Aidan's 3rd Birthday Party

Aidan's 3rd Birthday was blast. I think everyone had a great time. The "Thomas the Train" cake turned out all right. I wasn't thrilled about the chocolate cake taste, but I don't think anyone suspected it was made out of entirely organic ingredients.

Now I just have to write thank you notes for all the gifts Aidan recieved. Aidan's party last year was so much work I totally neglected the thankyous. Yeah, I know my mother raised me better than that. No excuse's this year. I am writing them in the next couple of days.

I have so many things to write about

I really do. But they seem to be piling up. I have birthday pics and townhouse building pictures to post.

So they are all coming, stay tuned. Until then, for all you parents of young children here is a great parenting advice article that I read often.

Calm-Mom-5-Ways-to-Be-a-Present-Parent

I Still Love Mr. Rogers

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The Scottish Festival

Aidan and I went to a great Scottish Festival last Saturday. I had planned on staying maybe an hour, but we were there for almost five. My mother’s family is Scottish with the surname Buckalew. The Buckalews’ are a part of the Scott Clan. So Aidan and I spent along time at the Scott Clan tent and I learned so much.

We watched highland games including the caber toss. Not really a toss if you ask me.

Aidan and I spent the most time listening to the bands.

Albannach (AL-ban-ock),
Rathkeltair (rath-KELT-ur),
Barleyjuice
Poisoned Dwarf

All were really good. Aidan loved Albannach, they had really big drums. He sat on my shoulders and kept asking me to get closer.



So I am still vegetarian. I was scared for a while, every food sign I saw at the festival said, “Meat Pie”. It took some looking but I found something delicious.

Aidan’s birthday is coming up. I am having a party for him this Saturday. So that means I have to bake a cake Friday night. I am envisioning a ½ sheet with picture Thomas the Train. We will see how it goes. I haven’t decorated a cake is quite some time.

Wednesday Thoughts

Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet. — Albert Einstein

Eating Healthy, Kind of

So I am still going strong. I did have a chocolate bar, 2 doughnuts and ice cream this weekend. It sounds like a lot after when you actually type it out. But, after two weeks with almost no sugar at all I guess I wanted to award myself. I truly believe in the theory of being addicted to sugar. After two weeks with not much at all I really didn’t have any cravings. But after having that first bite of chocolate I had cravings for like two days.

Today I am breaking it. I am not going dwell in the past. Today has been healthy eating all the way. So I am happy.

I haven’t admitted it to many people but I have been eating vegetarian for about a month. It has been great. Of course the few people who do know, of course ask, “what about protein?”. “I have to have protein”, they all say. Well I am proud to report. I eat too much protein. I have been checking in with the U.S.D.A “my pyramid” website. Every day for the last two weeks I am way over. So there.

I Can See Cleary Now

Well, I have been in a great mood lately. Very calm, and peaceful. For a while I was feeling either at the beginning of a journey or at the end. I couldn't quite tell which. Then it occured to me. For a long time now, (like almost 2 years) I have been reading every spiritual book out there, listening to spiritual podcasts, going to church, watching spiritual movies and just soaking up lots esoteric and metaphyical information. I even read about spiritual physics. Check out the movie “What the Bleep Do We Know”. Now I can’t explain every thing I have learned, but it has opened my eyes to a new world.

Before the peace, I was walking around with this “wanting” feeling inside. But, I couldn’t figure out what I was wanting. Did I need to buy something? I knew this wasn’t the answer, but none the less I pondered long and hard about what I could buy. Nothing ever came to mind. Maybe I just need to find another book or spiritual podcast. I had spent almost a year I would say listening and reading the inspirational guru Wayne Dyer. Did I need more? Maybe I needed to read a “New Earth” again, spend some time with some mindfulness exercises.

Then it occurred to me. I need to live it. I need live mindfulness not just read it. I need to live peace not just listen about it. So at least I have a plan.

Part of it is to get into a daily yoga practice. It always makes me feel peaceful and content. So I need to plan to get up earlier in the morning. Waking up early has always been one of my challenges.

Another part of the plan came about because of some health issues. The issues forced me to watch what I eat. You know more veggies less sugar. Now I feel great. I have an apple everyday and even the recommended number of vegetable servings. I have been mindful of my eating habits. I enjoy my food and concentrate on the nutrition of each. It is working out beautifully. And in taking care of myself I have lost some of that wanting.

Below is one of my favorite poems.

