Sunrise, Sunset

So the kids are both currently locked in their bedrooms. I sent them there after their unauthorized wrestling match in the hall resulted in Anabelle damaging her fragile who-knows-what, and as my interest to the matter decreased, the sobs increased in volume until my ear drums (and every dog in the neighborhood's) hit their limit. Dawson was banished promptly behind her for laying in the floor mocking her every move, as his copy cat wails also got louder and louder, as did his cackling and snorting in between.

That's pretty much life in a nutshell here at the McDermott's these days.

The bloggage gets fewer and further between as I literally don't have the time to sit and process all the hilarious/rotten/life changing things they do as the moments whip by at the speed of soccer-mom-on-the-way-to-the-E.R.

My kids are flourishing.

Dawson is slowly but surely adjusting to the first grade madness that hit us full speed. That was (is!) a doozie!

He is a budding artist, and can read and spell and sound out words at a level that is beyond impressive to me. He is making friends, talking about "mean girls!" that chase him on the playground (that he says with a suppressed smile and a glimmer in his eyes that slightly concerns me). He says phrases like "DUDE!," and "like," and "SO AWESOME!" all of the time, and never forgets anything I say. The boy can do 30 consecutive push-ups (lets just say more than I can do for now...), and has taken on the 100 push-up challenge with me. He loves to run and bike, and play anything involving a ball on the playground at school... he comes home with a new game to be obsessed with every day it feels like. I can't even believe the boy has another birthday approaching... my Mother-in-law asked if we could freeze the kids in time today and after my initial snarky remark (you KNOW I can't resist me one of those...), I realized... whoa. This actually wouldn't be such a bad time to stop the clock. He is just so darn great.


Our Anabelle Lee still has no idea she is the little sister, and I'm starting to think she may never catch on. Every thing Dawson does, she wants to do. That girl will have NO trouble getting her tasks in this world accomplished or otherwise delegated. She is already sight reading a lot of short words (thanks to a great pre-school curriculum, and of course to Dawson for his own interest in reading to keep her motivated to compete). I cant tell her ANYTHING she doesn't already know. You can, but not her mother. Unless it is a bedtime story, or tickle scratch. She keeps me around for those things, so guess I'm safe for now. She just recently requested (demanded) we remove her training wheels, and like her brother before her, she TOOK OFF down the street with no help from her useless parents what-so-ever. Only as she flew by (with NO HELMET!!! &^&#*Y$&#*^$&#*$^!!!!!!) and my voice froze in my throat and my jaw hit the ground she chanted "Nah-nah-nah-nahhh-nah!" at me... (as in "I told you I don't need you, mother!).


But I know one day she'll realize she that she actually does.

We are in a foreign land of nightly homework, and early (but never early enough) bedtimes... which basically just gives us one more thing to be running late for.

Ty is gone a lot in the evenings, which we anticipated with his new job. Its been easier than expected in some ways... the kitchen is never dirty when I go to bed. But the house is lonely and quiet without him, and it makes me (and the kids) realize how sweet it is to have him around to read a bedtime story, or cover bath routine while I run to the store so the kids have lunch tomorrow. The best news is that he gets a whole week off around Thanksgiving! Now THATS something to be thankful for. I don't know which family member is most excited!

I suppose this blog is getting border line boring. Its purpose is simply to acknowledge that I know there seem to be a lot of conglomerated updates now a days. Its just that I am feeling a little bit sad, and also (if I'm being completely honest) a little bit free...

My kids are big. I see it loud and clear on days like today, when we attended two 1st birthday parties that were relocated indoors because of rain... and I sat, and watched, and enjoyed with the other adults while my kids (for the most part) practiced good manners, self restraint, and appropriate indoor behavior. I kept seeing images of just yesterday when my own little chunky blond baby boy greedily piled fist fulls of red dye #5 sugar paste into his sweet little face, and feel overwhelmed that now, my little girl is the big kid at the party who thinks its her personal calling in life to control all chaos caused otherwise by children smaller than she.


Don't blink, people. Look what happens.

Sister Suprise

We had the BEST last minute company in town recently.

With a few days off work stacked on top of each other, a free ride here, and a cheap ticket home, Auntie Carly dropped everything to come home to visit us for a long weekend!

