Spring break in the Garden State, March 2016

In just a few months, we will be back in the US, and re acclimating to life in the states.  I'm trying  to picture it.  We have lived in Bermuda for over five and a half years now.  I always knew we would return to the US, and I've looked forward to it.  It's watching the process unfold that makes me pause.  I can't wait to move back.  I've missed it so much.  I have no ambivalence about it.  But the process isn't that easy.  There is so much to do between now and July.

Over spring break, we returned to NJ for some house hunting.  You know how much fun it is to watch couples wander through homes on House Hunters or Love it Or List It?  It's not that much fun in real life with kids in tow or where your budget basically gets you the equivalent of Snoopy's dog house.  It's also different when you have a house of your own that must be sold, and it needs work before you can put it on the market.  Technology has improved over the years, so it's easier to view houses online and get a good feel for them before you go out to look at them in person.  That helps a lot since flying back and forth from BDA to the US to look at houses as a whole family is cost prohibitive.

Thankfully, on this trip, Grandma H and Michael took over kid duty, and left Jeff and I some solo time to look at homes, reinstate our state driver's licenses, and debate the pros and cons of mid century modern vs Victorian home ownership.

Unfortunately, this round didn't reveal the droids we were looking for.  Last week's solo trip on my end didn't either.  But, we have hooked up with a fantastic agent, who was vetted by my own real estate mogul brother no less.  She's been very helpful thus far, and I hope she will bear with us as we forge the path of home ownership again.

After exhausting the list of homes available to see, we decided the kids needed a break.  New Jersey is a wonderful place for kids, as I knew from the years we spent living there, when I was deep in the trenches of motherhood.  With two kids under the age of two, we spent a lot of time in the parks. Van Saun was a favorite.  They have renovated significantly, over the years.  None of that matters to a gymnast though. 

He saw toadstool seats and decided it was time for a spin.

Kids U. was another popular place for us.  Back it the day, I took Jordan and then Mina to mommy and me classes. Maybe I'm feeling overly nostalgic.  It was also the home of the infamous telephone in the toilet incident.  Mommies are not allowed to go to the bathroom during gym class, even if their daughter is left in the care of her teacher.  If mommy departs, it must mean it is time to start banging on the bathroom door, which results in mommy darting up, phone falling out of the back pockets of mommy's oversize corduroy Costco pants, and falling into the toilet.

 Kids U is also great because it had a huge play quad that you could use whenever.  We revisited it this time with Theo, who had a blast.



Spending some time in the Poconos over Easter.  The chilly weather encouraged the Easter bunny to hide the eggs somewhere warm... like the playroom. 



I got to enjoy my birthday over the break as well.  We had a lovely family dinner at Trattoria 903.



Theo didn't disgrace himself too badly.  There may still be some hope of taking him out to eat with us in the future (fingers crossed.)



Grandma and Michael got a Chocolate cake to rival all chocolate cakes for a lifetime.



Jeff and I also did some solo celebrating at the Mermaid Oyster Bar in NYC. 



And we enjoyed Aperol Spritz toasts for an evening of solitude at the Battery Park Ritz Carlton, kid free.

Between time spent with family and seeing good friends in our old town, I felt the week was supremely successful, even though we couldn't find the right house.  I vaguely remember when we purchased our first home.  I still can't exactly recall how we wound up in the town we did, or how long it took us to find the right home.  I remember loving the house and wishing it was in our budget.  Back in 2006, pretty much everything was overpriced thanks to the housing bubble. So, with this next move, I really wish it could be our last one - one to settle into our final house, the forever home.

The search continues.

Fast forward ten years.

A quick trip to Warwick Bay playground..



I remember when I used to push him on the swings.



And when he was scared of going down the slide by himself.

Reflections on competing.

Dear Samina,

I loved cheering you on last week during your Sports Day. But I don't think it was the best day for you. I looked through all the pictures and video I took. It was apparent from the beginning that you just did not look happy.



Walking out onto the field, you seemed nervous. Maybe apprehensive. This is not you at all.



But, we all have those moments, don't we? Moments when we're scared of what's to come, scared of how we will do, whether we will win, or lose, or embarrass ourselves. And sometimes, when it seems like the whole world is staring at you, all you can do is just put one foot in front of the other...



and run!

Or walk.

Or speak up.

Or take on that challenge in whatever form it presents itself.

That's how every journey you ever face will begin.

You face it. You conquer it.

One step at a time.



Even if you feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders ... or head, as the case may be...



even if you're scared, or nervous, or afraid of looking silly... just try. Just try. And never look back.



