes me feel good. I do it for me. And as adults, aren't we supposed to lift each other up and encourage each other to continue to do things that make us happy? We aren't supposed to discourage each other because we live our lives differently. 

At the grocery store this morning, I had a number of strangers smile at me, I had various workers ask me if I was finding things alright, I even had a man at the check out, who let me go ahead of him, when he had about half the amount of groceries that I had. I left, still in my funk, but feeling better. I came home to someone who kisses me and loves me, even when I'm a giant brat and now you're listening to my thoughts. Strangers, friends, you're listening. You're listening to me slowly put myself in a better mood. If you are, by chance in a funky mood yourself, go to the grocery store smile at a stranger, give someone a compliment, listen to "Funky Town" by Lipps Inc. and then get out of that place. 

Listen to me, because I started this post in a worse mood than I'm in right now.

Happy First of November, friends!