We all adore our Carly, but my kids really really "Mommy when are we going back to Washington and will she come see us at Christmas and for my birthday" miss her. They didnt know she was coming since it was so last minute and I knew they would be crushed if it didn't happen. But it was SO fun to see them excited to see her, and great to have her around in the midst of our weekend.

Poor Carly drove alllll night, and we wisked her right off to the Avila Valley Barn the MINUTE she set foot in the house! It was our lovely friend Andy's 2nd birthday party... and who doesn't adore any excuse to pay a visit to the barn?



On Sunday, Carly took Dawson on a special date to church with her. He felt SO important and of course looked handsome as always in the company of his gorgeous auntie. Quite a pair, these two.


Carly, that weekend went WAY fast. Come back soon now, ya hear?!

We've got some pumpkin raviolis to make!
xo

Local Paradise

Tyson and I really wanted to do something fun together this year for our anniversary (as we usually do), but were bored with the idea of dinner and a movie. Not that we'd complain, getting out in ANY form is always great... but since we planned a little ahead, we actually put our heads together and came up with a plan for what turned out to be one of the best days.

We utilized our amazing grandparent resources once again and managed to send the kidlets on their merry ways on Thursday night. We've discovered a method we like to call "dividing the risk..." where we send one to each grandma, under the premise of 'special time.' Not that they ever need an extra nudge away from us anyways, but it really does make them feel cool to get to be the center of their grandparent's universe(s) individually once in awhile.

We went to a nice dinner (thanks, Mom!) in Cayucos that evening, and I accidentally ordered duck liver and then managed to accidentally eat it thinking it was a portobello mushroom. The best part is... I actually got TYSON to eat it too! He doesn't eat mushrooms to begin with, so it was appalling to him before he even knew what it actually was! I just couldn't believe how much it tasted like meat (thinking it was the mushroom), so I talked him into trying it, and he described it as "smoky and cheesy." When we found out what it was, it was HILARIOUS and yes... we wanted to barf. In the most sophisticated way possible, of course.

The next morning despite the overwhelming temptation to sleep in in a quiet kidless house, we got up EARLY in order to tee off before 7:30am for the early bird golf special. It was my first time golfing. Tyson is nice, and took this picture of me looking super focused and skilled.


...but because I believe in honest, fair, and impartial journalism... this is what he was actually doing MOST of the time...


(That would be chasing my ball off in the wilderness).



I think we still managed to have a good time. I would do it again, although I have a LOT of room to improve. And... I'm glad it was only 9 holes. Just sayin.

The next item on the agenda involved a highly refined lunch at the Costco food court. Tyson had been craving a hot dog... can't beat $1.50 lunch! We browsed inside after with no shopping cart and no kids, and didn't buy ANYTHING because we wanted EVERYTHING... as it usually goes at that little wondrous retail jewel.

After that, we had a very important appointment with... absolutely nothing at all. We brought our blanket and chairs down to the beach... and just sat. I'm not very good at just sitting. There is ALWAYS something I should be doing, or somewhere to be. But for over an hour... we just sat on the sand and soaked in the sun in our bathing suits and listened to the crashing waves and all the other parent's with screaming kids. It was brilliant.

And then... just when we thought we couldn't possibly be ANY more relaxed... we packed up and headed to our final activity of the day.

Sycamore mineral springs, you are my new favorite daydream!


We've both lived here and loved each other most our lives, and somehow I'm realizing there is so much we haven't done together right in our own backyard! We rounded out our hot tub soak with a couples massage... a first for Tyson that he was previously uninterested in... but I managed to persuade him since I was willing to try on the golf course.

I don't think I'll have to convince him at ALL next time we get that opportunity. ;)

We headed back toward SLO early evening, and after a quick dinner at Firestone, Ty met up with a couple friends and hit the Jimmy Eat World concert while I headed to pick up the little ones.

Its amazing how a day and a half away can do amazing things for Mom morale. Especially when you're in the good company of the man you married.

Love you, Ty. Thanks again for the BEST day.

xo

The Garden of Toga

Tonight, in a moment of exhaustion and temporarily lapsed judgment I somehow accidently agreed to take my kids to the wretched Halloween store up the street (!?!?!?). I suppose it was just one of those instances where it seemed completely logical to just say yes than to consider why it wouldn't be the wisest choice right before bed... (rookie parenting mistake #4289,) but anyways. We went.

