thankful tuesday, 3/19

writing thank you notes

while fueling up with a pretty lunch
seemed like a perfect time for a

thankful tuesday too!

here's to gratitude and
how it turns everything into enough...

patience, understanding and

quiet voices.

car pools, playdates

and helpful recommendations.

dark rooms, ear plugs

and sunglasses.

rest, snuggles, prayers
and podcasts that inspire.

baked treats, casseroles

and hearty soups made with love.

flowers, happy mail, texts 

and phone calls.

my mr., kids, friends
and family.

"i'll be brief...thank you."

another b word

a few weeks ago,

i popped into this space

on a monday morning to share some

"big, beautiful, busted up normal"

reflection bits.

i re-read that post earlier today,

 and had a giggle as 

i thought about today's 

"big, beautiful, busted up normal" 

monday morning bits. 

while each included a to do list,

and laundry, 

and emails,

and phone calls,

and crockpots,

and groceries,

and animals,

and parenting...

today was different.

so different than just 

a couple weeks ago.

in what's top of mind,

and what needs to be done...

in what's in my head 

and what's on my heart...

in the logistics 

and in the love...

and in the big, beautiful 

and busted up of this week.

***

a few weeks ago

it was a monday post a school vacation that

 was filled to the brim with activities, 

adventures and lots of life doing.

and today a monday post weeks 

of being completely  

sidelined with a concussion
and lots of life watching.

yet both...

big,

beautiful,

and 

busted up!

oh yes.

***

and it's why,

i'm fired up to be gathering with my sisters

later this week for some m&e wellness workshops 

on the topic of another amazing "b" word...

BALANCE!

because as
women,

sisters,

daughters,

wives,
moms,

friends,

and 

bad ass beauties

we long for balance.

we thrive in it

and strive for it...

we teach it

and seek it...

and we 

know better than anyone,

when it's busted up,

and
when it's beautiful.

gah,

i can't wait!

***

and hey,

there is still time to register!

 {link}

my mom boots & my mom concussion

let me introduce you 

to my "mom boots."

they aren't quite 

in the same category 

as "mom jeans",

but bear with me.

***

i got them thirteen (13) years ago,

while in ireland, 

on vacation with wes.

we were just a little over a year into our marriage,

visiting friends,

and adventuring through 

england, scotland and ireland.

it was on this trip,

where we found out we were 

going to be parents. 

***

we thought my nausea

was because of jet lag and navigating windy roads,

but nope!

we are also so glad that all our time in the pubs 

and lots of pints of guinness 

didn't have an impact on our baby girl!

it was a memorable trip!

***

i bought these boots in dublin,

 on the last leg of our trip,

and when the baby news made every thing so special.

i loved them so much,

and remember thinking

how they would bring some

flare to my new mom style.

they could be my

"mom boots."

***

 it wasn't too long after that though,

and for many years following,

that i could't wear them.

my swollen,

preggo,

post preggo,

changed feet barely fit into my mom boots!

***

i held onto them though.

the've broken in beautifully,

and 

i love how they give 

this vertically challenged girl,

who can't do heels,

a few extra inches.

***

lately i've been wearing my "mom boots" more and more,

simply because they keep me eye to eye with ella,

the child who now towers over me, 

thirteen years after the day i bought my "mom boots".

they make me feel less like 

the "little mummy,"

she so lovingly calls me.

***

let's flash forward to a couple weeks ago.

to a completely ordinary, 

every day parenting moment...

***

i was loading up the car, 

and needed to help my youngest daughter 

get into her booster seat.

it was snowing,

so my head was down.

i was hustling,

because that's what moms do.

i went around the back corner of the car,

and slammed my head into the raised hatch of my volvo.

can you almost see it?

resulting in a serious 

"mom concussion."

head hurt,

ouch.

***

can you guess what 

i was wearing?

yup,

my "mom boots."

it was those extra inches,

 that often make me feel like i'm on the top of my game,

that caused me to whack my head so severely,

taking me out of the game.

heart hurt,

ouch.

***

#momboots

#momconcussion

#ouch.

hey amazing woman

while sipping coffee this morning

from my "amazing woman" mug,

gifted to be my m&e friend molly,

i received a few questions about next week's 

m&e wellness workshop.

so...

i thought i'd hop on here 

and take a minute to 

share some additional bits & bobs about the event,

as if you and i were sitting with each other for coffee....

except i would have served yours in this amazing woman mug,

because well...you are amazing!

a few things people are asking:

q: erin does the event really run two days? because i can't commit to that!

a: it does, but it's broken up into 3 separate workshops. purchase tickets for whatever you can.

q: erin, i don't know if i can get there right at 9 a.m. for the friday morning session - is it okay if i'm a few minutes late?

a: yes! each workshop begins with a timefor arrival/connecting/taking in of the environment...so no worries if you can't get there until a little after....or if you need to leave a few early, no worries on that either!

q: do i need to register online?

a: if you could, that would be awesome.  this helps us so much, so we can focus on content, loving on you and of course finalizing all the set-ups, materials, food, etc at the thayer house. would love to have a sense of #s by early next week so we are set to go. but if it's too tricky - no worries - just send us a note and we'll take care of it, we are just excited to have you!

q: erin, can i share the invite with me friends?
a: ABSOLUTELY. in fact we would love that so much!

q: erin, can you remind me again what each session includes?

a: of course - here you go!

evening program // march 21 // 7:00-9:30 a.m. // $30

an intimate & reflective evening

 by the fireplace at the thayer house.

we will inspire you to love, care and celebrate 

what it means to be a woman,

no matter what season of life you are in.

we'll be sharing real stories and strategies

that will equip you for balance.

we'll connect as sisters, daughters,

friends, moms, wives, dreamers, doers and bad ass women!

morning program // march 22 // 9:00-11:30 a.m. // $20

wear your stretchy pants and

bring a mat for a beautiful morning of 

self care through yoga, meditation and essential oils.

whether you are brand new to these things,

or a yogi / oiler already

join us for the special morning in a dreamy setting.

