The Class of 2022

Posted on August 27, 2009 by Natalie

Last Thursday, Stella and I attended her kindergarten orientation. When I asked her what her favorite part was she said, “It was so cool how my name was on EVERYTHING! It was on my nametag! My cubby! The birthday chart! The tooth chart! The height chart! The chore chart! Everything!” Apparently, all it takes is a labeling machine and you will be my daughter’s new best friend.

With dress rehearsal over, we headed out this morning for the real deal. I kept it together and only almost kinda sorta cried once. She pretty much rocked it. As usual.

Bubble-Palooza

Posted on August 22, 2009 by Natalie

So aside from hauling the kids back to their trailer every night during their visit, my in-laws also entertained them with pre-planned, coordinated, age-appropriate, creativity-inducing, skill-building, MENSA-entry-level activities including (but not limited to) the bubble extravaganza that ’bout near drove my poor father-in-law to drink straight from the wine bottle. Massive quantities of WATER and SOAP were involved and so were my children– need I say more?

(click photo to see the entire set)

Year 9, Reclaiming the Little Things

Posted on August 17, 2009 by Natalie

Last Wednesday was Steve and I’s 9th wedding anniversary. And, being that we met in August of 1987, that brings our sum total of knowing each other up to a whopping 22 years. Twenty. Two. Years. I find it disturbing that I can say that I have done anything for 22 years. There was a time when just being 22 was big. Steve didn’t really help when he clarified that – technically – we could have a child in college right now. Technically, I should have punched him.

Which brings me back to us. To us. To our daily ritual of life, and how those rituals and routines create the kind of comfort and repetition that make up our lives together. Things have certainly gotten more complicated and distracting and some of those routines are not exactly, um, how shall I say this – productive routines, but the way I see it, that is what an anniversary is for. It is not just a point of celebration, but a point of reflection. A New Year’s Resolution time for the relationship. As it turns out, this entire year has actually kind of been like that for us.

The giant distractionater known as kids&jobs&house&breathing all consume what might otherwise be spent focusing our attentions on forming some productive relationship rituals. And as we have cycled up and down and sideways (and sometimes even backwards), we have been reminded of the importance of re-engaging ourselves with one another as not-parent, not-homeowner, not-employee people – but instead as husband and wife, and more importantly, as friends.

And all that blah, blah, blah is just my way of saying that this year, our anniversary wasn’t a trip or a big expensive gift to one another, but instead, a giant post-it note taped to each of our foreheads to remind ourselves to pay attention more. We went to a movie. We cooked. We invited our friends over. We indulged in a fancy new bottle of tequila. More importantly, we promised to remind each other to do all of it more. And not just for each other, but for ourselves.

So, cheers. To us. To 9 years. To 22 years. And more importantly, to not having a child in college…yet.

My Summer Vacation: 2009 Edition

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Natalie

Okay, so we recently completed our annual pilgrimage to our homeland. I know you know this, and I know you have been waiting. But life returned from vacation, does not equate to life without interruption, and I have spent the better part of the week trying to exhale.

Basically, it was pretty much our typical summer outing. We briefly interrupted regular scheduling by immediately heading out East and leaving our precious cargo behind with the grandparents. Those kooky grandparents – they always insist they love it, but I know, deep down, that is the heat hallucinations talking.

We enjoyed our visit with Andrea and Brian – it was almost like we had never left. Except for the part where their house actually had furniture this time. I’m fairly certain that in the 7 days we were there we doubled our physical selves. I can’t even blame it on water weight because I was so busy experiencing the lovely, sweaty, goodness of the deep south in the summer. We ate infamous hot dogs of rural Hanover County, notable BBQ and sides (um, collards, oh yeah), elegant thai cuisine, greasy local faire and the piéce de resistance: the bar and grill that was prominently featured throughout every season of Dawson’s Creek. There is quite a story surrounding Brian and I’s relationship with Dawson’s Creek – his while he was recovering from cancer, mine while I was stuck on the couch breastfeeding without any cable. I don’t need to tell you how magical of a moment it was for us to each witness the life-sized autographed poster on the wall. It was almost like Pacey and Joey were right there. Sigh.

While gone in NC, the kids effortlessly transitioned between grandparents, living large with all the sights and experiences of summer. The Grandparents Walston kept them busy with swimming, science museum, library and art projects. The Grandparents Anderson kept them busy with rustic cabin living and blow-up backyard water features. There has also been this bizarre ongoing ritual that my kids have established with my mom called “Wedding”, which explains why Porter seems to always be dressed like a low-rent street-walker these days.

And speaking of Porter, this brings me to the part of the vacation that will, undoubtedly be the most triumphantly memorable. Don’t get me wrong – this was a wonderful, and memorable vacation full of friends and family and relaxation – however, when I remember this summer, it will be memorable for one gigantic reason: by the time we returned from North Carolina, Porter was 2/3 of the way potty trained. I KNOW! We were periodically updated on the progress via the various phone calls home, but it wasn’t until we returned that we stood witness to the beautiful glory of Porter running in announcing that he had to go pee, and shooting off to take care of business. Plus, yes there is a PLUS! HE GOES AT NIGHT TOO!!! Wakes up, announces his intentions and heads on in. It is like a Christmas miracle. Except that it is July. So, back to the 2/3rds part. He refuses to wear underwear (will only wear pull-ups) and he REFUSES to poop on the toilet. I have been trying to force the issue by stripping him naked from the waist down the moment we get home. Watcha gonna do now, son? Yeah, that’s what I thought – you’re gonna wait me out until I put you back in a pull-up so you can run into your bedroom and hide in the corner and poop -THAT’S WHAT! So close, yet so far away.

Riding on the high of 2/3rds of the way potty trained, we headed back to our freshly painted home. WOO HOO! No more fluffy bunny yellow and white. Now it is a more appropriate and earth-toned green and brown. Viva lá 1960s!

I gathered up photos from three different cameras and 3 different phones to compile this photo set -which explains the variations in quality and content. Unfortunately, I didn’t end up taking very many photos – except for the ones capturing the Arbogast tattoo outing, and the gist of the set is my mom’s camera. I’ll see what else I can round up and add them as I get them.

(click to see the entire set)