The littles were browsing the aisles and I was busy frantically trying to guide them away from the greusome parts of the store and keep them in the costume section, when all of a sudden Anabelle lights up like a Christmas tree and shreiks "OHH, MOM! We JUST learned about this in school today!!"

She is holding a picture of a college couple posing in Toga outfits!

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Slightly embarassed by the looks we got from the 2 other people at the end of the aisle, I started asking some questions since I dont seem to remember that being in the cirriculum at my alma matter... a little tiny conservative christian school... paricularly at a preK level...

Finally annoyed at all my interest, she rolls her eyes and goes "Mom. You know. The story... about the apple tree? In chapel? I learned about them. What are their names?"

"Adam and Eve...?"

"Yes. Thats what I said. Thats who I learned about at school today."

Um. Thats NOT what you said. But ok, Anabelle. Glad you won't be attending your first Toga themed party any time in the near future.

xo

Dear Tyson,

The other day, on a bike ride with our beautiful daughter, I caught her staring straight past the shores of the sparkling toxic green lake to the Pavilion building that sits on the other side. I could tell from her wistful gaze and starry eyes that she was enjoying a daydream of you and remembering the sweetheart dance you made her feel like a queen at last Winter.



As I silently read her mind, I enjoyed a little daydream of my own about a different set of children who existed nearly a decade past, and had their own set of fond memories in that very same spot...

I hardly know those kids anymore, they are long past and a new set of children are now centered in our hectic lives that the sun rises and the moon sets over day after day after day.


But every once in awhile, I get a glimpse of that time and place in a rare quiet moment, like that one by the lake with our Anabelle, and it just reminds me...

I am so glad I grew up with you, and that we are here in the land of reality where there are a lot of hard days and every so often an easy one that make the rest worth while. I am proud of you, and of us, and of what we've accomplished together in just under a decade. I mean, we practically conquered puberty together! Thats a task! ;)

You know I'm slightly superstitious about odd numbers, but 9 years feels like something to relish. Its gone by fast... guess that must mean we're still having fun...?

In the words of your son, I love you far past the Polar express, and past all the chocolate rainbows in the sky. And you know how much chocolate and rainbows mean to me.

Thanks for an almost-decade of playing house with me, its been an exciting ride.


Next year... lets play 'tropical getaway' instead!

xoxo

Ghosts

I had a strange opportunity last weekend.

My wonderful in-laws offered to spend some quality grand kid time with both little munchkins, and since Ty was working until late that night, I was left with several hours all alone.

I dont mean to scare anyone who reads this blog and doesnt have kids of their own (yet)... but I dont know that such a thing has ever occured for me in my entire motherhood experience. I mean, I've been alone here and there since I had them for specific reasons... and gone on a few weekends away and certainly dates with every boy who asks me (dont get all excited, its almost always Tyson). But I dont know that I've ever had nowhere to be and nothing on my agenda.

I thought it would be heaven. And now that I think back to its rapidly fading memory... it was heaven. But the entire time, I felt anxious! It was strange stuff. I definitely think I need some more of those occasions so I can get comfortable with the experience... Ha.

Anyways. In the end, I managed to fill my time quite adequately if I do say so myself. I've been hearing fables and parables and haiku's and love sonnets about this mystical land of running warehouse in San Luis Obispo. Its supposed to be, like, the mecca of all central coast runners. I've yearned to go there for oh so long... but the thought of hauling my kids in there while I tried to pretend I was legit enough of a runner to get the sales clerk to invest their undivided attention in me seemed like a lost cause. In hindsight, now that I had my golden opportunity, Im glad I listened to my inner mom voice and left the banchees on the island with the rest of the killer dinosaurs where they belonged.

OOOOOMMMMMMGGGGG it was so fun.

I got to run on the special treadmill thingy that video tapes you, and analyzes your stride and points of impact (special treadmill thingy is the official technical term for the device, Im sure you already know that).

I run with some pretty amazing girls. All of them are faster than me, and more athletic over all... but they all seem to have quirky body aches and injuries and yet little shorty squaty old me only has aching love handles and doublechindenitius to whine about aside from the occasional chafe-age and blistering.

I've always pondered the mysteries of what makes up an ideal running shoe, and am perplexed at the wide variety of price ranges for someone like me, who has no injuries to speak of and would definitely like to keep it that way.

