Just for fun

One a lighter note today -

Yup.

We are dorks.

We taught the dog to fetch the paper.

How cliche!

But - She loves it!

She begs at the door in the morning. Waiting for me to let her out to fetch it. We only get the paper Thursday thru Sunday. It drives her crazy that there is no paper out there on Monday. She runs out to the drive way, runs around, looking and comes back totally dejected. I feel so bad for her! We only run into trouble on Sundays when the paper is a little too big for her to carry, or if she gets it on the end and choses the closed end. I have had to run around picking up sections. With some practice, she can now carry it in the middle pretty consistently. And I get to stay on the porch in my jammies!

And - it only too three days to teach her! Smart girl that she is!

Normal?

I know I know blog already! Sorry for those of you who diligently come here every day to be inundated with my wisdom and humor. Things have been weird lately.

This has become undeniably one of the kid's favorite things to do. We say, "wanna make a fire tonight?" and they can't get there fast enough. Little pyro C. is lighting matches before you finish the sentence. Ask if they want s'mores and be prepared to be run over if you are in the path between the marshmallows and where they may have been standing at that moment. I love the pure joy on their faces for something so simple. We don't do it often enough. I took these pictures Saturday nite, fully intending to blog on sunday about them and a moment I had alone by the fire - share my wisdom of the importance of quiet family times, how blessed Jim and I are with our home, children, jobs and each other.

I find peace on my patio. With my family or alone with a cup of coffee in the morning. The pond is there. The running water. Surrounded by the gardens I love to tend. Perhaps watching the birds. Perhaps listening to the kids swim. This, I say, is my happy place. It has only taken 30-ahem and a few years to get to this point in my life. I wish I could live out there right now.

Less than 8 hours after I took these pictures, my world was changed forever. Right now, my heart and my mind are so heavy, it is almost unbearable, and I am only feeling a fraction of what someone I love dearly is going through. J., and I and the kids are fine. What we have called "normal" will never again be, and the only other time in my life that has come close to this feeling has been losing my mom. Life has to go on. We continue to put one foot in front of the other. We keep things as normal as we can for our children. Yet, how dare we laugh? How dare we go to work like nothing has happened? But - we do, because we must.

Once again, my point becomes - do we cherish each other enough? Do we cherish our time together enough? Do we all really honestly realize how quickly our lives can be changed forever, in the proverbial blink of an eye? How often do we rush through the every day of life and never pause, like I did Saturday nite, to honestly and truly spend time in THAT moment, appreciating THAT moment and cherishing THAT moment? We spend far to much time as humans wishing away today for something better tomorrow. Figure out what is important to you and make time for it at least a little bit every day.

So-if you get nothing else from today's blog - stop, hug those you love today. Leave the dishes sit. Leave the vacuuming for tomorrow, and just enjoy the moment. The now. Take time to really honestly be in the moment, without thinking of anything else. It will be time you will never regret taking. I promise.

FINALLY!

Finally!!! No rain!!!
Believe it or not, the water was about 80 degrees.
Even I got in! Lots of jumping. The kids were pretending that noodles were horses.

We lasted until our body temperature equalled that of the water, and then we got out shivering.

But then - the part I enjoy just as much. We all sat outside the pool, reading, chatting, snacking....just being together. No agenda. No plans. No rushing.

"What the heck did we get ourselves into?" has turned into, "I could get used to this!"

On other news, we have spent the week at vacation bible school. I have been helping the first grade class and having fun. Kaite has been helping in the craft room with the preschoolers, and Chris participating. He is even memorizing his bible verses like a champ!

And guess what? NO PLANS outside of this house this weekend! Can it be?? Believe me we will enjoying it immensely!

Water logged

Have I hopped on here to mention that it has really done nothing but rain since we finished the pool??

Exactly as I predicted.

I am so tired of being wet.

We have had to drain water from the pool daily since the weekend.

It has rained so much that K. asked me the other night - "What would happen if it rained for forty days and forty nights again?" I resisted the urge to tell her that we may discover that soon. I told her we would worry and be first in line if we saw someone on the block building an ark, and I was sure God would find a way to keep us all safe.

This is our last week of planned summer activities. This week is bible school in the evenings. Then we are gloriously finished with all the weeks in June packed with things to do. Just picnics and pool until vacation the end of August. As J. said last night as he looked out at the rain, "It can't get here fast enough".

Well - have to go check the crystal project that is "cooking" in the freezer. Anything to keep their little minds and bodies occupied!

Finished!

