 |
| Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth |
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Christina's World
Thursday, November 14, 2013
verbal vomit
Welcome! In this post you will find nothing earth-shattering or insightful but instead you will find that I simply regurgitated the contents of my life onto the page. Verbal vomit, I like to call it. So read on and then you can consider yourself informed.
So I am sitting here at 5:11 am. I know, it surprised me too. But believe me, I didn't get up this early because I wanted to. I just returned from taking Nate to the high school for swim practice. He is on the team this year (which I think is so cool and I am so proud of him!) and he practices every morning at 5, has a class period every other day for swim, and then has after school practices. That's three to four hours of swimming. Every. Day. Thinking about it makes me feel tired. But the good news is that at least one person in our family is incredibly in shape! Woo hoo! The rest of us are a bunch of slugs, but whatever. He has his first meet today and he is so nervous. He looked like he wanted to throw up when I dropped him off at practice. But I am excited to watch him compete for the first time. He is an awesome kid.
Onward with my life! Next up...Abby. What can I say. Abby is...Abby. She had her birthday the other day and the day was interesting, I guess you could call it. She was sooooo excited. We had a family party planned and when she wasn't running around the house screaming "I'M SIX!", she was asking me how many more minutes until her party that night. Six hours is a looooong time when you have an hysterical six year old waiting to open her presents.
Here are a few Abby quotables from the day:
"Mom, I wonder what these presents are. Do you think they are the ones that I ordered?"
"Mom, I want the party to start. When are my people going to be here?"
"Thanks Aunt Amy for the dress. But I wish I could get some more presents that are cooler."
.....sigh......
I guess this is normal for a six-year-old. The combination of self-centeredness and the inability to control what they say is par for the course. But it's horribly embarrassing! And kinda funny too.
Here's a picture of the cutie to make up for her social faux pas:
So I am sitting here at 5:11 am. I know, it surprised me too. But believe me, I didn't get up this early because I wanted to. I just returned from taking Nate to the high school for swim practice. He is on the team this year (which I think is so cool and I am so proud of him!) and he practices every morning at 5, has a class period every other day for swim, and then has after school practices. That's three to four hours of swimming. Every. Day. Thinking about it makes me feel tired. But the good news is that at least one person in our family is incredibly in shape! Woo hoo! The rest of us are a bunch of slugs, but whatever. He has his first meet today and he is so nervous. He looked like he wanted to throw up when I dropped him off at practice. But I am excited to watch him compete for the first time. He is an awesome kid.
Onward with my life! Next up...Abby. What can I say. Abby is...Abby. She had her birthday the other day and the day was interesting, I guess you could call it. She was sooooo excited. We had a family party planned and when she wasn't running around the house screaming "I'M SIX!", she was asking me how many more minutes until her party that night. Six hours is a looooong time when you have an hysterical six year old waiting to open her presents.
Here are a few Abby quotables from the day:
"Mom, I wonder what these presents are. Do you think they are the ones that I ordered?"
"Mom, I want the party to start. When are my people going to be here?"
"Thanks Aunt Amy for the dress. But I wish I could get some more presents that are cooler."
.....sigh......
I guess this is normal for a six-year-old. The combination of self-centeredness and the inability to control what they say is par for the course. But it's horribly embarrassing! And kinda funny too.
Here's a picture of the cutie to make up for her social faux pas:
Next up is my Seffers. I love that kid! He is 11 which happens to be one of my favorite kid ages. Kids this age are funny and smart. They haven't turned into teenage monsters yet, but you can have extremely intelligent, although somewhat odd conversations with them. They still tell you about their day. They still hug you when they come home from school (well, at least mine does). I wish I had a recent picture to share, but for some reason I have been absolutely terrible about taking pictures lately. I have a new camera, not to mention a GREAT camera on my phone, so there is no excuses for me. I guess I will have to settle for a selfy he took the other day that I found on his iPod. Don't tell him I did this because he would DIE. But he is so funny!
Since I already told you about Nate's swim stuff we will move on to Alex. I don't know if I blogged about this already, but Alex had the opportunity to travel to New York last May with a really cool jazz band that he plays in called the Voodoo Orchestra. They played in several places including Dizzy's Coca Cola jazz club and a little place called Carnegie Hall. Yes, you read that correctly. CARNEGIE HALL, PEOPLE!!!
