Tidbits of Talk {Volume 14}

Friday has gotten here quicker than I would have like it to but it is here and I am ready for the weekend. I am ready to have very little planned, for the rain to pound on our windows, so we can snuggle under blankets watching Lightning McQueen not worrying if we have to get somewhere.

~ We have five showings this weekend. We have hit 30+ showings. I am tired of trying to keep our house clean. I am tired of trying to keep Brady from being a 2.5 year old and not letting him get toys out. I am tired of having my kids in the car and making the lap around the block while some stranger looks at my house and decides it is not for them. In some ways I feel dirty… all these strangers in my house looking at my pictures, examining my decorating or lack thereof and deciding that our home is not good enough for them.

~My SIL, Laura, found out she is having a baby girl. She is due right around Cate’s 1^st birthday. I am already excited for Cate to have a cousin close to her in age and the same gender. I just know that they will have a special relationship.

~ I feel out of balance right now. I feel like there are so many things I would like to be doing and yet I can’t manage to get anything done or focus on one thing. My mind races 1,000,000 miles a minute. I am counting down until summer and I am committed to making a plan for each week that includes things to do with my kids, me things and family things that I just need to deal with.

~Speaking of time, I am obsessed with the Shades of Gray Trilogy. Have you read it? Oh my god. Sometimes, I hide my ipad if I am reading public places because the content is so inappropriate. The sex scenes are crazy but the plot is thick and I am hooked.

~So right now everything is all mommy all the time. And, yes I am grateful that I am the chosen one for bedtime, baths and teeth right now because for a long time I was not. However, I am spent and frustrated. My husband is willing and capable of helping but Brady just won’t let him do. So after doing it all with Cate, I get to do it with Brady and then there is no time left for me. And no time for Glenn and I because bottles still need to be made, bags packed and I usually have emails to reply to and papers to grade. Most people reading would say that Glenn should take over with Cate. Easier said than done because that is the only time I get with her and I need it.

~ Have you seen these two You Tube videos. If this is where we are headed, I am excited and scared for what the future holds.

Project Glass

A Day Made of Glass

Happy Weekend Friends!

Easter- Eggs, Family and Food

Easter Weekend was well- full of bunnies and flowers and eggs. Just like it is supposed to be when you dream about a perfect weekend. We were so lucky that it included both sides of our family, two gorgeous spring days complete with birds chirping and the sun shining and food, good family food that defines our two sides. I even laid on a blanket in my in-laws yard for twenty minutes in silence. Bliss I tell you.

I wish I could tell you that Cate was dressed in a pretty Easter dress and that Brady was in some attire that was Sunday church appropriate but that didn’t happen. We didn’t even make it to church. I vow next year we will but this year, well it just wasn’t in the cards.

Growing up I remember going to my Great Aunt Pat and Uncle Bob’s house every Easter to have an Easter egg hunt even after we knew the Easter bunny did not exist. They had this yard that was perfect. It was big and flat and full of places to hide eggs. The big winner was the person who found the egg with the $20 bill. I knew I had to recreate this for Brady even if it was just him.

The Easter Bunny came, a day early, to our house and the eggs were everywhere in our yard. There was no money. Just M’s (M&M’s in his terms) and jelly beans. He used his basket and found them. And then when he opened each egg and realized what was inside, his face lit up.

Even when he opened the egg and the treats did not make it in to his basket.

We convinced him that the pink ones were for her. And there were even treats she could eat in the form of cheerios inside.

There was a lot of sugar and then the letdown. This is how we found him on Sunday morning before we left for the suburbs.

Happy Tuesday friends!

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 13}

Happy Friday! Gosh, this little meme of mine has gone by the wayside the past few weeks (4 to be exact}because life has just gotten in the way. But, it’s back and I am ready to chat if anyone is reading.

~ This week has been good. It’s simple. Our household, in my opinion, is just in a good place. Maybe it’s because I have seen my parents last weekend and will see them tomorrow. Or maybe it’s because I made it to the gym three of the past six days. Or maybe it’s because my husband and I are just in a rhythm when it comes to our daily lives. Regardless, this week was good.

~ For the first spring since I started teaching, I have not been on a softball diamond this spring. I miss it. I really miss it. I miss getting dirty. I miss watching that kid who works so hard crank a ball over the fence. I miss talking to the other coaches about who should play where. But, my family is my priority. And right now and my littles need their mama at night and I need them. I can’t imagine not seeing them before they go to bed. I am hoping next spring to come back part-time just to fill my need to coach but still be home with my kids.

~ Instagram came to the Android. This is huge. Huge news people. I have watched in envy as iphone users have filled my twitter stream and facebook news feed with pictures and now I am in the club. My user name is kristifischer. Find me. I have not had a chance to play with it but I am hoping this weekend I will have my chance.

~ I find myself wanting to create an anonymous blog where NOTHING is sacred and can’t be written about. I am struggling in this space to find the voice I want to be while making sure I don’t cross lines, upset others and stay true to who I am and what I believe in.

Happy Easter! The Easter Bunny will be visiting our house and I can’t wait.

Cate- 7 Months

Seven months ago you came in to this world and today, I can't and don't want to imagine life without you in it. Cate, someday you are going to look back at this blog and I worry what you will think. I worry that you will walk away thinking I complained about you. This week, your Mimi told me I deserve you and all your drama. She said you are me. She said that you scream me. So, instead of telling you about how you fuss when you aren't held or still don't consistently sleep through the night, I am going to embrace you and tell you some things that define your seventh month.

