I know I'm crazy. I know it. I ALWAYS bite off more than most people can chew. Some days are demanding from start to finish. I have a volunteer habit. I've had it for a long time. When I quit working, I felt a void. I needed to fill it. I've done various things (non church related) over the years. PTC president for 2 years, Room Mom for 3 years straight, coaching soccer, Brownie Troop Leader for years, Coach Coordinator for our Community soccer program, etc. These are not positions to be taken lightly. You get the picture. These days, I work for my husband, which could also be considered a volunteer position, or even marriage counseling. :) My latest assignment is Uniform Coordinator for our soccer club. I mean, really, how hard could it be? Oh...that's why they needed someone. Lightbulb moment.
Right now I'm putting on the life preserver cuz the dam is about the break. Oh, the problems! You get to see the good in people and the bad. Sometimes that'll make you feel flat out superior just watching other peoples ingratitude and selfishness. But mostly, you work with other volunteers who work just as hard as you do on behalf of 100's of families for the greater good. This has been harder than I thought it would be. But what I love about volunteer work is how you manage to separate these problems from other things. They aren't MY problems...but they are problems. What are the solutions? I find pleasure in seeking out the answers.
Meanwhile, I'm searching, making lunches, running to drop off and pick up kids, make choices about what events I can attend, occassionally dust, fix dinner or vacuum and still maintain my footing. Yesterday, the wind died down and so I decided my husband could go watch Mal conquer her track meet (which, naturally, she posted PR's on both the mile and 800) and I decided to take Lindsay and Hayden to the park. This is a beautiful park with a stream running through it, a brand new large play structure along a smaller one, and fields of green grass, park benches and shade trees. They each took a friend...played tag, made stick boats and watched them float down the stream. We soaked up the rays of the warming sunshine. I basked in the peace and simplicity of the experience. And yet, I probably wouldn't have valued it quite the same way had I not needed a break from the business at hand.
I love being busy. And I love small moments.
And now...off to treasure a moment of fun with friends at CPK and enjoy a salad pizza. That for Grapefruit and RAC Mom. WYWH!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Celebrations
This month has been full of celebrations. First there was Easter. Pretty tame, but still, it's a celebration. My husband just turned 48. That's right, we're over the 40 mark driving 100 mph to the 50 mark. My younger sister often reminds me all the while thoroughly enjoying our age difference. She's younger and prettier, but I'm wiser! (Isn't that how it goes?) We're not too big on surprises and blow out parties at our house. But my husband is a man and a father that deserves to be recognized. He's a very attentive father and loves to be involved in his kids lives. He pretty much gives me free reign -- which is a big "I love you" in and of itself. He's not good at romantic surprises or unexpected boquets of flowers. But he loves me and I know it. That is a daily gift. So here he is with his most precious gifts...plus a new tube for the boat. (A close second?) The kids worked hard to surprise him while he was at work they made cards, blew up a ton of balloons attached them various places as well as letting them dance along the floor. They taped their cards to the boat tube box and made him a fresh batch of brownies. That and a BBQ and we were good to go. My hubby wouldn't have it any other way. Right up his alley and he never had to leave the house. That's HIS kind of party.
My girls were in a wedding -- they lit candles at their cousin's wedding. Lindsay's hands were shaking like crazy! While they've outgrown the cinderella style of their childhood -- they still looked so beautiful and sweet in their dresses. Hayden's smile is goofy, as usual!
This isn't a celebration, but he does look dapper in his button down shirt. Only a boy could find two sticks and use them as shot guns during a wedding celebration, eh?
The egg-dying tradition...
And finally, no pictures for this one. Mallory has to try-out for her soccer team every year as it's competitive soccer. You can make it one year, but not necessarily the next. So it's always a nail-biter. I got the call today at 2 pm from the coach...I happily went to school with a jug of ice water for my daughter before track practice (it's 97 degrees here today!!!) and told her the good news. Joy and relief crossed her face. I got a big hug in return. That is cause for celebration. Here's to all the little celebrations as well as the big ones. Life is sweet!
My girls were in a wedding -- they lit candles at their cousin's wedding. Lindsay's hands were shaking like crazy! While they've outgrown the cinderella style of their childhood -- they still looked so beautiful and sweet in their dresses. Hayden's smile is goofy, as usual!
This isn't a celebration, but he does look dapper in his button down shirt. Only a boy could find two sticks and use them as shot guns during a wedding celebration, eh?
The egg-dying tradition...
