A Soccer Player?

Before I decided to fall in love with running I did quite a few extracurricular activities.
I was in ballet - my mom said I was the little strawberry on stage that turned right while the rest of class turned left.
I was in tap and jazz - both provided me with super cool costumes, but neither helped me find my rhythm.
I did gymnastics - I could bend and flip and whip around the uneven bars, but for the life of me I couldn't stay on the balance beam.
Finally I found soccer. It was rough and tumble. I had a good set of lungs, tightly tied cleats and zero fear (for a pipsqueak). I charged the opposite team with fury. I had scabbed knees and grass stained shorts. I went through many pairs of cleats, a boat load of mouth guards and more than a few sets of shin guards. I played on a coed team and had no fear of the bigger, faster, more aggressive boys. BRING IT ON - at least that's how I felt until during one particularly tough game I fell a bit awkwardly. When I got up I knew I was hurt, but I also knew I wanted my team to win the darn game - so I played on. I don't know when my coach realized that my arm was at an odd angle, but I know I was pulled from the game and sent to the hospital. Turns out I had a dislocated elbow (that I decided to relocate myself while my mom arranged for transportation home for my brother). Also turns out that relocating your own elbow is not a wise choice and I was rewarded with a sling for several weeks.
I don't know how many seasons I played soccer, but I remember knowing that I was not cut out for the cutthroat world of high school soccer. At the start of freshman year I hung up my cleats and laced up my cross country running shoes and never looked back (that sport rewarded me with a bum knee - really athleticism is NOT my thing).

Anybody who knows Andy knows he has a love of soccer. He'll set his alarm for the wee hours of the morning to catch a Liverpool game. In 2006 he went to the World Cup in Germany and in 2010 he took more than a few personal days to soak up World Cup soccer on the TV. When we got HD cable early this summer he was most excited to finally have access to the soccer channels. He's in a fantasy soccer league (because it's just not enough to be in a fantasy baseball and fantasy football league). He has a plethora of soccer jerseys, we have canvasses of Liverpool players on our basement walls, and give him enough beers and he'll sling his arm around you and teach you the lyrics to "You"ll Never Walk Alone".

Andy also played soccer - he was the goalie. The guy who throws himself at unnatural angles in front of a ball moving incredibly fast. The guy who dives head first on a ball that is being attacked by very sharp cleats. The guy who has to be willing to live with bruises everywhere - only in Andy's case, instead of a bruise he was rewarded with a broken leg, and shortly thereafter most of his soccer playing days ceased.

The point to all these hazy memories?

Yesterday evening Addie and Andy took a daddy/daughter trip to Dick's Sporting Goods. After spending a few afternoons kicking around her princess ball it was decided that it was time for her to get a real soccer ball.

Rumor has it, she beelined for the solid hot pink ball, but was more than pleased with the white, black, and light pink ball Andy picked out.

When they got back from the store Addie rushed to get ready for her first soccer lesson. Don't you think for a minute that to play soccer you must sacrifice fashion or the ability to twirl. She bounded downstairs in her yellow athletic skirt, bright pink tank top and fancy princess sneakers ready to rumble.

As they kicked around in the backyard I spied with my camera and laughed. What a perfect way to kick off the week...

*When he got home tonight Andy informed me that I took too much literary license with his part of the soccer tale. I stand corrected - Andy broke his leg in 5th grade, not 9th as I had thought. It was broken the one year he did not play goalie. He also contends that he would never teach YNWA lyrics in a drunken stupor (I'm a bit skeptical of his last claim).

Making an impression

If you want to impress your neighbors you should host the late night portion of the neighborhood party.

If you really want to impress your neighbors you should realize about an hour into hosting that you have had too much to drink - and then slink off for a power nap on the couch.

If you really, really want to impress your neighbors you should wake up out of that nap, pour yourself a drink and rejoin the party.

It's hard being me - and by hard I mean horrifyingly embarrassing.

Nonetheless, this Saturday was our neighborhood deck crawl/golf outing. The golf outing consisted of six couples golfing through the neighborhood yards, bolstered by jell-o shots at each hole and the deck crawl ended with many neighbors imbibing in our backyard.

