Josephine and I are on a little vacation at my mom and stepdad’s house in Mt. Shasta (Taylor is home guarding the house, so don’t try to break in, ok). My sister and nephew flew down from Washington so we’re having a good old cousin get together.
And on to the pictures.
We’re not big, sappy, buy present type of Valentine’s Day peeps over here, but what I do like to do is make dinner at home, eat with my family, and tell each of them why I love them. Like Taylor says, I love them the same every day, but it’s just nice to give specific reasons to the ones we love as to why we, you know, love them and stuff.
After a nice round of “I love you because”, Taylor asked Josephine why she loves me. Her response, “Because I want some ice cream.” So, Happy Valentine’s Day from The Webstersons!
Now, go eat some ice cream.
Last night we watched the Grammys. Josephine was pretty upset when it started because she thought her Grammy would be on TV. Every time they would say Lady GaGa she would say, “where’s gaga?” (her name for Grammy Jane). Funny.
It pretty much hurts my soul to watch the Grammys, although sometimes I am impressed (I’m talking to you Adelle… and who doesn’t love The Boss, my all time celebrity crush?). My favorite Grammy moment was when Josephine asked me who LL Cool J was and I sang her some if his big hit “Mama Said Knock You Out”. She then asked, “What’s gonna happen now mama? He gonna knock people down?”. Oh, my. I still haven’t stopped laughing.
To the skinny woman at the gym who bent down next to me to get into her locker and grunted, “Ugggh! I’m getting too fat and old to bend over”,
Really? Too fat and old? No matter that you look like you are in your mid 40’s, not old, and you probably weigh 110 pounds. But seriously, girl? It’s 6:40 in the morning and you just finished working out. Cut yourself some slack.
I did quite a bit this weekend with two parties, family visiting, etc… and I still managed to get some work done. Woo Hoo!
Taylor and I went on a date Thursday night to watch a Thursday Night Ramble show in Modesto. Afterwards we went to Bauer’s restaurant for some food and more music courtesy of our friends Big Earl and Ray (so amazing!). If you haven’t been to a Thursday Night Ramble and you live in town you should totally go. And make sure you head to Bauer’s afterward. If you’re out of town, you can stream the Ramble’s here. Fun stuff. I think this might be the start of a regular, once a month date night. Getting ready to check that date night goal off my 30 while 30 list!
My dad came to visit on his way to Mexico for some dental work and together we moved Josephine’s play kitchen from the living room (where it has been residing since Christmas Eve) into her bedroom. This required moving the changing table out of her room (one step further from a baby, which made me sad) and re-organizing some shelves to put toys away, but it’s done! I forgot how big my living room is without that giant kitchen sitting in front of the fireplace! And I think the kitchen looks nice in Josephine’s room. I hung up some more art, and I think it’s really coming together. Check it out:
Candlelight breakfast with Grandpa Tim
Taylor left to play a show in Chico on Saturday night, and then drove to Reno for a Super Bowl/Craps playing extravaganza with some friends, so Josephine and I were solo on Sunday morning. It was beautiful, so we went outside to paint. After that Josephine spent some time feeding the goats. We got a good system going, where I was pulling weeds and she was picking up the weeds and throwing them into the goat pen. Seriously, such a great assembly line. She had fun, I did some much needed weeding, and the goats were so so so happy.
When Josephine tired of hauling weeds, she asked me if I would clean out her playhouse. Since that is another goal on my list and I was feeling spry, I said yes. We got rags and buckets and hoses and scrub brushes out and I tipped the spider web and mud filled house over, turned on the water and went to town. Josephine waited patiently playing in the water and even helped by wiping down the outside with a rag. After about 30 minutes of scrubbing and washing and spider/wasp removal (what is it about dead wasp bodies that freak me out? They are dead and harmless. I am a wimp), it was clean enough to play in. And while I’m not going to mark this off the list, since the house still needs some detailing, it’s a darn good start. Darn good, I tell you.
I love coming into a week feeling good about my accomplishments. I’m still feeling a bit chicken with it’s head cut off-ish, but things are looking up. Oh, and if anyone has any ideas for stuffed animal storage, I’m all ears. This avalanche is killing me. Just killing me.
Josephine spent the night at her Grammy’s house last night. Taylor was in Reno with friends for the Superbowl. I had the house to myself overnight. It was the first night I’ve spent alone since Josephine was born. I’m not going to lie, it was totally weird and I didn’t sleep well. Grammy kept Josephine because it seemed better than her having to be at our house at 6 am so i could leave at 6:15 to go swim. This morning it was hard to get up and go to the gym when I could easily have slept in and gotten ready at home. But here I am, albeit 15 minutes late, warming my car up in the driveway and writing this post. My reward I this beautiful sunrise. Happy Monday everyone!
There comes a moment (usually when you are completely overwhelmed) that something happens to let you know you are on the right track. I was lucky enough to catch one of those moments on video.
I have been really very busy and stressed because of work, personal stuff, money, emotions, whathaveyou. It’s easy to feel like you are losing in a lot of areas in your life when too much is going on at once. It’s nice to be reminded that you are loved unconditionally. Even nicer when someone writes a song about their love for you. And so I have this lovely video.
I will carry it with me forever. So full of love!
