Work

Book 1: 5 chapters to go.

Book 2: 3 chapters to go. Been working on this one since JULY.

Book 3: 17 chapters to go.

Book 4: starting today sometime, maybe.

“Keeping busy is a good thing.” That is my motto this month. Hopefully it will stave off the underbreath murmurs of  “I’m tired,” which is not a good motto.

Our medical terminology textbook manuscript is at the point now where we’re getting back another set of reviews from “experts.” There’s a light off in the distance that just might be the end of the tunnel, but also could be a lamppost showing us more work to do. Now we decide what changes to make and then it goes to production, I guess. 

Long Weekend in Tahoe

This past Saturday we all went up to RoRo’s cabin for some R&R. 

It took a really long time to pack up the four of us for a three-day trip! I keep telling myself I’m going to create packing lists for all the places we usually go and then pull out the appropriate one every time we go. That would be Very Organized.

Packing was kind of funny. I drew pictures of clothing items on Lucas’s blackboard with a number next to each item. He was bouncing around the house and getting into trouble until I set him on this fun task. I drew short-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved shirts, pants, underpants, toothbrush and paste, hairbrush, pajamas, socks, shoes, his Tidoo doll, etc. He dutifully packed and crossed stuff off the list. It wasn’t until Sunday morning that we discovered he didn’t actually pack pants.

There was a little bit of snow on the ground from a storm on Friday, but it didn’t stick on the roads. It surprised us, as we didn’t have snow boots with us. We took Lucas’s bike up there because the cabin is in a neighborhood with very little traffic. We felt comfortable letting him ride outside in the cul-de-sac without supervision. That made him feel pretty grown-up, I think.

Sunday and Monday were warmer. On Sunday we drove to Pope Beach on the lake and Lucas rode his bike in the deserted parking lot. We walked a loooong way while he rode and discovered a lovely bike trail. It made me want to take bikes up there next time. Asher slept comfortably in his new baby carrier (http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/), which looks like this:

  It’s way more comfortable carrying him in this thing than in my sling. He’s just too heavy for the sling’s one-shoulder design if I have to carry him very far or for very long.

Anyway, we picnicked on Pope Beach, which is gorgeous and I can’t understand why I’ve never been there before. Now that I’m older, I realize that all those trips up to the cabin were mostly about hanging out with family and friends, eating good food, and playing in the creek in summer and the snow in winter. We never really explored Tahoe much! It was a beautiful day: warm in the sunshine and chilly in the shade. 

After lunch, we hiked a bit up Mt. Tallac—probably an hour and a half. This time, Asher rode in a backpack on Ian’s back. Lucas trudged up the hill and was a great sport about it. He seems to like athletic challenges. I got more exercise that day than I have in a long time. Ian cooked a wonderful pork tenderloin for dinner, which we ate with yams and caesar salad.

On Monday, we went to town and did some shopping. I bought a Christmas present—first of the year. We had all those cabin clean-up tasks to do, though, and those took up a good part of the day. On Sunday night, for various reasons having to do with snoring people and bed-hogging babies, I sneaked upstairs to the spare bedroom and slept three glorious hours. In a row. Alone. By myself. It was pure BLISS.

I worked a bit on several projects while we were there. Ian found me an ISP and a local number and I used dial-up to connect to the Internet. Man, I love my high-speed cable connection!

Although they won’t read this, I’d like to publicly thank RoRo and Nana for hosting our lovely weekend. It was great!

Small Miracle

Today, on this 9th day of October, 2007, I finally got my ass to the gym. For a workout (not to sit at the pool and watch Lucas’s swimming lessons). Yes, you read it right: First workout in about 9 months. It was a small miracle and I’m so grateful for it. 

Asher went to the gym day care for the first time. He did not like it so much. Poor baby cried off and on for 35 minutes. That’s what I got: 35 minutes on the treadmill. While jogging, it felt like someone had tied heavy waterballoons to me —two up front, two behind. Yuck.

Now I feel great. I’m getting back on the wagon. We went for a looong walk and a hike up Mt. Tallac trail in Tahoe on Sunday. It felt fantastic. I’m just going to build momentum off that wonderful experience.

I want a spiffy bike for Christmas. 

Happy Birthday Tina!

Happy birthday,

. I hope you have a wonderful day! I hope my kid doesn’t drive you crazy. I love you tons and am grateful for all that you and your family do to support me and my family.
xoxoxo

Busy. Exhausted. Need Vacation.

I’m so tired lately. Working too much for comfort. Magazine and guide work this week together amount to little down time. I should say no to some of these RUSH RUSH RUSH projects. Well, I do sometimes say no. But I said yes to one this week. It seemed prudent at the time since other guides I’m assigned to are either stalled out or haven’t started yet.

I’m hopeful that I’ll get some rest this weekend. We’re going up to the cabin for three days. I’ll be taking work with me, but should have a nice time with my family. A change of scenery and some fresh mountain air will do me good. I hope we can do some hiking. We plan on bringing a couple of bikes too. Lucas can ride in the cul-de-sac without our worrying about traffic.  

