A Zillion Weeks of Fotos

In no particular order,

here are weeks and weeks

of fotos.

As the the seasons have changed

although the temperature 

has not gotten the memo.

As the boys became

a 3rd grader 

and a pre-schooler.

As we ate grilled cheeses

and made forts

and baked bread on lazy Mondays

when we were all off.

As I became obsessed with "Game of Thrones"

and posted up on the couch 

which I never do

and actually kind of love now.

As first handprints 

and "Back to School" night

and car dance parties

continued to fuel that part of me

that wonders if it is in fact possible

to die from too much joy in your heart.

The sun is setting earlier,

Halloween is popping up here and there,

I hope the weather cooperates soon

and Fall makes a legitimate debut.

There are apple pies to bake

and cuddles to make.

I'm sort of obsessed with the new album by

The Walkmen.

I don't need perfection,

I love the whole.

The Walkmen - We Can't Be Beat

Happy Weekend. xo

A Weekend with Giants

We left at 7am on Friday.

2 cars packed with people I love

and camping gear

and snacks

and a book I never cracked.

Off to Sequoia where I had never been,

where my cell phone was worthless,

and died an hour in so I don't have pictures.

Where you have to put all of your food and smell good stuff

in a metal locker.

Because there are bears.

I drove up and Paul only reprimanded me once for my revving.

We made it in 5 and half hours and it was beautiful

and we set up camp 

and stopped by a lodge to call the other car

and pick up some wood.

"Have you seen any bears lately?"

I asked this partially expecting the kid behind the counter

to say no.

"Nope, not here. *pause* But they've been around Stony Creek."

(aka our campsite)

"What'd they do?"

As I nervously smiled and glanced over at Paul

who thought this was hilarious.

"Oh rip up a tent and mess with someone's trailer."

The kid was being very nonchalant.

"Yeah *nervous laugh...sigh...nervous laugh* but no one was in it right?"

"Oh no...the guy was in it.  Turned out he'd been BBQing all night

and went to bed in his clothes."

Needless to say

 I OCD'd all weekend about food smells

and food out 

and scrubbing Lucas down 

with unscented baby wipes.

I may or may not have choked 

on my beating heart Friday night

waking Paul in tears 

because I was convinced

every pine needle falling from every tree

and every twig snapping

was a black bear coming to eat us.

Saturday the two of us woke before dawn

and headed for a spot called "Lost Grove".

We moved Lucas to Paul's mom's tent

and took his uncle along with us.

We drove in the dark to an unmarked spot,

walked down a dark, sparse trail

to quiet peace of heaven amongst the 

trees and moss and woodpeckers.

I went for a walk and Paul took pictures.

We came back and made bacon and pancakes

and my coffee had grounds in it but I didn't care.

We spent the day,

7 of us in one car,

walking and climbing

and laughing

loving the weather

which was a stifling 73 degrees.

Apparently Los Angeles nearly died in the sweltering heat while we were gone.

We came home and made bacon wrapped hot dogs

and I secretly wondered if the bacon smell would attract the bears

and then we had s'mores and I drank hot tea

and for the second night in a row

Paul read Sherlock Holmes to Lucas and I

until we fell asleep.

On the last day we made breakfast and broke camp

and the other car left for home

and Paul and I drove for 7 hours through Kings Canyon.

It was beautiful and peaceful

and I don't know how and when we got so good together

but 

we are so good together.

We made it home Sunday night and unpacked

and washed dishes

and made a replacement list for the supplies.

We took hot showers

and my hair still kind of smelled like smoke

and we went to bed

and I didn't have to be afraid of bears.

We retire the camping gear until spring.

Sad face times infinity.

Admissions in Disheartening Decisions

I don't want to write about it because

I'm afraid to be judged.

I don't want to write about it because

I'm afraid you'll judge him.

I don't want to write about it because

it makes me feel sad.

And anxious.

And like we've failed in some way.

People have always had opinions

when it came to my children.

From the women sharing their

labor stories with me in an elevator,

to my well meaning mother

chasing after me with the boys' sweaters.

I still remember bursting into tears

when the daycare provider convinced me

that my then 2 year old Lucas was speech delayed.

No speech delay here...

the kid barely draws

a single silent breath.

Sometimes I take the advice

and sometimes I don't.

Sometimes it angers me

or leaves me feeling insecure;

and sometimes it doesn't.

My non-speech delayed son

walked at nine months

and was climbing trees

and playing in mud

and hanging upside

pretty quickly afterward.

Nimble fingers and quick-mind,

taking things apart

and putting them back together;

working to figure out

how this world worked.

His Pre-K teacher told us he had

problems focusing and staying on task;

we felt he was just bored.

How many worksheets can a 4 year old do?

