It's been a while. The whirlwind of May turned into the tornado of early June and then end of school. Where it went, I'm not exactly sure...
But here I sit just after the summer solstice, ready to look ahead. The boys and I are 2 weeks into summer vacation, and it's already been great. But there are many weeks to go, and we want to make the most of every moment. SO, in the ever-popular fashion, we thought we'd share our summer bucket list:
1. Sleep under the stars
2. Ride the motorcycle (Dan only!)
3. Build a sand castle
4. Play in the river
5. Splash in the wading pool
6. Hang out at the water park
7. Eat watermelon
8. Read. Read a lot.
9. Try camps (vacation bible school for both boys, Lego camp for Max, and basketball camp for Luke)
10. Roast marshmallows
11. Swim in a lake
12. Learn to kayak
13. Have a sleepover with the grandparents
14. Make ice cream and popsicles
15. Enjoy playdates with friends
16. Take a nap in a hammock
17. Dine outdoors
18. Tackle home projects - the boys' bathroom and the deck are the main priorities
19. Cuddle. Cuddle a lot..
20. Spend time strengthening relationships - with each other, our families, and our friends
The challenge of for our family is that ever-constant search for balance. We want to experience all the joy and fun that the season brings, with it's warmer temperatures and longer days. But we also want to enjoy the time to relax - to not be on the go all the time. Finding a way to do both is a struggle.
But it's work we're more than happy to do!
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The house is quiet.
Laundry folded and waiting on the living room floor,
open window sharing the cooling air and a little bit of streetlight.
I am willing my mind to be quiet
but on it hums.
Only Tuesday, and it's already been a week.
A week of practices and whining and groceries.
Online drama and friends that feel too far away
to hug and reassure.
Midterms done, count-down to the end in progress and a kiddo
who, despite having my heart for three years,
is still giving up on herself.
And I can't change any of it.
Sometimes, in the glare of the afternoon,
it paralyzes me.
Stuck.
Unable to go out and plant the tomatoes
read another story
plan an art project.
And I'm not who I want to be.
But in the quiet dark,
I come around.
Gather the dishes, sweep the floor, find the playdough recipe.
Imagine that tomorrow just may be the day we get it all done.
Find my way back
to me
Laundry folded and waiting on the living room floor,
open window sharing the cooling air and a little bit of streetlight.
I am willing my mind to be quiet
but on it hums.
Only Tuesday, and it's already been a week.
A week of practices and whining and groceries.
Online drama and friends that feel too far away
to hug and reassure.
Midterms done, count-down to the end in progress and a kiddo
who, despite having my heart for three years,
is still giving up on herself.
And I can't change any of it.
Sometimes, in the glare of the afternoon,
it paralyzes me.
Stuck.
Unable to go out and plant the tomatoes
read another story
plan an art project.
And I'm not who I want to be.
But in the quiet dark,
I come around.
Gather the dishes, sweep the floor, find the playdough recipe.
Imagine that tomorrow just may be the day we get it all done.
Find my way back
to me
Monday, May 14, 2012
Mother's Day...
I'm a simple girl. It doesn't take along to make me happy. But yesterday certainly exceeded all of my expectations with it's perfect simplicity.
After the boys' faith formation class and a trip to the gym for me (See? I must be loving it when I don't use Mother's Day as an excuse to get out of exercising)., we came home and packed a picnic. We gathered all of our sand toys, sunscreen, and a blanket and headed for one of my favorite local spots. Usually Mother's Day is rainy - and if not rainy, then cool and cloudy. But this year? The perfect sunny day and a high in the 80's. So we headed down to the river.
For a couple hours, we read, played, build sand castles, and threw rocks into the water. We enjoyed our picnic, and watched eagles soar overhead. I was in heaven.
After we'd had our fair share of sunshine, we headed home where we got ready for our guests - my mother and father-in-law. We grilled burgers and shared the evening together. The boys entertained us with stories and songs, and we indulged in yummy brownies and ice cream.
And gifts? I was so very fortunate - the boys picked out some beautiful earrings and a butterfly wing necklace that are just my style. And from Dan? Tile for the bathroom floor that I have wanted to re-do since we moved in. I couldn't be luckier.
It was a perfect Mother's Day.
Monday, May 7, 2012
habits...
I am a person of habit. I love routines and rhythms to my days, and thrive on knowing what is to come. Once something is part of my daily routine, it usually stays there for quite a while. But if it falls out, then fitting it back in is a challenge.
That's where I've been with blogging lately. It just fell out of my daily habit, and when I don't write regularly, I feel like I have nothing to say. It's that unused muscle that atrophies. And even though I miss writing, re-starting is difficult.
