it's the holiday season ..... (can you hear the tune?)

oh, dear. it's been a couple of weeks here ... and i've been a bad blogger. not that i haven't *wanted* to come here and write, i just haven't been able to re-arrange my schedule to *get* here and write.

we are as busy as the rest of america is right now. you. them. the neighbor's. all of us. nuts. i can't help but stop and enjoy for miliseconds of time, and then, the spirit passes, as i shake the holiday cheer out of my head. {sigh} it is such a chaotic and keerazzy time this time of year!

we are all well, and all rallying. lots of things happening, and things readying to happen .... cam sings christmas tunes all day long, gleefully skipping his way through his UN-stressed, and easy going life. and kendall busies herself with the minutia of day-to-day life here as her self-proclaimed title of 'mother-hen to all' lives up to it's name.

in all, wonderful time of year. wonderful memories brewing.

here's a dandy of a shot - it's the Holiday card - so proud of it! we have a whopper of a storm here today - still snowing on top of the already 8+ inches of snow! and another is heading this way on Saturday!

check it, though:

and here's the monster mash as we affectionately call him - mr. higgins is doing wonderfully!! and he thinks that 'ole st. nick's hat is a loverly fashion statement .... don't you?!

busy week

the lineup:

hubby aged up. :) Happy Happy , babe!!!!
3 straight days of crack of a$$ rise to get to the OR early
fundraiser and honor event for a fantastic lady of whom i have the utmost respect
5 days (actually several weeks at this point! feels good good good) of gym visits, some really early in the am - tomorrow being another early rise to get there
hockey, gymnastics, and some busy school activities
and hubby and i decided to begin to assist santa this week
and work - yeah, 4th quarter push. it's game on right now -

be back tomorrow ...

i found it ....

the creating groove! yeehah! i know that i have mentioned that i was anxious to begin to create again ... move my fingers, and brain. i haven't been writing, and plan to get back to that again, but for now, the art feels so good. i feel so happy when i am ticking away with my ideas and my hands.

so, i have been a busy bee. busy with all kinds of fun, creative endeavors. just about all are christmas gifts, and i am so excited to have had the chance to do this .....


here's a run down:

10 of these 12" different letters (first inital of names) all started as stark white, i painted crazy colors (this one is a light lavender with shocking pink trim, and orange dots- this one is k-gals ...) and now i am on to decorating them with more paints, and shapes, and sanding, and sponging, and textures. i will be adding a few embellishments, and sweet little accents. made for hanging in bedrooms.


antique muffin and bread tins. (most likely found at my grandfather's house as he was cleaning out - literally hundreds of years old.) they were FULL of rust, so i rustoleum'd them, and then painted black, awaiting decorations and embellishments. and fresh new candles with yummy scents. made for a dining table centerpiece or on an island in a kitchen.

these are journals. my intention was to create a 'grateful' journal for the recipient (letters represent the first name of those recieving these, those were plain old chipboard that i painted as well ) but i decided that they can truthfully use these for absolutely anything they desire. the covers are cardboard, i painted, sanded, buffed, and decorated the front and back of each cover (so essentially there are 4 surfaces decorated per journal) and then looped them together with different size plain colored paper, and then added a little hanging charm that says "love" or "laugh" or "peace" on a large circular clasp. they can add as many pages as they want as the time goes on. i hope they keep these forever to be honest. :o)

this is a mini album that lives in the little tin pictured (how freakin' adorable is that?!) i probably violated a cardinal scrappin' rule that you only decorate one side of the page, but hey, there was empty! space! just waiting for me to fill .... so i used up every sqaure inch. i love how it came out, and i am so thinking that the recipient of this one will adore it! i have another one in the works for another lucky devil-recipient, too.

other than that, i also banged out 6 pages in cam's "first 10 years" book that i have for him. i am up to 5 years old already(!) i have about 10 more pages to get me current in that one, then i can begin kendall's "first 10 years" book. {sigh} it sounds like a mountain, but i feel like i have ticked away at it and that feels great!

so, with that, i am off to see if i can get some finishing touches on one or two of the above mentioned items, and then i am researching a photography class to take, and crafting class (my xmas gifts from hubby! {yay!!!})

if you have any suggestions/recommendations for either of those classes, let me know, will you?

so, that's all for now ~ g'night!

giving thanks ....

so often, i find myself giving thanks for so many, for so much ... and yet, it feels like i don't say it, or even do it enough. i am grateful for so many lives in my life.


for so many hearts.



for instance :

these two. who in their right mind wouldn't thank the angels for these two on a daily basis? :)

this was taken today at my parents house. their incredibly gorgeous new (old) place they have. a 4,000 square foot loft in downtown. yum. 25 15 foot windows overlooking the city. exposed beam, exposed brick, and hard woods throughout. it is outstanding .... again, something i am so thankful for and don't say it enough..... it was my dad's former architectural office that they have residentialized to make a home. for the next year they will be living there, and then they will be building onto our home. again, a reason to be thankful.

and then there's the rest of "them"

thirteen people here - 26 hands. the hands that touch my heart in one way or another. everyday. they range in age from 7 - 67. they enrich my life, and make my heart happy. they make my heart sing.

what are you happy for today?

happy thanksgiving .... may your blessings be many, and not forgotten.

{cheers!}

time

the conversations around here have been surrounding time. enough time to get things done. time to spend with family. time to sit and have a cup of coffee. time to finish homework. time to get to gymnastics. time to head to bed. time to get to the gym. time to brush teeth. time to have a hockey game. time on the ice. tick tock.

finding time.

my thoughts continue to be in my head. in my heart. things are motoring along. i am happy to say that i have been creating. i've got some crafts and things working for holiday gifts. i have spent the last couple of afternoons painting. yum. i will take some photos of said projects and post. plans are big for creating again tomorrow. got a chunk of time between hockey games so the plan is to hibernate and just let.it.flow.

had a little date with the k-gal this evening. went to see the Bee Movie. very cute - i recm'd this one, floks. quite adorable with some funny little adult comments (that will completely be lost on the kids, so no worries ...) it's a very safe movie (no one dies - not even the mom!) whoops - was that a spoiler? ;)

sean and the little man are out on their own 'date' with the hockey team and a local college hockey game. i am sure they are having a BLAST!

so, with that, i have some time. i am going to do some writing .... off i go ~

thoughts

so, here i am. i am full of thought. full of things swirling in my head. i am just going to write. letting it flow, and letting it ... well, out.

there is so much happening, so much. the past year has been a period of unrest, but also growth. we are well. we are actually very well, on many levels. and on others there is the unrest. the growth.
our children are healthy and happy. 3rd grade has been a big change for the little man. he has an adjustment with the teacher he has been assigned to. she is very .... different. he is doing great academically, socially, structurally. psychologically with her? not so great. she isn't my ideal (boohoo right, he's in 3rd grade - life lesson and all, i know) but she isn't his either, from what i gather. she isn't very engaging, or charasmatic, or exciting, or even .. uhm how can i say this - interesting. a hard position to be in for an 8 year old boy. 2nd grade, on the other hand, is wonderful. the little gal is doing great - loves the teacher (little man had her last year, so we know this one well and adore her!) problem there? she's pregnant. due in Feb. very, VERY happy for her. worried a wee bit about the perma-sub that will come in; and little gal doesn't even grasp that she won't be there when she has the baby. she likely thinks that she'll strap the baby on her back and come back and teach. poor kid. guess i need to address that. bleh. together, they are doing well as siblings. challenges, yes, but for the most part, peacefully cohabitating. our marriage is strong, and healthy, and very happy. again, peacefully cohabitating - with benefits, of course. ;) our home is wonderful, our neighborhood is terrific, and our friends are here. our dogs are an amazing addition to our lives, and we enjoy them wholeheartedly. our families have their issues, and their crosses to bear, of course, as we all do. but the one member that weighs heavy on our minds of course, is Bry. he is doing well, he is healthy, and working hard in Iraq. we hear from him often, via email and also, phone. so great to hear his voice. it is comforting for sure. his wife keeps us up to speed as well, and she is handling this like a trooper.