His Kindergarten teacher said the same thing.

He's just a boy we thought.  Boys are hyper.

His first grade teacher said it again.

She doesn't like him. He's being bullied.

His second grade teachers (all 3 of them)

said it too.

We have to do something.  Third grade is hard.

It was at the end of last school year

that we decided to look further

into the causes and conditions

of ADHD.

We felt it was over-diagnosed.

We didn't want to medicate our son

(he's already on one for his epilepsy).

We didn't want him to feel different.

We didn't want the eternal thems and yous

to treat him differently,

but it was all becoming more and more

obvious.

And after conferencing with his

phenomenal teachers last year

and meeting with a great

behavioral science team,

we knew we had to do everything

we could to set him up for success.

Which is why last week

we started our son on medication.

And I felt like a failure.

I felt like I hadn't tried hard enough

to help him in other ways.

I felt terrible for putting a

chemical in my perfect son's body.

I cried because I gave myself

5 minutes to feel really fucking guilty

and really fucking sad

and even sort of angry.

I still don't know how I feel

other than ferociously protective

which is why I'm writing this

even though I don't want to.

It's a letter to the universe

asking Lucas' future self

for forgiveness.

We really are trying to do

what's best.

The medicine is not a cure all

and I refuse to believe it is

a forever thing.

I'm trying to do best by my kid,

but that can be so difficult

when the water seems so murky.

Be gentle with us

Friday Fotos on Monday and Life in General

Paul is quizzing Lucas

on subtraction flash cards

as I type.

They are getting frustrated with each other

and it is hard not to intervene.

There is chocolate chocolate chip 

banana bread in the oven.

James is with his dad until 6pm

and I miss him on quiet, lazy days

when I bake and am totally relaxed.

I wish he was here

to stir and eat and be kissed.

All last week I felt like this video...

Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime

I think I was a gypsy

in a past life. 

It would explain why

sometimes when life is 

really, super good

or really, super hard,

I feel like the roots that ground me

are also strangling me.

A good friend and fellow blogger

wrote last week about "keeping it real"

and I totally understood.

Because so often times 

we of the digital age 

are inclined to share 

a sanitized version of our real lives.

The good days,

the pretty Instagrams,

the laughter and the love and the joy.

Today I can write about the past 2 weeks

because I am no longer in the midst 

of the past 2 weeks.

The truth is sometimes

it's really hard to be a mom.

I have one child who is constant energy and opinions

and another who is a crier;

and sometimes I don't like them very much.

The truth is I am in a relationship

with a really great guy,

and I love him and it is so god damn good,

and good and great

are not synonyms for perfect.

The truth is I bear the scars of every non-great guy from before,

and my head is loud and it doesn't always say nice things

and sometimes I have to fight myself

not to burn it all down.

The truth is I suffer from depression

and other forms of soul sickness

and sometimes for no reason at all

I wake up and I am painfully

uncomfortable.

It used to be that if I felt like I was feeling recently,

that I brought everyone else into the ring with me.

I am so glad that that is no longer the case.

I am so glad that I'm not immobilized.

I'm so glad I still managed to do all of this:

Work...

on a boat...

on a beautiful day...

and not throw up.

Spend a Saturday morning...

...finger painting with all three of my favorite guys.

Find moments of sweetness...

...and humor...

...and love...

...and more humor...

...and ice cream.

 Pool parties...

...and being thrown never getting old.

Photo booths...

...and night swimming.

Time for warm bread.

Note to Self

Huntington Beach. 7:39 pm.

Today you are 29 years

and 7 months old.

This morning

you woke up as

the middle spoon between

Paul and Lucas.

You made them breakfast

and the berry salad was delicious

because it's late August

and all berries are delicious.

Last night you were driving in traffic

and became randomly inspired

to have a bonfire.

You came home from work

and asked Paul how spontaneous he was feeling

and he was feeling spontaneous enough.

You got to the beach right after sunset

and there was just enough light

to run to the water

and take one picture

of your almost 3rd grader.

My heart stops.

You made s'mores

with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

and relaxed by the fire

and it was perfect.

You came home

and everyone went to bed

still smelling of smoke

but that was ok

because you were happy.

You laid down

and read Harry Potter

while Paul fell asleep

wrapped around you.

You just got off of the phone

with James' preschool.

He starts September 10th.

The other day you realized

that his voice sounds like your baby

but his words are of a big boy.

Summer is winding down

and your favorite time of the year

is on its way.

You're 29 and 7 months old

and

you have the life

you've always wanted.



Friday Fotos 8/17

It's been hot as Hades

in Southern California.

It's all I can do not

to lay motionless on the ground

with an ice pack on my head

and a fan blowing directly

in my face.

