My Brother

I used to beat his ass as a kid, mercilessly. My poor baby brother, the target of his sister's wrath. I'd like to think that I helped make him into the man he is today. He's not afraid of the unbeaten path. He's tirelessly loving and patient, with an amazing sense of humor and a drive like no other to give and find happiness. And he's found it. Congrats to Josh and Jen on your engagement! We are so happy for you.

Our Michigan Road-trip!

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The trip may have been complicated by three days of high fever (Viv) or a glued up gash that needed to stay dry (Ella), sleepless nights and moments of high stress that lead to not the most patient version of Sarah. But perfect sunsets, bonfires on the beach, nights of Scategories and Coors Light and days of secluded beaching made up for it. In fact, it was so good, I didn't even mind the sandy sheets.

The Sprinkler SNAFU

I love these sprinkler shots. They scream summer. They also scream trip to the ER. Ella fell on a corn-hole game (don't ask) just after these pics were taken. She had a large gash just below her eyebrow that needed something beyond a band-aid. On our way to Loyola we started talking about the glue that would be applied to her cut. This then lead to a lengthy query on glue beyond the world of paper.
For those of you keeping score, points for ER visits are now tied up.
Vivian - 1
Ella - 1

A Week of Updates

Viv,
I'm a bit behind with posting. You can't blame me really. Had your birthday party to throw, our family in from both Boston and Denver and lots and lots of celebrating to attend to. Having Josh and Jen, Jo, Jon, Allyn and Dean all in town was the best birthday gift you could ask for. Above are pictures from your backyard soiree. We kept the "theme" simple. Something the first year of life always seems to revolve around...cereal. We decided to expand it beyond Cheerios as it was your birthday and all. Your friends were allowed to create their own concoctions from a variety of co-co, fruity, goodness. I tried my best to peddle the Raisin Bran, but needless to say, we had a lot left. I guess toddlers are not all that concerned with their fiber intake. Your Mimi supplied the most delicious quiches and Lolo and Lola came armed with fruit. We lit twenty-four candles atop twenty-four fruity pebbled cupcakes and we each made twenty-four wishes on your behalf. I figured you might need a helping hand this year. I'm sure by next year you will be making your own wishes sweet girl...world peace, cleaner drinking water, a unicorn.
Love,
Mom

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Sisters were Born

Vivian

Dear Viv,
One year ago today my heart expanded two fold. It quickly and easily made room for my beautiful six pound, four ounce baby girl. This first year with you has been a tremendous gift. I've had so much fun being your mother. I used to think mothers like me were delusional, hopped up on some post-partum wonder drug... "She is such an easy baby", "she sleeps so well", "she loves to be held", "her birth was amazing". But here I am, clean and sober, seemingly sane, saying these things about you and probably annoying the hell out of everyone in ear-shot. You were so calm, content and happy that I even questioned your neurological status. Weren't newborns supposed to be a mass of tears needing to be bounced on an exercise ball all night long? Wasn't I supposed to be a harried wreck, wondering what the hell I was doing wrong? (Sorry, El, we had a rough start. Our first twelve months together would make Dr. Spock hang up his stethascope). Apparently not.
Here we are one year later and I find the days and weeks leading up to your birthday bittersweet. Did someone press the fast forward button while I wasn't looking?
When we blow out your first candle together later today, I plan on wishing for many more years of the type of happiness that I found after having you.
You are forever my sunshine.
Love,
Mom

Continually adding to the arsenal of blackmail photos like any smart parent would do.

Vote Now!

I'm once again putting in my bid for "Mother of the Year" status. Above you will find evidence of my mothering greatness...sopping wet clothes that had been stripped off of my shivering, terrified children. You see, we were caught in that tsunado (tsunami-tornado) that swept through Chicago-land on Monday morning. Branches were flying and the rain was pelting my eyes with such ferociousness that I had to close them....while running...in flip flops...navigating a clumsy double stroller...one mile away from home. You'd think that training for the half marathon would have helped. Not so much. "Pretend we're going through the sprinkler girls!" I panted gayly, trying to reassure my children over the thunder and cracks of lightening that this was indeed a fun and non-life threatening activity. I don't think they bought it.

Hi Mom!

She Raised the Bar....Again

Have you met my friend Mandy? The one that throws the best birthday parties? This one was at the local fire station. Shiny, red, trucks that make lots of noise? A perfect jungle gym for some tireless three year olds.

Chasing Summer

More rantings about summer...
As Chicagoans, we mentally have to claw our way to Memorial Day, at least I do. Honestly, that's what I like so much about living in the Midwest. The possibility of a May snow-storm makes that final thaw, the prospect of green grass and swimming pools even better. I've noticed that even an adult I will never out-grow that "schools out" mentality. All of these things seem to crescendo into a frenzy of summer planning. In an effort to capture the quintessential summer experience, I find myself making mental lists of summer-must-dos. I've noted how my lists have morphed over the last few years. Late nights/early morning roof-top parties have been replaced by planting sunflowers and pumpkins, bonfires and smores. So as we near the half-way point of summer I present to you the remainder of our summer "to-do" list:
A late-night beach bonfire in Michigan with the fam, a memorable celebration for Vivian's first, chasing down the Good Humor Man, watching our sunflowers and pumpkins grow, consuming obscene amounts of fresh peaches and vanilla ice cream, completion of the Rock-n-Roll Half Marathon in August without sustaining major injury and perfecting our mojito recipe (need to put our mint garden to use).

I guess we will forever be chasing the summers of our childhood. I'm not sure if it will ever be captured, but creating summer memories for my kids makes the pursuit so much more enjoyable.