Done done done done!!

It is finished!!

Well - finished enough to swim in it.

Yes - after all that digging, and more digging, and dirt, and rain and waiting, along with a few moments of "what the hell have we gotten ourselves into.....it is up and ready to be used!

I FINALLY pursuaded J. to go in tonight and enjoy the fruits of his labor. He tried, really he did. But he walked around in there for the first half an hour looking for things that need tweeked or finished up yet. But he did even went back in it again tonight after dinner, because it is hot in the house and nice and cool out there. So I think there is hope for him yet! He did have to get out the tools and finish putting the ladder right before he did go in, but he went in! Can't go a day with out touching the tools or freaking my out because he had his cordless drill in the water!

So worth it? So far yes. Are we broke? yup! I asked Jim tonight as we watched the kids splashing around and having a great time - if he thought it was worth it. He said yup and smiled. That is about as excited as he will get. Man - are we ying and yang or what?? Meanwhile, I was busting at the seams to get in there, and immediately started making whirlpools and throwing kids around the pool.

On the pre-teen front - we have a special "friend" - who lent K. his hat at the beach on Monday and she hasn't taken it off since. He even let her keep it when she tried to give it back to him Tuesday. Thankfully - I like him , he is a sweet boy.

We survived the beach day. Although I do feel a bit justified in my fears when I found out the teens were permitted to go about the boardwalk in groups of four, without a chaperone. I believe next time I will be asking more questions. There is only one other mother, the mother of K's new "friend", that felt the same way I did and expressed her concern when we were waiting for the bus to come back. K. also got her class schedule listing for Jr Hi and found out she is on the same "track" as quite a few of her friends. That will help the transition immensely.

Lastly - PSA for today and since I am going to get the "girls" squished tomorrow, this was an appropriate find today.......if you are a woman - go listen to this link. It is about Inflammatory Breast Cancer, and very little known version of breast cancer and it KILLS. Often and quickly. Just be aware.

http://ww3.komotv.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?ClipID1=785456&

Nite!!

This made me smile. Hope it gives you a chuckle!

Letting go

6 months old.

Silly me. I thought those months and years would be the hardest. They certainly feel like they will never end when you are in the midst of it all.

Oh how a young mother spends so much time wishing away diapers, and sleepless nights, and longs for some free time of her own - and chance to sleep for 8 hours straight.

Ah - to have that worry back again.

Here now, I enter an entire new realm of parenting. Parenting the pre-teen. Letting go. Allowing them a little more length on that leash. Had I known how hard it would be - believe me I never would have spent one second wishing away babyhood - well I would have because I am human, but I made my point.

Today - K. is on her first trip, thankfully only for a day, with the youth group. Away in NJ. At a public beach, on the boardwalk - mostly on her own, let to her own devices - all day. I left her totally in the trust of adults other then J. or I - not just at pre-school or a playday, but AWAY , out of the state, hours away. In the water, without me watching over her to make sure Jaws isn't there somewhere, and to make sure she comes up every time she goes under the water. Applying her own sunscreen. In a huge public space. And - it is KILLING me. The scene was organized chaos when I left her this morning. But if you ask me, there weren't enough chaperones. But, none of the other parent's seem concerned. The youth group has organized this trip for years, without any trouble. So - I suck it up. I tell Kaite one more time to stay with the group, not to talk to anyone she doesn't know and to be careful in the water. (To which I get an "I know, Moooommmm, you've said it three times already.") I convince myself that I am just being over protective, and drive away.

Why is it so darn hard? Birds just push their young out of the nest. One big nudge and they are left to try to fly on their own! We protect our young for the first crucial years of their lives. We keep them away from danger. Wipe their faces. Pick them up when they fall down. Make sure they have everything when they leave for school in the morning. Feed them. Clothe them. Then one day we turn around and we are expected to let them just walk off and take care of themselves. I'll take a dirty diaper and sleepless night over this anyday!

But on the other hand - a point must be made for this being a healthy progression of the life cycle. As I was talking with a friend this weekend about her college graduated daughter getting her first job and living away - we make a point... they are just doing what they are supposed to be doing! Growing up, maturing - taking the wisdom, principles and education we have bestowed upon them and using them. Our entire mission when they are young is to raise healthy, happy, productive human beings who can contribute to society. Then, why I ask, is it so hard to let them do it? I am estatic that Kaite even wanted to go on this trip, considering her initial hesitation with even joining the youth group and doing activities without me there constantly. To go on this trip, is a HUGE step for her. But also one that makes a parent totally aware that she is going to leave this house some day. There are things that are going to happen to her that are totally out of my hands and control. What a challenge for a mother to accept. I want to stop every mature mother I pass and ask her how she did it!

