In these last few days of August, there is a lot of sadness around here. No one really wants the summer to end. It isn't that they don't want to go to school, they just don't want the summer to end. Luckily, with the exception of two half days on Tuesday and Wednesday, no one around here starts school until September 9th, so they have another 10 days to enjoy the 94 degree days Accuweather is predicting through next Saturday.
There really hasn't been much going on around here, but that is largely because I have been working for the last two weeks, on what will be a three week temporary job with a company I have worked with before. I am not doing lawyer work...it is strictly customer service, but I actually like it a lot, and I really like the people I work with. But then again, I know it is only for three weeks.
What I haven't liked, is being away from my kids all day--i.e. being a working mom. I am used to being here, and I miss them. Their days are carefully planned out by me, and I have a schedule of fun things for them to do, but I think they miss me. Lily tells me all the time how much she misses me, and so does Matthew. Timmy is only interested what is in front of him....of all my children, he is the most likely to leave and never come back. He is just happy wherever he is.
But today Anna told me that I have missed important things in her life by not being there for these last two weeks. Specifically, I was sitting outside of Sprinkles, and I was talking about working, and how I feel like I am glad I am working, but being out of the loop for two weeks has been difficult, but that I guess for 2 weeks, I haven't missed much, when she said "Oh, no, you have definitely missed out on parts of my life these last two weeks because you were working. You are so busy when you get home getting ready for the next day, that there are things I haven't told you."
Wow. My first reaction was "poor baby.....you weren't able to tell me a few things." But then I started thinking about how unbeliebably lucky I am, and how lucky my kids are, that they DO have me there the overwhelmingly vast majority of times, to tell me how their tennis match went, or how they did at golf, or what funny thing Lily did with Grace...
Being a stay-at-home mom isn't always the greatest, at least for me. I don't love cooking or making fancy dinners, and I don't really enjoy the domestic life. I don't live on a street where there are lots of other stay-at home moms....most of my neighbors are much older. I also don't have siblings/mom/dad, family to hang out with. My best friend, Ellen, lives within 5 minutes of two of her siblings with great spouses, and lots of nieces and nephews. I would have a lot more fun if I had that, but I do have great friends.
Moreover, before I became a mom, I was a lawyer, which is a job I was good at, and I loved doing it. Whenever I go to a lawyer continuing legal education course to keep my license, I am reminded of how much I loved being a lawyer. But, ultimately, I love my children far more, and at the end of my time, I will not remember the cases I won (or didn't win), but I will remember all the school events I was able to attend, and all the time I spent with them, and for me, that means more than winning a case before the Supreme Court.
And, by the way, Anna couldn't remember those things that I missed...so maybe they were just fleeting anyway.
So, as the days of August move into September, enjoy the last few days of true summer.... the ones before school begins. I will be finishing up my last week of work, and trying to call Anna to tell me what is going on while I am driving home from work!
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Saturday, August 22, 2015
Part 2 of...Learning how to say goodbye when your child leaves for college.
This year, my saying goodbye to our oldest son, Jack, was very different from last year. Last year, I was sad, but brave (not Chris...he was just plain old sad--all weekend, and on the way home, in a sad, needy, not brave for your child way...he just missed his oldest son). This is the post here about my feelings on the morning we left for Notre Dame.
Last year, in mid-August, my family, all seven of us, rented a large van, and drove two vehicles in a caravan to drop our oldest son, Jack, off in South Bend, Indiana, and spent an amazing 4 days at the University of Notre Dame. It was so great.
We arrived on Thursday night, parked without a problem, and then walked around, taking our own informal tour of the campus, which was really, surprisingly quiet. There was no one on campus. It was hot, and this place looked very manageable to me. It was big, but no hills, and easy to walk. It was very peaceful.
That all changed the next morning, when the freshman reported to their dorms, and it became very busy. I became the mom that I remembered seeing other people have on the first day of college (no helpful parents for me...). I was putting on sheets, putting clothes in drawers, and meeting the other three sets of parents of his quad-mates (he had three roommates). I was busy, and I was really liking this Notre Dame place. It was wonderful. I went to a parent thing in his dorm, and met the RA's (the call them Rectors, I think), and they were very reassuring. Not that I was worried about Jack, but they said something which was very reassuring--they said words to the effect of "we are here to do all the things that you do for your child...if there is something wrong, we take care of it." What more could a parent ask?
