In addition to hiking, Isabella and I have been super busy with various Girl Scout activities. In addition to our usual biweekly meetings, we hosted our first bridging ceremony at Isabella’s school. This ceremony celebrates the girls moving from one level of Girl Scouts (Daisies) to the next (Brownies). Our troop learned a bridging song sung to the tune of “Frere Jacque” and they each received a certificate, a patch, and got to put on their new Brownie vests after they crossed our homemade bridge. It was a great ceremony, and we celebrated with homemade brownies, of course! We also went to a recruitment celebration where Isabella learned all about different types of animals such as service dogs, Great Danes, and even a horse. Last week, I took all three girls to another GS event–a mother/daughter event. They had different tables set up where the girls could make a potpourri gift for their moms while we made bracelets for them, they got to wear high heels, and then we took quizzes about each other. Now, we are in the midst of planning for our troop camp at the end of August, which, as with everything else with GS, requires a lot of paperwork and training. We’re also going to be doing early bird registration for our troop (another pile of paperwork), so needless to say, I have been very busy!

Besides the Girl Scout activities, Isabella has attended a couple of birthday parties, participated in a dance night at her school, and is getting ready for an end-of-the-year field trip to the zoo. Mythili has been busy practicing her songs and dances for her preschool graduation, took a field trip herself to the Plains Conservation Center, and just got picked by her teachers as Best Kinder Kid!

We celebrated my 32nd birthday with a prime rib dinner at my parents’ house followed by a hike. Bruce got me one of the best gifts ever–a homemade quilt, made by our good friend Heather. It’s a “sister’s choice” pattern in various shades of green to match our bedroom. The work that went into it is incredible, and I will always remember this as one of my most cherished gifts.

Meanwhile, I have been “training” for my half marathon, coming up this Sunday, via the bike. I’ve had a problem with tendonitis and have been unable to run, so I’ve been riding the bike like mad to keep up some form of cardio regime. I know it’s not the same, but at least I will be able to walk/jog the marathon on Sunday morning.

I have also started “teaching” another University of Phoenix course which will carry over into the summer a bit. And we’ve been super busy getting our house all prepped because we found renters–two doctors and their three-year-old-twins–to rent it for the summer while we’re in KY! Just goes to show–if you do good deeds, good things happen. Seems like that’s been happening a lot lately. I mean, I still have a job next year at my school despite the horrid economy, the massive budget cuts in our school district, and having so few students. Hmmm… it must be the weekly brownies and cakes I bake for everyone! (I know it’s not a direct correlation, but those good deeds bounce back, I swear!)

And yes, we are still spending the summer in KY. Baby Lucy is awaiting our arrival, and we’re almost all set to go. We leave the night of May 28, returning July 31. Exciting! If I don’t keep up with this blog, you can check out my other blog–my resolution for 2010 is to write every day: Step Write Up.

As parents, our March Madness looks a little differently. First of all, our girls don’t seem to show any interest in sports, which is fine with me. I even took them to a Hoops for Heart basketball tournament at my school a few weeks ago, thinking it would be a relatively easy way to pass the afternoon. Not five minutes after we arrived, all three were whining, “When is this thing going to be over?” I can’t say I was disappointed.

On the other hand, when we went to see the musical Mary Poppins last week at the Buell, the girls were thrilled. As usual, Isabella couldn’t wait to get all dressed up, and had a minor tantrum about her lack of fancy shoes. They loved watching Mary Poppins fly across the stage, and even up into the audience at the end, and were singing the songs and practicing their tap dancing moves for days afterward. I think we might just have ourselves a house full of artists!

This March is especially crazy because I am training for a half marathon, so running like crazy four days a week, still keeping up with all the Girl Scout work, and the girls have just finished their skate lessons in time for all three to begin swim lessons again. Since we’ll be gone all summer in Kentucky, we had to slip the lessons in at an indoor pool starting at the end of March. Meanwhile, we have been filling our days with bike riding, visiting the park down the road that has a new “train” playground, and trying to keep the antsy-sick-of-winter girls busy and happy on cold, snowy days that always plague us at this time of year, just when we think spring has sprung!

And now that all three girls are mobile (truly mobile–able to walk long distances without dragging their feet or complaining too much) and potty trained, I must admit that trips to places like the zoo, museum, or mall are actually more pleasurable. No longer do we have to lug a stroller or a diaper bag every time we go out. I thought for sure I would miss the baby years, and in many ways I do, but I must say, I am enjoying being able to take my girls to places and not having to worry about all the things we must carry. That right there is the best way to handle March Madness: ignore the basketball scores and be thankful for what really matters. And we all know what really matters: kids who can wipe their own butts and walk up four flights of stairs to your balcony seats.

With our special-order Sun Prairie Grass-Fed Beef, we prepared two delicious pot roasts, using two different recipes, and homemade pumpkin pie with the last of our garden pumpkin for our Christmas Eve meal. Everyone ate it up, even picky little Riona! We then opened our presents and watched as the girls squealed over every little item. The best was when Mythili and Isabella opened their iPod with an amazed expression and Isabella said, “I’ve wanted an iPod my whole life!” which is probably, sadly, true.