And finally, no pictures for this one. Mallory has to try-out for her soccer team every year as it's competitive soccer. You can make it one year, but not necessarily the next. So it's always a nail-biter. I got the call today at 2 pm from the coach...I happily went to school with a jug of ice water for my daughter before track practice (it's 97 degrees here today!!!) and told her the good news. Joy and relief crossed her face. I got a big hug in return. That is cause for celebration. Here's to all the little celebrations as well as the big ones. Life is sweet!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tales from The Wild Side
Jack Hanna -- eat your heart out! I've got stories from Wildlife Suburbia. I've shared stories of snakes, and skunks, squirrels who dig holes and plant acorns from nearby oak trees that are now spreading their roots growing oaks trees in my yard where I don't need them! But this one, this story, it boggles the mind.
This day I am awakened long before my alarm was set to go off, I open my eyes as the gobble gobble gobble of mating turkeys call outside my window, relentlessly, too loud and annoying to ignore. Over and over again. (Sidenote: to make matters worse, not only do we start the day with this sound, but my hubby pulls in the driveway, opens his door, and "gobble gobble gobble's" his way right into those turkey's hearts when he gets home. His secret talent is bird caller. America's Got Talent anyone?) Just this past weekend we counted no less than 25 turkeys right out in our driveway. They live in the field next to our house during the spring. I'd invite a rattlesnake/turkey contest just to keep the noise level down. So it's no secret we do not live alone out here. Lots of critters to keep us company. We don't call the police for late night parties, we call animal control and Federal Trappers!
So a good friend of mine was on a walk with a friend. They came upon a distraught woman just down the street from my house. She looked as if she'd been crying and asked my friends if they'd seen a little dog that looked lost. They answered no and struck up a conversation about the dog. She said she went out into her backyard the night prior to let the dog go to the bathroom, and as she was standing there watching the dog on her lawn, a large owl swooped down from the night sky and picked up that little dog, never to be seen again! Right in front of her eyes! The owl was not deterred by her presence, and it was over before she knew it began!
So I ask you...why do these "circle of life" events not happen to my dog? I know, I know...I'm mean. We've often said a hawk could come down right out of those huge oak trees they live in and scoop up our Annie. The RIP dog was just under 10 lbs. Annie is just weighing in at 11 1/2 pounds. I've since shared this story with my girls and immediately Lindsay changed the rules.
"Annie is NOT allowed outside unsupervised!" Yeah, right. Whatever. I swore I'd never let her out in the yard again without us after the rattlesnake bite event and the vet bill that followed. But little dogs love the sun and a warm sidewalk (just like snakes)...so how can I deprive her? Now we just figure if there's a bite, there's a long hard free road to meet her maker. Because we've travelled down that road, and it was expensive! One time only.
So this is for my sister who just yesterday said: "Whatever. I'm quite sure you live in a castle." (She's never been here). My response: "Whatever! It's more like a den!"
Stay tuned for more tales from The Wonderful World of Wildlife. For now, it's cleaning up dog poop, scooping the cat box, and scraping turkey droppings from the driveway with a shovel. You'd think they'd have someone hired to do that on a castle-like set as this?!
This day I am awakened long before my alarm was set to go off, I open my eyes as the gobble gobble gobble of mating turkeys call outside my window, relentlessly, too loud and annoying to ignore. Over and over again. (Sidenote: to make matters worse, not only do we start the day with this sound, but my hubby pulls in the driveway, opens his door, and "gobble gobble gobble's" his way right into those turkey's hearts when he gets home. His secret talent is bird caller. America's Got Talent anyone?) Just this past weekend we counted no less than 25 turkeys right out in our driveway. They live in the field next to our house during the spring. I'd invite a rattlesnake/turkey contest just to keep the noise level down. So it's no secret we do not live alone out here. Lots of critters to keep us company. We don't call the police for late night parties, we call animal control and Federal Trappers!
So a good friend of mine was on a walk with a friend. They came upon a distraught woman just down the street from my house. She looked as if she'd been crying and asked my friends if they'd seen a little dog that looked lost. They answered no and struck up a conversation about the dog. She said she went out into her backyard the night prior to let the dog go to the bathroom, and as she was standing there watching the dog on her lawn, a large owl swooped down from the night sky and picked up that little dog, never to be seen again! Right in front of her eyes! The owl was not deterred by her presence, and it was over before she knew it began!
So I ask you...why do these "circle of life" events not happen to my dog? I know, I know...I'm mean. We've often said a hawk could come down right out of those huge oak trees they live in and scoop up our Annie. The RIP dog was just under 10 lbs. Annie is just weighing in at 11 1/2 pounds. I've since shared this story with my girls and immediately Lindsay changed the rules.
