Capturing the Everyday

It has been way too long since I posted.  I think of posting, but I feel like I should dedicate a post or two (or three) to thoughts on our travels.  But all that travel chaos is still pretty jumbled in my mind.  Someday it may come out, in a shareable manner, but for now I realize it is best to move on.  It is time to focus on the now and share what is wonderful, right now.

I've become lazy in my photo taking.  Not lazy, as in, not taking photos.  I still take way too many photos.  Lazy, as in, I just use my phone.  I switched from the iPhone 4s to the moto x a few months ago (and then I cracked--my unrepairable--screen.  Lovely, I know.)  But I miss the nice quality photos the iPhone took.  They were, for a phone, beautiful photos.  But I've be lazy and not been taking photos with my DSLR camera.

This past week spring weather has finally graced the northeast!!!  With spring weather I feel myself beginning to come out of my winter hibernation and stretching a bit.  I generally stray away from setting New Year's resolutions, because I know once spring comes I naturally feel this sense of renewal.  A desire to redirect some habits.  The ability to change and become better.  A bit of spring cleaning on my life--and habits--if you will.

This week I felt the desire to pull out my Nikon D40.  Despite it being an "old" camera (by today's rapidly changing technology standards) and the lens and sensors being dirty, it still takes lovely photos.  It feels good capturing the beauty around me.  And living in an apartment with an abundance of natural light sure helps a lot too.

SORRY!

morning stretches

At the Mystic Aquarium

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homemade bread and honey butter 

typical morning

my beautiful Isabella

evening light

sunset walk

rolling out spinach pasta

Bringing in the Wash

This morning I was grumbling.  Grumbling because the clothes dryers in our building still have not been fixed.  Grumbling because laundry had to be done today.  Grumbling because Isabella has been sick and was completely out of all clean clothes.  Grumbling because I had to take all our clothes, with three kids (one slightly sick) to the laundromat two blocks away.  And, to top it off, it was raining.  (grumble, grumble)  Well, it was barely sprinkling, but, to me, it felt like a downpour.

Our trip to the laundromat looked something like this: Isabella skipping (obviously feeling better), me dragging Oliver who was crying because he wanted to sit in the stroller, Simon strapped on my back and the laundry piled high into the stroller.  At the time I was ready to cry.  But, in hindsight, I really should have stopped and taken a picture of us all walking down the street.  It was pretty amazing.  (A mama with 3 kids turns heads on the UWS.   A mama with 3 kids and pushing laundry down the street.  You would have thought I was an alien!)

But, you know what?!  We got to the laundromat and my kids had a blast!  They loved helping me with the laundry.  They loved pushing each other all around in the carts.  They loved dumping the soap in, adding money to the card, pushing the buttons.  Most of all they loved the attendant, Elizabeth, who played with them the entire time.  The kids were so happy to be at that grimy, dirty little basement laundromat.  I couldn't help but smile.  I felt so happy too.  I was so glad that I had dragged them all out, in the rain, to do laundry.  It was exactly what we needed today.  Crazy, but true.

While I was wallowing in my egocentric pity-party this morning I remembered this TED Talk.  And I was grateful that I have a washing machine (or at least access to washing machines).  I am grateful my laundry is done in 2 hours with push of a button (and several quarters).  Even if I do have to haul it two blocks.  It's so much easier than washing it all by hand.  How fortunate I am!

Last week this was our living room.  I had washed two loads before I noticed the dryers weren't working.  I was longing for a backyard, with a clothesline.

Today

Isabella told me she hopes the dryers don't get fixed for a few more weeks.  I completely understand.

Many Mini Miracles

Do you ever have those seasons in life when you are ready to make a change, do great things, resolve to be a better person?  And then the whole world seems to collapse at that same instant and your ready to throw in the towel?

You know, like, flying home from an awesome vacation, but ready to begin anew.  Get a fresh start on life back at home.  I was totally there.  We travelled home from California all day Saturday.  I was excited.  Spring was on the horizon in NYC, I was feeling refreshed and ready to get back into the swing of things...only better.  I was making those resolutions: eat healthy, run every morning, no more shows for the kids, etc.  Sunday was going to be the big day.  I was ready to plow full steam ahead and make life better.

I woke up Sunday morning in pain.  I had the worst sore throat I'd ever experienced; I was pretty certain it was strep.  I was cranky and exhausted.  I couldn't swallow anything.  It persisted.  I couldn't get in to see my doctor until Tuesday.  On Tuesday I woke up my eye was crusted shut.  Strep and pink eye??!!  Come on!

It was time to give up and give in.  I was ready to turn on the movies for the kids while I just sat like a lump on the couch and browsed pinterest.  I headed to the doctor and was there for two stinking hours with my two boys.  (I would have dropped them off at a friend's house, but I was worried they might be sick with what I have.)

What was amazing was the miracles that started to happen:

**Oliver slept the entire two hours in the stroller while at the doctors office.
**I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in years and was inspired and uplifted by her, her spirit and energy.
**I don't have strep.  Only a really bad virus that is attacking my head and throat.  I'm finally feeling better this morning.
**Ibuprofen is amazing!
**My two boys are actually both napping, at the same time, right now!  My insides almost burst with joy when Oliver zonked out watching a "moo-iee" while I cleaned up a bit this morning.

