thoughts ...

randomly, yet somehow in order.

* not feeling like me. been harboring a cold/sinus thing for a few days.
* throat sore now.
* kendall rolled her ankle this weekend playing at baseball opening day. limp has improved. ice. motrin. hugs. all working
* cameron played catcher at opening day, and looked like a mini-Varitek. *swoon* :o) he rocks. (my kid, AND 'Tek)
* closer to purchasing those SanFran tix. (grins!) will fill in blanks once a done-deal ....
* not looking forward to starting this week, because the END of the week is bringing me to Bangor, Maine. ugh. looooong drive
* sean's baseball season is seemingly in FUll throttle swing - 2 games - yes, folks TWO - today. one at 9:00AM, and one at 7:00PM. {sigh} "single" motherhood begins ...
* about those SF tix ..... ;o)
* quiet house. kids sleeping since 7:30. had a GREAT, but tiring weekend ... celebrated a 40th for a friend last night, all 7 kids with us! fun times! and the night before, i got to catch up with my guuurlfriends for a little bite to eat, and a cocktail ... or two.
* just finished my may and june schedule for the kids activities and the hubby's. always, always seems more reasonable when i see it in writing. you know?
* countdown has begun until summer break - 7 more weeks! YAY!

okay, random, yet, as i mentioned, somehow in order. or at least in my head they are in order.

i have loads of photos to upload, so i'll be working on that this week ... planning to showcase some new shots of the squirts 'snouts. because, dang it, they are the cutest snouts.

off to curl up with some reading.

g'night!

you are beautiful ....

breathtakingly so.

there are moments that i stop, look at her, and inhale, while my heart skips a beat. where did i ever turn in the right direction to be blessed to have this incredible angel on this earth with me?

have you ever heard the line 'heaven must be missing one of their favorite angels .... you're here with me.'

so true.

so.very.true.

i know she is mine, and of course, i know that i am biased. i recognize that any mother, regardless of the beauty they *see* in their kid is blinded by the love in their heart - that which makes the beauty be ever-present.

but
she
takes
my
breath
away.

she is gentle, and kind, and nurturing, and silly, and fun, and a rare treasure.

and i get to call her mine.

a gift.

i hope to unwrap for many, many years to come.

thanks, sweetpea. i love having you to call mine. i love being with you and sharing me with you. i love the way you make me feel when i am around you. i love the way you touch my soul. i love the way you find your music, and hear your song with the beat of our hearts. i love the way you love your daddy. i love the way you make this house your castle, one with your knight in shining armor.

i love you, sweetie.

xxoo

My thoughts ....

are with the families, and loved ones, and all touched by the virginia tech horror that occured yesterday.

may the developing stories lend peace, and healing to all that have been affected.

Day 1 Spring (ha!) Break

41 degrees, rain, wind moving at speeds of 40 mph at times. spring? my arse. ;o)

so, when all points you in the chilly direction, and the outdoors that you call yours, when you are 6.5 and 8, looks like this:

then it's time to have mom call in the friends that keep you laughing, and make you feel silly.

so now, we look like this:

spent two hours at 'open gym' this morning with these two little sweat peas, and then i kidnapped them to our house for lunch and the afternoon of playing, dancing, laughing, and general silly moments.

got a hot cup '0 chai next to me, and googling some ideas for tomorrow .... these two little gals are heading to Florida for a few days with their family in the evening tomorrow. so, perhaps i can steal them for the day tomorrow again before they escape the wintery northeast and head to the sun.

besides, my squirts think they are treasures. :o)

have a great monday afternoon!

Spring Treats

Yes, folks, spring has sprung - on the calendar, at least - soitenly NOT in the air ... and there are some treats that we've been enjoying here .... I'll be taking you back a week, seeing that this week got away from me, and I realized I never did make it back for some more photos postings!

last Sunday was Easter - a lovely holiday as far as I am concerned (mostly because traditionally it brings the ease of the new season, spring fever bites me, and the 'holiday'ness of the day is far, FAR less stressful for this family!) ... it also typically entails decorating the house with some really pretty, and very delicate european beauties from my dear friend, Fransie! (photos, too!) *smooches again* for these last year F!

a busy Easter morning egg hunt (yep, did it) and always involves some decorating of the eggs (yep, check the little guys out! - photo proof it occured! they are hidden in the basket above, and also we laid them on the floor to snap a few shots)

and then a little relaxing whilst eating the treasures from the eggs ... (yep, did it, but I've been threatened with my digital camera if I post photo proof of grown adults snatching candy from children, so you'll just have to believe me that the kids stash was raided!) then we feast on the fine dinner created by yours truly (herb encrusted porkloin, honey mustard sauce, ham, with special glaze, spaghetti squash with roasted tomatos and cheese, homemade bread, and the family added potatos au gratin, green beans, and salad - ym, huh?) then we all chilled and played board games, and laughed. after we watched the Masters, of course.

