Springing

It's March. It's been raining for 3-days. Today is daylight savings. But, none of that matters because I saw signs of spring last week! There were birds, temps were in the high 40's, the sun was not only shining, but felt WARM too! The Eatons are ready. We are ready to get out of these coats and explore comfortably.

We'll have visitors near the end of the month, YAY! My dear friend Crystal is first and then my Mom & her husband with my niece. Lots to look forward to and I'm really, really excited to show them our new stomping ground. I'm grateful to finally have room for guests to visit. It's been a very long time since we've had a spare room and I look forward to having it filled!

We're in planning mode at our house, trying to plan our vacations and our summer - trying to do it all! We're also looking for a new car, which is one thing I absolutely despise. I wish I liked to car shop! And if it weren't my car that we were looking for, I'd avoid it entirely and let Brett do it all. I mean, car shopping is the ultimate Man thing.

Eaton Updates:

Today marks the end of one full week (yup, 7 whole days) of my only ~from the soul~ attempt to lose weight since Grace was a baby. I'm proud to announce there's been a loss! I know me and if I get through the first 4 days, I'm golden. This weight doesn't stand a chance. I often wonder what it is about this attempt and the last 15, but there IS something different and it's within me and it's kinda cool. I am looking forward to feeling like me again!

Grace brought home a report card last week. She is faring so well, I'm almost afraid to utter it, in fear of a jinx! Her teacher is amazed at her seamless transition into the classroom and into the peer circles. She's even sought after by her classmates into the small groups they form and on the playground. Wow! I couldn't be a more proud mama bear. I am so happy that she contains this resilience that will pay off big later. Imagine a life of seamless transition! She's the best of the best!

Ava is doing much better now that we are 3 months into Boston. She misses her Winston life and routine insanely! I am really trying to fill her up with love and take her to places to meet friends her age. She's very shy and it's hard for her, so we'll keep trying. Both, Ava and I, wish we were more like Grace in this. We've extended a huge olive branch and are hosting a playdate of kids her age next week. Maybe she will feel comfortable in her own home and open up to the other kids. If they could see what a loyal friend she was, every 3 year old in town would be lining up!!!

Brett is doing well. He's hanging in there. The new job is challenging and he acts like that's a bad thing, but secretly, he loves it. He's getting into a new routine of city life, fighting traffic again. Oh, it was a beautiful 6-year break.

Now on with my day! Only in the beginning of spring, can day 3 filled with downpours be ok with me.

Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush. ~Doug Larson

This is a New Kind of Cool (& Cold)

It's been one month since we moved. Boxes are everywhere still. The motivation to unpack them left with the movers. I think it'll be a while before it's done around here! Strangely, I just don't care!

Boston is exciting and new, why would I want to stay in and unpack? Well, maybe the negative temps outside would keep most sane (& southern) people indoors. Our solution is to bundle up and suffer. I can't stay inside until spring when I just moved to such a great city! And those of you from Winston, know what I'm saying: it's been a while since I've so much fun at my fingertips! There's too much to do. Too much to see.

We've spent a Saturday downtown, visiting the aquarium, walking down to Boston Common. It was fun and cold, all in the same sentence. Along the way, we visited a cemetery with passengers from the Mayflower buried in it! We played on the playground with snow on the equipment! In Winston, we would NEVER have ventured out to an entire day of walk and play when it was 28 degrees outside. Here, we do it every single day and 28 is WARM. I feel like I've lost my mind!

We've spent a Saturday sledding - real sledding! That was, seriously, the most fun I've ever had on a sled. Real hills with packed snow, p-e-r-f-e-c-t. I'm just so thankful that my kids are getting this experience.

No matter how hard it is to move around, there IS SOMETHING to be said about the experience. And there is one thing that I'm bound and determined to do: Experience. I will leave Boston proud of myself for taking advantage. My kids will be better for it, even through the high price of moving!

The only hard part is that I want to share it with all of my family and friends! Come visit soon so I can!

