Grateful Friday(s)

This is what happens when you let them dress themselves.

- I've neglected the last few weeks, but I'm still grateful for so much.

- Finding a new playgroup. Up until last October, I had been in a playgroup since Maddie was 3 months old. It was my lifesaver. I had no family and had just left my job at Make-A-Wish and I had no friends with kids. I was so alone. I joined the Moms Club and ended up meeting one of my best friends in the world. I was active in the group and even served on the board for 3 years. However, last fall I noticed that attending playgroup every week was starting to take a toll on me and the girls. Rather than being excited to go and talk and play, I'd stress out that morning about what the girls would wear, what I would wear, whether I'd be on time, etc. I just didn't need it at that point. So I kind of dropped out and focused on time just between the girls and I, occasionally meeting up with my best friend and her kids. I was a much happier person, and my relationship with the girls improved. Recently, I met the mom of one of the girls in Maddie's class who is in a different playgroup. It's made up of moms from the entire county, as opposed to just my city. Also, one of the organizers of the group is someone who used to be in my previous playgroup but moved away. I decided to give the idea of a playgroup another chance. I went to an activity today at Chuck E Cheese and got a chance to meet a few of the moms. Everyone was really nice, the kids were all around Maddie and Josie's ages, the atmosphere was really relaxed, and I felt no stress at all. It's great because there are activities scheduled daily (park, puppet show, museum) and you can just show up at your leisure. In my previous playgroup, we met once a week at each other's house. Whenever the day came around for everyone to visit my house, I'd have anxiety all week about cleaning it up and making it presentable. Again, more stress than is needed for a playdate. It's early, but I think I've found a good mix. The girls and I will get a chance to get out again, to socialize a little more. I was starting to worry about their lack of interaction with other kids. They don't go to school, and they play really well together, but I think it's important for them to learn how to make relationships with other kids as well.

- Iceland. Beautiful country. If not for missing the girls so much, I might not have come home. I'm in awe of people who live right next door to such natural beauty. Do they take it for granted? Do they look out their windows each morning and gasp at the beauty before them, as I did each day in Iceland?

- Seeing the girls again after a week away from them. They always look and sound so much older to me after I haven't seen them for a while (even a day). It's so fun to hear their stories and what they've done while we're gone. I'm with them all the time, so hearing about something new that they've learned without me is so fun.

- The True Colors concert on June 28th. Our favorite babysitter, Tanya, came by again so Bill and I could go to the concert. We heard Dresden Dolls(eh), Debbie Harry (not bad), Erasure (completely awesome!), Cyndi Lauper (pretty good, but no Erasure), and commentary by Margaret Cho (somewhat funny). It was held at Chastain Amphitheater, so Bill and I got to bring our little picnic basket and tray tables and a nice bottle of wine. It was a nice night for the two of us.

- Coming home. Bill's friend, Ben, took care of our house and dogs while we were gone and he did such a great job. Our ride home on Monday was so long and we were so tired and couldn't wait to get home and crawl into bed (poor Bill still had work to do). Lucky for us, Ben had already changed the sheets on our bed, washed the dishes, and cleaned the house. It was way more than he should have done, but I am ever so thankful for being able to just collapse into bed once the girls were asleep.

- Free mulch? I put a question mark because I'm not sure we needed that much. Our city will deliver free leaf mulch to anyone who wants it. I called about getting some and they delivered it on Tuesday. It takes up the width of our driveway and then some, plus it's about 5 feet tall. No kidding. I spent the last couple of mornings (when it's not too hot) putting the mulch around our landscaping in the front yard and I haven't even made a dent in it. Once I put some in the backyard, I'm going to have to get creative about where to put the rest -- or call friends and have them come to get some as well. Want some?

- Summer hours. Bill's employer lets their employees out at 3pm on Fridays during the summer. I love the fact that our weekend starts early and we get to spend more time with him.

- And you?