so, where then is the unrest, you ask?

my husband's career.
a friend's daughter's new cancer diagnosis.
my 4th quarter sales objective.
my inability to let down my inhibition and create.
the unsettled feelings of not writing my book.

there. said it. weird order, isn't it. it just rattled out.

hubby's career - he is in flux right now. he has never been in this position in his entire life. sales is a hard field. it is gratifying and rewarding, and aggravating and destructive at times. he left his solid, settled-and-not-growing position about 18 months ago. he had been there for 7 years. great at the job, and well respected. bored, and stale, and not moving anywhere - he needed more. he found, what was, in theory, a phenominal fit for he and the company he went with. the owner turned out to be nothing he said he was, and made some changes that gravely affected his psyche, as well as his ability to be himself. he left. he then found the current position that had HUGE potential, and HUGE opportunity - but it's within the mortgage industry (a software piece that will provide incredible management tools to the company) and it's turning upside down right now. the owner made some changes that gravely affected his pocket, and that sucks. s.u.c.k.s. so, he is in the market again. again. and he is not happy about it. he is stressed, and worried. and he is so not deserving of this. this man is incredible. he is strong, and worthy, and rock solid, and dedicated, and determined to be the best, and caring, and loving, and loyal, and smart, and funny, and level headed, and reasonable, and ... so many things. he is a valuable employee, and an asset to any company. he will be successful, just as he has been so many times before. he will find his way. i just hate that he is in thes dang spot again. again.

my friend's daughter. she is doing well, 17 treatments into her plan. the tumor was removed, and the radiation seemingly is working. she is 5. she was 13 weeks premature and had one helluva fight back then. she is a gem, a special soul. and then this. today she began to lose her hair. her mother blogged at caringbridge about the clump of glorious red hair that she found in her hand today. i have a hole in my stomach for this family. they are phenominal. preschool friends. the oldest daughter is one year ahead of cam and is an incredible child. gifted, and charming, and creative, and lovely. why do these things happen? why.

my sales objectives, and sales opportunities. 4th quarter sucks. plain and simple. i need to get running, and get moving smarter, and faster.

creating. yeah, i've been stuck. ground right down to a screeching, careening halt. not that i was pumping things out as some of the uber talented people out there - no, the screeching was the process in my head. the thoughts to get the creating done. it just plain stopped. the ideas stopped coming. then the motivation waned. then the sadness set in. then i just filled the space with something else, and forgot that being creative felt really good. i am jonesing to create. the ideas are back. the thoughts are filling my head, and the creativity is right there - right on the tip of my fingers. i am eager to find the time, the space, and the energy to do it all again. i am ready to just allow the inspiration to come in and have a look around. it's a nice little house my head. there are definitely nice little places to be comfortable in there.

my book. or bookS, that is. i have placed this on the back burner as well. heck, a whole other stove, i think. i want to write. i want to. i'm stuck. and i know, in my heart, that once i am able to just let it flow, the stuck feeling will be gone. it'll open and go ~ ~ ~

i know it. i just need to begin it.

a wise man once said to me "it's only overwhelming when you look at all the things together as a whole. piece by piece, item by item, take it apart, and peel the layers off - given the chance to look at everything individually, you will likely tackle each piece easily."

read that again. unbelieveable advice, isn't it? it is so dangity true, too.

so, wow. if you're here - you rock. thanks for hearing me. it all seems so simple once you write it out, and clear your head.

again, on so many levels things are so good. so good. and then well, then we have the growth. it is growth. it is.

i think that's all right now. maybe more tomorrow.

thanks, too, again for the readers of the pages here. i really do appreciate it. :)

2 years

today, two years ago i entered the bloggy world. it's been an interesting ride, and one that i had no idea where it would take me. for the most part, it has been cathartic for me. a form of, well, therapy. but i am not sure what's been going on for the last few months here. i am in an odd locale with regards to the writing here.

i have several things swirling in my head. i think i need to work it out and write it down ...

and i will. i will.

tonight, though, i will mull the thoughts.

so, if you've been a faithful (ha!) reader here, thank you for the time, and the interest. it isn't a public venue by any stretch, and that's been quite intentional, but for those of you that have been here, thank you from the bottom of my heart.

girl and her *bestest* friend

k-gal and i were spending some QT together at the house while the boys were busy with hockey over the weekend. i was gathering up some laundry, looking at some recipes, and heading towards the kitchen when i rounded the corner and found this phenominal sight that made me all warm inside.

she was gently stroking his nose, and speaking to him with the softest voice 'it's okay pal, i just think you are so soft, and so cute, and i love you ..... " he wasn't moving a muscle ... almost as if he knew that should he move, he would startle her and {gasp!} end the love session ....

so, of course, i grabbed the camera and tried to snap a few shots without her knowing .... she was taken by surprise and then started to become shy and embarrassed with the photos ......

she didn't move though......

i was just a total puddle of mush when i saw her doing this ..... she is just so phenominally sweet. it is amazing her love for animals - actually for ALL living beings. i am awed and honored at her gentleness, her kindness and loving nature.

i am so proud of the way she feels comfortable loving others. and i told her how happy she made higgins when she loved him like this.

and how she made me feel all warm, and proud, and happy inside. the smiles..... oh, the smiles she had on her face.

so sweet.

long weekend .....

and it was fun, and crazy, and taxing, and .... and scary ..... and so many other things.

right now, though, i have to skip on out and regroup myself.

in a nutshell, we collided with a deer late this afternoon. the deer seemingly was fine, he ran off into the woods. he was huge, sean guesstimated that he was at least 300 lbs or so, therefore, my car .. well, it isn't seemingly fine. no one was hurt, and that's the most important thing.

he had antlers, and very long legs. there is a broken window on the car, and several dents. essentially, i will need a whole new door, unfortunately. we had three kids in the car, and they were pretty shaken up. as was i. sean, ever the calm fellow was just that, calm. but shaken just the same.

scary, and just numbing how fast it happened. never saw him coming. thankfully though, otherwise, sean would have hit the brakes hard, and he would have collided with the front end of the car, as opposed to the side, and perhaps we'd be in a much different situation, i am afraid.

so, with that, i am going to regroup, and be back tomorrow.

hope your weekend was less exciting than that.

:o)

grateful

so for several weeks now, i have been keeping a grateful journal. i write each night in the journal a short sentence reminding myself of what i am grateful for.

i love this journal. i am so attached to the process, and the wonderful calming feeling it gives me to write it down. it's mine, and all mine.

not one person has even asked me about the journal, and it's right on my bedside table.

with that, i have been thinking about the things i am grateful for now. today.

*my warm home, it's a little chilly out, and the heat is just on "enough" to take the chill off
* sleeping, tired squirts upstairs
* a husband who is here with me, at home. always.
* hockey
* gymnastics
* support and love from my family and friends
* a long, easy going weekend
* the arrival of autumn
* three really sweet dogs that give me unconditional love all the time

what are you grateful for today?

Fly-day Flee!

it's friday here, and it's juuuust about bedtime. 2.5 glasses of wine. good friends, pizza, salad, and a hockey game.

good work day. good family day.

that's all i got.

well, that.... and this:

this, is you ask? this is the tree in front of the house. this is what it looks like right now. looking up into the leaves, and the top of the tree.

it's nov 9th and the leaves are not only ON the tree still, they are green. unheard of.

shocking. the fall will arrive, and then the winter. and then, folks, i will be cold cold cold.

brrrrrrrrr (have i mentioned how cold i am .... all the time? especially in the winter???)

