31 March

a nightly ritual.

I can't beat him. ever.

30 March

Look who is reading to her little brother now.....He must have sat here, listening to her read out loud for at least 30 minutes, understading every word( I asked him.)

LOVE THIS.

29 March

Right now.....anything to do with getting dressed or undressed is a struggle. Things are your way, or the highway buddy. Luckily, while I'm pulling my hair out, I can still see how cute you are.

Angel

Life is not fair. Our Friend Maddie (13 year old girl with Down Syndrome) passed away last evening, after her long fight against Leukemia. Our hearts are heavy, please pray that her Mom, Dad and two younger brothers find a way to find peace through their memories and the light and inspiration that Maddie brought to us all.

28 March

Our life. Right now.

27 March

Some things sound like Fun on paper. Our First trip to the Farm to try out Maine Maple Sunday (something I've wanted to do for years). A blueberry pancake and sausage breakfast, with FRESHER than fresh maple syrup, and getting to see how it's made and bringing some home....that's pretty cool too. BUT, it was 28 degrees and windy, so a breakfast outside wasn't what one little girl had in mind. Next year, minimum 50 degrees, then it will be fun.

26 March

Today.

The first 5K race of the year, a fundraiser for the primary school PTA. It was cool b/c we knew so many people there (and so did the kids!) It was cold and windy. It was uphill, cold and windy. It was uphill, cold and windy pushing 70 lbs of kids in a stroller (and J still kicked my butt!). Luckily, T could stay and play on the playground after he ran the kids fun run, while we ran the race, it was low key like that. Fun.

25 March

They played candyland, they played kitchen, they danced and practiced for their music concert, they ate snacks, they wrote their names on the window, they giggled, they scrapbooked. A and B....they are about a foot apart. I realize there may not always be a day where Bre has lots of "typical" friends, it's just reality. But for now, I'm soaking it all in, I LOVE these girls.

24 March

If March was a lamb or a lion, today was an in between. We had a softly spitting snow all day long that was beautiful (for December) and it almost looked from the inside like we were living in a snow globe. On the other hand, I have VERY good news on the school front. This girl has gained her Rock star status back and then some. I feel like we have clawed our way out of a big black hole that was school and now we are completely immersed in light. After making a few small changes, her behavior issues are gone. She is doing EVERYTHING the other kids are doing. I got to witness her in gym class today, and honestly unless you looked closely, you would have never known that she has Down syndrome. Her extra helper was waiting completely outside the room and Bre was right in there doing everything. I've always struggled with knowing that I'm doing enough to know that Bre is the best she can be. Well today, my friends, I saw it and I knew that Bre IS the best she can be. Life is good.

23 March

now, we are cooking with propane....and we LOVE it!

today

We just found out that one of our friends, a 13 year old girl with Down Syndrome will most likely not survive her cancer. We are praying and our hearts are breaking. Life is just not fair....

22 March

The wolf.

11 Days ago.....This happened in a far away country called Japan. No warning, and MANY lives were lost. I feel lucky to be so far away from it all, but also so aware of the wolf knocking at my own door. Aware, that in one split second, one could lose everything. Getting older is hard, because that awareness of losing everything just builds and builds as we build more success into our lives and our families grow. We are more likely to be close to someone who tragedy has struck. Three people who I am close to are fighting for their lives battling cancer right now. Another one lost a husband in a tragic car accident a few years ago. Getting older and having children, it makes me so aware of that wolf, and I'm going to do my best to keep him out there where he belongs. I'll so forever be thankful for this wonderful, ordinary day. Ordinary is good.

21 March

a really fun surprise visit yesterday. Luckily Grampa knows how to play the turtle game, Candyland, race cars, lacrosse and street hockey!

20 March

all outfitted, signed up and ready to go (as soon as the snow melts) . The warning on the helmet says : WARNING: lacrosse is a dangerous sport that can cause serious head and neck injuries and even death. But, I guess, it is as dangerous as skiing, hockey, football or riding in a car. I'm sure my nerves will calm down a bit when I see how much he loves playing, and this boy is super excited to learn how to play.

19 March

yesterday it hit 60 degrees. There were warm breezes (which made for kind of a sandstorm with all the sand they use to treat the roads around here.) Jackets were shed and work and play was moved outside. Today, we woke up to snow falling.....Only in Maine.

18 March

I love that you are starting to write down and "journal" what's important to you right now.......

17 March

Right now.....

