should we stay or should we go

Things seem to be coming together with our liquidation of assets.  Which is exhilarating and frightening at the same time.  Now comes decision time.  What do we want to do with the rest of our lives?  Do we stay here?  Move back home?  Is this home now?  Will I miss it terribly if I leave?  

At this moment I am sitting on our porch and it is a lovely temperature.  A really strong breeze blows in from time to time but it's a warm breeze.  At this moment I can't imagine being anywhere else.  

I'm afraid my parents are not having an easy time embracing the idea that we may vacate Florida.  And it would be very difficult to not have them close by.  But we really need to decide what is best for the three of us in the long run.  And maybe there is no best.  When I used to look back on our decision to move to Florida I always thought it was a mistake.  I spent my first two years feeling homesick and out of place.  Now, I'm not so sure.  It's been really nice for Leslie to grow up so close to my parents.  And Florida has taken me out of my safety zone so I guess that has forced me to grow.  

Still, if I imagine myself as a little old lady, it is never here in Florida.  I'm in Michigan.  In a little house with a garden.  And a porch.  And I'm happy.  

my weekend eight

*the farmer's market (for olive oil soaps that smell other-worldly and the best pasties i've had since bret's finnish grandma passed away)

*a long nap that totally changed my perspective and helped me escape this pregnancy-like tired i've been feeling of late

*my crazy girl who finally finally finally talked us into RED hair (& she looks so cute, by the way)

*finishing lesson plans and newsletters and prep for school & feeling pretty good about where all the kids are for the end of the year

*two new outfits from j jill and j crew last night (and they made the list because, while they might not make me look skinny, they do not make me look fat)

*some good dvd's from the 50% off sale at borders that we'll all watch as a family tonight (which leads into . . .)

*having leslie at the age where i can share some of my favorite old movies with her

*anticipating an evening beach walk

she's driving!!!

Such a funny thing to watch your little person become a big person before your eyes.  It sneaks up on you.  Mostly, you don't even realize it's happening.  Until they pass over some threshold.  Tonight my girl had her very first driving lesson.  Except for a few very abrupt stops it was pretty smooth.  And pretty awesome.  A glance into what the future holds.  Oh and is she so ready to run right into that future - full speed ahead. 

Leslie-isms

Just thinking about all of the cute things that Leslie used to say:

I'm gonna love you up!

soft room (living room, because it was carpeted)

last day (for yesterday)

hippty-ho padia!  (no idea what this meant)

digga digga digga (when she was mad)

momma comin' (expressed in a somewhat worried tone - wondering when I would return)

what, what are you, what? (when Bret would pretend to be a monster, animal, etc.)

She started a new blog last night.  I am always amazed at the cool things that she comes up with. Very proud of my girl.

my never ending quest to be the biggest dork

Okay, so . . . I just received 2 new dvd's in the mail this weekend:  Tracey Anderson's dance cardio workout and a drum circle dvd.  I am determined to master both although if you happen to be peeking in my window while I engage in either activity it is highly likely that you will laugh your head off.  Tracey Anderson promises that if I do her routine 4 to 6 times a week I will have the cutest, smallest arms ever.  I really, really, really want those cute little arms.  Really.  The only problem with this is that I am really, really, really bad at following any sort of dance, aerobic, exercise routine.  So, wish me luck.  Now the drum circle.  I love this hippie kind of stuff.  This is going to be my new relaxing soothing feel good thing.  And the cool thing is:  I'm not the only one that looks like a dork.  Every single person in this dvd looks like a dork, too.  Yeah!!!  

a little shout out to my little brother :) & why i blog

My brother read my blog & sent me a sweet e-mail.  This blog is always bringing me nice little surprises.

Leslie and I were having a talk about why we (and others) blog.  We decided that maybe it's because everyone is looking for a little validation.  " I'm not alone in this.  There are others like me out there."  I don't know.  For some reason it seems easier to put yourself out there in this cyber world.  And I much prefer the blogging thing to Face Book.  I don't get that whole writing on the wall thing.  Or the posting what you're doing thing on Twitter. 

Last, but not least, I am totally loving Gwynth Paltrow's blog, Goop.  If you haven't been to it, go!

happy list

happy list for saturday, april 18:

happy that i didn't ditch my sweet little blog when i had the urge last week

happy that today i don't have any plans at all

happy that i am learning how to use my new mac and loving how easy it is to make documents for work

happy that i am listening to okkervil river right now

happy that the laundry is pretty much done so i don't have to deal with that today

happy that it is sunny and breezy and my window is open!

just happy