31 May

It's amazing the changes you can make with just a little bit of time and a little bit of money. It's like a whole new yard. Now, I have every plant I ever dreamed of having right in my very own yard. Azelias, a vegetable garden, strawberries, raspberries, forsythias, a couple of burning bushes and a lilac. Just Awesome:)

30 May

And just like that........summer is here!

29 May

Today, it was warm and beautiful. After some yard work, we piled in the van to cross the first thing off our summer fun list.....Mini Golf! Everyone got at least one hole in one, and little Lucas was so excited to do it by himself. It was so fun:)

28 May

You and Number 60, you have been friends since you were babies. Now you are on opposite teams:(, slashing and checking each other. Honestly today, I sat with the opposite team b/c I grew up in the town next to them and I know more of them than I do people from my own town (sad). You had an AWESOME game today. You got your first goal, and you played goalie. It was so fun to watch!

27 May

{Insert picture of Bre and teachers here.}

Thank you Mrs. C, Mrs. S, and Mrs. G....fore believing in me. Kindergarten is great, I love it:)

Love, Bre

26 May

Sometimes, even when you have been a little over scheduled and REALLY need a day at home to catch up on chores, you have to accept an invitation to play outside with a friend anyway. Just like old times, before our kids kept us so busy (or we had so many kids!) we used to do this once a week. I don't think we'll ever forget the bologna sandwich , Kraft Mac and cheese, playing on swing set in the backyard and sandbox days spent at the Days' house. These two, being both third children are the lowest maintenance of all when they are together (and she calls him her "boyfriend"). They are independent, quiet and carefree and their choice drink...... "lemon water". We've both come around full circle to a good place, and the same place now with our kids. This leaves us LOTS of girltime to catch up and we need to do this WAY more often.

25 May

And just when I was starting to get a little down about Down Syndrome (the highs are high, but the lows are lows my friends), this little gem shows up in Breanna's bag. Each classmate made a page for a book about what they like about the others, and each classmate received their own book. I didn't know anything about it. Bre and I looked at it together. This book will be one of the things that we keep forever and that we take out anytime we start to get down about "friends". I'm sure of it (and I'm so thankful for that awesome teacher of hers!).

24 May

Tuesdays are our days.

I know I only have just over a year left of days like these until you move on to a new phase (and so will I!). We go to swimming lessons then the library and grocery shopping (where your behavior is usually, well, not the best). We come home, put it all away and then we have lunch. Then we read together or do crafts, coloring or gardening. I got you your very own scrapbooking "box" of some of my old (and new) supplies. You have your own homemade journal with a "lock". I think you are the most excited about the "taper" these days. I'm excited to teach you about all the things I love. I heart Tuesdays.

23 May

And Today......

More rain. Happy Monday:)

22 May

After many, many months (and a little bribing), THIS boy, finally got his hair ever so slightly trimmed.

21 May

Today......

we saw the sun for the first time in 8 days, and even though it was only warm for a very short time, it sure felt good. It gave us smiles and energy, for planting, finishing the garden and for some spring cleaning around here!

20 May

lately.....you have been coming home from school with your hair in a ponytail. Even though you won't let me touch your hair, I'm glad you are letting someone put it into a cute style:)

19 May

Today is just jam packed, I mean 8Am-5pm Full and I'm not even working. Dentist, volunteering in two classrooms, a haircut, and a Speech therapy evaluation. I pulled this photo off my camera and had to laugh, I almost forgot about it. This is so THEM right now. Doing what they need to do, but fighting all the way (and the girl is smart, she knows to stay out of it)........boys.

LOVE, LOVE this post

I think about this all the time, especially as time goes by. You think it will easier, but it never does.

18 May

It has been raining here for five days straight with no end in sight. ??I mean it's May 18th and we're still running our pellet stove.Every time we have a rotten spring after a LONG winter, It makes me want to move....somewhere south where it is sunny and warm all the time. I always wonder what that would be like. Then summer eventually comes here and then fall and well, then I don't want to leave. And Yes, that is a basketball hoop in my living room:)

17 May

Your room, right now. Sweet and girly. You have your pink, your flowers, your clothes, your stuffed animal fishes and your favorite Thomas and Cars books. You have the rocking chair and the picture that I used to have in my room as a child. You have the cradle that Pop-pop made for your animals and dolls. You have the quilt that Nanny made tucked away in your drawer. Daddy made the dresser and the headboard and Gampa made the armoire with their own hands. You have a QUEEN size bed (*which we use for guests when they come). You don't play much in here except at night when you are SUPPOSED to be going to bed. Sweet dreams my princess:)

Inspiration for today.....

