Sleepless in Milwaukee

It's 11 PM.  Shadow the cat and the rhythmic thump of the dishwasher are my late night companions.  Outside a fresh layer of snow covers up all the ugliness and makes the world look fresh and welcoming.  In spite of the political turmoil underlying our daily lives it has been a good weekend so far.  Family and then friends joined us for two nights in a row of tasty dinners and good conversation.  The boys have illuminated our lives with their silly antics and unconditional love.

I am avoiding heading to bed; my pre-sleep thoughts linger on finances, changes coming to our lives, and things to be done.  I am not one to let things go easily and am struggling to find a way to quell my worries.  I ruminate on all the possibilities and in the end seem to accomplish little.  So tonight I type, ramble, with Shadow resting his warm furry head on my arm.

When I was younger, my good friend Lucy told me about how her family makes a wish when 11:11 appears on the clock.  So since third grade I have been making my wish whenever I happen upon 11:11.  Tonight I shall wait for 11:11 to roll onto the clock face once more and make my wish.  What will your wish be?

News Junkie

So I have become a news junkie, squandering many hours on the internet reading up on the political situation in Wisconsin.  I devotedly check the Journal Sentinel online for updates from the Capitol, listen to Wisconsin Public Radio in the car, and have local news casts droning in the background of my life.  It is addicting and disheartening all at the same time.

I was already disillusioned with politics to begin with but now I can surely hear the great forefathers of these United States rolling in their graves.  Perhaps in a truly American fashion, we have taken our two-party political system to levels of previously unseen division.  We have lost the ability to find middle ground; instead, one party or the other steadfastly holds their position and throws mud until they get their way.  People are asked to choose sides, moderation be damned.

It is my hope that my children's generation will look upon these years with scrutinizing eyes.  May they recognize that when both sides give a little, more people benefit.   It is not about who's right but rather what is best for any given situation.   May they understand that things do not need to be categorized into either black or white; it is okay to accept a little gray in one's life.  Most of all may they recognize that we were human and we made mistakes; may they forgive us for our decisions that so greatly affected their lives.

And the news coverage drones on - Chaos at the Capitol.  No one is winning and ultimately everyone will lose.

Politics, politics, politics

I have a need to vent about what is happening here in Wisconsin.  I have an overwhelming desire to start looking into moving out of my beloved cheesehead country only to face the reality that the grass is not greener on the other side.  At a time when families, cities, states and nations are in a financial crisis it seems the distance between the democrats and republicans continue to widen leaving behind a mess in the middle.  I fear for my children's future.  I fear for my family's future.  I hope we can rise to meet the challenges in front of us; ultimately we have no choice but to try our best.

Luckily, it seems my kids are blissfully unaware of what is occurring around them.  They know their dad went to Madison on Friday because he does not agree with what Governor Walker wants.  They know there are protests but they have no idea that their life will be changing.  Do I even attempt to explain?  For now ignorance is bliss.

I've called my legislators and emailed my governor.  I've posted things I feel are relevant on Facebook and I have been praying a lot.  So I sign off with the hope that their will be light at the end of this tunnel and that my children will make it through relatively unscathed.

A Little Piece of Heaven

There are times when I feel truly blessed and all seems right in the world.  I try to take a mental snapshot of these moments so that I may carry the memory with me for all eternity.  Yesterday afternoon was one of those beautiful moments in life and I'm going to share a bit of it with you.

Our backyard has become our own little paradise complete with the swings, sandbox, fort, pool, patio, and hammock.  Perfect place to enjoy all that Wisconsin summer has to offer...our own stay-cation headquarters.  Mother Nature cooperated beautifully yesterday providing Milwaukee with 80 degree temperatures, a sunny sky, and a gentle breeze that made reading in the hammock in the shade ideal.  In really couldn't get any better.

In all fairness to Ben, I was hesitant to get a pool but it has become a treasure.  The boys romp for hours in the water alternating between swimming their hearts out and playing baby seal and trainer.  Not to be left out, Ben often gets in on the action partaking in a gentle float in his Father's Day present.  I, too, join the fun at times but am a hold out for the 90 degree days to make the 60-something degree water feel a little more inviting.

Of course, Andrew soon joined the fun once he woke from his nap.  It seems a slide and kiddie pool make for wonderful entertainment for the two-year-old set.  We even had to refill the pool due the amount of water loss with splashing.

