A New Addition

Last Thursday, I went to the Granite District teacher lab to get a few things done. I was the only teacher in there so it was hard not to overhear the woman at the front counter talking to the lady in the back warehouse area.  A kitten had somehow gotten into the warehouse on Friday unnoticed and when they returned on Monday, she was discovered.  They trapped her in a cage and waited for animal control to come and get her.  It was now Thursday morning and animal control still hadn't come so they were "going to put it back outside and let it fend for itself." (Mind you "outside" is the corner of State Street and a freeway off-ramp.) Then they brought the kitten out in this tiny little cage.  My heart broke.  I took her home with me.   I am pleased to introduce you to the newest addition to the Chamberlain family:

PRINCESS LOLA BUTTERCUP (DARLING)

Rocking Out!

There was a time that I would have considered myself a rock climber.  (Not a professional in any way, but I did scale a 5.10 and learn to lead climb in beautiful Smith Rocks, Oregon.)  That time has long passed, however that little twinge of climbing desire has never totally burned out. 
This week, my good friend Malia and her sister Heather invited us out for a climb.  I was embarrassed to admit that I don't have any of my old gear and even more embarrassed to add up the years are realize that it's been over 12 years since I climbed.  Fortunately Malia had enough gear to outfit us all and her patience was also abundant as she started teaching (and re-teaching) us the basics.  
We found a nice 5.4 up in the Storm Mountain area in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Naiya took to it immediately needing just a little guidance as to where to move next.  She climbed a good 20 feet twice.   Eva was loved it for all of 3 feet which she did 3 times.  Each time she got to the same spot, she would announce that she was finished so I should hurry and take a picture.  :)
Here are a couple shots from the day:

Naiya's my little spider monkey.

 Here's Eva gearing up.

It took Naiya a minute to trust us to lower her down, but once she got it, she was ready to go again.

 And here is about where Eva would complete her climb.

Now here's to hoping it's not another 13 years before I get out on the rocks again. 

"That" Mom

Our spring break was a couple of weeks ago.  It was glorious.  I got to be "that" mom.  We snuggled in bed and took turns reading to each other EVERY morning.  We juiced healthy vegetable/fruit juices for breakfast each day.  We baked muffins.  We had complete, healthy balanced dinners.  We went to 5 different parks over the course of the week.  We visited family and friends.  We went on walks.  We had read-a-thons. The girls were bathed each and every night.  I caught up on bills.  I went running TWICE... in the same week!  It was SOOOO hard to go back to work on the Monday after Easter.  SOOOO hard.  Next Thursday is our last day of teaching.  Friday is the final teacher work day.  I can't wait. 

Some of my favorite words....

When I was growing up, I often pondered what kind of names I would like for my kids (especially my girls).  On the top of the list were Patience, Grace, and Faith.  Although I didn't end up using any of those names, I still LOVE those words.  I love how they sound.  I love what they mean.  I have been thinking a lot about them lately.  I think I could be a better example of them. 
Life is crazy.... for everyone.  Just when you think you're caught up, something will come up.  If you think you can't handle one more thing, you'll find that you're going to have to.  You don't get to choose what happens to you.  You only get to choose the way that you handle those things. 
I've come to peace with the realization that I can't do it all. I'm working hard on not comparing myself to women who seem to be able to.  I know dinner won't be homemade every night.  I know that the girls will get sick several times each winter.  I know that the laundry will NEVER be completely done.  I know that my house will probably never again be spotless... at least not all at the same time. I know that I will probably be late... to everything.   As much as I try not to let them, these things do bother me... a little. 
Yet, I realize that these aren't the things that I hope my girls will think about when they think about their mother.  I hope that they think more about the way I did things than what I did/didn't do.  I have always hoped that one day my girls will be able to think of their mother as one that displayed patience, grace and faith.  I know I have some work to do as I reach toward that goal.... but I have faith that I can get there.

Every Time

Remember that song by New Order "Bizarre Love Triangle?"



My version goes something like this:
"Every time I have a weekend, some one's sick and it gets screwed. The flu, a cold, a sick old cat, ear infections and sinus too."
I'm not sure how that works into the tune, but I'm thinking chorus because that's the part of the song that keeps REPEATING!!!!

Just this last weekend, we had a 4-day weekend. I had been nursing a probable and then most certain sinus infection. Naiya has been on her 2nd dose of antibiotics for an incurable ear infection, and Eva has had a nagging cough/cold for weeks. Naiya's antibiotics caused a secondary yeast infection (awesome), and Eva's cold turned into a sinus infection with a seriously crazy drainage cough that causes her to puke(awesomer). I feel like we can't win. I can't remember a sick-free weekend.

Every week I look forward to the fun we will have over the weekend and every weekend it gets squashed. All I can say is, "I CAN'T WAIT FOR SPRING!!!" Till then, I'll try to stay positive.... uh.... hmm..... at least I didn't have to miss any work?
I guess that will have to do on the positive front for now. I'll keep working on it.

*Updated* WAIT!  I got it... The positive is that it got me to look up this song and remember some really fun sick-free times from my youth. :)  Ahh... memories.  I'll cling to that.

Love Notes- Part II

Sometimes the love notes that the girls write are lists of the people that they love. 
"I love Mommy" - Mommy is always first ;)
"I love Daddy"
"I love Eva"
"I love Naiya"
" I love Neema and Pa".....

You get the idea.  Today, Naiya was writing just such a note, but apparently she didn't want to go to the trouble of listing everyone individually.  She wanted to write "I love all of us."  This is what she really wrote:
"I love all of ass."

I can't stop laughing. 

Love Notes

The girls favorite past time lately is doodling in their notebooks.  They draw.  They write stuff.  Usually they ask me to spell a word or two.  They both really are getting very good at reading and writing.  It's fun to watch. 
I usually end up getting at least a few several "love notes" each day.  Sometimes they just say "I love you."  Sometimes they are a picture and and "I love you." Today I got one from Eva.  It said this:  "To: Mom    I love her because I love her.  From: Eva."    And she does.  I have no doubts about that.  :)