downward dog

I love that I can write something on this blog and then an idea pops into my mind. Like the last posting about finding a hobby. Today I woke up and thought, I should try doing yoga.

I've always had a mild fascination with yoga and meditation. In fact, when Tony and I were first dating, he told me how he meditated on a daily basis. So for our second date, I told him I wanted him to teach me to meditate. It was a very interesting date to say the least but I won't go into that...

I've tried meditating but find I'm too ADHD. I can't focus. I can't stay still. I can't concentrate on just breathing or being.

But maybe yoga is the key. It's all about balance right?

We're going on vacation soon to a nice beachy place. When Tony asked me what I wanted to do on vacation, I replied "sleep." The truth was I couldn't really think of much (see last post) that I wanted to do besides sleep and maybe try to read.

So I'll give yoga a whirl and see how it goes. Yoga-ish tips, suggestions and comments are most welcome...

I need a hobby

A few weeks ago I wrote a post about Ryan's magical world of toys on his blanket. I thought about if I had a magical blanket, what toys would I have? I came up with a waterski boat, some books and a beach. But even those took some time to come up with.

The reality is it took me far too long to think of something I would want to do. And every so often (not very often at all), I find myself with an extra minute to spare. Like last Friday for example. It was a company holiday and I had the day to myself. I couldn't think of a single thing I wanted to do FOR MYSELF.

I ended up spending the day with Ryan and when he was napping, I cleaned the house. I'm really quite amazed that I couldn't figure out something I wanted to do for myself.

That's not like me. Not like me at all.

Not that I'm complaining about being a mom - I don't think I could ever do that. It's such a delayed (and somewhat unexpected) blessing in my life that I don't think I'll ever take for granted. But I do think I need to keep some balance in my life.

One of the problems is I don't know what the problem is. My former hobbies don't really interest me right now. I've always been an avid reader. I have hundreds of books and I used to read about a book a week. But I'm not interested in reading.

I used to love to sew. And cook. And make an occasional craft of some sort. Still not interested.

I've become pretty obsessed with keeping up with housecleaning, laundry and work. Those equal three full-time jobs. So whenever I have a spare minute, I'd rather clean or work.

Which I guess is fine. It just seems, well, boring. And I think that is the problem. I'm bored with myself.

I suppose that's okay for now. Tony, Ryan and Abby keep me pretty entertained. But sooner or later I think I'm going to have to entertain myself. If for no other reason than to prevent personal atrophy.

So I guess I'm making a goal...Goal #1: Find a hobby.

And goal #2...Enjoy it.

Easter...Mano Style

One of the things I love the most about living in Utah is being by all the extended relatives. My dad's side of the family gets together a lot. Most of the parties are monthly birthday parties for all the great-grandchildren, but there are several parties each year that are tradition.

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years are all fun, but Easter...Easter is my favorite Mano family party of all.

We always get together at Auntie Linda and Uncle Dick's house. We have yummy food. We visit with all the relatives (and there are a LOT of relatives). And then we have the Easter Egg Hunts (yes - HUNTS - plural). We do the kids hunt first which is always so cute. Auntie Linda is very fair. She makes sure each kid gets the same number of eggs plus a couple of other treats like a bottle of bubbles. And there are always the eggs with money in it and the GOLDEN eggs. The older boys have it down. They've learned to find an egg, shake it and if they hear coins, the keep it. If they don't, it goes back to its hiding place. The kids are darling and so fun to watch.

After the little kids hunt, it's time for the big kids. And when I say big kids, I mean just that. BIG KIDS. There is a fun competition for the golden eggs which have larger denomination bills in them. I'm usually the photographer, but this time I was the baby holder so my video didn't turn out the best - but you still get the picture. A bunch of crazy adults running around looking for eggs with candy and money in them. You'd think there was a million dollars in the golden eggs.

There's nothing like family. Ryan was completely wiped out by the time we got home and we already can't wait for next year.

Like I said, this is my favorite family party of the year. And considering my family and the number of parties we have, that's saying a lot.

and I was doing so well...

I was so proud of myself...blogging on a regular basis and even through the High Point Market.

But I fell off the wagon and it's hard to get back on.

Mostly because I'm a little depressed. I'm traveling again. For about 2 months I'm traveling just about every other week. I'm a one-part exhausted and one-part home-sick. And that makes writing a bit difficult because all I can think to write about it how I'd rather be home.

But I'll get back on that wagon soon...I have a great story that I want to share soon!

Sugar Easter Eggs

Every Easter when we were young, my mom would spend hours and hours making sugar Easter eggs for us to decorate. I have vivid memories of my mom making dozens and dozens of these sugar eggs over the years. She would even come to our classrooms and have our entire class make them. Even after we all grew up, she continued making them for years for one fifth grade teacher's class.

This year, mom told her three older grandkids that she would come make them in their classes. Which is why she is here this week. She arrived on Sunday and has been making sugar eggs ever since for Brixen, Sienna and Jack's classes.

