Cara's First Post

I am currently in the middle of a most blissful and amazing two weeks known as Spring Break.

No dragging kids out of warm beds to be at daycare by 7:30.

No lesson planning, paper grading or reasoning with apathetic seniors.

No shuffling between housework, cooking and childcare duties in the few precious evening hours that we're home as a family.

Instead, I have two weeks time. Time to play, time to relax, time to go places and do the things that I've been meaning to do. We've spent hours with Bendaroos, legos, play-doh, crayons and stickers. We've visited a museum, a theme park, a playground and the beach. I've sorted out closets and toy bins and junk drawers. I've read, run, and napped. And now, I've blogged.

I started a blog last year, when I was a stay-at-home mom and thought I'd have the hours and energy to keep it up. I never considered myself a 'writer', but the adventures of raising two small boys seemed to write themselves. Blogging was therapeutic, as it allowed me to contemplate and share my everyday successes, failures, joys and frustrations. Unfortunately as the year progressed, my small part-time tutoring job became a more-than-full-time job and I was unable to keep up with writing.

Amy putting the moves on my man. Circa 1992

Sometime along the way, I reconnected, ala Facebook, with Amy. I met Amy in middle school-- back when I had some atrocious bangs and a horendous pair of denim shorts. Back when I thought it was safe to ride my 10-speed through a deserted path in the woods that connected our neighborhoods. Back when Amy would fill countless composition books with original stories and back when we'd exchange intricately folded sheets of notebook paper filled with funny gossip and anecdotes.

So here we are, almost twenty years later. My atrocious bangs have been grown out and highlighted. My mini-van has replaced my 10-speed. Daily Facebook exchanges have taken the place of our "For Your Eyes Only" notes. And I am pleased to report that I have not worn denim shorts (or a black floppy hat) since the summer of 1994.

We now have husbands and kids and houses and jobs.

We also have some stories to share and hope you're along for the ride.