Thursday, January 26, 2012

....backyard fun....

....the apartment officially goes on the market this week....the virtual for sale sign is about to be hung.....the photographer was here today, rearranging furniture and perfectly timing his angles just as the sun beams would flood this space I have called home for nearly 6 years.....the place I have brought home all of my babies.....it was emotional....I was an anxious wreck all hopped up on coffee since I procrastinated to clean and reorganize my apartment until the morning of.....but now it's for real......not just something I talk or write about.....we are moving.....sooner than later....

....but I know one thing is for certain......


....the neighbors who live below us will not miss us.....

....not one bit.....


....I was changing out of my PJs on Monday morning, only to rush out half naked at the loudest banging I have heard in a long time....luckily, Brody was with me, so I knew no one was in danger; but this is not a fun way for the gentleman below us to start his week at 7:08 am.....notice the trail of stuff behind my girls.....I take a deep breath every time I think about the phone calls for a showing in 45 minutes......no matter how you look at it, the next few months of trying to sell an apartment will not be fun.....at all.....

....so we'll make up for fun in other ways.....


....a 50 degree heat wave was enough for me to keep my children outside as long as possible yesterday.....so when Callie went to school after lunch, Elsie and Brody were snug and strapped in the stroller so we could walk in the sun for a while.....when Brody nodded off and Elsie asked where we were headed, I decided to try out a park that I have only heard about.....so a 20 minute walk south turned out to be an afternoon of excitement for Elsie.....unlike his usual self, Brody continued to snooze long after the stroller was still, so Elsie and I explored this new playground together and it was impressive.....

.....better yet, she and I got to play.....really play......


....and that was fun for both of us....


.....but the heat wave is long gone.....one day we are back to long sleeves and puffer vests and the next, we are bundled so tightly and still can't get warm enough......we have had it very easy this winter, though.....by this time last year, we were already setting records for snow fall......so expecting to duplicate the season, I made a new tradition the first day of winter announcing that on the initial snowy day of the season, we would have ice cream sundaes for breakfast.....needless to say, the girls have literally looked out the window every morning since then and have been sorely disappointed to see bare trees and crunchy leaves on the ground.....

....well it finally arrived....last weekend, Stefan and I laid in bed giggling while we listened to the dialogue between the girls upon seeing their window winter wonderland while still rubbing sleep from their eyes.....it is the moments like those I wish I could bottle up to experience two decades from now.....it was precious and we didn't have much time to lie awake enjoying their sweet voices because within 10 minutes, we were at the breakfast table.....



.....nothing like a good sugar high at 8 am to start the day....

....but we've added healthy fun into the routine too.....a tradition for almost two years now, but no pictures to show for it, Sara brought her camera to document the outing....I can't believe we have never had a camera to prove that our children will actually sit down for this special occasion.....none of my friends outside of this building believed me when I told them 2 years ago that the best place to take the littles for a lunch treat is the sushi place across the street.....it is hands down, one of the best outings we do as a building......




.....for $20, the three of us (and now four) can eat lunch.....we all start with edamame, move on to sides of white rice, drink our miso soup from deep bowls and then the girls (and now Brody) inhale avocado rolls and I order my stand by sashimi dish....it's fun, it's healthy and we have only had a few episodes of curious children eating too much wasabi....





.....and the goodbyes are always too soon after a sushi lunch, so we always head to the playroom to extend the time with each other a bit more.....


....and this last play date, we actually had a plan to keep the kids busy, focused and engaged.....


.....by no means would I call myself crafty......in fact, I don't really enjoy crafting......but what I do enjoy is watching these babes focus on something they make that they think is really beautiful.....I like the way they enjoy or dislike the sensation of glue on their fingers....the way they make patterns with their favorite items they find to decorate with.....the way they concentrate so hard to make it just right.....so in the spirit of our next holiday, we glammed it up with love crowns.....








....and not expecting much after the crafting was over, we couldn't believe how each one of the children wanted to wear their crowns.....it was such a testament to the pride they took in their little creations....the tangible proof that they had made something they wanted to show others.....lining up after several minutes of play for a second dose of glue to refasten a loose end or to reattach a jewel or feather in the exact place it was beforehand.....



....now if I could only get that kind of ownership in picking up toys and clothes strung around the apartment.....

....but the heart stickers and pink glitter must have made them all affectionate and lovey because there was a lot of cuddling and hugging going 'round the room.....it was a sweet sight to see.....




....and so to bring it all full circle, I must say that as crazy as I anticipate this next phase of selling the apartment, cleaning for open houses and tidying up for dinnertime showings, we have a lot of fun in our backyard to balance it all out.....and when you add some best friends to the mix, the task ahead feels a lot less daunting.....



.....so although the neighbors below us may be happy we are leaving, there are others who are not so thrilled....these little people are truly great friends and I look forward to showing my children through example that friendships can still be nurtured and grown even with a little distance between us.....