Thursday, June 18, 2009

8 Summer Things


1. Today the sun gave us a warning. It said it's back after all the cool days we've had and will begin to beat on us relentlessly for the remainder of the Spring and Summer and half of the Fall. The accompanying breeze today was lovely while it lasted.

2. This summer, we've got a salsa garden. We planted lots of tomatoes, some serranos, some anchos, and jalapenos. We had poor luck with cilantro last year so we didn't bother this time. The tomatoes are getting bigger and are a bright green with golden fuzz. I can't wait to slice them up and eat them warm from the garden with just a bit of salt.

3. Yesterday I tried on a maxi dress - see below. I looked ridiculous in it. And scandalous (thanks, Maria for the word that described it perfectly). And I will never try one on again. I could be way off on this but I think they must be for very tall, thin young women with small chests, or if they have large chests they don't mind looking scandalous.

4. My goals for summer: Hannah to be able to swim - lessons have been planned. James potty-learned - a little white potty is in my bathroom. Me - to read Scripture everyday. I've always been so hit and miss, reading much at a time and then almost none at all. Morning and evening prayers have become habitual, but I have a tendency to skip the daily readings and keep thinking I can get to them later once I get busy. I have made up my mind so I WILL make time for it. My priest once told me during Confession that praying but not reading is like having a relationship with someone that you constantly talk but do no listening. I don't want to be like that...especially with God! Lord have mercy.

5. I've been toying with the idea of chopping my hair off and sending it to Locks of Love. But I'm so torn because once I have short hair, I really have to do it every day or it poofs up and I look like a marshmallow head. My hair, though long, is very easy to deal with right now. I'm just hating it the most at night. It gets caught beneath my shoulder and I have to yank it out when I roll over.

6. Phillip is the cutest little rolly poly baby right now. He's fat just like the other two were at his age. He's full of big grins and lets everyone hold him and I do think he's rather therapeutic. I'm diggin on the oxytocin bursts he supplies me. Oh the love!

7. James is super cool. He's the funniest, most charming young fellow I've ever met. He's talking lots and still wakes me up for "Dodurt!" in the morning and thinks his brother, "Phoot cute". Yes he calls Phillip cute. He fights over toys with Hannah, likes to work around the house copying the antics of his daddy, and probably makes me laugh the most out of anybody in this world. And he's also terribly pious. He plays priest regularly (in case you haven't seen it already.)

8. Hannah is like rocky road ice cream. She may be as sweet as little girls can be, but she displays many of her mother's weaknesses and flaws. All my eye rolling and attitude has been passed down, unfortunately. However, she is extremely caring and sensitive. If someone is hurt, she is pained as well. She's bright and loves to be read to and to practice reading and writing. She spends her days on puzzles, drawing and coloring, making villages for fairies in the back yard, practicing ballet, dressing up and coming up with scenarios for us all to play along with her. She's also a big helper and will sit and entertain Phillip gently and with love. He looks at her with his bright eyes and I can see he adores her as he dances his limbs to her voice. I love how she can focus on something and practice it over and over again. She is much slower to become frustrated and quit than I am. I'm so glad to have a daughter, even when there is more drama involved than I have patience for. The two of us are on a little journey together as we both learn how to not flip out on each other. Her soft little face with her full cheeks and big blue eyes and all their dark-lashed fanfare brighten my days.

12 Comments:

Blogger Jamie said...

sweet post!

11:03 PM  
Blogger Xenia Kathryn said...

I'd love to make James a priest doll, Lauren! Question is, how soon can I do it.... hopefully soon! :D
Cute post.

11:29 PM  
Blogger Xenia Kathryn said...

Oh, by the way, I think your hair looks really pretty long! My hair is about 3-4 inches past my shoulders, and I put it in a braid before I sleep. Works fairly well for me, maybe you'd have some luck, too.

12:08 AM  
Blogger Michelle M. said...

Love your summer post!

I like tomatoes with salt, too. Yum! I need a garden so badly.. next year... next year. :)

1:31 PM  
Blogger elizabeth said...

Nice. I am growing my hair out again; though in summer I have it up most of the time (a waste of a good haircut... sigh).

I think it is normal (from what I observe) to have these dynamics with a daughter; it is hard enough to come to terms of understanding of ourselves; this becomes complicated when it is someone who is in such close proximity to use on so many levels; family - it can be intense and wonderful.

I struggle also with understanding what it means to listen to God. Thank God for good priests to point us in these directions.

1:33 PM  
Blogger Mimi said...

This is a sweet post, and I totally agree on the maxi-dresses.
But, then, I thought they looked bad when they were in in the 70s (my mom had one)

2:52 PM  
Blogger jenny baker said...

i like maxi dresses - - on other women. i tried one on, it was a halter top style so not scandalous, but it was waaaaay too long. maxi dresses were not made for petite women, apparently.

i have to fiddle and play with my hair everyday, it's wavy and frizzy if i leave it alone. i've actually been toying with the idea of cutting it to an above shoulder length bob.

8:02 PM  
Blogger Lauren S. said...

jenny - yes on other women...they look so cute, which compelled me to try one on. that, and it's a dress that was possible to nurse in. oh well. my fashion aspirations were smashed! ha ha!

8:57 AM  
Blogger Xenia Kathryn said...

All right.... if you visit my blog, you'll see I resurrected my Etsy (with a new doll in the shop). It's there for the taking, but don't feel obligated, okay?

Hope you're well! :)

6:50 PM  
Blogger Lauren S. said...

xk - i know! i know! i saw it this morning and i'm waiting to show jason so i can ask him if i can get it. i'm sure he'll say yes. i'm hoping some one else won't buy it, but if they do, make another one, OK? :)

2:32 PM  
Blogger Xenia Kathryn said...

Sounds good! No worries, James will get a doll one way or another :)

10:07 PM  
Blogger Xenia Kathryn said...

I'm so glad you guys like the "action figure!" :)

Hope you're all well!

In Christ,
Xenia

12:37 AM  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home