Chachacha changes!!!!

Holy time warp, Batman!  It has been forever since I have sat down to post anything new.  So for all three of you who read this, I've got so much to catch you up on.  Our lives here at the Dickinson household have changed quite a bit.  Well, not our lives, necessarily, just the logistics. Life is good.  Life is busy.  I thought I knew busy before, but I must say it's all perspective, I guess, because whew.  So here's what's new...

I'm working.  Well, that's not actually that new.  I thought about working as a new endeavor, but truth is that I have had my finger in some kind of working pie since Melaina was 18 months old.  The work I did never took me away from home longer than a couple of hours, but it was work nonetheless.  I had been an adjunct teacher for the past two years when all of a sudden the winds of opportunity blew open the doors and I have started teaching full time now.

My very first thought back in the spring when it looked like working was to become a reality this fall was "what about Clara?" I couldn't bear the thought of not being around her the great majority of the time.  She's so young, and so attached, and so on and so on and so on.  The truth of the matter is that kids are pretty great at adapting, it's us grown ups who tend to cling to the status quo.  So when school started, I cried pretty hard the first couple of mornings, while Clara got over the transition much quicker.  She loves her school and her teacher and her new little friends.  She is cracking us up non stop with her new words and phrases that are coming like rapid fire these days.

As for Melaina, she is a big time afternooner now and thinks she runs the place.  The "place" being  school, home, GG's, our living room, pretty much anywhere she goes.  She is such a vibrant and imaginative little girl and I cannot believe she will be 5 in just a couple weeks.  For anyone who doesn't know what an afternooner is, it is simply a primary student at Montessori who stays into the afternoon.  Yeah, it's kind of a big deal.

I love my work.  Seriously, when this crazy hectic life starts feeling all the more crazy and hectic, I just think that I am proud of what I do and lucky to have the chance to do it. And sure it has been a change for the whole family, but I want these two girls seeing their mom do what she is meant to do.  I was meant to be a mom and a teacher and a singer and a wife and yes that's a lot of things, but that's what's so great.

Oh, and did I mention that I work with my husband??  I mean, that I GET to work with my husband?  That's what I meant to say.  Tee Hee.  No seriously, it's pretty great.  We've done this in some shape or form for several years now with summer programs and such, so it's just more of the same in a way.  It's actually pretty cool.

OK, I think I've filled you in on all the new goings ons.  Now for the pictures.  I'll start with a few and then add lots more.  Oh, and Melaina stories will be coming soon, too.  She's had some doosies lately!  That girl is a trip.

Enjoy!

It's amazing how quickly it can all go south...

 Eating her cupcake at Clara's and bff Presley's 2 year old b-day party

"I pity the fool who says a word about my sleeping outfit I chose to pack for the beach"

My sweet little nugget tired after an afternoon exploring Barrier Island

Well, more to come soon, folks.... until then...David Bowie, anyone??

The (not so) Glamorous Life

When one thinks of the life of a classical singer on the day of her performance, one might conjure images of sleeping until noon while wearing a silk eye mask, eating only the most healthily prepared food prepared by someone else of course, doing an hour of yoga followed by a hot relaxing shower while warming up her voice for the first time that day at what is now 4pm. Well, one would be wrong. At least in the case of this classical singer/mommy/teacher/fill in the blank.

It all started on the eve of my recital a few weeks ago when Melaina called out from sleep with a very sore throat. Even when she's got the most terrible cold, she usually doesn't mention her throat at all so I was worried. So just to play it safe, the next morning I took her to the doctor and they diagnosed what I was most afraid of -strep throat. Luckily, it was something that she could easily get rid of by consuming that pink antibiotic of wonders. So thus began the day from H-E-double hockey sticks.

So I came home to care and nurse my poor baby while trying to keep my other healthy baby from sneaking sips of Melaina's drink or bites of food which in itself is a monumental task. Not to mention, all of the "not talking" I had planned for the day was out the window. All in all, though, the day from down-under-and-I-don't-mean-Austrailia went as well as I could have hoped for given the circumstances. Tom went in a little late to work and my mom came to keep Clara while we went to the doc. Not to mention our wonderful babysitter came several hours earlier than we had planned so that I could mentally prepare for the performance. (what also helped was an 8 minute guided meditation i bought on i-tunes. Awesome. I did it twice) This glass half full view of the days events only comes weeks after the actual day. On the actual day, I was freaking the *&$% out, to put it mildly.