But there's another habit that has taken a spot in my days that I'm pretty excited about - exercise. Over the last two-three years I have flirted with running, doing the C25K program and using our treadmill. But no matter how long I've been running, I still don't really enjoy it. I enjoy being done with my run, but not the running itself. And I dread lacing up.
To put it mildly, it's tough for me to be consistent with running.
So, in January I joined a gym. I hoped that adding variety to my workouts would help my motivation. And my budget is tight enough that I am not willing to spend money on something I don't use, so the financial push is there, too. On the advice of friends on facebook, I chose the one closest to my house that had what I was looking for: a lap pool (saltwater), classes at times I can attend, and childcare.
Since joining, being at the gym has become a habit. I'm there 5-6 days a week. Three Zumba classes for cardio, two or three strength training days, and maybe a swim or run thrown in there for good measure. Some days it's right before dinner, others it's after the boys go to bed. It's just part of my day now.
Having a routine with exercise has made a huge difference for me. It's the first time in my life I have exercised consistently for 4 months straight. I don't have to think about what I am going to do or how I am going to avoid it - and I miss it on my rest days. The employees at the gym even know my name before they check me in. That's a real first.
(All of this isn't to say that things are perfect. My yearly goal of getting "lighter" isn't happening, despite all the exercise and fairly strict meal plans. But I am starting to build muscle tone and have lost a couple of inches. And I'm using this as my chance to learn patience.)
I hope to return to a habit of blogging. But know if I'm not here, it may be because I'm at the gym.
That's where I've been with blogging lately. It just fell out of my daily habit, and when I don't write regularly, I feel like I have nothing to say. It's that unused muscle that atrophies. And even though I miss writing, re-starting is difficult.
But there's another habit that has taken a spot in my days that I'm pretty excited about - exercise. Over the last two-three years I have flirted with running, doing the C25K program and using our treadmill. But no matter how long I've been running, I still don't really enjoy it. I enjoy being done with my run, but not the running itself. And I dread lacing up.
To put it mildly, it's tough for me to be consistent with running.
So, in January I joined a gym. I hoped that adding variety to my workouts would help my motivation. And my budget is tight enough that I am not willing to spend money on something I don't use, so the financial push is there, too. On the advice of friends on facebook, I chose the one closest to my house that had what I was looking for: a lap pool (saltwater), classes at times I can attend, and childcare.
Since joining, being at the gym has become a habit. I'm there 5-6 days a week. Three Zumba classes for cardio, two or three strength training days, and maybe a swim or run thrown in there for good measure. Some days it's right before dinner, others it's after the boys go to bed. It's just part of my day now.
Having a routine with exercise has made a huge difference for me. It's the first time in my life I have exercised consistently for 4 months straight. I don't have to think about what I am going to do or how I am going to avoid it - and I miss it on my rest days. The employees at the gym even know my name before they check me in. That's a real first.
(All of this isn't to say that things are perfect. My yearly goal of getting "lighter" isn't happening, despite all the exercise and fairly strict meal plans. But I am starting to build muscle tone and have lost a couple of inches. And I'm using this as my chance to learn patience.)
I hope to return to a habit of blogging. But know if I'm not here, it may be because I'm at the gym.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Mama time...
A couple weeks ago, I got to disappear to the beach with some of my favorite mama friends. For the third year we rented a little house, made ourselves cozy, and got to the business of nurturing. Nurturing our friendships, our identities as mamas, our selves. In the way that only midnight talks, gossip mags and plenty of chocolate can do, we healed that part of us that often gets lost in the dishes and laundry and schedules.
It was simply wonderful. We hiked up a mountain. We visited the candy store - twice. We walked on the beach. We cuddled the adorable infant that got to come with his mama. There were bad movies and good advice and fun new shoes.
And another one of those yearly goals has been met! Thanks, ladies. So glad to be on this crazy journey with you.
It was simply wonderful. We hiked up a mountain. We visited the candy store - twice. We walked on the beach. We cuddled the adorable infant that got to come with his mama. There were bad movies and good advice and fun new shoes.
And another one of those yearly goals has been met! Thanks, ladies. So glad to be on this crazy journey with you.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
weekending...
inspired by amanda.....
This weekend was one of much needed sunshine and rest.
Shopping trips for the mama alone, soccer in the backyard, and snow tire removal.
Eggs were dyed, hidden, found, and eaten.
Ties were sewn - more or less successfully.
Face paint crayons were a big hit.
Boys learned to melt their mama's heart with dandelions by the handful.
Moods were up, down, and all around, but ended up centered on happy.
Carrot cake will do that...
This weekend was one of much needed sunshine and rest.
Shopping trips for the mama alone, soccer in the backyard, and snow tire removal.
Eggs were dyed, hidden, found, and eaten.