Woah- (said in my best sea turtle voice) - A memory just came to me. I remember my parents dropping me off at college. When they left me at the dorm, my mom was chirpy and excited - talking about how proud she was of me, and how happy she was for me to get this opportunity and so on. I called soon after they got home to make sure they had gotten home ok. My dad answered the phone, and proceeded to tell me that my mom had started crying the minute they drove out the road and had still not stopped. At the time - I just rolled my eyes. But just now, this second, I get it. I was not supposed to know the reservations and fears she had in leaving me go, I was only supposed to feel the encouragement and the pride. She must have been so torn apart that day.

So - K. will never know how I felt today. I will tell her I missed her (I want her to know that) and I am so proud of her for doing well. Then proceed to casually grill her for as much information as possible - a mother has to have her fun ya know!

I guess I have to lengthen the leash, ready or not - but I don't have to unclip it yet. And I am sure any of those mature mothers that I stop to ask how they did it, will tell me it was hard, but worth it, and they are now sitting back enjoying watching their children do what they are supposed to do.

Today's blog brought to you by K.

Today I turn the reins over to K. So here are her thoughts for today.

Did you know that i love to draw dresses? It is my passion to be an outfit designer. (the outfit on the left is a fire queen outfit, the other is shorts and tank.)

Little visitor

Here is our latest visitor, or possibly resident in the pond.

Between those two rocks is a little frog.

I heard an unusual noise yesterday afternoon when I was outside. But it stopped pretty quickly. K. said she had heard it earlier.

Then last night laying in bed, I heard the noise over and over and over again. I told J. " I think we have a frog on the pond." But it wasn't really a croaking noise.

This morning, the boys were outside feeding the fish, came screeching into the house, "There's a frog in the pond, there's a frog in the pond!" Probably freaked the poor thing out! We were all very excited. Still am - this means, first the pond is healthy - other things we did not put there want to live there. And second, another animal to watch.

Jim's response? ::::::::::::::Imagine my best Tony Soprano voice::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

"You want, I should get rid of it?"

Geez, No! God forbid, it may keep us awake for a few minutes every night while it sings. No different then the bevy of birds that awakens me every morning at 5:30 am! So I think I have successfully convinced him we can co-exist with the little dude.

Now - the kids want to name him. Any ideas?

Pa Grand Canyon

Darn - I wish I didn't keep forgetting the photos on the blog load in reverse! I was going for the drama of looking at the canyon from the top down ! OH well - this first picture is the kids and I at the bottom of the waterfall at the bottom of the trail.

No watches.
No phone -land line or cell service. ( you should have seen the kid's faces when there was no phone in the room! - not sure who they thought would call.)
We didn't turn on the tv once.
We spent the weekend in Wellsboro, Pa. Central Pa.

To sound totally cliche - God's Country. But when you see, you know why they say it. Photos do not do this scenery justice. And to think - only four hours away! I have been told we camped here when I was little. I have no recollection - except when I saw a carved cedar box at a gift shop that was exactly like one that sat on the headboard of my parent's bed for years.- Man , that was deja vu at it's finest.
I was so excited for Jim and the kids to realize that there are other places to vacation than the beach. And - they had fun to boot!

This shot is Jim relaxing when we got to the bottom. This is the Pine Creek that runs through the bottom of the "canyon" - otherwise known as Pine Creek Gorge. Isn't he handsome? Did I say that out loud?


We started the weekend off leaving early friday morning. Unfortunately - or what wound up to be a fun afternoon - depending how you look at it, by the time we arrived Friday, the down pours started. But we had discovered a week earlier that the parent's of our dear friends have a camper parked in a camp ground not 30 min from where we were going to be! Right before the rain started, we had decided to stop to see if they had arrived yet. Wound up spending a relaxing afternoon with the kids playing between the rain drops and running aroung the campground. These are the vacations of my youth. We camped. Tent camped. Not "we have electric and water" camped. If we couldn't camp, we didn't go. And we had fun doing it! Spent our days splashing in the creek or hiking in the woods. We also spent time at my grandfather's hunting cabin in Central Pa. I attribute my love for the outdoors and fresh air to those weeks spent outside in the mountains as a kid.
It was so nice to come as close to sharing that with my kids as Jim would allow. (Jim does not do the camping thing.)