You get so happy, so excited that you actually start panting when we pick you up or do something to make you smile.

Your cheeks are delicious and full. You have finally started eating consistently, embracing solids and enjoying being full. You are getting those chubby cheeks that I find myself kissing each night before I lay you down to go to sleep. And I yearning for the day those chubby little legs poke out of a pink romper.

You love your feet. True all babies love their feet to some capacity, but this is different. You get mad when they are in a footed sleeper. You will eat them for hours. You will eat them on your changing table, when you are sitting up at your activity mat, or when you are in the bath. Sometimes your feet and your hands are in your mouth at the same time.
You love your stinking feet.

Your brother can make you belly laugh. We can get you to giggle, but he can make you laugh this deep, raw laugh that makes me catch your dad's eye to say, "this is what life is about". This past week at mimi and paw paw's house he insisted on getting in the bath with you. You never stopped looking at him... only of course when I was trying to take your picture.

You blow raspberries all day long. You make different noises when you do it and you are pretty cute when you do it. The drool is ridiculous but I guess that is what happens when you get three teeth in 6 weeks. The teeth thing seems to bother you. Your nose runs, your cheeks get red, and you keep trying to cope with the pain. (Notice your feet on their way to your mouth.)

You are busy. Busy and curious about life. You want to touch everything and taking your picture is getting harder and harder. You tried to eat the sticker and were reaching for the letters in your name on the wall. We can't leave you in the bath because you are nosy. So nosy, we found you half way out the tub the other night.

But, I love you. For who you are because you are mine. Don't grow up to fast okay?

St. Patrick's Day

Elmhurst, IL has to be home to the world’s longest St. Patrick’s Day parade. I swear every resident was either AT or IN the parade. But, if you eliminated every elected official from the parade, there was very little left. Well, except for what seemed like 1,000 Irish dancers, 1,000 bagpipes and of course the Armpit Orchestra. Proof.

But for this kid, it didn’t matter. The fire trucks, the school buses, the sirens, music and candy were enough. More than enough. He sat on that curb and never moved for an hour and a half.

And as the parade marched on he got more daring. He started smiling, didn’t cling to us and even learned the art of snatching candy.

And her, well she was just glad someone was holding her and she was a part of the action.

For a minute Saturday, I was back on Main Street in Bloomington, IL watching the Veteran’s Day parade with my dad and brother. My bag ready to go in eager anticipation of the candy that was thrown, bundled up in warm clothes and with a belly full of pancakes and grateful for a day off school.

And I have come full circle. We battled TRAFFIC that almost forced us to turn around but in the end it was worth it. Totally, completely worth it. I got to watch an almost two and half year experience his first parade. I listened as he told me over and over again, “They’re coming”

to the next car, truck, motorcycle or fire truck in the distance.

When I would stand he would tell me to “sit down and get ready"

I tried to get sentimental with my husband, who wouldn’t hear of it but I just kept thinking this moment is what life is all about. This moment with my kids, my husband, my family and friends, it is what defines life. Not the traffic jam or stress that occurs when your house is on the market. That moment when you realize his first parade is more than just an event. It is an experience and more importantly a memory that I am savoring, remembering and grateful for. He may not remember it but I will.

Until next year, Elmhurst...

Tidbits of Talk {Volume 9}

Happy Sunny Friday! I skipped last Friday because life just got in the way. Seriously, in a good way and a bad way. I will write more about it next week but let's just say this week has been good..

~I had dinner and drinks with two of best friends in the world and their husbands last Saturday night. Seriously, even though we had to leave to relieve our babysitter at 11, being with them for just a few short hours is good for my soul.

~My sister in law started a new job this week at Starbucks. No, she is not a barista. She is actually designing the interiors of my favorite coffee shop in the world. How awesome is that?

~I watched Brady play at birthday party last Sunday and realized how independent he is becoming. He took off running the minute we got to Jump Zone (aka Germ Zone). He made sure he kept me in eye sight but for the most part he spent a lot of time with his “friends”. Does this mean he is growing up?

~Are you on Draw Something? Holy cow is it addicting. Seriously addicting. My user name is KristiFischer

~March has been wild and it is not even half over. Birthday parties, a baby shower, a bridal shower, two weddings, a rehearsal dinner, and a St. Patrick’s Day party. Whew…it’s a lot. But you know what? We are a better family busy. And the other plus in all of this? We will see my parents 4 week in a row. #Winning

~ Have you had Lean Cuisine Steamer meals? They are so good. And healthy. And easy to make. That makes life a bit easier.

The weather is supposed to be amazing and I am looking forward to weekend filled with family, fun and sunshine! Happy Friday Friends.

Cate- Six Months

How can it be that she is six months?


It seems like yesterday she entered this world on that steamy September day and now we are celebrating her half birthday.

How can it be that her big, blue, button eyes twinkle when her daddy or I walk in the room?
I watch her as she is methodical with her eyes, darting and tracking us with our every move. I make eye contact with her, she gets so excited, burying her face in her daddy's shoulder and smiling to let me know she sees me.

How can it be that she already has a tooth on the bottom? The drool is everywhere all the evidence we need to tell us she is getting big.

How can it be that when I look at her I see her brother? There is no doubt they are siblings. While mighty different in mannerisms, they are connected. From the chubby cheeks to the long lashes, they clearly belong to us.


How can it be that it took me two kids to stop and enjoy the small things ?
How can it be that her baby feet and a reflection in the mirror remind me how simple life really is?
And can it be that when I look at her, I see me, my family, the one that Glenn and I created, and swell with love.