Life Updates of a Larger Magnitude

Someone (named Matt Shea) once told me that I had to learn to be content.  To stop always looking toward the next mountain to be climbed.  Sorry, love, but that's just not me.  I am, however, as content as I've ever been.  My daily life is pretty darn great.  This morning I: Lillian eating Eve's lollipop. Shhhh!  Don't tell! woke up at 6 am to a crying baby (-1) got some sweet baby snuggles (+1) still wanted to go back to sleep but made a cup of coffee instead (+0) accomplished the amazing feat of getting 3 children and myself ready early enough to not be stressed out by time (+1, although not in a warm fuzzy way, just in a hot damn that seemed impossible! way) walked my children to school - 2.6 miles roundtrip! (+2 for fitness and good mommy moment) remembered a snack for the baby that would inevitably start crying AND my bluetooth headset so I could enjoy Freakonomics podcast on the way back (+1) TOTAL: +4 life points by 10 am Then I sat a...

Sometimes being a risk-taker is over-rated.

We finally did the family vacation to Alan's lake house in Arkansas, and it was a very fun time.  Elaine, Alan, and baby Alexandra flew in.  Mom and Dad came down from PA.  And the Shea clan drove ourselves up.  And Alan's parents came to show us the ropes of their fabulous wooded retreat.  It took about 18 hours of driving to get there (15 on the map, but the map doesn't have toddlers.)  And we had to drive through the night to even get there in 18.  (Driving through the night is the only way to avoid lots of potty stops and constant chattering.  Hooray!) The lake was gorgeous and the water was the perfect temperature.  We spent almost everyday relaxing in the house, out on the pontoon or jetski, or just generally relaxing.  It was niiiiiiiiiice.