Old Joy #592

     May 6th is one of my favorite days. On May 6, 2005 I was in a really ridiculous accident. (I don't know what a psychologist would say about this, but I feel like it's really important to me that you know it wasn't my fault. Ha.  Sometimes people just make bad choices and we suffer as a result).

With that being said, today, I am 9 years accident free, and I am pretty excited about that.

     In a lot of ways, I'm so "over it."  I have a weird dream, every now and then.  Last year, we watched a movie ( I don't remember which one), but it was really violent (oh, that Tim!), and I was like, "Yea.  I cannot watch this."  Other than that, everything is aces.

     Getting out of Georgetown (scene of the crime!) actually really helped in a way that both saddened and surprised me.  Sometimes, you just need "out," you know?  Every once in a while, an older kid would mention it.  It's fine. Really.

For the most part, no one really picks at those locks anymore, and I'm grateful for it.

I'm relieved.

I always look forward to this day.  It's like my own, personal holiday and I try to do something special.  Today, I got to do everything I wanted.

     I have said this a million times.  The time period of 2012-2013 was a real bummer.  Around this time a few years(ish) ago, I took a personal day and went to the zoo with Lucy & my sister.  If ever a personal day/trip to the zoo was needed, it was that day.  My goodness.

Once again, today, I got to be The Special Guest when my sister and her kids went to the zoo.

Just for fun, here are some photos of previous years.

It was so good being back at the zoo knowing that not only had I survived the last hard year or so, I had come out on top.  

     So.  Between remembering my last trip to the zoo & today being what it is, I gushed all day.  I gushed and gushed.  We had been there for five minutes...we hadn't even gotten out of The Zoo Shop*, when I was like...almost in tears (happy tears).  We met a woman holding a snake named "Dune," and Lucy (3) petted her (the snake, not the woman) with "two fingers" like the zoo worker instructed and it was the sweetest, cutest thing in the history of this entire planet and already (in my head) I was like,

"Auntie Holls (that's me), you have to hold it together."  

On a totally unrelated note, I just feel like this guy really knows how to "do" life.  Am I right?

     I just spent the entire day being really grateful.  I realize, as someone who, according to this study, had around a 15% chance of surviving, I take way too much for granted, but every year, on this day, I try to be grateful.  Wow.  Is it just me, or was that a lot of commas?

     My sister's kids (Lucy, 3 & Lucas 3 months), are doing a fantastic job of representing light and magic and joy and everything that is good in the world.  (As most children do, I don't want you thinking I am that delusional about my niece and nephew. Ha.).

So. I'm just happy.  I feel like I've gotten  a 9 year bonus and today I just want to squeeze everyone.

I want to squeeze That Tim. Hard. When he gets home, that's probably the first thing I'll do.

You can read a previous "Old Joy" post here.  I must just really like the zoo, I guess.

*Side story.  Lucy is really into "Mommies, Daddies & babies."  She got this huge, purple snake at the zoo last week...then my mom gave her a little snake so she used her piggy bank money to buy this matching pink snake today.  I don't know why I find this hilarious.  Baby snake's name is "Hamill?"  and mommy snake's name is "Flincher."

     I said Lucy is really good at coming up with Hipster Baby Names.

"Hello. These are my children...Flincher & Hamill."

Ha.  Do you think Flincher is the boy or the girl?

via 

Love & I'll squeeze you, too...if you're into that sort of thing.  The line starts here.

We're waiting anxiously!  (Notice the gushing)

P.S.  Sarah from @Girlgrows up was our Bondbons giveaway winner!  :)  I'll notify you privately with details about claiming your prize! 

A short summary of Aunthood

I am a sucker for church rituals. Sometimes to a fault. 

I envy other religions/denominations.  I covet their rituals.  

 Communion. Ash Wednesday.  Baptisms.  I'm there.  Give me a good baby dedication any day and I may  bawl tears of joy through the majority of it.  

For me, rituals are a way of making the life of Jesus tangible.  

In teaching, when you are covering the subject of apples, you bring in apples.  You taste apples.  You make graphs about apples.  You draw apple trees and write apple poems.  

I think Communion was Jesus' way of bringing the apples.  

Sometimes, I find myself in church just needing Something Very Important to happen.  Comfort.  Patience.  An Outpouring of Peace.  