Believe it or not, the purpose of this post isn't to recount the happenings of that blessed day. My point is just to state even further what life has really been teaching me this past year or so. I have control over pretty much, NOTHING. The moment I get in my head what a certain day should or WILL be like, it's like God is saying "Oh, child, have mercy! (I'm pretty sure God is an enormous black woman). When will you get it into your thick head that you don't spin the world on your little ol' finger. I guess I'll just have to show you once again who has the real power".

And then just like that, life happens and I freak out because something "awful" happens to destroy, I mean literally destroy what plans I have made. But seriously, when will I learn that every time this happens I have the opportunity to grow, to learn, to evolve. I have been given the chance through something as little and minor as the strep throat incident to change my way of thinking.

And when it comes to the performance, well, there's something to be learned as well. Art isn't about nice smooth edges and seamlessness. It is about communicating the real human condition which is not at all pristine or holy, but rather passionate, messy and at times tragic. I chose this life of wife and mother over that of staying in the trenches as a performer and leading that very uncertain life so that I could experience the days like this one. A day filled with caring for others in a home I love surrounded by all I could ever need. And the friends! Friends who came out to love and support me whether or not classical music is their thing. Friends that are always around, not just the sort that one meets during a 6 week engagement and then moves on to the next gig. And I have to say that I think I enjoyed performing way more after a day filled with being taught lessons and giving love and compassion to my sick daughter than I ever would have sleeping until noon and getting a massage...

Though, that would have been nice.

Meet Baby Kitty

Baby Kitty has been around since Melaina was 10 months old. We were out one day just shopping and passing the time when we passed by the children's toys in World Market. Melaina said "kitty" and pointed to this little black and white stuffed kitty lying on the shelf. So I picked it ups and handed it to her. It was love at first sight. She hugged that kitty nd gave the biggest smile. I will never forget it. So I knew I had to buy it for her and that was that.

A few days passed and it was evident that not only did she love this little kitty, it became an appendage. She had to have it wherever she went. So I did what any sensible parent would do, I went back to World Market and bought three more for back ups. I kep them hidden and would only take one out when the main kitty needed washing. Well that all ended when Melaina grew and became more curious and found the other three kitties. So then all four kitties were in play.

Eventually, Melaina began to be able to tell the difference between all of them and named then each. Baby Kitty was her main squeeze, then Mama Kitty, Daddy Kitty and Cousin Kitty. There is no way to pass one for the other, she knows. That child knows baby Kitty from Mama Kitty no matter what.

Now Baby kitty has outfits and Melaina sews little blankets for her at school. Baby Kitty is like another person in this house. Very often BK will sit at the table with us for dinner, goes on trips with us, has her own seat in the car and so on.

I know this may not be very interesting to anyone else, but I had to write a post about Baby Kitty at some point or I would be leaving out a vital part of our family's experience. I sure hope Baby Kitty can hold out a while longer seeing as there is no sign of Melaina's infatuation slowing.

Yes, here are more pictures of this inanimate object otherwise known as Baby Kitty.

I am going against my better judgement to bring you this picture. We all look haggard and homeless. I remember feeling that way when this shot was taken. I look like white trash, but look at sweet little BK.

BK riding in style with M

Melaina trying to make a cozy moment happen between sissy and BK

My favorite: Baby Kitty on the little bear downtown at the Children's garden

When did I get old??

It's so weird getting older. I mean I've never really been hung up on age. Although to be honest turning 35 did freak me out a bit. Actually it was the thought of the pending birthday. It was months ahead and it suddenly occurred to me that I was going to be, 33, no 34, no wait...

Holy #&@! 30-freaking-5.

But, then I adjusted my thinking and 35 was really quite awesome. Once I made the decision or came to the realization that a number doesn't dictate how I live my life, I felt pretty great about it. So here I was two months into 35 when, bam, it hit me. I mean there I was in Earth Fare with Clara jamming out to the music (it's kind of our thing because they always have great music) and I was singing right along to one of my favorite songs ever, "Too Much" by the Dave Matthews Band. Remember them? You know, that really cool band that released "Crash" just a few years ago. "Wait, how long ago was that", I thought to myself. you wanna know how long ago???? 1996, my friends.

Is it just me or does that seem like yesterday? I know every word of that song like I just learned it. But no, I was a freshman in college, for the love of all that is decent and holy. It's not that it bothers me that so much time has gone by, it's that it doesn't feel like so much time has gone by. It's been in a blink. 16 years -- poof -- gone. I have experienced so much in that amount of time, but it's just so crazy to think that the next 16 years may well seem to go by just as fast.

