Saturday .....

it has SUCH a nice feel to it ...

C and S went to early hockey practice, and a friend of his had a game after him so they stayed and watched. K and I had breaky together, watched a little cartoons (girly ones, SOOOO different from the boylie ones!) and then the doorbell rang ....

the neighbor. i love this kid, C.

the kid that feels so comfy here that even without his buddy C around, he can come in, hang with the lil' sis of his "brodder from anodder modder" and kick up the bowling in the basement, and then play putt putt in the living room with her. They are giggling, and having a blast together.

I have been busy changing beds, doing luandry, cleaning up the little things that accumulate over the week - you know, dolls, and toys, and cars, and books, papers - and just general Saturday morning things. music on, laughter resounding ... good stuff. friends arriving later for some good times too.

good day.

in other news .... the pool is getting closed today :O( summer is really over, I guess. actually, I am not all that sad, as the fall is the BEST time to live where we live. changing of seasons always feels so, I don't know, *right*.

so, happy Saturday, and even Sunday while I am at it.

off to listen to some laughter.

:O)

spelling words

so, each week, the kids get their homework asigned on Monday, for the week. I kind of like it, to be honest. gives us a routine to go with.

C's has been like this: Mondays, write the spelling words 2 times each, math "game" with family member, read and log in your reading. Tuesday, write 5 sentences using the spelling words, math work ... read, log it. Wednesday sentences, math, read ... Thursday, spelling game for test on Fri, math work, read...

so, the last two weeks C's words have been review, he's loving the 'ease' of the duties, and being the comedian that he is, has made the sentences as interesting, and left-of-center as he can. I love the creative juices, no doubt, and he is enjoying the freedom it brings.

so, last week he is finishing up the sentences and tells me to come and read them.

the first four were fine, typical for his thinking out of the box phase he's in.

the last one struck me. initially, I was questioning him on it, but then I stepped back.

"I am the opposite of still"

;o)

how true. how stinkin' true. on so many levels.

love that thought process.

angels

few people know my attachment and belief in angels. I have always felt strongly that they are part of my life, watch over me, guide me, protect me ... you know, angel duties. I have a few personal angels that are special.

driving home tonight, K gal and I are chatting. Loads of puffy clouds in the sky (clearly prompting her to think of angels as we have discussed their innate ability to jump from cloud to cloud with ease ...) and the conversation went like this:

"mom, when angels fly, can they fly anywhere?"

"yep, pretty much anywhere they want to .. wide open up there"

"so, from city to city and state to state?"

"yep, all over, even country to country - France, Italy, China, Spain"

"even to Texas?!" :)

"yep, even that enormous place, Texas"

"do they go really fast, like faster than a plane?"

"I am sure they can go as fast or slow as they want, but sure, fast would be fun, wouldn't it?"

"yeah ..." pause ....pause .... pause ..... "so, mom, once you're an angel, you get to stay there forever, right?"

"well, as far as I know you do, K"

"will I get to fly with all the angels?"

{choke up} "yes, when you are really old, like 110, you can be an angel and fly with all of them"

:O)

Man, I love this kid.

bad blogger, I am

wow. A whole week? how exactly does a whole week zip by at the speed of light?

{sigh}

My life. Our life.

The last few weeks, since school started have truly felt like a dream .... I can't believe we are already in the schedule we are in. It is fun, and exciting, and the routine feels .... right, you know? C's hockey, and K's gymanstics/piano schedules have added to the feeling of routine too. We have been busy, but not "over-scheduled".

I also found a way to get back to the gym. Feels SO good. I literally took the summer off. I was excercising with the kids, and defintiely got my healthy groove on during the summer .... but I took about 6 weeks off from equipment, and weights. I needed to be with the kids. There was no way I was over-programming the summer. So, with me at the gym, them back in the routine of their lives, I just feel like we're on a treadmill. Not going too fast, and not an uncomfortable pace even.

It feels "right".

So, here I sit, the routine moved me forward into a new week. The weather is feeling fall-like, and scrumptious!

Work has been a flury of a schedule I am keeping as well. I still LOVE it. It is such a great job, great company, and great product. I am closing out the quarter, and month today, as a matter of fact, and I will be at 104% of quota for the year. I am so excited about that, and with some more pushing, and closing of deals, I should finish the year at that % and that'll win me an incentive trip! :O) Wooohhhhooooo Costa Rica, baby! Never been, and from all accounts the Corporate head honchos treat the staff quite well on the trips. There are only 10 folks selected (top 1/3 in sales) and their significant others. So, it is a small enough crew that 5 star treatment is a must. S is all giddy with excitement, too. (apparently the golf is world class)

I mentioned C's hockey, we're back in the swing, full throttle. It is, in a word, awesome! He is on a Mite A travel team, and has had 4 games already. He has 2 goals, and an assist already. :o) He is playing really well, and already we see some changes with the new team/new coaches. He really just loves it. We should be in 60 games this year, and about 70 practices. Sounds nuts, but it is spread out from September to April. ;o) Then baseball begins, and he will be involved in a busier team with that this year too. He's all kinds of excited about that!

K's gymanstics is going really awesome too! she is there two days a week, and has just grown by leaps and bounds! She is doing a back handspring by herself now. Back walkovers are a breeze, and she has the prettiest splits! :O) I love watching her light up with it! She is digging piano still, and just amazes me with the understanding of the notes, the keys, and songs. It is such neat stuff to watch the 'sponge' absorb. Her teacher says she is doing beautifully, and she is the youngest student for her, so she is really enjoying the foundation level stuff. I love listening! :O)

S's new job is wonderful. He is loving it. I swear this job was written for him. Sports, selling, and people. The three things he adores about a "job".

oh, the planet alignment is still working ..... trying to catch the star with all the good wishes that are coming this way - thanks for the thoughts! ((hugs))

So, yeah, a catch up, and also a little purging of my brain here today. I'll try to be better writing now that I am in the routine.

