Sorry for the Time Lapse

It's been a long time. How has everybody been? So much has happened since we last spoke. The Peanut turned three and went to her first carnival -- 1st tilt-a-whirl, 1st roller-coaster, 1st cotton candy... All of it was very well received except the cotton candy. Oddly enough, that piece of Americana was summarily dismissed. The Pumpkin Man was with us, of course, but he didn't share most of Peanut's new experiences. He did try the cotton candy; it got a big N-O there, too. Figures. My skinny kids would rather have whole grain crackers and peanut butter with baby carrots, leaving me and homemaker to eat the candy.

Speaking of skinny kids, mine no longer look like prisoners of war. The Pumpkin Man has shot up to the 4th percentile, and Peanut registered at a whooping 1.6%. Amazing. She gained 2 pounds in 3 months, which is amazing. If you look at the weight jump from 2 to 3, it totals 2 to 3 pounds over the whole year, and my little monkey did it in a few months. She's just fitting into her 2T clothes bought last summer, but still. I'm happy and as the doctor said, it was more than we could have hoped for.

Work is better. My student teacher is done and I will really miss him, but it will be nice to have my own space back. Pumpkin is sleeping much better, so I have more patience and energy. I'm still too out of shape (read: F-A-T) for my own good, but at least I'm not headed for a tension heart attack. The students and I have settled into a sort of springtime peace treaty -- with one exception -- and I'm feeling pretty good. Of course, this goodwill dissolves like an alka-seltzer whenever I listen to Arne Duncan's grand plans on NPR. Looking at the big picture, I don't know if I can stay in education for another 15 years, but for right now I'm fine.

I guess that's my general feeling on life in this moment. On this cold spring Marathon Monday in the middle of my vacation, I'm fine. I slept until 9 (thanks, HM) and am sipping a big mug of coffee as I write this. We are carrying far too much debt, but we manage to make our payments every month, which is more than many many people can do. We fight more than we ever did when we were young and childless, but we love each other more deeply than ever. My job is hard, but I knew that going in and it is more rewarding than most anything I can think of. I can honestly say that what I do each day makes a difference in the world -- even if it is small.

Basically, my house is messy and my hair needs a wash, but my family is healthy and nothing is falling down on my head.