"Annie is NOT allowed outside unsupervised!" Yeah, right. Whatever. I swore I'd never let her out in the yard again without us after the rattlesnake bite event and the vet bill that followed. But little dogs love the sun and a warm sidewalk (just like snakes)...so how can I deprive her? Now we just figure if there's a bite, there's a long hard free road to meet her maker. Because we've travelled down that road, and it was expensive! One time only.
So this is for my sister who just yesterday said: "Whatever. I'm quite sure you live in a castle." (She's never been here). My response: "Whatever! It's more like a den!"
Stay tuned for more tales from The Wonderful World of Wildlife. For now, it's cleaning up dog poop, scooping the cat box, and scraping turkey droppings from the driveway with a shovel. You'd think they'd have someone hired to do that on a castle-like set as this?!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Sloppy What?
The other day my sister told me she made these Sloppy Joes that were so good her family devoured them. Sloppy Joes. That took me right back to our dinner table on Hamilton Avenue excited about eating. It took me back to younger faces of my siblings surrounding a table. White hamburger buns. And my mom rarely bought anything white. Heck, she made a lot of the bread we ate. But certainly didn't buy AIR bread on a regular basis. Hamburger buns were a treat!
Anyway, after hearing how my sister's family delighted in such a simple pleasure, I was eager to do the same. So...Lindsay sat down at the table and an immediate look of questioning crossed her face.
"What's this?" It was as if I was forcing her to eat hot lunch. Come to think of it, it maybe wasn't far from the truth of the matter.
To make the situation at hand even worse, her Dad started laughing.
In my defense: "It's Sloppy Joes! They are SO good. I used to eat them all the time when I was a kid. You have to eat it." Right then I transformed into my mother. Another look then crossed Lindsay's face after sampling my culinary treasure. It was a look of disgust.
"Lindsay...you have to eat most of it." I could see it was hard for her to swallow. I guess times have changed. Enough so that I won't be making Sloppy What again! So tonight...Hamburger Helper?
Anyway, after hearing how my sister's family delighted in such a simple pleasure, I was eager to do the same. So...Lindsay sat down at the table and an immediate look of questioning crossed her face.
"What's this?" It was as if I was forcing her to eat hot lunch. Come to think of it, it maybe wasn't far from the truth of the matter.
To make the situation at hand even worse, her Dad started laughing.
In my defense: "It's Sloppy Joes! They are SO good. I used to eat them all the time when I was a kid. You have to eat it." Right then I transformed into my mother. Another look then crossed Lindsay's face after sampling my culinary treasure. It was a look of disgust.
"Lindsay...you have to eat most of it." I could see it was hard for her to swallow. I guess times have changed. Enough so that I won't be making Sloppy What again! So tonight...Hamburger Helper?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Spring Fever
Spring Break is here. And we took full advantage...weather arrived as ordered!
Started with sleeping in til 9 am. (Thanks, honey).
Seeing this always puts me in a good mood!
These never disappoint.
Do you need a reason for cake? It's one more excuse to have something for the kids to put whipped cream on!
Chicken Apple Salad. YUMMO! (Yummo courtesy of Rachel Ray).
Rummikub in the sun. Notice the dog on Mal's towel. What a princess!
Gimpy Dave giving Hayden's one and only golf club a try. He said it made for a nice putter. Does he get a handicap for a sprained ankle or for just being special? (You know what I mean, right Bex?)
(This is a video, Mom...press play)! :)
Started with sleeping in til 9 am. (Thanks, honey).
Seeing this always puts me in a good mood!
These never disappoint.
Do you need a reason for cake? It's one more excuse to have something for the kids to put whipped cream on!
Chicken Apple Salad. YUMMO! (Yummo courtesy of Rachel Ray).
At this point, Hayden hasn't realized his hair is sticking up or he'd be spazzing! Is he not cute or what! (Not biased at all).
Rummikub in the sun. Notice the dog on Mal's towel. What a princess!
Gimpy Dave giving Hayden's one and only golf club a try. He said it made for a nice putter. Does he get a handicap for a sprained ankle or for just being special? (You know what I mean, right Bex?)
Chillin' in the garage while the track is being constructed.
Attention! Children's imagination at work!
This is the bike track -- many upsides to this very large driveway!
This is the bike track -- many upsides to this very large driveway!
(We went out and bought chalk after this...way too much cleanup!)
(This is a video, Mom...press play)! :)
Who needs a pool? This is regular stuff at our house.
The end. Monday is just hours away.
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