Okay, so when I mentioned that I loved a summertime thunderclapper, I neglected to say that I didn't want it to be of min-hurricane levels ....
but, THAT, my friends is what we got.
I saw the lightening, and was printing out a business plan for the dh, when *CLAPPP* BAAAANNNNNNNGGGGGGG! happened ....
oh, sh*t! We got hit, was all I could think of.
I ran to the kitchen to see S on the deck, wrestling with the high table and umbrella, which had turned itself inside out on him. The bang, thank god, was the table, teakwood, hitting the mahogany deck outside. Two really hard woods, smacking together in hurricane force winds.
The mayhem continued with all the pool toys, and floats scattering about the yard, the fence fell (it is getting repaired from a recent wind storm - so this was just insult to injury) and then we heard more snaps, and bangs, and really loud thunder with a litany of lightening.
Then the lights went out.
They flickered for a few, and finally out at 10:00PM. They were out all night.
We went to bed, and had a little pint sized visitor for the night, which of course means no one sleeps well. With the thunder and lightening, though, I wasn't going to be sleeping anyway. And neither was she. :O)
The two fellas were just fine snoozing. No noise disrupting them. Lucky devils.
So, this morning, I emerged into the streets to take K-gal to gymnastics camp, and the number of trees down, along with the mess in the streets, was unreal! Our power came back on at 10:30 AM, but I was at Panera Bread accessing the internet on my wireless. Smart kid, I am. I heard another lady speaking to her neighbor about the power just coming back on, and asked where she lived, turned out she lived 2 or 3 developments away from me, and that meant mine was back on too.
So, home I came.
Lights on. Backyard looking like a hurricane hit it. :o)
But, the silver lining is this -- it is SO MUCH cooler!!! YAY! I don't even have the A/C on.
~ ~ ~ grins ~ ~ ~
So, off to clean up a tad, and then enjoy the birds chirping outside my window.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
When Life Comes At You Fast
Run a little faster.
That's my advice today.
It's all I got, folks.
Kerrrazzzyyyy hot here. 101* on my car temp. One-hundred-and-one.
Huh?
And today was the day that I decided to come out of hibernation and go see some accounts of mine. Fine choice.
Not.
I finished the day with a 90 minute never-get-out-of-the-pool float. :o) So nice.
There were exactly 12 kids, and 5 adults swimming at my pool after hockey camp and gymnastics camp today.
Happy faces in that water. It was so very nice, and so very needed.
We are expecting thunderstorms tonight, and cooler temps tomorrow.
I hope the thunder is reallLLLlly loud. I love a good summer thunderclapper.
oooooo.... there's some lightening.
off to listen. :O)
g'night.
That's my advice today.
It's all I got, folks.
Kerrrazzzyyyy hot here. 101* on my car temp. One-hundred-and-one.
Huh?
And today was the day that I decided to come out of hibernation and go see some accounts of mine. Fine choice.
Not.
I finished the day with a 90 minute never-get-out-of-the-pool float. :o) So nice.
There were exactly 12 kids, and 5 adults swimming at my pool after hockey camp and gymnastics camp today.
Happy faces in that water. It was so very nice, and so very needed.
We are expecting thunderstorms tonight, and cooler temps tomorrow.
I hope the thunder is reallLLLlly loud. I love a good summer thunderclapper.
oooooo.... there's some lightening.
off to listen. :O)
g'night.
Monday, July 17, 2006
so, a few pictures of the last few months .....
I had to get 7 rolls of film developed (oiy, digi is just screaming for me, I know!) and here are a few highlights .... there are many more pics, and I will add as I blog about stories, but had to get these out there .....
this is what 10 inches looks like after it's gone to a "little girl who was sick, and needed my hair because the medicine they took made their hair fall out"
Locks for Love, June 21, 2006
this is the face of the C-man fella swimming and playing jumping from his cousin's shoulders (can you say freckled face?!)
this is the K-gal at her first evah' piano concert last month (talk about swelling with pride! 50 people watched here play away!)
the smiley guy playing at a playground this past week, love the contrast of the circle with him
K-gal waiting for the gymnastics show to begin in June ....
so that's it for now .... there'll be more. I promise. ;O)
this is what 10 inches looks like after it's gone to a "little girl who was sick, and needed my hair because the medicine they took made their hair fall out"
Locks for Love, June 21, 2006
this is the face of the C-man fella swimming and playing jumping from his cousin's shoulders (can you say freckled face?!)
this is the K-gal at her first evah' piano concert last month (talk about swelling with pride! 50 people watched here play away!)
the smiley guy playing at a playground this past week, love the contrast of the circle with him
K-gal waiting for the gymnastics show to begin in June ....
so that's it for now .... there'll be more. I promise. ;O)
Saturday, July 15, 2006
My answers .....
Well, Kim had asked me for my answers, so here they are! :o)
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Uhm, no.
2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster? No way! I wanna see the impending doom about to meet me head on. :O)
3. When's the last time you've been sledding? the last snow here, March? We all went around the corner on the golf course.
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? if the someone is S, then with him, otherwise, definitely alone.
5. Do you believe in ghosts? absolutely, without question!
6. Do you consider yourself creative? yeah, I have a little creative juice every now and then
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? hmmmm, just don't have a definitive opinion on this.
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very "now") Jennifer. Don't like the really freaky Angelina.
9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics? no, truthfully, no.
10. Do you know how to play poker? yes, a little
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? good gawd, no. I think I'd implode.
12. What's your favorite commercial? there are so many! there was a great Super Bowl Pepsi one several years ago with a little kid I remember loving, and then the Coke one with Mean Joe Green, quite often the Budweiser ads are among my faves, however, the beer is not my fave. Isn't it funny how you can't remember when you need to?
13. Who was your first love? Cliff
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light? need more info on this .... if I am alone on the road, secluded area, and it's super late, no kids in the car, probably. However, if the kids are with me (why in the middle of the night, who knows?) and I am not completely alone, no.
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? nope ....
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? Uh, do we even have to ask -----> BOSTON!!!
17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? yes, many many times.
18. How often do you remember your dreams? all the time. I dream in color, and when I was pregnant, they were technicolor!
19. What's the one thing on your mind? right now, getting S a new job, and feeling less stress about that
20. Do you always wear your seat belt? absolutely.
21. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could sing and play an instrument
22. Do you like Sushi? yes
23. What do you wear to bed? tshirt, boxers, pajama pants, tanks. SOmetimes even nothing! :O)
24. Do you truly hate anyone? no, severely dislike a couple of people, not hate.
25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? hmmmmm .... dunno. I don't think anyone famous, I like to fly under the radar to be honest. I can think of a couple not-so-famous. ;O)
26. Do you know anyone in jail? sadly, yes.
27. What food do you find disgusting? Cauliflower.
28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back? sadly, yes. It's one of those things you think of and regret.
29. Have you ever been punched in the face? slapped, not punched. Years ago.
30. Do you believe in angels and demons? Angels without question, they live everywhere. Demons, never thought of it. I suppose they need to be here to. I believe in truly evil people, so I guess they would be a demon, right? I believe in really wonderful, angelic people, thinking they have a little magic in them, so it would make sense.
This was fun!
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops? Uhm, no.
2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster? No way! I wanna see the impending doom about to meet me head on. :O)
3. When's the last time you've been sledding? the last snow here, March? We all went around the corner on the golf course.
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone? if the someone is S, then with him, otherwise, definitely alone.
5. Do you believe in ghosts? absolutely, without question!
6. Do you consider yourself creative? yeah, I have a little creative juice every now and then
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife? hmmmm, just don't have a definitive opinion on this.
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very "now") Jennifer. Don't like the really freaky Angelina.
9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics? no, truthfully, no.
10. Do you know how to play poker? yes, a little
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight? good gawd, no. I think I'd implode.
12. What's your favorite commercial? there are so many! there was a great Super Bowl Pepsi one several years ago with a little kid I remember loving, and then the Coke one with Mean Joe Green, quite often the Budweiser ads are among my faves, however, the beer is not my fave. Isn't it funny how you can't remember when you need to?
13. Who was your first love? Cliff
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light? need more info on this .... if I am alone on the road, secluded area, and it's super late, no kids in the car, probably. However, if the kids are with me (why in the middle of the night, who knows?) and I am not completely alone, no.
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? nope ....