So since then, I've been trying to catch as much of our daily lives in my heart, and head ... and want to document the stories that are wrapped into these moments so, I've been snapping some photos, and learning some more about the camera. we've been very busy doing our warm weather pleading dance to the sky (read: playing outdoors until fingers were frozen, and noses were running and street lights came on ...) so here's a fe shots of that activity - or many activities! :o)

Today began spring break from school, and the kids are looking forward to it, albeit not a necessary (like the Christmas Break seemingly is for the kids!) break ... they are gearing up with friends over last night, playdates today after sports, and a fun filled, family-friendly dinner out a fave restaurant with the 4 of us tonight. So, with that .. I am off to snap a few more happy snaps, and enjoy the rest of the blustery winds with the squirts outside. Off to get my mittens, and hat.

Have a great weekend!

it's time ...

for a few photos. wouldn't you say? it's been many moons since i've posted any.

quite literally, life as i described it to someone feels like someone turned my 'shaker' upside down and just keeps tapping it. (kind of a visual, yes?) now if it's salt, perhaps i need to find some tequila, eh?

it isn't bad, i am not insanely busy, i feel like i am doing fine, just consitently busy.

my little sweet 8 year old son has found the preverbial "line in the sand" ...... and has been dancing on it. (see "granted" post below ...)

yes, dancing.

most of the time, he jumps over it, and therefore, i find the edge, and jump over that. yep, not all that proud of it, but it is what it is. we're figuring this little thing out, here.

my little 6 year old is marvelously finding her little groove in life. yes, she dances on that line, too. but then, she always has ... so maybe, just *maybe* i am in tune with her dance, and his is just all new to me? a thought ..... must get the rhythm of his music; THAT is the trick, right? ....

so, here ... here are some latest photos from a freakin' cold weekend here. i mean 35 degrees. it's april, and easter, and all .... 45 - 50 is where i need the thermometer. {sigh}

the start of the roller hockey game ... (check out the goaltender in the background ..... that would be my neighbor's little guy that SWEARS he lives with us)

below, cameron was sitting on the ground, and i snuck up on him, and he looked up and smiled at me ... ooooo, that little face!

isn't this hysterical?

i love that they let completely loose ... free!

another neighbor of ours has a trampoline that the kids will just have a ball on from time to time

now, seriously, is that the sky of a spring in new england?? doesn't it *look* freezing??

and cameron's baseball started this weekend, too .... brrrrr .... but he's on a AA team (minors) which in laymans terms means 'more competitive than last year'. not many 8 year olds make that level, so he was jazzed! kendall starts softball next week ... very excited! i'll bring the camera there for both of those events ... :o)

that's about all for now ... off to snuggle in bed. i'll be here posted some more photos soon .....

One.

using one word answer the questions in the list. if ya wanna play too, copy the list, and answer with your own words.

Your weekend: fun
Smelling: lunch
Annoyed by: attitude
Your face: smiling
Your pants: sweats
Something you want to create: peace
A favorite old movie star: Sofia
Not looking forward to: peacekeeping
Hearing: clock
Wish you could: vacation
Last thing you cooked: potstickers
Your breakfast: yummy
Your driving record: good
Last illness: shitty :-0
Wants to be: traveling
Mind keeps wandering to: SanFrancisco
You despise: lying
Unprepared for: losing
Favorite part of spring: weather
Your toenails: ignored
Proud of your: multitasking
Not proud of your: impatience
How you decompress: workout
Your kitchen table: tulips
Something you want to accomplish today: patience

Thanks, Nichole! :O)

I like these little lists .... but then I love lists! heh

granted

taken for it. permission to take it. living with it.

i'd like to think that i've taught my squirts a thing or two about this. about doing the right thing with "granted".

however, the lesson is lost when it's you trying to teach them not to take you for granted.

get it?