I met Governor Chris Christie on the second day, and that was also good--if this place was good enough for Governor Christie (who I like), it was okay with me.
At the end of the third day at Notre Dame, on Saturday night, we said goodbye to Jack, and left him, 660 miles from our home, at a campus I had visited for all of 96 hours. Before we went back to our hotel, I told him that we were getting up early on Sunday, and, that unless he needed to see us, we would leaving for our 12 hour trip back to Jenkintown at 9 am. Of course, he didn't call, although he does admit that he had missed us on his first night in the dorm....when we were still in town.
This year, we thought we were making the trip to Notre Dame this weekend, but a few days ago, Jack kind of told us that he was going out with his roommate (who is from this area), and that we could drive his stuff out if we wanted. Well, no thank you. I can mail his stuff out for less than $100....assuming he couldn't put everything in his roommate's car. I am willing to drive him, but I don't need to drive out his stuff.
So, that will make this year's good bye much easier...it was a quick goodbye in our driveway, not a 4 day event. But I also felt differently. I know he will probably be back for Fall Break in about 2 months, and then I will see him 2 months after that..a few days before Christmas, because I doubt he will be back for Thanksgiving. Last year, I missed him so much before he came home for Christmas. I really needed to see him. He isn't a good phone talker, and he was very busy with Engineering, rowing for Notre Dame's team, and doing freshman stuff.
But Jack has a way of making it easy not to miss him. I guess all teenagers do. My friend Ellen once told me that by the time her oldest left for college, she was barely seeing him anyway, so his going away wasn't so bad. Jack is the same.
So, this year's saying goodbye to my college student was much different, and much less difficult for all of us, I think, largely because we all know that we have adapted to some extent, to Jack not being here. But I have to admit that I already know that next year will be brutal bringing Anna to college. I can't imagine saying goodbye to Anna. That will kill me, and if I seem brave or happy, it is because my first desire was to be an actress because I am very good at acting, but I can't sing, and my high school only put on musicals!!
Last year, in mid-August, my family, all seven of us, rented a large van, and drove two vehicles in a caravan to drop our oldest son, Jack, off in South Bend, Indiana, and spent an amazing 4 days at the University of Notre Dame. It was so great.
We arrived on Thursday night, parked without a problem, and then walked around, taking our own informal tour of the campus, which was really, surprisingly quiet. There was no one on campus. It was hot, and this place looked very manageable to me. It was big, but no hills, and easy to walk. It was very peaceful.
That all changed the next morning, when the freshman reported to their dorms, and it became very busy. I became the mom that I remembered seeing other people have on the first day of college (no helpful parents for me...). I was putting on sheets, putting clothes in drawers, and meeting the other three sets of parents of his quad-mates (he had three roommates). I was busy, and I was really liking this Notre Dame place. It was wonderful. I went to a parent thing in his dorm, and met the RA's (the call them Rectors, I think), and they were very reassuring. Not that I was worried about Jack, but they said something which was very reassuring--they said words to the effect of "we are here to do all the things that you do for your child...if there is something wrong, we take care of it." What more could a parent ask?
I met Governor Chris Christie on the second day, and that was also good--if this place was good enough for Governor Christie (who I like), it was okay with me.
At the end of the third day at Notre Dame, on Saturday night, we said goodbye to Jack, and left him, 660 miles from our home, at a campus I had visited for all of 96 hours. Before we went back to our hotel, I told him that we were getting up early on Sunday, and, that unless he needed to see us, we would leaving for our 12 hour trip back to Jenkintown at 9 am. Of course, he didn't call, although he does admit that he had missed us on his first night in the dorm....when we were still in town.
This year, we thought we were making the trip to Notre Dame this weekend, but a few days ago, Jack kind of told us that he was going out with his roommate (who is from this area), and that we could drive his stuff out if we wanted. Well, no thank you. I can mail his stuff out for less than $100....assuming he couldn't put everything in his roommate's car. I am willing to drive him, but I don't need to drive out his stuff.
So, that will make this year's good bye much easier...it was a quick goodbye in our driveway, not a 4 day event. But I also felt differently. I know he will probably be back for Fall Break in about 2 months, and then I will see him 2 months after that..a few days before Christmas, because I doubt he will be back for Thanksgiving. Last year, I missed him so much before he came home for Christmas. I really needed to see him. He isn't a good phone talker, and he was very busy with Engineering, rowing for Notre Dame's team, and doing freshman stuff.