The weekend cannot come too quickly for me this week. What a doozy! We are hiring at work for our Alcohol and Other Drug Diversion Program and have been interviewing prospective employees, plus quarterly reports are due in three of my programs on Tuesday, and I received some slightly distressing (although not the end of the world) news from one of our partners, which I can’t really do anything about this week, but the stress of the meeting next week to clear things up is daunting. That coupled with the fact that I have been going to bed later than usual (what’s up 1:00 am on Wednesday night?), and having stressmares (which is not actually a nightmare, but a stressful, unsettling dream that wakes me up just about 5 am, an hour that feels too early to get up, but too late to go back to sleep, as I have to be up at 6) and well, there you have it.
This weekend my agenda is as follows: play, play, bake, dinner with friends, sleep, play, play, play with friends, cook dinner, sleep. I might throw in a little barn organization on Saturday if I feel up to it, but really, why bother? I’ll get more done next week if I relax this weekend, right?! And now, countdown to weekend!
Well, here it is… time for a 30 while 30 list check in. If you remember (as I am sure you do), I turned 30 in November. So I have had about two months to get to work on my goals. I have to say, although I have only progressed a little, I have started to work on some of the bigger ones. I am actually proud of myself for (uncharacteristically) not procrastinating. And because I am sure you are waiting with bated breath, I won’t put it off any longer… The big check in:
I have begun to work on what I believe to be the biggest of my goals: #10. Be at a place where I am satisfied with my health. The gym has been helping. We have also been cooking better meals with more veggies. I still have a ways to go, however. At least I got started.
I have also started #3. Plant a garden. We’re moving right along in the garden prep area.
Hello, in case you haven’t met me, my name is Emily and I am actively weaning my child (#13). Slowly but surely. I’ll bet you all can’t wait for me to complete this one so there will be no more breast posts.
And now, to the goals I can cross the heck off:
#19. Write Josephine’s birth story. If you haven’t read it yet, be prepared. It’s long as hell.
#23. Put together a family picnic for my high school friends so that we can all meet each other’s spouses and families.
This came together pretty seamlessly. This past weekend a group of my high school friends and their children and significant others (if applicable) got together at a friend’s parent’s house to hang out and barbeque. It was amazing and fun, and really, I feel guilty about saying that I put it together. Our friend Lori was stopping though our hometown for a couple of weeks. A bunch of people on Facebook said they wanted to see her. Lori said a date that would work for her, and I put together a Facebook event. After that, everyone pretty much planned it together, worked out the kinks in the plan due to weather, and showed up. Easy Peasy.
I have to say, this was way more fulfilling and fun than I could have planned. I haven’t been around all those people in a long long time (especially not all together like that). It was fascinating to hear about where each person was and is in life and catch up. It was brilliant seeing their children, and watching my child interact (as much as my very independent march to her own drum two year old could) with theirs.
A few of the kids playing in the back yard.
And how much fun to see and meet the boyfriends/husbands/girlfriends/wives of the people you knew so well way back when. I have to say, my friends have great taste in spouses and significant others. They were all really nice people. And funny. And talented. But so are these friends, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.
Watching Ashleigh and Eddie’s amazing short Summer of the Zombies
The laughter and reminiscing was so beautiful, and I really hope this happens again. And that more people can make it. And that next time I can spend even more time catching up. What fun.
So there it be… my 30 while 30 update. Still a lot to do, still a long way to go, but on it’s way none the less. I think I want to pick out a fun one to do next. Like maybe the date night one. Lord knows we need a date night up in here.
And while I’m at it, thanks to those of you who read. I feel like this blog has already helped to motivate me to live a healthier, more well balanced, more active, less lazy, more inspired life. At the very least it has pushed me to take at least some action and given me a place to write. So thanks. Although I think I might still be doing this if not a soul read it, the encouragement and comments here and on Facebook when I post are kind and appreciated. Thank you readers, friends, and lurkers alike!
Emily’s 30 While 30 List
1. Clean Josephine’ playhouse out
2. Buy new underwear (yeah, I said it)
3. Plant a garden
4. Host a yoga day with friends
5. Have a backyard campout
6. Organize the guest room
7. Make Josephine a star shaped wand (I made some of these a few years ago for children I know. Josephine has yet to get one)
8. Go away with Taylor for at least two nights (a calmer version of Vegas?)
9. Get a family photo taken
10. Be at a place where I am satisfied with my health
11. Re-furbish the playground in the back yard
12. Get my eyebrows done professionally (I’ve always wanted to do this)
13. Wean Josephine
14. Write at least one children’s poem (I used to do this for the 52 Week Club. I’d like to do that again)
15. Set up my sewing machine
16. Create a socializing spot outside
17. Decide if we would like to have another child (don’t get me started, I’ll flip flop all over the place)
18. Go on a camping trip with Taylor and Josephine
19. Write Josephine’s birth story
20. Go to the Academy of Sciences
21. Ride a mechanical bull (it is a lifelong dream of mine. I live in the Cowboy Capital of the World. I really have no excuse)
22. Blog at least once a week
23. Put together a family picnic for my high school friends so that we can all meet each other’s spouses and families.
24. Write at least one letter that isn’t a thank you card and mail it old school
25. Get our sun room/office/art space up and running
26. Take one week off from Facebook (because everyone needs a break)
27. Have dinner with one couple who we have never had dinner with before
28. Volunteer somewhere outside of work
29. Set up a regular date night with Taylor
30. Get a massage (so hard, right?)
Look who got a new coat in the mail yesterday! It’s been cold round these parts. So cold in fact that when Taylor came inside and facetiously told me one of the goats had frozen to death I actually believed him (yeah, I’m a little gullible). Anyways, Buddy has a stylish new jacket to keep him warm at night when he sleeps inside his sleeping bag, on a dog bed, in a doghouse, inside another doghouse. Rough life, I know.
lazy to living in 