Here are some pictures to prove he was there :)
Three of the bands that are part of the Caleb Chapman Music group were able to perform their own night at this amazing venue. The main band, who headlined the event, is called the Crescent Super Band. Voodoo orchestra and La Onda Caribena both played 20 minute sets before Crescent came on and played for about an hour. Unfortunately, Shawn and I weren't able to go on the tour with him. We were able to save up enough for Alex to go, but it was too much to pay for all three of us. But that's ok! I am just so glad that he was able to go. All of these bands are part of an organization called Caleb Chapman Music down in American Fork, Utah. They have 15 different bands made up completely of Junior High and High school kids. And they are really, really good! Alex is so lucky and blessed and totally excited that he got the chance to be part of it last year and go on that amazing tour. He auditioned this year for Voodoo and is able to be part of it again for another year. I can't tell you how much this group has helped this kid. He has learned so much; not just about music, but about how be good at life in general. Words cannot even express how proud I am of his accomplishments. If you're interested, here is a link to a review of the concert that was posted in the New York Concert review: http://www.nyconcertreview.com/blog/?p=2360
As you can see, life stays interesting here at the Shipley house. We are running every which way as fast as we can and sometimes, honestly, it gets a little out of control, but we have much to be grateful for. We have trials and problems like everyone else, but for the moment, life with the Shipleys is pretty sweet.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Growing up is optional
My eldest child turned 17 last week. I have mixed feelings about this birthday. On one hand, I am excited for him; he is just starting his life and has so many opportunities ahead of him. Yet I am scared for him too. He has so much to learn and I know he will have trials that I can no longer shield him from. It's a weird feeling. This birthday has also been a unwelcome reminder of my advancing age. Here is my official list entitled "20 signs that you are approaching middle age":
1. You realize you have known your spouse for more than half your life.
2. When you get together with your friends, you realize that you enjoy discussing your various physical ailments.
3. Your idea of a good time is staying at home watching Netflix in your pajamas.
4. "Dressing up" means putting on a bra.
5. You stop telling people that you are going to "grow old gracefully".
6. You dye your hair because you have to, not because you want to.
7. You actually have a strategic plan for how you are going to someday grow out your gray hair and stop coloring it. I'm serious.
8. You are happy to be done having kids, but start to realize you are going to miss some things about having babies.
9. You realize that you are never again going to plan a first-birthday party.
10. You begin to dream about future grandchildren and start saving toys "just in case". (see number 8).
11. You wake up from that dream in a cold sweat.
12. You try to go back to sleep, grateful that you are finally at a time in your life when you get a chance to sleep through the night, but your traitorous body doesn't let you.
13. The reasons your body doesn't let you sleep at night are sometimes the same reasons why it won't move the next morning.
14. You understood the previous statement without having to think about it.
15. Your youngest child is a brat, but you really couldn't care less.
16. People start to think you are learning to be patient, but...(see number 15).
17. Sitting on the floor is NEVER a good idea.
18. In fact, even getting up from the floor after sitting for longer than, oh, ten minutes usually results in cramped leg muscles, sore hips and an arthritic hobble across the room. This is usually followed by one of your teenagers mocking you.
19. Speaking of teenagers, you don't understand half of what they are talking about and you have had conversations where they explain to you what "hashtag" means.
20. The fact that you even HAVE teenagers is proof enough.
Happy birthday Alex! :)
1. You realize you have known your spouse for more than half your life.
2. When you get together with your friends, you realize that you enjoy discussing your various physical ailments.
3. Your idea of a good time is staying at home watching Netflix in your pajamas.
4. "Dressing up" means putting on a bra.
5. You stop telling people that you are going to "grow old gracefully".
6. You dye your hair because you have to, not because you want to.
7. You actually have a strategic plan for how you are going to someday grow out your gray hair and stop coloring it. I'm serious.
8. You are happy to be done having kids, but start to realize you are going to miss some things about having babies.
9. You realize that you are never again going to plan a first-birthday party.
10. You begin to dream about future grandchildren and start saving toys "just in case". (see number 8).
11. You wake up from that dream in a cold sweat.
12. You try to go back to sleep, grateful that you are finally at a time in your life when you get a chance to sleep through the night, but your traitorous body doesn't let you.