One Midnight Christmas Eve Service, I found myself sinking Very Deeply into the seats.  It was something reminiscent of Flat Stanley.  

And I prayed.  I prayed that I would be able to end  the coming year a kinder, gentler version of myself.  

And Aunthood has done that.  It has done that to us all.  

Thanks be to Lucy. 

The Will of God

 Oh. This has been rolling around in my head all week.  If I could muster the courage, I'd quite possibly tattoo it in large rolling letters all over my body.  Perhaps a picture will do.

And, just so you know, I'd clone that kid in 2 seconds flat if I could. Pigtails and all.   

Love,

H. 

Naughtiness and other words that rhyme

     This morning, while I was singing to the dog,* I discovered that  Lucy's last name just happens to rhyme with the word "Naughtiness" and in my opinion, two words that rhyme are all you need for the makings of a perfectly good song.

It went a little something like this,

"You love Lucy ****, You love naughtinesssssss!!!!"

And in case you were wondering, they're best friends.

That baby and this dog were my Happy Thoughts this morning.

Love and I think it's a hit,
H.

*While I know that sentence sounds strange, singing to the dogs is part of our regular routine.  Try it. You'll like it.

How to Fix Your Monday in One Easy Step

Friends.  Tomorrow is Monday. And Mondays are hard.

Here is my attempt at saving Monday's reputation.

I can't give you a day off, warmer weather or a longer lunch break, but I CAN give you...


a tiny baby in monkey pajamas!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 How about two more?

  How about DOUBLE THE BABY IN MONKEY PAJAMAS!

 You're welcome.

I am such a nerd/madly in love.  I have looked at these photos over. and over.and over.

Love and do they make those p.j.'s in my size?
H.

Oh, Sure.

I can't remember exactly where we were when the conversation took place, but in my brain, I remember we were shopping...or getting fast food...or waiting in line somewhere...

When I asked my Sweet Sister...

"...do you care if I put Lucy on The Blog...?"

She responded with a simple, "...Oh, sure..."

To be polite.  Maybe?  Like the kind of response you would give when someone asks you if you like their new, hot orange, velvet curtains.

However, "Oh...sure..." was all the permission I needed.

     I cannot tell you how much I love this kid.  I have joked that the only thing I can compare it to is having a crush on a boy.  I think about her all the time.  I just want to be near her. Always.  I can't stop talking about her when I get home from seeing her.  If I had a textbook covered with a brown grocery bag, I'd probably scribble her name all over it (did you guys used to cover your textbooks that way?)   It's ridiculous.  Really.  Is this what it's like to have your own kid?

Really?

So, for you, on This Sunshiney-Late-Summer Saturday...I give you, Mad Scientist Hair.  

Love,
H.

Hello. I've missed you.  I always forget how much the start of the school year makes you feel as if you've fallen off the face of the earth.

Busy. Busy.

Kind of like this.

Only with puppets.  And singing.  And shoes that light up.  And individually wrapped packages of Chips Ahoy!

It's fun. Really!  

Anyway, thanks for sticking with me.

Today, Lucy and I are here to tell you that I am guest blogging at Life Blessons, and Holy Cow am I excited.

I am excited because Carmen is awesome. She makes me want to be a better blogger/wife/friend.*

So come on over.

Love and when someone asks you to watermark the photo of their baby, you don't ask questions.  You just watermark it.
H.

*Here's a little fun fact.  Did you know Carmen and I lived together the year before Tim & I got married?  Did you also know that our anniversaries are 367 days apart?

Well, now you do.  And yes, there will be a quiz.

Aunts Rock

I just wanted to let everyone know that

 my niece was born 

at 2:32 this morning! 

     My sister amazes me, and Lucy looks EXACTLY LIKE HER!  It is adorable.  I have been too excited to sleep much, so I'm pretty exhausted.  It was a good night, and it's only just the beginning.  

     I'm not sure Heather & Dan want their Little One "on the web" (understandably so), but I'm hoping I'll at least have permission to post tiny baby hands and tiny baby feet.  :)  

Love and sort-of-chubby-babies (8.3 pounds!)

H.  


P.S. I'm totally buying this t-shirt!!!!!!

http://t-shirts.cafepress.com/niece?page=2