Grandma & Grandpa Schneeman

The kids and I spent some time at the lake this summer without dad - who was home "making money" - I actually think the kids think he works in a money making factory, printing greenbacks. My parents took us out for dinner one night (Companeros) and while we had a nice time, the kids were squirmier than usual and it didn't prove to be a terribly peaceful meal. When we got home we "walked the property" with my dad (he does this every night), and the kids convinced my parents to have a little swing. Here's what it looked like:

Some Fun Photos From Summer

Summer of Fitness? Fall of Hard Bodies!

So summer's over (sigh. groan. moan.). But our fitness streak is (hopefully) only just starting. James, Katie and I completed a 25k race on Sunday. OK folks, this is 15.535 miles. That is far. Very far. We'd been out late the night before at the Nativity Auction, we were smart enough to not imbibe too much, but none the less we were out late.

I thought Katie and I were going to walk most of the race, but it turns out that Katie walks way faster than my little legs can carry me, so I jogged next to her for the first half of the race. I decided to stretch my legs a little after about mile 8 because I was starting to cramp up. This turned into running the last 7.5. At mile 10, I thought I'm almost done, I'll just keep running. At mile 10? Since when did I think that 5.535 miles was "almost done"? Anyway, I was very sore when I finished and was worried that I'd done permanent bodily harm, but it turns out all you need is a good night's sleep because I'm feeling fine now. But it was quite a day. Katie finished at a faster pace than the NY half marathon - as we decided that we like 12.5 miles MUCH better than 15.5 miles. We all believed that the last two miles were the worst. Good to know. Good to know.

Now James, he's totally insane. He went out and decided that instead of just running a 25k, he should crush some spirits. He finished the whole thing while never running slower than 7 minute miles. That is freak show fast. That is "like the wind" fast. That is "I'll go get the car, have breakfast, see a movie and take a shower" before the rest of you fools are done fast. I'm so proud of him - I think he's a nut job - but I'm very proud of him.

We've got to find another race...

101 Bubbles in a Tub

This isn't as weird as it seems. My mom invited the kids and I over for lunch with aunt Helen on Friday. My mother also helped Helen take a bath in her fancy new tub - which Helen thought was the greatest thing of all times. My dad played with the kids in the backyard - which so amazingly color filled and beautiful. It never ceases to amaze me that my father's gardens survive all summer without him tending to them daily - I need to pay better attention to what he's doing because he obviously has the touch.

Anyway the bath was another good example of how my mother is always teaching me - she washed Helen's back with a washcloth and then rubbed her arms and legs with good smelling lotion. This is not something I would think to do. This is clearly someone elses' job. But no one was doing it. She's alone in her house and there are somethings that get forgotten by her, by everyone. Many elderly people never have any physical contact with people and Helen so clearly appreciated and thrived with my mother's attention. She laughed, and laughed and the most amazing thing was that after a nice hot lunch and a warm bath, not only did she look better, but she seemed so much more clear.

It is completely amazing to me that a 101 year old woman can physically do all of the things that Helen can do - She got up the stairs without real help as well as getting in and out of the tub. I have a hard time getting in and out of the tub and I'm 32. She's struggling mentally - but she is still such a gift and a pleasure to be around. More later...

MJ vs MJ

My mom announced while we were at the cabin last week that SHE was taking MJ to get a haircut. My sister Mary buzzed the boys heads the day before we left the cabin - they sat quietly, listened to her instructions and were all around very well behaved. When I buzz their hair in the backyard there is screaming, gnashing of teeth and threats of physical violence. And that's just me. I don't know how she does it, but Mary has the touch and the kids don't look like they've just completed their last round of chemo. Thanks, Mare.

Anyway, my mom desperately wanted to get MJ's stringy mop of hair cleaned up - and I can't say that I disagreed. So yesterday she came over and we took MJ to get her second hair cut at KidsHair. MJ, the minor, was at the onset NOT very excited about this occasion. But settled down once she realized we weren't leaving her. Here are some photos...she is getting so big.

I was reminded yesterday - and a lot over the last few weeks - how grateful I am to be a daughter and to have a daughter. Being with my MJs brings me a lot of joy.

Almost Too Much To Say

I have so many things to write about - my fingers and brain feel clogged.

Including: Head Bonk - the new game Seamus and Finn invented (here's a clue, whoever wins isn't crying). School starting - no tears - but one of us is having sleepless nights. Finn's finger and the log splitter (who needs that fingernail anyway...) Seamus's new fears (these ones aren't so funny). MJ on wheels (she walks with her hands on her hips - and loves to tell you No - sound familiar?) Bob and Paula visited the lake (have you seen the movie RV?). My brother and his wife are expecting identical TWINS in February (guess which one - here's a hint, the twins are not currently nursing a hangover from the republican national convention nor are they currently getting ready to play inner-uterus soccer.) So, I've got a lot to get out and not very much time.

Where do I start? Well, how about with Finny and his first real day of preschool. He was elated. Look at how cute he is - seriously - I suppose it sounds strange - but truly you fall in love with your kids over and over again and my heart just bubbled over when he came running out of class. Good work starting school, buddy, you're going to do so great. Seamus also start school - this will be his last year of preschool - next year he's on to bigger and better things. When we were talking about this, we had just dropped off Finn and were heading to the gym. I thought he'd be excited to think about going to a big school. You know the first thing he said? "But if I go to school everyday, when will I ever get to play with Finny?" How's that for falling in love?


I also started school (so help me God). Today I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence (as Sarah so accurately put it this morning). I know how badly I want to be doing this, I know that it's going to be hard, I also am aware for one of the first times in a long time, I'm truly afraid to fail. Failure for me isn't about the grades or the degree or being spread too thin and in over my head. This fear isn't about just getting a MFA, or writing a book or truly feeling at home calling myself a writer - it's that these are all things that I've always held deep in my soul. I want this so bad. And if I can't do it - I'm terrified I won't know who I am. This is one of the few things that is purely selfish for me - I want James to be proud of me, I want my kids to be proud of me, but frankly, I need to be proud of me. And so begins this journey...

James opened a bottle of champagne on Wednesday night and took a picture of me on my first day of school. The kids are cuter, but you can only work with what you're given.


AND THEN...my mom called at 7:30 this morning to tell me that Eric and Kathy are expecting babies 8 and 9. That will be 40 grandchildren for my parents (thanks guys for taking the pressure of James and I to round out the 38). Now, I am almost irrationally excited about this. I've already bought baby presents. I cried in front of the store clerk while I was shopping for said present. I guess that while I was talking to Eric this morning on the phone (ok, I'm starting to cry again), I thought about how much fun I had as the tail end of my family. And Eric was a big part of that fun for me (even though I hate to admit how much I adore him). And then thinking, TWO babies, wow. Life is full of surprises and more love is never a bad thing. Eric's oldest, Ben, is a freshman in at BC and the youngest, Celia, is our goddaughter, and she's 7. Chris was a freshman at Notre Dame when I was born (dating his future wife, none the less). And Eric was 11. I can just feel how much we're all going to love these babies. We're going to pray for healthy, lively, little munchkins to arrive as a Valentine to big family love. We're going to need fingers AND toes to count all their family now. OK - kids are waking up. More stories later.