Thirteen Years and an Anniversary Dinner.

Today was our thirteenth anniversary. In so many ways it seems like time has flown by and I can't believe we've been married 13 years already. In other ways, it feels like we have always been together and I can't imagine a time without Rick and the family we've created. I guess both are good :)

We spent Saturday morning at the house looking at the driveway AGAIN. We can't seem to get it just right and this is the 4th time we've moved / changed it. The first three times were because the stone mason didn't follow the plan but this last one was exactly the plan and we still didn't feel like it was just right - so we tweaked it a bit and both feel good about it. It's a big, long driveway with a large parking area (that will double as a basketball "court"). We want to make sure we get it just the way we want it.

After that we went to look at lights and bath fittings (towel rods, toilet paper holders, etc) - which was totally unproductive. I think I'm through traipsing from store to store for these things and will get the rest of the things I need online. Even if I end up sending some back it's got to be more efficient to get them that way.

Just in case we began to think that romance was dead we did plan for a dinner at a restaurant I've been wanting to try for a couple of years. It just so happens that we now live very close to The Schoolhouse at Cannondale, so it made for a perfect place for our anniversary dinner.

It's small - but doesn't seem cramped, just intimate and cozy.

The food was absolutely perfect. The service was also wonderful, they'd put "Happy Anniversary" on the top of our menu - I always like when places do that. They were prompt and attentive without being a nuisance - a delicate balance, I say.

I ordered my favorite - beet salad. It came with the typical variety of beets, thinly shaved radishes, and the smoothest ricotta cheese I've ever tasted, sunflower seeds and a great dressing. So good! 
We also shared a cheese plate that included a Tasmanian cheese with honeycomb that I really liked and not just because it was Australian. 

For my Main I ordered the venison, which was melt in my mouth tender, with kale and butternut squash puree. It was all perfect and made even better by the crisp fall air outside. It just felt comforting.For dessert we ordered chocolate souffle for two with cinnamon ice cream and a bourbon caramel sauce.

It was a wonderful dinner, which was fitting because it's been a pretty darn wonderful thirteen years.

The Countdown Begins.

The move is just 10 days away & I am feeling a little more stressed. Mostly because I really can't get much done each day with swimming. Emily has practice each day from 10 - 11:30. I am trying to get everyone up & ready and accomplish one thing before we go to practice, like run to the dry cleaner or the bank, pick up paint chips, etc. 

Today I dropped off the dry cleaning for the last time. I love that place & they love me! I never have to tell them my number when I walk in because they have it memorized. Once I had the babysitter drop it off for me. She had never been there before & when she walked in they automatically knew it was my stuff & pulled my name up on the computer. When she asked how they knew the girl said "I recognize the clothes." Seriously, they are awesome. I know them all by first name, they know I don't like the plastic covering and gave me big cloth re-usable bags to cover my clothes, they always give me a discount when I pick up my order - they even gave me a bottle of wine last Christmas (so, I guess they don't know me enough to know I'm LDS.) I hope I can find a good dry cleaner in our new town!

When I got home Irene arrived for the last time. Irene cleans for me every other Tuesday. When I was pregnant with Jane I got very sick & was admitted to the hospital. We decided to get some cleaning help & hired Irene, after that I could just never let her go.

She is one of the sweetest people alive & has been super reliable. In the 5 1/2 years she has cleaned for us she has missed just 3 days due to sickness. When I said good-bye & gave her a hug, she cried. I wish her well in the future, we will miss her.

Then we all went to the pool and Jacob & Jane played while Emily practiced & I made good use of my iPhone to get as many "phone call" items done as possible. Today I set up a cleaning lady to clean the rental house next Monday and Stanley Steamer to clean the carpets on Tuesday afternoon.

After swimming we dropped Emily home to eat & rest and I ran to a pediatrician appointment with Jacob & Jane. The school nurse from their new school called me last week to say they were missing a couple of shots. Jacob needed chicken pox and Jane needed the chicken pox & to start the Hepatitis B series. I didn't need to say goodbye to Dr. Grace because I am just going to bring them back her to see her - at least for a while. She is SO good & we love her SO much. I will probably eventually find someone in our new town but for now it's just adding a challenge that I don't want to deal with and it will be easier to keep bringing them back here. On the way home we dropped off a bunch of giveaway stuff at the kids old pre-school for their thrift shop & got the car washed.

I got home at 1:55 and needed to leave at 2:10 - I took a super fast shower, left Bek with a list for the other kids for the afternoon and Emily and I were ready just in time for our ride to pick us up for Counties.

