Girls Night Out. Just a little bit of school shopping, window shopping, a nice dinner, great talks and lots of laughing. Our best conversation? About the third children and the fact that they just do things way ahead of their age, not because their gifted in any way, but because it just never occurs to them that the can't do something. Love that. Lately with all the changes coming my way, I've felt restless. I've felt overwhelmed. I'm kind of taking it out on my house, feeling like it is a bottomless pit of projects that will never be finished. Of course they will never be finished! I'm glad I have my people to bring me back to ground. It feels good.
This pile of shoes is on our front porch right outside the door for one reason only....they all stink.
School supplies are bought...check. I LOVE new school supplies. I'll be the Mom with only High School kids still going out and buying new boxes of Crayola crayons in the stores when back to school time rolls around.
I SUCK at typing.
Lucas is taking his own showers now after a very short lesson one night from his big brother. Sometimes kids just listen better to kids. He turns the water on and off, adjusts the temperature, washes, does his hair and gets his own towel. Has to do this EVERY night, and then exclaim what a big boy he is.
Our Dog is definitely not deprived of love.
Games, Games and More Games. Everyone spends a lot of their free time playing board games. Favorites: Flippin Frogs, Cars Memory, Sneaky Squirrel, Chess, and Life. It is AWESOME that they are all playing together.
Brothers.......it's about constant physical contact, or calling each other a butt head your entire waking hours. I give up.
Last night at soccer I saw our friend and therapist who has a four (almost) year old girl with Down Syndrome. She signed her up for community services soccer. I wish I would have done that for Bre, but I just didn't have the courage. It's funny that when you are a special needs Mom, You have to have courage to sign your kids up for stuff that most parents wouldn't even think twice about.
I'm so grateful for my friend Heidi, who loves to scrapbook, watch my kids at a moments notice, and bring me back to ground when I feel like my nerves are flying away. She's just so good and calming like that. I can't wait to see all her dreams come true with her new home (even if it is a little further away :( )
I'm loving the slowness of the last two weeks. Time to sit on lawns and breathe the last of the fresh, warm summer air (sweatshirts in the mornings people!) I really feel like we getting so much time to move slowly into the next school year and I get to savor all that I want to savor of them until they fly off onto new adventures again.
I have never been more prepared for a new school year to start. Meetings are done and e-mails are all sent and returned. WE are READY!
I can't believe August is almost over.
I love how Lucas said he wants to bring his teacher brownies and a picture when he meets her on Tuesday. We finished the Picture of a speedboat today.
I read this letter (modified the names) out loud to the kids this morning after breakfast. I couldn't get though it without choking up. I've never cried in front of them like that before, but the message was just so moving to me, I knew they had to hear it.
Tomatoes, and corn and blueberries, every way, everyday.
End of Summer Days Party. We arrived late b/c of soccer, but had So, so , so much fun celebrating the end of summer vacation with our favorite friends. There were more kids there than I could count, as our all ran off and did there own thing, we got plenty of mingle time. I so love the right now.
This day was all about having a lemonade stand and our best friends over to play (Which was A lot for one mama to handle!). There was making a passing out flyers via bike that had to be done, making a sign (and then another one when the first one got lemonade spilled on it), deciding on a price....and then there was the lemonade, no powder allowed per one 10 year old. Freshly squeezed lemons only with simple syrup (looked up how to make it on the internet), water and ice and sliced lemons for a garnish. I have to hand it to him, he sat out there ALL day and given that it was a workday at the end of our quite cul-de-sac, there wasn't a whole lot of business. They were so happy with the twelve dollars they did get and Trevor is going to buy a water holder for his bike (for when he does his triathalon). He's also going to write down what to do next time (like start later in the day on a work-day instead of at noon, get a tent for the shade, make MORE lemonade and food to sell and put the lemonade in a dispenser first instead of a pitcher that spills). so proud of him.
The First big game of the season. The boys did awesome. It's funny, as I was sitting out there watching, it just dawned on me all of a sudden how big they are, and how much like real athletes they are playing (no longer like little boys). They actually keep score now and records are important. The field is so much bigger this year. They won and Trevor got a goal! One of three. It was so exciting for him since he has played mostly defense for two years. Super motivating for him. Just awesome.