As Ryan and I watched her make every individual egg (she has to make the top and bottom in separate molds), I told Ryan about how we did this growing up. I told Ryan that Grandma would come make them for his class when he was older (even though Grandma thinks she's going to be too old by then).

And then I digressed and told Ryan my favorite Carolyn Mano story...which I will save for another day (maybe her next birthday?). But I will mention that it involves a rooster and it has nothing to do with Easter.

This morning I was able to go to Brixen's class and help out for about an hour. What fun memories it brought back! Here's to childhood memories and to a wonderful grandma who will fly from California to Salt Lake to continue a tradition for her grandchildren!

the 12 days of High Point

The self-proclaimed furniture capital of the world (High Point, North Carolina) has just concluded its spring Furniture Market.

It's actually mind-boggling to think about the money that passes hands here in a week. If you haven't experienced a furniture market, maybe you should come with me next October. It really is something.

The entire city revolves around the furniture industry. There are thousands and thousands (maybe millions?) of square feet of furniture showrooms and they are used primarily twice a year - a week in April and a week in October. They are vacant the rest of the year.

I neglected to take some pictures of our Mr Brown showroom (which was beautiful, but the same look as the last three shows), but here are some lovely iPhone pics of our Julian Chichester showroom.

But I have to admit that to me, the best part about the High Point Market concluding is going home!

Ryan's World

It started with a small baby blanket, then it became two blankets side by side and finally grew to a queen size blanket laden with a number of toys that sing, squeak, rattle and hum.
This little world of Ryan's keeps him sufficiently entertained for long periods of time (as long as his diaper is dry and his tummy is full). His world is lined with soft velvety pillows covering surfaces that might be tough on his little noggin and a nice carpet-lined step along the north edge. Once in awhile he'll roll himself into an uncomfortable position, but it's nothing a good wail that summons mom and dad can't fix.

I love to lay down on his blanket and play along side Ryan. We read books and we bang on toys. I love to let Ryan just crawl all over me. When he burrows his little head in my tummy and smiles at me, I can't resist scooping him up and kissing him all over his little face.

The last time I was with Ryan on his blanket, I looked around at all his toys. I thought, how fun for a little baby to be surrounded with his favorite things. And then I thought, if I could have a magical world with my favorite things, what would I have?

A waterski boat for sure. Some great books. Maybe a beach!

That was over a week ago. When I was home with Tony and Ryan in our little home in Cottonwood Heights. And now I'm back in North Carolina again - for TWELVE days (it's Furniture Market time again).

So my magical world? I'd give up the beach. I'd give up the books. I'd even give up the boat. All I want is to be back home, with my little Ryan on his blanket. All I want is to bang on his toys, to read him a book and to scoop him up and kiss his little face.

That would be magical.

your typical dog??

I was doing dishes the other day and looked out the window. There was our charming dog sniffing around our wheelbarrow. She jumped up on top of it as if it were nothing. And then she proceeded to drink water out of some obscure place. I wish I caught it on video, but at least I caught a quick shot with my phone. Do we keep a water dish readily available? Yes. Does Abby have access to it 24 hours a day? Yes. Does she prefer to hunt for water in strange, hard-to-reach places? Again, yes. Much like her owner (Tony, not me of course), Abby is not without her quirks. She would prefer to drink dirty water out the water drain from the roof or from a wheelbarrow that's been sitting for a couple of days. Or out of the toilet (which is why all our toilet lids are down at all times). I think those branches that fell in the last storm make her feel like she is in the wild or something. But we love her. She's cheap entertainment.

Ryan at 6 months

I had these pictures taken back in February. It was Saturday, February 13th. I was flying back to North Carolina the next day - February 14th - which if you didn't notice was Valentines Day. I was feeling pretty bad about abandoning Tony again and especially on that day of all days. I'm not a big Valentines Day person - I don't expect or give a box of chocolates - I'm kinda a bah humberger I guess. But on Saturday February 13th, I woke up and felt like I needed to get Ryan's picture taken for Tony. So I called this photographer near us and booked an appointment that same day. When we arrived, the photographer seemed like a nice guy, but geesh, he was creepy looking. He looked kinda like a circus clown with a scary mouth. He was trying SO hard to get Ryan to laugh - which is normally very, VERY easy. But I think he was just too crazy looking for Ryan. Anyway, he took something like 30 pictures and maybe 5 or so turned out ok. Then as we were going through them, Ryan starting having a melt-down. He apparently had had enough of the crazy clown man and wanted to go home. So instead of having the luxury of purchasing just a few pictures, I said, how much for all of them?

$299 later, Ryan and I were out the door and on our way back home to safety. So here are 2 of the best pictures. Sometimes impulsivity comes at a heavy price. I think I'll take on Visa's mantra and keep telling myself they are priceless.