I like to think of myself as a flexible mom.

Today I ran into my good friend, Mindy at the entrance to Kohl's. We each had our respective twelve-year-old-girls-in-search-of-Winter-Carnival-dresses (who happen to be the same size) so we changed our plans and shopped together. As I explained to Scott, one thing led to another, and four stores, five hours and easily 45 dresses (per girl) had passed. Yes, each girl settled on her it dress, and no, we did not go back to past stores to have them remove from hold all the previous "maybe" dresses.

Mindy and I enjoyed our own running commentary so much, though, we decided we should have our own reality television show. We were quite certain the whole world would appreciate following us around in our minivans, offering helpful hints and suggestions on such topics as Snacks on the Go, Quick Hair-dos for Sports, Funding Lunch with Minivan Change, Bleach, and Why You Shouldn't Buy Your White Wedding Dress at Deb if You are Already Four Months Pregnant (well, I can think of one particular person who might not fully appreciate that tip, though she certainly needed it).

Here are six things I learned today:

1) Twelve-year-old middle school girls do not love Polly Flinders. And they would hate Gunne Sax, if they even knew what it was.
2) If you are shopping in TJMaxx and run into my pastor's wife (and happen to be trying to justify a purchase), ask her opinion.
3) Mindy (the quintessential kindergarten teacher) only looks convincingly proper... she can deliver a line that'll leave you clutching your sides and gasping for air.
4) Deb in the Auburn Mall has dedicated half their store to Plus Size prom (or wedding) dresses. The other half seems to be for mini-chicks. Apparently average people just do not shop there.
5) It may quite possibly be true there is no dream of matching a shoe to Lilly's new canary yellow Winter Carnival dress.
6) Retail therapy works on killer colds!

And, since we went to town for paint in the first place, I feel compelled to mention we did find a lovely shade of beige called "Cozy Cottage." Of course, I was scheduled to spend my day painting the newly-walled basement after my quick trip to Home Depot, but I've simply run out of time. That's OK, I'm flexible... I think I'd better sit here and wait for our producers to call.

The hot question among savvy, engaged, involved parents this time of year seems to be this: Are your kids doing basketball? Now, I love basketball as much as the next Maine mom, but my kids are (at best) oblivious to the possibilities involving this beloved sport.

I've been pretty particular about what I sign the kids up for, especially during the winter months. With Scott gone all day every day, I always knew I didn't want to have to be the only one responsible for running them from one sport to the next in the snow. So, I've never signed them up for basketball. The term "maybe next year" comes to mind. Again.

That said, I should mention now that she's in middle school, Lilly is participating in three after-school activities. Cheering (sort of like basketball), Middle Connection ( a travel chorus), and a musical production practice take up every afternoon for her. Luckily, there's a late Activities Bus that brings her home Monday through Wednesday, so I don't have to run and fetch her everyday after school. I keep wanting the kids to get into skiing lessons, but I manage to miss the sign-ups every time (usually after doing the math of four kids times six or ten weeks of lessons... yikes!). Oh well, someday I'll get my act together, but for now, I'm enjoying not running around every day to this game or practice or whatever.

Kate participates in Girls Scouts one night a week. Of course, she's not in the same pack (or gaggle, or den... I don't really know what they call it) as Lilly, and neither of them is in the same club as Molly. Once in a while they'll all have some big obnoxious Girl Scout club mixer at the same time and same location. In that convenient situation, I'll try my best to drop, kiss and run... girl scouts are some of the highest-strung individuals I have ever met, and I like my blood pressure right where it is.

Sam "quit" Boy Scouts before the first meeting this year. I didn't blame him. To be polite, I'll call that group "possibly or potentially medicated."

Sophie attends the local preschool Book Club when her schedule permits. Her little group enjoys a reading of the weekly selection, followed by crafty time (with glue sticks!) and cocktails. OK, well, there aren't really any snacks, but one kid did have a sippy cup once, and you never know how desperate daycare providers are these days!

Anyway, my point is... we don't do basketball, and I've been trying to figure out why that has come out sounding like an apology all winter long! We don't do basketball. Someday we may. Or, we may end up with five cheerleaders. I truly enjoy watching these little people do whatever is fun for them. I believe I sufficiently support the local Irving and McDonald's in my running hither and yon. I'm quite satisfied with our winter thus far, and I believe my children are not unhappy.

And no, I don't want to watch your kid's basketball game.

Today is Wednesday. This morning I got out of bed and stayed out of bed all day. Believe me when I say this is a true victory for me.

Easy New Year

Because it's what we do this time of year, I have started taking into account the way I live my life, and what possible (easy) steps I might take in an effort to improve the whole scene. Don't get me wrong, I love my life... many days I stay home and play with my youngest daughter, neither of us bothering to change out of our jammies until just before the rest of the family returns home from school and work. Inevitably, though, someone wants some sort of meal to sustain them, and that falls under my job description.

Since I'm not in the habit of preparing regular, consecutive meals for my family (discounting the popcorn lunches and mac-n-cheese dinner staple), I've decided to revise my approach in the kitchen. Let's face it, I can't really improve a nonexistent habit, so... first step, start making regular meals. Like, supper every night! That sounds pretty easy.

I happen to be a person that can't start with the first step. One idea brings me one step further from accomplishing my goal. In this instance, cooking supper every night means creating a menu. Which means getting an inventory of in-stock ingredients, and making a menu-specific shopping list. This is getting more complicated by the minute! I persevered, however, and came up with one week's worth of meals I knew my kids would eat and enjoy.

With list in-hand, I ticked off each item as it went into the cart, happily explaining to the ever-hopeful four year-old we couldn't get sugar cereal or grape soda or anything chocolate if it's not on the list! The whole family appreciated a hot meal that night, and every night for the whole week. Of course, no one wants to help with the dirty dishes or kitchen clean-up, but certainly this new plan has enhanced our lives.

Each night the kids take turns saying Grace before our meal. More than one of them has expressed gratitude for the opportunity to sit together as a whole family for supper. They all ask for a blessing on the meal "and the hands that prepared it". The tasty meal is made more delicious served with pleasant conversation and lots of laughter.

I'd like to tell you more about the meal plan, but I see the little girl on the couch is almost done with her popcorn, and appears to be licking the bag. It's probably time to get out of our jammies, anyway... and start thinking about adding real lunches to our routine.

Everyday Life in a Nutshell

In the interest of clearing the first (and seemingly most difficult) hurdle of actually setting this up and getting something typed in, here is my first blog entry. This should be a good place for you to visit me and get a glimpse into my everyday life in Rural, Maine.

If you know me at all, you know I've got a house full of five kids, one dog, lots of laundry (mostly clean, though still somehow mostly on the floor), a cramped and messy kitchen, lots of laughter and tons of fun. Don't be fooled... if you know me at all, you know there's a fair share of fussing, fighting, whining, complaining and yelling (and then you should hear the kids!). But we end each day with hugs, and kisses, and "I love you"s, and Super-Duper Tuck-Ins... some nights we sing, and some nights we read, and some nights we cry ourselves to sleep.

This is the story of Mi, and how aware I am that I am SOOOO HUMAN! Blissfully human, painfully human, ordinarily human, sometimes super human, exhaustingly human... amazingly, wonderfully, fearfully-made human. This is the journey of one human, endeavoring to live this life, to learn, to grow, to carry on, to fall to my knees, and always to look up, anticipating the eternal consequences of my here and now.

A word of warning: I intend to lay out the good, the bad and the ugly of my everyday. You'll laugh, you'll cry... you'll probably learn more about me than you've ever wanted to know. And I intend to do the same.