Sometimes you will win. And everyone will love you. And sometimes you will cry...



But I think you will quickly realize..



we will still love you.


Always.

Boulder - Boulder 2010 - show me the way to 19th street!

A few more days, and I'm heading out to Boulder for my first ever 10k. I'm very excited. I checked out the race website just for kicks, and noticed this bit of vid from Frank Shorter, highlighting the race course.

Frank Shorter narrates the Bolder Boulder Course from Ryan Van Duzer on Vimeo.

As I watched this tonight, I started feeling slightly panicky. "Holy shit." I thought to myself. "I am so not ready for this. What the hell is he talking about with all this 'months of training' and nonsense? Oh man.. I am so dead."

And then it occurred to me. I've been running fairly consistently for about a year now. Even in the crap winter weather, I ran. I started the new year off with a 5k, dragging myself out to some godforsaken town in NJ, by myself, not knowing a sole out there - just to run. Why? Because I wanted to. I wanted to start the year off doing something I loved. Just for me. Even if it meant waking up early and doing it solo. I've dragged myself out evenings after work, despite long days of commuting three hours and being up at 5 am in the morning. I've forced myself up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays to do long runs to improve my cardio function. Have I loved every minute of it? No. But the feeling that comes post run is indescribable. I like running. Am I any good at it? No, but who the hell cares? It makes me feel good.

And then it occurred to me.. stop worrying!! I am not an elite runner. I'm nowhere close to even being a competitive runner. My best times are 10 minute miles, and that's just a wee bit sad. But guess what? I'm planning a mini vacation around a run. A run! Exercise! I'm heading out to Boulder, running with my brother, and the focus will be something active. (yeah, yeah.. I suspect there will be much eating and imbibing later.. but still)

Runners come in all shapes and sizes. Do I wish I was 20 pounds lighter, with legs that came up to my chin and a lightning stride? Sure. Do I wish I could do 7 minute miles and start in the first corral? Sure.

But this is who I am. And this runner is feeling pretty excited about an upcoming challenge. I'm doing something I love, with family, and feeling pretty happy to have come this far in my short running career.

Wish me luck, and an injury free race!

Show us your life - favorite shopping spots.

How could I not participate in this week's "Show us your life" blog roll, courtesy of Kelly at Kelly's Corner? She asks, show us your favorite shopping spots - stores and online:

Ready? Pull up a chair, since this is one of my favorite pastimes.



Brick and mortar stores:

Costco (seriously? Going here is a weekly family ritual)

Barnes and Noble (I'm a Kindle girl now, but I still do love browsing here during lunch break)

AC Moore (crafty!)

Daffy's (Lurve, lurve, lurve the European clothing styles for kids and super cheap dresses for women)

Target (No explanation necessary)

Anthropologie (me want. All of it. I want to look like these models. And I want them to redecorate my house too.)

Learning Express (awesome kid stuff)

Sephora (Because it's fun being a girl!)

Kate's Paperie (Once upon a time, before the internet, there used to be this thing called paper. And because getting a real card, esp handmade, is one of life's simple pleasures)


Online shopping:



kid shopping, toys: Hearthsong

Kid shopping, clothes: miniboden, Janie & Jack, Gymboree, Land's End for kids.

Stuff for me:

Boden
Modcloth
J.Crew
Ann Taylor

Fun to browse:

Gilt (this is one of those invite only sites. Don't feel excluded, anyone already on it can invite someone else, it's only meant to feel exclusive), Etsy, Outblush, slickdeals,

Other:
I am a huge garage-sale junkie. Once the warm weather hits again, you can be sure I'll spend an hour or so on weekends browsing through my neighbor's junk.



Kitchen Aid stand mixer -$25. Works great.



Crystal trifle bowl. Doesn't look like much here.

But, when full...



Friend's closets: I will happily take any kids hand me down stuff my friends are willing to share. Much of Mina's wardrobe is supplied courtesy of our friends' daughters.

Outlet stores.



Disclaimer.. I'm more of a browser, really. And I always wait for the sales. Did you hear that, Jeff?

And slowly...

the sun makes an appearance.









The past couple of weeks have been music themed for the kids at preschool. They've been busy learning about instruments, making them, listening to more talented parents perform in class. I wish I knew how to play something. Sadly, I never learned, but both Mina and Jordan love music. So, I'm hoping when the time is right, they'll find the right instruments to suit them.







