Dose of Reality

You know those scenes in cartoons where the babysitter cracks the door open and behind her you see a child hanging from the ceiling, feathers flying through the air, a dog covered in leftover breakfast food and the family fish lying on the floor gasping for air?

That would be about the scene here on Jimmy Isle today. It is almost lunchtime, I am still in my pjs--not by choice but because before I could take a step up the stairs something would crash or bang causing me to fly over the banister to make sure there was no blood or broken limbs. Loulie has refused to take a nap this morning. I have been trying to put lights on the tree for about two hours. Instead of showing interest in decorating the tree, she has removed all the cushions from the sofa and is dive bombing onto them. Bridget thinks the tree lights are a chew toy. And everywhere I turn a random object is in a new and interesting place. It seems Loulie has taken a liking to the recycling bin leaving me to find a carton of milk in her cabinet, an empty jar of jelly on the stairs, a calculator in the vegetable drawer and my favorite, some (unused) female products in Bert's laundry pile. Nice!

Last year on this exact day, I ended my glorious 12 weeks of maternity leave and headed back to work. Beyond stressed and sick to my stomach over leaving my baby, I hated hearing stay at home mothers talk about how stressed and worn out they were. I remember thinking they had it made. I also remember thinking when I left my job to spend 24 hrs a day with my Bug and Bridget Bojangles that life would somewhat slow down. That things would magically get done because I would have all this extra time. WRONG!!!

Having now experienced both sides of the coin I have come to this conclusion--no mother, stay at home or working has it any easier than the other. We are all linked by the same concerns, stress over making everything perfect, and an ambition to please ____ (the boss, the husband, the kids). In looking back over the year, some things have become easier while other challenges have reared their ugly head. The bottom line is this--it will always be something and no matter how hard we work, a perfect Christmas is not created out of hard work and piles of presents; it is out of memories with our family and time spent together. ( I make this sound so easy, don't I?) So while at this very moment, I would like to go shower and spend some quiet time away from this house while my fairy godmother finishes the decorating, cleaning and childcare; I am going to challenge myself to relax and enjoy the fact that Louie thinks the funniest thing in the world is to hang ornaments off of Bridget. In fact, I know that in a few years this will be one of my favorite memories.

So relax and enjoy the weekend! Happy first few days of advent! Cheers to used coffee filters showing up in your clean laundry!!!

I am off to squeeze my Bug and BB and put a lock on that recycling bin :)

I have a Christmas card idea...to be revealed later. But in the meantime I needed just a regular picture of Bridget and Loulie. So, we headed over to the county park for a little photo shoot this afternoon.

Now, I must admit that Bert warned me ahead of time. It went like this...

"Honey, do you think it is a good idea to take Bridget and Loulie to the park together and then expect them to sit still for a picture? I mean, you just said photo, dock and the name of our kids in the same sentence--not a good combination."

(*Do you like how we refer to Bridget as a kid?)

But I did it anyway and it was a cluster but not near the ordeal that it could have been. After 250 pictures and running around the park after a dog and a one year old, we headed home for Loulie's nap and some editing.

Here are some of the out takes that sum up Loulie's sentiments on having to sit still. Also included is some evidence of the abuse of Bridget--Loulie has a lot of love to share and whether fortunate or not, much of it is directed at Bridget.

Escaping

Just plain mad

"Oh Bridget, I love you so much I'm going to squeeze you to death"

For 1980/81 babies...

I found this list online a few weeks ago. I thought it was a little funny, somewhat thought provoking and a little stupid. Some I have never done, some I am definitely still doing and some I have already left in my mid twenties. For those of you born in 1980/1981 here is a checklist for you!

