Time for a post

Since it's been a while, I guess it's time for a new post!

(Sadly, I don't have any new photos to go with it, but that's the risk you take.)

The #1 question I get asked lately is, "So, what's it like being at home?" I tend to answer with "It's an adjustment." Right now, it doesn't feel better or worse than what I was doing before, it just feels different. I'm still worrying and dreaming about problems at my old job, and working really hard to resist the urge to call my old coworkers every day and make sure they're doing everything "right." I know they'll do their best, and then some, but it's hard to shut that part of my brain off.

I've gotten a few side jobs through the graphics design company here in town, and on Friday I submitted my rough draft for a book cover! The author took a look over the weekend and apparently liked it, so at some point I'll get to see one of my designs in print. Woohoo! That's pretty exciting to me, especially since it's something I was able to do at home. Hopefully those side jobs will keep coming and I'll get to see many more of my designs in print.

It is fun being at home with the boys (most days). They do some of the funniest things...Tommy has been in an extremely giggly mood all week, and even when he drives me crazy he still finds ways to make me laugh. Jack is getting even bigger, and crawls SUPER fast now. He can make it across the house in ten seconds, I think (or less). He's been making more sounds lately, too, and likes to grab things to help him stand. He'll be walking before I know it! Lately Tommy has been discovering bugs, with some interesting results: he doesn't like them. Bees freak him out, and evidently so do caterpillars (he calls them snakes). I'm baffled by this, as he hasn't had a negative experience with bugs (to my knowledge) and typically isn't afraid of anything. But I guess it's better than him deciding he wants to play with them....Tommy has also started singing a lot lately, and has learned how to sing all of "C is for Cookie" in a recognizable fashion, and sings a good portion of "Elmo's Song." When he hits the high note at the end of that song...classic!

Logan is doing well at the academy. Only a few weeks left! He graduates May 26th, and we're SUPER excited. His parents are coming out that week (woohoo!!) so we're also really looking forward to that. Next week he'll be learning about defensive driving, and will get to take an unmarked police vehicle with him. He claims that most of the "hard" stuff is done, and they're just tying up loose ends in class. I think he's pretty anxious to get "on the job" in Lexington, and I'm pretty excited that he'll get to grow his hair back soon! Oh, and he'll be home at night, too :-)

In other news, I'm really excited about tomorrow, because my new kitchen floor is coming! I'll be sure to post pictures about that as well, but that's going to make a huge difference in the feel of our home.

I hope you enjoyed these tidbits of information. I'll try and take some pictures of the boys and post them soon!

Boxerwood Gardens, Season 2

This morning the boys and I took our first trip of the year to Boxerwood Gardens! It's this super amazing place for kids to play (and get really, really dirty). I went with my friend Jessica Casperson, who has four kids of her own (her two boys are the same ages as Tommy and Jack). We had a LOT of fun, and I learned that, with Tommy, I really need to bring 3-4 extra sets of clothing, instead of just one extra set...he has the amazing ability to find water anywhere, and he can't refrain from jumping in it! We had left the normal play area where the water pump and creek are, and I'd already changed his clothes (because they were soaking wet). We went to the back field area, where there's a large "crows nest" and pathways to run along, when Tommy darted off the path, into the bushy side area, and the next thing I know he's knee deep in soggy pond water! He's amazing. But he had fun, and that's what really matters :-)

Jack, with his friend Luke Casperson

Tommy, Teddy, and Duste

Jack sitting in the field

The gardens have so many fun places to climb! This is in the "crows nest", which looks like a gigantic birds nest in the middle of a field!

This is part of their water treatment center, which has HUGE koi fish. Tommy liked throwing rocks in the water.

Outside the entrance to the garden

The welcome sign. There are lots of fun signs throughout the gardens, telling kids to play, get dirty, and just have fun!

We'll probably head back soon, so I'm sure there will be more pictures to come!

Turning a new leaf

I guess it's time that I told everyone what I made official last week: I'm "retiring" from my job at SVU.

Leaving, retiring, resigning, quitting, whatever you want to call it. After this Friday, my primary employment will be as a Mom.

All of you who know me can probably guess how hard this decision was for me. SVU has been part of my identity since 2003, first as a student, but for the majority of time (strangely enough) I've been an employee. To think that I'll no longer have to worry about retention, recruitment, or budget crunches is just weird. Part of me actually enjoys thinking about that kind of stuff. I like to have projects and improve things, and for weeks my mind has been abuzz with ideas for the summer and fall and possible improvements in the residence life department. The plan was to keep going until at least the end of the summer, after Logan was done with the academy and had gotten into his "real" routine with the police department.