But Jack has a way of making it easy not to miss him. I guess all teenagers do. My friend Ellen once told me that by the time her oldest left for college, she was barely seeing him anyway, so his going away wasn't so bad. Jack is the same.
So, this year's saying goodbye to my college student was much different, and much less difficult for all of us, I think, largely because we all know that we have adapted to some extent, to Jack not being here. But I have to admit that I already know that next year will be brutal bringing Anna to college. I can't imagine saying goodbye to Anna. That will kill me, and if I seem brave or happy, it is because my first desire was to be an actress because I am very good at acting, but I can't sing, and my high school only put on musicals!!
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale starts August 17th at 8 am...are you going to be shopping?
I love Lilly Pulitzer clothing, and tomorrow morning, the Lilly After Party sale starts at 8 am (I don't like this name...it used to be call the Endless summer sale, which I like better...), and in stores at 10 am.
I am not sure I ever saw that store part before. I am not sure if that means that stores will be putting all their stuff on sale, or if there is stuff that is part of the online sale, if that will be on sale? Either way, I will be online at 8, and I may even head on over to one of the stores near me to see what is on sale there. I usually just shop the Warehouse sale, but over the last several years, I started buying stuff online during these sales, and I have been really happy with my buys. I usually regret not getting something, and will get it during the online sale, or I decide I want to get something for my girls....Last winter, I bought two pairs of the Travel pants, and I wear them all the time.
Good luck!
I am not sure I ever saw that store part before. I am not sure if that means that stores will be putting all their stuff on sale, or if there is stuff that is part of the online sale, if that will be on sale? Either way, I will be online at 8, and I may even head on over to one of the stores near me to see what is on sale there. I usually just shop the Warehouse sale, but over the last several years, I started buying stuff online during these sales, and I have been really happy with my buys. I usually regret not getting something, and will get it during the online sale, or I decide I want to get something for my girls....Last winter, I bought two pairs of the Travel pants, and I wear them all the time.
Good luck!
Saturday, August 15, 2015
Trip to Ellis Island--August 15, 2015
One of the things I have never done is go to Ellis Island, and I really wanted to go and for us to take our children. We finally decided to go today, and it was a great trip!
We left our house at 9, which is not too early (I actually think we should have gone a little later in the day, so it wasn't so hot). We made it to the parking lot by 11:40 after stopping once for gas, and then made it for the 12 o'clock ferry. I think we purchased tickets for a specific ferry, but the way it looks, I think they just want you to have a ticket.
Our first stop was Ellis Island. Once you get there, they give you an audio set, which is part of the admission fee, but we all decided that the audio things were hard to hear, tough to maneuver, and that we would rather just do it ourselves. We wandered around there for an hour, and then went to see the movie on the second floor called "Island of Hope, Island of Tears." I highly recommend it--it had all kinds of cool archival photos, and film. Made you feel like you were really there.
Matthew wanted to go...I know because he asked me every 4 minutes..."when are we going to the Statue of Liberty?" It wasn't that he wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty...he just wanted to leave Ellis Island. So, we left, and took the ferry over to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close. Apparently you can't get tickets for the actual Statue until November 4th, and so we just walked around the base, took tons of pictures, etc.
This is when we all got hot. It was probably around 92 degrees at 3, and there is no shade, and we were all hot. Which makes me tired and grumpy. Now I wanted to go. And so did the others. We got on a ferry, walked a nice little walk to our car, got on the New Jersey Turnpike, and we were home at 6. It was easy, fast, and a great trip.
One of the things that I have learned is to not make these trips all day events...this makes everyone exhausted, and grumpy. As it turned out, Chris went to a friend's house tonight, Anna met a friend, Timmy went to a friend's house, and Matthew went to see his friend, Davis, who just got back from a week down the shore. So, they all had fun at Ellis Island, but still had fun the rest of the day, so they don't feel like they missed anything fun by doing something with their family.
Here are some photos:
We left our house at 9, which is not too early (I actually think we should have gone a little later in the day, so it wasn't so hot). We made it to the parking lot by 11:40 after stopping once for gas, and then made it for the 12 o'clock ferry. I think we purchased tickets for a specific ferry, but the way it looks, I think they just want you to have a ticket.
