End of the year pollinating.

So, when the bugs and flowers hibernate for the winter...
What will I take pictures of?!

Virtual Coffee

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Corrine over at Trains, Tutus and Tea Time (whom I love, by the way), posted that she's partaking in Virtual Coffee which her friend Amy has decided to start to turn into a weekly link up every Tuesday. You know how I feel about coffee and chit-chat...so I've decided to participate. :)

If we were meeting for coffee, I would invite you to my house and insist that we sit outside. It is absolutely gorgeous here today! 62 degrees right this minute with a high of 82! Plus, I have patio furniture now, so I'd want to utilize it.

I would tell you how I went to book club last night and how much I adore my book club. How I laughed until I cried and begged them to stop because my cheeks hurt. How the book we read (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) lead to a great discussion and even a few off topic discussions that were fantastic too.

I would tell you how much I look forward to Tuesday nights. Not only is a chance for me to actually use my brain (what is left of it...) but I get to just be me. Not a mommy, not a wife, not a daughter or sister...just me. Sometimes the "just me" gets lost in that crowd of other titles. Book club helps me find her again.

After I went to refill your cup with my finest coffee and new favorite--Starbucks' Guatemala Antigua--I'd tell you about how I am impatiently waiting for our picture order to come in from the fabulous Amanda E Photography. She took our family pictures while we were in Illinois. This is one of the ones I ordered:

Which would lead me to letting you know that I've signed Elisabeth up for Girl Scouts. Her good friend's mom is the leader and Elisabeth is soooo excited. She now has Girl Scouts every other Monday and then dance class every Thursday. I've decided that 2 activities during the school year is more than enough. Besides, once Julia's older and in school, that's 4 things total that I'll be hauling them around too. That's a lot.

After offering you some banana bread I recently made (and then showing you the bottom drawer of my freezer where I have at least enough frozen bananas to make 4 or 5 more loaves, which will make you wonder about my frozen banana problem), I'd tell you that Julia's getting her two year molars in. Which would explain her terrible sleeping patterns recently.
I'd also mention that Julia is hilariously funny. She's playing more, which is something I've wished for, prayed for, yearned for for quite a while now. I'd point to her frolicking around the house with her purple baby and her grocery cart that she pushes the baby in. And, even though she never immediately talks to people who come to visit us right away, I'm sure you'd have noticed that she wasn't stuck to my lap like she normally is when visitors are here.

When we'd drank at least 2 cups of coffee (though I'd offer to make more), we'd start saying our good-byes. I'd remember to ask what book you're reading to see if I needed to add it to my ever growing "to-read" list. We'd make a date to do this again next Tuesday. Julia'd finally decide to talk to you, but only because you were leaving and she's contrary like that. I'd smile and wave before shutting my door so my stupid cat, Roosevelt, wouldn't try running away (which he's already done twice this week). I'd smile to myself because I do so love sharing coffee and chit chat with a good friend.

Happy

I love the mountains. I am amazed daily at how they never look the same. How one day the clouds completely cover them, the next it's just them and a perfectly crisp, blue sky. The girls are so used to me squealing, "OOH! Look at the mountains today!!!" that sometimes they beat me to it and are squealing for me to look.
I love being here. I've made some forever friends here. I've made a home here. I have a routine that, even when I'm bored with it and myself, I know it's mine. And even though it took me a year, I've made my peace with being a stay at home mom. I've squelched the demons telling me that without a job I'm without an identity. I've battled the thoughts that creep up telling me that I'm not contributing to our family. I've realized that being the at-home support system is contributing. We don't have to worry about whose turn it is to stay home with the sick kid. We don't have to worry about where the kids will go on days off of school when we both still have to work. We don't have to bicker about who's going to make dinner. It's me. And, yes, I do have more time to read and see friends throughout the day and stroll leisurely at the store if I so wish, but I also put in my time as the bread winner and the one with the crazy long hours. (Hm...apparently, I may have to re-battle those demons. I sound quite defensive.)
I guess what I'm saying is...I'm happy. Happy with our decision to join the Air Force. Happy with our first station. Happy with our girls. Happy with our home. Happy with the knowledge that we won't be here forever, but loving it while we are here.
It's still an adventure. It's still all so new. Where will we be stationed next? When will we move? Will I love it as much as I'm in love with Colorado? Who knows. But I'm going to soak it all in while I can and make sure that I don't leave this place regretting that I didn't take advantage of our life here.