We live in a two-story apartment

with a wall unit on the first floor

that keeps cutting out

and I'm pretty convinced

I could have baked a pie in my room

on Monday.

The work situation

is yet again 

not what I want.

But I suppose

it's what the universe

feels I need.

And so...

when it's

supposed to be better,

I guess it will be.

In the meantime

I get to spend a lot of time

in the pool

with my favorite guys.

For those of us keeping score,

I've been working out more.

Swimming and run/walking,

"Biggest Loser" video-ing,

and "5 Minute Ab" iPhone app-ing.

I've only lost 1/2 a pound in 3 weeks.

I guess I need to give up the cake.

I already lost these...reason #1 why I buy cheap sunnies.

"Pumped Up Kicks"

Cereal Date

Fancy uniform c/o Grandma and Grandpa

Cupcake party! Maybe that's why I only lost 1/2 a pound...

Concert time with my Boo.

Don't tell Paul because it's far mushier

than I'd ever admit to his face,

but I think of him when I hear this song...

And I might have had a little tear in my eye

when I heard it live

and he was holding my hand.

Maybe.

Alabama Shakes - "I Found You"

 

Happy Weekend. xo.

Camping as Spiritual Experience

Love nest. 

This past weekend

Paul and I went camping

with 100 of my friends.

100 friends?!?!?

Yes 100 friends.

Every year a big group

of my people

heads out to Lake Piru

for 3 to 5 days

of heat and dirt and 

water fun.

I have avoided it

for 5 years strong

as it has always conflicted

with a weekend retreat 

I take in Malibu.

My retreat consists

of a private room 

at a peaceful monastery,

a massage,

and delicious meals 

prepared on a regular schedule.

Weekend in Malibu > Weekend in Piru

This year the retreat was moved

to the third weekend in August

so I had no excuse to miss

the annual camp out.

Admittedly I was resistant.

I didn't want to be hot.

I didn't want to be dirty.

I didn't want to overwhelm my guy

with having to meet and hangout

with a gazillion new people.

I hadn't been camping in 10+ years 

and it seemed

uncomfortable.

On the other hand,

Paul is a camper.

He has taken Lucas 

numerous times over the years

and also enjoys annual trips 

with his brother and friends.

I would venture to say

it is his preferred form of vacation.

Last week I came by his house

and he had started 

to get the gear together.

He had also begun writing

our "menu"for the weekend 

and beyond being adorable,

the gesture seemed to ignite a flicker

of excitement in me.

But only a flicker.

Then on Thursday we researched

Dutch oven recipes

and hit up Target.

By Friday I was pumped.

Lucas was in Arizona visiting family

with Paul's mom

and James was with his dad

so the trip was just us.

We left in rush hour traffic because

I couldn't get out of work any earlier

and had to stop twice because

there was a need for beverages and snacks (him)

and for new sunglasses (me).

Two hours later we made it

and started our weekend.

We cooked a tri-tip on the campfire (success!)

and attempted a pineapple upside down cake (failure!).

My guy was patient and kind

as he walked me through a refresher course

 in how to camp.

Always keep the tent door zipped!

Don't eat in the tent!

Kindling and a teepee-shaped start

make for a good fire!

And it turns out...

I love camping!

A uniform of no make-up

and jean shorts suits this girl 

just fine and dandy.

There had been a giant flash rainstorm

before we arrived Friday so it wasn't 

as dusty as I had expected.

The weather cooperated too

and it wasn't uncomfortably hot at all.

Saturday my sweet friend Michele

took us out on her boat for a bit

I spy a 4 star resort. 

So fun.

and I survived my first tubing experience.

I am holding on SO tight and the boat wasn't moving yet.

My guy is a camping minimalist

so we didn't have an air mattress

which for this side-sleeper 

made for sore arms and hips.

I think I have him convinced to buy camping pads.  

Cross your fingers people.

Cross. Your. Fingers.

And we didn't bring any s'mores supplies

which was a major bummer when Paul turned out

the world's most awesome fire and coals

Saturday night.

Really my only whining stemmed

from feeling dirty.

I'm a big fan of showers

and scented body wash

and lotion and perfume

and and and forever more.

I tried to make the whole weekend

sans shower but I just couldn't.

Thankfully my sweet Jaimie

The yin to my yang.

let me sneak into her RV for some hot water/lather action

and Paul was grateful too so that I could finally 

stop whining.

 We had such a great time

and we make a good team

and I think our time

together with each other,

apart hanging with other campers,

and letting him into the circle

of my closest friends

was magic times infinity. 

 We left talking about next year here at Piru,

a May trip in Yosemite, 

and Lake Isabella in a few weeks.

I left on a pink cloud 

and a super high of knowing

that I am one hell of a lucky girl.

This guy...

Camperforlyfe yo.