1. 1. Buying clothes from the junior section. Hate to admit it--still hit that section sometimes. It's more economical
2. Forgetting her parents’ birthdays. Would not ever forget--October 19th and February 16th
3. Making out with her BFFs at bars for attention. Umm--no thanks, not ever.
4. Making out with her boyfriend at bars for attention. Again, no thanks.
5. Filling her bed with stuffed animals (really, even one is too many). Between Bert, Bridget and sometimes Loulie, my bed is already a little full but Holley Dog is upstairs in my closet.
6. Carrying a torch for anyone she hasn’t seen in the last five years. Can't even validate this with an answer
7. Rebelling against her parents for the sake of rebelling against her parents. Never did this--love them, they're the best!!!
8. Declaring an entire gender “all jerks.” Again, never.
9. Holding a grudge against anyone who wronged her in high school. No, I think the fact that they are probably in jail is resolution enough for me.
10. Skipping regular gyno exams. No comment
11. Going to bed without washing and moisturizing her face. Are you kidding?--My skin is the one thing I am paranoid about now. I actually just splurged on my first old lady product--a DDX Revolver.
12. Being “that person” who had a bit too much to drink at the office party. Did this once at 23, never again.
13. Crushing on Justin Bieber. More like Taylor Lautner and turning 30 or 40 0r 60 will not change mine and Taylor's relationship ;)
14. Thinking she’s got it all figured out. I daily wake up trying to remember my own name. I would never make this claim.
15. Calling her father “daddy.” What would you have me call him, Big Tom?
16. Engaging in sibling rivalry. Peaks and valleys on this one.
17. Trying to get by on her looks. Don't think I would have gotten very far even in my early 20s
18. Living paycheck to paycheck. This is not an age issue--it's a 2010 issue.
19. Expecting a man/knight in shining armor to swoop in and save her.
20. Aimlessly jumping from job to job.
21. Using MySpace to pick up guys. Strange and dangerous
22. Expecting a man to do all the wooing.
23. Wishing she had someone else’s life. Is it so wrong to envy Kate Middleton?
24. Expecting everyone to drop everything because it’s her birthday ...
25. ... or because her “boyfriend” of two weeks dumped her.
26. Measuring her self-worth by a number on the scale.
27. Being cheap. Or you could call it thrifty
28. Quitting a job without having a new one lined up first (especially in this economy!).
29. Blaming her mother for all her issues. I blame Obama.
30. Romanticizing her 20s. Hmmmmm

Late Twenties

I am always thinking back to where I was during this season or this day when (fill in the blank.) I just like looking back and remembering good times or tough times and seeing how it has changed me or where it brought me. Today is one of those days. Not only does today kick off the last week I will spend in my twenties (and man did I love my twenties) but five years ago today, I met Bert. I was one week from turning 25, living in Atlanta and dating someone else. I loved my job, I loved where I lived, I loved my life in Atlanta but obviously I loved Bert more. One year and three weeks later, I was married and living in Charleston-whew!!! Kind of crazy when you put it that way.

The five year mark finally makes me feel legit. For years it has seemed crazy that we were married and then having Loulie when we had friends that had been together a lot longer than us not even married yet. But five years sounds pretty solid and we have packed a good bit of living into those years.

Just fun to think that 5 years ago, I was driving back to Atlanta in my company car after meeting Bert. Getting ready for work the next day. Talking to my roommate about how I really couldn't see a future with the guy I was dating and that I didn't really know what to do about it. Today I rode home with Bridget and Loulie in the back seat watching Disney movies and making lists of all the things that I need to accomplish this week while still putting at least two days aside to have my nervous breakdown over turning 30 :)

Things can change in a blink. Thanks for sharing in the nostalgia with me. Pic from one of our first dates....

She's Baaack!!!!

First off--my apologies for the last post. It was lame. What can I say--it was late, I was tired and I just stopped writing. Our weekend was way better than my 3 sentence summary.Moving on...My baby is back!!!! I was so happy to have this sweet, love muffin back in my arms Saturday night. I left Loulie in Macon with her Lovey on Wednesday so that I could come home and get some major cleaning accomplished. For the past two years, our family has suffered from TMSS (too much stuff syndrome) and I have been wanting to have a major purge for months now. I have been very convicted over the past couple of months on evaluating the "value" of something. My thoughts finally came to this--an object is only as valuable as how often you use it and none of it is going to heaven with us. Who cares if it is a costly vase, it's a vase and if I don't like it now, then I never will. With this thought in mind, I finally held a garage sale Saturday morning and I am feeling so free.

