My Longest Year

Tonight!

I am ecstatic.  Tonight my secret long-time dream of seeing The Nutcracker with my husband will come true.  This particular ballet company is hailed as one of the best in the country, and Maurice Sendak (of "Where the Wild Things Are" fame) is the set designer.  The Friday performances started filling up a while ago, but I was able to get the two seats right next to the most expensive seats in the house.  James has a bet that we are behind some pole but the customer service reps assured me they were great seats;  I hope so because I am slightly obsessive about seating arrangements and getting a "good view" (just ask my friend Erin about our trips to the Drive-In). Anyway, I'll admit I analyzed the ballet's seating chart for about half an hour before making a decision.

This is one of the big items on my "Christmas Essentials" list (will share in another post).  This is also our first night out alone together since his return, so we're doing the whole date-thing.  Dinner.  Ballet. Coffee & Dessert.  I am, in a word, jacked.

Happy Thanksgiving

I feel blessed to have my husband home today. 

Pray for those who don't (click link).

It's the Little Things: a Thankful, Joyful Post

It's in the little things, the joy.  The other day I got to wear heels.  My close friends can attest to my love of all shoes pointy or tall - not always comfy or easy to take care of.  Just pretty.  That's how I used to like my shoes.  Then I got pregnant, and I didn't want to risk falling.  So I eventually switched to Practical, looking forward to the day I would return to Just Pretty.  When I had E. I think I tried for one entire day to wear my old shoes, but I realized quickly that it just wasn't going to work - juggling a baby, car seat, and diaper bag, I needed all the balance I could muster.  Which required flat, comfy shoes - nothing too distracting to walk in or too high-maintenance to take care of.  E. eventually got old enough to walk on her own, but with J. deployed I rarely went anywhere without her, and when I did I was usually on a mission to accomplish 42 things in 2 hours. 

But J. has returned.  And I get to wear impractical shoes once again.  I wore them the other night to a coffee, and again today at church.  I'm not always in a hurry anymore.  And I'm actually enjoying free time again.  Especially the free time we spend together.  I was relating this to a friend - how truly happy I have been these past two weeks.  And not because of any one thing in particular; in fact, the joy has been in all the little things.  We carved a pumpkin and toasted seeds.  J. & I sucked helium from his welcome-home balloons (haven't done that in a while). We took E. to her first movie.  J. came home at lunch and the three of us went to coffee down the street.  And today I got to wear pretty, pointy suede heels (admittedly, not the 3-inch wedges and heels I used to sport, but just as pointy).

Don't get me wrong; I found many ways to carve out free time during the deployment.  And E. and I had a lot of fun together this past year. I am thankful for the bonding time we shared.  J's return hasn't meant things are perfect.  We're all still adjusting and we've had a few minor skirmishes; J. and I have a lot to negotiate and a whole uncertain future to try to plan.  But we're together as a whole family again.  And it makes all the difference.  I am happy and complete and thankful.  I wish I could bottle this up.  I hope I don't have to.  I hope this is just my new attitude.

While I'm on the subject of being thankful, I should note here that I have been truly touched that you've taken the time to email or comment on this blog - all along and especially around J's homecoming.  I expected blogging to be an outlet for both my thoughts and my creativity.  I didn't really expect to become part of a community.  It's been a pleasant surprise.  Your well-wishes and exclamation points made this past few weeks all that more giddy and special.  I really mean that. Thanks.

Daddy Catches Up

J. went back to work today.  It was an incredibly rainy week, but we had fun introducing Daddy to our life:

First, we taught him how to do E.'s hair:

Then, we took him to the thrift store.  I didn't expect him to actually rummage with me, and it took me 20 full minutes to talk him out of bringing home a large, broken mesh wire crate.  I still wound up having to bring this broken bamboo tray and cooler-thingy (read: garage junk) home:

We went to the Hands-On Children's Museum (it was a UT Game Day):

Then went to sushi, where E. showed him she, too, likes edamame!

And then J. humored me as I made a "quick stop" at an antique mall.  Thankfully, they had a little cafe in the store: 

Yesterday, J. and I played racquetball and worked out at the gym together (the racquetball game was reminiscent of my first try all those months ago - apparently neither of us is especially suave).  Then we took him to Barnes & Noble where I showed him how I figured out that I can enjoy a cup of coffee and a book while entertaining E. with the train table in the kids' section. (sorry, no pictures; I think J. is getting creeped out by all the picture-taking)

I'm incredibly grateful to have J. back.  In fact, this week has been so "charmed" as to be a little boggling (I keep thinking, what's the catch?).  I'm waiting for someone to call and say it was a mistake and they want him back - joy over.  Ironically, as ridiculous as that sounds, it's not so far-fetched in today's Army. But I know that's not going to happen in our case.  And I'm taking this time to enjoy the mundane without a constant fear nagging me.