The good thing, though is that I know better now than I did then. I know myself a heck of a lot better but still have a long way to go. I know that time is precious and that life is a gift. that sounds so wise doesn't it??? Hmmm. I'll just wallow in my wisdom for a moment....

I also know that my body doesn't feel or look like it did 16 years ago. My skin betrays me and shows the lack of sleep and those pesky hangovers can't be easily remedied by some eggs and home fries like they used to.

Yes, getting older has it's drawbacks. But I seriously wouldn't go back there to 1996 for all the gold in Texas. I like who I have become, warts and all. Although I sure want to improve this body and this mind, they are mine. We've been though a lot together and I sure am grateful to have come this far and can't wait to see what's around the bend.

Please stand up and sing this to the top of your lungs. You know you want to!

Time flies when...

You know the rest. Let's face it though, time flies whether you are having fun or not. But these days I have to consciously tell myself to stop, take it all in, the good and the not as good, or else it will all be gone before I know it. Life is really good, no doubt about it. I love what I'm doing, teaching is wonderful. The girl's are healthy except for the nagging colds that they keep trading back and forth. I'm healthy, my husband's healthy. So really, all good stuff, but man am I pooped!!

Here's the latest:

Clara is getting to that really fun age where her personality is really taking root and cracking us up. There is such a strong little person in there. She is DIFFICULT, don't get me wrong. There are some days where I swear she clings to me all day and is in a constant state of trying to re-enter the womb, but she's a cuddle muffin and we love her dearly.

Here's a slice of life photo: Laundry Day at the Dickinsons'

Melaina is a hoot. Really there is no other way to say it. She says the most hilarious things and has no idea she is being funny. On the other hand, these days she is trying to learn how to tell jokes. These jokes of hers are just terrible and not funny at all, and instead of doing what we are probably supposed to do like saying "Oh, Melaina, that is so funny" we say, "Melaina, you have got to learn a good joke". Oh, well at least we're honest, right?

"Hey, let's get a picture of the eleph... Oh, hi, Melaina"

She is one tough cookie and takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Below is the biggest fat lip I have ever seen. I had to keep looking away from it because it made me queasy. At least she was wearing her Super Girl costume. Could've been much worse without it...

They are the best of buds. I can't get over how much Melaina loves to play with Clara as a real playmate. She has such a tender way about her and it is so sweet to watch. She loves to dress Clara up in beads, dresses, tutus, crowns, the works. Clara just lets her do it. Clara idolizes Melaina to put it mildly.

Best Friends

This was a picture from Grandpa's visit earlier this month. He, Tom and Melaina went to the Children's Museum and had a ball. Melaina loved the dinosaur exhibit.

Tom and I really don't have much time to ourselves apart nor together, so we were so excited to have the chance to get away earlier this month to Charleston. Tom had a bit of work to do during the day on Saturday but that wasn't a bad thing because for the first time in a long time, I just sat, drank coffee, got dressed without a 19 month old between my ankles, and wandered aimlessly around a town that wasn't mine. It was HEAVEN!! Great food, great shopping, great sleep. Now don't get me wrong, being that this was the first time I had EVER left Clara since she was born and only the second time I had left Melaina since she was Clara's age, I was a complete and total nervous wreck on the way down to Chuck Town- as the kids these days call it. Tom was stressed as he drove because my anxiety was extremely high and i can't see well in the dark and I assumed he was about to run us off the road since I couldn't see. It was hell. But then we arrived, took a walk with all the crazy college kids polluting the streets and yelling obscenities and got a couple drinks. That turned out to be awesome.

Photo of what I thought were sweet peas, but I think they are a different flower. Pretty, though. We found them tucked away in a neat little garden that was down one of those cute little alleys of King Street.

This is a video of me trying to rehearse with Melaina what to say if anyone at school commented on her lip. Just in case you can't hear...

Me: Wow, look at that lip

Melaina: You should see the other guy!

"Did My Heart Love 'Til Now?"

Pretty title, huh? I didn't write that, Shakespear did. He sure did write some catchy lines. Yes, I know I sound like a hick. I'm trying to be funny.

There are these beautiful sculptures where Tom and I work and one day whilst performing our juggling act of me driving the girls there just in time for Tom to get out of class and I to run to mine to teach it, Tom snagged these pictures.

