Gettysburg Anniversary Civil War Reenactment

 A terribly fascinating, engaging day.  I wondered if some of these reenactors have been doing this so long that they really believe they Civil War generals. All the union and Confederate actors come with their own civil war relics, clothes, guns, ammo, and knowledge of their characters.  Many of them were on the movies "Gettysburg" or "Gods and Generals." During the reenactments they sleep in tents and camps that replicate real Civil war conditions.

We loved watching the highly orchestrated, large-scale battles- the saber fighting on horseback, booming cannons, guys pretending to be infantry casualties laying on the field. 

Wildlfe Refuge

I'm always trying to replicate my happy childhood memories for my kids. Lately we've spent lots of time at the National Wildlife Refuge and it reminds me of my summers in Alaska.  We've been playing in the woods, sneaking up on animals, collecting feathers, looking at weird plants, and enjoying life's simplicity.

Liam caught some tad poles, all by himself, and has been deliberately nurturing his new pets in a glass bowl.  He even hosted them a surprise spider-man birthday party, with decorations and candy.

Brady just finished his comprehensive exams this week. Hence, we caught frogs to celebrate.  The tests are basically the business schools version of board exams to to test all his coursework before he starts his dissertation.  These tests have made life stressful. We're happy for Brady to have done so well and to have our 'normal' life back. I'm proud of my scholarly husband.

Dear 16 Year Old Self

      At this point in my life, my 10 year high school reunion and the generally over-partied, under-achieving, Chugiak High School Class of  2001 seems so irrelevant. I have kids, a job, a handsome husband, a somewhat busy schedule, family I'm dying to visit, and to be frank, hundreds of people I'd rather meet up with. Plus, for the few friends I still want to keep in contact with, there's facebook.
            That said, I'll probably attend.  My 10 year reunion happens to be the same week I'll be in Alaska with my family going fishing and running a trail marathon, and it will be ridiculously convenient to swing by for a slice of pizza.  One last time, I'll be the weird one who doesn't drink. I've decided to look at it as not so much a gathering of people I no longer care about, but instead a celebration of my roots and a way to embrace the cherished memories, exponential growth, and new friends/family life has gifted me in the last 10 years.

        A  college roommate posted on facebook a link to a youtube video "Dear 16 year old me" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4jgUcxMezM ) that inspired some thought.
Since I've been thinking a bit about the wanton, perpetually late, 17 year -old -me that graduated 10 years ago I'm inspired to think about the few surprises and regrets that have snuck up on me.


Dear 16 year old self:

• You're going to fall in love. When you do, it will be like fireworks. It will be consuming. It will be just like every mushy love song you've ever heard. And you're going to love every minute of it.
• Just be yourself. Give other people that same courtesy. It makes life easier.
• Go to class your freshman year of college. No, seriously.
• Don't ever start drinking soda. Don't ever stop playing your violin, doing soccer, or writing handwritten letters.
• You'll have a son who calls you his snuggle bug, tells you you're pretty, picks you flowers, catches fire flies, and absolutely makes your world go round. 
• Do NOT wait to go to grad school. 
• There will be a time where life hurts. You'll get through it.
• You'll be blessed with a new, curly-haired, blue-eyed, baby girl.
• You'll enjoy living where ever life takes you. . . even the Midwest.
• Get more calcium.
• Ditch your boyfriends.
• Don't eat the sausage in Ukraine.
• You'll marry someone you ALREADY KNOW. Crazy, I know.
•  Believe it or not, there really will come a day where you wish you'd have worn sunscreen.

We miss family

We miss family- hugs from our moms, advice from our dads, late night chats with sisters, laughing with our brothers, going to graduations, eating birthday cakes . . .  That's why our favorite memories in DC thus far have been when our family has come to visit.                                                

Bradys sister Emily turned 15 and so she and Brady's parents came to DC to celebrate with us. Bug catching, water fighting, touring, family dancing, fun.

(We stole all these pictures from Leisa's camera.)

 

We also stole this more inclusive slide show from Nana- Thanks Leisa!

Free photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

A little family olympics

One step behind

     I was just one lunging, diving, almost-saving, step behind Elsie as she tumbled down the concrete stairs and landed on her face.
       I was just one pivoting, don't-even-think-about-it-mom's-watching, step behind Liam as he turned on the hand mixer and got his arm (yes, I said "arm") caught between the frantically spinning beaters. 
      I was baffled that despite holding. snuggling, feeding, and helping Elsie all day, I failed to detect the tick embedded into her flesh.  I must have passed over it and mistaken it for a speck of dirt. It wasn't until the embedded bugs legs started scurrying that I noticed he was even there. And then even after he'd been detected, I couldn't get him out.  Uggh. Then came a mild fever, vomiting, worrying, calls to the doctor, hugs and kisses, and more mother guilt.

     What a weekend.
        Kids bring trauma. Luckily, they are surprisingly resilient.  Right now mine appear healthy and happy, despite any afflictions I did not prevent.
     I guess that's life. All the love in the world can not ensure a smooth ride for people we love.  Love and good intentions don't deter bad luck. It seems like caring about, and praying for, someone should, in a totally fair world, impose some preventative measures. Live and learn and stand a little closer.









GETTING LEGIT

I figured you can only take yourself so seriously if you sleep on a futon.  So this past weekend after 7 years of futoning we broke down and bought a bed, a real bed, with a real head board.  It feels oh, so good.

This purchase, this ikea, craigslisted find makes me feel totally legit.  In fact this $100 bed makes me feel like I'm thousand dollars richer.  There are some purchases that just make you feel guilty, that seem superfluous when they float around in the back of your mind. But this just makes me feel like I never should have waited this long to upgrade.

 I guess I didn't know what I was missing.  Being a grad school family for so long has made me frugal, maybe even tacky-cheap. Brady has yet to have any of his academic friends over for the past 5 years and I can't help but think our junky furniture doesn't help the odds. I have had time to think long and hard about how to spend money when I actually have it.  In my mind I have a lists of things to acquire and things that I will gladly do without.
     
1) Stuff to buy when I have $- a house (even just renting) without mice, swanky new clothes, a get away to New Zealand, a couch without holes and a table without water stains, meat (yes, even steak)  all new towels and pillowcases.
 2)Stuff other people buy I can do without- a brand spankin' new car, a spacious house, designer anything,  expensive electronics, . . .

 For now all those things can wait though, I've got my bed.


The 'before' bed, equipped with buzz light year pillowcases and a super cute kid


 

Baby Birds

For the past 2 weeks we have been spying on the nest of a mother Robin, perched outside a closet window. Three eggs hatched and it's been fun to have a bird's eye view of the process at a 2-inch distance. The baby birds grow quick. We first found them when they were pink, squirmy, and fuzzy. Today we saw one of the little guys take his first fall/flight. Liam's loved watching them get fed and volunteered to take over the mom's job of hunting for worms, if need be.

 

Liam insists that all of his hot dogs be made to look like "Light Saber Hotdog's