The next morning, Santa brought Isabella a Barbie scooter, Mythili yet another Barbie set with formal wear for Ken and Barbie, and Riona a new train set to add on to the one we already have that she cherishes so much. The girls just LOVED their Santa presents–he somehow knew exactly what to get them! Truly magical!

We went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for dinner, the best Christmas dinner ever–prime rib that Dad gets for free every year from his job. As usual, it was mouthwatering, and just writing about it now makes me already look forward to next year.

By the weekend, everyone was gone, and I felt like I was running a bed and breakfast, washing a million sheets–again–and cleaning up holiday remnants. After a couple of days of recovery, we celebrated Dad’s birthday with snowshoeing and cross country skiing in the mountains, then came back into town to celebrate New Year’s Eve with the Mentzers. We partied hard to bring in the new year, and the kids, as usual, had a total blast.

And here we are, MLK day, year two of us participating in the Denver Marade. I’ll say it again–I loved it last year and I loved it again. It makes this day so much more meaningful. But if you’d like to read more about what the Marade is like, check out my new writing blog: Step Write Up.

So, that is what I’ve been busy doing, in addition to working full time, running the Girl Scout troop, selling cookies, and spending quality time with three little girls every day… life is good.

Wrapping

In the cold I wait for the light.

I see the clouds galloping across the sky—

yes, galloping, grayish white against a tint of blue—

and that same gale that hurries them

stings me to my bones

numbing me through to my toes.

I return my borrowed

fleecy black gloves and rush

across the field thinking

hey, at least I ran a quarter mile today.

He waits at the van,

takes me home in the heavenly heat,

but I am still shivering under my

newly borrowed double layer jacket

and supposedly warm wool socks

and two rounds of dipping Polly Pockets

into the “hot springs” pool.

When he calls for dinner,

my shrieking hazel-eyed girls

lead the way upstairs

and before I can even take my seat

he wraps his warmth around me

with a steaming cup of Earl Grey,

not for one second forgetting

the two sugars, the spoonful of half and half

and I smile enough to light two rooms

and melt the darkness away from

the weak place inside of me

that he has just given strength to.

Giver of Words

Mythili, you always know just what to say.

When Isabella has forgotten her water bottle

it’s, “You know she better check the lost and found

tomorrow or else she wouldn’t have it anymore.”

or when Riona asks for a taste of my tea, you reply,

“We only can have smells, unless we’re sick,

then we can have tea or even ginger ale,”

nodding and sticking your finger back in your mouth,

pushing blankey against your cheek.

or when we take a walk and you ask,

“What is that extra space for

next to the sidewalk where no cars go?”

and when I explain the parking lane,

your answer is complete: “When people have

birthday parties on Saturdays that’s where

the guests park their cars.”

and sometimes I can hardly believe

that you are only four when you

look up at me through your thick eyelashes,

your nothing but golden eyes,

and tell me that you have now decided

you will be both an astronaut and

an artist, no longer the butterfly

of your three-year-old dreams,

“Because, Mama, it is time that

someone really could paint the stars.”

My Oldest Getting Too Old

I keep wanting to say that you are seven

because even though I cringe at the thought

of you not being a baby, a toddler, a preschooler,

you seem seven to me now

with your lanky arms,

your longing eyes,

your pride in your Daisy Girl Scout patches and vest,

the giant words that come out of your mouth,

the flippant attitude you have mastered,

the three boyfriends that you just proudly announced

(I thought Reuben was the one),

and the way you live for your friendships.

Your hair is even longer than I imagined

from my mostly-bald baby,

you can count to a hundred in English and Spanish

and insist on shouting out every letter

of your baby sister’s alphabet placemat

before she has a chance.

When the six kids are together,

you are the alpha female in your game of hunting cats,

telling the boys and your sisters where to go,

which way to pounce,

and where the best hiding spots are.

You climb trees like there’s no tomorrow

and would ride your bike around the block

every day if I let you,

and have let loose your fear of ringing

Kiara’s doorbell for a requested playdate.

But are you six in those pants that come

up to your ankles,

in the art that you create with three-dimensional

expertise, your grandmother’s gift

skipping a generation?

I suppose I have to accept it,

accept that you now attend school all day,

that you know how to use a computer,

type your name on Daddy’s iPod,

and know all the words to Mama’s favorite songs,

and that, before I even blink,

you really will be seven.

Riona, My Angelic Baby

Your eyes are darker than your sisters’

though still hazel

you peek them out of your

falling-in-your-face golden strands of hair

and tap my knee relentlessly,

“Mama, Mama, Mama,” until

I can’t help but look, smile at

your imploring expression,

and agree with your request

to play Polly Pockets with you in the green room.

You stop midway—

it’s time to cuddle in my lap,

thumb in mouth,

on the pillows that you have already

set up for us.

I love you to pieces

even when you adamantly refuse

to even taste the broccoli on your plate,

waiting… waiting… waiting

to stick out year lip

and let out your cries

when I won’t dismiss you

I love you to pieces

because you are my last,

my baby,

my youngest daughter,

and everything that you do,

from diligently stacking blocks

to asking me for a nose kiss

to insisting that you sleep blanketless

is pure beauty in my eyes.