The subjects are Romeo and Juliet in the balcony scene and let's just say, Melaina is smitten. Many of our friends tell us that they think Melaina will be in the theatre one day. I don't doubt it, but as a director, I'm sure. She's got a knack for telling people EXACTLY what to do, how to do it, when to do do it, and with what inflection. No kidding.

Clara was without a bow, as always.

Ah, Juliet.

From a different perspective

"I need more effort from you Romeo! What is your objective in this scene?"

"It is the east and Juliet is the sun"

"My sister is nuts"

And well, I have no words for this one...

Life is a blur! No. Really, an actual BLUR...

So you know the old cliche that we all use when we are asked by an acquaintance, "so, how's life been?" Rather than getting in to a long detailed rant on how your life seems to be spinning out of countrol, but you love it, but seriously, you need help, but these are the best times and so on, you just say, "oh, it's a blur". Well, at least that is what I say.

But as you can see from these photos, life at the Dickinson household is really, actually, literally, a BLUR. No one stands still for long enough to catch a decent photo and I never really like photos of myself except on rare occasion, so we are always trying to get photos of the girls and not so much the family thing. It never fails that posed photos of the 4 of us don't exactly turn out so well. A christmas card? Didn't happen. It's not that a photo didn't happen. My friend Laura took lots of great photos, but not one photo looked fit for human consumption. Why?

It's not that one person's hair isn't just so or that we're not all looking at the same spot, no, I would gladly take those mishaps. It's that as a whole, my beautiful family, we all look like it's the annual Olin Mills family day at the loony bin. I bet Annie Liebovitz herself would get huffy, walk out on a photo shoot of our family screaming "I can't work like this! Keep them still!"

I digress. Here are some recent photos of the blur...

Clara swinging...

Melaina swinging...

Clara at Melaina's birthday party living it up. Side note: that red ballon which Clara fell in love with and brought home from the party was still around our house until about a week ago. The party was in October. Weird balloon.

Melaina so excited on her birthday carriage ride... There were some decent pictures of this outing posted on an earlier post. There were many, however, that were not posted that looked like this. But here's the thing: ask anyone, my husband is a great photographer, so this is not to diminish his talent in any way shape or form. End of disclaimer.

wow.

Yes, that does look like millions and millions of dust particles to the left in the sunlight.

What's your point? Dust doesn't have time to settle around here, it just floats as if in an abyss, waiting for the next tumbling object to propel it to its new destination. Fun way to say that I hate to dust.

Now, this could have been a really cute picture if my children weren't being hooligans.

I really do love this blurry life.

Milk Dance

To catch you up, all 3 of you, I will have to write a series of posts since it has been so long. Why not begin with something a bit light-hearted? Life has been really full lately. Lots of work, being busy with kids, mom having pneumonia, then knee surgery. And then a tragic loss of a dear friend and mentor. More on all of that later, this is to be light-hearted after all. So to kick it all off, something fun and humorous.

I don't know what it is about my kids and dancing in the grocery store. But come to think of it, I'm the one who sort of starts dancing and they take it from there. Just a bob of the head keeping rhythm at first, then singing along to whatever song is playing over the store's system, and then it inspires an all out dance off with my kiddos. And actually when I look back on my life, I can recall MANY dance breaks in the grocery store, Home Depot, K-mart, you name it. Hmmm, doesn't everyone do that? So anyway, here is a look at Clara breaking it down in Trader Joe's a while back... Enjoy!

More Fall Stuff...

I really do love the Fall so stinkin' much. The crisp air, the brightly colored leaves, the seasonal beers, long sleeves, pretending (or not) to care about football, pumpkins, all baked goods, Fall for Greenville, the list goes on and on. So here are several pictures that sum up our October and early November...

The view at Fall for Greenville. We had so much fun. We rarely get out these days, so we lived it up and ate and drank our way down main street with some good friends.

A rare photo of me. The backdrop is that beautiful, funky old tree in Falls Park.

Melaina about to enjoy her first carriage ride kicking off her Birthday Weekend Celebration!!!

I love this picture of Melaina posing for a split second. She loved watching the horse and talking to the coachman.

A blurry pic of the whole fam, Grandma, Papa, Clara, mommy, Daddy and Melaina!

Clara meditating amidst the pumpkins at Sky Top Apple Orchard.

Melaina dubiously admitting one photo of her and her pumpkin that she picked out. To be not-so-shy, the girl doesn't love having her photo taken...

...except after helping Daddy carve the Jack-O-Lantern. (this goes out to my friend Ashley: What is that spherical object along the left side? Spooky)

HAPPY FALL, Y'ALL!!!!!

