Help me...I'm still so full.
Just in case you were wondering how I felt!?!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
G-R-A-T-E-F-U-L
Great day with my kids...bowling and arcade...makes my kids happy.
Really enjoyed the sunshine today at the park.
Ate lunch out for fun together at Wendy's...Hayden's favorite.
Took the kids to the library.
Even took the dog for a walk, and then a longer one for me!
Feels great having no real schedule today...my favorite kind of day.
Unusually long hair on my legs...time for a hot shower and a leg shave...(too much information?)...grateful for pants! LOL.
Liz and family are coming in less than 48 hours (we hope) to spend Thankgiving with us and boy, are we grateful!
Really enjoyed the sunshine today at the park.
Ate lunch out for fun together at Wendy's...Hayden's favorite.
Took the kids to the library.
Even took the dog for a walk, and then a longer one for me!
Feels great having no real schedule today...my favorite kind of day.
Unusually long hair on my legs...time for a hot shower and a leg shave...(too much information?)...grateful for pants! LOL.
Liz and family are coming in less than 48 hours (we hope) to spend Thankgiving with us and boy, are we grateful!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Where am I????????
For the love of Pete...you figure this out.
Peruse the following list of names. Where might you find them?
Ming, Julio, Rashid, Erin, Grace, Diego, Deja, Zoe, Reggie, Gina, Yin, Jun, Javier, Manual, Nia, Abby & Carmen.
I'll TELL YOU WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!! A 1st grade Math Assessment test!
I was asked to assist a boy who had been absent in completing the test...i.e. answer "word" questions assuming he needed help reading. The poor boy couldn't even get through the word problems because: a) he's still learning the ENGLISH language and b) didn't know that a "J" was an "H" in Spanish!
Oh, man. I am so on fire, here. I don't consider myself to be prejudice, but how I watched this little boy struggle through this test because of the names. He didn't know what a "Ming", "Jun" or "Javier" was...so it was difficult for him to focus on the math aspect of the test. This made me think of my poor son. While a decent reader, we're still grasping the English language and all its idiosyncracies on a good day, let alone combining it with algebra word problems.
I don't know, but I'm just sayin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Peruse the following list of names. Where might you find them?
Ming, Julio, Rashid, Erin, Grace, Diego, Deja, Zoe, Reggie, Gina, Yin, Jun, Javier, Manual, Nia, Abby & Carmen.
I'll TELL YOU WHERE!!!!!!!!!!!! A 1st grade Math Assessment test!
I was asked to assist a boy who had been absent in completing the test...i.e. answer "word" questions assuming he needed help reading. The poor boy couldn't even get through the word problems because: a) he's still learning the ENGLISH language and b) didn't know that a "J" was an "H" in Spanish!
Oh, man. I am so on fire, here. I don't consider myself to be prejudice, but how I watched this little boy struggle through this test because of the names. He didn't know what a "Ming", "Jun" or "Javier" was...so it was difficult for him to focus on the math aspect of the test. This made me think of my poor son. While a decent reader, we're still grasping the English language and all its idiosyncracies on a good day, let alone combining it with algebra word problems.
I don't know, but I'm just sayin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Old Fashioned Birthday
Yup...I was determined to have it at home. Pizza and a little cake. Maybe I was drinking...
Lindsay and most of her soccer team for her 12th bday.
Me with a few other lovely ladies...
Hayden is spying on the girls with his pirate scope. All boy, that kid.
Someone (again, me, hitting the bottle) thought it might be fun for the girls to have karaoke night. Never knew noise levels like that before. Dave got hives.
And Lindsay picked her favorite...B&R Cookies & Cream Ice Cream cake. Needless to say, it was a HUGE hit!
Guessing game...that cute blonde won two -- but had to give one up to the runner-up. Smart girl.
Our sweet Lindsay digging into her LOOT!
Lindsay and most of her soccer team for her 12th bday.
Me with a few other lovely ladies...
Hayden is spying on the girls with his pirate scope. All boy, that kid.
Someone (again, me, hitting the bottle) thought it might be fun for the girls to have karaoke night. Never knew noise levels like that before. Dave got hives.
There were some lead singers along with a lot of back up!
And Lindsay picked her favorite...B&R Cookies & Cream Ice Cream cake. Needless to say, it was a HUGE hit!
Definitely pleased this hard-to-please fellow.
Guessing game...that cute blonde won two -- but had to give one up to the runner-up. Smart girl.
Our sweet Lindsay digging into her LOOT!
The remainder of the gang...3 had already left. Hayden was in HEAVEN playing Ninja and Ghost in the House or something like that. (Lights out, TONS of screaming, running like herds of cattle...Dave almost needed the straightjacket and shock therapy to calm him down).
Brave enough for a listen. First, crank your sound up til it's fuzzy. Then put a microphone up to that...that is what my house sounded like. 12 twelve-year olds screaming!
One girl wrote a 3 page card...I only managed to capture 2 of the pages...it's Sam describing Lindsay. So sweet and SO funny.
