Summer of Bliss

I have always believed in notions such as: 'good things come to those who wait,' 'what goes around comes around,' and 'everything happens for a reason.' This summer is proving all those things to be true. Bill landed an awesome job and even I landed a job better than I could have imagined! A part-time school librarian job!!! Those rarely turn up and I feel so so lucky to have the chance to do what I love professionally, yet still be home 2.5 days of the week to be mommy all day long to Finn and get Liam off the bus, etc. Lucky, lucky, lucky, I tell ya.

This summer I have spent days at the beach (oceans and lakeside), biking along beautiful tree and sand dune lined bike paths, hiking mountains, swimming, picnic-ing under shady trees...truly the summer of bliss. Last night we celebrated Finn's 2nd birthday - his first in NY. I just can't say enough about being home. And while I miss my TX friends and family so so much, it is simply heaven to be in a place where my heart seems to beat in time with its surroundings.

This here is clearly Liam's "magnum" face.

Snyder's Lake - very tasty according to Finn...

Birthday boy's gluten/everything free cupcakes. The recipe came from the famous Babycakes bakery in NYC. The cupcakes (vanilla, with a hint of lemon), were actually very, very good. The chocolate frosting, however, was a complete bust. Probably had to throw away $20 of fancy pants ingredients...and ended up frosting them with Pillsbury's fudge in a can...not the greatest, but Finn can eat it and it seemed like most of the kids did not notice they were eating a very special cupcake. (I made an eggy/buttery brownie for us who know better.)
Young lovers frolicking in the fields...
I am pretty sure Finn imprinted on Skyler a few weeks ago. It's set in stone...
Not sure what's going on with these two...holding hands? They are the best of buds.
Billbers home for Finny's birthday was the best gift of all.
My view - all day, every day...well Jen and Skyler aren't always there...but geese (on the lake) sure are. (My war with them begins again...)


This is one of my favorite shots. The boys on the tree swing....right outside my door. :)
Oh, those two again!
Time to devour gluten, dairy, egg, nut-free cupcakes!!!
TRUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He can't get enough of them.
Frosting gone amuck!

I apologize...

I feel like apologizing....in my old life...the one I was living about 14 days ago, I had wi-fi at every corner, a computer or handheld device within inches 24/7. Now...I am out by the lake (too wet and dirty to even dare bring my phone), or tromping around on the hill, or simply 'out of range.' There's not even '3G' most of the places I drive!

So, the apology part is because, in my old life people knew what I was up to....so....in writing this...I have no idea who I am apologizing to because, certainly, there cannot be very many people missing my multiple daily updates on Facebook. BUT, I do know that there are people who might be missing ME...because I am missing them. It's so weird to not know what they are doing today...or yesterday....or when they have a dentist appointment or what time they're all meeting at Finch Park....Alas, I've been through this before - facebook kept me "in-the-know" with the daily/weekly doings of my friends in NY...but coming back is not the same. In Texas I was connected to my little black box, here, I have no desire to 'check-in.' Which in many ways is very, very good. But, in one way - the way where I feel remotely connected to people I love far away - it's not so good.

So...I guess this post is just about missing my friends in Texas. Dear friends, I am so, so happy to be back home, but know, that I miss each of you so very much.

The week in photos...

Well, technically, the last nine or so days....I stink at putting them in order when uploading, so forgive the sequence. Above you have Liam riding sans training wheels in our driveway.

Here's Finn at the Old Chatham Sheepherder's farm. While he's allergic to everything they sell, he is not allergic to the livestock!

This is us driving up our road with the truck. Many of the roads here are like this - winding and hugged by trees. I feel so nestled and secure all the time. I think that is one of the biggest differences between here and there.
And here's our 'front yard' so to speak. (For the time being.) It is the most magical, wonderful place to me.

Today we went to the summit of Mt. Greylock in Mass. We hiked about a half mile of the Appalachian Trail - It was a SUPER steep section and I had Finn in the backpack. We decided to take the car down about 2500 feet to a less steep trail which was a great idea.



And flashback to moving day - the truck empty...
And the truck busting at the seams...
Liam in the passenger seat - he rode shot gun nearly the entire trip!
This does not look steep, but it WAS, I swear! And now I see why Bill wanted to take this shot...
Best buds...
Billbers keeping watch...
Scenic overlook on the way up Mt. Greylock.
Finnster at the summit.
Finn loaning a big wheel from a friend.

Settling in...

Well, we're here. It's been one whole week since we pulled up. It seems like an eternity ago...and yet, it seems like yesterday I was licking Amber's frosting from my lips and hugging my dear Texas friends good-bye.

It's hard to explain how I feel. I was never unhappy in Texas, maybe in the beginning a little...but now that I am back home...I just feel....better. Better overall, even though I have no home of my own and an uncertain future (financially). I feel perfectly grounded and where I belong.

Here's a recap of the last week:

-The house:

Despite the maximum amount of grief a picky, partially psychotic buyer can give, we did finally close on our house. It actually finalized while we were somewhere across Tennessee. I fear for my dear sweet neighbors....

-The drive:

Amazingly, I had no problem! I thought I'd be falling asleep at the wheel, losing sensation in my butt, however, it appears that driving long distances suits me. Except for one puking incident after a harried lunch at the dirtiest McDonald's we've ever seen, Finny did great. Liam rode up in the big truck with his dad. Apparently, he did not watch one video or play a single video game. When I asked him what he and daddy were doing all those hours in the truck, he replied, "Just talking and singing rock music." Suffice to say, my six year old can now sing some Beastie Boys lyrics I am hoping he will forget before school starts in September.

