How comforting, really...

...to know how right I am about certain things. And not in an ego sort of way, but rather in that reassuring way of realizing I know myself pretty damn well. As a result, I seem to know my brother just as well...as we are practically the same person.

Which means I could've predicted the following about my Seattle trip:

*I would find a new strength and appreciation for my "job".

*I would be able to connect with my brother in a way that is 100% impossible with kids around.

*Being in Seattle would give me the chance to see Jon in a different, more authentic light...it may not always be the city he calls home, but for now it is his home, and with Jon...well, that makes all the difference in what it's like to spend time with him.

*Coffee really does taste better in the Northwest.

*No one makes me laugh quite like my brother. No one.

*I don't exercise well on vacation.

*My seven jeans were a good investment. They do get better the more you wear them.

*Bloody marys are great by themselves, but just too filling with a meal.

*The air in the Northwest will always feel cleaner and more invigorating to me.

*Public transportation was cooler in my twenties. Somehow it smells more now.

*I'll never, I repeat never, be able to walk into an Aveda store and walk out without buying anything.

*My brother loves music. And you must be prepared to love it with him.

*Jonathan knows no stranger...or obstacle.

*I dig hippies. But I'll never be down with armpit hair.

*Beer tastes better in Seattle. But makes me fart just the same.

*I am actually pretty damn good at the game of pool.


The list goes on...though, unfortunately, doesnt get much more interesting. So I shall end it with the following items--or truths, if you will--that have been made more clear than I can ever remember:

*There is nothing more precious in the world than time spent with my boys.

*There is nothing more fulfilling than time spent with my boys.

*There are no other cheeks as soft and kisssable as my boys'.

*And there is nothing more intense or primal than the pull you feel when it's time to go home to them.

Cheers to Seattle...to my brother...I love you both.

But obviously the best part of my trip was getting off the plane in Grand Rapids.
I'm home!

Leavin on a jet plane...

About 10 years ago (ok, so it was 11...exactly, in fact) I went out to visit my brother in his new home of Seattle for a few days. And those few days turned into 6 weeks.
6 of the most memorable, perspective-gaining and coming-of-age-ish weeks I can claim in my life.

So off I go, tomorrow, to spend a few short days with my bro...sad as hell about leaving my boys, but also anxious to get some time to myself.
Again.
For more than ten minutes.

My Yoga teacher quoted Saint Francis of Assisi (whoa, spell much, Meg?) tonight when she said "To find what one is looking for is to find oneself looking."

I love that.

Here's to going inward for a few days...and hopefully coming out a bit more of myself on the other side.

"Let's take a look in here..."

Benjamin at his first dentist appointment a few weeks ago.

PLG.

He did so great, by the way--even let them clean and polish his little chicklets!

Anyway, I've been all over the map the last week or so...in truth, we all have. Seems everyone is busier than ever the past few weeks. Perhaps trying to savor the last bit of summer. I know we have. Orchard Hills, the beach, the park (during school hours), BBQs with neighbors, sprinkler fun, kiddie pool fun...lazy Sunday afternoons with neighbors...all things that seem, suddenly, to have this giant expiration date on them. Like they've been hit with the "use by this date" sticker gun at the grocery store.

So I guess we're just doing our best not to be frantic in our last few weeks of summer...this past weekend we spent a night out with some friends drinking beer, playing darts, drinking more beer...and eventually eating ultras at Yesterdog. Talk about a perfect night!

Anyway, we were yet again made aware of how fortunate we are in the kind of friends we've made.

Saturday we had one of the best Orchard Hills outings on the books.

The boys each ventured out a "little further" than before on their own...proving to have grown a bit more brave in the water this summer. And Benjamin actually laughed hysterically when Brian flew torpedo-like out of the mouth of the slide into the water...instead of crying and yelling because Daddy was having fun without him.

Ridic.

The boys made friends in the sand play area and helped fashion a rather impressive river of water. Jonathan mostly scooped sand and piled it...then jumped in it. But he was having such a blast and was--get this--in one spot for almost an entire 30 minute span!!! Brian and I were like..."um...why didn't we bring this morning's paper?"

Yesterday I spent most of the morning making lists for Brian about everything one might need to know in order to properly care for the 3 and under crowd in our house.

Gluten-free food on hand, what time Laptime is at the library, Kidfit at the MAC, what to pack for the pool...and basically how to keep Jonathan from running away, jumping off or climbing on furniture, removing safety plugs from outlets, submerging fresh rolls of toilet paper in the toilet bowl....and all other Dennis the Menace-style mischief that happens when you refill your coffee.

