Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Oldies but Goldies

We’re looking to purge/delete/wipe-out/kill-daid Vista Operating System and replace with Windows 7.0….So (why do you care about this….?)….I’m in the process of archiving pictures and came across a few oldies but goldies….and boy are these ever goldies.

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Good stuff, huh….?

Hugs,

Cindy

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

“They Make My Knees Go Wobbly”

I’d be just fine if my little four year old twins could just stay four years old for another four years. Anybody know any tricks here to get them to not grow-up? Sigh..... I can’t say they are toddlers….haven’t been able to for ages now…..and they aren’t. They look and act like cute little girls. They are articulate. They tell long drawn-out stories and draw pictures to go along with their stories. They dress totally by themselves, they clean their room, they are polite to each other even if I am out of earshot. We went to a rather nice restaurant and Nicki said to the waitress, “May I please have some chocolate milk?” without me having to prompt her and when it came to our table, she remarked, “Oh, thank you so much. It looks lovely” (I say that all the time…..)……I had to (and I am serious) go to the loo and cry a bit as they are not babies any longer……

In fact, they are thriving, fun, mostly sweet, they adore each other, and…..they makes my knees go wobbly….You know what I mean…?

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Winter Wonderland Fun

I just read my last post. I sounded a little …um…shall we say, “un-hinged” a bit at the whole family sick thing and then the ol’ quest for balance. Nope, no revelations since yesterday but thought I could at least post some fun family pictures…..

So, Raleigh got the big-snow…..at least 8 inches….and so school was out for almost 4 full days. Ah well, we had fun for a bit of time until we all started to get sick….(but am not going to talk about that now….).

The day was a beauty and Ed pulled them all over the place in inner-tubes as you see here. They had a blast!!

  Below is Ed (boy-0-boy, isn’t he cute!!) and the girls……Sammi on left; Nicki on right….

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So we had quite the day……More pics coming…

Hugs,

Cin

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Full-Time Working Mothers -- How do you find the balance?



I am venting quite a lot here about work-life-children-husband balance....Love any suggestions about how it works for you? Is it even possible to manage the time-wrap bus....? You know, you get on the bus one day (let's say we got on last Spring following a really nice and relaxing set of trips we had with the Uncles (Josh and Lloyd, of course) and their entourage and Anita and family)....and then it zoomed through all-of-Summer (it clearly did not make the "Summer" stop) until Sept when The Bus stopped for us to all get back with the Uncles and with RonyKatieAbbie and Col for a beach trip....but then...then...The Bus did not stop until now. What is this...Feb? The Bus did not STOP for 5 crazy months?

And you know why it stopped now? Because we've all been sick (all four) for 6weeks. Ed is still sick. I am really venting now. This situation is ...um, shall I say...."sub-optimal". When I say the "Bus does not stop", I mean, no extra time to just do me-things that do not involve Ed and/or girls. None. No ice-skating, no girl-time (which I need BADLY), no blogging (which i do enjoy), no blogging and photography time, no consistent working out, no consistent Pilates, no girlfriend time (yes, i did already say that and I really need it)....Just work, girls, work, girls, work, work, girls...(not too much Ed in there either....).


I know the real problem, of course. My job is way-way too demanding since i got this last promotion last Spring. I need to get that under control better. I love-love-love the work as it is fascinating and actually, fun, but i am SO NOT balanced. I work too hard and then when i come home, i collapse. On weekends, I just hang-out and do projects with the girls. And...of course....when Ed is sick (like he has been FOREVER....), it is very difficult slipping out for me-time as i don't want to pay a babysitter $12/hour just so I can have a class of wine...makes for an expensive glass of wine. And, having my friends here don't help as girls are underfoot and it does not give me my break...

So, I'm trying to take a better look at this. I have no intention of reducing my job or cutting back and take a lesser role as I love my job and i love the work and I'm really good at what I do. It is a huge part of my identity. Anyone else facing the big-huge-demanding job (this job is...as you can imagine...so not 40 hours a week....bet it more line 55-60 hours a week), young children, not finding enough-me.....and I need it as I"m stressed not having it and.....actually....am thinking i'm feeling a bit depressed, too. Would love to hear some ideas....




Hugs,
cin