Saturday we hit the proverbial trail. Headed off to see the infamous Turkey Path. The only path in the canyon that goes straight (well in relative terms) down to the bottom on the canyon. One mile down and straight back up. Waterfalls, and the Pine Creek at the bottom. To tell you it was gorgeous, doesn't even come close. You should have seen the look on the kids faces when we told them we were going down there! They loved it. The steepest path we have ever done. We took time to skip rocks in the creek when we got there. Seems the kids couldn't get enough of that this weekend. We spent a lot of time at our lodge skipping rocks in the creek also.
Getting down the Turkey Path was the easy part! Up - proved to challenge us. But we all made it and very few complaints to boot!!
We spent the afternoon at the small local zoo, then panning for gold, shopping, snacking....we ate at a few wonderful little places along the way. Sat around the campfire all night. Ate s'mores. A great Rattlesnack festival was in full swing so we were treated to fireworks as well! This is a tradition in the area, folks go out every morning to catch the biggest rattlers than can find, they are measred and the longest gets a prize. They are displayed all day then released where they were found. Let's just say I am tremendously happy that we didn't see them until AFTER we hiked. The longest was like 25 ft. Oy.

I am sure I have forgotten something. It was such a great family weekend. If you ever get the chance to visit. Please do! Highly recommend the Rough Cut Lodge. A bit out of town but worth the ride. www.roughcutlodge.com We had running water and electric! Next time Chris will have a fishing rod and we are going to rent a canoe, go horseback riding and ride the local train.

Shoes shoes shoes

Yes - the apple does not fall fall from the proverbial tree.

Seems K. has my love of shoes, particularly flip flops.

We went in search of a sturdy pair of sneakers today. You know, those good old fashion ahtletic type sneaker that only the dorkiest of pre-teens wear any longer? Reserved for us old folk who actually - oh I don't know - exercise in them.

We are going hiking this weekend and since K. refuses to wear hiking boots. "They are for boys, mom" And the little flimsy canvas things that she calls sneakers are not suited for hiking, we needed to go in search of a new pair. We did agree and settle on a nice all white pair, "only for hiking - I don't have to wear them anywhere else do I?" *sigh

Of course, taking K. into a shoe store usually turns into her attempting to try on every pair she can lay her hands on. She loves heels in particular. But I submit that no 11 year old needs to be teetering around on a 3 in high heeled espadrille. But I love that she also gravitates to the flip flops. My own personal passion. I bought my *cough* fifth pair today. ::grin:: Half off! ::wink::
She was so excited to find this canvas pair, all pink and purple cool print. I was just bummed that they did not have a pair in giant-boat-foot size for me. More than happy to pose for a foot picture. You know you have been a scrapper way to long when your kids don't even flinch when you ask to do things like take a picture of their feet!

But the most interesting part of today? Venturing further and further up the size isle. Yes, these are LADIES size 7's! What happened to my little girl?? More people have mistaken her for me on the phone in recent weeks. She is developing faster than I can keep up. And I find myself getting a little philosophical and sad. I don't want to be sad, since it means that she is healthy and growing as she should. Lord knows I would not wish the alternative for anything. But watching your child enter a new phase in their maturity, really makes you stop and see yourself "maturing". I still look in the mirror expecting to see the 27 year old that I feel like. She is gone. Replaced by some 30 something who is squishy in more places than she would like, whose two grey hairs are starting to invite company, and is the one now giving napping advice to the young mothers in the nursery at church! Wait a minute? When did all of this happen? I refuse to give in! No "mom-jeans" for me! I will stay cool! I will not embarass my children!

That is my solemn vow!

Summertime summertime

Sum- sum - summertime.....

Yes- our summer has begun.

School officially ended with Crazy Hair day.
No - I do not let the kids go to school like this everyday.

We went for what is becoming our traditional ice cream at the dairy with friends, then off to Barnes and Noble to pick up summer workbooks and a new summer book. The rest of the summer is strictly library fare.

The kids were a bit "off"...too much stimulation at school this morning, I don't know. The clerk even commented that for being the last day at school, they were very calm. You see - Kaite and Chris get very serious in B&N. It is a huge place full of too much stimulation and too many choices for two ADD kids to take in. Everytime they see something they want, there is immediately another one they want. I know better than to rush, but there has to be a time limit and things start to get tense when I have to count down. The clerk was so patient and helped Kaite search out first - books on ancient egypt , her latest fascinations, then ghost stories. We finally came home with a kids level DaVinci Code of sorts. It is based on Leonardo DaVinci's life, but finctional "mystery" that comes with a little book of clues that help solve the mystery. Not based on the movie at all. The potraits talk and move. Christopher settled on a new Captain Underpants. They also both get to pick a summer reward that we buy and "display" for motivation. A little tense to finally get out of there but we did. As a bonus we also picked up some birthday presents we needed. I love Barnes and Noble - not to mention that there is a coffee shoppe right there! But I digress....although, submit that I could survive in there for days alone!