It was a highly entertaining night, but resulted in two pretty darn useless parents on Sunday. Luckily for us Addie was beyond content cuddling and watching movies - she zonked out about 4:45 and woke back up this morning at 6:45.

Yes, you read that right, that sweet child slept for 14 hours.

She must've known exactly what mommy and daddy needed.

Prime Example

It's rare that we criticize each others' parenting approach. In fact most of the time, I think we are in slight awe of each other. I find his calmness amazing and he finds (I think) my ability to spend 13 hours a day (sober) with a toddler relatively impressive.

Once in awhile I think he roughhouses too much. Occasionally he thinks I have knee jerk responses that aren't the best.

Tonight is a prime example:
Me: Addie! Run inside and grab Mama's phone - it's ringing.
Addie: Hmmm? Wha mama?
Me: Addie - grab my phone off the counter, please.
Addie: Um. No thanks mom.
Me: Okay. If you can't grab my phone maybe you don't need bedtime stories tonight.
Him: Incredulously raised eyebrows.

FINE! He's a little right. In my mind, I was letting her know that if she can't do nice things for us, then we don't need to do nice things for her. In his mind (and her's) I was being lazy and demanding.

For the record she did not get me my phone.
I did read her two stories at bedtime.

And maybe he was right to judge me. No one said I was the model parent.

Thankful Thursdays

This Thursday I am thankful for:

• A break in the humidity and temperatures below 80 - lovely.
• Being brave enough to try a new recipe - even if it was essentially a failure.
• Salami and cream cheese rolls - the perfect salty, cheesy snack.
• Two Tupperware pitchers in the fridge filled with fruit punch and pink lemonade.
• Having a few quiet nights with Andy - life always seems a bit too crazy for quiet.
• Green birds on my yellow kitchen walls.
• Bright eyes and bedhead on a toddler.
• Addison choosing PBS over the Disney Channel.
• A new dish soap dispenser - at last that huge bottle of Dawn can be hidden under the sink.
• My week and half reading the Hunger Games trilogy. Writing for teens that resonates with adults is hard to find, and these books are fabulous.
• Listening to Addison make believe - her imagination is endless and a bit hysterical.
• Completing Addison's second year scrapbook.
• Having a dishwasher that is no longer a safety hazard.
• Fresh flowers on the kitchen table.
• A Friday night with no plans.

Clean up Clean up

I said to Andy last week, as I wiped down the table, started the dishwasher, decluttered the counters and picked up yet another pair of Addie's shoes, that I often feel like a well educated maid.

He immediately frowned and said sorry - but, unlike years ago, I no longer feel like his maid. His discarded black socks and wadded up undershirt barely annoy me. The keys on the counter instead of the key hook? No big thang. Whiskers in the sink? A rare occurrence these days.

Instead, what I find disheartening, is that I've been demoted: I am now the personal maid to a three year old.

A very messy three year old. A very active three year old. A three year old who has too dang much stuff.

All day, every day I pick up. I pick up shoes, undies, dolls, doll outfits. I pick up stuffed animals, books, blankets. I pick up pieces of paper, chalk, socks. I find shriveled pieces of cheese, grapes, stale crackers and cups of sour milk - all of which I pick up.

I pick up dropped pieces of clothing, used tissues, discarded coloring books. I pick up DVDs, remote controls, tiny high heels. I pick up pairs of socks, cat toys, crayons. I pick up match box cars, pieces of fake food, toy phones.

Piles of blocks. Buckets of Tinker Toys. Mini jungle animals. Tea sets. Tiaras. Lunch dishes. Lemonade glasses. Peanut butter smeared napkins. Wands. Floofy dresses - all day, everyday - picking up.

Yesterday, I walked into Addie's room and was faced with a disaster zone. All the things I mentioned above were strewn across the carpet plus a few more pleasures, like dirty undies, multiple pairs of PJs, stick on earrings and a bath towel.
I told Addie we couldn't go anywhere until she got her room cleaned up. Knowing full well that she couldn't tackle such an enormous task, I offered to help.
Thirty-five minutes later her bed was made, closet and drawers cleaned out, and furniture dusted. Her books were shelved, stuffed animals in their baskets, and blankets piled in the corner. Her hairbows were clipped to ribbons and her purses in their cubbyhole.