Counties - Day Two

First up for Emily today was the medley relay - where each swimmer swims a different stroke for 50 yards. Their team has come second SO many times this season and I was feeling the stress for them. Emily swims third -  the Butterfly.  The first swimmer (back) did a great job at keeping it level, the second swimmer (breast) held her own too. As Emily entered the water they were slightly behind the lead (see the swimmer in the lane beside her, ahead by a length.)

I was standing about 1/3 of the way down the pool. As she passed me she started to level it out.

 

Neck in neck. 

 

Then she started to pull ahead.

Then passed her for the lead!

 

They won their heat. They all did really well and Em had a personal best with her butterfly length. Unfortunately not quite fast enough to win overall but we were all super proud of them. OK, I actually cried. It was so wonderful to see them finally win a heat after so much hard work and training.

She also swam the 50 free today. She didn't have a great swim and was 2 seconds slower than her usual time but I reminded her that not every meet can be her best swim ever. Sometimes you just have an off swim.

We got home from the meet around 8pm and I had Emily eat and then sent her to shower while I ran to buy some groceries. When I got home from the store I bundled her off to bed and got cracking on the laundry. It would be lovely if I could just put our "regular life" - needing to eat and wear clean clothes & feed the dog, etc on hold while all this swimming / moving / building craziness is going on but I can't. A member of our Bishopric gave a fantastic talk 2 weeks ago about the difference between adversity or hardship and inconvenience - and how we sometime confuse the two. It was a great talk and very timely for me. I am getting about 4 hours sleep a night. I am so tired, I feel overwhelmed and like I have a million things to do all at once, I wish we had some family around to help out ... but it's just an inconvenience. This will all be over in 10 days (most of the crazy) and all the hard work will be over by the end of the year and we will have a beautiful place to live in, in an area that will makes our lives better and mine easier. The crazy of this month for us are champagne problems and we are lucky to have them.

Small Garden

I didn't plant a large garden this year since I knew we would be moving. We planted basil, chives, parsley, cilantro, beans, carrots and tomatoes. The sage, thyme and strawberries came up again because they are perennial. Most will be left for the new owners (I hope they like gardening).

I put tomatoes in pots so we could take them with us to the rental house. I also put some of the strawberry plants in pots when I thinned them out in spring so they can go to the new house for next year. My neighbor Elaine gave them to me when she thinned hers a few years ago, so I have an emotional attachment to our strawberries. The beans are from our "one bean" project (still going strong) and all come from just one bean, so if they aren't ready when we move I'll have to let the new owners know I am coming back for them!

It has been nice to enjoy some fresh food from our garden, even though it's not as much as we usually have. I'm glad I still planted a little, it does my soul good.

Infinite Variety

Over the weekend I heard about a quilt show. It was only open for 6 days and ending the following Wednesday. I knew I had to see it. I had an appointment with my knee doc in the city on Tuesday morning, so thought Jane & I could head over there afterwards.

It was spectacular!

These quilts are the personal collection of Joanna S. Rose. The story I heard is - it was her birthday (I believe her 80th) and she told her kids that she had never seen them all in one place & would love that as her birthday gift. Also to celebrate her birthday she wanted to give a gift to the city of New York and made admission to this exhibit free! There are over 650 quilts. It was truly amazing to see.

They handed out little white booklets (spiral bound in red) and red pencils to kids as they walked in, so they could sketch the quilts. Jane loved it and happily sketched away while I walked around in awe deciding that I absolutely MUST make a red and white quilt!

This alphabet one with animals was Jane's favorite.

The way they had them displayed was also wonderful. It really was spectacular to see them in contrast with each other - yet with all that red & white.

 

When we left I was kicking myself for not taking the other kids. Having seen it I realized what a unique opportunity it was to see all those red and white quilts, that were part of a private collection, no less and that they may never all be on display again ...  Man, I was mad at myself. Enough that today (the last day of the show), I picked up Emily & Jacob a little early from school and we went back down to the city (Bek had rehearsal and didn't want to come). It was meant to be because I got a great parking spot on a meter 2 blocks away!

We ran into friends and Jake, Jane, Eve & Ruth all happily sketched away while I  just soaked up the beauty of those quilts again!

Some of them just had the most incredible work in them - like this one that had names embroidered around each star.

Emily loved sketching them too and tried to draw as many as she could, especially of her favorites.

I loved that she was also impressed with the workmanship and detail and looked for the makers names, or sometimes just the year embroidered into the corner.

This as one of my favorites. I think it would be beautiful on Jacob's bed and have every intention of copying it!

Jacob loved the airplane one.

This was one of the oldest quilts there and the collectors personal favorite.

Jane's favorite again.

