Grateful Week...

This has been an interesting week. One in which I am feeling very...grateful.
Grateful for two healthy, happy kids that are chubby and cute and fun and pooping in potties and laughing at things that make no sense and I laugh right along with them.
Grateful for a husband who is a great partner in this crazy life that is ours.
Grateful that we have groceries in the house, clothes in our closets, and money in the checkbook.
Grateful that we haven't had any major home snaffoos in the past year. Knock. On. Wood.
Grateful for a strong, healthy body I have worked my butt off for and that rocked out that 5th mile this morning.
Grateful for parents that help out when you need it the most and make it all fun.
Grateful for a morning that might be very, very cold, but the sun is shining bright and anything is possible.
Grateful for that first hot cup of coffee in the morning with two little bodies on either side of me, snuggled under a blanket.
Grateful for a glass of wine with an old friend, a great morning chat with a new friend, and calls from buddies who live far away but don't forget.
Grateful for this life.

Just some Monday action...

A list shall do for today, for I feel too many topics in my bubbling brain!
1. Had a great weekend. You know the kind where you have just the right amount of girlfriend time, quality family time, "me time," and hanging around doing nothing time? THAT was this weekend for me.
2. Potty training...well, it's coming. When Tomma is at home, he does fantastic. When he is somewhere else with any distractions, everything falls apart. Mysteriously, he stays dry and goes potty at school or the gym. But take him to a friend's house or his grandparents and it's like he completely forgets what we have been working on. And the poop thing...bless his heart, that could be a while. Ugh...oh well, we are definatly getting there! I guess it just won't be 100% in 5 days like Lucy was. More like 50% there in 3 days and um...the other 50% TBD. But soon! Soon!
3. I have gone back to using my Bare Minerals foundation and mineral veil (was just lazy and didn't use it) and I forgot how much I actually enjoy it and how much nicer it makes my face look! My face melodrama last week was lame...
4. Lucy and I are growing our hair out. Stay tuned....we should have ponytails by 2011. In the meantime, we will both be rocking a puffy bob.
5. Revolutionary Road is really good. However, I recommend going with a girlfriend and not your husband. I also need to see Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Buttons. Any reviews out there?
6. Lucy and I love that Olivia now has a show on TV! We love Olivia!
7. Anyone else have the "financial smackdown" situation every single January? Oh, wait, that's just us?
We like to call it the: "Great, we had a large hole in our front yard and then had Christmas two weeks later" situation.
Or this year it's the: "Who the hell did we think we were buying bedroom furniture for the kids, then going to Disney two months later and then having Christmas 3 months later?" situation.
Oh wait, that's just us? Ahhh....
8. I love my friend Amy Branch, who I was lucky enough to visit with yesterday after not seeing each other for 2 YEARS! Nothing is better than getting together with an old friend and having it feel like you saw each other just a few days earlier. That is a true friend.
9. Is is the last week of January. The LAST week of JANUARY! Does that mean we are over 50% done with winter? I believe it DOES!! WHOOO!
10. Thank god for the gym swimming pool. It has saved our winter afternoons. Off we go again!

It's Happening...It's Really Happening!!!

I hate to be the cliche blogger who writes about something like this BUT I CAN'T STAND MY EXCITEMENT! The last 36 hours have been a glorious blur of pees in a potty, using urinals at school, waking up DRY after 12 hours, M & M's, Matchcars, cheers, hugs, packing away diapers and overall SHOCK! It has clicked for the Tomma. Clicked! We are on to day #3 tomorrow of Operation Potty Training and it couldn't be going better! So proud...so funny...so cute.
Could it REALLY BE that our house is done with diapers? DONE? FOREVER?
NO more diapers AND Barack Obama Inaugurated, all in one day? I am officially in heaven...

Signs that my face is almost 35 years old...

I am facing the big 3-5 in only 60 days and I have to admit...I am not real excited about it. Mid-30's here I come. With this development, I have noticed many bizarre things happening to my face. I see old pictures and videos of my face in my 20's and I was just lovely. No marks, no wrinkles, nothing but an occasional freckle on a lovely, flawless, young face.
Ahhh how times have changed and how children add years to your face.
Seriously - ages 30 to 35 have just done SCARY things to this face of mine. This includes...
1. Pimples in weird places...scalp, neck, ear.
2. My old "mask of pregnancy" on both lower cheek regions of my face.
3. Sun spots that don't fade.
4. Wrinkles. Lots of wrinkles.
5. T-zone dry skin challenges.
6. Calcium deposits on my cheek.
7. Scars.
So in conclusion, I am super good lookin'....
Any suggestions from people on a good skin care regime? Lotions, creams, moisterizers? Should I go to a dermatologist and get myself evaluated? All I use is a basic drugstore face moisturizer with SPF 15. Heeelp!!