A Look Back

This moving day is almost here. This is a hard page to turn in the Eaton book - bittersweet. This month of reflection and farewells is especially difficult. The memories are abundant and worthy and fill 6.5 years. This old house is full of firsts and lasts. How do I leave a place where both of my children came home from the hospital? A place where both of them took their first steps, spoke their firsts words, celebrated every birthday they've ever had? This is the house where I've cried myself to sleep, laughed until it hurt, turned 30! A house that I've poured my heart and soul into the walls, literally and figuratively.

The friends that we've made have been the very best. The authentic kind. I spent the first years as a mother here, bonded with those that were in the same shaky and scary boat as I. The friends that Grace has known since she was just a baby, the little ones who cannot remember when they didn't know us. The kind that you don't have to bother with all the polite and silly stuff and the kind that are effortless, therapeutic and necessary! And I'll miss the prospects too, the friendships that I'll leave behind before they were given the chance.

And then there's Winston. The little place on the map that I'd never even heard of on the day that Brett first mentioned it. That seems so funny to me now, since I personally own Winston today. I've made it my own and loved it unconditionally. Someone must have known how much we needed a Winston in 2003.

Funny how you can love a place, but also be ready to move on.

Top Ten Things I'll Miss about Winston:
10. Cheerwine and sweet tea
9. The Moravian Star
8. The drive time to anywhere: 5 minutes
7. Skippy's
6. The fact that Richmond is within driving distance
5. Lemonade Squares
4. The strawberry and blueberry farms
3. Halloween in Ardmore
2. Snob Shop
1. Preschool

Top Ten Things I Can't Wait to Leave Behind:
10. The strange phenomenon of people sticking their front ends into the road while waiting to pull out, probably in front of you if they're over 65 or on Stratford Road
9. The smoke in restaurants or public places
8. March Madness
7. The complete lack of nightlife for people out of college
6. "You Poor Thing" "Bless Your Heart" and "Sugar"
5. Mysterious reasons for school delays and closings
4. The annoying pronunciation of Buena
3. Business 40's death trap
2. The strange shredded lettuce salad
1. The drive to Richmond

To Winston as our home we say: "Farewell".
To Our Friends Forever we say: "See You Soon"!

Jamaica

My Mom and her husband Danny just took the four of us (plus his 2 sons and my niece) to Jamaica for an entire week to celebrate their birthdays! We stayed at Beaches Boscobel in Ocho Rios (I just learned I have been pronouncing Ocho Rios wrong for a decade - the I in Rios is long :). 3-of my Aunt's came down the second night to surprise the sense out of my Mom and it worked - without a hitch! Pretty crazy when you think of all the stars that had to align in order for it to happen.

This was the night we surprised my Mom and Danny

Beaches was the most fantastically kid - I'll go as far as to say - oriented place we've ever seen or heard of! It was great! They had...let me count...8+ water slides and 3 pools plus a toddler pool too. All water sports included - even snorkeling! They had an entire section of the buffet for kids with little tables and chairs with the walls full of sesame street characters. Speaking of Sesame Street, we saw a half dozen shows by the pool of all the characters dancing (you could tell they were Jamaican - they had a lot more rhythm than their American counterparts) and singing and interacting with the audience. We even baked cookies with Cookie Monster!

Wow, is what Grace said when she saw these slides!

Ava, Chloe and Grace watching one of many Sesame Street shows

Grace and Ava floating just off the beach

Each day we ate and drank as much of whatever we wanted - I gained 7lbs in 7 days. That will most certainly take more than 7 days to lose! I apparently love Red Stripe and Pina Coladas! And any rum concoction George the bartender could think up. The girls had a million virgin strawberry daiquiris and ice cream cones. It was no problem, mon!

Brett and I spent our honeymoon in Ocho Rios in 2000. This was a homecoming of sorts for us. Since we had such a rough year, we thought it appropriate to renew our vows while we were there and it was a beautiful place to do it. I spent a lot of time reflecting on how much baggage (good and bad) we brought back with us this time around! 9 years of memories, 2 kids, 2 moves, 2 jobs, 2 family deaths, 4 family births, bad times, good times, lifetimes!

Renewing our Vows on the 15th of June

All in all, it was the best vacation I've had in years. I did not cook or clean for an entire week. I did not put one child in time out - not once! I've stumbled upon a secret for all moms - give your kids 3-pools and 8 water slides and they're so busy, they don't even think about misbehaving!