There is lots of packing to do tonight, and we’re tempted to attend a birthday party for

. We may not leave until Saturday morning. I wish there were more hours in the day and I really wish I could spend them sleeping.

Happy Birthday, My Love!

Dear Bascha,

I’ve probably told you I love you in every way possible… 

Wait. No. There are probably other ways still, so I’ll endeavor to find them and do them and continue to tell you and show you my devotion and adoration. It’s a promise.  If there are ways you want me to try, let me know. Because I would walk through lava for you. I would live in an igloo if you were there to keep me warm. 

Remember all those love letters I use to write to you? In my head, I compose one for you every day.

You are my cozy chair and my thriller. You are my cocktail and my warm bath. You are my sleepy morning and my e-ticket. I am so proud of you, so glad and grateful I get to live my life with you! 

I’m wishing you a joyful, fun 36th birthday. I hope you have 80 more with me and our beautiful boys by your side.

I love you. Happy birthday!
Sara

p.s. Only you can see this.

Weird Sadness

I gave away a huge amount of infant clothes last weekend and today. A HUGE amount. Like, probably $2K worth new. I’ve never done this before. When Lucas grew (grows) out of things I always boxed (box) them up and put them in our ever-more-crowded garage for Asher. Asher has already grown out of so many things, and we think he is our last baby, so there’s little point in keeping them. We’re out of space. 

I gave a bunch of things to my friend J, who just found out she is having twins. She got the newborn to 6 months things. I figure her babies (BABIES!) will be able to use the small sizes for a while, as they are likely to be born somewhat smaller than singles. We’re talking a 25 gallon tote plus another full box and a shopping bag full of tiny, adorable things!

I gave a handful of outfits to my friend D, whose son is 4.5 months old. She didn’t need much, but took what she wanted.

I gave the rest to my friends C and M, whose son is 3.5 months old. He got the 6 months and up clothes that don’t fit Asher: A giant box full, a kitchen garbage bag full, and another shopping bag full. FULL!

C asked me if I wanted the clothes back again. I said no. They will get good use out of them and then pass the clothes on to another family when they are done with them. M said they have two sets of friends who are expecting boys.

Somehow, saying “no, we don’t need them back again” makes me really sad. 

Sometimes being a woman with hormones is really weird.

Some September Pictures

 Asher is 7 months old in these pictures. Lucas is still 5.

So, I take lots of pictures of my boys because I can, because I think they’re beautiful, and because I want to remember what they were like when they were small. Whenever I take pictures of Asher, I think of NoNo. These photos are dedicated to her; she’ll know why.

  
 

 

  Lucas looks so much like Ian, now! He’s getting harder to photograph because sometimes he won’t cooperate. I can usually get him to give me goofy faces, though. And I’ll take those over nothing. 

Sara 2, Ninjas and Zombies 0

I soundly defeated the Ninjas and Zombies. Oh, and the Bandicoots, but they weren’t very threatening. The fight against the Aliens rages on.  Only, now its several types of Aliens in a whole new galaxy. Soon racing cars will jump into the fray.  I don’t yet know whose side they’ll be on. 

My work is weird.

Triumphant Day!

This past Monday was a day of triumph and celebration for Lucas. He learned how to ride his two-wheeled bike without training wheels! It was thrilling to watch his determination, courage (in trying again after falling), and exultation when he figured it out. 

We started a couple of weeks ago. Lucas had a friend over and they rode bikes together, but the friend didn’t have training wheels. That day, Lucas decided to take his training wheels off. At the neighbor’s suggestion, Ian took Lucas to the school field at the end of our street and he rode down a grassy hill into the field, to take advantage of the soft landing.

Then on Monday, Lucas, Asher and I went to the field and tried it on the big hill. He rode down that about 15 times. Each time he pedalled halfway across the field before hitting the grass, getting a feel for the needed balance. Each time, he got up and ran back toward me with his arms open wide and exhilaration on his face. I picked him up (as best as I could) and swung him around in the air. Then he ran back to his bike and trudged it up the hill to do it all again. I hollered and cheered myself hoarse. The hill gave him the speed he needed to pedal and feel his balance.

On our short walk home, he must have decided it was lame to walk his bike because he got on it at the street and rode. One crash. Two crashes. Then he RODE the bike. He breaked. He put his foot down. No crash. He did it! And again. Then again. It was fantastic!

Later on, we went out to ride some more. That’s when I took these pictures. Lucas was riding his bike when Ian came home from work, so Ian got to see him in action.

These pictures do not adequately convey how FAST he is! We are so PROUD of him.
 

  • About Sara

    Thanks for visiting! I’m Sara, editor and writer, wife to Ian, and mother of two precious boys. I am living each day to the fullest and with as much grace, creativity, and patience as I can muster. This is where I write about living, loving, and engaging fully in family life and the world around me. I let my hair down here. I learn new skills here. I strive to be a better human being here. And I tell the truth.

    Our children attend Waldorf school and we are enriching our home and family life with plenty of Waldorf-inspired festivals, crafts, and stories.

    © 2003–2018 Please do not use my photographs or text without my permission.

    “Love doesn’t just sit there like a stone; it has to be made, like bread, remade all the time, made new.” —Ursula K. LeGuinn

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