A Little Q&A

I've been reading the local newspaper for as long as I can remember. Every Friday they have an "ID" column, where they profile an individual and ask them questions. I thought it'd be fun to give my answers here on Lines from Lithia. It brings me back to the days when friends and I would email "surveys" back and forth to one another- that was way before Facebook!

Full Name: Kristen Marie Estelle

Date and place of birth: April 3, 1983 in Northampton, MA

Address: Goshen

Job: Stay at home mom, Assistant Town Clerk of Goshen, Newsletter Editor for the Goshen COA

Who lives under the same roof as you? My husband, Steve; our children Rosemarie (Rosie) and Stephen (Buddy); our beagle, Scout and our golden retriever, Maggie.

Children: Rosie, 3.5; Buddy, 2

Education: B.A. in English and a Minor in Women's Studies from MCLA, 2005; Hampshire Regional High School, 2001.

Hobbies: Reading, blogging, family history, quarry walks, puzzles

Book you'd recommend to a friend: "The Signature of All Things" by Elizabeth Gilbert

Favorite movie/ TV show/ singer: Movie- "The Wizard of Oz"; TV Show- "Survivor", "Mad Men", "The Walking Dead", "Parenthood"' Singer/ group: The Beatles

Five things you can't live without: Family, Friends, Water, Books, Car

Last thing you purchased just for fun: A few lawn decorations

What's at the top of your bucket list? Learn how to swim

Life-changing experiences: My mom's death and my babies' births

Strangest job you ever held: Answering phones in the Classified Department. Phones make some people very brave- they can yell at you all they want or even try to hit on you because they like your voice. To this day, I do not enjoy phone calls.

Your current Facebook status: "It never fails. Roasting an entire chicken always makes me feel like little Suzy Homemaker".

A little known fact about you: I've only flown twice, and the last time was 9 years ago.

Dumbest thing you ever did: Pick up a hitchhiker. Nothing bad happened, but what was I thinking?! (I was in high school).

One trend you'd like to see return: Modesty in teen girls' clothing before Rosie reaches that age, haha.

What really sets you off: People who don't RSVP. I like to know how many people to expect. Don't worry about hurting my feelings if you can't make it!

Best advice you ever got: "You will never have enough money"- our college roommate's father told Steve and I this when he asked when we were getting married, and we told him: "When we have enough money saved up." On paper, Steve and I probably shouldn't be able to afford two kids. But here we are. We're making it work.

Favorite place to get a bite: Ashfield Lake House, Fitzwilly's, A1 Hilltown Pizza, Tom's Hot Dogs, West End Pub to name a few...

What does your ideal weekend look like? Friday night date night with Steve- outside dining with a few brews, then a walk around Hamp. Sleeping in Saturday morning, going on adventures as a family, and then having friends over for steamers & lobsters, cards and lawn games. Sleeping in again Sunday (doesn't every woman wish for more sleep?), big breakfast, more outside adventures with the family.

One thing you would change about yourself: I would find joy in indoor exercise.

Whom do you most admire? My grandfather. He's been dealt more loss than anyone should ever have to bear, yet he soldiers on, finding joy in nature, family and new fishing buddies at the local state park.

Parting shot: Only you have the power to make yourself truly happy. So make time to do what you love and enjoy, because we only have one shot at this wonder called Life.

Friday Five

I'm liking "Friday Five" because it gives me a chance to write about the little things, all in one post! It can be recipes we've tried, places we've gone or just anything on my mind. So, in no particular order, here's this week's Friday Five:

1. I'm all about getting the most out of DirecTV, because I feel like I pay way too much for it (someday I'll have to look into Roku and all of that, but I'm not sure our internet could handle it). The first thing we did to make DirecTV work for us was to get a DVR. What a life changer. We never aimlessly cruise channels anymore- now we have everything we want to watch at our fingertips. The other thing I like to do is use the search feature to find a specific movie or show I want to watch. I don't do it often...maybe twice a month or so...but this week it paid off! I've been wanting to see "Water for Elephants", and when I searched for it by title, it came up! It's on TNT or something at 1 in the morning next week- something I never would know about if I hadn't done a search for it. I have found quite a few movies this way.