I am so glad I seized the moment with these guys and took them to see it. Maybe we didn't get to homework or piano practice and they went to bed late, but they will hopefully remember this great exhibition (and that we went down to Rick's office to meet him for dinner afterwards!)

Millie & Cody

One of Millie's littermates (a brother) lives in Manhattan. They were born in Colorado & we live 30 minues away from each other - we HAD to make the most of that.

We got in touch & made a date to meet at the dog park on Sunday afternoon.

Millie has lots of "dog friends" in our neighborhood, but has never been to a dog park so I wasn't sure how she'd do. When we first arrived, this black & white dog kept bugging her & nipping at her - but I just watched and waited to see if she could work it out for herself (the other dogs owner never seemed to intervene, which is probably why he was like that.) Finally, it was my kids who stepped in. I think they were worried about her. I could tell the other dog wasn't really hurting her - more just bothering her. The kids started to put themselves in his way & then he left her alone.

Milli's brother is named Cody & he is delightful.

He was so much like Mille - only he's bigger because he's a boy!

Jane & Cody waiting for newcomers.

Jane & Cody wrestling - they really hit it off.

  Millie (left) & Cody (right).

 

A kind lady offered to take a picture of all of us.

 Cody

Cody, Emily & Millie.

It was seriously cold outside, so we stayed at the dog park for a little over an hour. Then Cody's super-nice "parents" asked if we would like to come back to their apartment, where they gave us hot chocolate & cookies (& homemade treats for the dogs.) Anyone who's lived in NY knows what a big deal it is to invite six people and their dog to your apartment, so we really appreciated it.

(Sorry, my camera is having flash issues - so this is a bad picture.)

Thanks for the fun play-date Cody! We had a great time.

We definitely plan on getting together (+ some other Entlebucher's we know) for a BBQ or something at our place in the spring!

Not so fast .....

January 7th 2011

I leave a comment on my friend Jen's blog telling her how great it is when your kids get a bit bigger & don't get into as much trouble. I reassure her that it will get easier over time.

January 8th 2011

Another snow day for the kids with no school. I get up with them & get them breakfast. It's coming down hard outside & I'm sure we won't be going anywhere for the day.

It's still dark outside (my kids get up early.) My bundle of blankets and cozy bed is calling to me. Rick had stayed home (working from home due to the weather) and is still in bed. I contemplate another hour of sleep snuggled up to Rick & decide to plop them in front of the TV for an hour.

One hour later ....

Emily wakes up & comes in to ask me if it's a snow day. I tell her yes, wake myself up and head downstairs. To quite the sight. Jacob & Jane have helped themselves to a little party from the food storage room and there were wrappers everywhere.

We had anticipated the snow day (due to dire storm warnings the night before) and I had told the kids before going to bed that we would spend the morning cleaning the house, but we could watch a movie and have popcorn in the afternoon. Jacob & Jane had decided to get a jump on the cleaning.

They had taken spray bottles of laundry stain remover and sprayed it on all the walls, the entire carpet, the glass patio doors, the silver picture frames, all the wooden closet doors, the TV .... you name it, it was covered in laundry spray (which, for the record is NOT easy to remove from non-laundry items.) No pictures of that - I was too mad to think of getting the camera!

Having emptied several full spray bottles all over the basement they had moved on to other endeavors.

This for instance.

It is a cup from their bath toys filled with water and over a dozen "pet jellyfish" aka my contact lenses. The brand new one's I'd just ordered.  The picture is a little blurry - but I figured they'd added about $60 worth as their "pets."

 They had also created an "arctic version." This is a glass filled with Oxyclean and water - and more contacts (see the semi transparent things sticking out from the side?) I don't know how many contacts they put in here - because the thing had set SOLID.

They were completely un-repentant and quite impressed with their work!

Needless to say, we all spent a long time cleaning that morning. Hopefully they learned their lesson.
Hopefully I learned my lesson too - it's never worth it to leave them unsupervised!

(You would really think I would have that one down by now.)

Millie's Training.

I have been having issues loading video to blogger.

I have wasted literally HOURS on trying to figure it out. I kind of wish I had never updated to the new version ....

I have more to post about the kids and Millie - but thought I'd just try this to see if it works. It's not good quality video. Rick is in Chicago & Bek is in Costa Rica, so I am shooting myself - wobbly when I move & praise her!

Millie is doing VERY well with her training. She can -

come

sit

down

wait

let's go (leaving from wait)

OK (release word from wait)

walk beautifully right beside me on a leash

We're working on -

stay

leave it

drop it

fetch

We're still having a bunch of issues with her biting the kids. I am hoping that a lot of it will go away when her baby teeth fall out (which I think I read is at 3 months??) For now, I just have to be super on the ball with watching her & giving her a correction - and protecting them.