Hhmmm...Interesting...

"Tommy is always so animated - especially during our songs at Circle Time!" says Miss Gloria to me this morning.

It's so strange...we do not encourage any dramatic behavior at our house...














I have no idea where he gets it...

My Hot Button....

What is the one topic in life that can get me going? Customer Service. I may or may not have mentioned this on the blog over the past 3 years (which is shocking). It is my passion - both good and bad.
If I experience bad customer service, I try and let someone know so it can be corrected.
If I experience really good customer service, I go out of my way to let the right people know so that person is praised.
I had maybe the best restaurant experience of my life two weeks ago. The waitress was attentive, friendly but not overly-cheeseball, thoughtful of the kids and their entertainment factor, etc. She was everything a good waitress at a family-friendly restaurant should be. After eating, even though Matt had pulled the car up, the kids had coats on and were ready to go, and I had to wait a minute or so for the manager to come out from the kitchen (very timid and nervous, might I add), I made it clear that this woman was the greatest server and did everything right. "She should win an award!" I exclaimed! I think the manager thought I was a whack-job but that is neither here nor there....
When I have a terrible experience with customer service, I also let those people know. Two summers ago, Lucy had a terrible diaper rash and I needed to get our "magic butt paste" prescription called into our pharmacy before our weekend camping trip that afternoon. The phone nursing staff at the pediatrician's office was terribly unfriendly, made no attempt at sounding kind or thoughtful and actually sounded VERY annoyed at my request. I was so unhappy, I made a call back and spoke with the manager, letting her know that it was unacceptable behavior to treat customers that way. Apologies were made and interestingly, our next two co-payments were credited when I had the kids back in for check-ups later that year.
I have dedicated much of my professional career to customer service and teaching others HOW to provide good customer service. I genuinely feel passionate about the topic, for whatever reason.
I have volunteered many hours of the past year to helping my kid's preschool provide great customer service and good communication. I really believe it is paying off. People seem very happy, there is a "buzz" about the school right now, less confusion about things, and we are doing well with registering families for the next year.
I registered Tommy for next year's preschool. I did not register Lucy, for the first time in 3 years. Lucy is headed to Kindergarten this fall. She has stars in her eyes about her "big kid school."
After a meeting this morning, Lucy's teacher suggested we call our elementary schools to let them know we have a first-born child attending Kindergarten this fall. So I called. And who answered the phone but...the principal herself! After my awkward explanation of why I was calling, she made a point of saying "first of all, welcome to our elementary school!" The rest of the call included other blurbs of kindness such as, "So happy I was able to speak with you personally....oh you are just right around the corner, how nice!....I love the name Lucy....you are all set, watch for our postcard in March!"
I hung up with a large sigh of relief and realized....she did it! Great customer service! I was the nervous parent seeking out some friendly words and she delivered. It felt great.
So I am still sad to see my girl head off every morning next year, but I was rest assured they are doing something right over there. And we're off to the next phase of life...

For the Love of Emily....

I would not be doing my blog proud if I did not devote a post to the current love of Lucy's life (besides David). That would be her American Girl Bitty Baby Doll, Emily.
Lucy loves this girl. Over the course of the past year, Emily has risen to the top of the "doll heap" at our house, which includes well over 20 babies and dolls.
This past Christmas, Lucy's wish list included many items for Emily. Pajamas, a snow suit, outfits, a hat, crib, you get the drift. Lucy really sacrificed other gifts on behalf of Emily's comfort and style.
Needless to say, Santa and others delivered. Every morning, Emily is taken out of her crib next to Lucy's bed and put into a new jazzy outfit for the day. She puts her snowsuit and winter hat on every morning before we leave to go anywhere. She also discusses who will babysit Emily while Lucy is at school, dance, swimming, the gym, etc. And cozy jammies go back on her every night. It is a dedicated love she carries for Emily. This morning, Emily even went outside to play in the snow with us. Ridiculous!!

