Consider It a Postcard

Just a note, as I failed to mention it before (I am such a jerk sometimes) - I am in Montana enjoying 10 days with my family and as such, am finding little time to be around a computer. I promise a post filled with pictures and stories upon my return home, but bear with me in the meantime. I've been getting emails and comments (you know who you are!) about my lack of bloggy love lately, but I'm hoping that this trip will clear the cobwebs of garage building, physical and emotional ailments, and plain overwork from my mind and allow me to return refreshed and ready to tackle all those projects, including my little blog, that I love but have neglected of late.



Until then...

Finding my Cape

*A note: I wrote this about a month ago and for some reason, never got around to posting it. Although it will be posted under it's original date of May 12th, to be honest, it's actually June 6th as I write this. And so, a month late, I give you the start of a beautiful friendship with....WonderVan.

I read the most raucously funny and completely endearing blog post the other day, which I could have written almost verbatim, that detailed one mom's internal struggle while trying to stay hip in a minvan world, and ultimately finding something she wasn't looking for. Previous posts have described my own journey as I wrapped my mind around trading in my "cool" truck for the "soccer mom" blues of a van. A necessary evil, I thought, in my mom calling.

Do you know what I've discovered in the past week I've been driving my new mom-mobile? It. Is. The. Coolest. Car. EVER! Let's start at the front, where from the comfort of my heated leather seats I can, at the push of a button, control everything from the climate of different seats to the automatic sliding doors. Sunshine streams through my sunroof, and a glance at the convex, built-in child mirror allows me to see the entire rear of the vehicle without any turning or straining. A row back you will find my children in their seats, a black bin on the floor between them filled with toys and books. In the floor, cleverly concealed, is a lazy susan with compartments of various sizes that hold a change of clothes, extra socks, sunscreen, wipes, a few diapers, and any other random kidness that may be needed at some time in the future, stashed completely out of the way. Behind this lies a vast space where three more seats can be called up in a miraculous manner from inside the floor when needed, but also, in a pinch, can be used for a small playroom when the seats are folded into the floor. Imagine the whining of kids made to wait in a car disappearing as you unlock them, read your book or catch up on your knitting, and let them play with that tote full of toys in the back, perfectly contained, and yet, perfectly happy. I've experienced it my friends, and it is paradise. When the seats are folded up, you still have a huge storage space behind them, large enough to hold a double stroller and a full load of groceries.

And I've set my personal stamp on it already. Two small throw pillows and a matching dog blanket in zebra stripes spice up the interior, a cup holder caddy holds my IPod, a pack of gum (strawberry for interested parties), and the remote to the DVD player. Ohe yes, the DVD player with dual screens strapped to both front headrests for optimum kiddy enjoyment. I tell you, me and the wondervan are tight, I really don't know how I managed this far into my mothering experience without her. The funniest thing is I feel like I've somehow made it into the club, driving "the official car of moms everywhere". When I see other women drive by in their various forms of van goodness, I want to wave and say, "Yeah! I'm in the club too! Woo!". Actually, I think I actually have done that a time or two, come to think about it. Couldn't help myself. I like to think they know, and gave me a little nod too, because they know what I know, and they couldn't help themselves either.

Aidyn's View

Wait for it......

This is going to be the most random post ever, with the events and tidbits that have happened of late.

First of all, the van is in my possesion. The accessories are awesome, and I even like driving it. Go figure. It's easier to park and backup than the truck, and definately handles nicer.

WalMart are jerks. I ordered a dual screen dvd player for the trip on May 1st, selected free site to store shipping, which takes 7-10 days, and signed on day before yesterday to discover the estimated shipping date to be May 19th...three days after we leave. I wrote a well worded email describing the situation, and received an automated response with the same information found on their help page. Like I hadn't already looked there.

The garage...is....finished. Well, except the parts we have no control over, namely, hanging the overhead door and installing electricity. That will wait until we get back from the Tana.

Speaking of the home of my birth, we will be departing in one week and two days to spend a glorious 10 days away from "it all".

I love cookie dough ice cream.

Bella the bulldog got a lovely bath this morning, complete with a nailtrim, ear cleaning, and toe nail polishing. Simply because I can, why else?

Ely and Aidyn are supposed to be napping, but instead are both crooning unintelligible songs from their respective rooms.

And that's about all I have right now, because the couch, a pint of cookie dough ice cream, and a John Wayne flick are calling my name. I love this job *sigh*.

Soup of the Day

Nothing deep or even remotely interesting today, to tell the truth, but I shall post anyway, as I was reminded yesterday that it has been too long.

The garage is still not finished. Big surprise. Actually, it's coming along and should be completed (minus electrical) by this weekend. Our concrete pour is scheduled for 7AM on Saturday, so I am super excited about that. The siding has been going up a little at a time during the evenings, I myself nailed up some J-metal on Tuesday night. By this time next week, we should have the inspection done and hopefully, even have the guys out to install the overhead door! Tonight I plan on digging holes for our fence so that they can pour concrete into those at the same time.

Of course, the fence will be put on hold for a few weeks while we visit the family in Montana. We're leaving in two weeks and one day, and then I'll have a whole ten days of family time. The kids are so excited, Aidyn keeps talking about how he's going to play with his uncle Jeremiah. (Side note, the Bean just climbed me like ladder and is now wrapped around my head watching TV over my shoulder). And on this oh-so-spectacular trip, we will have a new ride.

Yes, you heard me. It's true, I succumbed to the van. I actually read a very enlightening article about how SUVs have become so commonplace, the new "soccer mom" vehicle of choice, that vans are suddenly ahead of the curve, out of the norm, and, dare I say it, cool. Just let me dream, people, let me dream. And so, for the first time, the Stillar family will roadtrip to their roots in the style and comfort of the Honda Odyssey, which has already been dubbed, fondly I think, The Box.

Other tidbits of this week:

1. Bella now firmly knows how to sit at attention with a piece of food hovering directly on her nose until given the command to go ahead and eat it. Pretty cool, in my opinion, but then again, I'm the one that taught her.

2. There is a vase of branches from my little tree out front being forced out of winter hibernation to lend their bright red spring feel to my front room. They are already opening!

3. Sharkbait has been drawing pictures that actually form an organized picture. He drew a duck, a boat, and yesterday, a bus, complete with wheels, window, and a ladder. Yes, a ladder.

4. Bean is laying on the floor with her brother's undies on wiggling around to a reggae sounding beat coming from the TV. Just as a note of interest. The girl cracks me up.

5. I went shopping and found the coolest pair of wicked awesome shorts I've ever seen. Evan says they look like I'm heading off to golf. I think he's jealous.

And that about sums it up. Except of course, for my latest going green efforts, which I plan on posting at a later date, hopefully soon. Until then, friends and readers....