Kelle, Author at Enjoying the Small Things

straw, taters & hay…and a very happy new year to you.

December 30, 2011 By Kelle

I know my last post said something about me learning to stop disclaiming things this year. But listen. I have to give a disclaimer.

Cue disclaimer.

The following post must be read with the understanding that I am high on snow fumes, family, views of chalets and red holly contrasting crisp white snow drifts. If a reindeer married a unicorn, their love child would be this post. That is all. I’m going to proceed now.

Wait. One more thing. I have to set the present scene: I’m in a chalet-looking McDonalds in the heart of Gaylord, MI (the only place with cell phone service or WiFi around here). I’m at “the bar,” if you can call it that in McDonalds–a formica counter with a swivel chair. And, you bet, I am swiveling my heart out. There’s a hot cherry pie next to me. And snow from the window’s view. And Louis Armstrong is belting a Christmas carol because these northern Michigan people know how to do it right–it’s still Christmas here.

On the way into Gaylord, we spotted about 352 picturesque barns, countless fields of sheep and cows and horses, and somewhere in the middle of it all, a big sign that said “Straw, Taters and Hay.” Which is all I needed to see to have a Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday and big fat lovely New Year all in one.

Which reminds me…Happy New Year.

A trip down Enjoying the Small Things Memory Lane of headers this year.

******

Back to right now.

Oh, I am happy. We are in the middle of nowhere, there is snow, there is a cottage with a wood stove and quilts, and there are two happy girls experiencing things for the first time.

Like building a snowman.

Or trudging out in the snow early in the morning for a walk on a frozen lake.

It was hauntingly beautiful–white as far as you could see, and silent except for the wet crunch of boots to snow and the contant scratching of the toboggan as it slid across the ice.

Last night, we got to see my mom and George (visiting from NY), my grandma, and a whole slew of cousins before we drove North. Such a nice bonus to our trip.

Blinged out leopard print cane and bigass ring. My grandma is my hero. One of the most amazing women I know.

Then, while babies slept in the car, we drove three hours North to Lewiston, Michigan and arrived late to a little cottage in the snowy woods.

Gary’s family built this cottage when he was a little boy. I asked my dad for a hair dryer this morning and he erupted in laughter as he fetched me this still-in-the-box Norelco Shape ‘n Dry from the 70’s.

Dude, don’t underestimate the power of the Shape ‘n Dry. Needless to say, it shapes. And it dries. It has attachments. And this brilliant feature where it shuts off every 30 seconds to prevent it from overheating. And it smells like burning plastic and smoke when you use it. You only wish you had a Shape ‘n Dry.

No seriously, this cottage is so the bomb. I want to live here. It is so full of character and history and charm.

Lainey chose one of the rooms to be her play clinic. My dad and Gary and I all took turns today as patients, sprawled out under quilts and following her instructions for M&M and chocolate chip pills.

Both girls have adapted beautifully to different temperatures. Lainey asks to play in the snow every half hour, and Nella smiles with rosy cheeks and the reflection of snow in her bright blue eyes.

Tomorrow, my brother and sister and families arrive. And this sentimental mama wants to cry/laugh/do a unicorn dance every hour, on the hour…because I am happy.

I intended to go back and talk about my favorite moments from this year. But the past is overshadowed right now by this perfect present.

Thirty-three

December 29, 2011 By Kelle

I had a photo shoot last night for some family friends. I haven’t done a shoot in a while, and last night’s called for a little drive–a quiet, hour-long straight shot down 951 to a serene beach on the southern end of Marco Island.

I realized ten minutes into the trip–once the traffic lights grew sparse and the feeling of being “out there”, away from the hubbub of familiar surroundings, settled in–I needed this drive, appropriately timed right when my year is coming to such a definitive close. I also realized just how much I love having my birthday at the very end of the year. For all the eye rolls and sympathetic “God, that must have sucked,” I’ve received upon telling my birth date, I can tell you, an end-of-the-year birthday ain’t that bad. In fact, I smiled when I woke up early this morning to find a text from my friend in the hospital: “Our little angel was born at 3:21 a.m. 7 lb 5 oz. Perfect and bald!” it said. This sweet little sister shares my birthday, and I can’t wait to tell her all about December 29th, the end of a year in more ways than one. That’s like two conclusions in one book. Reflection squared.

