The Farm Report – Page 124 – Archiving the early years

OCD, schmOCD

October 1, 2007

This week I hit the wall. I just wanted to package up leftovers, but all I could find in my tupperware drawer were lids. Something like 20 lids without a container to be found. Where are they? Where have they gone? It’s not like a sock, that easily slips between couch cushions or behind the dryer. This is hard plastic that hurts when you step on it.

So yesterday I bought new tupperware. For the low, low price of $20 I have renewed my spirit and restored my sanity.

Behold, in the valley of my kitchen, I see lids and containers march hand in hand and I declared all to be right and good in the world and now I can sleep with a clear head.
Scrumptious

September 30, 2007
Freshly mowed

September 30, 2007

When everyone went down for quiet time, Tom told me I should go mow. We haven’t had a chance to mow for weeks, and everything was overgrown. Plus, today was that perfect almost-fall weather, so it seemed criminal to even think about staying inside.

Time on the mower is kind of like therapy and yoga all rolled into one. When I’m done I feel relaxed and accomplished and like I’ve boiled life down to its simplest elements.
Six years

September 29, 2007

Six years ago today, we were all still reeling from 9/11. But somehow we were blessed enough to have nearly all the people we love come together at a little old schoolhouse in the middle of nowhere to clap and cheer as Tom and I sealed the deal.
Equal time

September 28, 2007

Drawing by Shep, channelling Jackson Pollock. I think I probably owe my mom a new blue marker, because I don’t think Crayolas are supposed to have that splatter effect.

Letter R by Neko, attempting (unsuccessfully) to teach Shep how to draw it.
Gravity-defying Sculpture of the Day

September 28, 2007
Picture of the Day

September 27, 2007

I am extremely lucky that at this moment Neko is not 16 and asking for a brand new car, because if she were, I would run right out and buy her something fast and fun and completely inappropriate. Which is saying a lot, because I believe that 16-year-olds shouldn’t really have their own cars, but if they do, they should be big and embarrassing. Lots of rust, a broken radio and the occasional backfire are a plus.

Tonight, when I returned home, there was an envelope on my pillow with drawings and letters that spelled out in a very four-year-old way, “MOMLVUY” which translates into “Mom love you”.

In the envelope, was Neko’s drawing of all the characters in her favorite new show, Word World, illustrated with rather amazing detail. And on the back, she attempted to spell the names of several of the characters (Bird, Bear, Sheep, Dog, Frog).

To show my gratitude, I crawled into bed with her and whispered a thank you in her ear. Even though she was still asleep, she curled her arm backwards and pulled her cheek next to mine. We laid there for some time, folded into one another, and I really can’t imagine that life gets much better than moments like that.
Reptiles

September 25, 2007

Tom and Chris took the kids this morning while I got some time back in exchange for losing part of my weekend. Tom spent time this weeked wearing the business hat, which is the funny thing about working for yourself—your schedule becomes a bit blurry and work doesn’t always happen in the traditional hours. Kudos to Tom, though, because he always tries to even out the score and give me some time back.

They went to one of our favorite parks, and the kids were beyond excited that Chris came along. As an extra bonus, he took all the great photos you see above.

I really do love having Chris around. I probably don’t say it anywhere near enough or in the right sort of wordy, eloquent way which he’ll mispronounce and then I’ll correct and then he’ll sigh and then we’ll obsessively tidy while we discuss what romantic comedies are coming out soon.
First B

September 25, 2007

I feel like I’m not doing as good a job as keeping track of Shep’s stuff as I did of Neko. I know this just happens when you have a second child, but I still feel guilty.

Anyway, today Shep and Neko were drawing on the Aquadoodle, and she started drawing letters. And then, all of a sudden, she was teaching Shep to draw a letter B. She does this sort of thing a lot, and if he’s able, he gives it a whirl, but it’s often pretty complex for a 2.5-year-old.

But suddenly Neko starts yelling, “He did it! He drew a B!”

And lo and behold, he did. Here it is Shep, your first letter.

(Of course, you drew it on an Aquadoodle, so it faded away about a minute later, so don’t go looking for it in your memory box.)
Mom’s night out

September 24, 2007

Tonight all the moms from our playgroup got together to hit the town. We all piled into Jodi’s minivan, and headed for the Big City. Well, to a suburb outside the Big City. But we were out of town, right?

I’m a little embarrassed to acknowledge what we did on our night out, because it generally is followed by a blank stare and someone’s mouth hanging in the “Huh?” position. First, we went to dinner, which is fairly respectable. And I even drank a whole margarita, which, considering I’ve been pregnant or breastfeeding for the last 1.5 years, it’s really like I drank three or four drinks.

And the we went to…are you ready? The teacher’s supply store.

It’s not as lame as it sounds. Really.

When the bulk of your time is spent entertaining children under five, suddenly the things you wish to acquire make a dramatic shift. Items that take up little space but can occupy children for hours on end? That is gold, my friends.

So there we were, seven moms walking up and down the aisles of the teacher’s supply store, slackjawed, mumbling things like, “Did you see that root vegetable growing kit? Dude, that could occupy at least fifteen minutes a day for, like, weeks! Aisle six!”

Okay, maybe it’s lame, but I embrace the lameness and I’m sure we will find something just as lame to do next month and it will be awesome because we will all be together and no one is tugging on us or spitting up and we’ll be able to talk in full sentences.