This is 40, Installment 3

Just. Say. No.

It's something I've learned can be SO freeing. Maybe it's a growing-old revelation. This fall I was working on finishing my novel and kept saying no to things. Things like my gingerbread house building party that we've thrown for the past 14 years. Things like turning down various Christmas invitations. Things like not going to my kids' hockey tournament in Buffalo (I know, so tempting) in order to write. Even things like going to see the Capitol Christmas tree and White House trains and trees that we've traditionally done. I said no. I don't HAVE to go to everything I'm invited to, even when I like the people who invite me! Even if we ALWAYS do it. Most people already know this, but it's been a little addictive for me to say no. Consider it.

I lived primarily in my head this fall and first part of winter, and I've enjoyed it. My inspiration to dive into writing again was fueled by a literary society of two other writing pals from college also working on novels. It is a virtual society, and we communicate via Google Docs and Marco Polo, which is an amazing app that everyone should have (unsponsored plug).

On the flip side, I said yes to something that we don't usually do, which was to visit the beach over Christmas/New Year's break. It was delightful and relaxing. Now I am in a mad dash to finish grading essays and plan the rest of second quarter. Unfortunately, all I could say to those essays was, "No, not yet." Now they're here and real and staring at me menacingly.

Here is a poem I wrote this fall about drifting away from writing over the past few years. I'm glad to be back. And if I say no to something, don't be offended. Just know that it's an addiction that I'm currently not seeking help for.

This is 40.

I Lost You

somewhere 

on the path

in the weeds

sidewalk cracks

playground mulch

silent desks

I’ll see you tomorrow though

I always say I always say

when the spirit prompts

when the wind blows tree leaves

sequins flipping in flight

but diapers

but dinner

but laundry

but dishes

but bathtime

but stories

but essays

but meetings

You’re in me but never

on the lines

white, barren, beautiful

infuriating

mocking

flying, flitting, dividing my 

sky separating my thoughts my

world shattering my air my breath

my dreams

You are loud as cat’s feet 

on pine needles

predictable as time

surprising as sunrise 

Always there

unwritten  

And now a couple beach pictures from the thing I said yes to this holiday season.

It's the Silver Line!

For years we've heard that the metro will for sure be coming to Reston on its way from DC out to Dulles Airport. We had that in mind when we bought our condo six years ago near one of the two planned Reston stops. Many political and economical and financial discussions and plan-changes have been going on for so many years it has been hard to keep track (pun intended) of the latest metro news. Well, last Saturday it finally happened! The grand opening of the Silver Line! For those of you who drive, it might be intrusive and annoying to have a metro stop by you, and all the businesses and people that come with it. But for your friendly, non-driving, epileptic momma, this is awesome!

Before, I could walk five minutes to a transit station to catch a bus to transfer to the metro to catch a train to get downtown. BUT. Now I can either walk 15 minutes to the station, catch a train and be downtown in 25 minutes or less, or, to make it even faster, I can catch a bus outside my door that goes directly to the station, be there in two minutes, catch a train, and be downtown even faster. It is so much easier, and direct, and exciting!

Today I took the boys on our first Silver Line adventure. Though the parking garage is still incomplete, the station is open and sparkly new. Maybe I got a few goosebumps walking over the toll road.

There doesn't have to be a silver lining, anymore...there's a silver line. (Badda-bing. Sorry, I just had to work it in somehow.)

Look out, Silver Line, weirdos boarding.

We got on the front car and watched all the new route and new stops.

Memorial Day Lake-ing

Over Memorial Day weekend we went to Brian's parents' beautiful lake house with some of his family. It was a nice, relaxing weekend that for the boys and I extended Friday through Tuesday.

The lake house is about a four hour drive, minus any stops. The boys were awesome and one of the things they did to keep themselves entertained was to sing to us. They sang songs they made up all by themselves. (Yaaaayyy) Here are the titles of the lovely songs we were serenaded with:

Little Maple Face
I Love My Booty So Much
Trees, trees, trees
Automatic Spiderman
What's Wrong With the Internet?
I Am a Nipple Surrounded by Trees

I don't think song writing is in their future, but you never know.

The weather was perfect. We got to see Tracy, our sister-in-law who recently had the cardiac arrest and basically came back to life in an absolutely amazing story and recovery that has left her pretty much unaltered. She and her family of six drove up from Atlanta to spend the weekend with Brian's parents and his sister and family from up by us.