Starring YOU!

Star in Your Own JibJab! It's Free!
this is HYLARIOUS! My crazy sil sent this to us, and the kids and i needed oxygen after we viewed it together .... funny stuff. good clean fun!

thanks auntie!

'xausted

i am tuckered out tonight. my new manager is in town with me for today and tomorrow, and usually that means you put your best face on, and work super smart, and try and get as much done, and do it well.

normally, I do this for me, everyday, but i also have a different way of 'doing it' when it's just me watching me. (dear god, did that make sense?) but anyway ... the day started at 5:00 after a restless night of sleep, and it didn't end with him until 4:00pm. hello, long days like that in the field are not typical.
the kids had afterschool activities, and then gymnastics tonight with k-gal (her last class at that level, her coach was blue she was losing her to the next level coach ... poor kid. :( but she will still see her of course ....)
s and i ran to my parents who have been renovating their kitchen (oiy, what a project that is! it will be magnificent when it's done though!) and we gathered up the second of two large cabinet/storage units that they no longer need. they are terrific cabinets, and will be put to terrific use here, but large doesn't describe these things!
so, once home (at 7:45 PM) the race was on to get the showers, and the bedtime routine thing going. and of course, in my fatigued state (read, NO PATIENCE) it wouldn't be a complete night without an mini-battle over a silly thing - uh, toothpaste - between the beloved siblings. thankfully, it wasn't a blow out, but they both needed to apologize. ah, sibs close in age. {sigh}

so, with that - i am off to gether up my materials for tomorrow with the manager, and off to slumber land ....

oh, shoots - it was my mom's BIRTHDAY yesterday! HAPPPPPPYYYYY DAY to you, mom! love you! :o)

that's all, gooooood night!

splendid evening ...

i have a little girl that's all smiles this evening. she received a surprise gymnastics advancement tonight at class and was told she is moving up a level!

she has been working so hard for this, and securing her elements on floor, and bars. she has her roundoff-backhandspring already, and has gotten her back hip circle. she needed her shoot through, and her front hip circle. she got them the last few weeks, and now, the lead coach sent her up to the next level!

we are so proud of her! :O) she is just beyond excited!

I cannot wait to see her face when she goes into her class next Monday - the first day of Level4.

{grins} for the little gal ..... here's a shot from the gymnastics show last year -

she was watching the "big girls" (as in the high school tumbling queens) .. i can just sense her thoughts here: 'ooo, i can't wait to be one of them!'

hooray for my little k-gal - she has been working so hard for this moment to rise! :o)

ungrumped, and feeling better

so, i have been successfully ungrumped, and talked through the ickies with those affected. :o) i am happy to report, there were no permanent scars from the incident.

{phew}

it was a monday here, busy with busy-monday things. nothing to thrilling, and nothing too difficult.

the c-man had another headache episode, and it's been three consecutive days, so we called the ped. shouldn't be anything to worry about, but the history with his headache complaints (have i mentioned?) caused me to at least call the ped. awaiting his call back - he often calls by 9:00PM (ugh, that job must be endless, right?) but the practice we're in is amazing, and has been the entire time. they are the best here in the state by many opinions. so, anyway ... he is feeling fine, had a good dinner, played a little bit once home from school, and completed homework without too much fanfare. i feel encouraged that it's likely just allergy/cold related, and just a lingering head thing ....

it's my mom's birthday tomorrow so we're probably going to be creating some nice cards in the morning for her to enjoy tomorrow, and we'll get her a nice little gift to enjoy too. she is so thoughtful, and kind to everyone, she needs to be spoiled too. ;-)

alrighty - we're off to do some reading of our chapter book Ivy + Bean Vol II, so for now - 'night.

grumpy

i am a wee bit on the grouchy side.

i totally overreacted to a series of events, and barked at the kids and sean.

i am feeling icky about it.

i have apologized, and discussed it. but somehow i don't feel good about my reaction.

see, the thing is, my feelings about the event that i was upset about are real, and valid. it was my overreaction to the the feelings i was having. my point would have been far more effective had i figured out a nicer way to speak.

blecky.

some days feelings suck.

black bear ... fuzzy friend

are you kidding me? how cute is this monster mash??

the circle

it seems that life is a sphere these days .....

wake up
shower, dress
descend stairs
lunches, breakfast
laundry, feed dogs
head to bus stop
drive to account
or
take doggies for walk
be home by bus
homework
snacks
activites (hockey/gymnastics etc)
dinner
shower
reading
bed (for them)
email & etc.
bed

it's missing the essentail elements of: play, working out, and just plain old BEING

so, this weekend i am adding some playing and some being.

period.

the circle is now a changed shape - perhaps an oval? a square? a hexagon?

dunno ... but i will report on this!

I missed the first day ...

dang it - i totally meant to climb on board the "blog-a-day" for November ... it's Nat'l Blog Every Day month ... and i missed it yesterday.


whoops - i'll make it up this day and post two times ...



found this picture, makes me smile so wide. it's my c-man goofing around (as per usual personality - complete cut up!) with my shoes on before a wedding we all attended recently ...


check out those legs on this kid!

he'd KILL me if he knew this was here .... :o)

off for some hockey practice, and little family dinner out at a great restaurant, and home early to bed ... will post the next blog entry later tonight.

Happy Hallow-eenie

well, yepm thefestivities are complete. the costumes are packaged up/placed in the laundry basket for some heavy duty cleaning. a good good time was had, and the parental units that were the escorts were very pleased with the events of the evening.

pounds and pounds of candy were collected. i think that the dads (aforementioned parental unit-escorts - do you see where i am going with this??) don't exactly *watch* the collecting until it's too late. you know, like when the candy bag has been dragging on the ground from the weight of the candy for thirteen, maybe fourteen neighborhoods ... that's the time to perhaps call the end to the collecting.

yep, pounds are sitting on the dining room table. last year we "bought" the candy back and traded it for some cashola to the squirts - worked well, they BOTH still have that cash, and quite a bit more in savings so perhaps we can coerce them to go that route again .... we'll see.

so, anyway, enough of the blather - here they are:

what? you can't figure out the costumes? c'mon - clearly those two fine upstanding, save-the-day superhero-esque citizens are none other than:

A Monarch Butterfly with super wings on her back that you can't see in the picture

and....

Dude, Seriously?! Our resident homegrown superhero.

ah, the joys of sweet, innocent, and deliciously "benign" costumes on my kids .... i fear that i only have a few years left of sweet and innocent based on the dreadful costumes that arrived at my front door - you know, bloody, and twisted minded costume ideas. {sigh}

I'll take a butterfly and superhero ANY day! :o)

and of course, the Devil Dog was in the spirit .... for a minute or two while i snapped the pictures ....

the other two have done this routine before ... they were hiding when he donned this little diddy. silly 7 month old! ;)

hope you had a fun night ....

these three are just amazing

they are my bro's and sil's 3 girls. 17, 15 and 13. a dancer, an ice hockey player, and another dancer. uber talented, smart, funny, engaging, charismatic, and just plain cool kids. i know how proud my bro and sil are of them ... and they should be. look at those faces?!

but man, i DO NOT envy the position he is in ~ 3 teeneage girls + a female wife + a female dog in one house. with one male.

no doubt, he leaves early for work for a very good reason .......

my nieces, i am so proud of them. xo

toiling in the garden

planting the seeds of growth.

it really is that kind of existence these days ..... 4th quarter is like that in sales. i would suspect any sales, of any kind, in any industry.