13. The reasons your body doesn't let you sleep at night are sometimes the same reasons why it won't move the next morning.
14. You understood the previous statement without having to think about it.
15. Your youngest child is a brat, but you really couldn't care less.
16. People start to think you are learning to be patient, but...(see number 15).
17. Sitting on the floor is NEVER a good idea.
18. In fact, even getting up from the floor after sitting for longer than, oh, ten minutes usually results in cramped leg muscles, sore hips and an arthritic hobble across the room. This is usually followed by one of your teenagers mocking you.
19. Speaking of teenagers, you don't understand half of what they are talking about and you have had conversations where they explain to you what "hashtag" means.
20. The fact that you even HAVE teenagers is proof enough.
Happy birthday Alex! :)
Monday, October 7, 2013
The better side of crappy
I wish I could take credit for this phrase, recently coined by my sister who is going through the post-surgery blues. It so perfectly sums up a mood that is somewhere between ok and my-life-sucks. And it happens to perfectly sum up my current state of mind.
I am sitting here at 1:45 a.m. in a terribly uncomfortable office chair. I am supposed to be in bed, but I recently vacated that location due to less than desirable sleeping conditions. Being awake in the middle of the night is a little weird; I sorta feel like I am doing something wrong, sneaking around the house like a burglar, avoiding all the creaks in the floor and quietly closing doors to bedrooms so I don't disturb anyone else with my insomnia.
The stillness in the house gives me too much time to think. My mind starts to wander with anxious thoughts and I worry about everything that is wrong in my life. Most of my worries are about things I can't control, but I go ahead and worry about them anyway. It's silly and a little irrational, but I can't seem to help it.
I've tried what feels like everything for my anxiety. Meditation, therapy, vitamins, calming teas, avoiding caffeine, all kinds of medications and nothing really seems to work. I read an article once that told me one of the best things I can do for anxiety is get enough sleep. Obviously whoever wrote that article is a moron. So what else can I do? This is not a hypothetical question, but an actual question sent out into cyberspace where it will hopefully return to me with some answers. Anxiety can be crippling at times. And the worst part is that I see it in my kids and I feel so responsible for it. So guess what I do? That's right. I worry about it. I even have anxiety about anxiety. It makes me laugh a little, which come to think about it, could be from my current sleep-deprivation.
So anyway, there's my little rant for the night. Maybe writing it out will ease my mind and give me some relief. Who knows? Not me.
Welcome to the better side of crappy.
I am sitting here at 1:45 a.m. in a terribly uncomfortable office chair. I am supposed to be in bed, but I recently vacated that location due to less than desirable sleeping conditions. Being awake in the middle of the night is a little weird; I sorta feel like I am doing something wrong, sneaking around the house like a burglar, avoiding all the creaks in the floor and quietly closing doors to bedrooms so I don't disturb anyone else with my insomnia.
The stillness in the house gives me too much time to think. My mind starts to wander with anxious thoughts and I worry about everything that is wrong in my life. Most of my worries are about things I can't control, but I go ahead and worry about them anyway. It's silly and a little irrational, but I can't seem to help it.
I've tried what feels like everything for my anxiety. Meditation, therapy, vitamins, calming teas, avoiding caffeine, all kinds of medications and nothing really seems to work. I read an article once that told me one of the best things I can do for anxiety is get enough sleep. Obviously whoever wrote that article is a moron. So what else can I do? This is not a hypothetical question, but an actual question sent out into cyberspace where it will hopefully return to me with some answers. Anxiety can be crippling at times. And the worst part is that I see it in my kids and I feel so responsible for it. So guess what I do? That's right. I worry about it. I even have anxiety about anxiety. It makes me laugh a little, which come to think about it, could be from my current sleep-deprivation.
So anyway, there's my little rant for the night. Maybe writing it out will ease my mind and give me some relief. Who knows? Not me.
