“Balance” is my Holy Grail.  The mountain I’d love to conquer (as my kids conquered this gravel hill). Sometimes I think the harder I try to find it the farther away it becomes.  Don’t get me wrong - I fully appreciate the wonderful opportunities and beautiful family I’ve been blessed with.  But there always seems to be a shortage of TIME.  For the kids, for projects at work, for my husband, for friends, for family, for hobbies, for just being alone. 

    Working nights and is both awesome - and tricky.   I don’t have a lot of time to stop and take inventory of all that I’m trying to balance - but looking at the photos I’ve been snapping in my cameraphone lately tells at least part of the story.

   Clara at her new preschool.  Today I was a parent volunteer.  Wiping noses, gluing, sweeping, serving snacks, zipping coats, leading a parade, making a big fuss over gorgeous works of art from nine tiny sets of hands.   I may be nuts but I just love kids this age. Nothing could be cuter.

  An outing to Steak N Shake with Cal and Clara’s former babysitters from Des Moines, “spring breaking” in Indy a week ago.  These girls are a trip and a half.  They were hugely helpful in watching the kids - they watched Horton Hears a Who and toured downtown Indy while I interviewed Barack Obama.  I think everybody won.

Here’s a rare adults night out a few weeks ago with our fun neighbors  (Alyssa and I here)  and their great group of friends!  I’m NOT  sushi fan - but I did manage to eat a few bites of it just for the sake of being a good sport and not a complete baby.   (I’ll confess, I’d have been much more at home with pizza, burgers, or enchiladas)

But the company was great!  Ian and I definitely need to do this kind of thing more often. I think it’s only the second meal we’ve had out on the town without kids in the past year. (not kidding)

Todd and I riding in the St. Patty’s Day parade.  Fun - but COLD!  I couldn’t help but thinking my late Grandpa Sterling’s Irish eyes would have been smiling to see this event.

Hosting a tea party playdate with Clara and her newest friend.  I’m so grateful she’s found a buddy whose mom and is so much fun to hang out with! Kristina and I actually got to chat and have a couple cups of coffee while our hilarious girls played happily. Cha-Ching!

At the Pacers game with my 5-year-old, Calvin.  (Doesn’t he look ecstatic?) He inhaled a jumbo hotdog, a pile of chips and popcorn, plus some M&M’s and a cookie that Bowser the mascot scored for him.  (obviously he’s making up for all the malnourishment at home)  We were the guests of the Pacers, since I’m part of their “All-Star Reading team” that travels to local schools to read to kids.  I figured this would be fun, but I had no idea we’d have such a great time!

   He even got to hang out with the very sweet Terri Stacy from WIBC, although Cal had no idea he was hanging with “local celebrity” types.  Boomer and Bowser left the biggest impression, I’m afraid.

     Just a little slice of life off the air.  Busy. Sometimes impossibly so.  But right now I’m more willing to give up sleep and quiet time to myself than these adventures. 

  And I’ll keep dreaming of someday when I’ll find time for all of the above.

    Best of luck to all of you searching for your own balance, and if you figure it out, please let me know how!

Trish