Wordless Wednesday...Penn Station

Brie and her beloved, Fishy playing peek-a-boo on the LIRR downtown

Simple Woman's Daybook...January 11, 2011

FOR TODAY...January 11, 2011

Outside my window...it's winter.  Snow.  Cold,  Gray.  Typical for this time of year. 

I am thinking...about the future.  Where I want to be in 10 years.  What choices I should be making to get there. What is happy to me and am I there?  It's deep stuff, but I figure I can't just let it happen.  Can I?  I feel like I've let my whole life just sort of happen.  If I want to have any control over where I am and how happy I can be, I need to start taking the reins. 

I am thankful for...the many opportunities that have come my way lately.  I am reaching outside my comfort zone, doing things that are challenging and a little unknown and learning and growing exponentially as a result.

I am wearing...an outfit I'm horribly uncomfortable in.  Most of my clothing options lately fall into this category.  I know I need to do something but just. can't. seem. to. MOTIVATE!  I'm stuck in a vicious circle I can't seem to get out of.  Like those blasted traffic circles, driving around and around and around, unable to turn off.  Everyone makes it sound so easy but I don't agree.  Logically it makes sense: Eat less, eat better options, exercise more (or at all for that matter).  I just can't. 

I am remembering...all the things I have to pack for our trip.  Swimming gear, beloved blankets, loveys, diapers, clothes, entertainment for the trip, food, stroller, camera, medicines, chargers, etc., etc., etc. 

I am creating...recently I was lucky enough to be given the chance to create the logo and business cards for a property services company I'm doing some p/t bookkeeping work for.  It reminded me of a previous life when I had my own desktop publishing "company" (S.Y.S.tems Desktop Publishing) and did start-up business packages (logo design, business cards, letter head and envelope design) for local contractors. I only did a few but it brings me great pleasure to see my logo still being used by at least one of the companies.  It's an amazing feeling of pride even if it was 10 (or more!) years ago.
     
I am going...to NYC!  The boys and I are heading down to NYC/Long Island area for a whole week to spend a glorious time with our favorite people, Tiff & Brie!!  I can't wait.  Of course I have serious anxiety over the trip itself.  Seven hours alone in a car with two small children in January.  It doesn't sound like the smartest idea, but we can't schedule these sort of fantastic adventures so we'll take them when they come!  We will spend the week hanging out, swimming, playing, touring, and relaxing (when Tiff's not working, that is!)  And of course, we will miss Daddy while we're gone, but I think the time away will re-energize us all!  He deserves a break and the boys will appreciate getting away from the "normal" every day stuff. 

I am reading...a couple things.  I am bringing them both with me and hope to get some reading time in, but we'll see.  In the meantime, I have started my second audio book and am riveted by the story...An Unfinished Life, by Mark Spragg.  I found myself parked in the parking lot at work waiting for them to finish the chapter the other day for almost 10 minutes!!

I am hoping...not to just ramble all my thoughts here and then forget about them like I usually do.  I really do want to change things.  Myself.  My outlook.  I just figure I won't follow through now any more than I usually do.  I need some accountability.  But how?

I am hearing...general background noise.  Hums, squeaks, taps.  Virtual silence, actually.  It's nice.

Pondering these words..."There's always a little truth behind every "just kidding". A little knowledge behind every "I don't know" A little emotion behind every "I don't care" And a little pain behind every "it's okay"?  
My brilliant friend, Heidi, posted this on FB yesterday and it's SO true.  I've always felt this way. 

Around the house...lately there's chaos, clutter, and tension.  The winter months have us hiding inside for long periods at a time.  It's been too cold to get the boys outside to play much and we've fallen out of sync on some of our usual get-out-of-the-house activities with Tiff & Brie being away.  Nate's attitude has been HORRENDOUS.  He's mouthy, argumentative, and has an awfully BIG attitude for his 4-year-old frame!  He's been losing privileges and beloved toys left and right lately!  It doesn't seem to be helping at all, though!

