Monday, October 01, 2018
10 things October
1. The story of right now involves House Projects, always a project going on over here. I must say, I quite love decorating especially for the seasons. right now, we have a heating system change over (to propane). a fireplace redo (to propane) and a basement redo. Let's just say the basement redo was completely not in the plans, but we had a little flood down there a few weeks back that involved a groundwater drain clog. J was away on a trip at the time (hence no one noticed the water for several days) and it was super stressful. Luckily, I'm an ace with plastic bin storage, so nothing got ruined except for the walls and flooring (and our big TV that we were storing down there during the fireplace remodel). We're using this as an opportunity to expand the space and create a little hang out space for the kids plus an office. It will be blessing in disguise. Stay tuned for photos!
2.) . L loves all his field trips and tinkering class at his new school. I love this school so much! The people and teachers are amazing and LOVE what they do (and have the freedom to follow their passions along with their teaching which translates over tot the kids doing the same). Even though it's hard being the "new Kid" (both Mom and Kid) were making some new connections. He just joined the afterschool Rock band (bass guitar) and has started in a local Martial Arts class. Right now, his main project at home has been candle making and he's made some pretty cool layered ones with soy wax and essential oils. He's just such a cool kid.
3.) T seems to have found a good balance and rhythm to his High School days between activities and classes which was a real struggle in the past. This year he has 2 AP classes (History and Literature) and honors Math and Sciences. He's taking outdoor activities and Video production which I'm sure he'll love. This fall, he's swimming in a HS prep group with the swim club and loving his new found freedom he has been craving with getting his driver's license recently. He's surfing and the weekends and playing in a once a week Lacrosse league for fun (has discontinued the travel team). Last weekend he attended the homecoming dance with a group of friends and just signed up to take the school Europe trip in June (Copenhagen, Netherlands, Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris), He is super excited! He's been nominated to apply to the National Honors society, and We're starting the process to build a college list and going to be planning some visits, soon, gulp!
4.) J is in the busy time at work, lots of late evenings, lots of phone calls and travel....conference time! When he is not working, he's usually tinkering around the house on things that are broken or rebuilding. It really is his passion. I come up with the idea and he makes it happen! It must be true love.
5.) B is doing awesome in the 8th grade! I hardly ever hear from school and except for grumbling about homework she's doing great! Last weekend she participated in a unified Flag football game with a local HS football team and she had a blast. Everything football continues to be her passion. Next week is her 14th bday! We have a party planned to take some friends out to Olive Garden and to round one (arcade/bowling).
6.) Next week is my 44th bday...yikes. I have an appointment at the Spa and plan to do some major relaxing. It's my favorite month of the year!
7.) things I'm loving right now..... diffusing essential oils, decorating for Halloween, Baking and cooking fall things (hoping to get apple picking one of these days!), My new teal colored Keurig Coffee maker, Afternoon naps, Tuesday evening Yoga classes, listening podcasts on the way home from school pick up, Aveda Skincare and Hair products, swimming at the Y, and Planning ahead for holidays.
8.) Life feels very settled right now, even though we're constantly in a whirlwind of change with the kids growing older. I know I need to do better at slowing down, enjoying the small moments, and letting go, but it's hard!
9.)Things I can't live without right now.......Find my phone for tracking our new driver to make sure he arrives safely at all his destinations. It's a piece of mind that my parents never had! Also, my instant pot for making warm fall meals (think Chili) a breeze.
10.) Things I'm looking forward to: Our trip to Bar Harbor this long weekend for hiking and Biking! The beauty of all the fall foliage here in New England, Apple Picking, visiting the Corn Maze and Pumpkin Carving. And Of Course, the Holidays!
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
closing the book on Summer....transitions
Ten Things
1.) We had an absolutely freaking fabulous summer. One of the best ones I can remember. I'm actually REALLY sad that it's over. Weddings and camping trips and camps and beach days. School and the stress of it is just hard for me, and my kids. It just is. It totally sucks the life out of me. The planning, the problem solving. I took a few months to breathe, take in the no rush out the door in the mornings and take a lot of time for me. Taking charge of my stress levels, exercising, eating right, spending lots of one on one time with each kid, soaking up all Maine has to offer (and it's been SOOOO HOT-that the schools without AC were let out early on the first day) and breathing. Breathing is good.
2.) School is starting (11th, 8th and 6th!) and with it, some changes for our family. No one is riding a school bus this year. T and L will be driving (T dropped off on the way to Lucas until he gets his license), and Bre takes a van for her special transportation. Day 1 and I didn't miss racing to the bus stop.