medical sales is especially interesting, you see. you spend all year planting the seeds, and then fertilizing, and then watering, and weeding, and pruning, and nurturing, and watering some more .... and then BAM! one day, you walk outside, and there's a blessed, knock-you-down, make you almost weep with glee, gorgeous bloom in your face. it's the 4th quarter for me. i have been watering all year.

where's the bloom?

i know it's coming ... i know it's just beyond the vision in my eye. it's right there.

patience they say, is a virtue. i will be patient. more patient.

because truthfully, it is there - many, many, many large full blossom blooms. {grins} be patient.

and really, isn't there a life lesson in this one? isn't it kids that are the bloom that we "get" in their adulthood. that moment of pause we have when they appear in front of us - momentous, or benign ordinary day kind of moment - and we wonder how we possibly allowed the time to zip by without braking furiously to slow it all down ....

i can be patient. very patient. my brakes are working.

my little k-gal reminded us tonight just how patient we all need to be. at dinner, the conversation was an animated one (shocking, i know) about monthly 'costs' a household endures .. something like: "so, mom, if we didn't use electricity for the month, would we still have a bill to pay?" "if you didn't use the phone for the month, would the bill still come?" "why are there bills anyway? why can't we all just not pay them?" hmmmmmm .... the minds of 8.5, and 7 year olds - g.e.n.i.o.u.s if you ask me. :) but really, this is all pertaining to the unit at school that she is doing 'wants versus needs' 'have to's versus want to's' and apparently she's listening, and expounding on it to reach different levels. i find it wonderful, especially to coincide with our family discussions of chipping in to help around the house, and we all 'work' to keep the family moving - they know that mommy and daddy work, and have paychecks etc, but they don't have the worry of bills, you know? - there'll be plenty of time for that worry, if you ask me. so, yeah, i digress ....

as we're chatting ..... she sits there, and after we answer the monthly bills question, she says "geez, i don't want to grow up - " s and i look at each other and smile.

true, that. it ain't all that's it's cracked up to be. grown up. pfffttttt.

oh, but she and he will be blooms. they will be blessed, knock-you-down make you almost weep with glee, gorgeous blooms - in your face! :O)

toiling in the garden ... it is a wonderful thing.

sox vs rockies

yep - world series fanning has begun ... hubby and son are all geeked up over the beginning of the series ... fun stuff! i hope they go all the way ... i am definitely feeling the energy of the excitement, as is the daughter, we're bandwagon fans at this point (shhhh don't tell the guys that live here, we've been keeping that a secret! ;)

tonight begins the event, and for the (hopefully) just a few games .... at least that's what we're all hoping in this New England house! :o)

with that, a little seasonal sarcomial game ....

remember, if you want to join in, just one word answers ~

The Air: chilly
Favorite Fall Indulgence: cinnamon
Out Your Window: farm
On Your Desk: folders
On Your Feet: socks
Favorite Fall Smell: fall
Temperature On Your Thermostat: 65
Your Shirt: warm
Your Hair: pampered
Something You Want to Make Sure You Do this Fall: breathe
Where You Last Took a Fall (heh): grass
Your Last Drink: water
Your Last Meal: soup
You're Thinking About: tomorrow
Hearing: sox!
Your Favorite Fall Color: orange
Your Take On Seasonal Novelty Flags (i.e. turkeys, pumpkins, scarecrows): festive
A New Fall Show You Like: uhm ....
Your Plans for the Evening: sox!
Your Relationship With Pumpkins: fun

off to watch the game ... GO SOX!

how'd they know?

Your Power Color Is Magenta

At Your Highest: You energize yourself and push others to suceed. At Your Lowest: You feel frustrated and totally overwhelmed. In Love: You are suprised by who you attract. You're a love magnet. How You're Attractive: Open and free spirited, people want to explore the world with you. Your Eternal Question: "What is my next source of inspiration?"

What's" Your Power Color?

random blatherings

* good weekend. fun way to spend your 10th anniversary - away at a hockey game, well, two actually. the team won both, and that was fantastic. the families became closer - and that's always wonderful to be a part of.

* my external modem got fried while we were away though. not so much fun to come back to. forced me to watch the sox kick it to win the ALCS. go Boston! :)

* new modem installed today - 40 emails to read and return. not fun, but eh, 1/2 were mindless forwards just to peruse.

* i need to develop a thicker skin. in terms of personal things, i feel like i am tough. sometimes too rigid - tough. in terms of professional, not so much.

* i'm sick of ticking people off unintentionally, professionally, by pushing too hard for sales when i don't need to. i have been very patient, and not pushing so hard for the entire time i have been at this company, and all of a sudden i feel the urge to push more. dunno why. don't like it so much either. and then feeling the sting from pissing someone off in the hospital is the worst. need to work on the approach a bit more, and get back to just being patient.

* hockey game tonight - goaltender injured at school today, had to call the goalie up from the team down from us. sweet kid - *very* new to goaltending, though. felt a loss where we probably wouldn't have, dang it. another game friday - team goalie should be back.

* weather has been unbelievable. 80 degrees again today. 80 tomorrow. getting very nervous that the cold will snap in and dump buckets of snow on us all at once. bleck.

* took the advice of Oprah and began a grattitude diary. daily thankfulness is good. i wait until i go to bed, and scratch down a nice thought to end my day. seemingly makes me smile before i drift off.

* lifted spirits here at this house and i don't know why, but i love the positive energy it is bringing here. breathing easy. breathing ......

* higgins is absolutely freaking adorable these days. murphy and he have become good friends. cleo - not so much. she's still hoping he is only here as an overnight guest. middle child, she is. ;)

* major cleaning of the office this weekend. looks and feels like i've gotten a new office. yum. perhaps made a little space for scrapping! yeeee!

* school pictures thursday. family pictures for holiday card planning on saturday. hoping for some good weather to stretch through the weekend anyway.

* oh! whacked my ulnar nerve earlier today (aka "the funny bone") on my left elbow. holy crap, hardest hit i have ever felt. left arm and hand completely rendered useless for about 2 minutes straight while driving. that sucked. now just swollen out of the groove that's there (between the bones of elbow) and really tender to touch. ice and advil are in order, i think.

* my fabulous mother planted 250 bulbs in the gardens yesterday ... i am so lucky. now i can't wait for the spring to see all the treats that are in store! :) i saw an article on how to "push" some bulbs throughout the winter ... i think i may try paperwhites, and some others too .... bring the spring in to the house, like maybe in february.

that's it for now .... off to ice and then to bed soon. late nights are just catching up with me.

g'night!

10

incredible
deeply loving
passionate
magical
tender
busy
crazy
partnership
at times, bumpy
always comfortable, always fulfilling with him

tomorrow marks 10 wonderful years with this man as his wife

t e n y e a r s

i never once questioned the way my heart sang for him from the beginning
i never once thought it wasn't him from the beginning
i never once backed away from my heart with him from the beginning

it's a journey, it's an adventure no doubt
but always it's the place i was meant to be

i love being his wife
i love having him as my husband
i love the family we've made together
i love that he is their daddy

i love that it feels like 10 minutes instead of 10 years

happy 10th anniversary, s

143

i love you more today than yesterday ... always

awesome

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to dance in the rain.

every once in a while, a little quote stirs something in me. this one was certainly in that category.

so much

filling my head, and my heart.

having some shifting going on with my existence these days, and it's good shifting. traveled to San Fran (again, this time with business) good trip, overall. not what i expected, but in the end, a shifting of sorts.

been struggling with some strange karma on the business front, all worthy of a breath of mine, and all allowing some shifting. making me think a wee bit more, and react after that thought.

attempting to stay on top of scheduling, and planning for the family, and for business with the busy season beginning for us. travel with the hockey man is about to get interesting. this weekend new york is calling. fun travel, for sure.

read a fabulous book, One More Day by Mitch Albom. if you liked Tuesdays with Morrie this one is for you. started and finished within a couple hours. consistent with the 'taking a breath' theme i've got running. very consistent. now i have 4 more books-a-waiting for me to read. just need some flights. ;)

starting to think about holiday lists of things that need to be organized. don't want to rush, but need to be organized to feel the spirit more effectively. planning to begin one project soon.

hoping to be back to write, and breath some more .... soon.

heading upstairs to get clean .....

he doesn't like stairs.

he doesn't like baths, either.

but he DOES like getting his photo taken. i think i've even gotten a smirk or two out of him when the camera points in his direction.

he is so.stinking.cute.i.cannot.stand.it.

hope your tuesday went well ...