I'm loving taking in these peaceful moments knowing that he's not too old or too cool to play matchbox cars with his little brother. Love you boy.

16 March

Today..... (journal inspiration here.)

feeling grateful that all my sick days have not fallen on important days and that I have an amazing husband who can totally hold down the fort on his own.

enjoying watching these two play moon sand together

remembering that I only have a year left until I'm registering this one for Kindergarten.

anticipating taking with all the new parents and reconnecting with some of my preschool parent friends tonight at the Special Ed welcome meeting.

planning on what to do with a very warm weather Friday this week and some spring cleaning

this weekend.

Thinking....about the people of Japan and how my Dad was going to be travelling there recently but didn't.

hoping on some special time with my boy this weekend helping him pick out his lacrosse equipment. He has been reading every book he can get his hands on about the sport.

appreciating an amazing husband who has done way more than his share on all these sick days and being able to watch IDOL together after the kids go to bed tonight.

15 March

Around here, we're trying to contain the amount of snacking that goes on so kids will eat their meals at mealtime. What do you think our success rate has been at this?.....Seriously?

14 March

Milestones:

Your first real playdate with a Kindergarten friend yesterday. This friend is kind and gentle And helps you do things for yourself. An amazing girl with an amazing family. Mommy is so happy for you Bre.

My first iPAD! That's right our KINDERGARTENER has an iPad. She's going to be using it for a communication device at school (and at least she'll look cool doing it vs. having one of the devices from years ago!) Man, technology is an amazing thing.

13 March

Love this......

12 March

Dear Lucas,

You were so cute how you knew it was your birthday the moment your eyes popped open in the morning. I LOVE celebrating birthdays. I feel so lucky to be able to celebrate birthdays. I hope you had fun at your party today. We had planned on making a really fun cake (thanks to your daddy- the cake boss), decorating with everything you love (construction!) and inviting everyone you love. I remember like it was yesterday, the day you were born. We knew you were coming on that day, it was a Monday and we drove to the hospital early in the morning. We didn't know if you were a boy or a girl, but we were ready to meet you. The moment you were born, you grabbed a hold of our hearts. You have always been so intense and full of life. You are going places boy. Happy Birthday to my handsome, smiley, much-loved boy.

Mommy

11 March

Today (photo taken with the iPod)......

a special French Toast Dad and Son breakfast at school (LOVE that!).

and Getting ready for a very special birthday party tomorrow.

Feeling sentimental about my baby turning 4, in just six short months he will be the same age that Trevor was when he was born, yet he feels so much younger to me that that. I wonder where the years have gone, yet there are was so much life and joy packed into them. Time is quickly flowing away, like water in a stream carrying my youth and their childhoods. I find myself looking back a lot at this little old blog, wondering how it could have gone by so fast.

10 March

Today when I was volunteering in Trevor's classroom, one of the boys came up to me and said, "Your house is about to get a whole lot louder.......we got our recorders today." (little does he know, our house can't get much louder.)

9 March

On food:

a while back I was thinking that I wished I had some details of our daily life before kids written down somewhere. What we did, what we ate. All I remember was coming home from work everyday and napping on the couch watching Oprah until J got home. Then we went running and probably made dinner and watched our favorite shows or read.

Now, there is no particular schedule to any given day. Chaotic but wonderful all at the same time. I'm glad I'm one of the people God picked for whose life to be, well......full. Our winter menu includes: My Mom's meatloaf, beef stew or roast, chicken parm., pesto or piccatta, tacos, fish sandwiches, pizza, and sometimes burgers with a side of raw veggies and dip, fruit or Caesar salad. Milk for the kids, and ice tea for me and water or wine for J. Our summer menu includes something grilled and a fresh salad with tomatoes and basil or just fresh raw veggies from the garden cut up and seasoned, corn and watermelon or ice cream. Can't wait for a new season of eating.......

8 March

For the first time in 11 years, we have a brand new bed (and a very funny story about the delivery).....a Bob-o-pedic (and the traditional daily laundry pile on top). I had to spend quite a few hours over the weekend resting here, and I think I LOVE it. Its a little firmer than I'm used to compared to our very OLD bed, but I'm waking up so refreshed and pain free! Love it!

7 March

I think I have a case of the Mondays....

I'm still here.

I was away for the weekend and now recovering from a bad cold virus/flu. It's getting better, but I won't be able to post again until I clean up my life (and house!), do my laundry, have another meeting about school stuff, and finish my grocery list.....I'm hoping tomorrow:) I WAS doing so well at those daily posts, wasn't I?!?!