As usual lately, I don't have much time to actually write an intelligent, witty, and/or poignant entry about it, but I'll share some pictures. Somewhere there is a picture of me driving Brian's mom around on the jet ski, which was awesome. Me, driving! So fun and exhilarating! I'll add the picture when I find it. Enjoy.

Teddy at the beach!

Just add water! Put a Teddy in a lake.

Sand- the mark of a good beach day

Concerned citizen Theodore Crosson goes for a spin on the jet ski with Dad.

Three boys on a boat ride

A brigade of  cousin water gun fighters generously paused the fight for a photo.

Calvin practices on shore for his crazy driving one day.

Zane says Clark will be the better driver.

I think Clark may have actually taken the jet ski out in his mind.

It was hard to not take pictures of this kid

Morning coffee Cheerios on the deck

How do I look from the side?

Sandy toes

Worn out after a walk with Cousin Clara to see baby goats

The three 2013 baby cousins: Ivy, Teddy, Clara

Giggling Clara, Concerned Theodore, and ATTACKING THE CHAIR Ivy

Taking pictures of multiple babies is hard work.

Playing the bucket

Cousin water wars

s'mores at the fire

The goodbye boy cousins bear hug...this is the part where they look
at the other camera, not at mine.

Ivy hug-attacks Teddy

And we drove home

The Other Half of Idaho

I've been blog slacking.

About a month ago I wrote about our Idaho surprise and posted some pictures from our first few days there, but thought I'd add some other pictures from the rest of our visit. It was so nice to have that time with my parents, sister, and grandparents. It was also nice for Teddy to have all that time with his grandparents and aunt; it meant that I had so much more brain space than normal. Didn't have to think about the everyday responsibilities that come with keeping three small, moving children alive and well.

I did some reading. I cooked for fun. (what?) I watched Pride and Prejudice with my mom and sister while we wore irrelevant skirts and drank tea. I worked out to an exercise video (yes, a VHS) that we used to work out to when I was like 12 years old, just for kicks. I did a lot of sitting and laughing around a roaring fire by my parents' wood stove. Just relaxing. Stretching. Foot-rubbing. Cat-petting. Striking pensive poses. I even tried to cross country ski for the first time in something like seven years. The result was beautiful scenery and great exercise but did not end well. (See how it ended.)

On the other side of the country my husband and our amazing friends took wonderful care of Cal and Clark. I was wondering how the boys would do in my absence. I missed them-- I'd never been away from them for so long. When they picked me up from the airport they were decidedly indifferent to the fact that I was now with them. Then there was an adjustment phase where I was reintroduced to life with three children by myself all day. They seemed a little put out that we did normal stuff like clean their room and eat sandwiches after having gone to a movie, made mini pizzas, gone duckpin bowling, skating, ate a lot of pizza, ice cream, cheesecake, played a lot of Wii, watched movies, in general were treated like little princes. I think we are now adjusted back to reality.

Here are some pictures from the rest of our Operation Ted Sneak Idaho trip:

Four generations!

Great Grandma eats some little feet.

Walking on Papa

Heading uphill on cross country skis

Teddy had lots of hands eager to feed him.

The scene from my parent's dining room one morning-- that's the frozen
lake out there

Snow!

Super adorable pygmy owl that hung out for hours one day

Pride and Prejudice watching

Pinkies up!

This was my handmade and hand-painted chair when I was little.

Afternoon snuggles with Aunt Bean

The rocket ship birdhouse Cal and Clark painted for Papa last year

Grandma loves Teddy

and so does Aunt Bean!

Meeting Winnie the horse-- not so sure about her

Meeting Great Aunt Gwen and
Something-or-other once removed Anna, visiting from Ecuador

Little grocery shopping with Grandma

Rocking with Great Grandpa Joe

Making Great Grandma laugh

Teddy found his best friend. Turns out he likes to hang
out in the locker room of Grandma and Papa's gym.

First swimming pool experience was a smashing success!

Soaking up the fire

Me attempting to cross country ski...it's been awhile

Out on a walk with Papa

Teddy's friend is also in the Denver airport
after a poop-splosion!

Watching the planes in Denver on the way home

Teddy is now an experienced traveler.