.. as fall weekend days pass

we find a way to help them pass enjoyably .....

it's been a while since the last photo - *someone's* face has changed a tad. can you guess the change? :O)

and while she and i were chitter chattering, and giggling, the boys of the 'hood were busy playing a favorite pasttime ... 4square.

such a funny game to me, and SO retro! but oh, the addiction to it is unreal ...

glorious sunshiny day today, yardwork is calling, and the afternoon is filled with a hockey game, then off to listen to a friend play in a band. looking forward to the rest of saturday with all it's relaxed 'want to's'

here's hoping your day is moving along enjoyably!

William Tell Overture for Moms

seriously hysterical. a good friend sent this to me vi email this evening, and i laughed so much my dh came in to see what i was giggling about.

so, so, sooooo fitting right now.

makes you really remember to - BREATHE. :o)

breathe .. slow down .. calmly respond

that was the three nuggets of fantastic advice that a wonderful anesthesiologist gave me today while we were chatting about his purchase of my equipment.

it wasn't earth shattering, or even new to me. i've heard it, i even incorporate it into my life most especially with my kids. well i've tried to do that - most often succeeding, to be honest. what it was for me was a moment. a moment of pause. it hit me. can't explain why his nuggets, on this day, in this location, with this man. alignment of the moons, perhaps, or just a reminder that there are things that happen for a reason.

he and i got into a lovely personal conversation after the business conversation about my family, and children, and husband, etc. you know the relationship building kind that sales reps get to do - that part of my career i adore - and he was in a word, relaxing. he had a wonderful disposition, an incredibly peaceful appearance (handsome, in fact!) and very, well, for lack of a better word, fatherly approach to me. he was quite a bit older (told me his kids are 25 and 23) and has been an anesthesiologist for 30 + years.

i heard the advice. i mean really heard it. so fitting to be delivered by a stranger during the aforementioned difficult time with the little rascally 8.5 year old that i live with (for the record - we are processing our way through it, and finding our groove again; school is even gaining smoothness ... phew!) but he had asked me about the rascals, so i mentioned the 'time' we're seemingly in.

he looked me right in the eye. smiled, and said this:

'karin, just take a breath, ease your mind, stay calm, and respond with gentle words. really, everyday, i look at the folks that i help here with anesthesia - the awful catastrophies (he's in a pretty big Boston hospital with about 15,000 surgical cases a year both pedi and adult) that people are dealing with, and really, does the mundane frustration we handle with our children that are healthy and happy, really matter? do we really need to be so upset with minutia? in the end, we're healthy, and they're healthy. nothing else - NOTHING else matters.'

thud.

heavens, is he right.

i felt like i was awakened. i know this stuff. i'm reminded so often when you hear of an abducted child, or a terminal illness, or at worst, the death of a child. getting upset about my kid testing the boundaries within an age appropriate level is, in a word, minutia.

so today, he rattled my cage a little. i'd been sleeping i think for a few weeks, spiraling downwards, really. not feeling like i was effective, and clearly negatively affecting the attitudes, and intensity of my kidliwinks. don't get me wrong, it was not ugly in the worst way - it was a phase that i allowed myself to be sucked into; and subsequently dealt with the anger that i let that happen, but also the anger that my kids were "not listening ...". of course there is more to the story with my life rolling up like a ball of yarn, and of course there are other factors - we all go through it from time to time. it's life, in a nutshell, i know. but the reality is this: my children are terrific little gifts presented to me to open, adore, grow, nurture, and release when the time is right, with all the magical things that i place in their hearts, and minds. i need to peel off the layers of worrying whether or not they will be well adjusted, and productive members of adult society. enough already, i know.
they.will.be.because.they.already.are.

i dunno what happened today, but i swear, that man cleared some fog.

i guess we all need that clearing every once in a while, don't we?

lessons in life

some lessons are more difficult to handle than others. some come and go and you sigh that relieving breath, and say ... 'lesson learned', move forward and typically (or is that hopefully) don't forget said lesson, too soon.

as a parent, the hardest lessons are the ones that your kid has to bear on their shoulders. a lesson that you find entirely too heavy for their little minds, hearts, and souls to handle. that's when you say 'this stinks' and your heart sags, and your mind yearns for one more year of innocence.

our little c-man is in the middle of one of these.

3rd grade, literally his 6th year of school (if you count pre-school as 'school') and he has a teacher that he does not connect with.
in truth, he doesn't like her.
he told us. several times.

and i think that realization is hurting him.

initially, she was "mean". then she was "weird". then she was "too strict". then she was just "not someone he wanted to be around". this of course, is his perception and opinion on the matter.

and it's the 4th week of school.

*sigh*

i had a ptg meeting and the teacher was there. she got my ear for a few minutes at the end of the meeting, and discussed with me her issues with my little man (hadn't heard her side because her communication methods are, well, let's say, far less effective - read: NON existent - than any other teacher so far he has had).
mama bear was struggling to emerge, but i refrained "her" from making an appearance. i wanted to listen with an open mind, but my heart was breaking into a million pieces with the information she volunteered. (it is fair to interject here that c-man has never had any kind of an issue that the teacher needed to chat with me, or with sean. there has never been a behavior issue, or worse, an effort issue on his part, so far in school. in fact, it's been quite the opposite so far, sometimes to our surprise, but ALWAYS to our pleasure, of course)

so, last night, and this morning, we had another chat about this situation with him. this time, though, the lesson was apparently unavoidable.

cam, you aren't going to like everyone you meet. you don't even have to like everyone you meet. and they, well, they don't have to like you, either.

*ouch*

we discussed the necessity for respect, which is something that sean and i have always insisted upon. that wasn't an issue with him, he's heard that a million times, and recognizes authority deserves, and we insist on, respect. (granted he falls from grace, as we all do, but for the most part, he is a very polite, and respectful kid) but he wasn't recognizing that his lack of effort in the classroom was showing disrespect to not only his teacher, but to his capabilities, something an 8 year old would need to be shown, I am guessing.
he responded very well. he even told me he had an excellent day today, and did all of his work in a timely manner (one issue she mentioned was the fact that he was not completing work she deemed as perfectly appropriate level for him, in a timely manner. she wanted to place a timer near him to remind him of the need for *timely* completion - not something i wanted to occur, but strategies are important to at least discuss, right?)
he also said she was much nicer today. it is noteworthy that our intial impression of her is not strict, nor mean, or even "not nice". she is, for lack of a better description, beige. very UNcharismatic. very UNcharming. very .... vanilla. in a word, blah.

cam however, is very UNblah. he's bright blue. electric blue, really.

the kid has had charismatic teachers every single year. that works with him like a dream. he has a personality that is charming, and fun, and magnetic - he is charismatic. he has loved everyone of his teachers, each year. and truthfully, they have had their strict moments, and cam has certainly received his fair share of reprimands from them. but never, not once has he ever said the words 'i don't like ___' when referring to a teacher. we have also never had a repetitive behavior issue that would lead us to believe he had disruptive issues in school. and never have we heard that he isn't doing his work. ever.