We built a room of memories this trip that I'm sure we'll gladly drag right back next time we go. Until then, See Ya Mon.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow....My Rooms Are Done...

My head is spinning with new decorating ideas! We returned from vacation (more about that on my next blog post) to our dining and living rooms being remodeled - finally! We've lived here 6-years now! Both rooms are about 50% finished...as I write this, hubby is tap, tap, tapping away at the latest development ~ we have the most beautiful brick on the wall above our fireplace that had been covered in plaster, then paneling and lots o layers o paint. Hence the tap, tap, tapping to remove the layers. During the 1960's someone decided to remodel this house with what was probably some really cool decor at the time. Brown panelling in every room, a drop ceiling, orange trim (they tore out the original 1920's era trim and replaced it with then new construction stuff ~ UGH!), plastic faux marble on the bathroom walls, we won't even go into what the kitchen looked like or what my bathroom still looks like! We've remodeled each room ~ recreating the original trim, drywalling, peeling layers of whatnot off the floors, replacing fixtures, and moving doorways! Each room is as crooked as the last, but it's our crooked room now! With each completion, we get even more attached to this crooked little house. Boy will it be heartbreaking if we have to sell it! And we used to wonder why on earth we bought it!

But, the exciting part for me is the new beginning it presents! I haven't decorated any rooms in this house ~ unless / until it has been remodeled. Why bother ~ it was really that bad folks. So now, my living room and dining room are like a blank canvas. And I'm ready for color! I've spent the weekend thinking and dreaming and of course, shopping. The living room colors are picked out, now on to the dining room...possibility! Stay tuned!

Do We Have Room for This?

Whew, no matter how many times I do it, it's still overwhelming to pack for a family of four to go away for a week! Anywhere! Add that we are flying on an airplane and it's reaching near hysteria in my little mommy brain. Prekid, did I ever think about packing before I did it?

Before tomorrow night I must: Fit it ALL into the airline restrictions on size and weight, follow the TSA guidelines for liquids, sharp object and explosives - darn it! Don't over pack, that's just hassle dragging it everywhere, not to mention the annoying remarks from the other half. Don't under pack, to me that's the biggest fear - good grief what happens if I forget my... And make sure you have enough stimulating games, toys and snacks for the kids - for the ride to Charlotte (1.2 hours), the airplane (3.5 hours) and the bus to the resort (2 hours). So, let's see, that's 6.7 hours of keeping the strapped down kids occupied while following all the rules... hold while head spins...

Hopefully it will all be worth it when I am sitting on the beach, drinking a "free" tequila sunrise and watching my kids play in complete and total bliss!

Note to self: DON'T FORGET PASSPORT!!!!

The Last Monday of Kindergarten

An entire school year is coming to a close with my little Grace ending her tenure as a kindergartner. I really feel like I could weep when I dwell on that thought. How could this be? I am amazed at how much she has changed in just 10-months! She is not the same child pictured here. She is somehow more wise and sophisticated. She's less scared and more confident. She bears report cards describing her as a joy to teach and a good influence for her peers. Her book bag is looking smaller and more worn. She has an entire group of friends that I didn't have any part in her making.

Nowhere are these changes more obvious to me than when I see her quietly reading her book while Ava is watching Dora on the TV. Wow, what a difference a year makes!


This year has been an amazing journey for our little Grace!

She became a Daisy Girl Scout in troop 47!

She took her very first trip to Disney World!

She completed her 2ND year of dance class and

was an amazing mermaid at the recital!

She watched her first 3D movie, endured allergy shots twice a week, learned to read, tasted pickled okra, learned to swim, completed homework, conquered the monkey bars, discovered her love of art class, ate cafeteria pizza for the first time, enjoyed her first pedicure and attended birthday parties without us.

Will she remember this kindergarten year forever? Will I?


At this time next week, I will be the proud mama of a "grader". This mom will spend the next 11-weeks trying to remember to cherish the summer. Thankful for the downtime and saving my energy for another round!


Welcome Summer!