The Laminated List. (a FRIENDS flashback)

I used to have this poster on my bedroom wall when I was in junior high.

I became a FRIENDS fanatic when I watched the pilot episode. I was in 8th grade. I laughed that first season till I cried. I was hooked. Thursdays were sacred. I still have a FRIENDS coffee mug. (I used it just the other day.) It's the only tv show that I have the entire series on DVD and I completely and utterly love that show. Still.

So...does anyone remember the episode with the "laminated list"? Season 3, Episode 5?

Anyone? Anyone?

Well, you see, they were all sitting at the coffee shop (duh!) and they're talking about which 5 celebrities they would get to sleep with, no arguments from their significant other. Of course, Ross takes it to a whole new level and has his list laminated. No going back.

You really should see the episode. Mainly because, it's one of those things that has leaked into our every day. In fact, it's been a topic of conversation that I've overheard quite a bit lately. Which of course got me thinking...

Who'd be the 5 on my laminated list? It's a question that needs an answer. It's a question that needs countless hours spent in research and contemplation. For crying out loud, it's a laminated list!!!!!

But, here's the deal. I can only think of 3. Sure, there are lots of celebrities out there that I adore. But this list is to be laminated. There's no messing up, you know. I'll tell you who I have:

3. Ewan McGregor.

He isn't doing it here, but it's his smile. And the fact he can sing in perfect pitch. And he's hilarious.

2. Jon Hamm

Don Draper from Mad Men. Really? Do I have to say more?

1. Daniel Craig

I didn't even know he existed until he was picked for the new James Bond. Then I went and saw it with Evan in the theaters. And then I told Evan right then and there that if Daniel Craig were to meet me on the street and tell me to run away with him, I would have absolutely no choice. None. It would be beyond my powers to stop myself.

Evan just shrugged. He is used to my crazy by now.

So, I must know...who's on your laminated list?!?!

Craft Lager Festival

Last weekend, Evan and I went to Manitou Springs, CO for their Craft Lager Festival. My friend, Rachel, had gone for the past few years and said we would love it. (That is one of the things I love about living here, is that there are so many things to do and we have friends who live here who know about them and make sure we attend.) I'd never attended a beer festival before. We paid for our ticket, which bought our small glass that we could take to all the breweries booths and they would give us samples of their beer. With over 20 different vendors, well...you could totally get your money's worth in beer sampling.

There were quite a few breweries there and since it was overcast, the crowd wasn't big at all. I'm not a big beer drinker. I much prefer wine. But, Evan does enjoy beer and likes to try new brewers. So, I was the designated driver for the day. :)

My lovely friend, Melinda, made these pretzel necklaces. There were a genius idea and we had a lot of people asking where we'd bought them and offering to pay Melinda for a couple she had left.

Do you love the umbrella I'm wearing in my pocket? Well, I got it at Old Navy a couple of years ago, and it was supposed to rain. It never did, but I totally wore the umbrella all day long.
This house is one I would like to own. Not only was it 4 floors, on the side of the mountain and a lovely green, but it had 2 decks. 2 decks!!!
If you look behind Rachel and me, you'll see that there really was a storm thinking of dumping it's rain on us. It never did, but it was thinking about it.
One side of the festival. They had live music and food as well.


I like Evan. He is silly.

Book club girls!!!
We had such a good time! The weather was perfect and it was fun to try new beers. My favorite was a Mexican beer from Ska Brewing Co. in Durango, CO. Unfortunately, others also enjoyed this beer as well and when I went back later in the day to have another glass, they were all out of their Mexican beer. I was most sad. But, I just found on their website that I can buy it here in Colorado Springs and in Illinois! They sell it in Peoria!!! Whoohoo!

Interacting

I love the library. If you belong to me, then you also love the library. I'd say that we go the library at least twice a week. Usually it's because I have books on hold that have finally come in and I'm excited to read them, so I drag the girls with me to fetch them. But, usually we are at the library because we have a day full of nothing and we can spend endless hours at the library.

Julia really likes the computer at the library. She will make a beeline for it (after stopping at the gingerbread Sesame Street display and saying "Hi!" to Elmo and Big Bird) and then loudly tell me that it is hers and ask me in her Julia-language to make the kids that are using it to get off. That's when we practice "taking turns" and "don't embarrass Mommy in public".