2. I cleaned my engagement and wedding rings. Finally. When I used to go to the mall a lot more than I do now, I would stop into Hannoush Jewelers and have them do it (for free). I rarely find myself in a mall these days, so this DIY cleaning solution does the job. After the rings sit in the solution for 10 minutes, I lightly brush a soft toothbrush through the prongs and it removes any gunk that may have accumulated. They look as good as they did the day(s) Steve put them on my finger!

3. Kohl's is pretty brilliant with their Kohl's cash. I keep looking at my $10 Kohl's cash and thinking "Well, I HAVE to use it! It would be like throwing away $10 if I didn't!". Good move, Kohl's, good move.

4. One of the best things we ever did was have our kids close together in age. While it hasn't always been the easiest ride, and they still try to strangle one another from time to time, my kids are best buddies. They laugh and play and dance together. They console one another when they get boo-boos. They hug and kiss each other before nap time, before bed, and sometimes just to be sweet. When I give one of them anything (a book, a snack, etc) they make sure their sibling gets one as well. I love their bond and watching them together. My heart delights when I hear Rosie say: "Hey, Buddy! Want to pretend...".

5. Comfort food never gets old. That's why tonight we are having meatloaf, baked potatoes and roasted green beans. Yum! This recipe for meatloaf finally made me a meatloaf fan after all these years. It's not the most healthy recipe, I admit, but it is delicious, and I am all about "everything in moderation"!

The Story Behind this Picture

I stumbled across the above picture recently and had a good chuckle. It's the inside of our limo, the day of our wedding, less than an hour after we said our vows. You'll notice a few odd looking people in that picture. They are life-size dummies- Henry and Gladys- and there was a reason they found their way into our limo that day.

One summer, either that year or the one before, Steve and I headed up to Vermont to stay at the cabin. It was dusk, and we had to make our way through the cabin to turn on the electricity. Before I could register what was happening, Steve whipped around and starting pushing me back towards the door and out of the cabin.

"Someone's in there!" he whispered frantically, "I saw a man with dress shoes, lying on his side on one of the bunk beds. He could be dead!". He whipped out his cell phone and called Gram and Gramp Pease. He urgently explained the situation. Grandma's response?

Laughter. And more laughter. "Oh, that's just Henry!" she finally choked out.

"Who the hell is Henry?" Steve demanded, a little less frantic but as confused as ever.

Well it turns out that Henry was a life-size dummy that the family owned, probably for the purpose of practical jokes. It also turned out that he had a lady friend in his life- Gladys. We went back in the cabin and it was easy to see why Steve had thought it was a real person. After all, he was life-sized and wearing actual men's shoes!

It made for a good story, and you can bet that those same family members made sure Henry and Gladys appeared at our wedding. They even got a few turns on the dance floor that night.

And that, readers, is why we have a picture of two dummies in our limo on our wedding day.

The Darndest Things

We have a Welcome sign on our front door with decorations that you can change depending on the holiday and time of year. The kids love it and it's a visual cue that reminds them what holiday we have to look forward to next.

I was explaining to Rosie that Buddy and I had taken down the Easter decoration, and put up the spring flowers one.

Her response? She laughs and says: "Well, Daddy thinks the next holiday is Oreo Day!"

I chuckled but was puzzled. Oreos? As much as I love them, we only buy them once or twice a year. And why would she say that Steve said that?

Then it all clicked into place. A few days ago, in the car, Rosie had asked what holiday comes after Easter, and Steve had responded: Memorial Day.

Memorial. Oreo. I can totally see the mix-up that happened as Rosie heard that answer from the back seat.

Then I really began to laugh. These kinds of conversations and mix-ups are some of my all-time favorite parenting moments. There's no predicting them!

I think I'd be remiss not to get Oreos on Memorial Day for now on, don't you?

Friday Five: April Vacation

We're nearing the end of Steve's April break. We started this vacation on Good Friday with the stomach bug, but thankfully, recovery was quick, and we were able to enjoy the rest of the week. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Operation: Make the Yard Even Nicer than the Year Before has continued. I've mentioned before on here  how when the kids were babies, yard work was not a priority. The minimum got done, but things like pruning and raking fell to the wayside. What a difference a year or two makes. Now that we don't need to supervise the kids outside every second, we can do a little raking and such while they play around us! It's been quite the shift, and I am so pleased with how our side yard looks now that I'm about 85% done with it. Now I just need some more warm, not-quite-so-windy weather, so I can finish it up and get to work on the back yard! We've also picked up a few decorative items for the yard over the past few years, and I am so happy with how it brings it all together.

