Catching up

Somehow another week has come and gone since Will's big partnership news (and my last blog update).  Don't worry; his new status hasn't gone to his head.  Yet.  In fact, this is a more accurate portrayal of how he ends each day:

Dramatic interpretation, of course.  I'm thinking he should keep his day job.

It's considered a victory just to make it home before the rest of us are in bed.

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We celebrated Frances's 6th birthday with an indoor pool party at our local gym.

They did a fantastic job, complete with a clown, games, cake, party favors, and lots (and lots) of swimming.  We sent 10 very tired children home to their parents--our gift to them!

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True to form (for some torturous reason?), I ran a race the morning of Frances's party.

2013 Richmond Half-Marathon.  Happy to have that over!

The kids and Will surprised me at the finish line, which really was a perfect way to end.  I usually insist they stay at home because of the confusion, cold (and this year, rainy) weather, and generally non-family friendly atmosphere.  But I have to admit, it made my morning to see these three faces cheering for me during that last 'sprint.'

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When Nana visits, everyone gets new clothes.

Marshall, our now hairless dog (due to an overzealous groomer), has a new winter sweater.  I'm wondering in what other ways we can humiliate this poor boy between now and Christmas.

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First daddy/daughter dance at Frances's school!

And as it turns out, it was neither a dance nor just daughters.  But according to both parties involved, it was still a great evening at the school gym--games, desserts, and lots of Frances's adorable little friends. Frances may be shy like her mother, but she is a true social butterfly.  I admire her ease at making and keeping wonderful friends.

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George, our resident clown.

The other evening, Will and I went into another room (away from the children) to talk about something in private.  When we returned, Frances asked what we were talking about.  I replied, "We were just talking about adult things, sweetheart."  George asks, "What; like, 'underpants.'"

Proudly (and quite manly, I'd say) wearing his sister's sunglasses.

Life with a boy.

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Frances has a new crush this year.

Connor was the only boy from her school invited to her party.  I'm guessing the secret is out, but just in case it's still a secret you didn't hear it from me!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Saddle up, Partner!

It's been a big week in the Homiller household.  Frances turned six on Monday (which she reminds us on a daily basis) and after many long, hardworking, tireless years with the same firm, Will was elected partner yesterday!

I took this picture over two years ago during one of his all-nighters.  I have a feeling there will many more of those to come because as one of my law school friends wisely commented, making partner at a big law firm is like winning a pie-eating contest where the prize is more pie.

In so many ways, I feel like Will's success is our family's success.  When I stopped working two and a half years ago, we knew that we were putting all of our eggs in one basket.  Rather than spreading ourselves paper thin with two ambitious attorney jobs, two children in daycare, and four very stressed, ragged household members, we knew it would be best for the family to focus on one career.  And I can safely say that I have never once regretted that decision.

Congratulations to the smartest, most dedicated person I know.  No one deserves this more than you!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Six!

On November 11, 2007 at 4:56am (an early bird like her mother), the most beautiful little girl emerged into this world.

I remember it like it was yesterday.  I remember she screamed her head off during that final push out.  But then I remember she quieted, looked around, sucked her hand, and slowly took it all in.  I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life and it scared me how much I loved her from that first moment.  How I realized all of that worry I had when she was inside me multiplied infinitesimal and I would never stop worrying.  Or loving.  And how lucky I was to have something so wonderful to love and worry over.

Five days later with my bottom still sore and my breasts beyond painful, my mother, Frances and I hobbled to her first doctor's appointment.  As the nurse lifted her up to the baby scale for her first official post-hospital weight, another mother with preschool-aged children by her side gasped as she saw Frances and simply said, "Wow!  She's just perfect!"  Hormonal, sleep deprived, and scared I had been doing it all wrong that first week I squeaked out a tearful, "thank you," and a promise to myself to be eternally grateful to the stranger who helped me realize that I am indeed raising a perfect little girl.

Happy Birthday, Frances!  I am honored to call you my daughter and I can't thank you enough for letting me a part of this incredible journey called motherhood.

And I would be remiss in not acknowledging that today is also Veterans Day, a special day in our family.  My grandfather was always very proud that his great-granddaughter (and his bride's namesake) was born on Veterans Day and I know they had a special bond because of this.

I also know that the light shining down on them in this photo in my grandmother.  She would have loved my darling daughter.

Happy Monday, everyone!

This and that

November 4th and I'm just getting to my first November post.  And please don't remind me that my blog header says "Summer 2013."  Needless to say, things around here have been active, slightly crazy, and very computer unfriendly.  And this picture may help explain things:

This is the first leotard I've worn since I was 20-years-old.  Gulp.

I have (unwisely?) signed up for the Mid-Atlantic USA Yoga competition that takes place later this month and the incredible yogis at my studio and I have been knee-deep in backbends, standing bows, and camel poses.  It is simultaneously the most exhilarating and the hardest thing I have done in a long time - and so of course, I love it!  When he's not making a joke about competitive yoga ("are you judged by how much zen you have?"), Will has been incredibly supportive:

2014 competitor?  I think so!