You would not believe the things people will buy. My friend Katie told me to include anything and everything, so I did. The one item that I thought would never sell went first--two used leopard candles. Just goes to show everyone has a different idea of value. We definitely had some wacky patrons but there were a few that just touched my heart. I ended up just handing over a few items but was paid with hugs and a whooping laugh from a little boy over some Legos. (It was all I could do not to barter with the parents to keep him). I now have empty closets, an organized attic and a little cash for holiday presents.

After the exhaustion of Saturday's chores, we spent Sunday enjoying having Loulie back and kicking off Thanksgiving. We are heading to Macon to spend the holiday with Bert's side of the family so we headed out to Sullivan's on Sunday to eat dinner with my parents. I have to say this is my favorite time at the beach and it has nothing to do with wearing jeans instead of a bathing suit. (maybe a little) We played in the sand and threw the ball for Bridget--basically just enjoyed the company of family. It was a great day and an incredible meal. I'll miss being with my parents, sis and brother in law but am looking forward to heading back to Georgia again on Thursday. Hopefully, I'll have some good updates and some gloating over Georgia's win over Tech on Saturday. We are a divided family in case you didn't know.

Blessings and safe travels to all this week!

Fall Actually

No lie--every leaf in my front and back yard is still green. The trees usual don't start changing until the week after Thanksgiving which is strange because you are hanging Christmas lights as you are just starting to enjoy the beauty of fall colors. It is the one thing I miss living in Charleston--the fall season.

This weekend we were able to experience an actual, true fall--rolling hills, beautiful leaves, crisp air, long sleeves, the smell of fires burning, and football. The whole family, Bridget included, headed back to Georgia this weekend to attend a college reunion at my best friend and former roommate's home. After our trip to Sea Island in October, we thought it would be fun to get all the husbands and kids together too. Lynmarie hosted us at Heavenly Hollow Farm in Newnan and I can assure you it lives up to its name. She is the kindest, most loving friend anyone could ask for and she went above and beyond typical hostess duties to make the day special for the kids (and us).

The men fished and watched football. The kids played and ate birthday cake and explored the pastures. And the girls drank wine and talked and eventually pulled out old college albums which was both tragic and hilarious. We headed back to Macon after watching the dawgs lose to Auburn. Loulie is staying for a few days with my mother so I can get some things accomplished at home.

Kick Off to Christmas

Tonight might be one of my favorite nights of the entire year. It is the Dasher family annual kick off to the holiday season--the Festival of Lights Walk. The James Island county park is within biking distance from our house and every year they have a Festival of Lights. It is a two mile tour of thousands of lights, along with activities for the kids, a marshmallow roasting pit--you get the idea. They have one night of the year when you can walk through it (versus ride) and tonight was it.

I start looking forward to this night sometime in September every year. Now keep in mind, this is not your regular run--tonight two miler took us a whopping hour and a half. All of our friends attend with their kids and it's amazing that we haven't lost one yet. This was Loulie's second year participating and you would have thought it was her tenth. She stayed in her stroller for about 5 seconds and then insisted on walking herself the majority of the way. She did catch up with her buddy, Wesley for a minute but after a few love pats, she became disinterested and went back to walking with the big kids. You would think that walking at least a mile would wear a one year old out--not Loulie. We stayed afterwards to checkout the scene, get some Christmas candy and listen to some music. We finally had to drag her out of there promising we would bring her back in December.

Starting Line--everyone still has some pep in their step

First light display and....Loulie is off...

Baby Perrin--isn't she delicious?

It was a fu night and I am absolutely exhausted. We are leaving for Georgia in the morning and I haven't started packing yet. We're heading over to spend some time with my college friends and their families. It will be the first time we have gotten all of our kids together.

Also, thank you to all the men and women who either are serving or have served in our military and to their families. It is a great sacrifice that you have made so that we can enjoy the many pleasures of our freedom. I pray for all of you that are away from your families so that I can safely raise mine!