signs of life

how do i know the marshall household is on the mend? well, this is what i witnessed last night as i was trying to get out the door to book club. she's baaaack!

what's your comfort?

mommy, i don't feel so good

georgia's favorite corner on her pink softandrew has loved his green blank so much it has holes even nana day can't fix!
the infamous paint, who is real, by the way, and has even been to hawaii

when i was younger i had a stuffed bunny rabbit i carried around everywhere. my "bunny" was my best friend, especially when i was sick. well, we've had a couple of very sick weeks. georgia had the flu and everything that comes with that title, and andrew had a cold, cough and fever. needless to say, it's been fun, staying at home, changing sheets in the wee hours of the morning, going on binki hunts at 3:30 am, and being sneezed on are all my most favorite things to do. did i happen to mention we've seen our dad for about 2 hours each day - at the most - this week? so, with all this sickness i noticed some similarities between myself and my children. i had "bunny" andrew has "paint" and "green blank," and georgia has "bink," and "pink soft." i get it. i understand completely, so, there has not been one trip out of the house without our comfort gear. i even tried to go to the grocery store but by the time i had made it the whole 5 minutes, my andrew was softly snoring in the back seat, head resting on "paint" and both covered by "green blank." it was so sweet i couldn't bear to wake him so, i backed out of the parking place and went home. dad brought the prescription home with him later that evening. there have been a few silver linings on this gray funk that has enveloped our home, knowing many friends have been at home with this same thing and they understand the plight i feel, having time to have a quick nap in the afternoon (fabulous, considering a full night's sleep is an enigma), and one thing i have really enjoyed this week, the fact that my georgia will let me cuddle and snuggle her. she is usually too busy to even let me hold her for a second, now she begs for me to hold her and rock her with her "bink" and "pink soft" in the white chair. i love cuddling with my babies, there's something so reassuring and fulfilling as a mom to be needed in a way that doesn't involve juice, food, diapers or toys being found. i think we all need our comforts from time to time, and even though my "bunny" still lives with me, i think my comfort is found with my babies! oh, the binki usually hides between the mattress and the wall, very tricky to find at 3:30 am.

spring is here!

i looked out my window and what did i see? popcorn popping on the apricot tree! literally! we had an amazing day of rain yesterday and i woke up to my apricot tree covered in delicate pink blossoms with the promise of many more to come. i love springtime in the desert. it is amazing how many things come to life in full color. spring in the desert also brings with it beautiful warm days, park play dates, walks around the neighborhood, outdoor shopping, and a breath of fresh air laced with a bit of a new beginning. so all of you snow bunnies, go ahead, keep the snow! i'll enjoy my spring!

potatoes for dinner

one of my favorite pieces of artwork hung in the dining room of the house i grew up in. it's an amazing antique store find, a little worn by time. the painting is the gleaners by john millet and this painting popped into my thoughts as i was peeling potatoes today. i know, odd thing to be picturing while preparing dinner, but not so much if you have ever followed my thoughts! there i was, being picky with the brown spots, mushy pieces and eyes that had started growing on my potatoes and i soon realized half of my dinner was ending up in the sink, i also realized how wasteful this act would be to someone who was truly hungry and trying to prepare a meal for their family. my thoughts traveled from this painting to my great grandmother who, widowed at a young age, raised a family and fed them, for a time, on produce gleaned from nearby farms. i thought of how humble she must have been to get her food this way and then my thoughts quickly jumped to the story of ruth taught in the bible and how she gleaned the fields and was blessed for her humility and faith. my life doesn't much resemble the struggles of these two women but i found it interesting these thoughts came to me on a day i was wondering why i even bothered going to church. (those with or have had young children will understand this!)
i spend a great deal of my three hour church block roaming the halls, baby in tow grasping at any chance to hear a line of a lesson, sing a hymn or even to think of anything besides how tired my children are that day. today was especially trying. eric and i made it about 15 minutes before we started the in and out and trade the child game. needless to say, we left early, upset and overwhelmed by the antics of our children. today the kids won and we came home, put them to bed and didn't see either grumpy face for two and a half hours.
so, while i was peeling my potatoes, i realized at this stage in my life, i may find myself filling my spiritual needs from the "leftovers" that end up in the hallway on sundays. so, with my new and improved sense of 'i can do this,' i have resolved that next sunday i will do it all again. i will go to church with my children, (having been strengthened by the example of my great grandmother and ruth, and humbled by the sheer knowledge that i need those small bits of lesson, hymns and interrupted talks), i will wander the hallway, listening for pieces of lessons, choruses of hymns and the occasional talk over the speaker! i need them to feed myself and my family. so, in a funny, round about way i too, have become a gleaner! so, to the potatoes i enjoyed at dinner tonight, my great grandmother, ruth, and for the worn print my mother hung in our dining room, thanks for the reminder and encouragement! and, next week has got to be better, right?

Marshall "two-some" at Kapulua Plantation Course

The rain came and the rain passed multiple times as Andrew and I played the famous Kapalua Plantation Course. But no amount of precipitation could damper our "guys day out" without a grandma, sister, mom or wife. Dad would play tee to green and Andrew would do the putting (I will give you one guess who had the better score and he's 5 years old). The construction in the background were the preparations for the Mercedes Championship which would take place in the next few weeks. PGA golfers may have shot better scores than this pcitured duo but I can guarantee that this father and son combo enjoyed each hole much much more. What a memorable day that a proud father will never forget.

ten little fingers, ten little toes

when my children came into this world i couldn't wait to count their fingers and their toes. the second i was able, i unwrapped them and counted, just to make sure everything was there. i know this is silly but some of my favorite parts on babies are little fingers and little toes. they come into this world innocent and fresh and pink and new and it has always amazed me at what trouble these little parts can get into when the owners learn how to use them. drawers are emptied, markers are found with lids off underneath amazing pieces of artwork, cupboards are ransacked, toys are scattered, bookshelves are emptied, closets are turned upside down, sisters are wrestled, purses are emptied, all within a time slot that it takes to pull together a haphazard dinner. so today, as i wade through a sea of toys, fill my drawers back up, try to make sense of the pile by my purse, pull brothers off of sisters, hide the markers and close my closet door, i am reminded of what a rich life i lead. and, how incredibly blessed i have been to have two sets of ten little fingers and ten little toes in my home.