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees? Uh, do we even have to ask -----> BOSTON!!!
17. Have you ever been Ice Skating? yes, many many times.
18. How often do you remember your dreams? all the time. I dream in color, and when I was pregnant, they were technicolor!
19. What's the one thing on your mind? right now, getting S a new job, and feeling less stress about that
20. Do you always wear your seat belt? absolutely.
21. What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could sing and play an instrument
22. Do you like Sushi? yes
23. What do you wear to bed? tshirt, boxers, pajama pants, tanks. SOmetimes even nothing! :O)
24. Do you truly hate anyone? no, severely dislike a couple of people, not hate.
25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be? hmmmmm .... dunno. I don't think anyone famous, I like to fly under the radar to be honest. I can think of a couple not-so-famous. ;O)
26. Do you know anyone in jail? sadly, yes.
27. What food do you find disgusting? Cauliflower.
28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back? sadly, yes. It's one of those things you think of and regret.
29. Have you ever been punched in the face? slapped, not punched. Years ago.
30. Do you believe in angels and demons? Angels without question, they live everywhere. Demons, never thought of it. I suppose they need to be here to. I believe in truly evil people, so I guess they would be a demon, right? I believe in really wonderful, angelic people, thinking they have a little magic in them, so it would make sense.
This was fun!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Tagged! :o)
So let the fun roll on here .....
I thought I would start a cool tag ~~
Fransie
Bonnie
Kim
Natalie
Laura
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster?
3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
5. Do you believe in ghosts?
6. Do you consider yourself creative?
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very "now")
9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
10. Do you know how to play poker?
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
12. What's your favorite commercial?
13. Who was your first love?
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light?
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
18. How often do you remember your dreams?
19. What's the one thing on your mind?
20. Do you always wear your seat belt?
21. What talent do you wish you had?
22. Do you like Sushi?
23. What do you wear to bed?
24. Do you truly hate anyone?
25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
26. Do you know anyone in jail?
27. What food do you find disgusting?
28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
29. Have you ever been punched in the face?
30. Do you believe in angels and demons?
and let it roll onwards! :O)
I thought I would start a cool tag ~~
Fransie
Bonnie
Kim
Natalie
Laura
1. Have you ever been searched by the cops?
2. Do you close your eyes on a roller coaster?
3. When's the last time you've been sledding?
4. Would you rather sleep with someone else, or alone?
5. Do you believe in ghosts?
6. Do you consider yourself creative?
7. Do you think O.J. killed his wife?
8. Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie? (silly, I know ... but very "now")
9. Can you honestly say you know ANYTHING about politics?
10. Do you know how to play poker?
11. Have you ever been awake for 48 hours straight?
12. What's your favorite commercial?
13. Who was your first love?
14. If you're driving in the middle of the night, and no one is around you, do you run a red light?
15. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you?
16. Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees?
17. Have you ever been Ice Skating?
18. How often do you remember your dreams?
19. What's the one thing on your mind?
20. Do you always wear your seat belt?
21. What talent do you wish you had?
22. Do you like Sushi?
23. What do you wear to bed?
24. Do you truly hate anyone?
25. If you could sleep with one famous person, who would it be?
26. Do you know anyone in jail?
27. What food do you find disgusting?
28. Have you ever made fun of your friends behind their back?
29. Have you ever been punched in the face?
30. Do you believe in angels and demons?
and let it roll onwards! :O)
The Clearing
I saw it.
It happened to my head.
I am so grateful.
:o)
I feel like a cloud may have been lifted from around my being.
There was confusion, frustration, sadness, disappointment, and ultimately fatigue with the fogginess in my head.
It's gone. whoosh.
just gone.
I am grateful, and very pleased.
the sun has decided to make an appearance too.
glad to see it. hope it stays.
off to play with the kids.
and pick up 6 rolls of film that needed to be developed.
(that, my friends, is a warning of posted pics to come .... :)
It happened to my head.
I am so grateful.
:o)
I feel like a cloud may have been lifted from around my being.
There was confusion, frustration, sadness, disappointment, and ultimately fatigue with the fogginess in my head.
It's gone. whoosh.
just gone.
I am grateful, and very pleased.
the sun has decided to make an appearance too.
glad to see it. hope it stays.
off to play with the kids.
and pick up 6 rolls of film that needed to be developed.
(that, my friends, is a warning of posted pics to come .... :)
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
A million pieces
Of things to put together in my head......
so ~
I am going to start back at the date I had with my husband and move forward from there.
it'll help me collect my thoughts, and organize where I am.
(ahem, can you tell I am seeking some settling vibes ....)
So, my date - yum. I love dates. I love this man. He is peace, he is comfort, and he is just.so.easy.to.be.with. I do not spend enough alone time with him. We are in the thick of parenting, like so many people, and get caught in that whirlwind of needs, and wants from those little cherubs we call "our babes". Our New Year's Res (well, one of them ...) was to spend more time having dates, and being alone *reconnecting* if you will. We are the very best of friends, and I feel strongly he is my soul mate. We've made it a priority to find that time, and I have to say, we've been okay with it. This date proved to me we need to become very good at it.
We started with meeting up with some new friends at an Irish pub around the bend that we'd not been to. It was terrific. Great people, and of course, good libations. ;) We then went to the most terrific Irish band concert - The Gaelic Storm - FABULOUS band! We saw them in a very old theater, tons of nostalgia there, and the accoustics were phenominal for the event. They were funny, they were incredible musicians, they were entertaining, and they were perfect for our date. It is something we rarely do - see a concert - and it was just right. A lite dinner, a couple of libations, and music. Irish Music. Right up our alley. We are already planning to see the band again when they come back in the fall. They've been together 8 years, and have quite a following. We may be two more followers. ;)
The next day, K-gal and I went to NYC to watch my two nieces dance in a National Competition. They did beautifully, and we had a blast in the city. We were there for two nights, and it was a really fun time. My oldest niece, K, was in the title competition, and she placed 2nd runner up - out of 255 dancers from around the US and Canada. :O) Awesome! She is just captivating to watch, and moves me to tears each time she dances. My little niece, R, was also there dancing, no solos, but her group numbers. She did awesome! She was awarded several medals and the experience was terrific for her! K-gal and I headed home Sunday night about 11PM, she slept, I wanted to - but drove straight, and weerily parked in the wee hours back in my driveway to climb into my bed, happily seeing my dh and squirt, C.
While we were gone, C, was named player of the week in his hockey gig he is doing this summer - he won a rocking new stick, and was thrilled beyond imagination! He and daddy spent a very guys weekend together, watching the Sox, and going to daddy's baseball games ..... they missed us though. And we did them. :O)
The two squirts started the arts and crafts camp this week. They are doing it for two weeks, one now, and one in August, and they are LOVING it! It's only 2 hours each day, just right, and loads of friends there. I have a feeling come the end of the week, I'll be asked to sign them up for another week besides August. :O)
I am knee deep in an organization of "photos and memories" undertaking. I am finally going to have everything chronologically done. I will be finishing a scrapbook for C, beginning K's, and then the world will be my oyster. ;)
So, with that, I am off .... feeling slightly caught up now, and ready to begin the next few moments .....
so ~
I am going to start back at the date I had with my husband and move forward from there.
it'll help me collect my thoughts, and organize where I am.
(ahem, can you tell I am seeking some settling vibes ....)
So, my date - yum. I love dates. I love this man. He is peace, he is comfort, and he is just.so.easy.to.be.with. I do not spend enough alone time with him. We are in the thick of parenting, like so many people, and get caught in that whirlwind of needs, and wants from those little cherubs we call "our babes". Our New Year's Res (well, one of them ...) was to spend more time having dates, and being alone *reconnecting* if you will. We are the very best of friends, and I feel strongly he is my soul mate. We've made it a priority to find that time, and I have to say, we've been okay with it. This date proved to me we need to become very good at it.