On my mind...Nate's behavior lately.  He is sweet as apple pie one second, being playful, cracking jokes, giving hugs for no reason, and then like a switch, he gets mouthy, starts fighting with me, his brother, the dog, and starts mouthing off.  I didn't expect this at four.  Fifteen, sure.  But FOUR?!?  I feel unequipped to handle this stage.

Noticing that...I'm in a bit of a funk today.  I need to snap out of it.  Oh SUNSHINE, where ARE you!?!?!

One of my favorite things...this blog.  It allows me to share my innermost thoughts, feelings, and dreams in a non-judgmental forum.  (At least if I AM being judged no one tells me...so I'll take it!)

A few plans for the rest of the week: Christmas celebration with Auntie Pam and the Ayers Clan; Walk 'N Talk with Heidi, haircuts for the boys and I, packing, and ROAD TRIP!!


Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

A rare moment to get outside and play.  

It was in the 20s this day so it didn't last long, but we enjoyed it while we could!

Be sure to check out more Simple Woman's Daybook entries!

10 on 10 : January 2011

Today's 10 on 10 is a tribute to my upcoming road trip!!!  The boys and I are leaving this weekend to head down to NYC to visit a friend and I'm beyond excited!  So in honor of our adventure, I took 10 photos (one photo an hour for 10 hours on the 10th of the month) that reminded me of all things travel.   Enjoy!

 

 

My 5 Favorite Things about 2010

I'm a big fan of a blog/page called Operation NICE and this week's NICE Assignment (as seen here) is to list 5 of your favorite things from the past year.  I'm always looking for fun and creative ways to memorialize the year gone by, so I jumped at the chance.  But to pick only 5?!?!  Yikes!  That'll be the real challenge.  So here goes:

1.  My Trip to NYC to visit Tiffany in March.  To me, this trip stood for a whole heck of a lot more than just visiting one of my best friends on this planet.  To me, it was a challenge, a goal, and a success!!  I had serious anxiety over making that 6-hour drive, alone, in winter, with two boys under the age of 4.  I still remember seeing the City skyline come over the horizon and crying instantaneously.  A feeling of pride, accomplishment, and power surged over me when I realized I had done it.  And done it well!  We had a fabulous stay with Tiffany and Brielle that (blessed!) weekend!  The weather was horrible but the company was warm and inviting and the memories were priceless!!!

2.  My trip to Arizona with my sister to see my cousin get married in April.
Another trip of a lifetime was the plane ride I took with my sister to Arizona for my cousin, Todd's wedding.  We were both fortunate enough to leave our children home with our husbands to make the cross country trip as solo sisters.  What fun we had!  For 5 days, we shared a room, hung out with our cousin, Billy and his daughter, Clara, went shopping, took the hotel shuttle into town to sight see and bonded with family.  It was good to have that undistracted time away with my sister to reconnect.

3.  Moving to the new house.  While there was much stress and anxiety over making this move, I am so glad we did it!  We found a great house on 5 acres of beautiful land, in an area that has a great school for the boys, family nearby, and great neighbors!  I miss our old house and hold tight to the memories we made in the 6 years we lived there, but love where we are now.  It feels like home and is comfortable to just be here.

4.  My nephew, Ian, joining our family.  For a long time we thought my brother, Noah, would never agree to having children.  He was holding out for all the stars to align and finally, while on my trip to NYC, I got a call from him to announce they were having a baby!!!  I was so excited!  A few months later, we learned that they would be bringing a BOY into the ranks to grow up with my two and I was even more excited!  Then, when we found a house (literally) 42 seconds up the street from my brother and sister-in-law and moved in the month before my nephew was due, I was elated!  Now that Ian is here it feels like he's always been here and I don't know what we'd have done without him.  Wendy is the mother I always wish I had the time and patience to be so I knew she'd have this role down pat.  I can't wait for my boys to grow up with their cousin just up the street.  

5.  TIE - F-H-M Fire Department visit (and the outpouring of love from the whole FD Community) and Taking a Photoshop with my dear friend, Heidi.  I couldn't decide which was more profound in 2010 so I picked both for the individual, yet equally important meanings they held.