But the biggest miracle of all:

Yesterday after two grueling hours at the doctors office I came home.  I walked in the door.  The lights were on.  I was a little nervous.  It smelled a bit funny too.  And there was a strange sound coming from the kitchen.  I walked into the kitchen and instantly teared up when I saw this:

The Danby Designer Portable Dishwasher
(please excuse Oliver's silly expression:))
(and, yes, that is the actual size of our entire kitchen)

Brian came home during his lunch break (while I was at the doctor) met the delivery guys, set it up, threw the dishes in and let her run.  Isn't she beautiful!  (The funny smell was that glorious scent of a brand spankin' new appliance right out of the box.)

Maybe it is all so silly that I am so in love with this little appliance, but I am.  My heart literally goes pitter-patter when I hear her purr and swish.  (Maybe it's because I'm sick too. ;0))  

I'm sure that day will come when I will take her for granted.  When I've forgotten the many hours I stood at the tiny sink scrubbing dishes.  When beads of sweat would sting my eyes as I scrubbed dishes during the hot, humid summer.  Or when I had to stand, twisted sideways, with my hip to the sink, so I could scrub dishes when I was hugely pregnant.  But for now, and I'm sure for many months years, I will adore this little machine.  I guess my efforts to want what I have, rather that wish for more, have been fairly successful.  I didn't realize how much I really wanted one until now.*  

Brian, 

THANK YOU!!!  

You know how to win your woman's heart!

*We had  done a lot of research and almost bought this machine (used, off craigslist) a few times, but it never worked out.  And I had, in a sense, given up and just didn't think much about it the last few months.  Life demanded other things and I was content with the abundance I had.  It was a complete surprise!

Our Play Space

It's kind of funny how things happen sometimes.  I really enjoy browsing blogs on my downtime (rare, but true).  Blogs are quick bits of inspiration that don't require a time commitment.  Perfect to do while nursing or waiting on the subway platform.  One blog that I enjoy, Childhood 101, began posting readers' play spaces a few weeks ago.  It was fun and inspiring to see "normal" people's spaces.

Every time I looked at our disheveled bookcase, crammed with kids stuff, I thought, "Maybe I'll clean it out one day and send in a photo."  And that thought morphed into, "If I do organize our stuff I will send in a photo."  Which would be a fun way to share a bit of our space with a group of worldwide blog readers.

I had begun to mentally clean out the kids' shelves a few weeks before my hands were free to do the work.  I cleaned and organized for just about an hour (a benefit of a small space) before it looked good.  I snapped a few photos and submitted it to Childhood 101.  A few days ago I noticed our space was featured on Childhood 101!  It's so fun to see it there; our little home.  Hopefully it will inspire others who live in tight spaces.  You can see the bit I wrote about our space on Childhood 101 or view other play spaces on the site as well.

Why I don't fold laundry anymore...

This morning I was reminded why I always fold laundry late at night, while the children are sleeping.

Hired Help

Over the past year I've been going through an internal debate of how to handle "chores" with Isabella.  She use to always put the clean silverware away but at one point she stopped and I started nagging and tossing out threats and it was no good.  That's not how I want to run a home.

Then we had a standard morning routine where there was a list on the wall with a handful of things she needed to get done every morning (like get dressed, make bed, etc.).  It worked well for a week.  But one morning Isabella said, "I don't like doing the list.  I like it when you just ask me."  (Part of the issue was she felt like those things had to be done in the exact order as the list.  When things would mess up the order--like Oliver still sleeping in the room--she would get frustrated.)  Once that routine stopped working she no longer had chores.  And I was thinking I was failing as a mom.  Not teaching her the value of hard work and contributing to our home.

I asked some friends (moms I love and adore) for their advice.  One friend told me Isabella helps around the house and with the boys all the time! She encouraged me to just look at all Isabella does in our home.  It's amazing what those few words from my friend did.  I began seeing so much more.  Isabella loves helping all the time!  It was such a relief.  Isabella is contributing to our home and working hard; I just had to change my perspective.

But in the last few weeks Isabella has been consistently begging asking for some of her own money.  I didn't feel like just handing over some dough.  (That's definitely not a habit I want to get into.)  On the other hand, I was conflicted about getting into the habit of paying her to help around the house, since I feel she should contribute to our home, because a home is all of us working together, not because she will be paid.

I reminded myself, "Kiasa, it's not an all-or-nothing situation!"  (Yes, I have to yell these things to myself sometimes.)  If I pay her for a few things I don't have to pay her every single time she does something!  When I got that into my tired brain I relaxed.  Then I drew a super quick, simple list for her, showing her how many quarters she would receive by doing each one, gave her a sponge and a squirt bottle with water.  And she got busy.

I love that she added/drew the fridge.

She worked so hard for over an hour.  I was so impressed.  And she loved it!

The most surprising part was the huge sense of relief I felt.  It felt so good to have some extra help.  As she worked, I supervised and taught her.  And then I worked hard too.  Her excitement and dedication was contagious and motivating for me.  The house was so clean after about an hour.  It was the best $2.25 I ever spent.

The list is now in the garbage.  It worked and was fun for the time.  We might use something similar in the future, but I'm not planning on making a habit out of it.