The break down of our drive (in case you want to drive to us from Texas):

Day 1 - 6.5 hours Dallas to Forrest City, Arkansas

Day 2 - 12-ish hours to Wytheville, Virginia

Day 3 - 6.5 hours to just outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania -we decided to take an extra day, because we were all worn from so many hours in the car

Day 4 - 5 hours to the house on the lake (near Albany, NY)

The reunions:

Blissful

The farewells begin....

No...they haven't. I haven't really said farewell to any one. I've thought about the fact that it is going to happen in just a few more days and tears immediately start stinging. This picture was taken at my very lovely farewell party at the equally lovely home of our friends Michelle and David. We tried very hard not to talk about why we were having this particular party. And, if you judge by the above picture, it seems like we did a good job.

I have a knack for loving people with all of my heart and living in the moment. The wonder of this ability is that my life, my day to days, are filled with love, absolutely bursting and overflowing with it. The down side, however, is that with such strong love, comes a proportionate explosion of sadness and loss when you have to say good-bye. And even though I am moving back home and back to wonderful friends and family who I also love with all of my heart, it is so very difficult to say good bye. And I feel guilty, like I tricked these wonderful people into loving me and now I have to leave them. At least the people back in NY knew I was coming back (even if they wavered or had a hard time believing it to be true, JRM.) My Texas peeps know I will only be back to visit....sigh. Life...you sure are tricky.
This here photo is out of sequence...I cannot manage this blog with any technical savvy, and I apologize for that. Finny Finn, our true Texan...hope he can handle the seasons!

These next two photos are just hilarious. Finn, as you know, is obsessed with my chest...and last night he took some time to assess the goods around him. I think Michelle might accepted as a substitute should my boobs be busy. Sadly, Amber, you might be more than the little man can handle...or perhaps he sensed flour and egg whites from that amazing frosting you so lovingly prepared.

Ahhh, good times.

Where I'm headed....

So, this is the hill I'll be living on...at least for the summer. You couldn't really ask for a more beautiful, peaceful spot to be. This is, hands down, my most favorite place on earth. The boys spent hours throwing rocks in the lake in the past few days and I look forward to a summer filled with muddy toes and dirty shovels.

It's so funny how I try so very hard to make a plan....it's funny because we rarely actually get to 'live the plan.' I thought I'd live on this hill for a year...now...I'm not so sure. I'm not sure I can handle living in my mom's house (even if she'll be in NJ most of the time) and the job that was right down the road did not pan out. So, back to the drawing board I go.

I'm glad I'm flexible. When I got the call that I did not get the job, I had a few moments of breathless panic. The classic, "omg, what am I going to do now" attack of emotions. I wanted to crawl under a rock...or blanket and cry my eyes out. Turns out, I was at the park with the boys, surrounded by many women and children I did not know, so the whole 'losing it' scenario wasn't going to work. Despite the migraine and feelings of desperation, I pulled it together. I pushed Finn on the swings and watched Liam dig a hole in the sand and bit the inside of my cheek.

Later, my mom took us to the beach where I taught Liam how to body surf. (Still with a migraine, but I wasn't going to let that ruin a beautiful afternoon by the ocean.) Sitting on the sand, watching the boys run in and out of the low tide surf, smelling the sea wind, I felt myself regrouping. Bill called a couple times throughout the day and, after 17 years, knew exactly what to say - "It's all going to work out." Honestly, other than a hug, that is the only thing I want to hear when world crumbles in a way I didn't want it to.

I am not sure where I will be in September. I am not sure where Liam will go to first grade. I don't know if I'll have a job, if Finn will be in day care....I kind of don't know anything except that after July 2, I'll be on the hill by the lake for an indefinite amount of time. Oh, I also know that no matter what, I plan on throwing the greatest pumpkin carving party ever on October 15...but really, other than that, I don't know anything. Being a natural-born planner, this is really hard for me....so if I seem distracted or frazzled, it's because, even though I don't have any solid info, I will always be trying to work out a plan for our future.

So, there it is folks. I am headed into the great unknown....see ya there!

My baby's a 6 year old rock star!

My dear Littleman is now six and a full fledged rock star. He hand picked his outfit for the party today, in addition to each rock star item for the goodie bags. (Check out his new sneaks from Grandma!) Liam is my big lover of life and I couldn't be a prouder, happier mama.

For me, the balloons make the party. When I turn 50, or 60, or 100, I don't want presents, just a room full of my friends and balloons...I was blowing up balloons at 6:25 this morning! (Totally worth it.)
Liam and Rory on stage.
Cousin Nico on the lawn.
This one is out of sequence. Liam, after the party, with his new Longhorns hat (Thanks, Di!).
More fans on the lawn! Michelle, Isla, Di, Grandma, Nevin.
Isla dancing with mommy Michelle. Heather and Nyah in the back.
Lots of rock star babies - Rors, Liam, Callum, Lola, and Isaac.
Little Callum getting so big!
Little Finn getting so big!!! Isn't his hair just beautiful???
Happy Birrrrthhhday, dear LIAM.....
Yes, I made this guitar cake....I am clearly NOT good at it, but it made the birthday boy happy and that's good enough for me.
Macklin and Liam rocking out to Katy Perry's "Firework."
Rockstars: Macklin, Liam, Blake, Burke, Jadeon.
Liam, Rors, and Isaac.
The only downside to this whole event...no wait, there are two. One: It's just too darn hot in Texas the first week of June! It was at least 85 and we all had a good sweat on. Second, some really special people were missing. But, overall, we had a wonderful celebration for Liam. Thanks to every one!