Adios 2010

While 2010 had some great moments, including Lee finishing his MBA, our trip to Asia, and of course finding out about Grake, it also included moments that I would like to erase from the depths of my memories forever.

We decided rather than to sit around and bemoan these very things, we would hit the road and take off for some place warm. While pre-Finn that place would have been somewhere much more exciting than where we ended up, we took 75 South and ended up in Tampa. What do you do with a pregnant woman, an almost 3 year old and a roller coaster hater in this fair city? Why, hit Busch Gardens of course, which was actually filled with many more activities for the three of us than I thought, and 5 hours later we left, exhausted but thrilled.

We are heading to Orlando next, and may even hit up the happiest place on Earth, but not until Sunday, when everyone else on Earth has hopefully departed for their respective homes.

Tonight we will tuck Finn in, watch crappy tv, and not make it up past 10:30. I am okay with that. I don't need to see 2010 out the door to know that 2011 has to surely be a better one.

Happy New Year's All!

Merry Christmas

With moments like this how can Christmas be anything other than fabulous?

Merry Christmas to all my friends, family, and my wonderful readers who I have never met.

Horses and Necklaces

Sometimes, on a cloudy gloomy day, the best way to brighten up your spirit is to throw on your Hunter wellies, go with some friends to a 'farmhouse' in the burbs, partake in some art, ride some horses, get your face painted, and wear necklaces. Lots and lots of necklaces. Throw in a 3rd birthday celebration and cake and the day is made.

The Graduate

16 months ago it started.

A part-time (yet seemingly full-time) MBA program.

Lee spent hours a day studying, working.

He gave up weekends with us to further himself, and for our family.

I complained, more than I should have, but always knew he was doing the right thing.

He made friends; he dealt with adversity; he never got below an A on anything he did.

The program took him to Asia; I followed along.

We invested both financially and emotionally in what I know will be a huge step for our future.

And today, today he graduated.

He walked across the stage with 60 of his friends, while we cheered him on.

The lone voice across the room yelled "Yay Daddy!" and was met with laughter and smiles all around. Too bad Finn yelled it before Lee got up on stage.

I couldn't be prouder of him than I am on this very day.

Good job babe, it was worth every tear (mine), every busy day (yours) and every penny spent.

Christmas Cheer

It is beginning to look up around here, and I really, really appreciate all the kind words I received after my last post. As always things have a way of working themselves out, and we received a very generous one time goodwill gesture from Lexus that made the whole transmission going out on a busy road during a cold rush hour much more amusing. And Lee comes home tomorrow from the UK, so it is always cheerier around here when he is home.

And in an attempt to celebrate 25 days of Christmas, like many of my friends are doing, we are trying to do different Christmas-y events every day. I am not as good as documenting them as my friend Heather, (who not only has a son also named Finn but is pregnant with her third, bless her, and is due the same time as me. Whee!), but they are there.

So yesterday we did two things, one of which is an Atlanta holiday tradition, and the other which was in our neighborhood and happened by chance.  The first was going to ride the Pink Pig, which was did  a week ago as well, but this time we took Grammy along for the ride. The two of them hopped up into the train, and did the two lap circle around the tent in the mall parking lot. Yes, somehow this has been an Atlanta tradition for 57 years.

As the train pulled in they are very clear to tell everyone to leave to the left. As my mom went to get out Finn bolted out the other side, and was about to turn the corner and run all along the tracks while I tried to grab him. This boy has suddenly turned into a runner, and I am not sure where that came from.

Later yesterday we got news that one of our neighbors, who is a news reporter, was bringing Santa to the hood for a Toys for Tots drive, as well as a live shoot on the news. We bundled up, and while that sounds ironic for Atlanta I kid you not it is fuh-reezing here, and headed down. We headed up to Santa, who promptly said 'Oh, bring her over here with you and let her get used to me.' Her. I politely corrected him that Finn was in fact a boy, in case the black puffy jacket, jeans with skulls and crossbones on them and Vans shoes didn't give it away, and we stood and talked. He asked his name and when I replied Finn he then said 'Oh, Phil?'. Yes, my daughter Phil. Finn was less than impressed, and was way more excited about the mini candy cane he received afterwards.

And as the live news shoot started all the kids that were there quietly stood around Santa and awaited their 2 seconds of fame. Finn was not one of them, and spent 15 minutes leading 2 of the younger kids in circles chasing behind Santa, and around a tree. That's my boy. Or girl, according to Santa.

On a totally unrelated but holy crap kind of note, Finn learned how to plug in the Christmas tree lights yesterday. Or rather, Finn taught himself how to. And he was incredibly proud of himself. I, on the other hand, was having visions of how horribly wrong this could go.

December Blues

Last week was a tough week. It was one of those weeks where I, on more than one occasion, broke down in tears over things that were beyond my control. It was one of those weeks where at times I just had to laugh through the tears over the absurdity of these things.

Of course, as most things in life, these 'things' had to do with money. As in oh let me spend $500 on a part for our heater that I didn't know we needed, or hey, let me throw just under $6000 at Lexus to fix a transmission that went out in the middle of rush hour on a freezing cold morning on a busy road, leading us to park ourselves in a Burger King parking lot while waiting for a tow truck and a taxi, all things that Finn found very exciting.

But then, after my emotional phone calls with my mom where I said I didn't understand why this kept happening, she reminded me that this was what it meant to be an adult, life's unexpected turns and kinks and, well, bills. And then she more wisely reminded me that even though I felt like this was as bad as it could get, we are so very fortunate and I needed to remember that every day.

And then I received a call on Friday, on Lee's second to last day of his MBA program, that reminded me how right she is. His grandmother passed away, the way she wanted to, in her home, in her bed, after 93 great years of life. Knowing that doesn't make it any easier, and I am so thankful that we were able to spend time with her last month while we were over there. I then had to call and tell him this horrible news, which was one of the hardest calls I have ever made. He is heading over there tonight, to brave the snow and cold and to say goodbye to this very special person in our lives.

And today I woke up to the news that a dear friend of our family, someone who I have known for a very long time, lost her son to a short, difficult battle with cancer this morning. He is my age, he has a wife, and a young daughter, and people who were praying for him everywhere. My heart is broken for her, for their family, for everyone who knew and loved him. Tragedies of this proportion make everything else seem so insignificant.

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So it is hard for me to sit back and think about how tough my week was now. Because it was really just a blip in the scheme of things, and I know that. And I have these very great reminders every day of what exactly I have to be so very thankful for.