Easter Weekend Festivities

© Heather Hoskinson

We started our Easter festivities on Good Friday. Last year little Griff was only six weeks old at Easter, so naturally I was ready to get him in on the Easter egg hunt action this year. Half Price Books had a scavenger Easter egg hunt, so Grandma and I hopped in the wagon and headed over to check it out. It started at 1:00 and I believe we arrived about then minutes after. Doh! They were already out of eggs. I guess the Easter bunny was not prepared to hand out eggs to half the little tykes in Dallas. Not to worry, they replenished their supply pretty quickly and while doing so, Moms and I took a break to grab some grub and browse the shelves. As is evident in the photo, Griffin was flirting shamelessly with this Easter bunny. Am I passing along my preferences for redheads or what? Or is it that he already knows you get more flies with honey?

© Heather Hoskinson

Then on Saturday we were off to the arboretum for Dallas Blooms. Yeah, us and about a million other people. But whatever. So worth it! My bestie and her son were in town and HAD to get the boys together for an Easter photo...involving pretty flowers and well, goats of course!

The weather was UH-mazing, between 70 and 75 degrees. You know how those Texas springs are, as short as an Alaskan fall me thinks. We ran into the Easter bunny as soon as we got there and were the last people to get a photo with him before he went on break. Many photo commenters seem to think he looks creepy, but I'd say this one looks pretty darn friendly compared to some I've seen. Tomato. Tom-otto.

The arboretum is such a great place to take the little ones because there is so much space to roam free. Even when it is ridiculously crowded, you will have no trouble finding ample lawn space to park your brood and just hang out. The family pass is the way to go if you go more than once or twice a year. It is only $119 and gets in SIX people. At $15 for adult admission, you can't beat that with a stick! Or even a chunky, drool-covered baby arm.

© Heather Hoskinson

On Sunday we allllmost made it to church on time. My Hubs was all, "What is it with church and being late? Why is it so impossible to make it to church on time?" Can't say I quite know, really, but I'm guessing it might have something to do with the fact that it's not a mandatory activity, and it's a weekend. Whatevs. We made it before the sermon started. Yay! And our pager didn't go off to signal a hysterical baby Griff in the nursery. Double yay!

I thought the message was fantastic. The minister talked about Unitarians are a really "seeing is believing" people, typically speaking. So Easter can be a tricky holiday to really buy into, resurrection being out of the realm of science and all. But the teachings of Christ and His word are unique to each of us and we derive our own meanings. He expanded on the different ways we can interpret the idea of resurrection and the idea that resurrection is redemption following death of innocence, death of ego, death of despair. "Resurrection for many of us is learning to trust the deeper places of your heart." 

© Heather Hoskinson

I spent the rest of the afternoon with my beautiful family. I am a lucky woman, even if I don't always act like it. Yes, life can be a struggle and some days are grim. I battle the blues more than I care to admit. But it is my hope that over time I can re-train my brain and focus on those enduring moments of hope, sunshine, laughter, unity, and connection and push away fear and doubt. That will be my resurrection. 

© Heather Hoskinson

"I should..."

I suppose my blog is just like my life - all over the place. I'm coming to peace with that - being all over the place. I figure as long as I'm moving forward, I'm good. But there are some days where you feel like you are running in place. I'm willing to bet a lot of women experience that, especially moms! We are so hard on ourselves, living in a world of "I should...". Do you know what I mean? It's like, "I'd like to order the guilt entree, please. With the fries? No thanks, I'll take a side of guilt. And can you supersize that?" I mean, here I am...FINALLY sitting down to blog, to my beloved blog I used to love so much and then threw out into the cold, totally gone and forgotten. And yet the other half of my brain is thinking, wow, is this really the best use of your son's naptime?? I should be...doing laundry, making a healthy lunch instead of waiting until I'm STARVING and then just eat a bunch of Girl Scout cookies, returning call to so-and-so, applying for that job, et cetera. That running to-do list, omnipresent in the background of your mind, urging you to be productive at all times. I think this is why we are so stressed out these days, good ol' modern times. This is how we live. A million things to do. Always tethered to technology and communication. Surrounded by an onslaught of information. This clip does a GREAT job of explaining the technology side of what I mean, from Portlandia. Such a great show!

I can so identify with this little tidbit of insanity. There are so many wonderful benefits of technology, but I do believe I suffer from some of its negative effects. Lately I have really noticed that I have a hard time focusing, my thoughts and actions. I have become less interested in books and always seem to choose reading online versus a long book. And I am bombarded by so many options and so many ideas that I get overwhelmed and lack direction. I feel like I'm having a lot of "Serenity Now!" moments.

Well this just sort of turned into a Negative Nancy bitch fest didn't it? Oops. I have to check myself. When I start getting all angsty like this I have to mentally re-group and focus on the things I do, not all the shit I don't do, or could do better. You have to CHOOSE gratitude. It doesn't choose you. We live in a complex world and when I choose gratitude, things become much simpler. It allows me to zero in on what's important and mutes the white noise created by an access to too much information. 

This little man is my best accomplishment to date and I figure as long as he feels loved and secure, nothing else really matters all that much. 

Yeah, I should get around to that Paleo diet. I should finish that scrapbook. I should make that call to an old friend. I should try more new recipes. I should finish unpacking my house and get more organized. I should do one of those projects I saved on Pinterest. But guess what? I'm going to go get my son out of his crib now that I hear him up talking to himself, and go play with him on the floor, and choose to live in a world of 'I do'. Not 'I should.' Eff that.

“Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” 
― Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose

It is Mother's Day. My first. Suffice to say, it takes on a whole new meaning now that I am the mom. It also makes me wish I had shown more appreciation for my mother. I suppose those are the lessons that we don't learn until we are actually in their shoes. I hope she won't mind if I try to make up for lost time and shower her with the appreciation that only she deserves.

It's hard to believe that the last time I blogged, my little man was still somewhat of an abstract idea, an outline on the ultrasound monitor, an "it." Now he is three months old and the landlord of my heart. When he giggles, smiles, coos, passes gas, burps, just about anything besides cry...we all practically come running. Surrounding the precious child who has brought so much joy into our lives.  I'm so lucky to be his mother.

Wow...where has the time gone?? I've HARDLY been 'married to the blog' have I?! It makes sense though. There isn't really anything habitual or all that consistent about me. But hey, I try. The thing with writing is you feel the pressure to make it good, funny, meaningful, with a point, etc. And you feel guilty if you put if off and don't do it. Silly, right? I am leaving this pressure and guilt behind. I just want to write and document my life for the sake of it, not because I think it needs to entertain others. On that note...let me tell you of all the AMAZING things going on in my life!

Since last February, I am now spoken for, romantically speaking, for perpetuity. Philip and I tied the knot 7.5.11. I am also...WITH CHILD. :) I am five months pregnant at the end of this week, with a baby boy!! We have also moved back to good 'ol Tejas for the meantime while Philip goes to school.

I found out I was pregnant while we were visiting Phil's family in Anchorage.  It was definitely a bit of a shock and a little bit overwhelming since we were technically homeless, jobless, and getting married in a month.  Nothing like the art of timing, eh?  Also, I have had a miscarriage at nine weeks before, so that previous experience brought a lot of tentative feelings to this second go 'round.  I mean, you just feel like you really can't let yourself be too excited until you hit that magical second trimester.  So we gave understated enthusiasm our best shot and I tried to not count the weeks.  It was a lot of fun having my family together to share the news with them the first night we arrived in St. Croix for our wedding week. Am now here I am at almost twenty weeks and now I can revel in excitement. 

Ahhhh...wedding week.  Shall I tell you that story?  It would be nearly impossible to cover the entire week, so I'll try to just hit the high points, which would be....duh!  The wedding ceremony!!!

St. Croix had been getting heaps of rain in the days leading up to our arrival and the first couple of days as well.  Fortunately, the sun was shining upon us for wedding day.  I had a date that morning with Kelley and Emily to find someone on the island to arrange my flowers for the ceremony.  Yeah, ALL my flowers.  I'm talkin' bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, table flowers, cake flowers...the whole dad gum kit and freakin' kaboodle.  This is because the company that I had made arrangements with weeks prior, to ship beautiful tropical blooms from Hawai'i (I know...a total shame you can't order them from the Caribbean!), sent me an EMAIL to let me know that they would be unable to do so after all.  Yeah, THANKS for that.  But hey, it's all good.  Because the way it turned out was WAY better.

The morning was smooth sailing.  It was nice to have some time alone with two great friends.  I met the nicest old lady on the island, Chris Johnson of Sandy's Flowers.  She hooked us UP!  Not only did she complete our order in a matter of five hours or so, but she did it for a GREAT price.  My budget was SHOESTRING, okay?!  I did not want to blow the bank on flowers that we only get to live with for a day.  But you don't want to completely throw aesthetics to the wayside either.  As usual, I got to have my cake and eat it too.  I know, I'm a spoiled brat.  Are you ready for this?  You sure?  She did ALL the flowers, ALL OF THEM, for $250!!!

• Bridal bouquet
• Bridesmaids' bouquets
• Groom boutonniere
• Groomsmen boutonieres
• Mother of the bride boutonniere
• Mother of the groom boutonniere
• Flowers for two cakes

Pretty crazy, huh?  But you can't really appreciate the awesomeness of this last minute flower action until you see pics!

Let's talk about how completely fabulous my hair turned out, okay?  Well that would be because my BFF has some serious skills.  Um yeah, the colors of teal and red were also her idea.  She has impeccable taste.  And I can be a bit finicky too, but she understood exactly what I wanted my hair to look like and the challenges she would face in making that happen.  My hair happens to be incredibly fine, and was pretty short at the time also.  I also had a veil and fascinator to incorporate.  Emily did such a great job!!  Creating a bride's vision is no small task.  I like to think of myself pretty easygoing (although I did already admit to some finickiness...shit), however, you think of these seemingly small details for months.  MONTHS...a hairdo.  I'm sure it must seem so silly.  But these pictures and these moments will live on forever.  You want to look the best you ever have in your life and you want that man to think, "Wow...my wife is such a hottie!" when you walk down that aisle.  The dress, the hair, the flowers...I felt beautiful.  But more than anything, I felt surrounded by LOVE.  All of it would have meant nothing otherwise. 

The ceremony site itself was another part of the day that was just perfection.  The staff at Hotel on the Cay were so great.  They mowed the whole area up on this point in preparation, covered the chairs with white covers and beautiful teal sashes.  Kathi, the manager, did an amazing job decorating some of the chairs with flowers and lined the aisle with flower-filled conch shells.  It just made me so happy.  It was just what I wanted for our special day - simple, picturesque, romantic, and vibrant colors.

I am going to stop there and come back to the rest, or this will be a marathon post!  I have set the seen at least.  Then we'll get to the good stuff.  :)