wifehood

It's interesting to think about how much our life has changed since I stopped working. Although I really liked my job, I couldn't imagine running this household while working outside of it! I don't know how I did it. Except things weren't as organized, and we weren't as happy. Sometimes people ask me if I am bored or unhappy staying at home with Asa full time, but I feel the complete opposite. I love being here with him and keeping the house in good order and having dinner ready for Mark when he gets home.
I remember in college a class I took about life, honestly I don't know what the point of it was. I do remember one class when we looked at how the history of women's jobs has changed in the past century. My class was all women students and the teacher was a middle-aged woman who was just finding herself after divorcing her husband, moving in with her new "lover",getting a tattoo and a "real" job. She was very nice, very sweet to everyone, but the class in particular about persuaded and thinking, "I can't believe what society expected of women---it was so degrading and unequal, to think that people lived to run a household only!" Even after having Asa I still wanted to keep working and having "worth" in this society, and more "equality" with my husband. (Although in my heart all I wanted to do was be with my baby all day). Little bits her point of view rubbed off on me and only recently have I written them off as false.

This job is so valid and important and challenging and rewarding and wonderful! I love it. I think it's equally important to making money outside the home. Some of the things in the past weren't great but history gets progressively better and more civilized, right? I guess I'll just try not to repeat the bad things.

I am honestly blessed not to HAVE to work outside the home. I know many women can't and that's just the way their lives turned out and that's ok but I feel that ultimately it's best for me to be here.

Anyway, we've had a busy 10 days swimming and having fun. Asa has really started to feel more independent when swimming, and potty training has been going well. Last Saturday we went back to Wissahickon and started at the North end, we walked about 3.5 miles before we had to head back. My birthday was on Sunday, I'm 23. We had a nice weekend celebrating and I feel so blessed to have so many loving people in my life. I believe we will be swimming again today, it's been in the high 90's the past couple days.

Tai Chi on a dead tree

Our family had a wonderful time on Saturday at Wissahickon Creek part of Fairmount Park. We hiked for about 3 hours. It was great weather, warm but the trees created shade and a cool breeze. We started at Valley Green Restaurant and headed south down to the Walnut Lane bridge, which is a historical 157foot tall bridge that was opened in 1908. It's made out of concrete and very marvelous to look at! The creek is in a gorge with tall trees on either side. It's windy and interesting the entire way down. The area used to be industrial back in the 1800's but is now just ruins of beautiful stone walls and wagon paths. It's definitely a must-see for hikers. On our way back we crossed over the creek and took a different path. It was beautiful and easy going until we got to a huge rock that jetted out into the creek. It was very slanted and scary to climb over, but what was even worse was when we got to the top we realized we had to cross a finger suspension bridge that crossed a gap between the rock and another about 18 feet away. It was cool because we weren't expecting that kind of adventure. The nice thing about the park is that it's 450 acres and though we've been there twice and spent hours, we have seen only a small percentage of all the attractions and secrets the valley holds. The reason for the title of this blog is while we were walking along "Forbidden Drive" we saw a big old tree laying across 95% of it. Apparently it had just fallen(before we arrived at the park though) and the Park Ranger was in front of it with his bike calling in people to clear it. But the strange thing about the ordeal was the three people standing on the tree. They were in sunbeams and moving at the pace of snails with branches in their arms. I thought it was some pagan naturist thing but it also seemed like they were dancing. The best way to describe it was some sort of Tai Chi, but it could have been a joke. After we passed we saw a video camera sitting on a fence toward them. Very strange.

A very unconventional Fathers Day: Mark went fishing down at Long Port, NJ last night from 4:30, and he came home around 4am. We did have a nice time while he was home though, first at church and then at home relaxing.

Since I had the boys for a few hours last night I took them to another park down the street, we call it "wooden park" but it has another name. It's just so much fun for the kids because the play set goes on and on and on with so many different things to climb, slide, jump on and more. Mark has off today and we are looking for something fun to do today as well.

I got an early birthday present last night Guitar Hero for 360. I already beat the game in Medium and boy am I loving it!

perfect temperature

It's a perfect temperature out right now. Crazy that I don't have the windows open. I've spent way too much time on the internet today trying to figure out how to tweak my blog. Sadly, it's been wasted time as I still haven't found what I wanted.
Lately I've been feeling dull. I want to spice up my life. I think we need to go away for an adventure, far enough away that you'd need to fly. Hopefully for our 3rd anniversary (July 31st) we'll be able to go away. Our family vacation is just a few weeks away. We'll be going to Ocean City NJ. I am very excited about that! Hopefully the weather will be perfect. This was us last year on the boardwalk.

