Disjointed December...

Whew! I'm finally sitting down to write on this last day of December, and the final sunrise of 2010. It's has been a crazy month -- traveling, shopping, celebrating, etc. I have felt surprisingly out of sorts without having the time to organize my thoughts here. I am so happy to be back!

The Saturday after Christmas, we packed up the boys and drove to Orlando, Florida and Walt Disney World. It was a 15-hour trip, and suffice it to say, long in many ways other than just duration. But, we did have a fantastic week at WDW, and this time the boys have drunk the Kool-Aid. They were just old enough to really appreciate every last bit, but young enough to really feel the magic (Disney magic = something you feel as a young'un, sometimes lose as a teen, but get it back as an adult!). More on our trip later.

After we got back from Florida, the Christmas season was in full-swing! I felt so behind, it was as if I'd woken up late and couldn't catch up with the rest of the class. We lost one weekend in December traveling back home, so we were forced to fit a month's worth of Christmas fun into only two weekends (it didn't help that Christmas fell on a Saturday). We went to the tree farm, decorated the house, rode the Christmas train, and did all of our gift shopping in what seemed like a whirlwind....all for the big day, which, as it always does, passed by in the blink of an eye.

All in all, December was a crazy month in which we didn't slow down even for a minute. I am so ready for 2011...I am looking forward to spending the winter getting organized, sharing some downtime with the family, and we are fortunate to have many exciting things to anticipate in the new year. Happy New Year, everyone!

5 Year Meme

Tag!! You're it! :)
This blog brought to you thanks to Sarah's Blog

Question 1: Where were you 5 years ago?
Five years ago, I'd just had a stroke (see more here). I had no residual effects, and I was well on the road to recovery. I actually had no idea just how 'normal' I was...two months after my stroke and subsequent neurosurgery, I found out I was expecting a child!! After everything my body had been through, my husband and I had a sort of unspoken agreement that we were lucky to have our family just as it was, the three of us. But, apparently, God had a different plan for us. A complete shock, and a lesson to all you young people -- it only takes once! :)

Question 2: Where would you want to be in 5 years time?
This is a tough one...one which I ask myself on a daily basis, though. In five years, the boys will be 11 and 9 years old and obviously in school all day. I would love to be working in the political arena again, with a job that's incredibly important yet extremely flexible. A job where I can do meaningful work, but yet allows me as much time as need or want to continue to raise my family. Does that exist?

Question 3: What are 5 things on your "To Do" list today?

1.) Make an eye doctor appointment for the Big Guy.
2.) Fold laundry
3.) Get in touch with the travel agent about November trip to Disney
4.) Order United shorts for the boys for football camp next week
5.) Finish this blog entry! :)

Question 4: What are 5 snacks you enjoy?

Well, enjoy and let myself indulge are two very different things!! I am very fitness-conscious and try really hard to eat healthfully - most of the time!! If I am being good, I love Rita's Italian Ice, guacamole, a juicy peach, popcorn or pita chips. If I am splurging, I love salt & vinegar potato chips, gummy bears, fudge, cookies or an ice cream cone!

Question 5: What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Wow, I could write a book to answer this question! If I won the lottery, first things first, I would take my family (including grandparents and cousins) to Walt Disney World. This would not only be a vacation, it would be time for the husband and me to figure out exactly what our plan would be for the money. We would make sure all of our family and extended family were taken care of. We would buy a new house. (Not too huge, mind you, but with all of the latest green technologies.) We would set aside a trust for the boys' university. And then we would travel. We would see everywhere and do everything. My goal would be to become as familiar with all of the great cities of the globe as I am with my hometown. Finally, last but not least...I would buy a little football club in Manchester, England...!

I'm supposed to tag 5 fellow bloggers, but other than the two fabulous ladies mentioned below, I only follow football blogs! :)

Soapgirl at Soapgirl's Thoughts
Sarah at Sarah's Blog

Everything You Always Wanted to Know...

This post was inspired by a fellow blogger...she tagged me in a post she did revealing some of her life, and I remembered I had recently written "25 Quick Facts about Me" in another forum, so I'd thought I'd share them here...

