valley girl: March 2011

Part Elephant...

So you do know it's spring time....right? You must know, weeds are beginning to grow in my back yard and in my garden. Weeds. Every time I look out the kitchen window I feel a little twitch, and itch really. I need to get in that DIRT. It is calling me. I even want to mow that lawn and it doesn't really need it, I'm just ready.

I'm also ready to be done being pregnant. Well, I wouldn't mind going grocery shopping one more time and maybe clean my bathrooms...who wants to come home from the hospital to dirty bathrooms.

I have decided that I may be part elephant. No, that is not in reference to my size. However the extra 24 pounds I am now sporting so daintily FEELS elephantish.

It's the fact that elephants have a gestational period of 22 months. That's right. You heard me. TWENTY- TWO MONTHS. The longest of all the mammals. So at 39 weeks and five days pregnant I can only imagine what 22 months must feel like. Okay, done imagining...lets have this baby.

My cup filled up....

"the girls...circa 1995"

I went to high school at a small, private, Christian, school.

Our small school was nestled in an even smaller town.

No Starbucks, no shopping mall...not even a Taco Bell.

This meant that your friends would either make or break your high school years experience.

And let me tell you...I had a great time.

This weekend I found this picture at my mom's house while digging through a stack of old photos.

My life has been full of amazing women.

From a very small child meeting up with my life long sister friend Maria when we were just 18 months old in rural Alaska....

to third grade and being sat by my dear friend Britta on my first day of class....

to meeting the Mandy in fifth grade and being a part of each others most important moments for the past 23 years....

to Shelle and Julie joining my life in the seventh grade...

and all the women that I have since met as an adult that fill the patchwork quilt of friendship that I have wrapped around myself over the years.

These women fill me up.

I hold out my cup...and it runneth over with friendship, love, support, laughter.

I can't think of a more lovely way to go through life...

Thanks Mandy for yesterday, for once again filling my cup.

Dear Betty...

Dear Betty,

It's been a while. How are you? I have missed you.

I know winter is not your favorite time of year. It makes your pretty aqua frame shiver...you just don't look good with snow on your tires and I know how you take pride in how you look. Clearly, you are a lovely lady.

And then came the pregnancy. Doctor's orders. No joy rides with Betty.

You've been reduced to a flower pot. You get no love or attention.

But dear Betty I'm here to tell you that's all about to change. See, it's spring. In the spring comes longer days, cool evenings and the baby soon. That's right. All will be right with the world again.

For now dear Betty, just keep reigning supreme over the craft desk. Enjoy the little girls that come and sit at your feet. And remember, at least I didn't hang you up in the garage with that other thing that calls itself a dirt bike and doesn't even have fenders. So uncivilized.

Love, Vicki

I'm rich...

A princess dress at the kitchen table while I cook dinner.

Makes my day.

As my dear friend Sherol would say, I'm a rich, rich momma.

Today...

We wore rain coats and rain boots to school today.

Walmart was EMPTY when we ran errands this morning.

Coffee tastes twice as good when it is cold and blustery.

I am avoiding walking to the mail box to get the mail.

It is most definitely spring.

Problems...

Today I am thankful for my problems.

No really, I am. Hear me out.

I was sitting at a traffic light feeling uncomfortable and sorry for myself because, well, I can't breath all that great what with a baby pressed into my rib cage and all right now.

And then I thought to myself, but I CAN get pregnant, I CAN carry a baby. What a wonderful problem to have.

I thought about my husband who will leave trash sitting on the counter right above the trash can instead of throwing it away, who can't hear a word I'm saying if there is any kind of electronic device in his vicinity, and thinks cleaning the house means putting everything into piles everywhere.

Then I thought, I GET to spend my days with a man who can buy me a swimming suit that fits perfectly because he knows my body so well. I GET to be his partner, living a life with him that would only be half as full if I was doing this on my own. How great is it that I GET to throw his trash away for him.

I thought about our morning that was not so stellar around here. My kids were at each other, I was tired, so very tired. There was yelling. We ate cold cereal.

But catching a glimpse in the rear view mirror at the empty back seat of my car I felt guilt for ever wishing my morning had gone any other way. I GET to be the one that leads them, guides them, teaches them every day, preparing them for a life out there on their own. I GET to know them so intimately. I still feel a tingle when I hear them talk about their momma...me.

I will happily take my problems, aches, pains and discomforts.

They are mine, and I am so lucky to have them today.

Girl's Day....

Happy Girl's Day!!

No...seriously...today is March 3rd (3/3)...Girl's Day in Japan.

I had no idea till I was headed back to my car after dropping off my oldest girl at kindergarten and my friend handed me these sweet little Japanese candies and told me it was Girl's Day.