Today.....we got to watch my neighbor and friend compete in her First Half Iron Man Race. I had been training with her for some of the runs, so I was so excited to go and watch (part of the run was literally less than a mile form our house). If you know Tina, you would known that she is just the humblest person ever. She just goes out and does these big races and just doesn't make a big deal out of it. The kids were all into it and decided to make a sign and all. She TOTALLY rocked it, coming in First in her age group for the swim, and finished in less than 6 hours overall. Amazing! I don't think she knows how many people this this household she has inspired. Trevor says he want to compete in a kids triathlon next year (yep they have them around here and they are quite do-able). Josh says he might even sign up for swim lessons so he can try one someday....and me, well, who knows what the future will bring. I think a sprint distance would be quite do-able if I could get over the swimming in the ocean part. Yuck. Anyway, it was just so much fun! We're so proud of You Tina, amazing!
Kindergarten Fall soccer Kick off day. 10 teams for the Kindergarten boys....wow! Lucas is on the Pterodactyls team this year (brown shirts). Go, Lucas Go!
We're trying to teach and promote independence with time management. There is nothing I hate worse than always having to hurry little people out the door. Some of them can take that burden off me. AS My friend Kisten Says, "today we have the phones and computers and apps to remind us everyday of the last time we farted.....so there is no excuse to miss anything, LOL!" She is right. Trevor has two alarms set on his iPod and calendar reminders, plus he just picked out this whiteboard calendar which he is going to keep up himself. I'm proud of him, he has made a lot of gains since he turned ten (really.) He's all of a sudden acting more mature and getting things that I am saying to him (rather than crying b/c I'm criticizing him.) Oh, he still cries when his five year old brother kicks him, but ten I have to say is awesome so far.....as long as you can get used to the CONSTANT questions. But they are great questions. Life is good when you are ten.
Fall is approaching, We can feel it in the air. The difference between the daytime and nighttime temperatures is like 30 degrees. The humidity has dropped. It's darker in the morning and getting darker earlier in the evening. Soccer practice is in full swing. I've noticed a few leaves changing and dropping onto the lawn.
Fall is always a time of renewal for me. Ever Since I was little, the cooler air brings a new energy. I've got lots of home organizing projects in the works and were trading in crazy days spent running around in our bathing suits at water parks to slow days spent at home. We have three bags of fresh school supplies ready to go. As much as I love summer, I'm ready for change. I'm excited about new beginnings.
Today, Lucas went on the principal's tour of the school (I can't believe only two weeks before school starts!) . By now, it's a school we know VERY well, both in people and in layout. And you have to know our principal (LOVE him!) to be prepared for a 45 minute photo slideshow (a man after my own heart) whenever he makes a presentation to parents. Lucas had a BLAST. He is ready.
I heard somewhere that mothering small children is like trying to keep water in your cupped hands. No matter how hard you try to keep it there, in your hands, it just keeps flowing away, sometimes slow (if you hold real tight), and sometimes it just flows away, so quickly you didn't even see it. I preparing myself for the big transition to being a Mom to three School age children. It's will be hard and sad and exciting all at the same time. The exciting thing about this is there really is never a dull moment, there are so many new and interesting things (and opportunities) that school brings..
Yes, Lucas, I feel like your still so little, but you have a HUGE personality and a twinkle in your eye (with some crazy dance moves to boot), and you are just going to shine. I'm going to leave little notes in your lunches, I'll listen to all your after school stories. I'll be the one waving a blowing kisses as the bus drives away in the morning. I'll be at every concert and sporting event holding back the tears of how proud I am of you (and how cute you are!) I will explore new ways to love you and be your Mom, new ways that involve letting go, but I'll always be there, cheering you on, and you will know that :) New ways that we all will be growing together. We're ready.
If I was do do one thing over as a Mom, it would be to let my children take the lead more often (I learned that the hard way with potty training). We push just enough to get them to try something, and sometimes It's successful and sometimes it isn't. When it isn't, I've learned to back way off, and that's a good thing. The training wheels came off Lucas' bike today, and then just as quickly, they went back on. I remember, For Trevor, he just ended up doing it, on his own time, no holding the seat and running behind he bike required (I think he was almost seven). But, if there is one thing that I have learned from my girl, waiting and celebrating each child's accomplishments, made in their own time is, well....worth celebrating. And who cares if the boy down the street is 4 and riding a two wheeler. My girl just got up on a bike WITH training wheels for the first time and she is almost eight. She FINALLY has the muscle strength to ride. and BOY does she ride. In her own time. Something to celebrate indeed.