Our first stop was Ellis Island. Once you get there, they give you an audio set, which is part of the admission fee, but we all decided that the audio things were hard to hear, tough to maneuver, and that we would rather just do it ourselves. We wandered around there for an hour, and then went to see the movie on the second floor called "Island of Hope, Island of Tears." I highly recommend it--it had all kinds of cool archival photos, and film. Made you feel like you were really there.
Matthew wanted to go...I know because he asked me every 4 minutes..."when are we going to the Statue of Liberty?" It wasn't that he wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty...he just wanted to leave Ellis Island. So, we left, and took the ferry over to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close. Apparently you can't get tickets for the actual Statue until November 4th, and so we just walked around the base, took tons of pictures, etc.
This is when we all got hot. It was probably around 92 degrees at 3, and there is no shade, and we were all hot. Which makes me tired and grumpy. Now I wanted to go. And so did the others. We got on a ferry, walked a nice little walk to our car, got on the New Jersey Turnpike, and we were home at 6. It was easy, fast, and a great trip.
One of the things that I have learned is to not make these trips all day events...this makes everyone exhausted, and grumpy. As it turned out, Chris went to a friend's house tonight, Anna met a friend, Timmy went to a friend's house, and Matthew went to see his friend, Davis, who just got back from a week down the shore. So, they all had fun at Ellis Island, but still had fun the rest of the day, so they don't feel like they missed anything fun by doing something with their family.
Here are some photos:
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
I think it is great the Beckhams allow their daughter to keep her pacifier.
I am not a fan of the Beckhams--especially the woman, who looks like a sick puss in every photo of her. I don't pay much attention to them, but I was impressed when I saw that David defended his daughter for still using a pacifier at age 4. I am all for anything that helps make a child feel better...including a pacifier, blanket, a thumb, or a bottle.
Anyone who knows me that the majority of my children have kept their bottles until they were at least four. I think all the talk about dental and speech issues is absurd. I think if that little girl wants to use a pacifier...then let her. She will eventually stop. She will be fine.
Anyone who knows me that the majority of my children have kept their bottles until they were at least four. I think all the talk about dental and speech issues is absurd. I think if that little girl wants to use a pacifier...then let her. She will eventually stop. She will be fine.
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Anna's Surprise Party--August 9, 2015
Anna really would not let us do anything for any big event in her life--no Sweet 16, she has already said no to a graduation party, so, when her 18th birthday was looming in the future, I decided I was having a party for her, like it or not. I knew she would not like it, so I decided to make it a surprise party, and it was tonight, and I am so happy with the way it turned out...she was so happy, and I think she had a great time!!
I enlisted the help of her friends, Grace and Mia, to get a list of girls to invite. Even though a Sunday afternoon in August is a tough time to have a party, I was so happy with all the girls who came. The party was at Magerk's in Fort Washington, a place which used to be the Bent Elbow...and where I used to go to hang out in my college years. Now I am having parties for my teenagers there. Anyway, the party began at 4, and I told her we were meeting my old friend from high school there. We got there at 4:30, and Chris and the boys had done a great job of making the place festive.
I took tons of photos, but here are just a few, and then I will post more late, because I want to get this up tonight....
Chris and Lily had blown up tons of balloons, and Chris went over to add them to the room....
Anna loves her friend Zoe...Anna hadn't seen her, so she was so happy Zoe was there!
Again, Anna's oldest friend from grade school, this time with Lily sneaking in to the picture....
These girls were so nice to chat with Lily...it seemed like every time I turned around, Mia was talking to Lily--she is the sweetest girl!!
They were really good sports about being there, but I think it had something to do with the Phillies game playing in the background so that they could watch the game while eating!
I enlisted the help of her friends, Grace and Mia, to get a list of girls to invite. Even though a Sunday afternoon in August is a tough time to have a party, I was so happy with all the girls who came. The party was at Magerk's in Fort Washington, a place which used to be the Bent Elbow...and where I used to go to hang out in my college years. Now I am having parties for my teenagers there. Anyway, the party began at 4, and I told her we were meeting my old friend from high school there. We got there at 4:30, and Chris and the boys had done a great job of making the place festive.
I took tons of photos, but here are just a few, and then I will post more late, because I want to get this up tonight....
Anna with Maddie, her oldest friend, since Kindergarten.
These girls were so nice to come to a party on a Sunday night in August...several of them came up from the beach to be there.
These girls were about to leave for college. Crew friends!