No summer fun would be complete without the appropriate summer time snacks - popsicles.  (Note the drips on the chest and the very sticky fingers...)

Indeed life can't get much better than this!  A little bit of perfection on a lazy summer afternoon.

From the swirling thoughts in my head

I struggle to turn my brain off.  I muse, over-analyze, and generally over-think almost everything in my life.   I can drive myself crazy so in an attempt to shake some of these things out of my head, I'm going to provide you with a narration of my thought process this morning.....

Money.  How do we make ends meet?  Are we willing to make the sacrifices needed to truly get ourselves on better footing?  Do we have a choice?  Why does it seem to disappear as fast as we earn it?

Friends.  Am I a good friend?  How can I connect more?  Do the boys need outside playmates?  Should I be more proactive in arranging playdates?  Would restarting a Moms' group be in my best interest?

Jobs.  When do I need to go back to full-time work?  What kind of job am I qualified for?  Is it possible for me to be a stay-at-home mom indefinitely?  What if the parents of the children I am supposed to babysit for in the fall are unable to find jobs?

Family.  Why haven't I scheduled a visit to my only living Grandma's house?  Are the boys connected to their extended family?  Am I a good daughter, wife, mother, cousin, aunt???? Why do I still wish to have more children when there are days I can't handle the three I have?

My place in life.  I'm happy as a stay-at-home mom, but should I want more?  Am I wasting my talents by staying home?  What are my talents?  

My health.  If I really want to lose weight why am I sitting at the computer?  Why can't I convince my 34 year-old self to eat healthier?  Are vegetables evil?

And so it goes....my brain, the endless diatribe.  Happy weekend.

Jack Hanna is my Hero

Good news - No one woke up in the middle of the night last night.  It would have been a nice peaceful night of sleep if only I had gone to bed at a more normal hour for me (9:30 PM instead of the very late 11:45 PM).

Bad news - Waking up this morning was hell.  John came down at 6 AM on the dot.  Not so bad because he'll climb into bed and let a sleepy mommy snuggle for a while.  Just has we had settled under the covers Andrew wakes up, calling for his animals and permission to leave his bed.  John hops out and heads to Andrew's room.  Andrew refuses to budge but continues to call for me so up I get.  The minute he sees me he begins with a steady string of "Jack Anna, Zoo Baby...."  Meanwhile, I have noticed that his diaper has leaked and he needs to be changed.  Apparently Andrew has decided that we are now a clothing and diaper optional household and refuses to let me cover his bottom.  After five minutes of epic screaming and kicking (Andrew) and restraining and bribing (me), I manage to get both diaper and pants back on the littlest Anderson.  Now, I am enjoying a brief moment of internet bliss as the boys partake in Jack Hanna's Zoo Life - Zoo Babies video.

Nothing calms a screaming Andrew like a little Jack Hanna in the morning.  Although, couch battles have begun, Sam is asking for a band-aid and Andrew is on the move.  Looks like my internet retreat is over; hopefully, this is no indication on how the rest of the day will proceed.

The Adventures Begin

Yet another day of beginnings and endings in the Anderson household today.  Ben walked a little 5K boy to the bus stop this morning and I picked up a first-grader this afternoon.  Starting in the fall, we will have a full-fledged elementary school student in our midst complete with homework, no more nap and all that a more heavily academic school day brings.  Sam will follow John to Milwaukee German Immersion in the fall as well.  Time for me to start learning some German....sprechen zie Deutsch?

As John joins the ranks of those at home for the summer, Ben departed for Europe this afternoon.  10 days, 3 or 4 countries, and yet another trip with high school students.  Since I will be the lone parent for several days and Ben will be surrounded by high schoolers in a foreign lands, perhaps I should take wagers on which of us will lose our sanity first.  About eight hours into our little adventure, I am holding my own.  I wish it wouldn't be so light out so late; it's harder to convince the boys to go to bed when the sun is still in the sky.  Not to worry, the calvary arrives tomorrow in the form of my parents.

And so I close with a photo of the boys and I playing in their world upstairs.  Although the photo is now a month or two old, their favorite activities haven't changed much - Legos and trucks and planes and animals.  John, the photographer, likes to build planes from Legos.  Andrew loves his animals and getting in his older brothers' way.  Sam loves moving Lego pieces about the table with his other trucks.  Today he was loading the "trash" into trucks in Paris (France, not Texas).