3.) This Post By Kelle Hampton:
Someday, years from now, when my kids are out of the house and no longer depend on the over-the-top school lunches I make them to soften the blow of change, I will wake up in the morning, light my candles, brew my coffee, plan my run, wait for their phone calls to tell me what life adventures they’re enjoying, what hurts are stretching them. And there will be nothing I can do but listen, tell them I’m proud of them, believe in them, check in on them later but carry on with my daily routine of writing, making cinnamon muffins for the bridge group, checking our Amazon account to see what weird kitchen gadgets Brett ordered, redecorating a room that doesn’t need it simply because changing my home makes me happy. My kids will need me to do these things because loving my one wild and precious life is what makes me strong for them when they need me. And I will realize, years of drastic haircuts later, that even though things look different and even though my heart will long for days when our tub was filled with dinosaur toys and our windows were smudged with finger prints….not much has changed.
4.) We are talking a lot as a family about how the next two years will be working toward a major transition for T, and what that could look like for all of us. Next year at this time he will be starting his SENIOR year.
5.) I've been cleaning out and making trips to Goodwill like it's my job (cause it's Mom's New Year, and I can't control how fast my kids are growing up, but I CAN declutter!). The other day I decided I hadn't been inside the store in several years and I usually love picking up something while thrift shopping. We ended up picking up a REALLY nice laptop for T ($150!) and an Epson Mini Photo printer for me ($10!). Who knew.
6.) L will be attending a private school for the first time this year for middle school which doesn't start until next week. (hence no photos) We came to this decision over a period of 2-3 years, and it wasn't an easy one. While we LOVE and support public schools, what our middle school has to offer in terms of programming and movement time didn't feel right for L at this time. And as we make all our parenting decisions, we have to go with what feels right for our family and what each of our kids needs, which is completely different. So far, in my interactions with the new school, it feels really right (to us and to L) , I don't regret anything about it as of yet.
7.) L and I went blueberry picking a week or so ago and I LOVE this type of thing. and for the first time, I'm totally cool with going with just one kid as opposed to the whole family if it's not their thing. We split up so much more these days, and I find it's really more enjoyable when people are there cause they want to be. Being out there on the farm, seeing the views in the crisp morning and getting tons of fruit. 10 lbs of Maine Blueberries in my freezer to be exact. WE still love picking up our veggies and eggs at another local farm each week.
8.) I so meant to keep up with a photo a day on this blog, but it's just not gonna happen. My plan going forward is going to be more words maybe monthly and less photos (cause I just can't make the time to upload on a regular basis right now).
9.) My prepping for school this year included a lot of using what we already have around the house (which is a TON!). I small shopping trip for each kid (or online shipping). and then me just letting go. I think that's my new Mantra for this year, cause if a kid can start a fire or drive a car, he certainly can work out his own organization system.......Just Sayin'.
10.) B was invited to throw out the First pitch tonight at the Local Pro Baseball game. I'm so excited for her to get her moment of fame. She truly has an awesome life.
Looking Forward to:
Fall
Apple Picking and the Corn Maze
Hiking
Birthdays
Football Backyard parties with friends
Winter Travel
1.) We had an absolutely freaking fabulous summer. One of the best ones I can remember. I'm actually REALLY sad that it's over. Weddings and camping trips and camps and beach days. School and the stress of it is just hard for me, and my kids. It just is. It totally sucks the life out of me. The planning, the problem solving. I took a few months to breathe, take in the no rush out the door in the mornings and take a lot of time for me. Taking charge of my stress levels, exercising, eating right, spending lots of one on one time with each kid, soaking up all Maine has to offer (and it's been SOOOO HOT-that the schools without AC were let out early on the first day) and breathing. Breathing is good.
2.) School is starting (11th, 8th and 6th!) and with it, some changes for our family. No one is riding a school bus this year. T and L will be driving (T dropped off on the way to Lucas until he gets his license), and Bre takes a van for her special transportation. Day 1 and I didn't miss racing to the bus stop.
3.) This Post By Kelle Hampton:
Someday, years from now, when my kids are out of the house and no longer depend on the over-the-top school lunches I make them to soften the blow of change, I will wake up in the morning, light my candles, brew my coffee, plan my run, wait for their phone calls to tell me what life adventures they’re enjoying, what hurts are stretching them. And there will be nothing I can do but listen, tell them I’m proud of them, believe in them, check in on them later but carry on with my daily routine of writing, making cinnamon muffins for the bridge group, checking our Amazon account to see what weird kitchen gadgets Brett ordered, redecorating a room that doesn’t need it simply because changing my home makes me happy. My kids will need me to do these things because loving my one wild and precious life is what makes me strong for them when they need me. And I will realize, years of drastic haircuts later, that even though things look different and even though my heart will long for days when our tub was filled with dinosaur toys and our windows were smudged with finger prints….not much has changed.