what is clearly apparent to me is his injured ego that someone would possibly not like him. most especially a teacher. i believe that he thinks she doesn't like him, because he doesn't like her, and that realization is painful to him (i haven't asked him that because i am not so sure he can figure that out in his own mind and heart). i am surmising that he has turned off the excitement he typically has because he is unispired by the feelings he is attempting to process.

uninspired as an 8 year old boy in the 4th week of school. unreal.

our hope is that he did make the turn today after we chatted, and discussed "the lesson". the kid revels in positive reinforcement (hello? who doesn't right?!) so we tried to lead with that, and encourage the academic achievements he has always attained, told him how proud we were of his ability to shine and excel at the things he really loves to do. we also told him that his other teachers in the past have always spoken so highly of his capabilities. he then said that Mrs. B doesn't do that, and he wished she did. so i asked him how his other teachers recognized his 'talents' and he told me this: "they saw me do things, and realized i could". so i reminded him that maybe, just maybe, he hasn't shown Mrs. B yet, and she needs to see him shine.

i know we're not the only ones that can see his spirit. i know because he has shown it to many others that mention it to us. i just wish that he didn't have to meet someone that he has to convince he has a wonderful spirit, so early in his life.

but that spirit he has, the one that we see daily, the one that others see daily, will hopefully give her the chance to forget about the difference between beige and bright blue.

.... particularly difficult ....

life.

it can be that way, i know. i just wish it wasn't at any given time.

there's an 8.5 year old that lives here. he has been in a place this year.

a particularly difficult place.

i love him with every cell of my being.

i cannot imagine the me without he.

he is:

joyous, and active, and boy, and love,

and:

he is exhausting, and energizing, and funny, and love,

and:

he is testing, and reaching, and growing, and love

and:

he is funny, and silly, and creative, and love

and:

he is making.me.question.all.that.i.think

and:

he is challenging, and questioning, and inqusitive, and love

and:

he is making me reach way down deep for the strength

and:

he grabs hold of that heart that i wear on my sleeve, and he loves

and:

he loves us with all that he has in his body, and mind

and:

he finds that last nerve to play like his fiddle, and he strums it like no other

and:

he finds that spot in your soul to call his own, and he loves

and:

he is mine.

and i love that most of all.

blathering

so, here i am in need of a blathering of sorts. it's been a wee bit 'o time here, and perhaps a little "chapter format" is in order ... my friend Kim did this on her blog and i mentioned i'd be heisting it as i really liked the idea of it - so here we go.



^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^>^


annual family reunion


every year, on the sunday of labor day, for the last 32 years, so essentially my entire existence, save for maybe a few (uhm, guess i'm not counting) years, my italian side of the family has gotten together to have a Bocce Tournament. the original formation of said event was in honor of my late great grandfather's, Poppa, birthday. since then, it has morphed into a wonderful annual event of his children (he had 6) their children (there are 20, i think) and their children (30-something) and now even their children (absolutely countless). so, when it all started way back in 1975, there were probably 30-40 people. cousins, and aunts, and grandparents, and children. i was one of the children back then, obviously, we gathered at one of the family houses, and played Bocce. against each other - for the title: Bocce Champ. we ate lots of italian home-cooked food, and drank, and enjoyed one another. the event sometimes lasted into the late evening, needing headlights from the various cars, or flood lights on the houses. if you and your family won, the party was then at your house the next year. through the years, there were switches to the houses, and the venues, however, my family, and one other families won many years in a row, and it became a wee bit unfair for that same group of people to host the event. so, we started just getting volunteers to have it at their house. this year - we volunteered.


there were 85 people here. 2 kegs, and an unbelievable amount of food. we rented a bouncehouse, the pool was fantastic to swim in with the weather being PERFECT for swimming, and we had 40 quarts of Del's frozen lemonade here, too.


the kegs were kicked by 6:00PM (party starts at 11:00) the food was demolished. (NO leftovers - sean and i were stunned the next morning hunting the refrigerators for some morsels! the horrors!) and the bouncehouse and pool were busy ALL day.


we didn't win the tourney, but that's okay, and we didn't volunteer again for next year, and that's okay too. :O)


it was a blast, and apparently (did i mention the kegs? yeah, i helped .. a lot) everyone felt the same way - LOADs of fun.




%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%


inner-puppy


monster mash. higgy-monster. monster-man.


those three names will be heard throughout any given day addressing the furry addition to the family here.

he is delicious, and really adorable, and truly one of the best things we've ever done as a family. he is smart, and silly, and engaging, and loving. he is a wonderful breed, with the personality that is incomparable to anything i have ever experienced. he is also six months old. today. and that means he is still a puppy. and he found the comfort in his soul, and his heart, to snuggle right in to the house here. he owns the place in his mind, and he seemingly is flexing some muscles. but - he just fits in here.

however, we've become a wee bit more, ah, aware, of our possessions laying on the floor. we've also become a wee bit more aware of training him - consistently. he begins school next thursday. it's time. she's coming here, and training all four of us to work with him, and that makes me happy.

the other two dogs are finding it in their hearts to be kind and loving back to him. the big one, most of the time. the little one - well, not necessarily most of the time, but some of the time. in good time we'll have a cohesive mix. they have their own timeclock, i recognize this. either that, or when he's 100+ lbs, she'll learn the harder way. silly cocker spaniel.

************************************

back to school .... back to routine? or finding a new groove?

so, we've been in school now for three weeks, and in all, a decent transition. not the smoothest we've seen at this house, but then, we've not gone into 2nd and 3rd grade before either.

the big guy has a posse, i know i've written about it before. he's got a good solid 6 friends in school that are inseparable. 5 are in the other classroom. all 5. no rhyme or reason for the separation. principal decides the year before, kids are randomly selected to go into classrooms. probably the same everywhere. he was sad. devastatingly sad, initially. but then, we had the hot dog roast, and he learned that there would be some other old friends, and acquaintances in his new class and perhaps he could make a new friend or two with the three new kids to the school. so the smile returned, and then the first day came. SUCCESS! all smiles with the day. new kids "are really cool, mom!" and "guess what? i have a few kids that were in kindergarten with me that haven't been with me since, that are now back in my classroom!". phewf. narrowly escaped disaster, perhaps? ;o)

the sweet-pea has had some different things going on, too. initially, loads of 'belly wiggles' and 'weird feelings' with the new teacher, new classroom atmosphere (now an open style of classroom versus a single closed one from last year). we worked it out, and discussed it thoroughly, and within a few days, and several carry-alongs with her "girl power" ring (remember that?!) things were slowly beginning to 'unwiggle' in the belly arena. the friends thing was a wee bit touchy for her, too. fears, and unsurety with who was going to be where in the which classroom, where will i sit, who will sit next to me ... you know usual 2nd grade stuff. good news, though, some old very close friends connected with her immediately in the same classroom, and even got assigned a seat next to her. all smiles, and giddy after the first week at school ...

so, where then is the "tough transition" i was speaking of, right? in my heart, it think. i sense some changes with them. the summer was a summer of change, and a very good summer, but changes. they somehow became bigger to me in just 8 weeks. babes no more, they gently, and quietly found a way to become kids. they process differently, and i sense some new and different feeling with regards to the school work, and the relationships there and in their lives all over. positive, and energetic still, and completely loving the whole picture of school, they really, really do. they are just, well, bigger. so, with that said, i do believe it's not as much a challenging transition as it is a new groove. dancing to some new music. :o)

###########################

speaking of music .....

the big guy is going to take up violin, or viola. 3rd graders can learn a string instrument through school, and mom and dad need to have the instrument for them. he chose viola, and the music store mentioned that he should probably go with the violin, although when all is said and done, they mentioned there is very little difference with the exception of the length of the strings.

tomorrow we go to get the instrument, and have him sized. i'll be sure to get some photos of this one, for sure.

his mission? to learn and "bide his time" until he can get ahold of the true object of his desire - the electric guitar. :o)

god i love this kid.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

new job ... new manager

sean started his new gig, and so far he loves it. all kinds of wonderful opportunity and the country is the oyster for the company. his territry is (get this!) the United States. yep, entire country. crazy, but what a ride so far. he seems so happy, and that is worth it's weight in GOLD.

me, well, my manager got a promotion within the company, and that meant a new manager arrived to be with us. i miss the old one for the mere reason he was good. i mean good. the new one could be just as good. eventually. it's a transition (there's that word again!) and so far relatively smooth. it's early though. i like the new one, he's different than the old one, and that's okay.

so, i think that might be it. if you've made it this far, thanks. if not, hey check in tomorrow - i'll have some more photos! :o)

i'll leave with this really adorable shot of the squirt and the monster mash hanging before the bus arrived.