We started with meeting up with some new friends at an Irish pub around the bend that we'd not been to. It was terrific. Great people, and of course, good libations. ;) We then went to the most terrific Irish band concert - The Gaelic Storm - FABULOUS band! We saw them in a very old theater, tons of nostalgia there, and the accoustics were phenominal for the event. They were funny, they were incredible musicians, they were entertaining, and they were perfect for our date. It is something we rarely do - see a concert - and it was just right. A lite dinner, a couple of libations, and music. Irish Music. Right up our alley. We are already planning to see the band again when they come back in the fall. They've been together 8 years, and have quite a following. We may be two more followers. ;)
The next day, K-gal and I went to NYC to watch my two nieces dance in a National Competition. They did beautifully, and we had a blast in the city. We were there for two nights, and it was a really fun time. My oldest niece, K, was in the title competition, and she placed 2nd runner up - out of 255 dancers from around the US and Canada. :O) Awesome! She is just captivating to watch, and moves me to tears each time she dances. My little niece, R, was also there dancing, no solos, but her group numbers. She did awesome! She was awarded several medals and the experience was terrific for her! K-gal and I headed home Sunday night about 11PM, she slept, I wanted to - but drove straight, and weerily parked in the wee hours back in my driveway to climb into my bed, happily seeing my dh and squirt, C.
While we were gone, C, was named player of the week in his hockey gig he is doing this summer - he won a rocking new stick, and was thrilled beyond imagination! He and daddy spent a very guys weekend together, watching the Sox, and going to daddy's baseball games ..... they missed us though. And we did them. :O)
The two squirts started the arts and crafts camp this week. They are doing it for two weeks, one now, and one in August, and they are LOVING it! It's only 2 hours each day, just right, and loads of friends there. I have a feeling come the end of the week, I'll be asked to sign them up for another week besides August. :O)
I am knee deep in an organization of "photos and memories" undertaking. I am finally going to have everything chronologically done. I will be finishing a scrapbook for C, beginning K's, and then the world will be my oyster. ;)
So, with that, I am off .... feeling slightly caught up now, and ready to begin the next few moments .....
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Back!
Well, we survived another baseball tourney in Maine!
Love that tournament .... and this year had an additional bonus - Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd played for S's team! Yep, the real deal .... he was an outfielder, and also was a relief pitcher. So cool! His wife is a peach (and she has been through an awful lot with him over the years) but she was terrific.
The team made it to the finals, and lost 9-7 to be the runner up. That was a downer, but the whole weekend was loads of fun. Kids had a ball, and are still recovering from the excitement, and lack of sleep. It really is getting easier as they get older. We realized that this was our 7th year going to this tourney!
We saw all kinds of S's best buddies, and heard some amazing baby news - Two families announced some really neat stuff - one delivered their #2 and #3 babes, twin girls. They were 2 months preemie, but doing super, and mom too - Erin and Braden. And another couple announced their impending twin delivery in January! :O) How cool is that? (we were the first to have babes out of both our sets of friends ..... so finally, FINALLY, I get some super baby snuggles!)
We came back on Monday and Tuesday for the 4th we had 26 people here for a rocking party! It was loads of fun, and the weather was cooperative. I ultimately found my "new summer drink" I have been searching for, and truthfully, I will be taking some time off from it. {sigh} A little too much Mojito, it stole my mojo. Feeling fine today, but recovery is so different at these advanced ages. :-
Today was a very mellow and quiet day. Spent the rainy AM cleaning up the house, sweeping, vaccuuming, laundry, and organizing (you know, time passing kind of business) And then like a breath of fresh air, the sun popped out, and allowed us to head out for some major lawn and yard work.
Tomorrow another little impromptu party is in store, and then a DATE! Yay! A babysitter and all, and we are heading out for an adult evening.
So, that's the update .... I will be sure to add a synopsis of the date prior to my weekend shindig I have planned with my little K-gal.
laters .....
Love that tournament .... and this year had an additional bonus - Dennis "Oil Can" Boyd played for S's team! Yep, the real deal .... he was an outfielder, and also was a relief pitcher. So cool! His wife is a peach (and she has been through an awful lot with him over the years) but she was terrific.
The team made it to the finals, and lost 9-7 to be the runner up. That was a downer, but the whole weekend was loads of fun. Kids had a ball, and are still recovering from the excitement, and lack of sleep. It really is getting easier as they get older. We realized that this was our 7th year going to this tourney!
We saw all kinds of S's best buddies, and heard some amazing baby news - Two families announced some really neat stuff - one delivered their #2 and #3 babes, twin girls. They were 2 months preemie, but doing super, and mom too - Erin and Braden. And another couple announced their impending twin delivery in January! :O) How cool is that? (we were the first to have babes out of both our sets of friends ..... so finally, FINALLY, I get some super baby snuggles!)
We came back on Monday and Tuesday for the 4th we had 26 people here for a rocking party! It was loads of fun, and the weather was cooperative. I ultimately found my "new summer drink" I have been searching for, and truthfully, I will be taking some time off from it. {sigh} A little too much Mojito, it stole my mojo. Feeling fine today, but recovery is so different at these advanced ages. :-
Today was a very mellow and quiet day. Spent the rainy AM cleaning up the house, sweeping, vaccuuming, laundry, and organizing (you know, time passing kind of business) And then like a breath of fresh air, the sun popped out, and allowed us to head out for some major lawn and yard work.
Tomorrow another little impromptu party is in store, and then a DATE! Yay! A babysitter and all, and we are heading out for an adult evening.
So, that's the update .... I will be sure to add a synopsis of the date prior to my weekend shindig I have planned with my little K-gal.
laters .....
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
new colors. warm sun. the cooking channel. trip planning. vacation!
So, I've got new colors and a new layout on the blog, and I am digging it! It is a simple frame, and simple, clean colors. Needed to spruce things up and "change the furniture". Ever get that urge? ;o)
The last two days have been glorious. Hot, sunny, and breezy in the evening. Swimming in the pool, playing with the kids, neighbors running all around. It is certainly the summer and the games have begun! (shhhhh .... I've been playing a wee bit 'o hookie the last two days .... working from home.)
I have a budding chef, folks. How about that?! I love eating, no doubt. Big fan of a yummy home cooked-by someone else-meal, however, enjoy dabbling in the kitchen myself. BUT, oh, the giddy joy, my 5 year old is a big, huge, excited fan of cooking shows! :O) YAY!
I always knew my kids would surprise me in SO many ways ... C was a sports watching infant. I mean, captivated by the sports on TV. Never watched kiddie shows save the occassional Baby Einstein video (gasp! yes, VIDEO) but he stopped in his tracks to find focus on anything sports, and rightfully so, he is a sportsman to the *inth* degree now ......
So, my thinking is this - if K is feeling her mojoe with the cooking shows, perhaps I can nurture this and be very, very well fed in just a coupe of years???? It is a reflective moment, yes? She asks me at least 10 times a day "mommy, what show is on Food Network now?" My answer ... "uhm, don't know that schedule well yet" (but I am LEARNING!) "I'll check it out ..." She even asked daddy to TiVo her 6-7 PM show tonight before he left for his babseball game. Can you imagine?
Oh, I am all tingly thinking about the delicious yummies! :)
So, this Friday we head out for vacation to Maine for an extended weekend. Sean is playing in a babseball tourney that he has for the last 6 years or so. It's a great excuse to head back to his home town and see the posse, hang with the kids, and spend some quality time in an amazing state. We then have taken the next week off for vacation. Sean needs it BADLY. Time for a breather from work! He is anxious to get his new adventure off the ground, and next week will be the perfect time to focus on that.
K and I then head to NYC the following Friday for a dance competition (and now coined "Girls Town" weekend) with my nieces. My oldest niece is competing for National Dance Champion. She has an amazing shot for it, but the competitors are tough at this one as they are from all over the country, and all Title Holders. Keep your fingers crossed ..... K has requested just one thing (well, besides oohing over her cousin K that is!) to go to the American Girl Doll store. When I mentioned that to someone else who has been there, she looked at me and said "bring the bank". Ugh.
But really, it is so fun to just have girl time, and be away with her. It's neat too, because this is only one of our traditions. The others are birthday related, and of course holiday time related with just she and I.
C and I need to find a few more now that I think of it.
National K day. National C day. My friend Fransie had these days for her kids (with their name of course) and I loved that idea!
So, that's all for now .....
good night!
The last two days have been glorious. Hot, sunny, and breezy in the evening. Swimming in the pool, playing with the kids, neighbors running all around. It is certainly the summer and the games have begun! (shhhhh .... I've been playing a wee bit 'o hookie the last two days .... working from home.)
I have a budding chef, folks. How about that?! I love eating, no doubt. Big fan of a yummy home cooked-by someone else-meal, however, enjoy dabbling in the kitchen myself. BUT, oh, the giddy joy, my 5 year old is a big, huge, excited fan of cooking shows! :O) YAY!