We do, however, still feel very invested in this war.  In fact, I sense J.'s frustration at the Great Divide between what American liberals and conservatives argue about and what he feels we should be discussing based on his experience with the Iraqi Army and their justice system (which is, apparently, little more than a "catch and release" program that American and Iraqi soldiers alike are frustrated by).  I was a little surprised at the answers J. had for me when I asked him about this war.  But that's for another post...

I am thankful for J's return; but I am mindful that we still have friends and fellow soldiers in harm's way.  Maybe your friend/husband/son/daughter is one of them. I'm still praying for their safety.

Munchkin Picks Pumpkins

My mom arrived for a visit this weekend, and we spent an afternoon in the pumpkin patch at a local farm.  We brought home four pumpkins: three to decorate as Daddy, Mommy, and E. in anticipation of Daddy's homecoming; and one for scooping and getting mucky. 

The farm has a lot to offer and I love it. I wish we were going to be here longer. The petting zoo was precious:

Preview: Booty Bag Tutorial (*update at bottom)

We had a great time!  Pedicures, pottery painting, & a birthday party for E (pics to come).  It was a nice weekend.  I made two bags for Erin - the gift tote pictured below and a jean skirt purse I promised her ages ago (not pictured lest someone ask me to make them one!).  Both turned out great.  However, my sewing machine died in the making of the jean skirt purse.  I just pushed it too hard.  I don't think the machine is totally gone; it just requires repair beyond its worth (I know, how heartless is that after it gave me two good years and countless deployment projects!?).  Luckily, my birthday and Christmas are coming up and I have gotten two pledges toward my New Machine (one from Nana and one from Mom).

I have received quite a few requests this week for a Booty Bag tutorial.  I had planned to put one together this week, but that is now on hold until I get the New Machine.  If you would like to start shopping for the perfect pair of pants, here are some pointers based on how I put these purses together:

Because It's Only Fair...

Okay, I know you're all curious.  So, to complement the "Tightroll Jeans" picture I posted of my husband, J., I am posting "Big Hair" (and am throwing in the GINORMOUS glasses and shirt for free).  Just add this to the list of reasons to hate high school - the annual documentation of your bad taste. Ugh. (Please tell me I'm not the only one who looked like this in high school - you cringe a little at your pics, too, right?)

Happy 11,000 to Me...Greatest Hits

In honor of 11,000 page hits & 100 posts, I offer My Longest Year's "Greatest Hits." Sidenote: My friend Sarah thinks you should be almost dead or 20 years into a successful endeavor before ever being arrogant enough to think someone cares about your autobiography in a movie (think Fantasia Barrino) or your Greatest Hits album (think Britney Spears), but go with me here...its JUST a silly blog.

My second most Googled search term: "Instructions for Pillowcase Dress": (the actual instructions for which, ironically, isn't even MY link)

One of my most clicked on projects: picture of THIS Blanket (wha ?!?), which was one of my very first projects ever and there are so many things I would do differently in designing it now

My most clicked recipe: Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Third most Googled search term:"30th Bday" which leads to J's Birthday Post

...and possibly the most frequent search term that leads to this blog...under Google's Image search (drumroll, please):  "Tightroll Jeans!" (my husband is on the right - I'll never get tired of showing this picture!)

Blah.

I know, I know.  You haven't seen a post in a week.  Kind of unusual.  I've just been in a funk.  Nothing terrible - just not totally myself.  E. was sick. J. hasn't called.  I'm reflecting on our upcoming anniversary and E.'s October birthday. I'm feeling buried under a mounting To-Do list (as I write this I've discovered E. has unfolded an entire load of laundry).  The past week has been a big woe-is-me sigh, and I've just felt completely uninspired...okay, honestly, I'm on the verge of tears, but I just want this whine to be over. I'm gonna go eat worms.

...we interrupt this pity party for an "inspired" reminder (and blessing): My Little Precious Romping Happily in the Sprinkler.

Interstate Find

I am home from my trip to Montana.  I am absolutely itching to start a sewing project again so I should have something to show you soon...for now I hope you enjoy these pics from my lastest find.  I have passed by this "ANTIQUE & FRUIT MALL" on I-90 in Washington half a dozen times.  This time I decided to stop.  What a find! 

People milling about on the lower floor, picking out Washington's famous cherries and other fresh fruit (yes, that is some sort of wagon hanging from the ceiling).

Then, two floors! of vintage and antique everything...aprons, cribs, dressers, fruit labels, etc. I bribed my little E. with some peanut butter crackers and we spent an hour probing this huge treasure chest. Many of the booths were cozy and organized by color or item:

...and some things were just quirky (this one was labeled "foot vase"):

My wallet emerged relatively unscathed.  I bought a couple pounds of cherries and this embroidered dresser runner ($5):