If you notice in the video, when I say her name she sits. It's been great - as soon as she knows I want something from her, she sits and watches me. She is really eager to please and likes "working".  She is a super smart dog - really, she's only 11 weeks old and has already learned so much.
I am SO in love with her!

Since I made this video I have taken her out the door a few times without saying either "sit" or "wait" and she has done both - which is of course, our end goal. As Cesar would say "An open door doesn't mean go out, you have to be invited." She really is a wonderful puppy!

Millie

Last week was the last week of school for my kids. It was a crazy week - ending with me hosting a dinner for Rebekah's high school teachers at our house on Thursday & holding a Harry Potter themed 1/2 birthday for Emily on Friday. I spent Saturday morning at my last composting class and the afternoon trying to make some sense of the house and clean up a little before taking off Saturday evening, when I flew to Colorado to get our puppy!

I was fortunate to spend a few days with my dear friend, Melissa, and her wonderful family. I slept, I read, I hung out by the pool. It was really relaxing and a wonderful start to summer.

The best part though, was on Tuesday evening when the breeder (Wendy) met me at Melissa's to bring me Millie. I have poured over pictures of this dog - but she is even more beautiful and so great in "real life." Seriously, have you ever seen a prettier puppy?

Wendy's daughter Grace, had a hard time saying good-bye. I don't blame her! I promised we'd keep in touch. I'm really glad they had a kid in their house, so Millie could get used to kids. Millie was clearly loved and a part of the family before she came to us, which I'm sure has helped her adjustment.

Me, Millie and her Mom, Lilly.

So, now you have a good idea how big Millie will get - a perfect size!

After they left, I fed her. She LOVES to eat.

Then she went to the "bathroom." (aka Melissa's flower bed.)

Then we played in the backyard.

She seemed tired, so we stopped and I rubbed under her chin and she fell sound asleep against my legs with her little paws in the air. She is a darling!!

About 10:30pm we left for the airport and the red-eye home. I was a little nervous about how she'd do on the flight - being only hours after separating from her mother & litter mates. I reminded myself that I have flown with my kids dozens of times (I am a pro) and that I'd never see any of the other passengers again ...

 Once I'd checked my bag and got my boarding pass I took her outside for a little walk and to see if she'd "go" again (she didn't). I went through security and headed to the gate. It was after mid-night and I thought the poor little thing was probably tired.  I walked around, back and forth in front of the gate carrying the bag until she went to sleep.

She was an ANGEL on the flight. I kept the bag on my lap after we had taken off. Not a single sound out of her. She slept until about 20 minutes before we landed (I think the change in in altitude probably woke her up) and then just sat quietly in the carrier while I patted her. I had unzipped the top, so she could poke her head out while I did that, but the flight attendant came by and said "Ma'am, you're going to need to keep that closed." I did think to myself "Why, to keep this vicious puppy from attacking anyone?" - but I zipped it mostly closed and just kept my hand in so I could keep stroking her. As I was getting off several people who had been sitting around me commented that they'd had no idea I'd had a dog with me.

Rick was outside waiting for me, so I let her out to see if she needed to "go" (still didn't) and then handed her to them in the car while I went back in for my bag.

If you ever want to make your kids deliriously happy - bring them a puppy!

We got home and got out of the car, took her to the spot we want her to use as her "potty" and she went right away. I just kept thinking to myself - we have the perfect dog!

She has blended into the family beautifully. She follows me wherever I go and flops on the ground by my feet when I stop to do dishes, laundry, etc. We just keep her wherever we are and she has been great. The toughest part is keeping the kids away from her when she is sleeping. Jacob & Jane just love hugging her and kissing her so much!

Eventually I chase them away and she gets a quiet nap.

Her first night home she cried a lot - on and off most of the night. We got 2 crates and put one in our room, at the foot of our bed where we want her to sleep. (The other is in the dining room for when we have to leave her at home and go out - which we have so far only done for 1 hour.) Rick complained that she kept him up, which I thought was hilarious because he has had no problem sleeping through our kids all these years! The second night & last night she slept through without a sound.

She has had a few accidents in the house, but I think those were mostly our fault - not reading her cues or getting her out in time. She's still just a baby and we're all learning together.

The kids are just loving having her to play with - it's so much fun to have her hanging out with us.

Although there have been some issues with "sharing" and I have said to Jane 5 million times

"Jane, don't pick her up." On the whole, everyone is sharing in her care (under my supervision) and getting lots of play time with her.

So, she cleans her plate at every meal, sleeps through the night already, comes when I call her and follows me when I leave. Already she is so much better behaved than my kids!

I am totally in love with this dog!!