Her task? To pick up her magnetic doll set and the accessories. I looked around at what I had accomplished and realized her dolls were not picked up, but were well dressed and perfectly accessorized. I was annoyed.
And then she looked up at me with those enormous eyes and said See mama? I do it. I do good job. Doesn't she look pretty?

And all could think about was the time that my mom sent me to my room to clean the mess I had made, one that I am sure was shockingly similar to Addison's. I have no idea how old I was, probably a little older than Addie. I remember not wanting to clean and knowing that if I dragged my feet long enough my mother would trudge upstairs and take over.
I was wrong.
She trudged upstairs, laid on my bed and informed that she would watch as I got my room clean. I have no idea how long she laid there, or how long I cleaned, but when I was done I was so proud.
I distinctly remember putting a record on my Winnie-the-Pooh record player, which also projected lights while the music played, and crawling in my bed, nuzzling next to Mom watching the lights bounce off the walls and saying See Mom? I did it. I did a good job.

It's quite possible by that point my mom was snoring.

Monday Morning

3:07 a.m. - An odd thudding noise downstairs. Hmmm. What was that? Did I lock all the doors? Would someone be brazen enough to break in? Hmmmm.

3:33 a.m. - Okay that was just an odd thud. No foot steps or suspicious noises. Andy hasn't stirred, time to fall back asleep. Why can't I fall asleep and stay asleep like him? So jealous.

4:00 a.m. - Okay already! I am exhausted why can't I fall back asleep? Errrgggghhhhh. Jealous, jealous, jealous.

4:46 a.m. - What the jeezeloueezus what was that? WHAT IS THAT? Out of bed, hall light on - Is that guttural sobbing Addie? Is she okay? Hmmm - not Addie. That's downstairs. Run downstairs - the cat. How in the name of all that is holy can that noise be coming out of a thirteen pound fur ball. Back patio light on, neighborhood cat runs off. Mich stops spitting, howling and hissing and starts to pitifully mew. Lock cat in the basement, stumble back upstairs, turn off hall light. Fall into bed.

5:02 a.m. - Door opens, Addie tries to crawl in bed. I walk her back to her room, she begs me to stay. I don't.

5:04 a.m. - Exhausted. Tossing and turning. Asleep.

7:00 a.m. - Alarm clock goes off.

7:28 a.m. - Up and making coffee. Exhausted. Sore. Grouchy.

7:56 a.m. - Rylan runs in the back door with cheerful "Hi Aunt Jess!" and huge white smile.

8:03 a.m. - Addie comes downstairs, climbs on my lap and says "I'm a little grouchy".

Oh, if she only knew...It's gonna be a long, long Monday.

This is the face I see most often these days. It is her response to:

Did you eat your breakfast?
Did you feed the cat?
Would you like bath?
Do you want to take a shower?
Please use your napkin.
Please use your fork.
Time to pick up.
Go use the potty, we've got to get going.
Did you wipe?
Did you flush?
Would you wash your hands, please!
Do you want to go outside?
Please stop yelling.
Please stop shrieking.
Time for bed.
Go up stairs, its quiet time.

It's also her response to:
Smile for the camera!

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am Thankful for:

Making it to my 33rd birthday - a little wiser, little more patient, a little
softer around the edges.

Having a husband who brings me roses, surprises me with thoughtful gifts and understands how much I love wine and reading.

An early morning run without humidity.

Mechanical pencils - they make the calendar look so precise and neat.

Book suggestions from friends - especially when the books are engrossing.

IKEA and my new duvet and pillows. Hello pretty bedroom, I heart you.

A weekend without plans...I cannot even recall the last time I was blessed by one.

Iced coffee in an orange to go cup with a straw.

Puppy piling in a king sized beds with three of my dearest friends.

Unexpected phone calls.