I'll keep you posted on how things go.  As silly as it sounds, I am overly superstitious so I don't like to talk about goals too much ahead of time just in case things don't turn out how I had hoped.  But I also have to remind myself that this is my first competition after 14 months of practicing and it is supposed to be fun.  In fact, that's my mantra as I'm up on stage trying desperately to relax in these poses - "this is FUUUUUUNNNNN!!!"  Wish me luck!

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The kids have a four-day weekend for Election Day.

Great for them.  Hard on momma.  So the story goes.

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George proudly displaying his Halloween loot, organized by brand of candy.

He is officially obsessed with how much candy is waiting for him to consume, which is hilarious since he doesn't really like sweets (unlike my little sugar hoarder, Frances).  I think he just likes the idea that it is his and he earned it.

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Before Halloween, we visited a small, local pumpkin patch and had the best time:

We were one of maybe three families there, so the kids had two entire moon bounces to themselves and two of these huge parachutes:

My pumpkins on the winning pumpkin:

My other pumpkin attempting to dead lift the giant pumpkin.  I tried to make fun of his protruding tush, but according to Will his form is "not too bad."  Who knew.

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George and I often take mid-morning walks around the neighborhood on his days off from school.  Last week, the fall colors suddenly popped and I couldn't stop taking pictures.  George was not going to be outdone by some silly trees:

Elvis lives.

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Sometimes she just takes my breath away.

On her once-monthly early release day, Frances and I had an hour of alone time before picking George up from school.  I could have had eight more hours of this princess and still not had enough.  She is such a joy.

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George's latest trick - reading books to an imaginary class as though he's a teacher.

If he sees you watching him, he clams up so it's very hard to get a picture of him.  But I snapped this one the other day while we were waiting for Frances's dance class to finish up.  It gets me every time.

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As of last week, we have a lefty and a righty.  And no elbow fights.

Miracles never cease.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Happy Halloween!

Such a sweet little witch and such a crazy cowboy.

The kids are out as we speak with Will and the other neighborhood kids getting as much sugar as they can cary and Marshall and I are holding down the fort passing out chocolate to the cutest costumed kids you've ever seen.  If I haven't said it before, our neighborhood is the greatest.

Earlier this evening we went to the neighborhood pre-trick-or-treating cookout for hotdogs, mac n' cheese, and other Frances and George approved food.

Amazing.  The host family decorates more for Halloween than we do for Christmas.

Scooby Doo - isn't that the greatest idea?!  They promised to lend us these costumes for next year.  I'm sure Marshall would like being Scooby Doo better than his current costume of "lamp."

Have a great and safe halloween, everyone!  

Happy Birthday, Mother!

Today my beautiful mother turns 70 years old.

She will hate me for pointing out her exact age, but I can't help it.  I am so proud of her health, vitality and youthful glow at what used to be thought of as an advanced age.  But I think she proves that 70 is the new 50!  I can only hope I have inherited those incredible genes.

My mother came over last weekend and I feel so lucky to have seen her so close to her special day.  I take for granted sometimes how easy it is for us to see each other - we just hop in the car and 2 1/2 hours later we're pulling into the other's driveway.  We've both been busier than normal recently, so those easy trips are becoming less frequent.  But they are still always a possibility and I love that.

And I'm not the only one who loves it when she visits.

Happy, happy birthday to my greatest role model!

And I can't end this post without wishing one of my best friends, Brooke, a happy birthday, too!

Brooke, me and Julie.  This picture was taken five (!!) years ago, but I'd like to think we haven't changed a bit.

How can we not be soul sisters when you share a birthday with my mother.  I wish I could give you a big hug today, my friend.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Back to the ordinary

Not a lot has been going on since my trip to Las Vegas and I loooooove it!  Catching up on laundry, sleep (sort of), and eating a bit healthier.  Oh, and then there's these little munchkins that I am in charge of:

Notice the chokehold.  A little sugar, a little spice--just like her mother.

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Sunday was a perfect fall day, so we headed on to Point of Rocks Park in southern Chesterfield County.

Blue heron spotting.

If Will and I suddenly run away, the best place to look for us is somewhere in the out-of-doors (I know, I really narrowed down that search, didn't I?).  We both come alive in the fresh air and sunshine and we both want nothing more than to share this beauty with the kids.  For now, they are kindly letting us drag them to our favorite spots.

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I found this in my brush drawer this morning:

"Mommy make sure that you don't hurt me when you brush my hair please."  Every morning I brush Frances's hair and every morning she silently (or sometimes not-so-silently) grimaces as I work through her tangles.  I love everything about this sticky note--that she feels I need a written reminder not to hurt her, her atrocious spelling (that she inherited from me I'm afraid), and most of all the 'please' at the end.  I am never throwing this away.

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George and I played nap time hooky yesterday and went to the botanical gardens instead.

There won't be many more days like this until spring--how could I be expected to enforce a nap when there is a drum set made entirely from wood waiting to be played?

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Marshall looking even more pitiful that usual in his lampshade collar:

He's been chewing on a few bumps around his paws and back.  The vet removes them this week, but until then he'll be looking a little more Elizabethan than usual.  Forsooth.

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Happy Tuesday from these crazy pumpkin heads!