Saturday, April 14, 2012

Gilded Moments

I have these friends.  I don't write about them enough, probably because I take their amazing presence in my life for granted.  Sad, but true.  Another big reason I think I don't write about them is because I have no idea how to adequately describe these friendships without throwing out every cliche possible and being generally too ooey-gooey.

Perhaps the simplest description is to say that these women have been in my life in a significant way for 15 years.  There have been joys, sadnesses, strife, frustration, more laughter than most anyone could think possible and plenty of margaritas.  Friendships of this nature cross from the simple concept of friend into family.  Family that is chosen.  The commitment I feel to these friendships is intense, similar to how I feel about the commitment to my sister, my husband, my children.  I am aware that many in our culture may find this odd--how can you be devoted to friendship the way you are to your children?  Because there is no other way.  I am who I am because of our history.  Because of our growth.  Because I am a better person because I have friends who keep me honest, know my quirks (there are many) and provide an outlet that allow me to grow so that I may return to my home a better wife and mother.  Is this making anyone nauseous yet?

A couple of weekends ago, these ladies and some other dear friends had one of our pilgrimages to the country.  It is fortunate that LJ's family can provide housing far from society, which makes our staying up late, howls of laughter and lack of showering go unnoticed.  These get-aways are harder to come by as we grow older, as outside commitments pull and tug on our time.  No matter, when all are equally determined and committed to make something work, it will happen.

Simplicity.  Joy.  Celebration.  Nature.  Tears.  Porch-sitting.  Game playing.




Sunset on the Beer Blind.  





Skittles vodka, anyone?



Dominoes, beer and sunshine?  Yes, please.


Birthday cake!  



West Texas provides its own form of beauty.




The nearest town, roughly 250 people, has one restaurant.  The food is good.  The prices are cheap and the decor is bizarre.  

This was the sign out front.


Scary puppet-thing in the window next to the restaurant.

After dinner at the restaurant, we saw a big ol' rattlesnake in the road.  We know it was a rattlesnake because there was zero traffic, so there was a mandatory stop to check it out.  Back at the house, we did some serious star-gazing.  That's because the kind of dark it is with no other humans in sight, no lights from any other houses in the distance, no streetlights is a serious star-gazing opportunity.  Returning to reality is always difficult, no matter the good things to which I am returning.  Those magic, gilded moments are hard to leave behind.  But it is just a place, symbolic to our friendship, yes, but the core of these friendships goes far beyond setting, age or normal expectations.  I am one lucky lady.  



Thursday, April 5, 2012

A Day at the Park & Slight* Parenting Fail

Spring has sprung here in Texas.  It is a time of possibilities, time to get outside before it's too blooming hot to leave the a/c.  We took advantage by visiting Trinity Park--perhaps the best park in Fort Worth.  I have to admit it was spur of the moment and my poor Brook-Brook went without a nap until around 3:30.  We're quite lucky that she's an easy-going baby.  If we had tried this with Ell at the same age, I'm afraid there would be hell to pay.  We fed ducks, played on the massive playground, ate a picnic lunch and rode the train.







Precious girl, chillin' under a tree.



Time with Daddy.






Turns out that with three year olds, you have to plan ahead for potty breaks. Parenting fail.  In a moment of extremely slight panic, we decided Ell could pick a tree.  Unfortunately this was in sync with the train going by his chosen tree.  We encouraged pee-stalling by trying to get him to wave to the train.  Somehow those instructions got jumbled in his head.  Before we knew it, Ell had dropped his drawers and was waving at train passengers enthusiastically.  I looked on in stupefied humor. . . by the time I could eek out that Chris needed to help, we heard the squeals of laughter from the train cars and Chris was doubled over in laughter. Good news.  Elliott never caught on that this might be a bit inappropriate.






Wednesday, April 4, 2012

I'm Kinda Gross

Remember when I tried to stop using regular shampoo and totally failed, but said that I would try to find an alternative.? I've been determined to use less shampoo.  My solution has been to wash my hair every-other-day and when I wash my hair, only applying shampoo at the roots.  Then I use conditioner at the ends.

Let me just tell you that the method is not foolproof.  Today was day two and as I took my ponytail down, I found a really greasy and nasty patch.  For real.  So either one part of my scalp produces enough grease in two days to fry an egg OR I am completely inept at washing my hair.  Or both.  Sigh.  I fear that's the real answer.  Feel free to judge me now.

Monday, April 2, 2012

It was Unintentional

I didn't mean to be on a blogging-break.  BUT here's what happened:  my best friend's birthday=getting home late, too exhausted to function the next day, the next day was packing & laundry, then three days of bliss with the girls far away from society.  Then today was Pink Eye Day (for Ell, not me) which has forced me to do childcare all day and then work all night.  I have some doozies to post--random nakedness, more laughter than you can stand, etc.  Now to find time for the posts to make it farther than my brain just as I'm drifting off to sleep or doing something mindless.  I swear.  Being an adult is exhausting some times.