As for the Photoshop class, I chose it not so much for the class itself, I mean, yeah it was great stuff to learn and rounded out a whole slew of positive steps forward that I took in my photography in 2010, but i was thinking of it as my favorite more for the fantastic chain of events taking that class set off.  During this class, Heidi's husband, Joey, managed to single-handedly save my butt from the potential disaster of computer failure or data loss.  Not only did he volunteer to take all the kids (5 of them total!) while Heidi and I attended class 3 hours a week for 6 weeks, but while these weekly gatherings were taking place, Joey overhauled my entire computer and storage system and set me up with a permanent and secure copy of all my digital files - in one place!  Now it backs up automatically and is safe from all sorts of potential dangers!  The relief that brings me is indescribable!  I can't thank the Ciravola Family enough for all they have done for me, my boys, and my mental well being in 2010!

Regarding the fire department love Nathaniel received this year, you can read about it all here, but in summary, the single actions and grand gestures these firemen and women expressed the last few months has given me a whole new respect for people in their line of service and restored my faith in society as a whole.  It's truly remarkable and Nathaniel nor I will ever forget it!

Of course there were other moments in 2010 I'd like not to forget.  We did some boating, camped with friends, spent a lot of time up North at Mom and Dad's new camp, attended a Stanton family reunion, went to State and County Fairs, spent a lot of time with friends, and I was proud to be asked to take photos for a few separate events through work and for friends.  2010 was very good for us.  As we settle into our new home and new routines, I look forward to ringing in 2011 with some of the best people I know and starting off the new year with a fresh spirit, renewed energy, and recharged motivations!  Stay tuned for some of my goals, aspirations, and plans for the coming year!  Happy new year!

5 things I ♥

After my recent road trip with the boys to NYC to visit Tiff and Brie, I started realizing some things that made my trip SO much nicer. 

I ♥ my (Mom and Dad's) Magellan Maestro GPS.  Oh my, this thing is wonderful.  I was previously very skeptical about the reliability of these things.  I've known too many people who use them and wind up in a vacant parking lot when it's directing them to the closest Friendly's or get more lost trying to use them than not.  A couple years ago I borrowed one from a friend to get to calling hours in Syracuse and we were an hour and a half late because it was guessing at the address.  I had my trusty Mapquest directions that eventually got us there but apparently since the GPS didn't know exactly where the address was, it guessed and it took us MILES out of our way (in the wrong direction!).  Needless to say, I've been converted since that horrendous trip.  While this thing did steer me wrong a couple times, it was more as the result of the steep learning curve associated with such devices than the actual directions it was giving.  I know now that when it says to "keep to the right", that does not mean you must be all the way over to the right or you may end up getting off on an exit you did not mean to take.  Oops!  The GPS was fabulous to have on hand just to find our way to areas of interest once we got there.  As a result, I took a leap of faith (unnatural for me!) and plugged in "Statue of Liberty" before we headed out of NJ and it led me to a fantastic park where I was able to snap some great shots of the Lady Liberty herself before heading home!  It gave me a huge sense of confidence knowing that no matter what I'd get us where we needed to go safely (and know exactly when we'd arrive there!)  No doubt I will be browsing Buy.com or Newegg.com for one of my very own shortly!!

I ♥ cruise control.  Again, I was never much of a fan of it.  I always went the way of the "more gadgets in a car make it more likely to break down" mentality.  However, my new car had it automatically and I didn't want to pay more to get it without, that would have been silly.  Let me tell you though, after a six-and-a-half hour car drive by myself with two small children under the age of 4, I am SO glad now that it had cruise control.  I was able to concentrate more on driving and focus on where we were going (and not being too far right!).  I could just chug along at the correct speed and not worry about getting a ticket (I do have a genetic lead foot, afterall!) or stress about maintaining speed so as not to annoy fellow drivers.  It was fabulous!  Not to mention the cramp I surely would have had driving all that way with my foot on the gas pedal!

