Passing Time

I am not still in Idaho. In case you were wondering. Though I periodically close my eyes and click my heels together hoping to be taken back, but here I am...holding down the fort.

In short, here are some highlights from my trip:

-A three-day date with my husband. We ate at restaurants that do not have children’s menus, had UNINTERRUPTED conversations, slept in late and got to go to an art museum and actually enjoy the exhibit. Ironically, the visiting exhibit at the Boise museum was an Ansel Adams exhibit—if you’ll remember that was on the agenda at our last art museum visit with the kids, but temperaments did not hold out long enough. We also walked through a nature preserve and no one complained about how much their legs hurt. (I realized at the end of the trip that I had done a poor job of getting pictures. However, I am very much relieved that this one is in the archives.)

-I read an entire book in three days. Even when Brian had to work, I was perfectly content to take a nap or read a book.

-I watched a movie on the airplane—each way. It didn’t matter how dumb it was—the fact that I could do it was enough.

-I was pleasantly surprised by Boise. It is a lovely city. A bustling downtown, many people ride their bikes, very family friendly, and actually jus t plain friendly. People seem very happy living there.

We are deeply grateful to my parents for giving us this weekend to ourselves. A weekend away is wonderful, and when you don’t have to worry for a second about whether your kids are happy or safe, it makes it that more enjoyable.


So…June is in full swing, and still our Dad remains in Idaho. That’s a whole lot of time for a couple of girls to not have their Dad around. Ella frequently reminds me that she and Samantha miss Brian more than I do because I got to see him most recently. So we’ve Skyped, sent love notes to help minimize the void,

but still…we miss him terribly. The good news is that Brian has had the type of role he wanted in this case, and is tucking some good experience under his belt. When I was there, I was informed by his co-workers how brilliant he was in the courtroom. I certainly wasn't surprised, but it was nice to hear given that it’s not something that would ever escape Brian's lips.

The end of Brian's participation in this phase of the case seems to be dragging endlessly. We get hopeful about a date, just to have it postponed. We continue to plug way, doing our best to stay busy in hopes that the time goes faster. We have...

Gone to Ella's violin recital.

Here she is getting tuned by her teacher.

Playing her group piece

By far the squirmiest audience member.

Ella performing her solo pieces. She was the only student who played two pieces. I don't know where her performing bravado comes from--I certainly never had it.

Attended end-of-the-school-year celebrations (with more to come).

Samantha feeling pretty big at her sister's pre-school party.

Any moon bounce will do.

Kept cool in either...

The Backyard

Or Cold Stone Creamery.

Dance parties and accessorizing.

In the kitchen, of course...where else would one dance?

All accessories were hand-picked by Samantha: head band, pacifier, sweater and purse. How proud I was as a mother when I noticed how color-coordinated she was. Coincidence? I think not.

Hung out at the elementary school fair.
Samantha's arm flailing, I'm-so-excited-I-can-hardly-contain-myself look.

And jump-started Ella's Summer Reading.

Border's has a summer reading program where after reading 8 books you can get a 50% off coupon. So I told Ella that if she read 8 books this summer she could go get whatever she wanted at Borders as her reward. Saturday, we went to the library and checked out her books, which are all substantial chapter books for her. I soon learned this project would be done this week given that she had read the first four books in two days.

I think we'll have to find a couple more reading programs.

And so, we press on and continue to look forward to all being together again.

I can't even begin to tell you about all of the people who have been SO wonderful to us during this time. I have a mountain of favors to return when Brian gets home. We are so lucky to have such fabulous parents, friends and neighbors who have looked out for us. They have fed us, babysat (a lot), brought us yummy things and told us to just hang on, it will be over soon.

And boy, we can't wait until it is.