6 March

Us. Right now.

heading home.

and then a sick day spent in bed watching HGTV for me.

5 March

attended this conference today........

a ton of great information every parent needs

two wonderful inspiring women both personally and professionally

and the take home message " Always give them a soft place to land."

I HOPE our home is just that:)

4 March

We're spending the weekend at Gammies house, relaxing by the fire, eating yummy waffles, playing legos, and watching some movies:)

inspiring

In 2000 when my husband had an accident in our home, was in a coma for 3 months, and died 7 months later … so many people, some of whom I knew, and many who I did not know at all, came forward to lend a helping hand to my daughter, then 7 years old. The kindnesses shown to us were so varied. Some gave of their time — a meal, helped us financially, picked my daughter up at school when I was at the hospital, took turns sitting with my husband at the hospital if I couldn’t be there, held his hand, talked to him while he slept for 3 months, left little gift bags of goodies for my little girl at our front door just to brighten her day…

I knew then that should we survive our difficulties, financially and emotionally, that I would never live one day of my life without returing the kindness … to someone … friend, family, or even a stranger.

And so … for more than 10 years now … I have incorporated into each day of my life an act of kindness, giving of myself, my time, a kind deed, a listening ear, a pot of chicken soup if someone is ill, Christmas gifts left on a porch for a family that had a rough financial time, a phone call to someone who is truly alone, sad, troubled, buying lunch for the homeless man who lived on the bus stop bench in our town … etc. etc. … the list goes on and on.

For me there is no better feeling than giving of myself, regardless of how wonderful – or less than perfect – my own day may be. I smile when I look back on more than 10 years of daily acts of kindness, and am so glad that I made this promise to myself … to reach out to someone each day … and to cultivate my own good life. And also for providing my daugter an example – by my actions – of what it truly means to give of yourself, no matter how big or small the kindness may be.

I know that my husband smiles down us us from his place in heaven as he watches us live our lives each day … with appreciation for our own blessings as well as a conscious choice to reach out to one person each day. If i do the math quickly, even I am amazed to know that 10 years = 3650 days, which is equal to the number of times I have sent a little bit of kindness in the direction of another person.

To me … THIS is what living a good life is all about.

comment: Written by Michelle

Becky Higgins Blog

3 March

The end of a day......

• a day that started with a run
• a morning where we we didn't get the breakfast dishes done until lunchtime.
• a day where we had a meeting at the school for TWO hours, it was hardest so far, and a few silent tears were shed.
• a day where our neighbor kindly watched Lucas all morning and we got back more than an hour late (sorry!)
• an afternoon spent on the phone, e-mailing and then reading to one patient little three year old.
• an afternoon spent with a new therapist who I'm REALLY going to like.
• a day where A Mom I have only met a few times called and said that her daughter was "dying for a play date with Breanna" we scheduled it and honestly that one call cancelled out ALL the bad stuff from this morning, I'm walking on clouds.
• an afternoon call from a friend which resulted in a coffee date being added to the calendar:)
• an evening spent sending more e-mails, making lunches, going through school papers, and paying bills
• an evening spent coercing little kids to do what needs to be done and then finally getting in bed.
• an evening spent packing and doing laundry and looking forward to some time spent at Gammie and Grampa's house this weekend.
• an evening to think and reflect and KNOW how really blessed I am that I get to do ALL of it (the good and the bad).

2 March

Today.....

I worked. It was busy and stressful.

This boy helped his daddy put together a shelf for our games. I was so proud of his hammering ability (and I think he was proud too!)

I saw this quote:

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow." ~Mary Anne Radmacher

and I'm praying for courage (and luck) tomorrow as we go into a very important meeting. I hope things get better soon and we can go back to living life normally without these knots in our stomachs.

1 March

In like a lion.....

• Just a regular Tuesday (and regular is good), swimming lessons, working on to-do lists, watering the plants, folding 6 loads of laundry, library stops, fighting battles with liittle children (lots of battles), grocery shopping.
• spent time on the phone, e-mailing and in a meeting about Bre today and another meeting Thursday.....it has been a full time job lately.
• I had to use my ice spikes for the run today.
• Lucas asked the librarian for some "extruction" books today at the library (cute!)
• I can't wait for all this snow to melt and Spring weather to arrive
• we rode our bikes down to the bus stop (but had to walk them through the slushy spots)
• I beat Trevor in chess once.