Welcome to the better side of crappy.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
Just pie
Here's the deal. My mom makes the best pies in the world. For real. IN THE WHOLE WORLD. She came to see me the other day. She brought me a peach pie because she is the best mom ever. After she left I immediately ate two pieces and then proceeded to hide the pie in the back of the fridge. If you get between me and my pie, there is trouble. And this is what I had for breakfast, lunch, dinner and a midnight snack the next day which is totally acceptable because there is fruit in it. Yes. The pie is gone. Yes. I cried.
Behold the deliciousness. It's just so beautiful.
And again. Do you notice the exquisite, flaky crust? Perfection, my friends.
This is how I look before I partake of the deliciousness.
This is me: the pie stalker.
And this is me eating another piece about 5 minutes after I ate the first one. I promise I do use a fork.
Long live the pie. Go get some. But stay away from mine.
Monday, September 16, 2013
A play in three acts
The cast: Mom and Abby
The plot: A series of conversations between mother and daughter.
The setting: Sacrament meeting.
Act One
(Congregation is folding their arms reverently during our five-minute -- no lie, it was FIVE MINUTES -- opening prayer. At about minute number two, Abby starts to fidget.)
Abby (using a hushed voiced that barely qualifies as a whisper): "Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. When are we going to be done?"
Mom: "We just started, Abby. We have about an hour left in the meeting."
Abby: "One hour? Is that a long time?"
Me: "Well, ya kinda."
Abby: "Uuuuuuuuuuuh. Nooooooooooooo."
Me: "Fold your arms and stop talking!"
(Next scene, during minute four of never-ending prayer)
Abby: "Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom."
Me: "Whaaaaat?!?"
Abby (using the whiniest voice she can possibly muster): "This is the loooooongest prayer EVER."
Act Two
(Congregation is bowing their heads reverently as the sacrament is passed. I take that back. Everyone except my children are bowing their heads reverently.)
Abby: "Mom? Your arms look like Sponge Bob's"
Me: "..........."
Act Three
(Congregation is getting restless. Sacrament meeting is running in overtime, probably due to the aforementioned five-minute prayer.)
Abby (Not even bothering with the whisper this time): "Mom, do you know how to say hello in Hawaii-an? Alooooooooooha!"
Me: "Wow, that's awesome!"
Abby: "I am so smart, huh."
Me: "Yes you are definitely a smart girl."
Abby: "Yup. My brain is getting lots of wrinkles."
(Mom laughs out loud, congregation sings "We Are All Enlisted" and curtain closes on yet another successful sacrament meeting.)
The plot: A series of conversations between mother and daughter.
The setting: Sacrament meeting.
Act One
(Congregation is folding their arms reverently during our five-minute -- no lie, it was FIVE MINUTES -- opening prayer. At about minute number two, Abby starts to fidget.)
Abby (using a hushed voiced that barely qualifies as a whisper): "Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom. When are we going to be done?"
Mom: "We just started, Abby. We have about an hour left in the meeting."
Abby: "One hour? Is that a long time?"
Me: "Well, ya kinda."
Abby: "Uuuuuuuuuuuh. Nooooooooooooo."
Me: "Fold your arms and stop talking!"
(Next scene, during minute four of never-ending prayer)
Abby: "Mom. Mom. Mom. Mom."
Me: "Whaaaaat?!?"
Abby (using the whiniest voice she can possibly muster): "This is the loooooongest prayer EVER."
Act Two
(Congregation is bowing their heads reverently as the sacrament is passed. I take that back. Everyone except my children are bowing their heads reverently.)
Abby: "Mom? Your arms look like Sponge Bob's"
Me: "..........."
Act Three
(Congregation is getting restless. Sacrament meeting is running in overtime, probably due to the aforementioned five-minute prayer.)
Abby (Not even bothering with the whisper this time): "Mom, do you know how to say hello in Hawaii-an? Alooooooooooha!"
Me: "Wow, that's awesome!"
Abby: "I am so smart, huh."
Me: "Yes you are definitely a smart girl."
Abby: "Yup. My brain is getting lots of wrinkles."
(Mom laughs out loud, congregation sings "We Are All Enlisted" and curtain closes on yet another successful sacrament meeting.)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Regret
I sit before you a changed woman. My youngest is now officially in school.
