Nothing like staying on top of things, right? I’m only a few days late, but it took me that long to a) find the cord that connects my camera to my computer and b) find the motivation to connect my camera to my computer.  I’ve had the motivation of a sloth on this trip, which has felt pretty good most of the time!

On Sunday evening we left for California! It was a nice distraction from the potential sadness in which I could have wallowed on Mother’s Day, and overall it has been a very uneventful, relaxing trip.  The odd times we’ve traveled and the time difference have left me a bit disoriented, but I think that might add to the fun, no?

After one of our flights, Gabe made a small detour into the cockpit  where he checked out the lay of the land and had his picture taken. Kudos to Delta who made a 6-year-old’s day!

We made it to California without even a hiccup!  Granted, it was 2:00 in the morning, but we made it!

This is what 2:00 in the morning looks like when you’re in kindergarten and you’re waiting at baggage claim.  Really, really exciting.  It would have been even more exciting if we’d made him walk through the airport to get our bags. But I took pity on him and carried him. Do you know how heavy a 50-pound slightly-asleep child is?  Way more than 50 pounds!  Lest you think I had the difficult job, I carried Gabe while Tahd carried all our carry-on luggage, which included two backpacks, a surprisingly heavy shoulder bag, and a purple purse.  Tahd definitely got the raw end of that deal!

Note: if you’ve ever lost a piece of luggage on any flight, there’s a really good chance it’s in Sacramento.  This is only one of several carts full of random bags.  Best of luck getting it out of the stack!

More to come…

I am so confused!

On Sunday evening we traveled to California. We left at 7:30 and arrived at 11:15 and had one one-hour layover and were on 4.75 hours worth of flights. Time change?  It’s magic!  My cell phone automatically picked up the new time but my itouch and my computer didn’t, leaving me in a perpetual state of disorientation, uncertain about what I should be doing at any given time. Should I be eating? Should I be asleep? Should I be picking Tahd up from work? Working myself? I HAVE NO IDEA!  The only thing I know for sure? Gabe should be in bed.  Always in bed. Because he seems to have been able to keep himself awake until 3:00 in the morning on Monday, which (along with continued sleep disruption) has induced an impressive series of tantrums and epithets aimed our direction. Namely things like, “Why are you so mean to me?” and “I know you hate me right now!” and “WHY can’t I EVER {fill in the blank}??????” and “Do it RIGHT. NOW!” and “I’m going to sit here until you do what I say!” (which happened to be related to a cup of Sprite that got dumped out tonight by Tahd because Gabe wouldn’t stop blowing bubbles in it) and all sorts of delicious 6-year-old demands that leave me concerned that I may have entirely screwed up this parenting gig.

But it’s bedtime right now – sweet, glorious bedtime in which the heavy eyelids of tired 6-year-olds have closed over the day and I have finally exhaled an epic sigh of relief since I know there will be no altercations for another six hours. And hopefully more.  🙂

If I were a good blogger I’d have downloaded my photos and would display evidence that in spite of the discord we’ve been having a pretty fun time. But what I am? Is a tired mommy who doesn’t want to leave the sofa to find the camera – let alone the appropriate cable.  Rest assured there’s been fun and there’s been swimming and there are sunburns and there are plans to round out the week with lots more adventure.  But first, I must lay on the couch and be lazy.

Can I just start this post by saying you could come to my house right now and go in any room in my house and I wouldn’t be the least bit embarrassed?  This has absolutely nothing to do with our walk in the woods, but because it’s such a rare occurrence I needed to mark the occasion.

Carry on.

Anyway, we went to a maple tree sugaring this weekend.  What I expected to see and what I actually saw were two entirely different things.  I expected to see tree after tree dotted with steely metal buckets catching their precious golden liquid.  Instead, I saw one tree.  With a white plastic bucket hanging off a crude spigot.  And it was frozen, with no sap running.

But.

It was outside! In the woods! And we didn’t freeze ourselves to death! Or get buried in snow!

So it was a lovely walk, even though there was no sap.

Magical, in fact. The walk was truly magical, reminding me that although I proclaim my love of cities and people and technology and convenience, a country girl hides somewhere within me, much to Tahd’s delight.

There is something soothing about the woods, hushed in branches, leafed or bare, ground covered in signs of seasons past.  A dull echo murmurs back amidst the crunch of leaves underfoot, alternately beckoning me to step deeper into its quiet solace or to stop for observation of the intricate minutiae that comes alive through the conscious awareness of the senses.

The day seemed dreary. The gray, overcast sky blended well with the muted earth and trees around us, but it was far from boring!

Rich in texture and insulation, we could see winter fighting his valiant battle against spring as she attempted to break through.

For the record, I hope spring wins pretty soon.

I had never been to this little section of woods before, even though it’s just a few minutes from our house.

I’ll be back, though. I’m sure of it.

Out walking in the frozen swamp one gray day,
I paused and said, “I will turn back from here.
No, I will go on farther—and we shall see.”
~ Robert Frost