Now that Christmas music has been properly disposed of (R.I.P., dear Bing–we’ll reunite next year), my drive last night consisted of different tunes. Loud ones. Motivating ones. Anthems that had me slapping the steering wheel and twisting the rear view mirror just long enough so I could face Thirty-two at the end of its glory and bid it goodbye with a ceremonious application of red lipstick–Toast of New York, to be precise.

I’ve been reading old posts the last couple weeks–my way of rolling up everything I’ve learned this last year and storing it properly before the new “furniture” arrives. I read through everything I wrote the weeks after Nella was born, and I cried, humbled by my vulnerability then. As much as the time that’s followed has been such an exponential slope of growth, I miss some of the brokenness that existed in such a raw emotional state. Don’t get me wrong, I’m perfectly content not having some life-changing obstacle to face, thank you very much. But there is a part of me that recognizes the importance of being broken, of never knowing too much, of being so vulnerable that the possibility for transformation is breathtakingly real. I don’t ever want to lose that–not at thirty-three, not at forty-three, not at eighty-three.

From all of that–not just the last two years, but the important thirty before them as well–I’ve learned that every year brings more experiences, more layers, more character chiseling–a gradual metamorphosis into a better, brighter, wiser, more compassionate being. And that fact alone makes birthdays and new years thrilling. I whole-heartedly embrace Thirty-three today.

And, as traditional ceremonies go, I write a little ditty on my birthday of what I’ve learned this year.

With no further ado…

1. I learned I love In ‘N Out burgers.

2. I finally learned, after years of messing with my hair and attempting blonde that turned into gold/orange/butt-ugly-bronze, my mom was right. Pick a color and stay. It’s been three years now, and I can say with certainty…Hi, I’m a brunette. For good.

3. I’m learning to stop apologizing and disclaiming things I say. It only weakens a statement.

4. There is nothing so time critical that you can’t stop for ten minutes and play with your kids.

5. You can never ever say “I love you” too much.

6. I’ve learned not to push away uncomfortable feelings. Embrace them. Learn from them.

7. I like dressing up. It makes me happy. Skirts, cute heels, red lipstick, hats. It’s art to me, and I do it because I like it. I used to make crap up like “I had an appointment” as if I had to have a reason to wear a cute blouse. You know what? Sometimes I wear them in my house. On Saturdays. When I have no place to go. Because it makes me happy.

8. Find things that make you happy. Do them.

9. I like to travel. But I like coming home just as much.

10. I’ve learned a “spiritual guru” is a treasure. I have a few wise souls I run to when I need wisdom. They don’t always tell me what I want to hear. And I love that.

11. It’s okay to define the kind of mom you are as you go along. And it might look different than everyone else’s definition.

12. Keep learning. Push yourself. Ask questions. Read books. Google topics. Try something new. But not skateboarding because you’ll fall and nearly break your neck.

13. Family is everything. Family is everything. Family is everything.

14. Friendships get better with age. Every year, I sink into friendships a little more comfortably. I love my friends. I need them.

15. Admit your faults and embrace them. Never give up on changing, and be patient with the time it takes.

16. I’ve learned there are so many ways to be grateful and to express it.

17. I’ve learned to get Thai take-out as spicy as you want, you have to say “Thai hot hot hot hot hot.” Five hots.

18. Music is a part of me. I breathe in quarter notes. Music changes my moods, inspires me, motivates me, speaks to me.

19. Cheap toys break. Quality toys are worth the splurge…you’ll pass them on to grandkids someday.

20. Birthdays are special. Celebrate them.

I’d keep this list going, but I have a plane to catch. My in-laws surprised me for my birthday. I’m taking the girls to Michigan, and this weekend my family will be huddled up in a cottage in Northern Michigan, clinking glasses and catching up.

Be still my thirty-three year old heart.

I’ll pop in Friday for a happy new year.