I always knew my kids would surprise me in SO many ways ... C was a sports watching infant. I mean, captivated by the sports on TV. Never watched kiddie shows save the occassional Baby Einstein video (gasp! yes, VIDEO) but he stopped in his tracks to find focus on anything sports, and rightfully so, he is a sportsman to the *inth* degree now ......
So, my thinking is this - if K is feeling her mojoe with the cooking shows, perhaps I can nurture this and be very, very well fed in just a coupe of years???? It is a reflective moment, yes? She asks me at least 10 times a day "mommy, what show is on Food Network now?" My answer ... "uhm, don't know that schedule well yet" (but I am LEARNING!) "I'll check it out ..." She even asked daddy to TiVo her 6-7 PM show tonight before he left for his babseball game. Can you imagine?
Oh, I am all tingly thinking about the delicious yummies! :)
So, this Friday we head out for vacation to Maine for an extended weekend. Sean is playing in a babseball tourney that he has for the last 6 years or so. It's a great excuse to head back to his home town and see the posse, hang with the kids, and spend some quality time in an amazing state. We then have taken the next week off for vacation. Sean needs it BADLY. Time for a breather from work! He is anxious to get his new adventure off the ground, and next week will be the perfect time to focus on that.
K and I then head to NYC the following Friday for a dance competition (and now coined "Girls Town" weekend) with my nieces. My oldest niece is competing for National Dance Champion. She has an amazing shot for it, but the competitors are tough at this one as they are from all over the country, and all Title Holders. Keep your fingers crossed ..... K has requested just one thing (well, besides oohing over her cousin K that is!) to go to the American Girl Doll store. When I mentioned that to someone else who has been there, she looked at me and said "bring the bank". Ugh.
But really, it is so fun to just have girl time, and be away with her. It's neat too, because this is only one of our traditions. The others are birthday related, and of course holiday time related with just she and I.
C and I need to find a few more now that I think of it.
National K day. National C day. My friend Fransie had these days for her kids (with their name of course) and I loved that idea!
So, that's all for now .....
good night!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
sing along with me here .... "school's out for summer!"
wahoooooo!!!
Finally, finally the squirts are out for the summer months. 2.5 glorious months of swimming, playing, traveling, and just being a kid.
:O)
I am so excited for the fun, the chaos (remind me of that when I am d-o-n-e, k?) and yes, even the mayhem. But most of all, excited for the scrapping and picture opps that come with kids around all day. ;)
We ushered the first weekend in with more rain, and blah temperatures. BUT, they swam, and had friends over, and stayed up later than normal ..... yep, summer is here.
Let the memories begin.
yahooo!
Finally, finally the squirts are out for the summer months. 2.5 glorious months of swimming, playing, traveling, and just being a kid.
:O)
I am so excited for the fun, the chaos (remind me of that when I am d-o-n-e, k?) and yes, even the mayhem. But most of all, excited for the scrapping and picture opps that come with kids around all day. ;)
We ushered the first weekend in with more rain, and blah temperatures. BUT, they swam, and had friends over, and stayed up later than normal ..... yep, summer is here.
Let the memories begin.
yahooo!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Girlfriends
I love my girls. I have 6 treasured gifts from my long-ago past that have stuck with me, by me, for me, beside me, and around me. The oldest friends have known each other for (gulp) 33 years. Kindergarten friends, C and I. :O)
I had a great week this week. I am very tired from it, but it is a delicious tired, one where you feel the pain and you remember how you got there, and the laughing-so-hard-tears-rolled-down-your-face-abdominal-workout, get there ... and you smile again.
I had the kindergarten moms (helping moms) dinner Tuesday with the other mom from my class and the two from the PM class and the kinder teacher. It was bittersweet (there that is again!) but oh, so much fun! There were some teacher's aides that attended, and we really tore it up in a pretty fancy restaurant. Food was delicious, but the company was wonderful! Laughed, oh, we laughed so hard at so many things! Girls, and older women, just really enjoying being who we are, and bringing up these babes.
I went out with my girlfriends last night. We have instituted a once a month girls night out (GNO) and a once a month (more like 3-4 times, actually) kiddie play date with all 13 kids. Mine are the oldest, and they are spreadout all the way until a wee 3 month little fella. We had dinner, and then they dragged me (read: kicking and screaming .... NOT!) to a bar that we haunted many, ahem, a few years ago.
Side splitting, face hurting, silly laughter was abounding all night. We were like teenagers giggling about goofy things we used to do, and silly things we still do. We are all married to terrific men, and all very strong relationships. We share so much history it is utterly astonishing!
Such good stuff.
I had a great week this week. I am very tired from it, but it is a delicious tired, one where you feel the pain and you remember how you got there, and the laughing-so-hard-tears-rolled-down-your-face-abdominal-workout, get there ... and you smile again.
I had the kindergarten moms (helping moms) dinner Tuesday with the other mom from my class and the two from the PM class and the kinder teacher. It was bittersweet (there that is again!) but oh, so much fun! There were some teacher's aides that attended, and we really tore it up in a pretty fancy restaurant. Food was delicious, but the company was wonderful! Laughed, oh, we laughed so hard at so many things! Girls, and older women, just really enjoying being who we are, and bringing up these babes.
I went out with my girlfriends last night. We have instituted a once a month girls night out (GNO) and a once a month (more like 3-4 times, actually) kiddie play date with all 13 kids. Mine are the oldest, and they are spreadout all the way until a wee 3 month little fella. We had dinner, and then they dragged me (read: kicking and screaming .... NOT!) to a bar that we haunted many, ahem, a few years ago.
Side splitting, face hurting, silly laughter was abounding all night. We were like teenagers giggling about goofy things we used to do, and silly things we still do. We are all married to terrific men, and all very strong relationships. We share so much history it is utterly astonishing!
Such good stuff.
Monday, June 19, 2006
Advice
sometimes you hear something, or get something from somewhere (email in this case) that speaks volumes to you.
The timing is phenominal, the poignancy incredible.
This is one of those things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
^^ By Mary Schmich Chicago Tribune, June 1997 ^^ (thanks, Kim !)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With all that I have been experiencing, and all that we as a family are working through regarding time moving *too fast* , this was a "give me pause" moment this morning.
We had an amazing weekend .... S and I spent the entire weekend outside just playing, and watching our kids play with friends, and family. We spent hours last night talking after the kids crashed, filled with pride, filled with love, and really looking forward to the summer. We revelled in the fact that we are the 'two luckiest parents in the whole world' as far as we were concerned.
We are in a transition, and for us, as parents, it is one of the most bittersweet transitions I think we've been grappling with. Our babe is no longer a baby; and our big boy has gotten even bigger in so many ways. The energy, and excitement are breathtaking. And the reality is, wrapping our arms around NOT putting the brakes on for them, is the root of that 'give me pause' moment. It is their time to grow, and live, and experience.
Thank goodness we have each other. ;-)
and here's another beautiful letter that I read recently.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear ____________:
May my children grow up to be confident, may they be healthy, independent adults, caring for themselves and reaching out to others. May they have a long, successful life, and grow from failures and errors I have allowed them to make. May they have loving, and helpful mates, and satisfying careers. Give me peace and contentment, and when time marches on, help me let them go.
Author Unkown.
The timing is phenominal, the poignancy incredible.
This is one of those things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.
Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.
^^ By Mary Schmich Chicago Tribune, June 1997 ^^ (thanks, Kim !)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With all that I have been experiencing, and all that we as a family are working through regarding time moving *too fast* , this was a "give me pause" moment this morning.
We had an amazing weekend .... S and I spent the entire weekend outside just playing, and watching our kids play with friends, and family. We spent hours last night talking after the kids crashed, filled with pride, filled with love, and really looking forward to the summer. We revelled in the fact that we are the 'two luckiest parents in the whole world' as far as we were concerned.
We are in a transition, and for us, as parents, it is one of the most bittersweet transitions I think we've been grappling with. Our babe is no longer a baby; and our big boy has gotten even bigger in so many ways. The energy, and excitement are breathtaking. And the reality is, wrapping our arms around NOT putting the brakes on for them, is the root of that 'give me pause' moment. It is their time to grow, and live, and experience.
