Monday Musings

1. I took this picture of Lucy with my cell phone and I think it's cute. It's one of my new favorites. I wish it had been taken with a real camera.

2. In the last five days, I've held two new babies born to my cousins. I love meeting new babies and hearing new baby/birth stories. Other people's stories...still no pangs to hold one of my own. It is so surreal that we are doing this again. Don't get me wrong. The excitement is growing. It's just, well, weird. 3. In related news, I have a baby bump. The excitement isn't the only thing growing. And my sister Fed-exed me a huge box of maternity clothes. She rocks.

4. I feel like a Suzuki method violin parent failure. I had no idea three years ago what we were getting into when Thomas started violin. I didn't realize the extent to which I would be required to help as the "at home teacher." I am sometimes lazy. I forget to put on the cd for optimal ear learning. I never remind the kids to practice on the weekends. Thomas and I have been known to lose it with one another in a moment (or two. or three.) of frustration over the violin. There are days that I want to quit. Me. Not Thomas. Not Anna. Me.

5. This is also a new favorite photo of mine. I call it Come and Get Me, Old Man! Thomas and Jeremy have been doing mile races at the high school track. Thomas is fast. And he paces himself perfectly. But the competition is awesome for these two. The second race in they both cut over twenty seconds from their time.

6. The people on the news told me I better prepare for the Arctic Blast. Which is really hard to do when it's sunny and 74 degrees outside. Ri-donk-u-lous. Winter, as if the shorts that my kids wore today aren't a big enough hint...I'm so over you.