Little girls' laughter during a long overdue play date.

And a picture of Addie hula hooping.

Sometimes I wish that my eyes worked as in instant camera, capturing a moment that I could then share, instead of it just being stored in my somewhat questionable memory.

Case in point - 3:30 this morning. I woke to find Addison nestled in between Andy and I down at the foot of the bed. I woke her up and sent her down the hall to her room. She, of course, flipped on the hall light and stumbled down the hall with ManCub, her stuffed giraffe, dragging behind. It was precious - her bedhead, silky nightgown, and stumbling steps illuminated by the hall.

Two hours later I wanted that same camera device available - somehow she had snuck back in our bed and burrowed between us. When Andy pulled her under the covers, in an attempt to reclaim some room, she nuzzled into him, hugging his face and flinging her legs over me. At the same time the cat snuck in the room (where she is really is not allowed) curled up on my reading chair and started to purr.

It was one of those moments that made me laugh and think to myself (being that it was 5:30 in the morning and I knew my husband was in no mood for words):

This is it. This is our life. A tangle of feet and elbows and jockeying for sleep and the cat coolly observing it all from the corner.

Saying Goodbye to Thirty Boo Hoo

Just about this time last year I was wallowing and grouchy and DONE with everything. So I challenged myself....It's time to see how I did.