How it's growing......
The pumpkin and cucumber plants are HUGE. We have corn (Trevor's corn). Two plants fell over and broke (never heard of corn falling over, but it's our first year trying it). We have lots of green tomatoes. WE replanted lettuce and beets for fall harvest. Thinking about planting a cover crop this year for winter. Had a bees nest in the corner (but got rid of it.....hate those things!) No matter how well it grows or doesn't grow....it just makes me happy:)
wake up, jump in each other's bed. Pretend to hug then tickle and punch each other.
Have breakfast, only sit at the table for two miliseconds
wrestle, fight over what song to play on the iPod.
Older brother teaches younger brother chess (only so he has someone to beat). Younger brother has awesome Pajamas.
Go upstairs after Mom asks us to get dressed at least 50 times and then threatens us.
Don't get dressed, play legos instead. Start to get dressed, but wrestle instead and then play more legos.
Wrestle some more until someone is crying. Tell Mom. Then stop crying and go back for more wrestling.
Finally get dressed and brush our teeth (it's only lunchtime!)
Eat lunch (but only sit down in seat for 45 seconds this time).
Older Brother tries to read a book (graphic novels only) in the chair and younger brother tries to annoy him. Younger brother tries to moon older brother. Older brother pushes younger brother and he cries
play the piano, older brother teaches little brother a little something, then pushes him out of the way.
Go outside and play some sort of sports, golf, or ride bikes or look for frogs. Come back in and bug Mom.
Keep ourselves occupied quietly until Mom is on the phone, then climb on her, play our songs REAL loud on the iPod speakers, cry, have a pillow fight and ask for snacks.
Get out game of Life, play until Mom nags us about something....Pillow Fight!
Wrestle until someone gets hurt, Cry, punch brother, tell Mom, then go back for more while still crying (repeat until bedtime) :)
We're back! And boy do we have stories to tell. This is our third year at this cabin. It is the best week of our year. WE thought about trying to rent a different cabin this year or next year, on a bigger lake just to mix it up, but we still ended up here, and probably will every summer (we already reserved next year) until we have our own place up here. As they say, It's a great place to mark the passage of time. It's where the kids childhood memories are being made, you know the things they will always remember....when they are 40 and say, "remember when we spent a week every summer at the cabin? That was the best and I want to do the same thing with my kids" ....LOVE:)
We can never get enough of this view......or the quiet.
Day 1 we hiked out to our private beach spot on the Forest Legacy Trail, this year Bee free! We were nervous, but Josh had the can of bee spray in his pocket ready to fire at a moments notice just in case. The whole thing was quite comical. No one will ever forget our bee adventure. Once we got to our spot, we discovered that someone forgot their bathing suit, but (Ahem, ALL) went swimming anyway:)
What is that dog doing?? (Trevor with Daddy's swim trunks on)
Day 2 We visited the Height of the land (awesome view of all the lakes) and Coos Canyon, we swam in a river and went cliff jumping.
My favorite was coming back from our day, the transition into evening sitting down by the lake in the Adirondack chairs with a good book (I finished two) or a magazine, a bowl of chex mix and a glass of wine. The kids would swim and fish. Trevor had an awesome loon call. WE got the boys both a hiking/fishing hat this year just like their dad's. I love that they wore them every day:)
Day 3, we took a drive up Route 16, because we have never been that way and we could explore part of the Dead River and Maybe, see a moose. I got this shot and totally overexposed it by accident near an old one room school house. Love their expressions.
And we did see a moose while we were driving there. Then we had our picnic lunch down by the river. We walked an ATV trail for a while and then headed back and fished in the River and threw sticks and rocks for the dog.
I love this shot....It's just so them. It's hard to believe it's been years since anyone was carried in a backpack on a hike. And we've hiked a lot. (15 miles on the AT when Trevor was 8 weeks old) I love that they picked up little bits and pieces of the outdoors to put into their "collection jars" we started this little tradition last year.
And I love this shot and they are so into Fishing when their Dad just isn't. We got them all ice cream in town on the way home., Trevor and I split an Oreo Hurricaine (like a blizzard), it was yummy:)
But if there is one thing their Dad IS into, it's campfires, kayak rides in the morning while Mommy was still sleeping (large coffee in hand) and cooking amazing meals. The campfires and BBQ's (mostly in the rain this time:(), scary stories, Smores, and stargazing were AMAZING!