Loved this post and this one. Enjoy!

16 May

You were so excited to plant your very own pumpkins and Watermelons. I am excited too b/c the all the seeds are planted. We ordered some raspberry and strawberry plants online and can't WAIT to put those in the ground as well as the tomatoes. WE can't wait to see what this next season of "growing" brings.

15 May

I went to my first game yesterday, two games actually. It was cold and damp..... we needed winter coats! It is exciting, and action packed (all the better to take about 300 photos!), however, it is tough seeing kids getting hurt at this age. You love it and we love you number 17!

14 May

Just Doing a little weekend Yard Work.

Education

Great post about Education and Special needs kids here.

13 May

Your room. Right now.

We'll be loving this Craigslist furniture for years to come. There's pencil and crayon writing and spackling on the walls, Star wars and Sports stuff, your favorite books, toys and your names on the wall. Trevor has a secret cubby up in his bed where he keeps his locked journal, flashlight and some books. He makes his top bunk every day because he likes his bed to be a certain way. Lucas has a box where he keeps his "stuff". You guys don't play in here a whole lot, si it doesn't get real messy. You usually always remember to pick up your clothes and put them in the laundry right across the hall. You listen to indigo dreams every night before you go to sleep (the Caterpillar Story). I'm happy that you don't mind sharing (it's one thing you don't fight over these days). I remember my brothers having a line of tape down the center of their room. Lucas to bed at 6:30 or 7, Trevor 8-8:30. Sweet Dreams, my loves.

12 May

The "smooshy" pants.

You, my going on nine year old boy love these pants. These are Star Warm- up pants from Wal-mart. These are the ONLY pants you will wear (and even would choose them over shorts unless it's REALLY hot out), with the exception of jeans to Church every Sunday. You have one pair in every color (and even several pairs of the same color). Every Fall, I rush in to wal-mart, hoping they have these Pants and at least several pairs in your size (next year I think I'm going to buy one in each size) I'm guessing they will be up to your knees before you will stop wearing them. Boys just don't care about style like that, and I like it. You just need to be comfortable. All the little things I just love about you:)

***Page Inspired By Ali-----who is just so darn inspiring!

11 May

Seriously, where has the time gone?

10 May

Around Here:

• Mike Mulligan, Harry Potter, Thomas the Train, Cars and Calvin and Hobbes are the books of choice
• We have a little area set up behind the couch for playing. They just won't play in the toy room for some reason
• This little 4 year old boy is giving us many new and exciting behavior challenges right now, there is lots of loudness, rudeness, and trying the run the showness involved which leads to much crying and many timeouts. We are drained by bedtime.
• We are gearing up and excited to start some new outdoor projects, and no it's not really warm enough for shorts yet.

Thinking

About this little old blog and how much it means to me. For a while now, I've been thinking about online stuff and once it's out there, you can't take it back. This little old piece of cyberspace is so important to me, for my memories, for writing about the challenges and heartache I face, and for helping me find the joy in my life. I haven't done it yet, but I'm thinking about making this space private. Don't worry, friends and family, you will still have access. I just don't think I could handle being judged (or worse) for something I write here, it's such an outlet for me at times. I'm also pretty sure I will deactivate my facebook account, just for the plain fact that I never have the time to go on there (even though I think it's a great way to connect with people). PLEASE, leave a comment and let me know how you feel about this. I have loved having wonderfully supportive readers follow along with Our Life. I haven't made my decision yet, but please send me an e-mail (jparent2@gmail.com) with your e-mail address if you still want access, if I do decide that going private is the right thing to do. Thanks so much for reading and being here.

Cindy

9 May

Before school. LOVE this.

8 May

Today.

Hugs, snuggles, homemeade cards. A little girl and boy who ran their first race. Being out there in the sunshine. a Homemade brunch (complete with menu) and fresh strawberries cut just for me by my oldest boy. A trip to the park, a BBQ dinner, going out for ice cream. The BEST Mother's Day ever:)

and THIS letter made me cry. click here.

Because Some things are worth repeating.....

To My Mom......

For making it look easy, when it definitely wasn't---- Happy Mothers Day!