Ties were sewn - more or less successfully.
Face paint crayons were a big hit.
Boys learned to melt their mama's heart with dandelions by the handful.
Moods were up, down, and all around, but ended up centered on happy.
Carrot cake will do that...
Walking together with the sun on our backs.
I could get used to this.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Mouse Ears for all...
Ahhhhh....the world has stopped spinning for a moment. It's been an unusual couple of weeks around these parts. Almost two weeks ago, our house was overtaken by the flu. It started with the oldest child - a "not feeling well" that quickly progressed into needing to come home from school and running a 103 degree fever for over 5 days. It then captured the youngest child, and I followed a few days later. (We also spread the plague to my mom and dad.) Miserable, achy, high fever, nasty cough, sore throat, whole bunch of yuck. Just in time for Spring Break.
A year and a half ago, we (my parents, sister, brother-in-law, their two kiddos, and our family) began to plan a family trip to Disneyland. I honestly believe that from the moment my mom first found out she was going to be a grandparent she had been planning this trip. It was such a special thing to get to share together, and we were excited. So when you have so many people involved and have planned for so long, the flu isn't going to get in the way.
We spent four days in Disneyland and California Adventures, and one day in Legoland. It was a wonderful, exhausting adventure. We tried to get to the parks as soon as they opened, ride as many rides as the kiddos were up for until lunch or early afternoon, then head back to the hotel for naps. The evenings were spent either back at the park or hanging out in the hotel rooms, where we could watch the fireworks every night.
In the interest of total honesty, this was a little bit of a strange vacation for our family to take. We've chosen to not do "licensed characters" in our home, and our boys don't really watch movies (most still feel too scary for our oldest). So, to go somewhere where it's all about character and movie recognition was a little strange. While they enjoyed the Peter Pan ride, they know nothing of the story it is based upon. They really don't recognize most of the princesses. The things that they knew (the main Disney characters that they have seen on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the characters from Toy Story) they really enjoyed, but everything else had no context.
This didn't stop them (or us) from enjoying everything. They were braver than I expected and tried all sorts of rides. They didn't mind the lines or the crowds like I thought they might. They did a fabulous job not begging for treats or toys at every turn, and "thank yous" were constant. Really, I was so proud of how well they handled it all. And yes, we did break our characters rule for the souvenirs they were allowed to choose at the end of the week. Each boy ended up with a Mickey Mouse Christmas ornament, a stuffed animal (Pluto and Perry), and a watch.
The best part of all was being with family. While the time to just hang out was way too short, watching the cousins play together was worth it all. They each have a fun connection to each other that was only heightened by riding Dumbo together or playing in the hotel pool. And I got to see my sister. That was pretty darn great, too.
SO, here's the photo overload! It's just a few highlights of a great time.
A year and a half ago, we (my parents, sister, brother-in-law, their two kiddos, and our family) began to plan a family trip to Disneyland. I honestly believe that from the moment my mom first found out she was going to be a grandparent she had been planning this trip. It was such a special thing to get to share together, and we were excited. So when you have so many people involved and have planned for so long, the flu isn't going to get in the way.
We spent four days in Disneyland and California Adventures, and one day in Legoland. It was a wonderful, exhausting adventure. We tried to get to the parks as soon as they opened, ride as many rides as the kiddos were up for until lunch or early afternoon, then head back to the hotel for naps. The evenings were spent either back at the park or hanging out in the hotel rooms, where we could watch the fireworks every night.
In the interest of total honesty, this was a little bit of a strange vacation for our family to take. We've chosen to not do "licensed characters" in our home, and our boys don't really watch movies (most still feel too scary for our oldest). So, to go somewhere where it's all about character and movie recognition was a little strange. While they enjoyed the Peter Pan ride, they know nothing of the story it is based upon. They really don't recognize most of the princesses. The things that they knew (the main Disney characters that they have seen on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and the characters from Toy Story) they really enjoyed, but everything else had no context.
This didn't stop them (or us) from enjoying everything. They were braver than I expected and tried all sorts of rides. They didn't mind the lines or the crowds like I thought they might. They did a fabulous job not begging for treats or toys at every turn, and "thank yous" were constant. Really, I was so proud of how well they handled it all. And yes, we did break our characters rule for the souvenirs they were allowed to choose at the end of the week. Each boy ended up with a Mickey Mouse Christmas ornament, a stuffed animal (Pluto and Perry), and a watch.
The best part of all was being with family. While the time to just hang out was way too short, watching the cousins play together was worth it all. They each have a fun connection to each other that was only heightened by riding Dumbo together or playing in the hotel pool. And I got to see my sister. That was pretty darn great, too.
SO, here's the photo overload! It's just a few highlights of a great time.
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