...bookworms and cuddlebugs...

Mister Man is into books.

In a big way.

Monday is library day...every week, no matter the weather.

This summer we both participated in reading challenges at the local library.
The librarians in the childrens' department were astonished when Mister Man reached the final goal of minutes within a month of having begun. Throughout the summer he won tickets to a Patriots game, three new books, and some arts'n'crafts supplies.
Meanwhile, the librarian at the front desk knows us by sight. And seems to not quite understand that part of her job is encouraging people to read more. She actually poked fun at me for how many books I check out each week...harumph! BTW...I average a book a day, thanks to my insomnia. At any rate, I also got prizes...a nice reusable library shopping bag and a few books.

How nice to be rewarded for something we do naturally. Not a common occurrence is it? Can you imagine if someone held a coffee drinking challenge? Billie and I could go head to head with anyone!

Reading is just the thing, as Mister Man gets older, to bring us right back to one on one. All curled up in a cozy spot with a pile of blankets and pillows and a tower of reading material...those are the moments I'll remember.

...a weekend away...

So much of the beginning of the week was colored by the impending anniversary and my desire and need to overshadow the negative with immensely positive activities and memories in the making, that I gave little time or thought to the weekend ahead.

We traveled early on Saturday to Pennsylvannia, cutting our trip into nice, neat pieces.

1)One of the highlights was our first destination, or moreso, the person who awaited us there...my sister, and Mister Man's beloved Tante. We met up at the King of Prussia mall...huge, immense, shop-tastic...and due to its overwhelming size so similiar in feeling to all the other places we've been able to meet up with her. I hold out hope nonetheless that someday, someway...we three will enjoy a cozy comforting visit. Crackling fire, vegan marshmallows and board games.

2)An all to brief visit later, and we were off to our hotel to enjoy the amenities that my first experience with Priceline had garnered us. Two pools and a whirlpool? Bliss! And in what has now become the summer of exponential achievement, Mister Man experimented with putting his whole face underwater! Mami pride!

3)A family dinner that night with relatives I hadn't seen in years, and whom Mister Man had never met before made for an interesting end to the day.

4)The following morning we packed our bags and headed out, determined to enjoy a touristy, vactioney morning.

5)And in the afternoon we went to a beautiful church for a beautiful service to lay my uncle to rest. Once again we were surrounded by people vaguely familiar to me and completely unfamiliar to my child.

...breathing easier...

Time for tangents:
Made it through yesterday...
Had some difficult moments...
Kept the tears at bay...
Resented intrusions...
Bought legos...
Received coffee...
Fell asleep wondering...

...stripped of power...

In the summer after my marriage ended, with our anniversary fast approaching I came up with an idea...instead of wallowing in misery on the day intended to celebrate what was now a failed marriage, I was going to celebrate it's existence in a new way. And so, our Family Anniversary Day was born. On August 19th every year since, we've celebrated because the wedding that day put into place the family that Mister Man and I are, today.

Every year I've taken that day off from work and made it all about fun. No phone calls, no emails, no interruptions...just pure, unadulterated fun and indulgence. In the past we've incorporated one-day travels, zoo trips, museums, farms and fabulous food. And every year I come up with one activity where Mister Man is doing something for me and I'm doing something for him.

This year everything is off...and odd...and different... Because of our transitory living situation, we're not just able to take off on our own for the day. So this year, no big celebration of us. Instead I'm making Mister Man's favorite foods...declaring it no home-schoolwork day and spending the afternoon outside. And in the evening we're heading to his favorite store, !?!Target!?!, and shopping on the sly for a $5 gift for each other.

In years past we sort of stuck with a theme for each day and planned accordingly. So I guess this one's theme is: creativity within a budget, time allowance and location.

Doesn't sound to fun, does it.
Particularly since I fear that's also the theme of my everyday life.
Ah well...

Here's to another year of our perfect, if tiny, family. Mister Man, you make it worth it! Love you oodles of noodles! :)