Thank you Mom

For Letting me have the bedroom with the bathroom

For taking me to the beach all summer and letting me have the friends I wanted to have

For letting me play in a pile of dirt, make forts in the woods and taking me camping

For taking me to visit my grandparents often

For staying with me at night "for just a few more minutes"

For making me "bring in wood" when I was fighting with my brothers

for driving me to all my HS activities (30 mins away)

For freezing your butt off to watch me in all those Marching Band Shows

For taking me away on a roadtrip when I was depressed about breaking up with my first boyfriend

For taking me to your exercise classes

For moving me and all my "stuff" into college and for crying on the day I left

For giving me the Mustang

For helping me pick out the perfect wedding dress

for waiting outside the hospital room into the middle of the night until Trevor was born

For cleaning my tile floor on your hands and knees when I was taking care of my first baby

For doing the laundry and chores when you are visiting and never complaining about having to sleep on a blow up bed

For helping me with the whole "cry it out" issue, and standing by me as I worked out those new Motherhood bugs

For buying cribs and toys so we wouldn't have to bring much when we visited

For taking care of the kids when I was in the hospital, or sick, when Breanna was having heart surgery or just so I could get away

For listening and crying with me through heartache and pain

For telling me that I'm a good Mom when I most needed to hear it

For believing in me.

7 May

weekends are:

For hanging out with friends

For blowing bubbles

For time with family

For Dance classes.

For Barbequeing

For playing sports

For being silly

For having fun.

Good times.

6 May

at the end of a (school) day....

• You and your friend race to get to the tree off the bus, and then climb. Today you say your favorite spot in the tree is 4 branches up because you have a footrest and you can lean back. Then you say, "this is the best tree in the whole neighborhood."
• 2 sticks+2 boys+dirt=fun with some quarreling in between (no toys needed)
• The girl wants to race home to follow her routine and watch her favorite Tv show Thomas the Train complete with apple juice and cheese stick.

5 May

Thursday Random.

If I had one wish right now, I would be for warmer weather. I miss throwing on a pair of capri pants, shorts and sandals. We're all dreaming of summer outdoor and beach days around here. These drizzily, dreary cold days will hopefully be coming to an end soon. As for me, I'm struggling to figure out how to divide my time and priorities right now. There are so many opportunities for me to get involved in all the things I'm passionate about. There's work (I picked up an extra 4 hrs/week and I'm loving the new projects I have been taking on), School (two PTA"s and a special needs PTO), the Maine Down Syndrome network, church, and of course my hobbies. Wow, that's a lot. I want to just throw myself in, but I have a fear of becoming overwhelmed, over-scheduled. So for now, I'm happy for a little piece of me to be involved in each thing, and I try to keep "I'm too busy" out of the equation (I hate it when I find myself saying that, it's about priorities). Here I am, taking Bre out to the bus stop in my PJS (which is pretty much a daily occurance)-Lucas thought it would be fun to play with my camera in the car while I waited with Bre. I'm kind of glad he did. This is Life.

P.S. Read this. and this (yes, I have found that Friend-Thank you!)Love it.

4 May

One day in May......

There are so many little everyday moments of childhood that I want to pause, savor and remember. Nine years ago, I was patiently waiting to become a mother, and I could not at all have imagined where this parenting journey would take me. It requires energy, hard work, finesse, time, a sense of humor and most of all flexibility. Each child, requires something from me that is slightly different. Just when I think I've got it all figured out, things change. Most of all, I have learned so much about letting go. All my life, I have dreamed about what my life would look like, getting married and having babies. Sometimes things have turned out exactly as planned, but most of the time, they haven't. What comes next, though, the next phase of this life, I have not dreamed about, and their childhoods are passing by in a blink of an eye. The kids are at the point now, where they are no longer babies. Ever so quickly they are moving away from me and finding their own. Their lives are not mine to keep, but to observe, cherish and offer support and love. No one knows how things will turn out, or what kind of people they will turn out to be. For now, they are loving, kind people who I enjoy spending my time with and who I am proud to know. They make my life so interesting. On this parenting journey there is no endpoint, just an ever-changing, ever-evolving adventure along a path that is uniquely mine. As a mother , I know that am a work in progress and I am happily waiting for where this adventure might take me next:)

3 May

LOVE this shot, it's just so her. Don't worry Bre, no one is going to come near your ice cream!

2 May

Today......

much too busy with a 10 hr day at work and school and homework and early dinner and Lacrosse practice. Yesterday, there was some ice cream to be eaten and some fun on the playground to be had:) They could have played there all day.

1 May

My weekend.

I spent the weekend at the Creaking Keeepsakes Scrapbooking convention in New Hampshire with my friend Heidi. It just gets better every year. We stayed right at the hotel where the convention was being held this year, took classes, shopped, ate great food, had great talks, and cropped the nights away. Here are a couple of pages I completed (yes, I'm still working on a baby album for my 6 1/2 year old), I so LOVE this hobby. I'm coming home, relaxed and inspired. I can't wait for next year!