spc: resolution #3

this resolution has many parts to it. the gist: have fun. i have discovered that i need to go far beyond my comfort zone to be social, to be active. todd and i love to be home, love to hang out together, to nap, to eat, to relax, to watch movies, to be mellow. in short, we are homebodies.
my resolution is this: have more fun. get our more. be brave. take risks. do something different. try something new each month to get out there and get active.
my first step was to invite people to our house. now on the list: bowling, church, local museums, travel to baltimore and d.c. (preferably with friends), meet someone new, find all the local thrift shops, find a book group or sewing group, take another class at the community college... any ideas?


for more resolutions and others' portraits, click here.

up past my bedtime

we had a great time last night entertaining here at our apartment. after a delay in beginning the festivities, we broke out the martinis and many, many yummy appetizers. cheddar, crackers, veggies, dip, and yummy goat cheese creations covered with craisins and roasted garlic. makes my mouth water.
a couple drinks in, we sat down for our harvest pork stew, full of squash, potatoes, apples, and carrots.
then came the games. we played a few until we were all happily tired, and happily tipsy.
it was a fun chance to be social, cook yummy foods to share, and enjoy the warmth of candles and friendship.

grateful to the core

this week there are many things, big and small, to smile about, to cherish, to give thanks for.

1. the sunrise. that i am lucky enough to wake up each morning and watch the sun rise as i drive to work.
2. patience. i have taken the extra breaths that i needed this week. i have not yelled. i have calmly, repeatedly asked "can you please show me how we..." and over and over recited "oh, i just love the way that you..." these phrases come out in my sleep.

3. re-connections. the internet is an amazing tool and how fun it has been to find and reconnect with old friends from high school. i have wondered what they were up to in this big, wide world. we even found todd's freshman prom date. MMmmmMMMmmm...

4. fridays, professional development, long lunches, three day week-ends.

5. never having struggled when i learned to read. we heard from a man today who learned to read at age 47. he moved us to tears. he read a poem to us. we gave him a standing ovation. it was a powerful moment to witness as a teacher.

6. cats. we have two new barn cats living downstairs. they are skittish and i have just begun to coax them from their crates, but meet Minnie (i call her minnie mae) and Callie (i call her callie co).

7. todd's trains. todd bought himself a train set this week. read more here. its fun to watch and dream up plans for little villages and lots of tracks.

8. bravery. i am proud of myself this week. i went outside my comfort zone and invited two new couples over for dinner this week-end. out of my shell, i faced that fear of rejection that rears its ugly head now and again.

9. commitment. so far, so good. lots of sharon mann, lots of gilad, lots of exercise, lots of repetitions, lots of burning.

10. my biggest fan. mollie chose to sit with me for the entirety of my work-out today. watching, licking my sweat, moving just a bit when she got in my way. she is my biggest fan.

Resolution #2: SPC: Be fit

Over and over, I resolve to be healthier. Eating, I do pretty well. Working out? Well, that is a lot more on and off... A lot more bursts and chunks and motivated spats... Now, I am resolving to string those together to find an overall routine that I can do consistently. Consistency is the key.
So far I am becoming close with Gilad for his body sculpting and Sharon Mann for her aerobics. Now, if you know my level of coordination, you know that watching me do aerobics is a laughable sight- and I do laugh. I even make Todd laugh. But I feel good. I feel good. I feel tighter. I have more energy. After one week, I feel healthy. I feel fit.

willy's new decoration

i gave willy his big boy quilt over christmas and it was really fun to give him a quilt as a gift (as he is now old enough to appreciate it). its his "spiderman blanket", although there's lots of other goodies on it, too- guitars, bugs, cows, balls, fish, children. for now, we could only cuddle up on it for story. he still prefers his crib. but he did tell dad that the quilt was just for "decoration". perhaps someday soon it will be more. :-)

short pant weather

it was a balmy 70 degrees here today.
my kids were finding ladybugs at recess yesterday.
but ii gave me a chance to put on my new capris from sarah and my new crocs from todd.
it felt like spring... late spring.
amazingly beautiful until you realize that its january and that temperature is simply unnatural.

i did worry. i do worry.
we finally got around to watching an inconvenient truth last night and it was frightening.
too much truth, too much reality, too much frustration.


mollie had a swim with her good friend, midnight.
todd directs traffic to make sure that they each collect their agreed upon stick, and they love it.
we also visited the humane society today and met a cat.
more to come on that later... for now, no new fur at the cranwell's.

grateful friday

I am grateful for many things this week. I feel uplifted and rested and thankful to have so much in my life.

• I am grateful for these beautiful toes and babies, for their love and all that they have taught me.
  
• I am grateful that it is Friday.
• I am grateful for the rest I was able to accumulate over my break that enabled me to return to school feeling rejuvenated and calm... even if its effects didn't last for the whole week.
• I am grateful for parents who realize that consequences are not only appropriate, but necessary. (A boy who frequently gives my trouble conveniently "forgot" to bring home the note that I write to his parents today. His mom came in after school and got the note and told me that he was going to miss his "pajama party" tonight. Ah, sweet justice.)
• I am grateful for all of the fish that arrived to fill our class science projects' aquariums, all arrived alive... well, almost... in the mail after a two day delay in shipping.
• I am grateful for my patience, and for deep breaths.
• I am grateful for a super kind and loving husband. He surprised me this week with a beautiful and thoughtful gift for our half-anniversary, since we weren't able to properly celebrate our real one during our move this summer.
  
• I am grateful for my health, big and small.
• I am grateful for the energy to work out to Gilad and feel my muscles burn.
  
• I am grateful for the week-end ahead.
• I am grateful for the motivation to craft and create.
• I am grateful for my warm, cuddly afghan as I settle into a good book.
• I am grateful for almonds and walnuts and clementines, some of my all-time favorite healthy snacks.
• I am grateful that coffee has no calories now that I have learned to drink it black.
• I am grateful to NPR for keeping me company to and from work each day faithfully.
  
• I am grateful friends and family surrounding us with love and well-wishes always, but especially through the holidays.
• I am grateful for this end. The end.
  

spc: resolution #1

Well, I use this time of year as a chance to reflect... and yes, I set many goals for myself. I hate to call them resolutions, but I try to keep up with them and hope that they last.
This year, among others, I am hoping to be more faithful to my body, particularly with what I put into it. I hope to eat fresher, eat more vegetables, eat new foods, cook new recipes, explore the grocery store, find inspiration in what I find, make, eat.

bath time

this is one of the kids' favorites times of day- and everyone is happy and getting along (usually) when their in the warm sudsy water of a bath. i happen to also think it is the cutest time of day- all those naked babies! i miss these little ones already and can't wait for our next visit. its hard being so far away!

happy new year

this photo is one my favorites from the trip, and as i slowly figure out how to use my photoshop, this was my first fun edit. i wish for you all, happiness, love, and peace in the new year.