1.) I could get lost for days in a bookstore.

2.) I honestly enjoy working out very much. I hate running, though.

3.) I am a deeply religious person. But, I don't hit you over the head with it.

4.) My husband is simply one of the best people I know. And I love him as much as I did when he came stumbling into my dorm room, wasted, the first night of college.

5.) There has never been a time in my life that I didn't think I needed to lose at least 5 lbs.

6.) I constantly worry about my sons' health. And their social skills. And their intellect. And whether they will be polite, won't hit, will go to college, etc. Parenthood is by far the hardest job I have ever, or will ever, have.

7.) I kinda want to be British.

8.) I love tweeting!! I was pretty resistant to it at first, but I've met some amazing people through Twitter.

9.) I am most terrified of failing as a parent.

10.) I LOVE television (I know, I know). But I reconcile this fact with the following: a.) for the most part, I dig 'smart' shows like Lost, and I loved Studio 60 and West Wing, and b.) I love to read just as much.

11.) My life is SO not what I'd imagined. Completely different, but infinitely better.

12.) My grandparents were both born in the very early years of the 20th century. I think of them on a daily basis and wonder how they would react to various forms of technology.

13.) I believe that it should be REQUIRED for everyone to watch What Not To Wear, and follow Clinton and Stacey's rules TO THE LETTER.

14.) I often wonder what my boys will be like as men.

15.) My dream vacation would be a trip around the world, capped off by a week in Disney World. There's nothing I would rather do more than travel.

16.) I miss DC (sometimes violently) and especially the people I worked with down there.

17.) I feel that grammar and eloquent speech are of vital importance.

18.) One of the greatest gifts my husband has ever given me is an appreciation and love for soccer and Manchester United.

19.) I dream of writing a novel, if I could just get over myself. And, find the time.

20.) I love being Catholic. Just going to Mass can make me feel better about almost anything.

21.) Looking back, I was a baby when I got married just a month after my 24th birthday. I would NOT change a thing, but I also would strenuously object if either of my boys wanted to get
married that young!

22.) I talk to my mother, my father, and my sister via telephone at least once a day, if not more.

23.) No matter how hard I try, or how closely I follow a recipe, I cannot cook to save my life.

24.) I am a straight-up, unapologetic girly-girl. I was a cheerleader in high school and in a sorority in college. I love hair, make-up, fashion, shoes, handbags, shopping...need I go on? I am convinced God gave me two little boys to offset this a bit.

25.) If you were my friend at any point in time, you're stuck with me for life.

Weathering Wanderlust

"I'm shakin' the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I'm gonna see the world. Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the Colosseum..." -- George Bailey (James Stewart) It's a Wonderful Life

There's nothing in the world like the feeling I get when I know I have a trip coming. From the moment I book it, just the knowledge that I am GOING somewhere, anywhere, gives me a combination of stomach-flutters, body tingles and involuntary idiot-like grinning. I am big on countdowns; I love watching the number of days 'til I leave get smaller and smaller. I produce detailed packing strategy spreadsheets (this is very ME) and when I can actually put clothes in a suitcase, I get so excited that I nearly jump out of my skin!

However, since I became a mama, our freedom to travel has been just a little inhibited. With our first son, it was more difficult to get away, but we made it work. We took the Big Guy to London for a week when he was just ten months old. But as he got older, and Little Guy came along, it just became too difficult logistically to do it. Our travel destinations were rerouted to Walt Disney World. Make no mistake, though -- I love, love, love to go to Disney and I am truly blessed to be able to share my childhood memories with my boys. But we will have to wait until the boys get a little older to do the kind of traveling we fantasize about. Until then, I must patiently suffer through this wanderlust I have -- the voracious, ever-present desire within me to GO. SEE. EXPERIENCE.

'Weathering Wanderlust' is going to be a multi-part post. In order to deal with my temporarily postponed adventures (the aforementioned weathering), I am constantly dreaming of new places to go. This list is long, varied, and fantastic. I am excited to delve a little deeper into the culture and character of my dream destinations. And even more excited for the day my dreams become reality!