1. I will lose 10 pounds permanently. My jeans will be comfortable and I will be nicer because of it. Hmmm. This one was looking good until half way through July - and I then I went on an eating/drinking/living the good life binge. Result? I lost 2 pounds permanently. Whoops - working to get back on track. Check-in in 3 months.
2. I will learn how to cook and season fish. And then I will cook it and eat it and feel holier-than-thou. I will say that I achieved this one. I've made Cod and Halibut and Tilapia. So far no one has keeled over.
3. I will run five 5Ks and I won't complain about them over and over and over and over. Pretty much a failure - I ran one 5K. I did not complain about it. That being said, I have promised to run the Cincy Half Marathon in October. Dear lord, what was I thinking?
4. I will pick a freaking paint color for my bedroom and paint it. And I won't regret it. I will be committed to my color. Goal accomplished! My bedroom is a lovely shade of brown labeled Hot Chocolate. And I love it. Yea for me.
5. I will stick to a consistent work out routine. That should be spelt out - I will work out three times a week, even when I don't freaking feel like it. Even when it's cold outside. Even when Bravo is running a West Wing marathon. I'll give myself an 80 percent on this one. I tried. I did okay - sometimes great, sometimes so-so. I am recommitting. (See #1).
6. I will eat healthier. Translation: I will not live only off of coffee and snacks. Fast food? I love you, but I can only see you once week from now on. Wine? You are my bestest friend, but my liver hates you...we need to slow down. Again, I'll give myself about an 80 percent on this bad boy. I cleaned up my eating and snacking quite a bit. My coffee intake is slightly less and my fast food has definitely diminished. But wine...? Perhaps that was too lofty of a goal.
7. I will learn how to properly fold a fitted bed sheet - right now I basically wad them into balls and shove them in the linen closets. That's my dirty little secret and now you know it. I kept meaning to ask my mom to show me this one...but then I think we'd pour a glass of wine and forget all about it. Oops - maybe when I am home in October we'll take this goal head on.
8. I will make and keep all doctor and dentist appointments. We pay for insurance for a reason. I will even get my eyes checked (how's that for kicking it up a notch??). Mission 100 percent accomplished. I now am the proud owner glasses that make me look much smarter than I am.
9. I will mop my kitchen floor at least once a week. It will make me miserable and annoyed, and I reserve the right to bitch about it, but I will do it. Accomplished well enough. I mopped the dang thing yesterday. Okay, by mopped I mean Swiffer Wet Jetted, but I have decided that counts. BOOYAH!
10. I will read more books that don't include animal sounds and learning how to count. I love animal sounds, and counting is okay, but my brain is going mushy. Totally accomplished. I have read a LOT this year and am going to keep it up. It makes me so happy it's ridiculous.
11. I will (just to make my Mom happy) become a better flosser. Hell yeah I have, particularly in the past 6 weeks. Andy has started to keep floss in the shower and for some reason that helps. How was that for an uncomfortable peek into our private lives?
12. I will make and stick to a budget. This will be much harder done than said. I love Target, coffee shops and book stores.... Errr. Failure. Simply put: I love Target, coffee shops and book stores.
13. I will complete Addison's two year scrapbook. Errr. Failure. I sorted the pictures and bought the book. Book completely not done. Maybe this weekend....I said maybe.
14. I will start Addison's three year scrapbook. Do I really need evaluate this goal? Puh-lease.
15. I will figure out a way to stay more organized. Pointers? Tips? Ideas? I've gotten good with our calendars. I keep the house in decent shape - I'm doing okay.
16. I will get Addie and I on schedule - less TV and shopping, more classes and fun. We'll play outside. We'll go to story time. We will be well-rounded. I give myself a solid B+. And a pat on the SAHM back.
17. I will clip coupons and use them. Which means I should get a Sunday paper subscription...Oooh, now I can clip coupons and do the Sunday crossword. Bonus. Total failure. No coupons. No paper. Eh. Whatever.
18. I will go on a childless date with my husband at least once a month. We will go to the movies, to dinner, to plays, to concerts, to sporting events. We will have uninterrupted conversations. It will be glorious. Again - a solid B+. We've done some concerts, a few fancy dinners. We've run away to St. Louis, North Carolina and our neighborhood holiday party. Room for improvement, but overall satisfactory.
19. I will fold laundry and put it away. Weekly. Um, hells yes. I have been rocking this one. Even if I HATE it.
20. I will remember birthdays and send card via snail mail. I did this for a bit. A few cards were mailed...most birthdays were remembered. Seriously, that was a lofty goal anyway.
21. I will return phone calls even when I don't feel like it. And I will sit down and listen, even when I don't feel like it. This was a good goal and I feel like I've done a pretty good job with it and it has made me a better friend/neighbor/daughter/human.
22. I will eat breakfast with my daughter at least twice a week (that is a pathetic but necessary goal). Doing it - sometimes she has yogurt and toast and I have eggs and coffee. Sometimes she has a breakfast bar and I have coffee. But we sit together twice a week and eat. And most of the time it doesn't involve shouting.
23. I will cook dinner, cook not heat up or reheat, three times a week. Let's be honest three times is a lofty goal. Did I say I would cook dinner. Silly me - I totally meant Andy. And, to his credit, he's done a fabulous job. High five husband!
24. I will take a photography class. I will damn it. I WILL. Or I won't.
25. I will frame some of my photos and put them on the darn wall. Then I will stop complaining about said wall. Hmmmm. Which wall was that? I have photos on a wall. But I think those photos were there before. Hmmmm.
26. I will go out for at least one really good steak dinner and not even think about the size of the bill. Or how tight my pants will be. Check. We've had plenty of great dinners but last week we had one super fancy ass delicious dinner and my entree was steak. And my pants are tight - still. Awesome.
27. I will keep my yard looking good - mulching, mowing, weeding, pruning, planting. I will do it all and I will pretend to enjoy it. And eventually I will enjoy it and it will be pretty. Dude - I pulled weeds today. I rock. I think I am doing pretty fabulous on this one. I've planted and transplanted and trimmed and shaped. My neighbors may not agree, but I think I am doing a-okay.
28. I will go someplace I've never been - Memphis? Nashville? Oregon? Delaware? And I will not go there for a wedding or shower or an obligation. I will go there for fun and because I want to. Oy vey. So sad. We just brainstormed and the only thing we can come up with is Bowling Green, OH. SO SAD. Andy tried to argue that the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC counted as it's own city....Time to start planning for next year I guess.
29. I will plan and participate in a girls weekend - sans kiddo, sans husband, full of laughter. And martinis. Lots of martinis. MISSION TOTALLY ACCOMPLISHED.

And then there are the goals you suggested:

Nikki: Send my sister-in-law care packages. Um no. But I will take credit for ones that you received.