I ♥ our cheap portable DVD player.  I know I'm running into a pattern here, but I always thought these things (and the parents who used them) were the devil.  I know, I know.  I have since walked a mile in their shoes and can admit my transgressions.  This silly little freebie we got for signing up for DirecTV (or whatever it was) was a life saver.  Call  me lazy, but I can't imagine entertaining my children by myself for 6 hours without it.  And we only watched a couple movies on it the whole way there and back...the songs, books, games, and snacks I packed alone would not have worked to keep them (and ME!) sane for 6+ hours! I honestly don't know how parents did it "back when".  I know they managed but I'm glad not to have had to.

I ♥ my iPod.  Prior to leaving, I loaded that bad boy up with songs for our listening pleasure.  (Finally those Classic Disney CDs I had to have years ago have paid off!) I've never used my iPod in my car before but it was fabulous to have a Serenity Now (yes, that's what I named it!) playlist at my fingertips.  When the natives were growing restless I fired it up and distracted them with fabulous songs like "Cool to be Uncool" and "Do the Elephant" by The Jimmies.  We rocked out to "We're Knights, That's Right" by The Backyardigans, and were even reminded to eat our vegetables with "Party in My Tummy" by Yo Gabba Gabba.  Fanastic stuff, I tell you.

I ♥ my Joovy Caboose Ultralight double stroller.  Of course I didn't use this on my drive down, but once we got there this thing was fabulous.  While it's not always the easiest to steer (what IS with a total of 60+ lbs of kid on it), I love that it gives Nate freedom when he wants it and gives me control when he needs it.  Alex just hangs out all day long riding along and Nate even fell asleep in it at one point and had room to snooze while I loaded it up with packages and bags and gear.

Most importantly, however, I ♥ my kids.  They travelled so fantastically.  Not only did they require only one (1!) stop in more than 6.5 hours of driving, but they did well the whole weekend.  I had their schedules (napping, eating, sleeping) so screwed up yet they slept well and behaved considerably well, too!  My favorite part of our trip into the City was when Nate charged a few steps ahead of me and ran into someone on the street.  He totally wasn't watching where he was going and before I could say anything he looked at the lady and said "Oops, I'm sorry!".  As I passed the woman I heard her say to her friend "How cute!  That little boy just said he was sorry!".  I was so proud!!  The boys made the trip magnificent!  I honestly had visions of frequent stops along our route to fetch dropped sippy cups, make potty breaks, yell, etc.  Yet even in big boy undies, Nathaniel did fabulously and Alex was a trooper.  They napped (albeit shortly) and snacked, watched a movie, listened to music, told stories, looked out the window at the mountains.  The whole trip was fun and remarkably stress free!  That makes me want to do it again!  Where to next?!?

Learn Something...Packing

"Packing for two children for two days away, requires 2 weeks worth of stuff!"

I wish I were exaggerating, but I'm not.  The boys and I are taking a road trip to visit our dear friends Tiffany and Brielle in New York City!  We figured why not extend our usual adventures down to the Big Apple while Tiff is working there for the month!?!

So we head out today and will spend the weekend in the big city.  I am giddy as a school girl and looking SO forward to a girlie weekend with two of my favorite girlies!  Can you say "slumber party"!?!?

Woo hoo!

Ok, now that I'm done sounding 12-years-old...

I have been packing for this trip all week.  It started with a grand plan to get us all there in one suitcase.  Ha!  That wasn't working so I decided on one suitcase for the boys and one for my stuff and all their miscellaneous stuff.  Then it spread into two suitcases, a duffle bag, a cooler, a box of tricks for the car ride, and a bag of goodies to throw at them during the 6-hour trip down.  Don't forget the pillows, blankets, bedtime bear, glow seahorse, boo bankie, Bolt, pacifier, diapers, camera, stroller, and pack and play.

