Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Oh naps, how I miss thee!


     Napping, one of the greatest joys in life.  I had forgotten about the wonderfulness of a nap, because, in all honesty, I can't remember the last time I took one!  I was reading an article in a magazine about the virtues of napping and it all came back to me.  I have always treasured a nap, a little sneak of a sleep.  When Wolfie was born, I made a solemn vow to nap when he napped.  It made all the difference in the world to this old Mama's over-taxed brain and body.   Then Vladdie came, and naptime became a battle--  Trying to discern exactly the right moment that two children on different developmental schedules might possibly be coaxed into falling asleep.  Two boys that had way too much to do to possibly fall asleep.
     I began to think back in my napping history to some of my most famous naps.  Ones that practically make me drool just thinking about them today.  I can remember as a little girl, sleeping on a Saturday, while my Grandmother's vacuum hummed from the reaches of the house.  Light streaming in through yellow gingham curtains while the little dust sparkles, kicked up by Grandma's cleaning, no doubt, twinkled in the beam.  I remember feeling peaceful and right with the way everything was and drifting off to sleep in my great big bed.
     I remember sneaking into the library, the cool air conditioned library of my high school.  I would find an empty bottom shelf, somewhere hidden, and put my purse in place as a pillow, sleeping in that little nook all afternoon.  I like to imagine that the librarian knew I was there, but wished she could do the same, and let me sleep, sleep, sleep.
      I remember back in the days when having a tan meant you were "healthy", laying out in the sun, damp enough to sizzle in the heat.  Feeling the rays bake my skin while listening to America's Top 40.  A beach towel over a plastic chaise lounge chair and the smell of  Hawaiin Tropics in the air.
     I remember playing hooky when I got my 1970's era Impala, a boat of a car, with bench seats that were so long, I could lay out fully across them and still have room.  A detour on the way to school on a beautiful spring day found me in the Metroparks, in an area more like a forest than a park.  I opened the windows, stretched out, covered up and slept for hours with the sunlight playing through the leaves of the heavy trees.
     I longingly recall the times I spent near  Lake Erie on a Saturday afternoon.  Jasmine was old enough to play with her friends unsupervised, so I laid out a blanket under a big old tree on top of a hill overlooking the lake.  I read, meditated and drifted off to the sound of the water lapping at the beach, children playing and a breeze blowing just enough to keep the temperature perfect.
      That brings me to the days of trying , sometimes for hours to get the boys to nap at the same time so that I might get a sliver of rest too.  It was like wrestling them to sleep, terrible, yet wonderful once I finally succeeded. I laid in that bed, all of us together and relished it, truly relished it.  I felt compelled by the deliciousness of it to write this at the time:
    A Family Naps
The fan hums,
the music box lullaby trudges dutifully on
tethering restless minds to drowsy pillows.
Tangled.
like a nest of puppies.
Feet touching hips, knocking knees, locking elbows, mussing hair.
While wisps of words are mumbled like peeks
through a keyhole into their dreams.
sleeping...
                                                                    Finally, 
                                                                            Fitfully, 
                                                                                     Fleetingly.


     Oh to nap again, someday, I tell myself. When I am less needed, less busy.  Then I will sneak off for another nap of epic proportions.  I swoon just thinking about it!  What are your favorite napping memories?

    This one is Jasmine coaching me during labor!

Saturday, July 17, 2010

An Interview with the Hoffbros

Matt and I took turns interviewing the boys about each other.  Wolfie seems to use it as a chance to move his agenda forward and Vlad was very impressed by his dinner tonight!

Interview with Wolfie:
My dad's name is: Matt.
His favorite food is: spaghetti.
My dad and I like to: watch movies like toy story 1 and toy story 2 and story 3 and toy story 4 and toy story 5 ....
My dad makes me happy when: he lets me do good.
My dad is good at: acting funny.
If I could do anything for my dad I would: be funny, he likes when I am funny, like what do you get when you cross a cocker spaniel, a poodle and a rooster?  A COCK-A- POODLE-DO!. 
My dad likes when I: play wii



My Mom's name is: Shannon. Her favorite food is: chips.
My mom and I like to: play with my toys ....
My mom makes me happy when:  she stays home with me and plays with my toys.
My mom is good at: liking me.
If I could do anything for my mom I would: be funny for her - nice and sweet!
My mom likes when I:  play wii at home.

Interview with Vladdie: My dad's name is: Sack.
His favorite food is: salad and pisgetti.
My dad and I like to: play outside.
My dad makes me happy when: I am sick.
My dad is good at: playing Transformers.
If I could do anything for my dad I would: give him a present with wrapping.
My dad likes when I: say "sugarpea" .

My Mom's name is: Mommy. 
Her favorite food is: pisgetti. 
My mom and I like to: play with the sprinkler and the hose....
My mom makes me happy when:  'food".
My mom is good at: hopscotch.
If I could do anything for my mom I would: do the rocket balloon!
My mom likes when I:  do somersaults

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Time to stop and smell the roses

     I love doing these question lists because they are so great for helping me to relish being in the moment.  A great blog, luvinthemommyhood , just posted this, and I felt compelled to do the same.  Feel free to do so yourself--  take time to stop and smell the roses in your life!


Making : Knitting a washcloth from recycled cotton yarn.  I was knitting next to a creek, on a hill today.  My yarn got away from me and the ball rolled down the hill and plop--into the water!
Cooking : veggie burritos
Drinking : sun tea
Reading: lots of blogs!
Wanting: a back-e-otomy.  I'm sick of my back hurting already!
Looking: at vacation pics, dreaming about being  back at it again, kicking it with my Mom.
Playing: with my new toy, it's kind of like the "lemon twist" I had as a kid.  It's a ring with a rope and a ball.  You put it on your ankle and spin it and start jumping it.
Wasting: time trying to get sleepless Vladimir back to going to bed at a decent hour again.
Sewing: a gift bag
Wishing: they would invent a teleportation device
Enjoying: Watermelon!!!
Waiting: 30 more days until my brother-in-love ties the knot! Then Katie!  Then Lindsay!
Liking: Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore! by David McPhail  as recited by the Hoffbros.
Wondering: Who put the ram in the rama lama ding dong?
Loving: little love note texts from my sweetie
Hoping: for a healthy grandbaby
Marveling: at Wolfie reading
Needing: more hours in a day
Smelling: my "happy bag"-- rice filled flannel for moist heat on my back
Wearing: nightgown
Following: the Lebron B.S., although now I'm fairly well sick of him.
Noticing: how nice petunias smell.
Knowing:I am going to miss my sister Robyn soooooooo much when she moves.
Thinking: about all the hand-me-downs from Robs that I am going to upcycle
Opening: the fridge for one more cube of watermelon
Giggling: at how vigorously my husband is playing his video game
Feeling: thankful for so many wonderful family and friends that make life so grand!