I also did heaps of laundry and actually got it all put away...and short of drawing a map to the boys' dressers and writing out a list of "acceptable outfit combinations"...I think Brian will be just fine assembling outfits.

You laugh, but last week he brought Benjamin to the MAC in Jonny's size 24mos sweat shorts.

Why all of this frenzied preparation?

I leave for Seattle on Wednesday!

Needless to say, I'm beginning to feel the tug on my heart about leaving home...not because I worry at all about the boys, but because I haven't ever been away from them (alone!) for this long. And I know they'll be fine, but holy cow...I'm going to miss them.

But something tells me once I'm on the plane with my book, stash of magazines...and bloody mary (don't worry bout it), I'm going to be juuuuust fine.:)

So, life is good.

Really good, in fact.

Busy, often angst-ridden, messy and chaotic...but also incredibly fun.

In my usual fashion, I go from "Meggy-meltdowns" about how disorganized and messy the house is...to deciding at 4pm that a neighborhood BBQ is just what our Sunday evening needed.

At our house.

But you know what?

It was a blast.

Kitchen, mudroom, backyard, family room....all had been cleaned that afternoon, and were filthy by the time the last set of neighbors went home.

One day there will be continuity in my life...or maybe even my blog entries.

Probably about the time we take Jonathan to college.

Until then, whatever it is we have in this family, it seems to be working.

Illinois State Fair 2008

Pictures for now...stories later.
What a fun time they had at the fair!!!

"Tractors, diggers and trucks, oh my!"

We are in Springfield this weekend.
And you know what? I seriously have grown to love it here. There was a time, as there likely is for most married folk, where traveling to your in-laws is more an effort born of obligation than anything else. But I can safely say it's become one of my favorite places to visit...especially with the boys.
I'm a bit hungover this morning, which is a testament to our usual late-night debauchery.
The boys are completely worn out from playing in the backyard, romping around with the neighbor kids are their sweet ride-on toys, being tackled, tickled and tossed around by their Uncle Mike...and are overall just stinkin happy to be at Muma and Grandpa's. As we turned the corner onto their street yesterday afternoon, Benjamin started pumping his fists into the air triumphantly and yelling "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!! I can't wait to hug Muma!!!"

Precious.

When they wake up from their naps in a bit we're off to the State Fair...and oh, what a scene that's going to be. Farm animals galore, fatty foods, farm equipment (que the Benjamin gape-mouthed expression), kiddie rides...and to be sure, no forseeable shortage of mullets.
Always the mullets.

And as if my stomach wasn't already in agony from last night's Buffalo Wild Wings and drinking extravaganza...I'm about to further the case for Mylanta by shoving down a few elephant ears, funnel cakes, and --you guessed it-- Bud Lights.
Lest I forget to mention the beer tent at the fair.:)

I will say, proudly, that I ran 3 miles this morning (shout-out here to my sister in law, Ann, who taught me how to use this site). So perhaps that's easing my guilt a bit.
Shhyeah. Whatever.

Off I go...more gossip to dish about with my mother-in-law.
Love it.

Reason #25 to smile today...

Why 25? Because that's the number of years I've known this girl.

Chiara is my best friend from childhood, and has remained one of the most special people in my life thus far.

She is amazing. And the best way I can think to describe her is just to say she is someone who truly lives her life without boundaries, self-imposed expectations, and least of all...pretention.

We keep up fairly well, which is hard to do with any long-distance friend. There's always the get together with her and her husband, Saiyid, that Brian and I have over Christmas each year...but visits outside of holiday time have been few and far between over the past few years. However, time and distance have absolutely *nothing* on the nature of my friendship with this girl...I'd even venture to say that the sheer differences in our lives have always been a key ingredient in our bond. It's how you know someone's one of your dearest friends, after all...when life circumstance has absolutely zero to do with the essence of your friendship.

It's all about history. And boy, do I have it with Chiara.

To be sure, our lives over the past few years have been dramatically different from one another.

Until now.

She's pregnant.:)

And having a boy.

And I just cannot stop smiling.

Amidst the chaos, some memorable moments...

The last pic, of course, is testament to Brian's increased travel the past few weeks...this is a picture of Jonathan saying "Daddeee...noooo, Dadeeeee...no go..."

*Sigh*

My thoughts exactly.