Barbara: Come home to Massachusetts more often. Errrrr. That didn't happen either. BUT I will be there in two months.

TKW: I will not be so hard on myself all the time. I've loosened up. I am getting better about it. But I still have some ridiculous expectations. Oh well.

CK: To reserve the right to not feel guilty when Addison gets a day full of TV, bad food and none of my attention. Days like that happen. Yes. Yes, those days do happen and I have pretty much no guilt about it. Thanks for the suggestion CK...goal accomplished.

Michelle & Christie: Achieve at least half the goals on this list. By my count, on the list of 29 I accomplished 17. HOLY SH*TBALLS - 17. That's pretty good...And this year I don't feel like crying or disappearing or hiding under the covers.

I feel thankful for my family. For my friends (yeah, even you). For my husband, the cooking machine (seriously we would starve if it wasn't for him). For my darling, exasperating, rambuncious, silly little girl.

For her hugs and kisses. For (I can't believe I'm going to say this) her questions. For her spirit and curiosity and kindness. For what she brings to each day, even when the days are hectic and frustrating and exhausting.

Now, what to work on this year??

Thankful Thursdays

This Thursday I am thankful for:

• Friendship - both old and new. I spent a weekend gallivanting with some of my very best girlfriends and I spent last night have a delicious dinner with our neighbors.
• Fancy dinners on a Wednesday night thanks to Cincinnati Restaurant Week. We dined on some amazing food at Orchids - I am still full.
• Thunderstorms. One whipped through here yesterday afternoon that was incredible and strong and I think it made our grass smile.
• The amazing relationship my daughter has with her Daddy.
• Not burning the house down when I forgot I was boiling eggs on the stove. Whoops.
• Fresh egg salad with green onions and celery on lightly toasted wheat.
• A husband who loves to grill and suggested bacon wrapped filet mignon for dinner tonight.
• One o'clock phone calls from my mother 'just to check in'.
• An eight year old cat who has amazing tolerance for a three year old girl.
• The promise of another entertaining weekend in yet another city.
• Getting a 30 percent off coupon to Kohl's.
• The prospect of pepperoni and cheese and adult beverages on the patio with my husband.

Perspective

Today has just been one of those trying days.
I know I have no right to complain - I just had a weekend away with girlfriends and laughter - I had a break from motherhood, which very few mothers get to have.
And it's true, when I returned I was in awe. She seemed older and wiser and worldlier. She seemed to have grown a year in four days. I was smothered in cuddles and kisses and love.

And then she cut her hair.
And hit me.
And threw her fork across the kitchen.
She got up in the middle of the night to sneak into our bed and stomped her foot when she was sent back to her room.
She pouted and spit and shrieked.
She threw mini-tantrums and a tiara at the cat.

And she clutched my hand as we crossed the street.
And started the dishwasher.
And helped spread peanut butter across her toast.
She explored the Children's Museum with wild abandon and endless curiosity.
She thanked Andy and I for dinner and said we were the best cooks.
She fed the cat without having to be reminded.

**********************************************************************************************************************
At the start of the summer she planted sunflower seeds with Gramma Kathy and needed me to help her feed the birds.
That flower is now taller than her and she takes care of the birds all on her own.

Older and wiser and worldlier - three.

Summer in the Chi - for a minute

Is it kosher to blog about a bachelorette party? Probably not, but I'll still give you a bit of insight to the weekend, because, really, I am not know for my properness.

• I made record time getting to Chicago and successfully caught a Thursday night softball game. We then headed to Four Shadows (which used to be Lee's- we always swore we'd never step foot in the "new Lee's" - that lasted about two months) to hang with some of the gang and munch on a little bit of everything. The night ended with wine at Karen's and plotting for Friday.


• Friday. Friday was one of those almost perfect summer Friday's in Chicago. A Cubs game - yes they lost (and to the freaking Reds of all teams) but the weather was perfect, our seats were fabulous and the beer was cold. Cubs turned into Bin 36 (holy cheese and wine batwomen!). Bin 36 turned into the Signature Room (an Old Fashioned that sadly was icky) which turned into finding Phelan. Finding Phelan turned into going home after two drinks and leaving Michelle with Phelan unsupervised, which, of course, resulted in Michelle being broken all day Saturday. Phelan breaks everyone.
  

