Hoooowww hoooowww...

After blowing away the cob webs, it's apparent that my old blog IS still here. Or is it? What the heck is this new format all about? Where did my people go!?

Well. I'm back.

It's been a little over five years since I last published an entry here. I quit blogging for several reasons, but today I find that this is the place to be. As much as I partake in the social interaction of facebook (I won't be a twitter-er), I find that some occasions call for a different atmosphere. And I miss this one.

Life has changed dramatically since moving to the Dirty South. We've added a little girl to our family (she'll be 4 next month), bought our first home (a log cabin), become avid sports parents (I coach soccer), and done things we only dreamed of doing as Midwest dwellers: From racing cars and hitting up Moonshine festivals (well, not at the same time) to making regular meccas to the Atlantic coast and Appalachia. We've met amazing people and had breathtaking moments. Everyday is an adventure. We are truly loving life. 

All my dreaming of going to law school has all but dissolved into just a memory. It's not something I've given up on entirely, but between the downturn of the economy in 2008 and my infatuation with motherhood, I don't find that it would be nearly as fulfilling as it would be a hindrance to our happiness. Sometimes you have to ask yourself if the passion is worth the pain...or are there passions with less pain involved just waiting to be explored? Fortunately I found this out AFTER I got the dreaded wait-list letter from Elon University School of Law in early spring 2008. When I made the decision to opt out all together, it really was good timing. I sure felt like a failure for giving up at the time, but looking back, I couldn't imagine trying to balance being a new attorney with a $90k + financial aid bill all while trying to raise--and enjoy--two young children. (Why bother doing that to one's self?)

And when I speak of passion, I find that I have (at least) two that keep me sassy-fied these days: The kids, and writing. I don't do nearly enough of the latter; that's partially why I'm here. Regardless of what I write about, I'm just hoping to get back to putting thoughts into an organized string of grammatically correct sentence structures that make sense...

As for the kids...Where do I begin? Clayton is now in school; not just "in" it, but already a big 3rd grader. He's my ultra-sensitive, big-boy-little-man: "A" student, All-Star soccer goalie, Boy Scout, and lover of anything pertaining to deer, moose, or elk.

I find that much of my time revolves around school-related activities, whether I want it to or not. Packing snacks, signing agendas, initiating project ideas...Sometimes I tell myself that the excess involvement is a load of hooie because I served my time as a student already; my mother didn't have to sign a daily anything, and snacks were not an option when I was a kid...And projects? Shoot, I was lucky to have materials, let alone parental input. But nonetheless, I wouldn't have it any other way...I truly enjoy doing the motherly things because I know I won't have the chance to do them forever.

Clarissa is an entirely different child. ENTIRELY different, I must emphasize. Obsessed with singing, dancing, and anything pertinent to make-up, our daughter is a real entertainer. (She is currently perched on the side of my chair, talking on her phone and trying to put a necklace around my neck.) I don't know where she gets it, but the girl is one pint-sized powerhouse of go-go-go energy, spunk, and attitude. 

To illustrate their differences, the sleeping habits of my children say a lot about their personalities: Clayton needs the light off and door shut; Clarissa screams if the light is even touched or if the door is not wide open. Clayton often wakes up in the same position as when he closes his eyes; Clarissa has to be scooped up out of her doorway and placed into her bed at least once a night. We tell Clayton to lie down, and he's out within 10 minutes every time; Clarissa will "party" in her room until 3 a.m. Incredibly different personalities, but I am so proud of them both.