Another reason that I sort of enjoy poker night - the kids and I get to spend some evening time alone. We just have a different rhythm when J. isn't here. Not that I would ever want him not to be here all the time, it is nice now and again to move to our own beat. After showers, I announced reading time downstairs. Figuring I would get flack, I was shocked to hear a round of cheers! Kaite started devouring her new book and Chris nearly finished his latest Pokemon book. They both begged for five more minutes! ::please God let this last all summer:: I read my book, Marley and Me, while they read.

All the frustration does have it's pay offs. Chris spent most of the night telling me riddles he was reading off the bathroom cups. I am amazed and in awe of his maturity to suddening understand the metaphor in a riddle. He was so pleased with himself.
C: Mom- why wasn't the elephant allowed to fly on the plane?
M: I don't know
C: Because his trunk wouldnt' fit under the seat. ::giggle::
M: ::giggle:: - that is silly
C: Get it mom? Trunk? Not his nose ::giggle:: his suitcase!
M*sigh

Then as we were tucking into bed, I ask each of them what they are going to pray. I don't pray for them any longer. They are old enough to understand that it has to be a conversation from their heart....
M: what are you going to pray about tonight?
K: I don't know, give me an idea.
M: I can't. It has to be on your heart.
K: I don't have anything, everything is just perfect right now.
M: *sigh
If you knew the challenges she and I had together today, you would see why this amazed me.
So for all the frustration - there are this little bones they throw me now and again. Reminders that we are doin' ok!!

Happy beginning of summer everyone!

Thought for the day

What is it about a boy's room that always seems to make it have an odor?

It is an odor that can drive a mother wild walking around trying to find what must be decomposing under the bed.

Must be their sneakers.

Hmmmm.....

6-6-06

Oh - the devil didn't take over the world today? Gee - all that worrying for nothing....

Anywhooooo............Can't believe it has been six days since I last posted!!

Busy busy busy!!

Trying to get the pool ready - rain is not helping....

This weekend was the dance recital. Everyone there! What fun!! Kaite and I did our Mother- Daughter dance..(along with Ang and Sarah, and Lisa and Heather)...which of course left Jim in charge of the camera...which you guessed it - no great pictures.To his credit, it is tough to take good shots with the dark lighting and such. Kaite's hip hop class, got mostly blurry because they were moving so fast.

But - yup - there is big thick ol me dancin' away with Kaite in our pajamas. It was wayyyyy to much fun!

And - dudes - can I tell you how totally proud I am of my sister?? That is she and her husband doing the Charleston! Guys, this is a gal who does not have a generous portion of self esteem, and usually can not even look squarely at herself in the mirror. She did it. She got up in front of an entire audience and DANCED the Charleston. Quite well might I add! Way to go Ang!

Jim and I could have done it as well. And he could have done the dad dance. I didn't even get to finish my sentence when asking him if he might like to do it. Not enough alcohol in the world. yes - my wet blanket of a husband. wouldnt' even consider it. Oh well.

What else have we been up to? Kaite and I went on a field trip to Philadelphia yesterday. We did one of those DUKW tours. The big old bus that turns into a boat and drives in the river. The first few seconds when we entered the water were a bit weird, but once I realized that there was no water coming in, it was fun! We had a great tour guide. She was very animated and obviously enjoys her job. She took us down South St and rocked that bus! Spent time at the new Constitution Center. Gorgeous place. the sentiment and importance of it lost on a class of 12 year olds. Seriously, not something that is appreciated I think until we are much more mature. Cool IMax movie, Under the Sea...then home again.

Last day of school is tomorrow. Woohooo. I love having the kids home in the summer. Miss my free time, but love that they are here, and things slow down a bit. Hopefully we will be swimming sometime before the 4th of July! Kaite is now officially in youth group now, so there are a ton of activities this summer - including their version of the Amazing Race. I am looking forward to that one!

So that is it. All caught up. I think. I know there is a ton I missed. But really just everyday life as usual around here. Keeping all the balls in the air, and running on the hamster wheel.