I'm trying to take advantage of the activities offered to toddlers this school year. Julia is a million sads that she is not going to school with Elisabeth. I have signed her up for Tumble Tots at the YMCA (which, of course, I shall tell you all about once the class starts) but it's only on Fridays. So, we're going to schedule in the Toddler Time at the library to also fill in the week.
I have realized that Julia LOVES to sing and dance and do finger rhymes. Elisabeth showed interest at such a young age, that I just assumed it wasn't Julia's thing when she wasn't singing solos at a year old or memorizing entire albums by 18 months (Elisabeth knew The Dixie Chicks' FLY album and most of the Chicago soundtrack). But, at the age appropriate time, Julia has really blossomed in the singing and dancing areas. It's fun to hear her sing Wheels on the Bus or Itsy Bitsy Spider to herself while she's playing. So, Toddler Time has been fun for her.

And, it's a great way for her to interact without me. You see, Julia is shy. Painfully shy.

For example, we went to the doctor today (I thought the girls might have had chicken pox or some other pox-y illness. Nope. Julia had bug bites and Ebeth's was just a part of having some sort of virus.) When Julia visits the doctor's office, she usually is most excited...until a medical staff member walks in. Then she becomes silent and stands right next to me. When it's time for them to invade her personal space, she doesn't cry, but does want me to hold her hand. All of this is totally normal, and I get that.

But, then, Julia plays possum.

I'm not kidding. She stares into space and refuses to make eye contact, talk, move, anything. It's like trying to get the temperature from a doll. A large, immobile doll. She won't even look at me. It's like she goes to her happy spot somewhere deep in her own mind and she's waiting for outside interference to go away. As soon as they are done trying to talk to her or get her vitals, she will look at me and only me and say in an almost silent whisper, "I go home now?". It's kind of funny, but I know that shyness can get in the way of other things.

It's amusing that we have this issue, because with Elisabeth, we had to teach her to stop talking to others and giving them her complete identity and trying to go home with them. With Julia, it's the complete opposite.

So, we're branching out. We're going places and learning how to interact with others. We're signing up for classes and trying to respond when others ask us questions or initiate conversations with us. It should be an interesting experience.

I am just not a summer person.

I am longing for fall. I am longing for it with everything I have.

Yes, I know. It's not like Colorado is super hot with terrible humidity. We are super lucky in that aspect. I'm not complaining about summer here. We've had a great summer weather wise. But, I'm just not a summer person. I enjoy all the free time and the laziness of summer days, but it's just not my favorite season. Even with Colorado's perfect summer weather, I still view summer as the lesser of seasons.

But, fall? Ooh, I love fall. Not only is it my birthday season, but I love everything about it. I love the cooler weather. I like wearing sweaters. I like pumpkins and apple pickin' time and leaves changing colors. I like soups, stews and chili. I like apple cider. I like warm oranges and reds and dark purples that make up the colors of my fall wardrobe. I like my fall decorations that I put up in the house.

I'm impatient.

Elisabeth loves school. She also loves choosing her clothes for school. She's getting really good and coordinating her clothing.

She also is never home. I'm not kidding. She leaves for school at 8:00, comes home around 3:45, eats a snack, does her homework and is out the door to play with her friends 5 houses down until supper time. Sometimes, I have to ask her to hang out so we remember what she looks like.
Honestly, Elisabeth would spend 2 weeks at someone else's house without batting an eye. She is just so social. She had her first sleepover when she was barely 4 years old at her friend Avery's house. She waved at us as she bounded up to the their door. We had to call her back to get a kiss good-bye. When we lived in DeKalb, she's spend a whole week in Pekin all by herself. She is just so independent. And while I love that part about her, I also like to feel as if, you know, she actually does miss us. Her family. Every now and then, I hear from the people she is trying to move in with, that she misses us or asks for us. I think they are just just trying to humor me. She's going to move out when she's 18 and I'm going to have to be that pesky mom who calls to say, "Hey! You haven't called me in days! Are you alive?"

Julia has a tricycle now. She is most excited.

Here are some pictures of the girls at the airport waiting for Evan last week.

Why does Elisabeth look so old here?

I love watching this girl run.