Clark Griswold Syndrome

I don’t know when it happened. But the last few years my Clark Griswold Syndrome has really taken off. There is little awareness of this horrible affliction and even less help for it, but chances are you know someone who is affected. In case you are not familiar, the primary symptoms of CGS are setting extraordinary expectations for an event (usually family related) and becoming a bit off kilter when those expectations are not met. I’ve never taken a chainsaw to the newel post, but I have gone into long rants about my inability to form the perfect family moment. Of course since I never tell anyone of my high standards before the performance falls flat, those around me can hardly be blamed. This knowledge does not deter me from doing the same thing repeatedly.
I realized while daydreaming about our summer I am setting myself up for some epic CGS meltdowns. We’ll go swimming, we’ll go to Silver Dollar City, I’ll take Riley on a special shopping trip to St. Louis, and we’ll walk to the corner store for produce every day…it goes on and on. But none of my daydreams include me forgetting the sunscreen, bringing the “wrong” stuffed animal, screaming children, temper tantrums, or all the other mishaps that are bound to come along the way. None of the daydreams fail to meet my vision and expectations. And that is at the heart of CGS. Because what I think is going to happen, what I hope with all my heart will happen, it ain’t gonna happen.

Maybe I’ll tone down and get a handle on it this year. Or maybe this is the year I torch the Christmas tree.

February Fun

I don't know how we have gotten so lucky with the weather this winter. We had enough snow for a good sledding, one day, then it was gone. Now we are having spring weather!

Missouri is nothing if not unpredictable though.

We have had a lot of outside time lately.

This is a blessing with a very, ahem, active three year old with an even more active imagination.
And a very competitive five year old.



I need to practice with the blog some more and get a few more posts edited. I added a few new pictures to the bottom of the page layout. They aren't very good. But I want them there to remind myself that I need to practice with my camera. I need to work on getting some good pictures to capture our lives.



This isn't a real post. But I have couple in the works!

I'm back. I think.

I haven’t blogged in months, more like a year. Not that the date stamps didn’t make that obvious. But I have decided to change my approach. Instead of worrying about whether people will want to read what I write I am going to write whatever I want and leave the choice about reading it to whatever poor saps happen across this space. With that thrilling re-introduction I hope to have several posts up in the next few days. I said hope…