I know we'll remember this one for years to come. Not only will kids be kids, but kids need to be kids. That's what this was all about. Good, old-fashioned get together for a little craziness. And while my ears are still ringing...it was definitely worth it!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
There's No Such Thing
There's no such thing as a perfect life.
There's no such thing as a perfect child.
There's no such thing as a perfect parent.
There are perfect moments in life, but the rest of life's experiences, today, I believe, are to keep you in check. Make you humble. Make you appreciate the rest.
One morning last week I woke up feeling really grateful for our house. Having moved 3 times in two years would easily make one have that feeling. But it was deeper than that. And because you never know what life can throw at you. Living in a state where not a few, but many people I know have lost their homes due to losing jobs and a failing economy, home is not necessarily written in stone. It is something to be honored. And cherished. A haven. For now.
I'm lucky. People often tell me how wonderful my children are. And I whole-heartedly agree with them. But it's scary being on a pedestal. Even risky. Because eventually, you fall off. Or are pushed off. And there's that fork in the road. And mistakes are made. It's hard for them. Hard for me. Heartbreaking at times.
Part of parenthood. Most of it is wonderful. Some of it is so hard it will take your breath away. It makes you toss and turn at night. It makes me shed tears in moments alone. It takes me back to the mistakes I've made as a child and beyond. (I know, you thought I was perfect!) Oh my, there were many. And yet, I was still loved, even though I know I made that difficult to do. Or maybe it wasn't that they didn't love me, they just didn't love the decisions I had made. But I didn't feel that at the time. And it was lonely. I want so much for my children to not feel lonely. And yet they will, probably, because I can't make their lives perfect all the time. I have to let them find their way.
But what is perfect is love. It does prevail. It is pure and true. It does not change with the weather but instead, withstands weathering. It gets stronger. And deeper. And hopefully, in the long run, cuts through the red tape of life and shines brighter than the dark clouds that try to cover it up.
And that is what I do have...a perfect love for my family. We do not have a perfect life and I know hourly that I am not perfect. And on this gray day I will feel warmth from that perfect love. It will carry me through. And it is a gift from which I draw strength.
And while these challenges never feel promising, the eternal promise is love. And forgiveness. And the opportunity to share it with my family. And that, my friends, is perfect.
There's no such thing as a perfect child.
There's no such thing as a perfect parent.
There are perfect moments in life, but the rest of life's experiences, today, I believe, are to keep you in check. Make you humble. Make you appreciate the rest.
One morning last week I woke up feeling really grateful for our house. Having moved 3 times in two years would easily make one have that feeling. But it was deeper than that. And because you never know what life can throw at you. Living in a state where not a few, but many people I know have lost their homes due to losing jobs and a failing economy, home is not necessarily written in stone. It is something to be honored. And cherished. A haven. For now.
I'm lucky. People often tell me how wonderful my children are. And I whole-heartedly agree with them. But it's scary being on a pedestal. Even risky. Because eventually, you fall off. Or are pushed off. And there's that fork in the road. And mistakes are made. It's hard for them. Hard for me. Heartbreaking at times.
Part of parenthood. Most of it is wonderful. Some of it is so hard it will take your breath away. It makes you toss and turn at night. It makes me shed tears in moments alone. It takes me back to the mistakes I've made as a child and beyond. (I know, you thought I was perfect!) Oh my, there were many. And yet, I was still loved, even though I know I made that difficult to do. Or maybe it wasn't that they didn't love me, they just didn't love the decisions I had made. But I didn't feel that at the time. And it was lonely. I want so much for my children to not feel lonely. And yet they will, probably, because I can't make their lives perfect all the time. I have to let them find their way.
But what is perfect is love. It does prevail. It is pure and true. It does not change with the weather but instead, withstands weathering. It gets stronger. And deeper. And hopefully, in the long run, cuts through the red tape of life and shines brighter than the dark clouds that try to cover it up.
And that is what I do have...a perfect love for my family. We do not have a perfect life and I know hourly that I am not perfect. And on this gray day I will feel warmth from that perfect love. It will carry me through. And it is a gift from which I draw strength.
And while these challenges never feel promising, the eternal promise is love. And forgiveness. And the opportunity to share it with my family. And that, my friends, is perfect.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Born to Goodly Parents
Well, Doug sort of inherited me, and I'm sure at the the time, it was not by choice! But we seemed to move on and our love of Diet Coke and other refined foods replaced any bitterness that may have once existed. They made the big trip to visit us and took some fabulous photos of my kids at soccer and some nice photos of family as well. Lovin' that new camera Mom! And we love you guys. Miss you already.
Grandpa Doug & my sweet children.
Really...who could resist this face?!
A rare family photo -- all together -- all smiling! Who knew?!
A family is a beautiful thing...and I love the one I came from as well. I have wonderful parents who love us a lot. What more could I ask for in this life? Thanks for the memories!!! Can't wait til next time.
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