9.11

i thought i would be able to catch up with a post filled with chapters of the last few weeks, however, on this day, i can't.

my thoughts and my mind have been distant today. struggling to feel comfortable, and yet, working hard to move forward.

i remember exactly what i was doing. i was traveling and heard the man on the radio screaming that the tower had been hit. i remember the first call, and every word that was spoken, on my cell phone back home to my family, to be sure all was okay. i remember that horrible, undeniable fear that swept over me. i was 100 miles away from my children, my husband, and my family. my thoughts: bring me home now, let me see them one more time. i have to.

although the time moves on, remembering is essential.

today, for this day, for the families and the world, i will remember.

*peace to you, to all of us*

going fast.

it's never been a question. he moves quickly. he moves effortlessly. he moves in ways that he shouldn't be able to.

these help, I am sure. oh, yeah, baby Nike Cortez. classic.

but the reality of his ability to move his body is amazing. he has grace, power and speed. he is not a big kid, by any stretch. he's actually on the average side for an 8.5 year old ... but on this particular street we live in, he is among the little people. and that has proven to be far less than any barrier. he keeps up with the 16 year olds that are here. both speed wise, and also athletically.

he makes up for his wee stature in heart, though. and speed. i am grateful for the energy level to keep up with him, although there are times that i wonder if i have the stamina to survive another day.

he had a challenging summer, my little man. it was a summer of change. a summer of expanding minds, and boundary questions ... it was a summer of tip-toeing on that line - the line where little people graze while mommy and daddy are still watching, and keeping that close eye "how much can i get away with" line - and a summer of closeness.

he found something new in his sister. he's always liked her. i think he found a way to love her this summer. she made him, i think.

regardless of how fast he tried to run.

seven

she did it. she found a way. despite all my requests to stay away from the seven, she found it.

our baby turned 7.

she hasn't turned back, not once. it's as if she packaged her 6 in a box, wrapped it with a bow, and then shuffled it back behind her, leaving it for the next beautiful little girl to grab it and open it.



i have always known that boys and girls are different. in theory and in reality, of course. but this one, this milestone, feels even moreso, far more different in comparison. when the little man turned 7 it was another year of "little fella". the little boy still remains even today at 8.5. she seems so ..... big. she seems so independent. she seems so self-sufficient.



{sigh}



why do little girls do this to their mommies?? there is a place in my heart carved out, a warm and delightful spot that she gets to call hers. she might not really know it. she may never understand it. (perhaps i have the same spot within my mom's heart, and i am discovering that now ... much older than 7) i loathe the thought that she won't need me someday, or worse want me around her.

until then, though, i will take pictures. i will be a part of their life. i will enjoy, and be grateful for the time that i have been given with them. i will love.

and i will send them off to school for the first day way, way too eary because that's what our town does. :O(

but alas, the obligatory first day photos .....

yes, off the neighborhood went to the safe, wonderful school we call ours. off to start a whole new year of learning, and achieving, and enjoying the gift of education.

they had a great day ... all smiles, and chatter as they bounded off the bus.

now though, now it's time for sleeping. lots of it. one thing that my kids do very, very well .... sleep. :O)

sarcomial part deux

said i'd be back ... can't believe it's in the same day! ;-)

here goes .....

Hoping for: completion
Just Finished: tucking (in)
Jonesing For: sweets
Most Annoying Brady Bunch Kid: Jan
Word to Describe Your Personal Sense of Style: fun
Last Snack: seeds
Have Never, Ever Tried: skydiving
Last Clumsy Injury: bruise
Your Environment: energetic
Daily Object You'd Like to Throw Into Oncoming Traffic: briefcase
Favorite Kind of Soup: tomato
Holiday You Don't Typically Celebrate: (seriously? I love all the holidays! :)
Happy To Have: family love
Want To Start: scrapping
Need To Start: ordering photos
Last Thing You Purchased: hockey gear
Color of Your Car Interior: grey
Color of the Wall in the Room You're In: eggshell
Days Since Your Last Night Out: two
Number of Rings On Your Fingers: two
How Many Minutes It Takes To Do Your Hair: five
Favorite Outdoor Smell: fall
Number of Clocks in Your Home (not on appliances): eight
Where You Put Spare Change: jar

funny .... i may be back AGAIN tonight, if you can even believe that!

sarcomial

yep, she's at it again ... Nichole. asked us to play if we wanted to ... so i am .. she actually has two on her blog. i'll start here for now, and perhaps do the next one later.

Your Body Feels: rejuvinated
Your Mind Feels: sharp
The Last Thing You Ate: bagel
Something On Your Desk/Workspace: pictures
On Your Chest: bra
On Your Legs: skin
On Your Feet: sandals
Favorite Instrument to Hear: paino
Your Last Kiss Happened Here: bed
Something You Wish You'd Invented: iPod
Something You Wish Had Never Been Invented: evil
Favorite Place For a Quiet Afternoon: bookstore
Right Now You Should Be: working
You Hate When People: lie
You Love When People: love
When In Doubt, Order the: beer
Band You're Currently Into: many
How Many Movies You've Gone to See So Far This Month: one
Your Favorite Big Brother 8 Houseguest (oh shut up, it's my poll - just put N/A if you must): who?
Your Least Favorite Big Brother 8 Houseguest: yeah
Your Maternal Grandmother's Name: Rita
Your First Childhood Pet's Name: Shatzie
The Number of People in Your Family With Red Hair: three (!)
What You're Thinking about Doing After This: email
What You Really WISH You Were Doing After This: relaxing

here are the rules: if you wanna play, copy and paste, and remove my answers, add yours - BUT only one word answers! have fun!

off to email, then take some photos of the PROJECT progress out back! :O)

thanks, Nichole!!

