Happy Birthday Anya!

Happy Birthday Anya! How did you get to be four? Didn't we just go to the hospital to have you? I still remember every day of being in the hospital with you when you were born. Wasn't it just a few months ago that I was bringing you in the house for the very first time? And, now you are four. And, in one short year plus a few months, you're going to kindergarten. How did that happen? You are a wonderful energetic little princess. Happy Birthday to you. We love you so much!

A thank you letter.

Thank you summertime. Thank you for "doubling" the size of my home, sunshine. My backyard makes for a great living room. Thank you China for cheap plastic pools and Little Tikes for big plastic climbers with slides that young children seem to never bore. Thank you for strawberries, June. Although, why do you all come from California now? Thank you mom and dad for driving 7 hours from Madison through back roads regardless of closed interstates to put up with my exhaustion and complaints when I really have it so very good. Thank you Dane for working your tail end off and making my life easier. Thank you clients for trusting and paying me to do what is really quite easy for me. Thank you Fox 9 for having 9pm news, as I know I can at LEAST make it up until 10pm. Thank you God for suprising me. How could I ever imagine how utterly beautiful my children would be? Stunning. Hmmm. Stunning. Thank you peace and quiet. ..... Where's the remote?

Honesty is the best policy

As you may know, a few months ago I decided starting my own business was a life-long dream..that demanded action now. It is the best choice for me, considering I wanted more job satisfaction, more choice on when and where I work, and more time with my children-but, yet enough time away from them that I feel like a human being.

As an independent marketing consultant, I decided "honesty was the best policy" with my clients. From the beginning, I was determined to be up-front with clients. And, in fact, with my first client, I told them in the initial meeting that I work three days a week. And, that the other two days I am President of my home and rank and file servant to my children.

The beauty of technology is that I can be in communication with clients via e-mail and the occasionaly "nap" phone call on my "off" days. But, yesterday, against my intuition and gut (always listen to your gut), I accepted a 4pm conference call with my client. Let me set-up the situation:

Just as I was joining the call via "Meeting Place"--you know, where you dial in, enter the meeting code and "record" your name--my children began to fight. So, my recorded entry was me and the girls screaming and yelling, which every person on the call heard. A roar of laughter was heard as I joined in. I apologized, and said I was home with my kids. Of course, this would be the day that the President and CEO joined the meeting (the first time for this particular meeting).

Throughout the call, I was breaking up fights, trying to engage the children in TV, movies, shows, kitchen role play, fort play, ANYTHING--except these little munchkins were sick of being inside on a raining day. I eventually tried food....in the playroom...hot dogs and applesauce. Which of course was all over the floor and the wall eventually. Great.

At one point in the call, I realized that I had forgot to have mute on. I have NO IDEA what anyone heard, but I'm sure it was way more than I had intended.

Finally the call came to an end. My client asked me if there was anything I wanted to add, which of course was at the EXACT moment that Sasha, my two-year old, decided to scream bloody murder. As I was diving for the nuk, I threw it in her mouth, took the phone off mute (after a very long uncomfortable silence in which all in the room were waiting for me to join), and said "oh no, nothing at all!".

Sign of relief. The call was over. Looking back, I don't think I will try and accept a conference call with the kids again. But, I'm so glad I was honest with my client--she understood, and didn't seem at all in the least annoyed.

Headbreaks and Openmeal

Well, I'm literally about to fall asleep, but, I'm squeezing in ONE more thing today so I can feel ultra-efficient (thank you Caribou Coffee!).

You know what is one of my most favorite things about having kids? Laughing everyday. And, yes, please remind me that I do laugh when I'm having one of those really hard days. The girls are both amazing us everyday as they reach the next stages of their lives.

First, the one who always gets second--Sasha. Early on we called her "Sasha the Screamer". And, that label is really going to stick. She is quite LOUD. And, yes, she comes by it honestly. She seems to be coming onto the English language in her own special way. She's great with vowels, not so great with consanants. She repeats a lot of things we say, and nearly everything that Anya says. But, it's mostly phonetic and tonal--not really words. The funniest thing lately is to watch her scream and yell at Anya, and really curse her out whe she's mad. Think Charlie Brown's teacher on the Peanuts. A lot of noise, not many words. But, when she's "cursing". Man, I can only imagine what our little sensitive HOT head is thinking.

And then there's Anya. Wow. This girl is either going to be a lawyer or in sales. She can talk her way around most issues, and sell popcicles to Polar Bears. She's suddenly become VERY outgoing, asking everyone she meets their name and boldy offering hers, and of course, Sasha's. And, the darker side of cute....the lying. Like, today, Sasha has pen mark on the back-side of her upper arm...a nearly impossible feat for a 22 month old to have caused on her own. Yet, Anya boldly continued to lie that "Sasha did it".

I don't nearly have enough space to capture the hilarious stories that Anya comes up with....but, I do enjoy how she will confidently speak and describe anything she needs to. And, while sometimes the words and phrases are wrong, they have now become part of our family vocubulary. You may try to speak "London" if you keep your Anya dictionary close at hand:

Breakfast chapter:
Can I have some Openmeal, please? (Oatmeal)
Oh, with grays? (grits)
I love the oak! (yoke)

Phrase chapter:
I loosed it mom.
I need to eat all of my food so I can have my baby.
I'm hot. Can I have the suncreen please?
You are giving me a headbreak.

Let the laughter continue, always.