army, navy, air force, marines

hi again!

I wrote a while back about the different demographic mix here in Northern Virginia---about my mix of fear and fascination with all of the military and law enforcement professionals living nearby--specifically in my neighborhood. And my sadness about the Pit Bulls--living next door. I wasn't sure how it was all going to come together for us. I was curious and interested--but very unsure--because of the dogs.

Well, call it the gift of gab from having kissed The Blarney Stone in 1997, I've gotten to know the neighbors, and the dogs, and they are all actually quite nice. Every single person around us is either a police officer, a Marine, an FBI investigator or CIA. Oh, except one--he works for the NRA. Quite a different bunch than I've been exposed to in my sheltered life.

Needless to say, their perspective on life and the world is quite different than my own. But I'm always curious and interested in people, and asking them about their lives and work is one sure way to get people to open up and get to know them.

They've got some fascinating stories about their work, their time overseas, and their professions. They make great neighbors--very responsible. Like they cut their grass and fertilize on time for example. Stuff that's hard for us with our current load.

And--SURPRISE--their dogs are better behaved than mine!! I guess it's not that surprising. I'm somewhat of a cream puff on the inside and I think my dogs can sense that. Mine are obedient, but all bets are off if they go into their 'instinctual (un)happy place.' The Marines definitely have their Pit Bulls well under control. I'm not sure I'm 100% comfortable with the situation, but the irony is not lost on me for sure.

Even more IRONIC is that Daisy--our black lab---LOVES, loves, loves to play with them. She's about their same size, and she's naturally very submissive, so there are no conflicts. And I didn't know this before I had a lab, but they are very 'pack' oriented--as opposed to 'people' oriented like all my previous dogs. I haven't known really how to 'connect' with Daisy in the past, other than to give her food and treats which she loves. But she LOOOOOVES other dogs and she especially loves the Pits. And they appear to love her. They just all roll around together and could enjoy their doggie time all day long if they could.

So--we hang out together as much as possible with everyone's schedules. All the dogs get really tired when they play together, much more so than even a long walk. And, who doesn't love a tired doggie! A tired doggie is a happy doggie. So--I put my fears aside and let her play with her friends Max, Rocky and Rambo. Rocky is her BFF.

So--it's unfortunate that there are those people in our society that do not have positive motivations, good character and self-control and subsequently military and police force are necessary to keep the peace. Though, it is the reality we live in. I have no interest in doing that kind of work myself, but I sure am glad there are people out there who want to do it.

And, I have to say, I'm kinda glad they are my neighbors. Not only because they're easygoing and nice people, but it's definitely a very safe neighborhood!

And--oh, I guess now I'll be surrounded! Dave's dad and brother-in-law are in the military, Dave's going to be a lawyer and there is just law enforcement all around us. It's like living in a fortress!

More soon! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

domestic bliss and tranquility

true love x 2!

In addition to making a DAMN FINE BANANA CAKE, because she knew it was my favorite, and she wanted to make my birthday really special, which she did, and it was :)---- my M-I-L, Carolyn is the ultimate domestic doyenne.

Being at her house is so RELAXING, first and foremost because of the pleasant company, but also because it's just very CLEAN and very comfortable. It's outfitted with the all thoughtful small details that make guests feel immediately at ease, and find everything they need is already provided. And the smell of delicious food cooking (always) adds to the feeling of HOME at her house.

You already know from reading previous posts, that her home it also an atmosphere of warmth, caring, support, and unconditional love. So--it is even more enjoyable because of her domestic skills. She doesn't just go out of her way for MY birthday, every person she loves recieves her loving attention during their uniquely important moments.

It is on her skillful creation of HOME, in every meaning of the word, that I base my aspirations. Not only for the comfort of my husband, because he's accustomed to such a high standard of care and creature comforts, because his MOM and DAD did such a good job, but also for the health and comfort of Isaac. :) I am so fortunate to get to be a stay-at-home mom to him. We wanted him to have the same nurturing home environment that Dave grew up with.

Maintaining this environment of delicious home cooked meals, uber-cleanliness, uplifting and inspiring beauty, and loving attentiveness, is a huge priority for me, not only for Isaac's well-being, but for Dave's as well. It's my way of saying THANK YOU while his responsibility load is so large--with law school and working full-time--very difficult and challenging. Thank you Dave, for all your hard work. My mom and I appreciate being the beneficiaries.