Thank goodness we have each other. ;-)
and here's another beautiful letter that I read recently.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear ____________:
May my children grow up to be confident, may they be healthy, independent adults, caring for themselves and reaching out to others. May they have a long, successful life, and grow from failures and errors I have allowed them to make. May they have loving, and helpful mates, and satisfying careers. Give me peace and contentment, and when time marches on, help me let them go.
Author Unkown.
Friday, June 16, 2006
It feels weird.
She celebrated her promotion to first grade today.
I knew it was coming, Kindergarten was awesome. She has blossomed with Mrs. G. Just like her big brother did.
She graduated from K today. Graduated. It's done. Her first year of "real school" is over. How on earth did that happen?
So, today, at the celebration, as I watched C sitting there, on S's lap, watching the ceremony (all sibs were invited to attend because it was during school time today) I found myself recalling *clearly* him being part of that celebration last year, and HER sitting on S's lap watching. He just finished K, and was moving on to first grade. She was still a babe.
How is it that I am the mother of a first grader and a second grader already?!
How? S just said to me earlier today, only one more week of 11:45 bus drop at home. She will get on the bus with her brother next year, and ride home on that same bus. 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM - BOTH kids. All day.
what?
And then tonight, the mother-daughter pajamarama at school. We all wore our pj's and did our hair, nails, a craft project ... ate, danced, socialized. And I watched my daughter communicate and socialize with kids from every grade. She addressed them by first name, and chatted with them like they were lifelong buddies .... my babe - at 5 - with 8,9,10,11,12 year olds. Huh?
I think the last post I had here I said that I thought she grew some wings this week. She did. They grew fast, and they began to flutter before they were even complete. I saw them tonight more than I have ever seen them.
It's enormous the feeling of watching your heart on the outside of your body become a little girl like this ...... I am so proud, and so in love with the little person she is. I am eternally grateful for the gift she is.
I just so wish that time were more forgiving.
And as a side note of keeping it all in perspective, I am so excited for the years we have at this school, too (5 more FULL ones!) - the foundation of their education. I love the group of people, the administration, the curriculum, the teachers, the atmosphere. I am thrilled to be part of an incredible community of support, and nurturing. I am thrilled to have my kids be part of such a wonderful community. And ecstatic that this is the primary years for them. Solid, and amazing.
I knew it was coming, Kindergarten was awesome. She has blossomed with Mrs. G. Just like her big brother did.
She graduated from K today. Graduated. It's done. Her first year of "real school" is over. How on earth did that happen?
So, today, at the celebration, as I watched C sitting there, on S's lap, watching the ceremony (all sibs were invited to attend because it was during school time today) I found myself recalling *clearly* him being part of that celebration last year, and HER sitting on S's lap watching. He just finished K, and was moving on to first grade. She was still a babe.
How is it that I am the mother of a first grader and a second grader already?!
How? S just said to me earlier today, only one more week of 11:45 bus drop at home. She will get on the bus with her brother next year, and ride home on that same bus. 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM - BOTH kids. All day.
what?
And then tonight, the mother-daughter pajamarama at school. We all wore our pj's and did our hair, nails, a craft project ... ate, danced, socialized. And I watched my daughter communicate and socialize with kids from every grade. She addressed them by first name, and chatted with them like they were lifelong buddies .... my babe - at 5 - with 8,9,10,11,12 year olds. Huh?
I think the last post I had here I said that I thought she grew some wings this week. She did. They grew fast, and they began to flutter before they were even complete. I saw them tonight more than I have ever seen them.
It's enormous the feeling of watching your heart on the outside of your body become a little girl like this ...... I am so proud, and so in love with the little person she is. I am eternally grateful for the gift she is.
I just so wish that time were more forgiving.
And as a side note of keeping it all in perspective, I am so excited for the years we have at this school, too (5 more FULL ones!) - the foundation of their education. I love the group of people, the administration, the curriculum, the teachers, the atmosphere. I am thrilled to be part of an incredible community of support, and nurturing. I am thrilled to have my kids be part of such a wonderful community. And ecstatic that this is the primary years for them. Solid, and amazing.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
10 inches
that's what she had cut from her tresses.
10 inches of delicious red hair.
It will make "someone that had to take medicine because they are sick, and their hair got pushed out of the head" very, VERY happy. Without question.
I love her hair! She looks so beautiful, and so grown up, and so happy, and just so beautiful!!!
I love it even more because SHE wanted to do Locks for Love. :O)
I cannot wait to get the pics back .... (man, I think I need digi, don't I?!) ;)
She graduates from Kindergarten tomorrow .... I think this week she's grown some wings. {sniff, sniff}
Time is relentless .....
10 inches of delicious red hair.
It will make "someone that had to take medicine because they are sick, and their hair got pushed out of the head" very, VERY happy. Without question.
I love her hair! She looks so beautiful, and so grown up, and so happy, and just so beautiful!!!
I love it even more because SHE wanted to do Locks for Love. :O)
I cannot wait to get the pics back .... (man, I think I need digi, don't I?!) ;)
She graduates from Kindergarten tomorrow .... I think this week she's grown some wings. {sniff, sniff}
Time is relentless .....
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
I am feeling ... overwhelmed.
It won't last. I know. It's just always hard to muttle through it, you know?
Things are fine, really, nothing awful. School is coming to a close, summer activity is gearing up. Plants are planted, pool's open and clearing out s-l-o-w-l-y, kids are excited, and energetic. I am just all a-buzz with the "details"
Did you ever see Bridges of Madison County? Remember the part when the weekend affair is over, and the family returns, and she is in the kitchen cooking / preparing / placing food on the table - camera pulls away, voiceover begins:
"my family returned, and I ... I started again, and returned to my life of ... details."
I think of that line so often. Especially at times like right now. I love, love, love my life. I feel so fortunate, and so blessed. It's really amazing to me how one family, one life can have this much to do - Teacher's gifts, cards to write, bills to pay, pictures to develop for gifts, more to take, ready the outdoors for guests in the evenings, weekend activities, birthday parties, dinner plans, girls night at school, Kinder graduation, young author's tea, field trips, helping mom dinners, girls night with my girl friends ... baseball games, hockey practice, gymnastics classes, piano recitals, going away for the 4th of July and vacation ....details.
All good stuff. Really super, great stuff, truly.
And no different than any-other-mother-on-the-planet! That makes it so .... so tolerable.
:)
Phewf. I feel so much better.
Validated, really.
Thanks. I needed that!
Off to sleep ... (not on the to do list, and really should be number 1).
More tomorrow about these deliciously intriguing little people that are completely rocking my world! I love them so much. :)
Things are fine, really, nothing awful. School is coming to a close, summer activity is gearing up. Plants are planted, pool's open and clearing out s-l-o-w-l-y, kids are excited, and energetic. I am just all a-buzz with the "details"
Did you ever see Bridges of Madison County? Remember the part when the weekend affair is over, and the family returns, and she is in the kitchen cooking / preparing / placing food on the table - camera pulls away, voiceover begins:
"my family returned, and I ... I started again, and returned to my life of ... details."
I think of that line so often. Especially at times like right now. I love, love, love my life. I feel so fortunate, and so blessed. It's really amazing to me how one family, one life can have this much to do - Teacher's gifts, cards to write, bills to pay, pictures to develop for gifts, more to take, ready the outdoors for guests in the evenings, weekend activities, birthday parties, dinner plans, girls night at school, Kinder graduation, young author's tea, field trips, helping mom dinners, girls night with my girl friends ... baseball games, hockey practice, gymnastics classes, piano recitals, going away for the 4th of July and vacation ....details.
All good stuff. Really super, great stuff, truly.
And no different than any-other-mother-on-the-planet! That makes it so .... so tolerable.
:)
Phewf. I feel so much better.
Validated, really.
Thanks. I needed that!
Off to sleep ... (not on the to do list, and really should be number 1).
More tomorrow about these deliciously intriguing little people that are completely rocking my world! I love them so much. :)
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
How Much?
How much wood
would a wood chuck chuck
if a wood chuck could chuck wood?
That's what he's mumbling.
In bed.
As he's trying to get to sleep.
I stood at the door, looking in, trying to get into his head.
Smiling, mostly, at the idea of him saying this over and over.
And over.
He peered out, and said "mom, is that you?" I don't answer, so he goes back to mumbling his chant. Moving around his bed, shifting his Hopper, and his pillows all the while mumbling
"how much wood would a wood chuck ....."