It's two days and two nights and requires enough stuff to last two weeks.  Seriously.  PJs for two boys for two nights, an extra pair (or two!) in case they wake up wet each morning...which has been known to happen lately!  Two outfits, two pairs of socks, two pairs of undies for Nate, plus at least one more outfit, a pair of socks and extra undies for emergencies!  Toothbrushes, soap, diaper cream.  The comforts of home take up even more room. There's warm weather gear and cold weather gear, since it is March in NY, afterall! 

I know I'm overpacking as this is what I do.  But I'd hate to get down there and be missing something that could make our trip more enjoyable, memorable, easier...you get the picture.

Anyway, here goes...Road Trip 2010!

Wish us luck!  I'll share photos of our big adventure when we return!!  NYC, here we come!!

(Gee, I hope I didn't forget anything important!)

Simple Woman's Daybook...March 9, 2010

FOR TODAY...March 9, 2010

Outside my window...the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the snow is melting...it's a beautiful faux Spring day.  :)

I am thinking...of all the things I want/need to accomplish today.  Work deadlines.  Airline tickets for our trip to Arizona in April.  Packing for our big road trip to NYC this weekend.  Laundry. Tax Appointment.  Mapquest directions.  Blogs set up to post while I'm gone for NaBloPoMo. 

I am thankful for...good friends who keep me going, motivate me, inspire me, support me, and love me unconditionally.

I am wearing...khakis and a too-warm sweater.  I was trying to hide in "comfortable" clothes today (READ: Frumpy) but it's proving to be too warm for this attire.  I wish I had on a t-shirt and comfy pants....

I am remembering...everything I need to DO!  Everything I need to pack to have an arsenal of tricks of my sleeve for our upcoming 6-hour car ride.  Did I mention it's just me, a three-year-old, and a one-year-old?  I'm super excited about the trip but nervous about getting there!

I am creating...a plan of attack for this week and the rest of the busy month of March!

I am going...on a road trip to NYC with the boys this weekend!! In case I hadn't mentioned that already!

I am reading...nothing again.  I leave this question in to motivate me to find a good answer for it before my next Simple Woman's Daybook and yet I always seem to have nothing to report.  I will have to work on that.

I am hoping...this head cold clears up sooner than later.  I want to be healthy and energized for our trip to NYC to visit Tiff and Brie this weekend.  Did I happen to mention yet that I'm looking VERY forward to it!?! 

I am hearing...construction vehicles, birds chirping, welcome sounds of Spring!

Pondering these words...so many, actually.  The words are bouncing around my head like ping pong balls right now.  I can't seem to nail any of them down long enough to make them coherent. 

Around the house...mud, dog tracks, hats and mittens without owners. Signs of Spring!

On my mind...to do lists, responsibilities, obligations. It's never-ending!

Noticing that...even with my window open it's still hotter than heck in here.

One of my favorite things...it seems trite, but I'm going to say Facebook.  I know the evils of Facebook and the overwhelming addictive quality it holds, but it is such a wealth of information, support, and friendship for me during this period of my life.  I have met up with some great people on Facebook, made stronger friendships with people I knew but didn't know before, mended some bridges, and found old friends.  For every complaint and/or frustration I have with Facebook, I think it's a great way to connect with people and feel a wider community of support than time generally allows for. 

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Packing, Popcorn & PJs w/ Heidi and the gang(!), ROAD TRIP!!!!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

My little guy is nearing 18-months-old and boy, has his personality busted out lately.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, he has a strong will, a loud opinion, and a temper to boot if he doesn't get his way, immediately.  Gone is that quiet, sensitive boy who was so laid back and easy going you could take him anywhere, at any time and do anything without worry.  He's definitely beginning to assert himself.  And he's quite vocal when he's disapproving of your answer!  He still listens well and seems relatively easy to reason with for a 1 1/2 year old, but it's almost funny when he throws a fit.  Watching this tiny little package yell, or throw something twice his weight.  Ha!  I mean it's not funny and I tell him so...but I have to laugh about it in retrospect!  Plus he's a little trouble-causer.  He's always instigating fights with his brother.  He may be small, but he's a wiley one!   Beware!

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