Chris and Lily had blown up tons of balloons, and Chris went over to add them to the room....
The boys and I sat outside, out of the way.
We got Anna's cake from a Piece of Cake in Elkins Park...it was delicious, and absolutely beautiful!
After the party was over, Anna stayed at Magerk's around the fire pit with a group of friends for another three hours...well after her family went home. I am so happy it went so well for her!
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Happy Birthday, Anna!! Anna's (....th) Birthday, and her Birth Story--August 8, 2015
Today, Anna turned 18. She doesn't like to talk about the number, because she doesn't like to get old. She has always been like that..like a Peter Pan. I remember the day she was born, on August 8, 1997, because it was the happiest day of my life (up until that point). It wasn't that I wasn't happy on the day Jack was born, it was just that happiness wasn't the feeling I had...it was more like unbelievable pain (I didn't get there in time, and had him 30 minutes after I arrived), disbelief, craziness....I loved him, but I wasn't really happy. With Anna, I was so happy. I had a very good baby, and I had a boy, and a girl. Everything was so good.
I was due with Anna on August 7th.
Anna's Birthday Trip to New York City--August 7th-8th, 2015!
This is Anna's 18th birthday weekend, so we decided to celebrate by going to New York City. We had so much fun!
We got to New York on Friday afternoon...late, of course, so we only had time for a quick dinner. We were told that we weren't that far from Guy Fieri's restaurant, so that is where we went for dinner:
And of course, what better way to end a perfect night then with ice cream...we were looking for someplace special, and New Yorkish...but ended up at Ben and Jerry's!!
This took us up to about 11:30, and some of us wanted to go to bed, but Anna and Chris went down to Times Square, which was literally 25 yards from the front of our hotel, to look around. She came upstairs at 12:03.....right after her birthday began!
The next day, we woke up, and celebrated Anna being 18, but she pretty much refused to accept it, and she and Lily just pretended they were sleeping...which they clearly were not doing.
After checking out, we walked around looking for someplace to eat breakfast, and found this great place on 48th and 7th.
After breakfast, we walked up to Central Park, and ended up at the playground.
A last photo of our weekend in New York City for Anna's Birthday--I am so happy that it was perfect in every way...the show, the weather, the food, and of course, all with family!
We got to New York on Friday afternoon...late, of course, so we only had time for a quick dinner. We were told that we weren't that far from Guy Fieri's restaurant, so that is where we went for dinner:
Then we went over to the theater to see Finding Neverland...I can't begin to tell you how wonderful it is. It was also touching, until Anna burst out in tears, and people for rows around turned to look....then it was kind of embarrassing!
And of course, what better way to end a perfect night then with ice cream...we were looking for someplace special, and New Yorkish...but ended up at Ben and Jerry's!!
The next day, we woke up, and celebrated Anna being 18, but she pretty much refused to accept it, and she and Lily just pretended they were sleeping...which they clearly were not doing.
After checking out, we walked around looking for someplace to eat breakfast, and found this great place on 48th and 7th.
After breakfast, we walked up to Central Park, and ended up at the playground.
A last photo of our weekend in New York City for Anna's Birthday--I am so happy that it was perfect in every way...the show, the weather, the food, and of course, all with family!
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Day of Beauty #3--Anna and Lily August 6, 2015!
Every August, Anna and Lily spend a day of beauty. It started in 2013, and honestly, it was only getting their nails done. Then, last year, Lily asked me if they could get their nails done again, and so they each got a manicure and pedicure kind of near Anna's birthday. I didn't think there was a pattern, but Lily thought this was a pattern. A few weeks ago, Lily started talking about their "Day of Beauty" as if it were a thing, so now it is a thing. And we chose a day--the Thursday before Anna's Birthday (her birthday is on August 8th, and it is a big one!!)
The day started early, with a haircut first. This is them walking in...
While Anna got her hair done, Lily and I waited, and I admired her straight hair...but I love it curly!
And this is them walking out:
Next, we were on to the nail salon. They each got a manicure and a pedicure.
I think they were tired of posing...so these were just attitude photos:
The day started early, with a haircut first. This is them walking in...
While Anna got her hair done, Lily and I waited, and I admired her straight hair...but I love it curly!
And this is them walking out:
Next, we were on to the nail salon. They each got a manicure and a pedicure.
Lily was really happy with all the primping...and she gets to enjoy her straight hair for a day!
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