Do you think it's his way of counting sheep?
;o)
would a wood chuck chuck
if a wood chuck could chuck wood?
That's what he's mumbling.
In bed.
As he's trying to get to sleep.
I stood at the door, looking in, trying to get into his head.
Smiling, mostly, at the idea of him saying this over and over.
And over.
He peered out, and said "mom, is that you?" I don't answer, so he goes back to mumbling his chant. Moving around his bed, shifting his Hopper, and his pillows all the while mumbling
"how much wood would a wood chuck ....."
Do you think it's his way of counting sheep?
;o)
Monday, June 05, 2006
trophies & smiles
Little miss K had an end of year Gymnastics Show yesterday and she did terrific! It was a very fun show, full of activity and entertainment. She has improved so much, and just beams with pride at her accomplishments!
She was beside herself with happiness with the awards she received as well, and also the performance she put on!
She achieved three trophies at the show. One for being a participant on the team this year, one for the $$ she raised for the cartwheel-a-thon, and one GIHUGANT one for placing third in the most cartwheels in the 'a-thon.
How about that? :-D
Loved it ... and of course, once the photos are back my way, I will post, surely.
more yummy things-
Can we talk about smiles? man, are the smiles formed from a little face that which angel dust is made from?
it is astounding the sheer beauty, and incredible pleasure I gain from the small, curved up corners of a little mouth? from the white teeth, albeit larger than looks appropriate in said mouth, but glistening, and pretty .. to the sparkle in the eyes of the mischievious thinking critter.
I love, love, love the smiles I am given. I remember, like it was yesterday, that first smile. That not-the-gas-smile smile on the pink cheeked human I called mine. To this day, the smiles that are shared do the very same thing to my heart.
to my soul.
they take my breath away.
It is slices of sheer pleasure when they smile that unadulterated grin. Sometimes I *know* they are up to something with the smile. And sometimes, they are just happy.
always, that smile makes me warm.
I think I'll always feel like this.
I hope so.
She was beside herself with happiness with the awards she received as well, and also the performance she put on!
She achieved three trophies at the show. One for being a participant on the team this year, one for the $$ she raised for the cartwheel-a-thon, and one GIHUGANT one for placing third in the most cartwheels in the 'a-thon.
How about that? :-D
Loved it ... and of course, once the photos are back my way, I will post, surely.
more yummy things-
Can we talk about smiles? man, are the smiles formed from a little face that which angel dust is made from?
it is astounding the sheer beauty, and incredible pleasure I gain from the small, curved up corners of a little mouth? from the white teeth, albeit larger than looks appropriate in said mouth, but glistening, and pretty .. to the sparkle in the eyes of the mischievious thinking critter.
I love, love, love the smiles I am given. I remember, like it was yesterday, that first smile. That not-the-gas-smile smile on the pink cheeked human I called mine. To this day, the smiles that are shared do the very same thing to my heart.
to my soul.
they take my breath away.
It is slices of sheer pleasure when they smile that unadulterated grin. Sometimes I *know* they are up to something with the smile. And sometimes, they are just happy.
always, that smile makes me warm.
I think I'll always feel like this.
I hope so.
Monday, May 29, 2006
the long, and delicious weekend!
This was the best weekend .... we were schedule free, thus allowing the *want to's* and leaving the *have to's* behind .... lovely.
simply put - just delicious! :-D
Friday was another day for me to be in the kindergarten class, helping out as the helping mom. I was working on fractions (math section) and we made circle pizzas from english muffins, cut them, and the kids ate the "fractions". The kids were terrific, and really enjoyed themselves ..... I am going to miss kindergarten for sure.
Then K gal and I went to see my mom, had lunch with her, and had a girls night out later with both of my parents, and brother (it was my parents 44th anniversary!) S and C had a guys night out, too, so we spent some one on one with the kids .... it was so nice.
Saturday was C's baseball game and then we spent the day working in the yard, readying the pool, and gearing up for the summer fun (played wiffle ball, kick ball, hide and seek, grilling, sprinkler running - and I mean ALL of us!) Sunday, the same ... and Monday we added a little trip to an arts and crafts festival, and then more of the neighborhood summer fun stuff ....
great times, great laughs, and grrrrrreat weather for it all.
We just finished a gi-hugent wiffle ball game with several neighbors, and showered the kids..... they are up in bed, sleeping peacefully, and I am about to do the same in moments here.
Hope everyone's weekend was a good one, and all the summer time readying was enjoyable!
g'night, see you soon.
simply put - just delicious! :-D
Friday was another day for me to be in the kindergarten class, helping out as the helping mom. I was working on fractions (math section) and we made circle pizzas from english muffins, cut them, and the kids ate the "fractions". The kids were terrific, and really enjoyed themselves ..... I am going to miss kindergarten for sure.
Then K gal and I went to see my mom, had lunch with her, and had a girls night out later with both of my parents, and brother (it was my parents 44th anniversary!) S and C had a guys night out, too, so we spent some one on one with the kids .... it was so nice.
Saturday was C's baseball game and then we spent the day working in the yard, readying the pool, and gearing up for the summer fun (played wiffle ball, kick ball, hide and seek, grilling, sprinkler running - and I mean ALL of us!) Sunday, the same ... and Monday we added a little trip to an arts and crafts festival, and then more of the neighborhood summer fun stuff ....
great times, great laughs, and grrrrrreat weather for it all.
We just finished a gi-hugent wiffle ball game with several neighbors, and showered the kids..... they are up in bed, sleeping peacefully, and I am about to do the same in moments here.
Hope everyone's weekend was a good one, and all the summer time readying was enjoyable!
g'night, see you soon.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
the corner of my world
Some random, disorganized thoughts and things that have been going on.
* We had the first day for the new sitter today ... oh, I love her. I also realized just how difficult it is to run a household of two working parents, and two busy kids without a little extra help - thank goodness we have the help again.
She will be with us for about 10 hours initially just to get K off the bus three days a week at 11:45 and then once school is out, she'll be here about 18 hours or so with the two kids. She is energetic, adorable, athletic, funny, and old enough for my heart to sing with relief that she is responsible. (not that she'd have been hired otherwise, but it's a huge relief still .....) she just graduated from college, and is planning on attending grad school in the fall. She is caddying at a local country club one day a week, and will be with us for 3 days, and then counseling troubled youths on the other day. Really well rounded, and just a solid gal. We are lucky. So very, very lucky. :D
* C had a bit of a bump in the road this week, but it's been ironed out already. One of his friends at school has been telling mom some tall tales, and mom called me quite frantic that her son had been 'harrassed' for quite some time by C, and she had gotten to the boiling point, and *had* to call me. (uhm, tell me again why you wait for even the THIRD incident if this is happening??!!) Of course, I was upset, wondering how on earth I had missed this with the 1st grade teacher being as on top of things as I have ever seen, how would she have not sensed something, or heard something?! So I investigated with C who vouluntarily let me know of one incident that was a minor blip, and "never, not once, have I hurt his feelings, he's my friend, I don't do that mommy .... I like A, I don't do that to people" So I called the principal who in her incredibly calm nature, and phenominally understanding experience told me to "take a step back, breath, and remember, some people blow things out of proportion, and fire off at the wrong people. I will interview the boys, and call you tomorrow, but rest assured, C is by no means a problem, nor has he ever been one. I am certain this is blown out of proportion"
Have a I mentioned that she is an incredible administrator, and her talents are untouchable? ;) (on a side note, she is leaving this year and heading to the central office for the school dept administration board ..... :-( sad for us at the school, but we will have advocate in high places, for sure!)
Fast forward to yesterday, she calls and tells me that in her interviewing, investigations, and uncovering she found out that in fact, A had been telling some tall stories, and implicating some kids with his words. He was, and is, freely telling his mom about these things, and she is taking his word as bond (who can blame her, yes?) So, there was a meeting between the principal, A's mom, and the 1st grade teacher today. I am going to school tomorrow for a kindergarten activity day, and will be checking in with the principal for an update. It appears A has some issues, and they have needed to address them and this is the perfect segway there, apparently.
C has forgotten all about it, and still finds A to be a friend. No harm, no foul, right?
