"Nature is better than everything, nature is better than life. Because nature is life." So says Eleanor tonight as I put her to bed at 10:30. She will do and say anything to prolong her staying up. She actually asks some pretty profound questions around bedtime - many of which have crappy answers because I just want her to GO TO BED. Sipping my mojito...mm mojito. We went to a party at Sue's house today. I really miss Sue and Amanda and the whole gang from my old job. I feel so sad that things fell apart the way they did...if only management had been able to see the talent and dedication they had in those people, none of them would have left and who knows - I might still be working there too. I saw Ruth and Amy and Michelle and Kim - lots of girls that I really do miss. It saddens me to know that Susie won't have an early childhood in that environment. A place where everyone loves kids. At my old job everyone was creative, team-oriented and loved kids. They'd bend over backwards to help each other and we were all so close - it was like working with a bunch of really good friends. I'll never forget it.
My current job is a lot like that too - creative, team-oriented but it's less closely tied with my child's growth and so it is less sentimental for me than my old job. My old job was the village that helped me raise Eleanor (for 4 years anyway). I had no idea what I was doing in my life, or what the heck to do with a baby until I worked there. Such a special place in my heart forever.
Anywho - Susie had a great time tonight too - she played in a "Stage 2" inflatable bounce house for practically an hour with Eleanor. They both practiced falling out a lot.
Susie is a climber. She climbs everything. She climbs the stairs in our house and then screams when she gets too high.
Susie is pretty much talking without the words - she has the inflections of speech and she asks and answers in perfect rhythm haha...you just can't understand anything she says. it's just the sweetest thing. Also her hair is not curly like Elle's was at this age. Also, Eleanor is about to lose her tooth. She eats everything with the side of her mouth.
It's almost my & Brian's 2 year wedding anniversary and this fall we will have been together 8 years. Weird! I'll also be 28 this september. To think that the last time 8 years went by it started when I was 12! haha...of course, but still - there were huge changes between 12 and 20. Enormous life-changing events from 20 - 28...what happens after 28? More drastic life-changing events to come I'm sure.
Got a response to an email from a highschool friend today - was so very happy to get it. It's getting so incredibly hard to stay in touch. I need to be geographically close to a person to be close to them as a friend these days.
Elle went fishing today - she loved it. We need to go. At one point Ally caught a fish and she told Elle to put  her fingers in the fish's mouth to throw it back ( in the very front - the bottom lip in the middle where there are no teeth) it was a little rock bass (we were catching rock bass, perch and sunfish) and Eleanor was like "no! There's a worm in it's mouth!" haha...Ally was like - we hooked it...let it keep the worm Eleanor! Then Ally threw it back because Eleanor wouldn't touch it. Brian drank 7 beers at the party but seemed fine. I drove home. Laura told me Aunt Terry isn't doing well, her lung condition is deteriorating. She told me to call mom and tell her to tell Uncle Fran he needs to come visit his sister.
I hope my children love each other always and never forget family. We have to teach them this, I don't know how. This is why I'm glad to have Brian, it comes naturally to him. The religion too..ugh awkward questions from Eleanor in the car last night on the way to the drive-in to see Brave. Asking me if the stories in the Bible really happened (wtf?!) if Jesus was real, how do we KNOW the stories in the Bible really happened...etc. Since I don't believe in much of it this is a particularly sticky subject for me. I want the kids to have the choice to believe in the Catholic faith and God and Jesus, or to decide that it isn't true. So when they ask me these questions, I usually answer with something cryptic like "Catholics believe that Jesus was the son of God" As it was I told her that the Apostles of Jesus wrote the Gospels as they happened. I told her that stories like Noah's Arc were based on true events, but that they didn't happen exactly the way the Bible has them written. I hope that was the right answer. ...on a side note, I love the story of Noah's Arc, most of the Old Testament is a fascinating glimpse into ancient society. But there are over 4,000 (I think) religions in the world. Humans are hardwired for religion. Why? I need to do some reading. What does it do for us as a species? I don't want to read an angry atheist, I want to read someone who is kind to religion and understands its role and function in history I guess. Someone who thinks faith is ok, and doesn't mock it.