You are three now,

and as we cuddle,

I wonder how long this will last,

knowing that it will never be long enough,

that you will grow and take

those mercurial eyes

to school,

to work,

to the altar…

but for now, I still

have you tapping my knee,

begging me for attention,

and I know that I must do

whatever is in my power

to give you my all.

Let’s see… where to begin? I reconnected with my old friend Kendall who I used to work with at Bonnie Brae, way back in my former life, and we all went to his fortieth on July 31. He was his usual happy self, and is still teaching middle school music. The next night I visited my friend Andy, who I used to work with at the Continental (again, former life) for his birthday blast. That was a great start to a crazy month!

On August 5, Isabella had the momentous event of beginning first grade, her first time with a male teacher and going to school all day. She was more than a little nervous, especially when she asked a few  weeks beforehand, “Will I be in the morning or afternoon class?” only to discover the dire truth of the all-day classroom. I couldn’t get more than a shy smile out of her as we stood with the other students and parents outside of the school that morning, and the truth is, I couldn’t get much more out of myself. I was crying as I wrote the note to put in her lunchbox, and barely made it through saying goodbye to her before I broke down in tears. It’s just too much–every year when I begin another year of teaching, another year not home with them–it comes crashing down on me, and now she is and forever will be gone all day long, and sometimes I feel that I just can’t bear it… But she made it through her first day, as did I, for I had an interesting plan up my sleeve…

Amazingly, all three of my little angels were able to keep secret my surprise for Bruce’s birthday this year: a kitten. After we took Isabella to school, I “went to Sierra to work,” aka, picked up my newly-re-imaged laptop and headed over to the Dumb Friends League. Ever since my mom got a cat last Christmas, both Bruce and the girls have been mentioning their desire. I didn’t have much trouble at all finding a little gray and white kitten, ready to pick up the next day.

So I had to start work on Bruce’s birthday. What a downer. I gave him his card that morning, and, being Bruce, of course he didn’t expect anything more. He and the younger two had lunch with me, and I promised to pick up Isabella. Unfortunately, the wonderful weather we’ve been having reared its ugly head at precisely the moment I arrived at her school: a ginormous hail storm pelted us both as we dashed across the parking lot. I called Bruce and told him about the hail, adding in a “huge accident” holding up traffic, then drove across town and picked up our new family member. The poor, scared kitten, fresh out of neutering surgery, purred in Isabella’s lap the whole way home, and when we arrived, she held him out and said, “I know you always wanted a boy.” He was more than a little surprised, and quick to come up with a name: Gandalf the Gray (LOTR). Gandalf used his litter right away, and has easily found his place in our bed and next to Luna on her blanket.

Did I mention our anniversary is two days after his birthday? We went to our favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot, this time in Louisville so Grandma and Grandpa could watch the girls. As usual, we had a delicious dinner and a nice, romantic break. We spent the next morning on a hike with my parents and the girls, and then Bruce and I went to get my Boulder fix for the month, picking up tomatoes from the farmers’ market and getting a delicious espresso milkshake on Pearl Street.

Then my students came… and another busy weekend was upon us! I canned tomatoes all day Saturday, after taking the girls to get their pictures taken for Riona’s third birthday. On Sunday, we had a small party with the Mentzer and Schmidt boys, who loved the blow-up water slide better than all three girls combined. Riona helped me make her “baniwa” (vanilla) cake, which she gobbled up with “baniwa” ice cream. I just can’t believe… well, it’s almost too much to bear, seeing them grow up faster than I can stand. Three years have passed? She is still the sweetest, loveliest little girl, with the calmest temperament of anyone I have ever met.

My students returned for a second week of school. Two down and 31 to go, woo-hoo! This weekend we had our Girl Scout unit camp at Cherry Creek Reservoir. It was filled with activities, campfires, s’mores, songs, and swaps–little crafts you put on a pin and hand out to everyone. Spending the weekend with 100 Girl Scouts does sound crazy, but the level of enthusiasm that the girls express, and getting to know my troop members’ parents, truly was a priceless experience. I know that Isabella will always remember her first GS camp, and now that I’ve survived one, we’ll be sure to go every year. The girls were crying this morning when they had to say goodbye, as if they’re not all going to see each other in class… um… tomorrow!

And speaking of tomorrow… Mythili begins “pre-K” tomorrow. Riona was signed up to go, but we’ll just have to give her stubborn butt a few more months of potty training. Mythili will be in the same class as Isabella was in during her second year, with Ms. Teddy Bear and Ms. Jelly Bean, so she’s very excited. She also has a few friends in with her, Mason, Ayden, and Hunter, so the transition should be smooth sailing.

And that’s our insane August. I just have 80 miles to go to reach my goal of riding 300 miles on my bike–did I mention I’ve been riding to work?–for the month, and next weekend, let’s see: I think a nice glass of wine, canning, and sitting around the house sounds nice.