**babysitters provided**

luncheon program // march 22 // 12:00-2:30 p.m. // $30

we've invited jessie dwiggins to lead a 

interactive luncheon conversation on how we can 

embrace hunger like our best friend, 

tame our eating triggers, 

and end the war between good and evil foods.

the luncheon also includes

our bright and fresh salad bar,

and of course the beautiful setting of the thayer house.

**babysitters provided**

okay,

well i hope this is helpful,

answers your questions,

and inspires you to want to be a part of it.

and hey,

amazing woman,

 you are amazing!

go ahead and,

celebrate with us,

treat yourself,

arrange a playdate / carpool,

take a personal day,

try something new,

love on yourself,

and let us love on you!

big, beautiful, busted up normal

it's 12 pm, 

on a monday after 

a school vacation week.

i'm definitely dragging a bit, 

but it feels good to get back to normal,

after a very fun and active school vacation week

with the kids, friends and as a family.

as the morning has progressed,

i must tell you though,

i've been struck by

how big, beautiful and busted up

"normal" often is.

in the matter of 5 hours i've

hugged and said goodbye to three kids and my husband,

made a massive to do list,

unpacked 4 duffle bags,

started 4 loads of laundry,

sent 15 emails,

returned 3 calls,

made 5 calls,

grocery shopped,

put the groceries away,

began dinner in the crockpot,

had coffee and cried with my dad in our kitchen,

researched some hard things for my dad,

worked out,

fed my dog, chickens and rabbits,

emptied 3 trash bags,

unloaded and loaded a dishwasher,

made an appetizer for the community group i'm hosting tonight,

finally made an appointment at the pediatrician for jane's ear,

signed 2 contracts,

made myself some lunch.

i'm even more struck when i think about how my last 5 hours 

probably looks and feels and smells completely different

than yours, and yours, and yours, and yours, etc.

and that

THAT is what makes it mine,

and what makes yours, yours,

and that THIS is what makes it our

big,

beautiful,

busted up, 

normal.

so,

thank you monday morning,

for bringing on all the to do's and all the feels,

that come along with this girl's "normal"

&

for this opportunity to extend an invitation to all my sisters

to join us for this special international women's day event

taking place march 7 & 8 here in medway.

we have designed a beautiful and inspirational program 

to lift you up and equip you for balance in the midst of all your "normal."
who else could use more of that?

learn more and register here.

february break instabits

february break brought us...

snowstorms

&

monster trucks...

a day trip to the ocean

&

a weekend in the mountains...

basketball

&

board games...

mansions in the sunshine

&

a backyard barn in a snowstorm...

xbox

&

snowball fights...

reading by the fireplace

&

napping on the chairlift ...

muscles in newport

&

burritos in the city...

adventures with friends that are family

&

adventures with uncle matt...

magic

&

memories...

sledding,

snowshoeing,

skiing,

skating,

swinging,

&

sipping...

bits

&

bobs...

that made for a february break

we are sad to see go.

caution tape

a couple weekends ago i was a chaperone/leader

for a youth group retreat in new hampshire.

one of brilliant leaders packed a big ol' roll of yellow caution tape

so that we could strategically and visbily reserve seats for our students

in the big group sessions.

it was awesome

(kudos to heather)!

the tape definitely made a few heads turns...

as we bridged the gap between being both
overly protective and totally bad ass!

***

on the last day,

instead of rolling up the tape to throw away,

i put a long strip in my bag to take with me,
as a kinda keep sake treasure from the weekend.

i've been carrying it around in my bag,

and let me tell you,

i've thought about using it more than 

a few times over the last few weeks.

like we did in new hampshire,

i want to wrap my kids and all their friends in caution tape,

with a big sign that says...
"don't mess with them!"

***

don't mess with them flu germs...not in my house!

don't mess with them apps & technology temptations...we are on to you!
don't mess them bullies and mean friends...be nice!

don't mess with them students who are vaping...addiction is a real thing!

don't mess with them hormones and icky feelings...we will tame you!

and these are just a few of the things 

i want to keep away from my kids and all their friends.

***

unfortunately i can't wrap them all
in bright yellow caution tape,
though that would kinda fun.

and i can't just clench my eyes,
and wait until this phase is over,
actually don't even want to,
because i don't want to miss anything.

***

so know this...

mama bear is
NOT hibernating.

she has fierce
and friendly growl.

she is standing up on two legs,
and is looking em' in the eyes.

her front paws are raised up high,
but her claws are in.

she is in ready position
to do three things ...

1. pray for protection
2. oil them up
3. hug them real hard

***

so,
don't mess them...
because mama bear, papa bear
and all their friends are paying attention,
and ready to love!

and if necessary,
break out the caution tape too!
right, heather?