On our way to the Bond movie after Thanksgiving, Mandi, Sam, and Jesse talked about Facebook so I thought it would be a good idea to join and keep in touch with them. I beginning to think that perhaps it would have been best to just email. I don't know how it happened, but suddenly I have received emails and comments from people that I don't know if I have ever had a conversation with! Yikes. Thanks a lot kids!
This year was one of the best Thanksgivings I have ever had. Really,maybe the best week ever. Every year my cousin Jesse and I have a tradition of doing a race on Thanksgiving then going to a movie later that night, after we eat. We do the movie with Sam and Ryan as well, which is always fun.
I got up Thanksgiving morning, kissed the Schaal Rockets (our family moniker)goodbye, and went off to go pick up Jesse.
I arrived at Jesse's house to a sleepy Aunt and Uncle who welcomed me in for breakfast. Ah, no thanks to breakfast, but I will take a race with Jesse? Jesse was feeling pretty sick so he couldn't do the race with me. This is totally unlike him to miss something like this, so I understood. I sat for a minute in their driveway and asked myself, do I really want to do this alone, on Thanksgiving?
So I called Ry, "Hey, feel like lacing them up?" He probably really didn't feel like running a 10K race with me especially because he hasn't been running at all lately but in true Ryan form, he went along
with it. The only issue was he didn't have any running gear other
than shoes. So he borrowed some swimming trunks, yes swimming trunks
from his step-dad and really did lace them up.
We decided to run the race together and had so much fun. It really was the most fun I have ever had in a race. We ran past Ryan's friend's house who happened to be walking with his daughter and dog, which was pretty funny. He yelled some funny thing like, "What's with the shorts?" It really was funny, whatever he said. Anyway, we did the 10K and we finished. It was a blast.
Then we went to Ryan's mother's house for our first dinner, which was terrific. It is so great to be surrounded by family. After that we went to my Aunt's house for the night. We went to see the new Bond film with Sam, Jesse, and Ryan's sister Mandi. Which is why I now have a facebook page, but that's another blog. Anyway, it was a great time with all.
So, on Tuesday I got back from one of the most fabulous vacations. I went to Exuma, Bahamas with 7 other amazing women. The trip was filled with laughter, tears, wine, karaoke, food, more wine, did I mention sun, and most of all new friendships to treasure. Thank you Tracie and the rest of the Mama's for making this such a memorable trip for me.
PS: I love you...
PSS: Thanks for teaching me how to upload properly, Trac!
Yesterday afternoon, I napped with Mally. Napping with my children is one of my favorite pastimes. They are so snuggly and sweet. When we began to wake up, she wrapped her arms around my neck and said, "Mommy, I love you as big as the universe" and then gave me lots of kisses. Ahhhhh...my life is great.
One of the big events this week was going to Target. Meyer was especially excited because he received a new gift card and he couldn’t wait to buy a new kit of Star Wars Legos. Our sole intention of this trip to Target was not just for Meyer’s Legos, but we also needed other household items and Mally needed new underwear.
For me, underwear is one of those things that I forget…not to wear of course, but to purchase. I have been forced this year to buy more because of my dog’s tendency to chew up my underwear (of course if they were in my drawer or in the laundry, he wouldn’t have access to them but…), but typically, I will go years without buying a new pair. In fact, I have the same sports bras that I had 10 years ago. I just purchased a new one this year, but prior to that, I reused the same ones over and over again.
While putting away the laundry, I realized that I was doing the same thing to Mally. I am not quite sure how, but Meyer had an underwear drawer that was overflowing, but I realized that Mally hasn’t gotten a new pair since she was started wearing undies, which was before she was 2. Now at 3 1/2, it was time to get her some new ones.
At Target, the underwear isle the last place we go until we go to the toy isle. I grab all of the underwear that are in her size and let her pick her style. Had she been my first, I would have taken out the Barbies and Princesses and replaced them with something that I deemed more socially appropriate like Littlest Pet Shop, but now I realize that playing Barbies is actually a lot of fun. But that’s another blog. Anyway, Mally picked two pair: Tinkerbell and Princesses, with a little bit of help from her brother Meyer. Satisfied with her decision, we moved to the toy isle.
We got home and they played with new toys. Meyer with his Legos, Mally with her new Barbie clothes. The underwear were completely forgotten until Sunday. While sorting the laundry, Mally came across the new undies that she had picked out on Friday. She was so excited, “Meyer, Meyer, let’s try on all of my undies and do a fashion show.” Meyer did not want to try on any of Mally’s undies, but was excited to assist her in her selection and in the fashion show. She started with the Princess pack and tried all 7 on. Each time she would strut out, Meyer by her side, assisting her with the presentation, “Time to turn around, Mally.” I let Meyer give Mally her pack of Tinkerbell undies and he was so excited. It was so sweet. She was so proud of her new undies and Meyer was so proud to help her. He really is a fantastic big brother.
I know I should be working right now, but my mind is elsewhere. For my second post (I promise I will stop numbering my posts) I would like to express my gratitude to my husband, Ryan Schaal, the most incredible man on Earth. I truly, am so blessed.
Let me tell you all a story that illustrates his greatness. Today was supposed to be a special day for me, and really it was, but it was a day that I really was excited about, and he knew that. I was going to visit a friend in Milwaukee and going to have lunch and just generally hang out. A much needed break from work and some super special girl time. After a tour of her fantastic store (www.broadwaypaper.com), really, probably the coolest store ever, we headed off to lunch. After the appetizers of delicious tempura snow peas, I received the call I did not want to hear, "Uh, Amy, the new girl didn't show up for work."
Ahhh! I won't go into all of the details as this is a post to celebrate Ryan, but seriously...today? I am an hour away from work and I really want to finish these snow peas and try the chicken sandwich, and I know that place must have fabulous desserts. So what do I do in this situation? Who can I call to cover for me or the new girl for the hour it takes me to get back? Who loves me enough to help serve 15 children lunch, and put them to sleep?
"Hey Ry, can you go into work for me for a little bit?"
No complaints, no hesitation, just love. And when I saw him, a smile that brings tears to my eyes. The smile that says whatever you need...I love you. The smile that says, I am sorry you had to miss your special lunch. The touch on my shoulder that says, everything is great. Don't worry.
So, today, I thank God for reminding me how blessed I truly am. For I have a husband that will go into to work for me. He is the husband that constantly supports me. He is the person who smiles and the worries of the world melt away. He is the person who still gives me goose bumps as when he touches my hand. And he is the greatest father. Sure, he swears too much and likes to play video games, but if that is the worst of it, I have it made.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
I have been meaning to do this for quite some time. Having extended family, friends, and loved ones in many far away place, and being horrible at sending mail, making phone calls and generally keeping in touch, I feel like this is the best way to keep all of you posted on the joyous events that are happening in our world.
What has really inspired me to actually start is learning about the death of my dear friend Sylvester. He was a person that I was close to at one point in my life. A point without kids. After moving from Boston, we kept in touch for while, then started to loose contact. Then Meyer arrived, and everything changed. My life was consumed by the miraculous birth of my new baby boy. I lost touch with many, especially when I moved back to Wisconsin.
Friendship is so important to me. I feel so blessed to have the amazing friends and family that I do and this is blog is for you all. So when I forget to call you back or forget to tell you these silly stories, or when you just want a glimpse inside my heart, look here.
I wrote those first two paragraphs in August and I still haven't posted anything. Can you believe that? Well, I think it's time, and thanks to some inspirational words from a dear friend who is an amazing blogger, I am ready... (can you believe it Trac?)
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