Wednesday, October 27, 2010

He's 11 now.


He picked his favorite breakfast casserole, with bacon AND sausage, to have for breakfast that morning.  He said he wanted to sleep in since it was his birthday (and he is my son!), but instead he was awake at 6am because he was too excited to keep sleeping.  He got the two books he wanted, the video game he dropped 135 hints about wanting.  As a joke, we bought him a bathrobe, because he's actually been wanting one for a long time, but never really wants to put it on any list.  So I finally just got it for him.  He thought it was funny, and proceeded to wear it the rest of the morning, and later that night.  To his great shock and amazement, we gave him a cell phone.  An actual working cell phone, part of our family package.  He wasn't expecting it, wouldn't have even dreamed of wishing for it.  But without a home line, we actually kind of needed him to have it.



And somehow he's the same as he's always been, but also changing into who he's going to ultimately be.

He's smart, and good and kind.  He reads like crazy.  But can spend just as much time conquering a video game.  He loves being home.  Hates going shopping.  He like playing basketball, but probably won't be our next generation runner.

Quite simply, I don't know what I would do without him.

On the agenda:
  • The morning party

  • After school cake and ice cream


  •  Followed up with family fun at Frankie's in Raleigh where we played a family game of laser tag, and other various activities.


 The human spider web, which was the unexpected favorite activity of the night!

  • Followed up with dinner at Chili's, per his request, where he was sufficiently embarrassed by the waitressing staff singing to him! 


And now he's 11.  Another year comes and goes.  Another year passing by faster than the one before.  Forcing me to realize that these kids are only kids for a blink of an eye.  I hope we made his day special.  I hope he knows how special he is to all of us. I hope he knows that I think the world of him, and I'm so proud of the way he's growing up.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

I got older.

I turned 33 a week ago.  And here's the full birthday recap...



After 12+ years of marriage, I am by definition an Earnest, which means my birthday was first celebrated at about 7am.  I'm getting used to such early morning festivities, and I guess I wouldn't have it any other way.  Darin helped everyone give me lovely little gifts.  He's talented like that.  I think his favorite gift to me was my new UNC track jacket.  He's sort of old school, and digs it when his girlfriend wears his college sweatshirt.  It's a fancy track jacket so I'm proud to wear it. 


Later that day, my mom flew into town.  She had been in Virginia visiting my brother, but being so close she decided to spend the day with me for my birthday.  Her very presence elevated the day from being ordinary to being special.  She treated us to lunch at 411 West on Franklin Street, a place we'd been anxious to try.  Then she came with me to browse through my favorite little shop at the University Mall.  Sadly this is the only picture of us, as we were trying out these vintage French side chairs.  They were darling. 

When the kids got home from school, we had to have my "cake" which Darin had driven up to Raleigh the day before to pick out for me.  I think I've mentioned my quest to find the best cupcakes in North Carolina?  If I haven't, I have now.  I'm trying to find the best cupcakes in NC.  These dozen were tasty and probably beat out Sugarlands.  But oh boy was I sick by the end of my sampling!


Later that night, my mom took the kids out to dinner, etc. and excused Darin and I to go out for a night on the town. 

The next morning Darin excused me to drive back up to Virginia with my mom for a fun family weekend gathering honoring my newest niece Mi Na's baby blessing (I know I've mentioned my love of Mi Na before!).   

awesome that my eyes are closed!

The weekend was full of laughs, as would be expected.  And maybe a few tears when a bit of wedding planning stress was thrown in the mix.  But nothing that a few dumplings and chocolate cake couldn't make better.  On Saturday night I shared a bunk bed with my brother Zack.  And on Sunday night I shared a queen bed with my little sister Rachel.  I found my sleeping arrangements to be one of the most entertaining parts of the trip.  So great to see everyone, and lovely to have a little break from being called "mom". 

The saddest thing I got for my birthday??? A stress fracture in my right foot, with a projected 4-6 week recovery period!  You heard me right, I'm off my foot, in terms of running, for the next 4-6 weeks.  You'll understand me when I say I did not take the news lightly.  I was on track for my come-back marathon in December.  I guess the come-back marathon might be in early spring.  Darn it!  Darn it to heck!!!

To wrap up a splendid birthday week, Mi Na and family came to our house the next weekend (as in they left today).  

 
Especially cute photo because Jane wore this outfit when she was about Mi Na's age!  To say Mi Na is loved at our house, is about the biggest understandment of this blog post.  She's a celebrity here.  I didn't get to hold her nearly enough because Steve and Ie Li came to let me and Darin go off to a beach front hotel on Pleasure Island, NC.  





To say that I am lucky is the second biggest understatement on this blog tonight, stress fracture and all.  What I discovered during my birthday this year, is that I am still wildly in love with Darin.  Not in the same way that I was when I was 20.  Because I'm not that girl anymore.  But in a new marinated-by-life sort of way that is richer and deeper.  Looking forward to another spectacular year of life, new gray hairs,  squinty eye wrinkles and all!  Bring it on. 

Sunday, October 03, 2010

A Sunday Walk

Our neighborhood is built around about 110 acres of forest.  It rained nearly non-stop last week.  That's okay because we really needed it.  Before it rained, it had been 90 degrees for about a month.  Now, everything is cooled off and perfect.  Darin found a trail really close to our house on his Friday run. 


I needed to find some acorns for a craft project I have in mind, so we recruited the off-spring for a Sunday afternoon walk through the woods.


 In the end, I think George took finding the most acorns seriously.  At one point he seriously worried I was going to cause a squirrel famine by trying to collect all the acorns out of the woods. 



I'm pretty sure Henry collected the fewest acrons, not caring the least bit about my idea for a new craft project.




And when we got home, I made spaghetti for dinner.  But Henry and George hate spaghetti.  So I made them spaghetti tacos.  If you have kids who watch iCarly, then you pretty much know that that made me the coolest mom in the world, for about five minutes!  Until they realized that spaghetti tacos don't really make spaghetti taste any better.  But it's fun to try new things, right?! 


If you're in the mood for some of my recent Craig's List "before" and "after" shots, you'll want to head on over to Made on Maple where I'm talking all about that.