They Helped cook dinner,... we had BBQ chicken, Salmon, hot dogs or steak complete with tomato caprese salad and corn EVERY night.
And they helped clean up :) No Dishwasher here:)
Thursday it rained. We drove an hour to see a movie. That just seemed wrong, to drive an hour to see a movie when we were supposed to be camping. We had lunch at a little Panini shop, which took FOREVER, but Luckily we had forever. The Movie Theater only took cash, but Luckily we had cash. WE saw Diary of A Whimpy Kid Dog Days. It was pretty funny. In the movie, the little brother has a blanket called "tinky". It was so old it was held together with "raisins and boogers". After the movie, I said, "Lucas....the blanket is kind of like your car seat" Lucas laughed and said, "ha, Ha, no Mom....there are NO raisins..." LOL!
Every Morning, I made Lucas , Trevor and I Hot Chocolate with Whipped Cream and they fought over who got to sit up at the TWO bar stools. Eventually, we found a makeshift third stool and Breanna would not eat her breakfast until her brothers were taken care of and in their respective seats. Love her....always caring about her brothers :) Josh made some amazing big breakfasts with BACON!
One of the Highlights of the whole trip was when we rented a boat for the day out on Mooselookmeguntic lake. Our First boat had water in the gas line, so we had to get towed back to shore. We ended up with a pontoon boat which we liked better anyway. The kids each took a turn "driving" the boat which they LOVED.
After several attempts, we found our own private beach for the day. It's totally been a dream of mine to relive this childhood memory when we used to do this EVERYDAY that we were camping. We swam, we had our picnic lunch, we changed in and out of our bathing suits without seeing another soul. I even brought a book. Just awesome.
Love this shot....Since I'm never in pictures. Just swum in hair and all.
Saturday, we golfed. Believe it or not, there was a VERY remote nine hole Par three where you left a donation in a barrel in order to play. And Yes, the very routy nine- some that arrived with two thirty packs of Coors light, we let them play through.
Bre even played some.
And we got this shot, while waiting for some other guys to play through. Just might be the Christmas card this year. Just in Case you were wondering about my hat. I've always wanted a farmer hat, and Josh bought me one this year. And Yes, those ARE falling leaves!
If you asked the boys what their favorite part was, they would say the Kayaking (and not writing all their memories down in their journals like I wanted them to do.) Or discovering how to play the Game of Life. (Cabin comes complete with games!) But Kayaking was what they are asking to do every second of the day when we are not our on an adventure. This year for the first time we were able to just say "go!" and let them do it on their own.
They often boated their way over to the dock and swam, even when temperatures weren't warm enough for the adults to swim.
If you asked Bre what her favorite part was, she would say, getting a turn at golf, sleeping in the same room with the "boys" in the bunkhouse or watching "the boys" (they are pretty fun to watch). Plus this Girl can Dance Party to Party Rock it like it's nobody's business. I'm so glad I have someone to teach me the value of a good Dance Party. Bre likes (tolerates) adventure, but it's hard for her being away from home. Most of the time, she just rolled with it, however. She craves her routine and sometimes we just had to cave and let her have her favorite i Pad break.
And at night,she would say she was tired and ask to go to bed (EARLY). It's just hard to hold it all together when you are out of routine and away from home. We were happy that she knew enough to take care of herself in this way (and tell us what she needed!). REAL progress.
As for me, my favorite was the sunset cruise we took every night on the pond, evenings by the campfire, eating outside as much as possible, and watching the stars (AMAZING!) laying on the dock that last night. The only thing to think about was being together and what our next adventure and our meal was going to be.
Vacation well done. Until next year.....We'll miss you Hackney Cabin.
And coming home? I do so love coming home, yes. To moving all our furniture back, killing the yellow jackets that decided to make a nest in the front walkway, weeding the garden, mowing the lawn, unpacking the car, LAUNDRY, organizing and finding out about more school changes for next year (UGH!), work .........and Blogging, yep, I'll get to that. When I come down from the cloud nine that this vacation put me on:)
We are leaving tomorrow to spend or most favorite totally unplugged family time in the world up in Rangely, ME. I have to admit this week has totally been crazy trying to move everything out of our downstairs to get ready for our floor refinishing, get everything wrapped up at work (I hate leaving things unfinished), getting Trevor to his soccer tournament and running a Kindergarten Popsicle social (while dealing with rain and cancellation dates etc!!!) Packing, grocery shopping, laundry, lists.lists, lists .....etc...etc.... Phew! See you in a week! In the meantime, I'll leave you with a little dance party:) Enjoy!