2. Vermont- We made it up to Vermont for the first time this year! Going in April is something we haven't tried in years, and, like I mentioned above, it was because the kids were so little and April in Vermont can be quite cold. Buddy was only a little over one a year ago, and it was hard to bundle him up safely and warmly in the pack n play. This year? He and Rosie each slept on their own cots, in their sleeping bags. It was an awesome time, even if it was only for one night. I especially enjoyed the campfire and Coronas that evening. I've determined that my two favorite spots besides home are by a campfire and on the beach.

3. Look Park- Look Park, in itself, is nothing new to us (we have a pass and go every week!), but on April vacation they open the attractions, so the train was in operation! This was the 3rd year in a row that we went specifically to ride the train during this week. Our family loves traditions!

4. A Successful Dental Visit- When I took Rosie to the dentist the first time last November, she wanted nothing doing with the whole situation. She wouldn't sit in the chair and she barely let our hygienist take a peek in her mouth. Being a mom for 3.5 years, I had set my expectations low, and wasn't surprised or bothered by this. Fast forward to her next appointment, which happened yesterday. I decided to give bribery a try, which is not my usual plan of action. See, I had a bought a Snow White doll at 75% off the day after Christmas, and I had been holding on to it for an occasion such as this (okay, I was thinking her birthday, but still...). A few days before her appointment, I showed Rosie the doll and told her she would get it if she cooperated fully at the dentist. You know what? It worked. She let our friendly hygienist, Michelle, do everything she needed to do. It was a complete 180 from the first time she went. The main reason I tell this story is because before I was a parent, I might have thought bribery was weak parenting and something I would never do. Never say never. I don't plan on giving her a doll every time she goes to the dentist, but I'm not against rewarding good behavior, which is more effective than taking something away, or punishment, in my book. To each their own; everyone parents differently.

5. Friends, Wine Tasting, Ice Cream, Summer Dress Shopping- These things haven't happened yet, but they're on the docket for the last few days of this break and I am psyched.

I Love April Vacation!

This Loved

I saw this image last week on Facebook and the words have been reverberating through me every day since:

"You will never be this loved again."

I believe this to be true. The love from our children is an extraordinary gift. I'll be the first to admit that I take it for granted sometimes.

That I sometimes find myself saying "Get off of me!" or "Not right now" or "I just need some space".

All completely normal reactions from a mom. All completely legitimate.

But then I think about why I am saying these things and what I'm responding to: I'm responding to the fact that my kids can't get enough of me. I'm not trying to be egotistical, but it's what's at the heart of every single one of their requests.

They want me. They want me to play with them, hug them, run with them, paint with them, laugh with them. They just don't get sick of me and they always want me around.

"You will never be this loved again."

So instead of letting exasperation seize the moment when my kids want one more thing from me, I'll try to remember that this moment, in which they want me, is fleeting. The moment will come when they won't and I know it will sadden me. Until then, I will soak up all the love from them that I can get.

I Realized

Yesterday morning I hid 16 multicolored plastic eggs and two Easter baskets.
In that moment, I realized one of my favorite "mom perks" is handling such holiday preparations. It's so much fun setting these things up for our little children who believe.

Yesterday morning I saw both of our kids thrilling in their hunt for the Easter eggs.
In that moment, I realized Buddy had caught up to Rosie in many ways and that this was the first year that they both understood what to do.

Yesterday morning I was getting a snack ready for the car ride.
In that moment, I realized I hadn't eaten a piece of chocolate yet that day, which is pretty much a sin on Easter. I promptly ate some jelly beans and M&M's to make up for it.

Yesterday morning I found green plastic "Easter grass" lightly scattered across our house.
In that moment, I realized that plastic grass represented a few things to me- for one, the very fact that we have our own little family (thank you, God, for prayers answered!). It also represented the Easter traditions I fondly remember from growing up. When you combine the two, silly green plastic grass means an awful lot.