Now, I might not be musically inclined, but I sure know how to round up supplies for craft projects. The school sent out an email requesting we send in supplies to make an instrument in class each day. These were everyday things like toilet paper rolls, oatmeal canisters, spice bottles, mailing tubes, paper towel rolls, chopsticks, popcorn, macaroni, etc.

Except, I had to send in twice the amount - one for each kid. Sigh. I always thought we used a lot of paper towels in the house, but apparently, not enough. I resorted to unwrapping rolls and saving them so I could give Jordan and Mina enough to take to school. I dug through spice bottles and bagged them up in Ziploc so they could take the bottles to class. And finally, I just caved and made Jeff harass his secretary to find a mailing tube at work because I ran out of ideas. She's good. Extra baked goods coming her way.

The best part - it all comes back home again, repackaged as noisemakers they shake around while screaming with laughter. The laughter I like. The screaming I can do without.

Where does the week go?

By Monday, Jordan was definitely well enough to go to school. Naturally, that meant disaster was bound to happen - and it did. Monday was a snow day. Two healthy kids, stuck at home all day while the wind whipped outside ferociously, and I cursed under my breath.

I hate winter.

We spent much of the day playing. I dug out a memory matching game our cousin Amy bought for the kids years back. They got it this time, and we settled in for round after round of this. Jordan impressed me. He rarely has the patience for most board games, but this one held his attention. I think he just liked winning. Mina inherited my temperament regarding losing. Not pretty.



Following most illnesses, Jordan reverts to eating everything in sight. I think he compensates for the weight he lost during the previous weeks. For most of this week, he ate around the clock. After eating his own breakfast, he demanded I share mine with him (lite, whole wheat English muffin, with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter - that's 2 weight watcher points people.) Yeah, I measure out the peanut butter too. I look forward to eating that thing every morning.



But, I gave it to him, and watched him nibble away at it while my stomach rumbled in protest. He doesn't even look like he's enjoying it, does he? That's the rub of it. Yet, he somehow managed to consume the whole thing. Grr.



This standing in front of the refrigerator thing in search of more food ... yeah, he gets that from me. But for him, it only comes out post-illness. For me... it's a 24 hour thing.



I grumbled my way through the snow and cold, but Miss Mina was thrilled to wear her pom-pom boots again .. with faux pearl necklace and heart pendant. Can't go anywhere without that.



On Wednesday, we celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday - meaning Jordan came home from school and ate lunch at home in his Dr. Seuss hat that I repaired. I don't know why the cow is making an appearance at the table. He must have snuck upstairs and brought it down without me noticing. How did I miss that?

Jordan has gone through his Dr. Seuss phases. At various times, his favorite Dr. Seuss books have ranged from "Oh, the Places You will Go," "In a People House," "One Fish, Two Fish," and "Marvin K. Mooney." Grandma H. started him off right with all of Jeff's Dr. Seuss books from his childhood. Most of the ones I've read with him are pretty good. It's interesting to trace the way Jordan's attention span has grown as he's gotten older. We've read to him since he was an infant - and at first, there was no way he was making it through a whole rendition of "One Fish, Two Fish," or "The Places you will Go." But as he got older, he would pick those books out himself each night to read. I'd read them; he might ask questions, and he got so good at memorizing the whole story, he'd catch me right away if I tried to skip a verse here or there. (bad mom! bad mom!)



Ahhh... it's the Children of the Corn!!!



Yep. Here they are again.



What you talkin' bout, Willis? (Jordan took this picture. Not bad for a 4 year old.)



I finally dragged myself outside today with Mina to enjoy what I hope will be the last snow of the season. We hung out in the front yard, which was relatively sunny, and made snow castles.











That was fun. Getting Mina to come back inside was another story though. Here she is, doing the immigrant squat in the middle of the front lawn in protest.



After morning errands, we settled down to lunch and our daily episode of Animal Kingdom - ala New Jersey. I scraped up all the loose breadcrumbs and tossed them out for the birds. The squirrels found them first.



They get hungry too. Look how cheeky this one is. He's totally staring at us while we eat at the table.

The Twilight Hour.

From seven to eight at night, it's time to wrap things up for the day. After bath and dinner, there's a lull of about 15 minutes before I start giving Jordan his meds. In that time, I usually clean up the mess in the kitchen, while the two monkeys run off to make a mess somewhere else.

Tonight, the light was just so, and they noticed their shadows in the hallway. The camera flash obliterated the scenes of them engaging the shadows on the wall, unfortunately.



But the looks on their faces amused me nonetheless.