Halloween Fun

I wish Halloween came more than once a year. It is my all time favorite holiday. I have such great memories of Halloween as a child. The first Halloween I remember was when I was 5 or 6 I guess. I dressed up as Annie and went to my uncle Max's house. I guess he was having some kind of party or something since my mom got dressed up, too. I don't remember what she was supposed to be, just that she was super creepy in a teased out blond wig and scary makeup. Then for the next 5-6 years I was a witch. Not because I wanted to be a witch for Halloween, well maybe the first year, but because mom had bought a giant piece of black fabric to create this costume that would stand the test of time and Lord knows she had to get her money's worth. We were broke as a joke in those days so there was no use in protesting it. I would try to petition my case to be a fairy or a princess, but mom would just say in her most ghostly voice "Halloween is not for being pretty. It is meant to be a SCARY and SPOOKY night and what is more SCARY and SPOOKY than a witch?" Then I seem to remember a loud cackle. Humph. It was no use.

So what else is being a parent for than to make up your own rules!!! So, no witches this year for my girls, but Super Girl and a Ladybug instead. I actually do agree with my mom about the scary and spooky part, but maybe when they're a bit older. Hey, wonder if she's still got that costume somewhere. Watch out Melaina and Clara!!!! (Cackle...)

Enjoy some pics from our fun night trick or treating in the neighborhood. It all started with a visit to our friends' house, then a parade led by a fire truck, pizza at the club house, and then the trick or treating!!!

I love this costume so much. Tom picked it out for Melaina in San Francisco before she was even born and now my little Clara is sporting it.

BFFs, Super Girl and Princess

"So, you got stuck whirring your sister's old costume, too?"

"Yeah, I wanted to be one of the Angry Birds, but I can't talk yet so here I am"

The neighborhood gang...

Holy Autumn, Batman!!!

Ok, so, for the three of you that read this blog, I apologize for the really long hiatus. I know everyone's life is extremely busy especially if you have kids, but let's face it, some handle it better than others. And I, well, I guess I am just not a very good juggler. I feel completely crazy all day pretty much every single day.

Don't get me wrong, just because it's crazy doesn't mean it's not good. LIFE IS GOOD!!! I am loving teaching part time and I can't think of anything I would rather be doing while not at home with the girls. It is truly a blessing to have this opportunity, but I tell you for the first two months of classes, I mean first two solid months, I felt that completely out-of routine feeling you get when one of your cars, either yours or your spouse's is in the shop and you are trying to figure out who has the kids and who is dropping whom off at which place when and when will you get picked up or are you doing the picking up and so on and so on. Like I said, not a great juggler. But the juggling is so that I can do what I want to do and still have the girls at home. Although Melaina is at school until noon everyday which is a Godsend! And don't let me forget the wonderful lady who comes to watch the girls once a week during the day when I am at school for a solid day. As far as I'm concerned, she walks on water!

So now, even though we are still juggling, I have adapted to the chaos somewhat. The girls are doing great and Melaina turned 4 yesterday!!! Photos...

Melaina and her bestest bestie, Brooke along with her partner in crime from school, Alex. I think we have a crush on our hands.

Shhh...don't disturb her. She is in cake land...

Tom and I have even had some opportunities to sing together, well one, but still, that never happens! Life is grand. Well, life is a grand old glorious mess and I'm trying to cope with it. So here are some photos that span the last several weeks since my last post. I promise to be a better blogger now that I've got a seemingly good grip on reality these days...Hahaha who am I kidding!

A few Saturdays ago we had lunch at Williams Hardware in TR then walked a bit on the Swamp Rabbit Trail.

One of Melaina's fun Birthday weekend activities was an impromptu carriage ride for the whole fam - Grandma and Papa, too. Here's our driver (coachman?) smiling for the camera. Oh, and that's new fangled scarf around my neck is Clara who was scared to death for the first 10 minutes or so.

Clara is too cool for school.

Although usually up for adventure, Melaina didn't love picking apples while being on Daddy's shoulders while he was climbing a tree. Wonder why?

Poor thing won't keep a dang bow in her hair to save her life, but she's sweet as can be so who cares. She's looking a little "children of the corn"-esque in this photo, but still more sweet than creepy.

In the mass of pumpkins, no bow, but with sippy cup. All is good.

That girl is serious about her birthday cake gelato.

My four adorable children from left to right: Clara, Gradley (Melaina's imaginary friend), Melaina, and Baby Kitty. See, Tom, we have plenty of children already!!!!!!