But, as with everything in life, plans change. I hit a snag that made me re-examine my "balance" of mom and employee, and after fighting the thought for all of last weekend, I realized that the spirit was trying to tell me it was time to let go. It was SO HARD to admit that to myself. To realize that I wouldn't be implementing all of my plans and ideas for the university, and that I would no longer have a say in the direction it goes, was heart wrenching. My vanity also hated to admit that I might be replaceable...or that the university would possibly have the gall to survive my departure...or even be better for it...

But this is the right decision. I look at my little boys, and how fast they're growing up, and how desperately Tommy needs a routine (especially if I ever want him to stop wearing a diaper), and I know it's the right thing. It will be a weird adjustment, but it'll ultimately be a good one.

But it still feels weird. And sad.

Friday is my last day "in office." I'll probably still do some side work for the university until they figure out exactly where my different responsibilities are going (some of it is being delegated to other departments) but pretty soon things will be winding down.

And pretty soon Logan and I will know more about what's happening in Lexington than we will about what's happening on the Hill. How odd.

Easter Egg Huntin'

Tommy had a lot of fun this weekend hunting for Easter Eggs!

On Friday, SVU had an easter egg hunt on the front lawn, and there were lots of eggs, and lots of children! I was a little scared at first, because Tommy started to have a melt down during the "instructions" portion of the activity, but he came around in time to go looking for the eggs. He was soooo excited to see that Josh Cooper was looking for eggs too! They're two little peas in a pod. After he found his 25 eggs he got to meet the Easter Bunny, which he thought was exciting.

We had another easter egg hunt on Saturday with the Coopers, but Tommy didn't do as well at that one--he got a little distracted by the presence of a cute little dog, and was more interested in eating the contents of the easter eggs than in finding more eggs. It was pretty funny to watch, though. Tommy would find an egg, stop, eat the contents, and toss the egg on the ground. Josh would then swoop in and grab the egg (which, of course, is the purpose of an easter egg hunt), so at the end Josh had a basket FULL of eggs, and Tommy had very few...always an adventure with these kids!

Tommy searching for eggs at SVU

Nanna and Jack (and Cami :-) ) waiting for the activity to start

Tommy and the Easter Bunny!

Tommy and Josh going after the same egg (Josh won)

Tommy and Daddy before the search began...

Play time!

This past week the weather was GORGEOUS! On Friday we got together with the Coopers and took the kids to a park out in Lexington that has a large play structure. There were lots of kids there, so it was a bit crowded at first, but the kids had a blast! Tommy, as always, loved the swings the best, but he got a kick out of the slides as well. Some of those slides were pretty big for such a little guy!

Enjoying the swings

Jack (Mr. Serious)

Caleb (Mr. Pretty Serious)

Joshua enjoying the swings

Tommy, elated to be on the swings

What a fun group of kids! I'm so glad the weather is warming up. They've been cooped up in houses for too long.

Little Boy Pics

The boys have been getting a long really well lately. Tommy has been on a "Bob the Builder" kick, and Jack seems to enjoy the show, too. Here they are watching it together!

Jack is soooooooooooo close to crawling! He gets in the position perfectly, and looks like he's going to crawl forward...then he decides he's done and frustrated and just wants to be held! He "scooches", though--he can roll, turn, and "scooch" backwards and forwards. So he's mobile...just not crawling. Yet.
Soon!

The Kitchen!

Sometimes I think I should be diagnosed with CADD: Color Attention Deficit Disorder. I barely get a color on my wall, and I'm already thinking of what the next color will be! However, I think I've found a color for my kitchen that I really like--Red. Yes, I know what you're thinking: didn't you already paint your kitchen red? The answer is technically "no." I painted the TRIM red, and the living room was red, but the kitchen was cream. Now the walls are red, the trim is white, and eventually the living room will be "bungalow gold"...but that's getting ahead of the story.

Also, this weekend was a "half-off" event at a local furniture store, so we took some of our lovely tax-return money and bought a REAL KITCHEN TABLE!!! We're so excited. It seats up to 6 people; 4 in chairs, and two on a bench (more if those people are children). It's really cute. We have the bench in the living room when the table is in its "small" size, but we pull it over once the table has been expanded. We used it tonight to celebrate my brother JJ's birthday. Such a fun christening! It goes wonderfully with our cabinets. Once our new kitchen flooring is in, I'm going to LOVE that room!

You can kind of see the new wall color here...

Our fabulous new table! And your eyes are not deceiving you--the ends are not flat. The shape is technically not "rectangular." That's kinda why I like it :-)