Cookie Memories

I'm thinking a lot about my mom. She passed away this month three years ago and sometimes I am stopped in my tracks, stunned at the thought of the fact that she is gone.

Today I was making cookies for Chris--I gave the beaters to James, and was telling him how his Grandma always gave the beaters to me and Amy. Then I got really sad. Those pockets of happy and sad just come out--and they are unavoidable and they hurt. But at the same time, I know they are good for me. We grieve, but we remember. Sometimes we smile, sometimes we are sad, but in the end we are remembering a life, a person that we loved, who helped to make us who we are.

Anyhow, the cookies were good.

XOXO

Something Missing

Well Hello, Blogland friends!


Can you tell I have been busy? Its only been six+ months since I've posted. Remember that job offer I accepted back in February? Well--let's say that I didn't really have a full understanding of how much time would be left at the end of the day for me when I took it.

Its a classic story, right? Getting back into the full-time world of work after five years of working from home and consulting. All of a sudden in this new world my time is not my own. It has taken some getting used to, and some strong organizational skills to navigate.

I haven't been wholly absent from the social media sphere, however. My Twitter account, though mostly geared toward my work at Ovation has been growing steadily. I am also a regular poster on our blog, OvationNation. And even though I am enjoying the job immensely, part of me is missing. I've been mulling it over for a few days.

I have a family blog, Under A Shady Tree. I have this blog, which combines my love of antiques, crafting, baking. But really, what it all is is storytelling. I am a storyteller through and through. But where do I blog when I have a few precious moments? Under A Shady Tree? Here? I feel pulled in two different directions. What I am considering is closing Under A Shady Tree and posting family content on Vintage Pollyanna. Those of you who read VP get the occasional family tidbit anyhow. And why not? Its part of the fabric of who I am.

And--I'm a marketer, through and through, and I gotta say, the ring that Vintage Pollyanna has as a blog name is so true. It resonates with me, and clearly with the thousands of readers who stop in here to lurk, or to read, or to say hello.

I've missed you guys. I think I am coming home. Stay tuned.

Ella Starts Pre-School

Get a load of the smile on this kid's face. Think she's excited?
WHAT HAPPENED TO MY BABY!?

Happy 3rd Birthday, Ella!

Our Ella, now three years old--it is just unbelievable!
You have such an amazing personality--
either 100% princess of 100% imp!
Your giggle, your smile, the way you bat your eyelashes at your daddy,
the hugs you give your brother--always his little shadow and into everything he is.
You tell everyone what to do--I think sometimes you are a little drill sergeant--
and yet each night before bed when I am rocking you to sleep
you are the sweetest thing in all the world.
You have our hearts, always,
and we wish you every happiness for every birthday to come.

Love you baby girl--
xoxo
Mommy, Daddy and James

Happy 5th Birthday James!

I love you, my dear boy, and am just amazed that you are five.
Five years of great big smiles;
big, warm, hugs;
hundreds of bedtime stories, silly knock knock jokes and impromptu songs;
hours and hours of Mario on the Wii, the Nintendo and the DS;
a million jars of peanut butter;
a bizillion donuts worth of "I Love You's."

You are a sweet, kind and caring young boy
that is pretty good (most of the time) to your sister;
you do a great job being the "man of the house" when Daddy is on the road;
you never, EVER forget to clear your plate;
you are the best little reader I know
and you stole my heart from the very MOMENT I laid eyes on you.

Happy 5th Birthday, my Love.

XOXO Mommy

No Seriously, I'm Back

Maybe.

That is, if this new life of full-time work, drive the kids back and forth to school, squeeze in laundry and grocery shopping, and oh maybe kiss my hubby once in a while doesn't grind the life outta me.

Well that was cheerful! Aren't you glad you checked in?

Naw, its not that bad. Really its not. The newness has worn off of it though, and while I do still love my job I guess I would say that the bloom is officially off the rose. My company is filled with amazing people doing amazing things but all of that amazingness is REALLY.HARD.WORK.

And it should be, of course. I am working my ASS off. Am I using caps too much, do you think?