4.) We are talking a lot as a family about how the next two years will be working toward a major transition for T, and what that could look like for all of us. Next year at this time he will be starting his SENIOR year.
5.) I've been cleaning out and making trips to Goodwill like it's my job (cause it's Mom's New Year, and I can't control how fast my kids are growing up, but I CAN declutter!). The other day I decided I hadn't been inside the store in several years and I usually love picking up something while thrift shopping. We ended up picking up a REALLY nice laptop for T ($150!) and an Epson Mini Photo printer for me ($10!). Who knew.
6.) L will be attending a private school for the first time this year for middle school which doesn't start until next week. (hence no photos) We came to this decision over a period of 2-3 years, and it wasn't an easy one. While we LOVE and support public schools, what our middle school has to offer in terms of programming and movement time didn't feel right for L at this time. And as we make all our parenting decisions, we have to go with what feels right for our family and what each of our kids needs, which is completely different. So far, in my interactions with the new school, it feels really right (to us and to L) , I don't regret anything about it as of yet.
7.) L and I went blueberry picking a week or so ago and I LOVE this type of thing. and for the first time, I'm totally cool with going with just one kid as opposed to the whole family if it's not their thing. We split up so much more these days, and I find it's really more enjoyable when people are there cause they want to be. Being out there on the farm, seeing the views in the crisp morning and getting tons of fruit. 10 lbs of Maine Blueberries in my freezer to be exact. WE still love picking up our veggies and eggs at another local farm each week.
8.) I so meant to keep up with a photo a day on this blog, but it's just not gonna happen. My plan going forward is going to be more words maybe monthly and less photos (cause I just can't make the time to upload on a regular basis right now).
9.) My prepping for school this year included a lot of using what we already have around the house (which is a TON!). I small shopping trip for each kid (or online shipping). and then me just letting go. I think that's my new Mantra for this year, cause if a kid can start a fire or drive a car, he certainly can work out his own organization system.......Just Sayin'.
10.) B was invited to throw out the First pitch tonight at the Local Pro Baseball game. I'm so excited for her to get her moment of fame. She truly has an awesome life.
Looking Forward to:
Fall
Apple Picking and the Corn Maze
Hiking
Birthdays
Football Backyard parties with friends
Winter Travel
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
6-20-18
Ode to the last full day of school......
These last few weeks have been the longest on record waiting for the last day to arrive.
The struggles:
Ripping them from their covers in the morning, making breakfast, nagging when it't time to go.
No, there were no special awards, no playoffs made, no honor roll every quarter, no birthday party invitations. There were the phone calls, the emails, the meetings. There was the time when the laptop got thrown in the trash can, when the teacher made fun , the homework got ripped up, and when the coach wouldn't play him as much as he thought he should.
There was the bad grade on a test, there was quitting, there was behavior and there was therapy. There was missed time from work, meeting after meeting, IEP's were ignored, communication was scarce. Teenagers just walking away as I'm trying to photo document that precious last day.
town politics. Did I say, town POLITICS!
The joys: Inclusion, concerts, games, excitement for learning something new, that awesome grade on a test, being a leader, a self-advocate, the chess club, the school business, Yoga and reading at night, new routines, breakthroughs, finding a new school, special Olympics, finding a village and independence.
What a roller coaster it is having big kids. Going from Mama bear protector to mad at them in the same sentence. I'm exhausted! Now onto the great backpack from locker clean out!
Hello summer.
Can't wait until next year. (Just keeping it real!)
These last few weeks have been the longest on record waiting for the last day to arrive.
The struggles:
Ripping them from their covers in the morning, making breakfast, nagging when it't time to go.
No, there were no special awards, no playoffs made, no honor roll every quarter, no birthday party invitations. There were the phone calls, the emails, the meetings. There was the time when the laptop got thrown in the trash can, when the teacher made fun , the homework got ripped up, and when the coach wouldn't play him as much as he thought he should.
There was the bad grade on a test, there was quitting, there was behavior and there was therapy. There was missed time from work, meeting after meeting, IEP's were ignored, communication was scarce. Teenagers just walking away as I'm trying to photo document that precious last day.
town politics. Did I say, town POLITICS!
The joys: Inclusion, concerts, games, excitement for learning something new, that awesome grade on a test, being a leader, a self-advocate, the chess club, the school business, Yoga and reading at night, new routines, breakthroughs, finding a new school, special Olympics, finding a village and independence.
What a roller coaster it is having big kids. Going from Mama bear protector to mad at them in the same sentence. I'm exhausted! Now onto the great backpack from locker clean out!
Hello summer.
Can't wait until next year. (Just keeping it real!)
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Sunday, May 27, 2018
5.27.18 A week in the life Sunday
Saturday, May 26, 2018
5.26.18 A week in our life Saturday
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