* K gal, my little pea, she appears to be struggling with her ultimate transition to first grade. :o( This time of year, Mrs G, kinder teacher, speaks frequently about the impending move to 1st grade-dom, and all that it will be. She positively chats about it, and asks them to interract with the discussion. She has been absorbing all of it, along with a loss of a really great sitter, and the start of a new one, the upcoming summer where she and her friends will part, albeit briefly until September, but still, a parting, I've had a few more trips this past quarter than normal for work, all the while processing the fact that she is going to be at school ALL DAY next year, riding the bus to and from school, and not having her afternoons with mommy any more {sniff, sniff ....} . So, she appears to be transitioning, and it is a bit of a bump. We talk about it an awful lot, and she is definitely a process oriented girl (oh, the things she has been genetically gifted with .....) so, we're doing it together. I know she'll be fine, it's hard to watch though. :o( My heart aches.
* C man was part of a pitch hit and run contest last weekend. He loved it! They had 3 age groups - 7&8, 9&10, 11&12. He was one of 3 7 year olds there, and most of the 8 year olds were almost 9. In each age category they gave out winners for each activity (pitching, hitting and running) and then they did an overall score top 3. Out of all the 7&8 year old (about 25 or so) he came in third place overall! I was so proud, and so excited for him ... he loved it! Many of the kids were friends from school, baseball, and hockey. They were all towering over him, and some almost two full years older, and he was THIRD! :O) That was some good stuff .... and daddy was just thrilled too, as baseball is *his* first choice for sports.
* K is gearig up for her final gym show for this season, two weeks away, and she is just so excited! They are really working hard with the skills, and the fun parts of the show. She is really looking forward to summer gymnastics too, as it will be a camp for a full week with her girlfriends!
* she will have some really great news on or about June 14th. Can't give it away, but hear me now, this will be BIG. HUGE news! :O)
* our grass, er, the patch of grass that was missing since the pool drain issue last year has finally been seeded. It will be a dream to have the grass fully grown in, and NOT look at the large area of dirt. Pray that the birds don't eat the seed, and that the kids don't trample the new grass .....
* the pool is open, the pump broke two days after that was open. {sigh} Waiting on the fix it man. Please tell me this will NOT be our destiny with this pool. {sigh}
* tomorrow night is "guys night" for school. They are going to Mulligan's Island for batting cages, mini-golf, and pizza. All the boys and their significant other male mentors (dads, grandads, uncles, etc .....) K and I are having our own ad-hoc girls night. Looking forward to that deliciousness.
* it's 9:25 PM and I think my eyes are closing on their own. I must go lay down .....
until again.
smiles .....
* We had the first day for the new sitter today ... oh, I love her. I also realized just how difficult it is to run a household of two working parents, and two busy kids without a little extra help - thank goodness we have the help again.
She will be with us for about 10 hours initially just to get K off the bus three days a week at 11:45 and then once school is out, she'll be here about 18 hours or so with the two kids. She is energetic, adorable, athletic, funny, and old enough for my heart to sing with relief that she is responsible. (not that she'd have been hired otherwise, but it's a huge relief still .....) she just graduated from college, and is planning on attending grad school in the fall. She is caddying at a local country club one day a week, and will be with us for 3 days, and then counseling troubled youths on the other day. Really well rounded, and just a solid gal. We are lucky. So very, very lucky. :D
* C had a bit of a bump in the road this week, but it's been ironed out already. One of his friends at school has been telling mom some tall tales, and mom called me quite frantic that her son had been 'harrassed' for quite some time by C, and she had gotten to the boiling point, and *had* to call me. (uhm, tell me again why you wait for even the THIRD incident if this is happening??!!) Of course, I was upset, wondering how on earth I had missed this with the 1st grade teacher being as on top of things as I have ever seen, how would she have not sensed something, or heard something?! So I investigated with C who vouluntarily let me know of one incident that was a minor blip, and "never, not once, have I hurt his feelings, he's my friend, I don't do that mommy .... I like A, I don't do that to people" So I called the principal who in her incredibly calm nature, and phenominally understanding experience told me to "take a step back, breath, and remember, some people blow things out of proportion, and fire off at the wrong people. I will interview the boys, and call you tomorrow, but rest assured, C is by no means a problem, nor has he ever been one. I am certain this is blown out of proportion"
Have a I mentioned that she is an incredible administrator, and her talents are untouchable? ;) (on a side note, she is leaving this year and heading to the central office for the school dept administration board ..... :-( sad for us at the school, but we will have advocate in high places, for sure!)
Fast forward to yesterday, she calls and tells me that in her interviewing, investigations, and uncovering she found out that in fact, A had been telling some tall stories, and implicating some kids with his words. He was, and is, freely telling his mom about these things, and she is taking his word as bond (who can blame her, yes?) So, there was a meeting between the principal, A's mom, and the 1st grade teacher today. I am going to school tomorrow for a kindergarten activity day, and will be checking in with the principal for an update. It appears A has some issues, and they have needed to address them and this is the perfect segway there, apparently.
C has forgotten all about it, and still finds A to be a friend. No harm, no foul, right?
* K gal, my little pea, she appears to be struggling with her ultimate transition to first grade. :o( This time of year, Mrs G, kinder teacher, speaks frequently about the impending move to 1st grade-dom, and all that it will be. She positively chats about it, and asks them to interract with the discussion. She has been absorbing all of it, along with a loss of a really great sitter, and the start of a new one, the upcoming summer where she and her friends will part, albeit briefly until September, but still, a parting, I've had a few more trips this past quarter than normal for work, all the while processing the fact that she is going to be at school ALL DAY next year, riding the bus to and from school, and not having her afternoons with mommy any more {sniff, sniff ....} . So, she appears to be transitioning, and it is a bit of a bump. We talk about it an awful lot, and she is definitely a process oriented girl (oh, the things she has been genetically gifted with .....) so, we're doing it together. I know she'll be fine, it's hard to watch though. :o( My heart aches.
* C man was part of a pitch hit and run contest last weekend. He loved it! They had 3 age groups - 7&8, 9&10, 11&12. He was one of 3 7 year olds there, and most of the 8 year olds were almost 9. In each age category they gave out winners for each activity (pitching, hitting and running) and then they did an overall score top 3. Out of all the 7&8 year old (about 25 or so) he came in third place overall! I was so proud, and so excited for him ... he loved it! Many of the kids were friends from school, baseball, and hockey. They were all towering over him, and some almost two full years older, and he was THIRD! :O) That was some good stuff .... and daddy was just thrilled too, as baseball is *his* first choice for sports.
* K is gearig up for her final gym show for this season, two weeks away, and she is just so excited! They are really working hard with the skills, and the fun parts of the show. She is really looking forward to summer gymnastics too, as it will be a camp for a full week with her girlfriends!
* she will have some really great news on or about June 14th. Can't give it away, but hear me now, this will be BIG. HUGE news! :O)
* our grass, er, the patch of grass that was missing since the pool drain issue last year has finally been seeded. It will be a dream to have the grass fully grown in, and NOT look at the large area of dirt. Pray that the birds don't eat the seed, and that the kids don't trample the new grass .....
* the pool is open, the pump broke two days after that was open. {sigh} Waiting on the fix it man. Please tell me this will NOT be our destiny with this pool. {sigh}
* tomorrow night is "guys night" for school. They are going to Mulligan's Island for batting cages, mini-golf, and pizza. All the boys and their significant other male mentors (dads, grandads, uncles, etc .....) K and I are having our own ad-hoc girls night. Looking forward to that deliciousness.
* it's 9:25 PM and I think my eyes are closing on their own. I must go lay down .....
until again.
smiles .....
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Spring Fever
yep. he's got it.
just like his mother.
{sigh}
of all the things that you pass on to your kid, blue eyes, sense of humor, short legs, pudgy nose .... the intense need to break away from all forms of responsible rules; forego any and all previously laid out boundary lines (that, of course, do not break the law, that is) purposely ignore the intuitive side of your brain, and listen *deeply* to that raging amount of energy inside your core and break out to the freedom the time of year allows ...
that, yeah, THAT thing I passed on is absolutely in him. My son, that utterly enjoyable, magnificently packaged, tremendously entertaining boy has spring fever.
bad.
:o
In the big picture, is this a terrible thing? no.
Is it going to affect his future detrimentally? likely, no.
Is it treatable? no.
However, it might be something we need to temper. Because, well, because we have had our first parent teacher conference of the year, well actually ever. And the culprit, in the teacher's words, and mine - spring fever - silly, not-so-smart decisions, goofball antics with his posse.