{sigh}

mommy take the beatings, and then, huggings.
mommy gets the tongue lashings when the kidlets are getting to the end of the rope, and then gets the kisses with 'i love you, mom'.
mommy hears the pushing and the requests, then gets the 'thank you' unpromted at just the right moment.

so, when the instruction manual goes for publishing on raising of children, be sure to proofread this chapter - extra well.

granted.

given.

happy Wednesday!

april showers .. ? may flowers

gee, i hope so ..... 'cause you know what? it's raining today ... it's supposed to rain all week and really - i would love me some may flowers! and i am ready to see 'em, plant 'em, and water 'em. yep - it's gardening time here in new england. ;o)

spring is in the air here (well, in our heads anyway, the weather isn't exactly cooperating in that department) and gardens are just waiting to be turned over, groomed, and nurtured. including mine - all of them. yum. my mom is the gardener in the family, and she does an amazing job - utterly amazing. i am so lucky for that.

i made a return today at a store, and the gardens outside the store were full of holes, and spaces with open arms awaiting the new arrivals that would inhabit the spaces. pretty flowers, every color you could imagine. the smell of the flowers, and the dirt was captivating. it enriched my spring fever. intensified it if that's even possible.

after several phone calls, and loads of work, i made a rasberry crumble tart this afternoon ... i had some nice tea with it. the kiddies came home from a great day at school ("TONS of fun stuff happened today, mom!") i got the run down on those details, of course, then they chilled out after homework and snacks ... cam turned on nesn and opening day arrived for the red sox with the fervor and excitement that it always does (and it should, to be honest!) .... sean even made it home to watch a few innings. then before dinner, kendall and i went to find some easter duds for she and the cam-dude to wear. good stuff. (but let me add that i cannot believe that she needs to be with me now to shop for clothes for her. 'mommy, i'd rather have a skirt, not a dress this time. a skirt, a short sweater, and a nice little top, okay?' cannot.believe.we.are.at.that.stage.already) {sigh}

so, sunday is easter. the bunny arrives, of course, loads of eggs, loads of baskets, and a fun hunt. we have a fabulous easter egg hunt here - we've planned it for the neighborhood to take part in for the 3 years we've lived here.... all the kiddies gather around, and scatter to grab as many as thier little hands can gather. the bunny clearly spent an enormous amount of his time the night before here in this neighborhood (as in 700 eggs!) then easter dinner with the family, probably here.

ah, springtime. ain't it grande?

groovy time of year.

a little break

it was a spontaneous thing ... unplanned, and unnecessary, honestly. it just .... happened.

i want to jump back in with this, though -

happy thoughts.

i have so many. the last two weeks have been really good. my whole life i have 'suffered' from spring fever. this year is no different. my son has it too.

we are giddy, and goofy, and full .... of everything. life. vip. vigor. excitement. giggles. and energy.

so, i need to make a list. a list of things that make me smile. that have been making me smile. and keep me moving forward to enjoy the time.

* silly kids with smiles on thier faces
* playing catch in the yard
* cameron making a AA baseball team
* kendall signing up for softball, and really practicing already
* playing wiffle ball in the front year
* chocolate chip and peanut butter chip homemade cookies
* temps in the 50's for three days straight
* dinner with friends, laughing 'til my sides hurt
* turning 39, having a ball out with my husband ringing it in
* laughing with kids
* listening to my kids giggling at a movie they are watching in the car with headphones on
* sleeping in 'til 9:02 AM on the weekend
* joking with sean about the wiffle ball and baseball games that have been continuous for several days
* shopping for three new deck umbrellas (means that the pool will be opened soon!)
* buying a batting cage for the backyard that makes my husband all kinds of giddy
* hearing my two discuss the ins and outs of sports center scores
* wondering how i ever got so lucky to have these two little creatures
* slipping off to read in a quiet corner
* being able to go to the gym every day
* feeling good about the way i feel from exercise
* having the entire weekend to do as we pleased
* fresh fruit that seems to be coming to season
* tulips on my table
* new sheets on all the beds
* cute new shower curtains, and curtain holders for the bathrooms
* a new video camera treat for sean and i
* spring break coming up in two weeks
* a new babysitter discovered! (likely will be the summer sitter too!)
* feeling organized and spring cleaned .. partially.

so, there. that's the start to the list that i have so far. that's what i've been up to, and keeping busy with.

i need to write more, though. i need to get here. and it dawned on me, there are lots of things i need to take pictures of to record the things that make me happy.

happy start to the week!