Until then…

‘Sup? It’s Christmas

December 27, 2011 By Kelle

It’s still Christmas, we are saying–because I need to say that to stave off the blasted decrescendo of post-Christmas let-down. When I was little, I think every year on the night of my birthday, I curled up into a pathetic sulking half-moon on my bed and cried that it was over–all the festivities I had anticipated for so long. Nothing to show for them but some crumpled gift bags, a few deflated “Happy Birthday” balloons and a wilted Christmas tree that only reminded me I had to wait an entire year to feel it again.

And I realize now how silly I was.
There are so many special and celebratory moments and events that are evenly woven into more quiet months, and I’m excited for what a new year will hold for our family. I’m excited about moving forward.

Not quite yet though. Still lingering a little longer right here.

Brett’s parents got Lainey this campfire. It’s the bomb–so much I’ve played with it myself…without the kids.

We excitedly scurried Christmas Eve, tying up loose ends, taping up the last gifts, and stocking up on good cheese, red wine, and little treats we wouldn’t ordinarily splurge on. Like maraschino cherries and bleu cheese stuffed olives.

Lainey wanted to make cookies that spelled out Santa’s name. I went through all the trouble of tediously whittling a butter knife through dough that kept falling apart, and then I burned them later and threw them out. Thankfully, Lainey forgot.

Christmas Eve night? Dreamy, dreamy. Lainey’s excitement emanated from her smile, her breathless fast talk, her eyes that got big when she listened to our play-by-play of just what would happen that night.

We left this little doll next to the reindeer food so the reindeer could have “something to play with while Santa’s inside,” as Lainey brilliantly schemed.

Sleigh Runway, courtesy of Daddy

I wish I could say this candle thing has some deep ceremonious meaning. You can make one up as you see fit. Really, my kid just likes candles and every special event in our home (birthdays, anniversaries, tossing a shirt and having it land in the laundry basket on the first try) includes some kind of lights-turned-off/candles lit/made-up song ceremony.

This year, we swayed our candles back and forth while Lainey commanded us to repeat after her. Like “Happy Christmas, I love you, Reindeer are coming in the sky, Nella don’t touch my candle.”

It was ~~beautiful~~ funny.

I stayed up far too late Christmas Eve–wrapping, rolling dough, making sure everything was just right. And it was so entirely worth it when I finally slipped into bed and kept my eyes open just long enough to take it all in–the twinkly lights above our head board, the babies next to us, the silence in the darkness and the gratitude that engraved a little deeper within. Amidst my exhaustion, I felt content.

The boys arrived late Christmas Eve and come morning, when Nella was the first to welcome Christmas with her fingers curled over the edge of the crib and her whipered “Hi” to wake me, everything fell into place like snow on fir branches.

I quietly snuck Nella out to keep her from waking everyone else up, but she spotted the baby stroller next to the tree, and Sister could not be contained.

So we went and woke up the entire house so we could get on with it.

Surveying proof of reindeer

Sister was more interested in helping Austyn with his stocking than digging through her own

Santa brought her “real pretend” glasses.

Austyn wanted a unicycle, a decision that pretty much made my Christmas. After almost putting a hole in our drywall, he moved his practice from the hallway to the driveway. It’s a work in progress, but once he has it down I’m sure he’ll be picking up chicks with it. Well, not literally–only one seat.

Our childhood Chrismases were highlighted by the string tradition–following a string that trailed throughout the house, in and out of bedrooms, up and down staircases until it ended at “the big gift”–the most memorable being Buffy, our childhood Cocker Spaniel. This year’s string led to a seat for two because our seat for one was causing too many sister arguments.

And I always love the way those little gifts become favorites. Like the big girl journal with a feather pen and a real lock. She opened to the first page, prepared her pen to write and asked, “Mom, how do you spell ‘NO. This is Lainey’s Lock Book.’?”

My heart is happy. The most important priorites in our life have bubbled to the surface the past few days and are holding steady with no competing interruptions.

More candles, I know.

Annual Christmas swim tonight

I could go on, but I have an entire week of reflection coming. I do a whole lot of “where have we been, where are we going?” this time of year, and I am loving the sentiments that follow.

But tonight, it’s still Christmas. Light a candle…or a pretend campfire. It ain’t over yet.

Merry, merry.