There are no more babies in my house. I know I put on a good show the other day about how excited I was, blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda. But I take it back. I sent Abby into class today (where she quite willingly went) and then walked home by myself to an empty house. Yes, I cried just a little, right before I wandered around aimlessly, followed by a glassy-eyed stare out the window. At this point I decided I better do something productive, so I rearranged my furniture, which is really just a way for me to assert my control over one aspect of my life because I feel like I've lost control over another. See? I am learning something in therapy.
Three hours later I was walking myself back to the school, ten minutes early. I chatted nonchalantly with another mom while I was stealing glances at the Kindergarten door every thirty seconds. Abby walked out a few minutes later with the biggest smile on her little face. "Mommy!" she giggled and ran to me for a hug. We walked hand-in-hand back to our house while she talked about the day's adventures and I realized something--I really shouldn't wish it away too soon. And I won't. I will cherish this time with her because there is one thing I can live without: regret.
There are no more babies in my house. I know I put on a good show the other day about how excited I was, blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda. But I take it back. I sent Abby into class today (where she quite willingly went) and then walked home by myself to an empty house. Yes, I cried just a little, right before I wandered around aimlessly, followed by a glassy-eyed stare out the window. At this point I decided I better do something productive, so I rearranged my furniture, which is really just a way for me to assert my control over one aspect of my life because I feel like I've lost control over another. See? I am learning something in therapy.
Three hours later I was walking myself back to the school, ten minutes early. I chatted nonchalantly with another mom while I was stealing glances at the Kindergarten door every thirty seconds. Abby walked out a few minutes later with the biggest smile on her little face. "Mommy!" she giggled and ran to me for a hug. We walked hand-in-hand back to our house while she talked about the day's adventures and I realized something--I really shouldn't wish it away too soon. And I won't. I will cherish this time with her because there is one thing I can live without: regret.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Why I wanna be a scarf girl
So my last post was a bit of a downer. Sorry about that. But today I am feeling a little more optimistic. You wanna know why? Because change is around the corner, folks! School is in session and we survived the first week; some of us better than others but overall we are off to a good start. Abby starts Kindergarten in another day and can I just say how excited we all are? Is that terrible that I am excited for my baby to start school? I know, I know, I'm not supposed to wish it all away and all that, but that little girl needs social interaction like she needs oxygen. And in all reality I am exhausted from the effort of being her only source of entertainment. She is going to LOVE school.
So with school starting, it means that fall is coming. I love fall. I really do. Spring is my favorite, summer is awesome, but there is something about the crisp air, the beautiful leaves and the smell of change that just makes fall a magical season. But honestly, I basically love every season except winter. Winter sucks.
Anyway...
I also love fall fashions. The boots. The sweaters. And the scarves.
Oh how I wish I was a scarf person. I see people in all their scarfy stylish-ness and I think, "Yes! I could do totally do that!" But then I buy a scarf, put it on and take it right off because I feel ridiculous. Does anyone else do this? I don't know. I feel like a fashion moron, but there it is.
You see? Absolutely cute. When I look at these pictures I feel utterly envious. These pictures also make me realize that I want to be a legging person, but with the same irrational reasoning that wish will also never come to pass.
And so I will spend the next few months with my baggy jeans and scarf-less neck, but will find comfort in the fact that school is in session, fall is coming and I have three hours a day to myself. Woo hoo!
So with school starting, it means that fall is coming. I love fall. I really do. Spring is my favorite, summer is awesome, but there is something about the crisp air, the beautiful leaves and the smell of change that just makes fall a magical season. But honestly, I basically love every season except winter. Winter sucks.
Anyway...
I also love fall fashions. The boots. The sweaters. And the scarves.
Oh how I wish I was a scarf person. I see people in all their scarfy stylish-ness and I think, "Yes! I could do totally do that!" But then I buy a scarf, put it on and take it right off because I feel ridiculous. Does anyone else do this? I don't know. I feel like a fashion moron, but there it is.
You see? Absolutely cute. When I look at these pictures I feel utterly envious. These pictures also make me realize that I want to be a legging person, but with the same irrational reasoning that wish will also never come to pass.
And so I will spend the next few months with my baggy jeans and scarf-less neck, but will find comfort in the fact that school is in session, fall is coming and I have three hours a day to myself. Woo hoo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)