2,554

that's how many days she's been here with me.

and if your math is as good as mine, and you, too, need a calculator to add and multiply (and divide, i suppose ...) that number, let me help you here:

that large number of days up there in the title is 6 years + 364 days. {sigh}

she is 7 tomorrow.

seven. s.e.v.e.n.

no way, can't be. it isn't even remotely comprehendable.

and while i cannot recall what my days were like before she arrived (likely quite boring, without color for sure!) i can honestly tell you that 2,554 days have passed me in the blink of an instant; faster than the beat of one heart.

the baby. the caboose. the one that brought us from three, to four. the 'old soul' of the group - the one that's been here before. the one that nurtures all of us. the one that adds so much to us.

she warms my heart.

she touches my soul.

she shows me love.

she brings me peace.

she takes my breath away.

she finishes a circle we call family.

seven.

my baby. i can recollect her first appearance like it was this morning at 4:03AM.

my water broke at 2:13AM; called my sister over to watch the first fella we had; shot out to the hospital, mostly at her urging, arrived at 2:40AM; whisked in the triage room, antibiotics administered (group B +); no thanks to the "other" drugs, we're going naturally again; whisked up to the delivery room; doc called three times, never showed. sean had me laughing - again, he is so good at that! - during intense back labor; ready to push, just minutes after arrival into room; fantastic nurse catches the squigly addition at 4:03 AM; girl? girl?! nuh uh! show us - yep - confirmed, girl. 9lbs, 13 oz., 19 inches; hubby escorts the new external piece of his soul to the nursery and returns giggling at the way she "outsized the other wee ones". gee, she looks kinda large in there, mom. :o)

the rest? the rest is the 2,553 other days .... they call one of each sex a 'rich man's family'. that's what i was told ... can't deny that here. we are "rich" in that manner. she has brought so, so much.

happy birthday-eve, babe.

perfect.

60 Minutes Correspondent Andy Rooney (CBS)

As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask,"What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.
If a woman over 40 doesn 't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.
Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it.
Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.
Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.
Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald , paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?", here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!

Andy Rooney is a really smart guy!

here ..

is a good place to be. home. i like it, and it is comfortable.

but ... i am feeling like i have so much to do. i am off again midweek for two days on business, and before then i have got far too much to organize.

oh, and our closet decided to have a hiccup. argh. time to purge some clothes.

so, although i am here, and comfortable - i am strapped.

i will be back, i promise.

grins

:O)

back

i'm back from the west coast. hardly can even believe that i was only gone for 48 hours, 14 of it in the air. {sigh}

needless to say long trip, and pretty tired with a weird clock in my system speaking a foreign language to me.

i have a feeling i'll feel more like myself tomorrow.

heading to catch up on some sleep, and perhaps change the clock back in my system to EST, and English. ;)

out

gone off to the west coast for a whirlwind 48 hour trip .... well, i *am* going. in 8 hours from now.

be back saturday.

cheers!

a few questions from a fellow bloggy-friend!

Nichole, my aforementioned bloggy-friend has posted some questions for me to answer ... so here are my attempts at filling in the blanks.

thanks, N! :O)


Hey Karin... Hope this week is better for you!
1. Have you seen Ratatouille yet; if so did you like it?
yes! last week, monday i think ... loved it! great fantasy/unrealistic plot line (just the way i like the entertainment type movies!!) and adorable characters with wonderful photography. i rec'd it highly!!!

2. Where do you like to buy your clothes?
typically, gap, old navy, ann taylor loft, and talbots (how's that for all around?!) but i have several different fashion preferences, and of course work vs. play/mommy clothes. my favorite place to buy clothes though is the land of SALE! ;o)

3. What kind of music do you listen to?
i like all kinds of music with the exception to rap, and head-banging hurt my ears loud heavy metal. i love: blues, jazz, folk, classical, rock and roll, SOME country, and good old fashioned 70's/80's and some 90's. kind of all over the place, isn't it?

4. Do you have an emergency plan/survival kit?
well,yes, i do have one... in my car. kind of an emergency kit just for cars. as far as the house and family survival kit - embarassingly, no. sean and i have discussed what would happen in the event of an emergency with us, and how we would respond, but we need a kit. we do .... reminder well taken. :O)

5. What is the hardest thing about being a parent? (again -- looking for free advice.) ;-)
the hardest thing is allowing your heart to guide you while listening to your head (as opposed to the opposite). your life and your heart are not your own any longer, and you are fully and completely responsible for other lives and hearts. then, you nurture your kids to be independant, happy, and well-rounded people. then you have to let them go to do that. i guess, in a sense, the hardest part is "letting go". it happens on so many levels from the moment they enter the world, until, i imagine, they find their own paths.
however, with all of this said, it is by far my greatest accomplishment in my life. it is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

ever.

feeling so, SO much better

thanks for the thoughts, and the words ... today was a gift. :)

the 4 of us were out doing some things together, and just basically taking a breather from the house, and the mahem that often comes with being an owner of a home with a pool - and temps outside soaring into the 90's.

we had some returns, and some things that needed to be purchased, and just plain old errand running later today. k-gal and i spent some time chatting, and being together alone too, and that was a treat.

today, i am grateful for the goodness that my life brings. i am grateful for the forgiveness that is granted when a mistake is made and you're feeling awful. i am grateful for the loving environment that my family is in.

i am grateful for the family i have, that i can hold them, and love them, and be myself with them. with all the uglies, and the difficult things that sometimes come up.

what are you grateful for today?

:O)

feeling awful

today was a rough day.

my little one, k-gal had a piece of glass in her foot, and she was completely and utterly unreasonable about the removal of said piece of glass.

i on the other hand was completely and utterly unreasonable with a level of impatience that i've not experienced. it wasn't pretty.

suffice it to say, the glass came out without tweezers, or needles, and without her knowledge of the passing. basically, she was thrashing, and kicking and screaming that it popped out, all while i was attempting to restrain her (good gravy, that child is STRONG). i didn't even know it had come out either, until i felt the 1mm (yes, one milimeter cut) and couldn't feel it anymore.

the mother of the year award was handed to me by my neighbors quietly several moments later. head down, shamefully accepting it.

since the incident, i've been feeling awful. she on the other hand, has completely forgotten she spent 90 minutes (yes, one and a half hours) howling about this.

this is the rarest and ugliest form of parenting. i loathe making this mistake. i loathe losing my temper, and showing her how an adult can be aggravated.

we hugged tonight, and discussed it, and i apologized for my behavior, and told her that i learned a lesson from the incident. i learned that i need to control my aggravation, and frustration and stay calm no matter what. she told me she learned to let things happen, and not try and worry about the what if's. she was terrified that the removal of the piece would be so overwhlemingly painful that she would not be able to bear it. :o\ and i tried to remind her that she once took 11 stitches in her forehead without anesthetic and she didn't remember that.

i don't think that we'll forget this one for a while.

here's to a happier tomorrow. {sigh}

g'night.

life .. life ... life!

it moves and shakes ... and makes you stop every once in a while to breathe.


today, we took a breath. our friends in Minnesota are okay. thank goodness.


yesterday we spent the afternoon and into the evening with some good freinds that we haven't seen in quite a while. so nice.


tonight, hubby and i have a date, of sorts, we are heading to other friends of ours to have the evening alone, no kiddliewinks. my parents are taking them to see UnderDog. excited, all of us.


the kids are enjoying themselves washing daddy's car and the neighbor's mommy's car (these two boys - mine and the neighbor - are the ones that call each other 'brother's from another mother' - hysterical!! soul mates, for sure!)





my friend kim asked us to be tagged, and answer some fun questions ... and as she mentioned, she's done this tag before, but the answers could be different this time around ... we'll see.

4 Jobs I've Had:
* lifeguard
* sales manager
* athletic trainer
* sales representative

4 Places I have lived:
* massachusetts
* maine
* rhode island
* massachusetts :)

4 Favorite T.V. shows
*grey's anatomy
* e.r.
* brother's and sisters

4 Favorite Foods:
* italian
* thai
* japanese
* edible :)

4 Websites I frequent:
* my blog
* friends blogs
* my kids sports organization sites
* my company site

4 Places I'd Rather be Right Now:

* hawai'i with my sil who is home without my bil in iraq
* vacation - anywhere
* maine
* europe

4 Movies I LOVE:

* finding nemo
* ice age
* miracle
* anything disney/pixar

fun stuff, so, if you want to be "tagged" go for it, and anwer the questions ......

my other bloggy-friend, Nichole offered a tag-type fun time too, and hers i will do tomorrow .... :O)

have a great sunday!