Diving deep

Posted on July 29, 2012 by PeaceLoveGuac

If summer were one long road trip, we would have now reached the point when the kids start singing 999 Bottles of Beer on the Wall and I consider if we have enough bungie cords to hold them on the roof for at least a few minutes. It’s really just too hot for us to be in the car all together, you know?

Plenty of parents reach this point and hit the wall. They frantically start calling day camps in search of anything, anything new and fresh to entertain the troops. (Remember how you always wanted to learn more about sheep farming?)

They bribe babysitters to come home early from their exotic vacations. (Seriously, how much Europe can a 20-year-old really appreciate?)

Others join the exodus to higher ground in search of cooler weather, all the while praying that higher altitude means less oxygen, which means less insanity.

As the temperature rises and the calendar stands suspiciously still, others watch their convictions warp and melt like a CD left on the dashboard during a blistering afternoon. I am vulnerable to all these coping strategies, but this week I let my standards take the hit.

As a result, we have ruined countless meals with emergency snow cones. We have skipped the library and hit the bookstore because they have better air conditioning. We have watched a ridiculous amount of TV. We have purchased overpriced “indoor” toy weapons even though I banned these months ago. We have even considered amending the family rule that dictates No Naked Butts on the Couch because honestly, how can you argue when told it is too hot for underwear?

We are hanging in there. We will make our escape soon enough. Higher ground awaits! But for now, we are simply diving in, holding our breath and trying to keep our cool.

Can’t spell heart without art

Posted on June 4, 2012 by PeaceLoveGuac

“Mom, how do you know if it’s graffiti or art?”
Two days later and I’m still working on my answer.

Hello summer!

Posted on May 31, 2012 by PeaceLoveGuac

Add popsicles and this pretty much sums up our summer plans.

* * *

Here’s hoping that this summer is filled with memories half as amazing as this one, but God help me, completely void of this one.

Cheerleaders

Posted on April 22, 2011 by PeaceLoveGuac

One of the best things about having young kids is that they are built-in fans. The key word being young kids…when they are old enough to clap their hands together and young enough to think their parents hung the moon and every single star. That’s pretty much where we are, so we take advantage of their enthusiasm when we can.

Last weekend I spent three hours in the Hill Country with the kids, watching mountain bikers whizz by in a flurry of dirt and sweat. Every 45 minutes, Hubs would fly by and I would shout, “KIDS! There’s Dad! Cheer, CHEER!” And two seconds later, when he had turned the corner between some scraggly cedar trees, the kids would shake their cowbells and blow their duck calls and yell, “Go, Dad, Go!”

And then they would get back to the business of whining and fighting and begging for Gatorade and asking how much longer, how much longer, how much looonger??? It was awesome. Like I said, our kids think we hung the moon and stars…but only for minutes at a time.

Speaking of cheerleading, if you live in Austin, I hope you’ll come see me and an amazing cast of women next week at the Listen to Your Mother show. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll high five! You probably want to bring some tissues, but you can leave the cowbells at home.

Already got your tickets? Great! How about sending a note to 10 friends and spreading the news? We want a packed house!

Where does the white go when the snow melts?

Posted on February 4, 2011 by PeaceLoveGuac

Thank you. To all of you who have shared your warmth and support–whether through words, thoughts or hugs–please know that I am truly touched and enormously grateful. Thank you.

I am still feeling disoriented and exhausted, but I’m doing my best to put one foot in front of the other, drink plenty of water, and try to make my kids smile. Today’s unusual snow day (!!) made all these things significantly easier.

A few captured moments…

Crazy, but yes this is Austin! It was a blizzard compared to last year.

We are such rookies. The kids built “sand” castles until they remembered how much they’ve been dying to have a snowball fight with actual snow, not balled-up socks like we usually do. (Clean-up was much easier with the snow.)