Here We Go....

Lucy has been especially sweet lately. Such a big girl. Helpful, good coping skills for the most part, excellent problem-solver, mostly rational behavior. I am proud of her and her big girl self these days.
However...with "Big Girlness" comes another item I am not real interested in experiencing: Attitude.
Sunday afternoon, I got my very first, "Whatever..." under her breath as she walked away from me.
Oh no she di 'int.
And so "time outs" begin for showing "attitude."
Isn't life interesting? Once they learn to wipe their booty and take care of themselves, suddenly they are too cool for school.
Ahhh...good times ahead with that one.

Looking Back...

Here I now am, stealing a lovely montage of questions from Stephanie's blog...but I couldn't resist. A nice way to look back at the year....

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
Ran 16.2 miles without stopping.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't really recall, sadly, if I had a resolution last year...but if it was to run more, ummm....bullseye. I don't believe I have any resolutions this year either. Too much pressure.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Oh yes...babies galore in my world! Erin, Kelly, Karen, Sarah....can't even think of them all but bless them and their sleep-deprived hearts. These women were rock stars!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Unfortunately, this was a year of deaths for a few close family friends. Alice and Dave...I miss you and think of you all the time.

5. What countries did you visit?
Hi...my name is Sarah and I am a stay at home mom on a single income. Have a great day.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Always seeking more calm and peace.

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Election day. August 28th - Sept. 4th (our days in Disney).

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Running my fastest 10K and a 25K. Planning the perfect Disney vacation for my family!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Probably my continuing to struggle with patience, with myself and others.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully - NO! No injuries in 2008! Thank you, Jesus!

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My membership to my gym last year at this time was by far, and continues to be, the best thing I could ever spend money on. Workouts for sanity, a pool in the summer and winter, fun experiences for the kids...it's the best!!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Barack Obama.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Geez....all the big banks that loaned out money to PLG people, knowing full well that they were screwing them in the long run.

14. Where did most of your money go?
The mortgage, car payments, and groceries.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Disney World.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Say," by John Mayer. "Walking like a one man army...." always would get me up a hill.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier 

b) thinner or fatter? Fatter
c) richer or poorer? More money coming in, more expenses going out. Gah....

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Freelance work.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Being impatient. Being too hard on myself.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with my family - heaven!

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Nah.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
30 Rock, Dirty Sexy Money, Office and Grey's.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No.

24. What was the best book you read?
Well, now that I am into this...I think I DID have a resolution to read more this year. And I DID! Joined a book club...read about 4 books. That is 4 more books than I have read in 4 years. Sad but true. Best book: 52 issues of Us Weekly. Oops...sorry.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Weepies!

26. What did you want and get?
A once in a lifetime family vacation, great times with family and friends, new adventures, more quality time with the kids, running goals achieved.

27. What did you want and not get?
A pair of jeans that really, really fit me well. The hunt continues...what's with me?

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Wow...making me go all the way back to March 21st. I turned 34 years old. Dinner at Rose's with Matt and some new running shoes.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A cleaning person who cleans as well as me.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Mix Target with a very on-sale boutique item = nice work!

31. What kept you sane?
Running, friends, laughing.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Oh, that would also be Barack.

33. What political issue stirred you the most?
Some people I know suprisingly saying, "I don't know...there is just something about Barack I don't trust."
Elephant in the room.

34. Who did you miss?
My sister.

35. Who was the best new person you met?
Geez....as I realized when filling out 30+ NEW Christmas cards this year, I have been so lucky to meet some wonderful new friends this year through the kid's school, the gym, the 'hood. Lucky indeed!

36. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Every moment matters...live each day as if it's your last.

37. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"The World Spins Madly On," by The Wheepies, speaks to my days with the kids. This best year of my life was filled with so many moments, smiles, tears, adventures, heart-stopping cuteness, worries, love, songs, laughs, dance, sweat, hugs, kisses...and then I would get to wake up and do it all over again.

Ahhh....
Let the day roll by
Ahhh...
Never say goodbye
I watch the stars from my window sill
The whole world is moving
But I'm standing still
Night is here, day is gone
And the world spins madly on...
Full of you, and where you've gone
And the world spins madly on....