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• Saturday was all about girl time. Girly girly girliness. First thing in the morning Karen and I went on a champagne/tums/tiara run. We feasted on fresh New York bagels and iced coffee and got ready to be slightly pampered. Off we headed to Vie's for nails (and insanely personal massage chairs) with pink champagne served in shamrock flutes. Our lovely pampering was followed by a quick lunch at O'Donovan's, a mini nap and getting prettified for the main festivities.
  
  
  
• And the main festivities? Those were fabulous too. An amazing amount of eating was done at Quartino - there were at least four types of risotto, five varieties of cheese, a delicious duck procuitto pizza and a gallon or six of sangria. Christie was given sweet shower gifts (the best illustration prize going to Karen), watched a silly video of Michael, and wore a homemade hat of bows. We headed up to Bye Bye Liver for a raunchy, hysterical stand up comedy about drinking and dating and ridiculousness. We had planned on doing a fancy pub crawl, sipping fancy drinks - I don't know who we were kidding. We beelined our behinds to the G&L, one of our favorite old haunts and parked our butts on stools and laughed and drank and told stories. Jello-shots and late night pizza rounded it all out....and I think it was just what we needed, and hopefully what the bride needed.

• Sunday equalled brunch, which led to mimosas, which lead to mojitos. All of which lead to sitting on the couch with some of my best friends being ridiculously thankful for my weekend away. So, thank you, Michael, for asking her to marry you - it gave me an excuse to party in one my favorite cities with some of my all time favorite people.

• Monday found me in the car heading south by 7:30 a.m. - Karen headed to work, Christie frolicked for a few more hours in the Chi, and Matt was thankful to have his couch back. And by 1:15 p.m. I was getting one of the best hugs I've ever had from my most favorite three year old.

Thankful Thursdays

This Thursday I am thankful for:

• Air conditioning - it is steamy here in Cincinnati and even though my husband swears he is freezing to death in our house it feels fabulous to me.
• Mood swings - kind of. Addie has had a few bad days, but yesterday she was amazing. Helpful, affectionate, sweet, kind. Just the mood I crave from her every day.
• My new sewing machine and therefore my newly hung kitchen curtain.
• Finalized travel plans for friends' weddings and having wonderful friends who are marrying their perfect matches.
• My decision to ignore my low carb diet and pig out on shrimp and basil risotto.
• The prospect of 3.5 days of big city fun with fabulous girl friends.
• Having survived, more or less, two outdoor workouts in this weather.
• Finding a tiny bit of perspective, even if the search took a while.

Somehow while my mom and Aunt were in town I managed to only take three pictures.

None of which they were in. They did my yard work, but weren't good enough for my camera.

I neglected to take pictures at our tea party at Mrs. TeaPots. I neglected to take pictures of Addison tearing through the gifts they lavished her with (yes, SillyBands have entered our lives). I didn't get one shot of her holding their hands as we walked the Levee, or sitting on a lap for story time. I didn't get a picture of her helping with yard work or walking with them as we walked our neighbor's dog.

I pretty much captured no moments, sweet or otherwise.

But I got these:

We were riding the Duckboat Tours - behind Addie you can see my Aunt's foot, proof that she visited. Yes, we armed her with a quacker. Hers broke by Friday - Monday morning she found Gramma's in the car. She was a elated, I was despondent - that thing is LOUD and OBNOXIOUS, which is funny because that can also describe Addison's mood most days.

So while I have no photographic proof of Gramma Kathy and Aunt Ruthie's visit, it did occur. We ate Skyline, Duckboated and teaparited. We sipped wine, enjoyed gin and tonics on the patio and dug into various dips. Yard work was done (six lawn and leaf bags worth) and laughter filled the house.

It was an excruciatingly brief visit, but a wonderful one.

And as we were driving home from exercise yesterday Addie said Mama? I miss my Gramma Kathy. I miss her and I love her.

Me too, kiddo.