Lately, the air has been so thick with fog and sea smoke and humidity that it feels like it's been raining without the rain. we did get a little rain last night and luckily it ended in time for the Annual Lobster classic soccer tournament. Trevor is so excited about the team this year as his 3 best friends are on the team as well as many other kids he played with last year. The coach is just fantastic (and organized!) What a difference a year makes. In the first game, they are already passing, playing as a team, having fun, and, looking great. It helps that Trevor has played Lacrosse all summer as he is in good running shape. Stay tuned, for MANY, MANY more soccer photos to come this year (as soon as I get a zoom lens!) Way to Go Trevor!
The other day....when I was picking Trevor up at soccer camp, a total stranger came up to me and asked if Breanna was my daughter. I said yes and she said that Breanna used to wave at her everyday from the bus window when she put her boys on the bus. She said that she looked forward to that wave and smile everyday as just a "little ray of sunshine" that brightened up her day. Wow, Awesome! Well, Here she is reading to horse and bunny. She takes great pride in caring for her "animals" A little ray of sunshine, she is indeed :)
Thursday we spent some time in the evening (past bedtime....that's how our week has gone.) Picking out a whole list of school supplies for the backpack program for Project Grace which will help kids in need in our own town. I'm so glad we got to contribute this year and the kids even used a little bit of their own money (I'm proud of them.). Given all the blessing that we have, it's the least we can do. Finding time for community service as a family, it's a BIG goal of mine this school year and well, this is a small start :)
Some of the best memories of my life are my days spent with Grandma.....
baking, making, reading, scrapbooking, watching early morning cartoons. Eating Grandma's pancakes with real butter and maple syrup, eating her pot roast from the squeaky chairs. Looking at old photos. Playing "office". Getting to sleep on the pull out bed. Playing with the elephants, trying on her jewelry, playing in her backyard and garden. Planning my wedding and making my guestbook. She's a kind, generous and patient soul, always giving you food and things to take home:). She's the woman who can talk to anyone in the grocery store check out line. She's a brilliant artist and painter. She reads 5 books a week (and makes a little pencil mark in the back of the library ones so she knows which one's she's already read.) She listens. Her glass is always half full. Happy Birthday Grandma, You are my inspiration. Below is your gift.....Trevor learned it just for you ( he's only been playing for seven months, so it's just a little part of it.) Hope your day is a special as you are!
I can't seem to wrap my head around the fact that Fall soccer started last night, or the fact that we have our first tournament this weekend, or the fact that we are leaving for the Hackney Cabin this weekend for a week (our late summer trip!) and after that....getting ready for school and my baby going to Kindergarten. Not too long ago, it all seemed so far away, now it's just so close I tell you. Too much, too fast, I tell you.
How the kids want to try every sport they watch from swimming, to track and field, badminton, ping pong.
Thinking that they will be 14, 11, and 9 at the next summer olympics Oh, My!
Michael Phelps, and 22 medals...so happy for him, and somehow I don't think coming in 4th in the olympics in any race is a disappointment.
Womens' beach volleyball.
Usain Bolt and the men's 100m dash
Women's gymnastics.
Missy Franklin, Rebecca Soni, and Allison Schmitt in Women's swimming, just awesome
Water polo
Synchronized diving.
the men's 10 K finish
The marathons and triathalons
having it on, and sharing it as a family. Answering tons of questions from the little people around here
and I love that they love it too......
I've always wanted to go picking (it's on my list for next year), but I've been keeping my eyes peeled and asking around at out local grocery store and farm stand as to when these babies would be available. Well today, I just happened to be in the grocery store just to pick up a few things and I overheard one of the employees talking about "bringing out some more of the local blueberries." I asked and there they were.....I could not contain my these only come around once a year excitement thinking about the jam, the pie, the pancakes and the eating and I bought 4 quarts. After dinner I made jam and pie (nothing relieves a stress full day of being with three overtired, bickering kids than making jam and pie) and I have 1.5 quarts left for pancakes and eating. The pie was Martha Stewart's recipie. Can't wait to eat it warm (I always have to have my pie warm) with melted vanilla ice cream over the top. Once a year heaven.