Got a neat little thing in email here today, and I wanted to share it. It is one of those *give perspective* reads. I have seen it before, and loved it so thought I'd share, and see what you thought ......

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

* Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their Maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

* Never buy a car you can't push.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once

* We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull, Some have weird names , and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

* A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

have a great day today!

Perhaps the planets are aligning .... ?

Okay, don't want to say too much here (so as not to jinx anything ...)

but


sure could use some positive, healing (not the sick or hurt kind of healing, but life changing kind ...) and lucky vibes for some very special people in my family.

some good stuff happened today, that *maybe, just maybe* could be the start of pixie dust for them.

can ye spare any more, friends?

:O)

thanks! (and no worries .... I WILL share the news as it all comes together ..... )

**smooches**

i love them

and all they have to offer .....



there is a transition happening with them, with their worlds. it is challenging me, and I feel distressed, and frustrated. but, the reality is, it is a phase. it will pass. i know this.


they are what keeps me breathing. they take my breath away. they fill me.


i love them.

New lights .....

they simply "make" the room.

I am so tickled with these little additions to my home. 2.5 years I have been looking and contemplating, and deciding, and hemming ..... and hawing.

I dig 'em, I really do.



the color scheme matches the kitchen/dining area so well, and we have blended the family room colors right in, too. The new couch is a deep mustard/earthen tone color.

Love light.

don't you?

First Day

Hard to imagine, but it has come and gone.

Essentially, eventless.

Well, save the tears.

At the end of the day, after coming home on the bus.

Mine. {insert sheepish smile here}

yes, I am a sap. The sappiest of saps, I think.

The morning was good, surprisingly, C had a tummy "ache". He mentioned his tummy felt weird. I gave him some extra cuddles, and we chatted about *maybe this being some worry, or perhaps wonder* about what was to come? He listened, agreed hesitantly (aw, mom, I am not worried - it's school!) but still hopped on the bus biting his lip, looking out the window ...

at me. {sniff}

K was wonderful, and NO TEARS. She was actually trying to help C feel better, and talk to him about his tummy. It was sweet, and kind, and so nurturing. She loves him with every cell of her body, and it is so evident. It is so sweet. She jumped on the bus, and sat right down at the window seat - HUGE toothless grins (you'll see that later .....) and smiled away at me, while blowing me kisses.

:O) That was so much easier than I had expected!

I kept myself quite busy today. Thought about them every, oh, I don't know, minute or so. heh.

Wondering .... hoping they were FULLY enjoying themselves. Knowing that they'd be full of stories, and things, and excitement. While I was alone ... keeping busy.

I was surprised how FAST the 6 hours goes by. And yet, every time I looked at the clock, I thought - sheesh, this is a LONG day. :-)

Then, the end of the day came .... they bounded off the bus

"mommy, you'll never guess ....
mommy, I have gym TWO times a week ....
mommy, we got to have recess today - OUTSIDE for a long, long time .....
mommy, can you believe ...
mommy, *I* don't have homework tonight YOU do here's the paperwork ...
mommy, I felt like I was still in first grade, just a different teacher ....
mommy, first grade was so much fun ....
I shared my snack with two friends, we talked, and I even met a new girl - she is Chinese, and has a really cool way she speaks" .....

and it went on and on and on, for several minutes ..... I drank it in, and gleefully listened as they told me story after story.

And we sat and had our snack, and then the knock came. I knew it would sooner or later ... the bestest buddy down the street, he wanted to play ..... up, and out. There they go. Gone. A flash.

"seeya moooooommmmmm ... come on out when you can ......"

then the rain came. from my eyes. :o( I sat at the table, looked at their paperwork, and their bags, and their snack crumbs. Looked at the remains of the first day of school. The first day of FULL day for both of my babies.

A moment I had thought of, but never imagined that it would be here within MINUTES of me giving birth to them.

I put my hands on my face, and sobbed for a bit.

And then I got up, wiped the table, my eyes, and smiled. Gathered myself, and went outside to play.

With my second and first graders.

My babes whose wings are moving rapidly.

(slow down, please, I am trying to keep up, babes!) ;o)

And here, some cute shots that will help with the meloncholy mood.

4 of the crew from this morning. C's face is just hysterical to me with that weird smile.

what first grader might look like cheering her brother on during the last few drips of summer vacation .......

what a second grader might look like laughing and playing during "a journey" during the last few drips of summer vaca .......

hope you are all enjoying the babes.

Thank you -

I had to come and say thanks so much to the lovely comments on my last (very frustrated, and blue) post. I even have to acknowledge a new commenter ... :O) gee, had no idea I had other 'readers'. :O) Kind of neat! I appreciate the cyber-hugs, and definitely appreciate the validation to my motherhood experiences. ;o)

Things are better. Really, much better.

We have a little chart in place with rewards jointly chosen by K and C, so that seems to be pretty motivating. We have the first day of school tomorrow (so nerves and jitters, and excitement seem to be organizing themselves inside their heads, thus keeping the mischief at bay!) and we have had a great weekend.

SO, with all of that, I am going to get some first day of school "treats" and things together, and I will get a bigger, yet better descriptive post on here tomorrow (and who knows - perhaps a photo or two to go with it!)

thanks again ..... *smooch* to all of you!