Newport, Rhode Island

For four long years, I have lived in my husband’s birthplace – now also the birthplace of my kids. FinallyI got to share my birthplace. I think even Ed would agree that Newport is prettier than Pittsburgh will ever be.

Honestly, I think Ed was rather impressed with the island I can truthfully call home. It helped that we approached Aquidneck Island from the west, crossing from the mainland over to Conanicut Island and then on over to Aquidneck. From that approach you can see the breathtaking, million dollar homes gazing down on Narragansett Bay below. On a sunny, autumn day with yachts and boats floating in the blue waters below…truly stunning!

I must confess that I rather missed the days when I could simply roam Newport, enjoying the mansions, the cliffs, the beach and the best clam chowder in the world at my leisure. With two small children, the word “leisure” no longer belongs in my vocabulary. On the other hand, it was fun to share the place where I began life with Ed and the kids. And someday we’ll go back. I promised Emry a tour of the Breakers!

 Emry at Easton Beach where her mama used to play.

I love this picture! It was Ethan’s first visit to the beach!

Emry agrees – the Black Pearl has the best clam chowder ever!

Emry on the Cliff Walk.

Oh, what a Week!

Well, it is Thursday and I have yet to blog once. Probably because if I had one more thing to my list that has to get done…

It’s been one of those three-ring-circus weeks. Not so much because of activities, although I do seem to be working every spare moment I have from home and different work projects that entail everything from simple lists to trying to get three different spreadsheets to match up (where did that penny go?!?!?). In an attempt at clearing my dining room table, I have a project which included scrapbooks supplies I am trying to complete. We leave for a week in New Hampshire (via Newport, Rhode Island) on Saturday so in my head I am trying to make sure I pack everything the kids could possibly need…not to mention myself. Of course there is always the usual laundry, cleaning, school, meals…and trying to keep peace between two restless children when it hasn’t stopped raining the past three days. But the biggest distraction has been our big decision: we’re moving to Indiana at the end of October.

This has been a prayer of mine for a while. Now Ed has a found a job that will enable us to be near most of my family, even if it does mean finances will be a bit tight for a little while and the changes will be bigger than I probably realize. Right now, thought, it’s just a lot of logistics to work through to get us there. Packing (which I already started and is hardly a concern I have since I can do it in my sleep), getting our things out there, finding a place to live (although we can stop over at my parents’, thankfully), turning off things here and switching on things there, finishing up work things and finding a replacement, all the things Ed wants to do and people to say good-bye to here, changing addresses, driver’s licenses and a whole slew of other things. My list is growing and my head is spinning.

Sooo…if I’m a bit absent on my blog over the next month, please excuse me. It is on my list – it just probably isn’t on the top!

The Pittsburgh Pirates

I have been to a Pittsburgh Pirates game every year I have been here. I think they have won one out of those four, maybe two. That’s pretty typical for that team. Once a powerhouse, they haven’t even been to a World Series since I was born. Probably a curse of some sort. Don’t all baseball teams have a curse to blame for continually loosing?

Win or loose, though, taking two kids to a baseball game was an adventure. We certainly didn’t sit down much. And our hopeful search for the Pirates Parrot was in vain. We got to see him but not meet him as he tends to hang around those who can afford brilliant seats – a reality poor Emry doesn’t quite understand yet. Still, she took the disappointment well. After all, cotton candy will cheer just about anyone.

And hotdogs. Because those are essential at a baseball game. The night was clear and pleasant. Ethan was fascinated whenever a long ball was hit. Emry loved the lights of the city. Both got to stay up way beyond their bedtime, crashing almost as soon as they were fastened into their car seats. All in all, a fun and memorable family outing.

Ethan observing the field.

Emry enjoying her hotdog.

All of us at the famous Roberto Clemente statue.

Happy Birthday, Katey!

I’ll be kind and not say how old you are today… J

My Husband

Today is my husband's birthday. I won't say which one, but if you know how old I am you can figure it out with this one hint: He's five-and-a-half years older than me.

Actually, he doesn't mind his age. Except, perhaps, when I remind him that we'll be in wheelchairs by the time our kids graduate from high school. (Well, okay, let's hope not. But we will be the parents on the sidelines who are asked which kid is our grandchild.). I don't mean to make him feel bad about his age as much as I am thinking aloud of my own. And the grey hairs that seem to multiply the closer I get to forty...

The truth is, I realize that I often take Ed for granted. Anyone will tell you that being married isn't easy. I would have to say that it's harder for me than for him. We were both single for a long time, but I have a much more independent and happy-by-myself disposition. I don't think a moment goes by when he's not happy being married while I would pay big bucks for a whole quiet hour to simply enjoy a good book - alone! And, I confess, sometimes I think I shoulder the whole parenting thing all by myself. After all, am I not the one feeding, dressing, discipling, instructing and generally putting up with our two kids 95% of the time? While most days the answer to that question is a resounding YES!, note the word most.

Just this past week, I was reminded of what a good husband and father Ed is. For he was the one up with our teething Ethan more than once this week so I could roll over and go back to sleep. And the one night Ethan was crying and fussing every half hour (teeth? growing pains? who knows!), Ed was the one who went downstairs to hold and settle him around midnight. Finally settled, it wasn't a few hours later before Ethan was screaming again and Ed cuddled with him on the couch for a couple of hours until he finally dozed off again. That our kids are awake like that is rare, but when they are Ed shoulders the load just as much as I do. And I love him all the more for it.

God has truly blessed me in my marriage. It's not perfect. You'll never find me saying Ed is perfect. But neither am I. We're two sinners who, by God's grace, are trekking this path in life together. And I'm very grateful for him.