Consequently, my home is SO CLEAN right now. There is nothing that feels better or more luxurious--than a clean, well-appointed, beautiful home. For the first time since we moved in, the clutter is cleared, and I was able to clean really deeply--everywhere. We're talking cleaning the floors on hands and knees and dusting the blinds---clean. Prior to this we just had parts clean and parts dirty.

I've always been good at keeping the homemade meals coming and the freezer full. Dave absolutely LOVES food, and he is quite an talented gourmet cook, so his expectations for good FLAVOR are high. I love food too--though, I enjoy very low-brow comfort food as much as the dramatic, flaming Steak Au Poive or the exotic Thai dishes Dave makes. Mostly I love cooking for how much it intensifies the feeling of home--- filling the house with such enticing smells wafting through the air.

Some things I learned recently:
--Used dryer sheets take away soap residue on glass shower doors. Sparkling!
--Baby wipes make excellent dust cloths on non-wood surfaces.















tummy time is happy time--especially on our new play yard from grama!


Everyone knows how good it feels when your house is CLEAN. When my house is this clean, I always want to invite everyone over to enjoy it. Previously, that has meant FRIENDS while we lived in Seattle. We will certainly miss our huge blow-out parties as well as intimate gatherings with our good friends. :(

Now it means FAMILY too since most everyone lives near here. And in our short time here we've hosted family events and houseguests a number of times already!

I love that our home is becoming a HUB of hosting and entertaining in our extended network of friends and family. And I absolutely love providing such a nurturing, relaxing, nourishing and beautiful space for everyone who spends time here. (pictures as soon as I hang the art and the curtains :) )

Our next big gathering is THANKSGIVING. I hope all of our invited guests can make it. Believe me, the food will be delicious. And, oh, how I wish you could join us!

Miss you! Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

I need my Helena Williams.

HELENA WILLIAMS---I miss you!


"...Won't you be, won't you be, please won't you be, my neighbor?" -- Fred Rodgers, The Mister Rodgers Show, 1976

"...There she is...Miss America," Lyrics by Wayne Bernie, 1963

OMG I miss you Helena! And I miss our time as neighbors :) We were SUCH GOOD partners.

For several YEARS...
We ran 4 - 12 miles a DAY-- three to five times a week!
We lifted weights for the same.
We did fun things like the Vancouver BC Half Marathon.
We hosted fun parties and served yummy food.
We ran The Ives Home Owners Association--very successfully :) with programs that are in operation today STILL.
We (OK--YOU) created Noche de Arte---aka Stich & Bitch.

What a WHOLESOME, FULL, HEALTHFUL lifestyle that was.

We said we would keep up the regimens--POST babies, and DURING parenting.

I need you. I need to still do all those things--and this Home Owners Association is four times the size. And the extra baby weight is not budging. I can do it by myself, it's just not as fun. I'm feeling the LOSS. Still. After all this time.

In short, you ROCK.

This is my tribute to YOU! For all to see.

And if anyone would like to volunteer to be my LOCAL neighbor | running partner | VP | girlie friend, please let me know. [And Paige Kromer--make no mistake, you are a wonderful next-door neighbor too, you just said you prefer tennis.]


:(

if you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!

Clap, clap!

These days I am singing all of those happy childhood songs---On Top of Old Smokey, Zip-A-Dee-Do-Da, On the Good Ship Lollipop. Good thing our internet connection is back up. I can refresh my memory on ALL THE VERSES, not just the reprieves.

Isaac sure does seem like a happy baby. He wakes up everyday with a huge smile on his face. And, aside from slurping down a good 12 ounces--a lot for an almost 3 month old, he pretty much just coos, and kicks, and smiles with his sparkling charm--all the time. He's such an easy baby. I just want to cuddle with him constantly--which is good--I am still a marsupial.

Sometimes our house is a little bit messy (a lot?! YES--OK) but Dave even says--Isaac time is prime time. Good thing even the experts say you can't spoil a baby younger than 6 months.

I want to have 16 more--tomorrow. But everyone agrees--this would be a BAD idea. So--I have comprimised--lose my weight, focus on my health--AND THEN TRY again. We'll definitely be having a second (and a third if I get my way :) as soon as possible.

So--a long time ago I decided that I would THRIVE. I would figure out everything I wanted and needed to thrive, and I would learn how my significant others would define thriving, and I would work to create those things for everyone in my household. At the time, right after I decided, it seemed that my life went to shambles. Lots of stuff needed to change. I only had success in PARTS of my life--like my career. Old things that were not giving me happiness gave way to new things that were much better suited to me, and my life became really fun.