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

"I love you Mommy"

I don't know when this magical time started, but I love it. All of a sudden, Aidan is constantly telling me he loves me. As soon as he wakes, at quiet moments while we are driving in the car, and always at night. I am starting to rank of above his best friend in the world, Rambo. Rambo is the darker dog below. I don't know how long it will last, but for now it is wonderful.

Movin' on Up! Finally Got a Piece of the Pie

So last week I signed the contract with my townhome builder. Yippee. And last Thursday I went to my mortgage lender to lock in a rate. I am so excited to have a place of my own. And I just love the street name, "Peppers Point".


It is small by most peoples’ standards, but I have always been one for cubbie hole living. I lived in one room with my roommate Lindsey while in college, then moved into a small apartment with my ex-husband (600 sq). And now once again I live in one room with a roommate, my son. Let me tell you 3 yr boys don’t make the best roomies. No respect for privacy. ;-)

It will be glorious to have a kitchen, bathroom and my own room. The place is 2 beds and one bath and the total sq. feet equal 1,220. Sounds like a mansion to me. It even has a small back yard. That was really my only requirement. It is new construction so right now the move in date is Feb 28.

Susan and Aidan

While I am talking about roommates. I wanted to post a picture of my current roommate, Susan. She has been so wonderful. As I was breaking up with my ex-husband and wasn’t sure where I was going to live she graciously took Aidan and I in. Rent in Williamsburg in not cheap. During that time I didn’t have much money to live on and I don’t know what I would have done without her.

Also I miss my old roommate Lindsey. Love you Girl.

Monday Thoughts

Stillness is your essential nature.

What is stillness? - The inner space or awareness in which the words on this page are being perceived and become thoughts.

Without that awareness there would be no perception, no thoughts, no world.

You are that awareness disguised as a person.

-Eckhart Tolle

Back to the Grind

Well we are back in good ole Williamsburg. I love this place.

It wasn’t a relaxing Labor Day weekend, but Aidan and I had a great time. This was my first time to Myrtle Beach. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary for S.C., of course a couple of palm trees here and there. We went to the beach two days and Aidan actually went into the ocean! The surf was pretty rough because of Huricane Gustof so after a couple of times of getting salt water in his eyes he stayed on the beach.

We also drove go-carts and went to the aquarium and Aligator Adventure.

Yes, this is a live alligator.

The most relaxing part of the trip was the train ride home. We got on in Florence, SC and rode until Richmond, VA. I love taking the train, especially with a toddler. I don’t know if I will ever drive long distance again.

All Aboard!

This DVD player is a godsend. I actually got to set back, relax and listen to my ipod. I even closed my eyes! Yeah I look tired and in desperate need of a hair cut. Which thankfully I am getting today.


I am happy to get back into the groove of things. Work, daycare, work, some fun, back to work and dropping and picking up Aidan from daycare.

Labor Day Plans

Aidan and I are going on holiday this weekend to meet my ex-husband’s family for Labor Day. My wish is to get some sun, lie on the beach and read a book(s).

I have a chronic problem with checking out too many books from the library and not having enough time to read them. Sometimes I just lose interest in the middle of a book and start another. I finished the last book, “The Taoism of Pooh”. Now I am between Wayne Dyer’s “There is a Spiritual Solution for Everything and “A New Earth” by Eckhart Tolle. You would think since I haven’t finished these books I wouldn’t have started another, but I did, “The Taoism of Willie Nelson.” Yeah I know what you are thinking, a lot of spiritual books. We will have to that discuss that later.

So, we are driving down with Aidan’s great aunt and uncle to Myrtle Beach on Friday and then taking a train back to Richmond on Tuesday. Of course Aidan is more excited about the train than the beach. Pretty normal for his age I guess. I can’t believe he will be three soon. Only 2 months until October 18.

But let me go back a little. Here is a picture of Aidan when he was a cuddly baby. He still cuddles I just have to bribe him with chocolate milk now.

Hello Everyone

Well, I have been inspired. Recently one of my college friends, Jenny T. started a blog. And more importantly had a baby boy. He is so adorable by the way, Jenny. At the news of hearing I was so happy and actually got a little teary eyed remembering the new joys of motherhood.

Then it made me a little sad. I live far away from all my family and friends and frankly haven’t kept up with everyone. I don’t even have Jenny’s address!! We talk ever so often, but time passes, jobs change and families grow. Friends which have supported and made me the person I am today slowly fade into the background of everyday life. Surprisingly, I still feel close to all those friends to which I go 6 months or more between conversations. I feel guilt for not keeping into touch. So I am going to try this blog thing. I am not an eloquent writer, but I hope to give everyone a peak into my life now.

Love to all of you,
Milissa