{sigh}
I am very involved at school. I am the room mom for Kindergarten, and have been in school at least 2 times per week all year, helping in classrooms, and just being actively involved with them academically, and socially. I am on committees, and stay relatively close to the administration. I am familiar with most of the teachers throughout the school, and especially the kids two teachers. We communicate via notes, conversations in the classrooms, and on campus. She could have easily just chatted with us about this as an aside ... but she had an alterior motive, for sure.
There was a message being sent to my squirt. WHEN MOM AND DAD COME TO MEET THE TEACHER, THERE'S BEEN SOME S*^T HITTING THE FAN.
:-D
So, we go, and she prefaces the meeting with this, in a nutshell:
"I want you to know, this is so not a bad thing. My feelings are that with C knowing you are here, this will touch him deeply. I bet you he will turn right around, and the minor behavior that he and 'his buddies' are exhibiting will disappear. So rest assured, this is more of a formality than anything else. {phewf} In addition, I want you to both know academically, I have no worries whatsoever. He has taken off like a rocket ship and just loves school, it shows. (she then gave us his NECAPP testing scores, and she was right, he is doing fantastic academically, reading, spelling, math and science) {second phewf} I also want to let you know that his homework is wonderful, I am so impressed he does extra work with spelling, and math."
So, there we are, proud as peaches, listening to her gloat about his academics. Then, the other shoe drops, and we remembered why we were there ....
"C is making some poor choices just recently, with his behavior regarding disrupting the class at times, and also acting silly. He often is not the one who *thinks* of the silly thing, but when he sees they (the friends) are doing something silly, and 'just breaking the rules' he follows easily. He sure seems like he has even extra energy than he has had before." dagnabbit.
Yeah, we know.
"C can be a leader as well, and I often ask him to be the leader with mentoring some of the kids - he loves that. He can also do beautiful work, but is in a hurry to be done, and therefore can have messy work, and it can be illegible. We work on that, and I remind him that if the teacher can't read it, it'll be wrong, even when it's right - which it usually is correct. And I will add, but I know you know this, he is a pleasure to have in class"
smile. shake head. close eyes. chuckle. look at husband, repeat above - together this time.
yep. our kid: smart, leading, following, laughing, learning, acting silly, and full of life.
nailed it, Mrs. LC.
Welcome to our world.
In all honesty, we think that this surge in academic prowess perhaps may have him slightly bored, as well. He is working at a higher grade level, reading and spelling way up there, especially, and that is the focus for this school, so likely the time spent on that is lengthy daily in the classroom. In addition, he is seemingly in the smack dab middle of a growth spurt, and suffering from aforementioned spring fever like there is no tomorrow, his regular hockey schedule ended a month ago, and spring hockey is by far a lesser commitment time-wise (read: only 1-2 times a week on ice versus 4-5 during year) ..... add this all up with a normally bundle-of-energy-red-headed 7 year old, and you get enough electricity to run a small city - all sitting in a classroom. For 6 hours. And there are 16 boys in that class, and only 7 girls.
Dear, dear me. And that angel from heaven - his teacher - that woman is amazing. She moves them every 15-45 minutes inside that room. Stations, projects, recess, snack, fun papers, spelling quizes...you name it, she thought of it. She has a wonderful curriculum. The room is just wonderful too.
I really have to believe that he is just like me when it comes to this.
And something inside of me is really, really proud. I.cannot.help.it. I smile thinking about it. ;) This will serve him so well later in life. Heck, it's serving him well, now.
He has woo'd the teacher. She no doubt adores he, and his posse. She revels in their spirit.
She should. She has channeled that energy all year. She has grown their wings, they're just figuring out how to use them for the first time.
I love, love, love this age.
What a treasure. What a delight.
:o)
just like his mother.
{sigh}
of all the things that you pass on to your kid, blue eyes, sense of humor, short legs, pudgy nose .... the intense need to break away from all forms of responsible rules; forego any and all previously laid out boundary lines (that, of course, do not break the law, that is) purposely ignore the intuitive side of your brain, and listen *deeply* to that raging amount of energy inside your core and break out to the freedom the time of year allows ...
that, yeah, THAT thing I passed on is absolutely in him. My son, that utterly enjoyable, magnificently packaged, tremendously entertaining boy has spring fever.
bad.
:o
In the big picture, is this a terrible thing? no.
Is it going to affect his future detrimentally? likely, no.
Is it treatable? no.
However, it might be something we need to temper. Because, well, because we have had our first parent teacher conference of the year, well actually ever. And the culprit, in the teacher's words, and mine - spring fever - silly, not-so-smart decisions, goofball antics with his posse.
{sigh}
I am very involved at school. I am the room mom for Kindergarten, and have been in school at least 2 times per week all year, helping in classrooms, and just being actively involved with them academically, and socially. I am on committees, and stay relatively close to the administration. I am familiar with most of the teachers throughout the school, and especially the kids two teachers. We communicate via notes, conversations in the classrooms, and on campus. She could have easily just chatted with us about this as an aside ... but she had an alterior motive, for sure.
There was a message being sent to my squirt. WHEN MOM AND DAD COME TO MEET THE TEACHER, THERE'S BEEN SOME S*^T HITTING THE FAN.
:-D
So, we go, and she prefaces the meeting with this, in a nutshell:
"I want you to know, this is so not a bad thing. My feelings are that with C knowing you are here, this will touch him deeply. I bet you he will turn right around, and the minor behavior that he and 'his buddies' are exhibiting will disappear. So rest assured, this is more of a formality than anything else. {phewf} In addition, I want you to both know academically, I have no worries whatsoever. He has taken off like a rocket ship and just loves school, it shows. (she then gave us his NECAPP testing scores, and she was right, he is doing fantastic academically, reading, spelling, math and science) {second phewf} I also want to let you know that his homework is wonderful, I am so impressed he does extra work with spelling, and math."
So, there we are, proud as peaches, listening to her gloat about his academics. Then, the other shoe drops, and we remembered why we were there ....
"C is making some poor choices just recently, with his behavior regarding disrupting the class at times, and also acting silly. He often is not the one who *thinks* of the silly thing, but when he sees they (the friends) are doing something silly, and 'just breaking the rules' he follows easily. He sure seems like he has even extra energy than he has had before." dagnabbit.
Yeah, we know.
"C can be a leader as well, and I often ask him to be the leader with mentoring some of the kids - he loves that. He can also do beautiful work, but is in a hurry to be done, and therefore can have messy work, and it can be illegible. We work on that, and I remind him that if the teacher can't read it, it'll be wrong, even when it's right - which it usually is correct. And I will add, but I know you know this, he is a pleasure to have in class"
smile. shake head. close eyes. chuckle. look at husband, repeat above - together this time.
yep. our kid: smart, leading, following, laughing, learning, acting silly, and full of life.
nailed it, Mrs. LC.
Welcome to our world.
In all honesty, we think that this surge in academic prowess perhaps may have him slightly bored, as well. He is working at a higher grade level, reading and spelling way up there, especially, and that is the focus for this school, so likely the time spent on that is lengthy daily in the classroom. In addition, he is seemingly in the smack dab middle of a growth spurt, and suffering from aforementioned spring fever like there is no tomorrow, his regular hockey schedule ended a month ago, and spring hockey is by far a lesser commitment time-wise (read: only 1-2 times a week on ice versus 4-5 during year) ..... add this all up with a normally bundle-of-energy-red-headed 7 year old, and you get enough electricity to run a small city - all sitting in a classroom. For 6 hours. And there are 16 boys in that class, and only 7 girls.
Dear, dear me. And that angel from heaven - his teacher - that woman is amazing. She moves them every 15-45 minutes inside that room. Stations, projects, recess, snack, fun papers, spelling quizes...you name it, she thought of it. She has a wonderful curriculum. The room is just wonderful too.
I really have to believe that he is just like me when it comes to this.
And something inside of me is really, really proud. I.cannot.help.it. I smile thinking about it. ;) This will serve him so well later in life. Heck, it's serving him well, now.
He has woo'd the teacher. She no doubt adores he, and his posse. She revels in their spirit.
She should. She has channeled that energy all year. She has grown their wings, they're just figuring out how to use them for the first time.
I love, love, love this age.
What a treasure. What a delight.
:o)
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