I am happy to report a deep satisfaction with all parts of my life these days. You might think it would be the opposite in our current circumstances. Dave doing 16 hour days, me being a 'single-mom' in essence...yes, there is a lot to do. But today for example is a perfect day. Dave supervised Isaac's nap while I took the dogs on a long walk. The leaves are changing, the sun was shining, and the forests surrounding our house are absolutely gorgeous. We saw turkey tracks, and deer tracks and the dogs ran and ran in the open fields.

Everyone had delicious food that I had cooked earlier in the week--strata for breakfast, shepard's pie for lunch. And, with our new nifty FiOS entertainment system, I've been able to fire-up my mom's favorite shows on her TV. It's a perfect, relaxing, fall Saturday afternoon.

I think THRIVING and deep satisfaction in life has a lot to do with one's energy level matching one's responsibilities and goals. For me, it's having the power to create the emotional and home environment and experiences for the enjoyment of the important people in my life. Myself included. Lately, these things are all matching up.

Striving is still part of my physiology. It's fun to build on successes and increase self-esteem. Though, it feels a lot nicer on top of a solid emotional foundation and strong, functioning household. I think Dave would agree. It's his raison d'etre for going to school.

It feels really good to be me--both on the inside--and the outside--darn near all the time. I know Dave feels the same way. And it makes our beautiful home and time with our loved ones that much more meaningful and precious. I didn't know it was possible to experience such wholeness. :)

Those years back, I had only IMAGINED, it might be possible to THRIVE. Thank goodness for my imagination. And now, the reality is even better!

I'm thankful we waited until now for Isaac. He gets to benefit from this ebullient, strong time in our lives.

More soon. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

it's a family affair

Yesterday it seems like I spent the whole day watching TV. Not really. Just Law & Order--twice. I like that show because it's always a different story. I guess that's what happens when you live without TV for two months!

Today we already received 5 telemarketing calls. How do they know our number already!! SHEESH!

Isaac appears to be able to sit up on his own when his in a partially reclined position!! WEIRD. And--at 2.75 months old, he's already wearing clothes for 6 month old babies. So far, his favorite song is Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. (pronounced / ˌsuːpɚˌkælɪˌfrædʒəlˌɪstɪkˌɛkspiːˌælɪˈdoʊʃəs/)

Today I realized, I haven't said alot about Dave's family--the Schleifers---on my blog before. They are so lovely, it could be that I take them for granted and assume you all know all about them. But yeah, they are truly wonderful. How often does one feel that way about their spouse's family?!! How lucky am I?

I am mostly impressed by how close knit they are. They are all very supportive of one another--through thick and thin. And despite a large geographic dispersity, they really pull together. They span the globe from Germany to Hawaii and still remain close. They are positive people. Consequently they all seem well-adjusted, happy and excited to spend time with one another. For the most part--I suppose. Impressive!

They instantly warmly accepted me--which I appreciated very much. I felt included. Both at a large family reunion when I first met Dave and also one-on-one. How nice is that?!! In fact, I think Dave's parents talked about how much they wanted more grandchildren the first time I met them. So--I assumed that they liked me!

Dave's mom and dad are darn near IDEAL parents. Involved--just enough. Supportive--all the time. They seem to be able to gracefully walk the line between offering important opinions and giving us enough space to make our own decisions. They enjoy one another's foibles--as well as mine and Dave's. I enjoy them very much. How often do people feel easygoing and friendly with their in-laws? Believe me, I realize how lucky I am!

Dave's mom is the one-and-only VIP who I absolutely wanted by my side during Isaac's labor and delivery. She's very calming and reassuring. She has much to teach about being an excellent mother and caregiver. She is one of the strong spokes of the wheel, creating a hub, and keeping up communications with just about everyone--while making awesome pies and homemade food all at the same time. You didn't think June Cleaver actually existed. But yes, she is my mother-in-law. :)

And there isn't anyone else I would want to teach Isaac about being a husband, father and a gentleman than Dave and his own dad. They have a strong family culture of health, strength and compassion and responsibility--both financially and emotionally. It's rare to find such a wonderful combination--with lots of warm humor and levity thrown in. I feel so fortunate to have them in our lives.

I am totally impressed with how devoted Dave's parents are to their grandchildren. When we've attended the annual Outer Banks beach vacations they are both TIRELESS and endlessly patient in entertaining and teaching the kids. It PUTS ME TO SHAME because I tire quickly and head for the loungechairs.