So yah. Long story short... I ran on the thing... my pants almost fell off in the process... and I found out in the end I have a 'neutral stride.'

Doesnt that sound boring?

IT IS BORING!

There is nothing wrong with me or my stride. Yippee! So as 'vanilla' as it is to be average, I am excited that now, I posses the mystical knowledge and capability of cracking the code on running shoes boxes when I go to buy a new pair. And it issss about that time. My current Asics that ive had since marathon training (and never been particularly in love with I might add) have HOLES in the toe box. Imagine the padding if the toe box has holes. Crikey!

And speaking of never loving at all... I DID happen to fall truely madly deeply in love while I was in the store. This is the part where my screaming children could have come in handy. I am in much less of a mood to spend money at reckless abandon when I am comtemplating how to word my threats in public so as not to alarm innocent (childless) bystanders. But when I was there all alone... and the clerk introduced me to a bold, handsome, colorful pair of sparkling new top of the line and oh so this season pair of orange and grey Brooks Ghost3s... I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in a hot fit of passionate temptation.

But I didnt do it.

I came home, and Googled faithfully, and I think I found a pair I'm close to buying that are a few seasons old, but a fraction of the triple digits from the warehouse.

Anyways. Im sorry if you hate running and exercise, and people who blog about them as if the rest of the world should care. But indeed... these are the luxuries I fantasize about all day long, and sad as it may sound... it got me thru the day today.

And now, if you'll excuse me I think I heard a Ghost calling my name. That, or it was a peanut butter M&M...


xo

Grizzly Cadet Kyle

So, my brother has been at Grizzly Youth Academy since July. Its a charter school for kids in their mid-teens that is run by the national guard. Basically, its military school.

Kyle was having a hard time with typical teenage everything at our local high school, and was given this option to get out. Up until the moment he left, I wasn't completely convinced he would choose it. We were all nervous, but when it came down to it, it seemed like a really sweet opportunity if he could stand it. So he gave it a shot.

When I say military school, I mean it. They are up at 0500 every day, running up mountains with 50lb packs strapped to their backs. They march in line. They speak when spoken to... but really, they just don't speak much at all. They work hard all morning, and then work hard some more on school work in the afternoon. They live on base- for 5 whole months- and are allowed one phone call home per week, and are permitted leave twice over the weekend several months in. He can receive letters, and is allowed to write back only with the time remaining after every stitch of academic work is perfected and turned in. On the weekends, they go on education field trips and help out with community service events. They are on an extremely tight schedule.

So I haven't seen or talked to my brother in weeks. The kids and I write him as much as we can, and he mostly writes my parents since his free time is practically non existent. We got one letter from him weeks ago, and he warned us that it was a rare treat. He didn't sound miserable at all in any of the letters I saw, but I miss my brother, and worry about him of course...

So finally this weekend it was September 11th. I never thought it would be a day I'd look forward to... but this year, it meant family day at Grizzly Youth academy. We all got to go and check it out, and spend the entire day watching his platoon's marching demo, meeting his comrades and superiors, and just bbqing and hanging out.


Without knowing exactly what to expect, I just have to say... I was blown away in the best possible sense of the phrase.

Kyle looks so different in all the best ways possible.


He sparkles and shines, and is definitely standing taller than I've ever seen. He's made a couple friends, nice ones!, who introduced themselves... and called me ma'am! He showed us his latest report card... with a bigfat4.0 on it. Not so much as an A-. He has stories that he is proud to share. He marched in line like a man... and out of several hundred kids actually managed to win recognition for his superior level of physical fitness.

(front row, far left, getting recognized)

His chiefs and lieutenants sought out our family, personally introduced themselves, and told us how much leadership and maturity Kyle possesses. He is one of the youngest kids they took this academy, and in December when he graduates he will have all the credits he needs to finish High School and I believe even a couple college credits since he is taking some extension classes offered thru our local community college.

I am so proud of my littlest baby brother. To be a part of this at sixteen takes a lot of strength physically and emotionally. I know for a fact I couldn't have done it at his age. He is beyond brave, and even tho he isn't quite half way done, I can tell for certain he will make it, and when he does he will be getting a HUGE return on this investment in his own future.


Love you, little Grizzly Bear Kylie! And I'm SO looking forward to eating your dust at the RockNRoll Phoenix half marathon this January.



xo