still new

Today Asa's Cousin came over for a playdate. It's so cute watching them interact, although Asa can get kinda grabby. We had a nice time and had lunch too. Afterwards we went down the street to a shopping center. We went into Pottery Barn and had a hard time maneuvering around with a double stroller, a sales associate said, "Oh no, double trouble" I retorted back, "Double-Stroller trouble" I moved a couple pieces of furniture out of the way so that Christy could get down the side aisle and it worked. We took our time looking in that aisle and Christy picked up a metal-like decorative ball and said "Luke broke one of these last time we were here" and I kid you not, as she was still finishing her sentence Asa had reached over to the boxes holding glass jars of scented oil and knocked one to the floor. I didn't even realize it was leaking out until after I said, "Asa broke one of these today" It was kinda funny, in a bad way. The sales associate who I called for help was very nice and understanding. I still smell like that Wisteria scented oil now.


At the end of last winter Tyler started playing Hockey on Saturdays. Although he hasn't been for maybe two months he's still planning on doing more this summer. It's so adorable to watch him and all the other little guys (and girls) out on the ice. He's fortunate to have lots of family member who play and come with us and help out. Grandma and Grandpa are always there. He's improved substantially throughout these few months.
He's the one in the orange blocking the goal on the first picture and skating toward it in the second.

today

Asa needs to go for a nap. I need to turn Keane off. I need a haircut. I am making meatloaf and mashed potatoes for dinner. I wish I had the Green with Envy frozen veggie mix from Trader Joe's to go with our meal.

I've gotten to Ruth in my reading so far this year. I am behind in schedule of reading the entire bible in one year but I am still plowing ahead nonetheless. At first I tried to go by a chronological schedule on
but then I fell behind and almost gave up, feeling overwhelmed. Somehow I decided to change who I am and keep going anyway even though I am behind. It's feels great now, not like a chore, and I get more out of reading!

Real quickly, whoever thinks the God of the old testament is harsh and scary and unforgiving...hasn't really read the old testament. I find him a fair loving and graceful God. He gave his people more than enough chances even though they all deserved death! It only makes sense that Christ would come from(and be) this kind of God. Before I read the old testament(or some of it) thoroughly I always felt that the God of the old testament really was scary and irrational. It was a thorn in my side when I tried to make sense of my faith sometimes. I feel so blessed and happy and spoken to through these few months of studying.

Here are some pictures of my boys at a recent church picnic!

victoree24

#1 I know this is silly, especially for someone who dislikes beer(except for one specific kind "Old Horizontal") But if anyone knows me well, they know I am associated closely with the name Victoree24. The Victory Brew Company is pretty local and I want the owner to name a new brew after me. I think it would be so cool, not necessary but cool.

#2 I googled Victoree24 and found an old message board that I started back in 1999. It was for poetry and has a few of my early poems on it. Still with my old profile attached. It's untouched after all these years and it was like a time capsule. It intrigued me to see it. I totally didn't expect or remember it! Check it out.

#1 Car Ride

Hi, I am pretty sure I had a blogspot page before, be it got lost in the world of people stealing passwords and accounts getting deleted and money being transferred from paypal...blah blah blah..anyway I love to read blogs, so I figured I would start one up. Once in a while I blog on myspace, but this is something I'd like to use more frequently and keep up to date! I will be trying to figure out how I can format this and use HTML etc. Hopefully it will keep me more inclined to take photo's off of my camera to keep pictures I post current! Hopefully it will keep my brain challenged and keep me writing things whether poetry, essays or journal entries. I love to write and am going to use this outlet, YAY!
When I was driving today I put together thoughts that were racing through my mind I decided then that I would form them into a poem because they meant something to me. The following is an extremely rough and first copy of them as I get them from my head to anything else. Enjoy.


I am driving down the beautiful roads leading from my house to a friends.
I have the music blaring, Mat Kearney sharing, and my son is content.
I think deeply when I drive longer-than-than-normal trips.
I was lost in the beauty of the trees and hills and flowers and sunniness.
Then I saw a brand new car, that looked so incredibly modern
It reminded me of the future in my mind when I was a child.
I was surrounded by homes, way too close together.
They were too big and too adorned with decor that was just for status.
I wondered how much per square foot each home around me cost
Then I wondered how much less someone would need to live comfortably
and what good someone could do with the difference.
I felt kinda down, kinda sad that people are so wasteful.
Everything we have is so of the future, the cars the toys--everything
Then I saw a boy, and my face lit up
My heart felt light and I came to a stop
He was hopping over a guardrail with a fishing pole in hand
He was dressed oversized boys clothes and cap
he made me so happy to see he could be happy in this modern age with simple fun
something people have done since the beginning of time.


That's what I got. I'll fix it eventually. I will also keep adding to my movie's to watch list.
Goodnight!