I don't have direct experience with being a sister---but I get to be one now--with my favorite sister-in-law---Stephanie. So organized. So in control. So skilled at being a MOM! Soon she and her posse are moving to Roanoke. And she just had a baby in December--so Isaac has a built-in buddy to hang out with. Her microcosm of the family is equally awesome. The kids are creative and exhuberant--and beautiful. She and Joe run a smooth, loving household.

And--there is a gaggle in San Francisco too! Dave and I got to stay with them a couple of years back. Such high acheivers. Also happy and thriving. Except for Ace, their black lab, who has eaten their windows. He just doesn't realize he's not supposed to do that. But he's super adorable.

Isaac will definitely be the beneficiary of their family culture of love, closeness and wholesomeness. Obviously, I have already been. Once again, I'm the luckiest girl in the world. I can't wait to host family events and holidays at our house!

Still unearthing us, and still being a half-asleep zombie...miss you...love you...email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.

we enter the 21st century

Hi again!

Miracles do happen! There was a free computer at the library available today AND we are supposed to get our phone/cable/internet/security system up and running this Wednesday. Can you believe that after eight weeks in the stone ages we might actually join the 21st century?

Last weekend, I had my 100th birthday. Everyone else thought I only turned 39, but that is because I colored my hair to cover the gray. Dave's parents and my uncle Adam (mom's brother) came to celebrate. Once we pushed the unpacked boxes into the other room, we had a great time. Adam dazzled us with stories of his travels and his poignant political insights.

My mom jokes that it was more like Snuffles's birthday because everyone lavishes him with lots of new fun things and lots of loving attention. Mommy says she wouln't have it any other way.

Seriously, I have been overcome with gratitude for all of the generous gifts, support and outpouring of love for Snuffles. My only wish is that we could spend time with each of you in person.

K. Gotta go! Snuffles is freaking out and we're at the library. Ciao.

happy photo of Snuffles!

Hi everyone!! I have 2 minutes before I have to go get Dave at the train station, and still no INTERNET service, no PHONE service and NO CABLE TV!! So--updating the blog (and doing many many things) has been a REAL challenge. Dave takes the computer to study all the time, and when I try the library computers there are just job-seekers and students HOGGING them all the beeping time. (No, I'm NOT frustrated or anything!!) I could go on and on about the logistical difficulties, but how boring, yes?

SNUFFLES is wonderful. Motherhood is wonderful. I disagree with everyone who says it's hard or who doesn't like the menial-ness of laundry, diapers, baby barf, and formula stains. It's all wonderful. But then, Snuffles is an easy baby. Dave is callling him THOR so he doesn't develop a complex from being called Snuffles all day.

He's gained a LOT of weight. He's 14 pounds now. Gained SIX pounds in two months. That's a lot when you only weigh 14 pounds. Close to doubled his weight in two months. Hungry Hungry Hippos.

In other news, I have to give my DAD a big SHOUT OUT. Thank you Dad for financing a wonderful teacher and babysitter to come stay with me for a week: My Aunt Mary. It was a wonderful lesson in expert mothering techniques, including: how to get baby to sleep when he's alone, how to bathe him best and how to keep all the balls up in the air at the same time-without imploding.

Oh--and I was able to get us a LOT more moved-in. So--what WONDERFUL HELP. I sincerely appreciate it. My Dad has been working steadily behind the scenes this whole time to ease everything for Dave and I--and it's the kind of family support that is irreplaceable and priceless. So--thank you. Family support is a wonderful thing.

So--thank you also goes to my Uncle Bob for coming out earlier this summer to help with my mom's move. Both Mary and Bob have taken their time to come help me at my Dad's request. And, I couldn't be more THANKFUL for the strong support. It's all new to me, Ms. Only-Child-like, do-everything-yourself-type person. I'm not used to all the attention, and I don't quite know how to handle it. But it is SINCERELY appreciated.

My mom has enjoyed all the companionship as well. Her health is not great, and I know she'd LOVE to participate more than she can. But the McCarthy's have been a breath of fresh air for us all.

So--incidentally, Dave got selected as Employee of the Month for September, complete with a picture in the company newsletter. And, he also seems to be getting an A (we don't know for sure because they only actually grade at the end of the semester--and there's grading on a curve) But, even without the curve, he'd be getting an A-. So--I'm proud of him---extremely proud of him! And--yes...

WE ARE BOTH EXHAUSTED. All the time.
LOVE YOU, miss you...and talk soon!

xoxoxo. Email us at schleiferkin@gmail.com.