Anyhow, now that I have belabored how hard the work thing is, let's talk about home. The kids are doing well. Other than the fact that Ella hurt her arm this weekend and I had to take her to the Doc first thing this morning and he looked at me and said "Do you swing her around by one arm a lot?" At which point I beat him over the head with my bag, grabbed Ella and went screaming from the room. Well, that is what rolled through my head, but instead I calmly answered "No, I do not." Turns out she basically just about dislocated her elbow at some point over the weekend when she fell off of her trike three times and bounced like a madwoman in the bouncy house all weekend long. The actual condition is called "Nursemaid's Elbow." And she is fine. Thank goodness.

James is also doing great--well, except for that he had a fever for three days last week and I tried sending him to school all doped up with Motrin for one of them because I had a REALLY IMPORTANT MEETING which is I am sure exactly how he got sick in the first place, from some other mother saying "Oh honey, here, you're fine, suck down this Motrin and I'll pick you up at 1 when your fever magically appears. " I know. I STINK. Anyhoo. He's fine now, and had a great weekend.

BTW, did you know we have a pool this year? I have never had one and I am so totally and unabashedly psyched about it! Plus, I get to watch Chris be the pool boy and pretend I am sipping a Mojito and my address is Wisteria Lane. He opened it this weekend and it should be all ready to go this Saturday which is his birthday!

Alright, I better stop now, or else you will call the police and ask who took over my body because the Allison you know does NOT write like this on her blog. Let me clue you in--I do, sometimes. It feels darn good, too.

Maybe I'll do it again sometime.

PS Ella fell asleep in my arms tonight while I rocked her and sang her favorite good night song. If I am lucky enough to hold on to those moments in my mind forever I will be happy. I want to be 90 years old, surrounded by my family and remembering the moments when I rocked Ella to sleep and hugged James goodnight and he says "You are the best Mom, Mom, EVER." Truly amazing. My heart is full.

Goodnight.

XOXO

Allison

Oh Where Has Allison Gone?

Hmm, to work, to work, to work!

I had hoped it wouldn't be quite so long between postings, but I guess something had to give! I felt terrible when I had to put Vintage Pollyanna aside, and now look at me, I am not blogging on Shady Tree, where I've been documenting my life for the LAST FOUR YEARS!

I have read other blogs and seen how sometimes the authors come and go, ebb and flow, but I was always pretty consistent. NOT ANYMORE!

I was in Tulsa last week visiting my grandparents with my husband, my kids and my younger sister. Amy was talking about how she missed the blog and I felt a little pang. ME TOO!

Well, folks, here's to trying. Maybe if I can get here a few times a week I can get back in the swing of things. So I promise to put up some recent pics of the kids later in the week. Want to see if I keep my word? Check back! And Amy, thanks for being a great sister and for giving me that little nudge that I needed. Love you!

And BTW, I had a lovely Mother's Day yesterday, and I hope all of you Moms out in Blogland did too. Mom, you know I miss you and I think of you often. A little lately I think of you in a happier way and less in a sad way. You will always be with me. xoxo

My Little Star Twinkles

My little girl singing "Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star."



She makes my heart melt!

A Grab Bag Assortment of Photos and Thoughts

Hello? Is anyone out there still reading? I haven't posted for ten days, so if I have lost all of my Bloggy friends I won't be too surprised!

I have been back to work for two weeks now and I have to say, it is thrilling and disconcerting all at the same time. Dropping my little ones at school at 7 in the morning is tough--but when they literally RUN into school and start laughing and playing I have to feel pretty good.

We had some bumps in the road last week--not the least of which was the call I received around 12:30 on Friday letting me know that James had a temp of almost 102. I raced out of work to get him and got to see nap time in full swing for the first time. The kids were all on cozy costs with their special blankies and lovies and favorite stuffed toys from home, backs being rubbed by the teachers--it was a sweet scene. My heart broke a little when I saw my boy, passed out from his fever--but I collected him and then Ella and brought him home and made him comfortable. In times like those it is good to know that you have loving professionals who can take great care of your children!

So work is great for me--I am turning my space at work into the "Un-corporate office" and am filling it up with vintage everything! Books, artwork, even a great repro birdcage that Dad brought down last weekend. I will post pics when I have it completed!

On to the photos of the kids . . . ENJOY! (And hopefully it won't be ten days until I post a again!) xoxo Allison

The Man of the House (this Week)

My boy has been Man of the House all week while his Dad is in Maine for work.

He has taken his job very seriously, watching over Ella and I with great care. What a love!

After I posted this, I saw how the little pic of me in my sidebar is looking at this pic of James. Sweet! The look on my face is the way I feel about him--like I could just eat him up with a spoon!