30 April

Inspiring Links......Goodbye April showers edition.

Self Hugs.  and pretty much anything else he writes.....can be put to good use in improving ones life and attitude.
What if You didn't need Money or attention?
25 Things that People with Type A Personalities Do 
Real Friends
The Math Behind the Movies
Brilliant Test Answers
Report Card changes
This is 39
Advocacy Letter
Steep Learning Curve
Funny Texts Between Children and Parents
30 things to Start Doing For Yourself
Good stuff going on in Boulder
Maine Lacrosse High School Preview
11 Things I wish Every Parent Knew
Video of World's Toughest Job
Happy Secret to Better Work
How Has Having a Child With Special Needs Changed Me

29 April

Right Now......saying hello and saying goodbye.

Saying goodbye to 5 point harness car seats (so sad!!).  Our "good one" was sold via craigslist this morning.  Saying hello to 3 kids that can climb in the car and buckle themselves in their boosters.....and saying hello to a soon to be front seat rider (12+).

Saying goodbye to snow and winter and saying hello to riding scooters to the bus stop and riding our bikes to school (even though it's still cold!).

Saying hello to school meetings and saying goodbye to a favorite special ed teacher (retiring) and principal (retiring) and SCHOOL (the brand new one is opening in the fall.).  Saying Hello to a program where kids with and without disabilities are educated together in the same classroom.

Saying goodbye to junk and sugar and processed food and saying hello to smoothies and frozen treats in the VITAMIX.  Saying hello to eating way more fruits and vegetables and trying new things (and getting kids to try new things).

Saying goodbye to spending big money on house improvements and saying hello to big vacation planning and dreaming, Italy, California, the Grand Canyon.....someday soon (we're on a five year plan).  Saying hello to big kids that are old enough to be really fun on a big trip.

Saying hello to the summer swim season, saying goodbye free time at home in the evenings (although we'll fit in all the reading on the couch at home time in the evenings that we can!).

Saying goodbye to adult alone TV time in the evenings and saying hello to family stretching time, reading time, and playing time in the evenings where kids stay up almost as late as we do.

Saying hello to our basement office and saying goodbye to kids having a "toy room" and having to share rooms.  We should have done this years ago....we are loving it.

Saying goodbye to procrastination and saying hello to getting stuff done (nutrition presentation for middle school wellness day, backyard grass and garden planting, power washing, pool, fence, tree house, etc....) let's do this!

Saying good bye to one of my very favorite people in life:(  B's awesome support person LT is leaving us for a different job.  She's been with us four years.....that's almost half B's life.  I knew it was only a matter of time, she's been working so hard going to school, working and raising a daughter, but I was hoping the transition would have been slower.  It's going to be really hard on all of us (I'm so SAD!) , but we are so happy and excited for her.  Saying hello to meeting new people, and being open.

Saying goodbye to 1st, 3rd and 6th grades as we wrap up this school year (32 days!).  Seriously, who pressed the fast forward button on my life?  I can't say this year has been a cakewalk, though.  Saying hello to logistical summer planning for us and the kids, for work and camps and activities and travel.  Lots of travel this summer for T and his sports.  We decided L is going to rec camp 3 days a week this summer, good for us to work and good for him to stay in the grove of spending the day with friends.  Like school....but ALL fun.   It's a win-win.  All good stuff.

Life is just a series of hellos and goodbyes now isn't it?

27 April

Spring Break 2014 Photos and words.....

This vacation was super simple.  No big trips, just a lot of at home time.  The kids spent a lot of time thinking up different things to play.  I love when they play like I remember playing as a kid.  It's so good for the soul.  I love when they can sleep in and their is no rush for bedtime.  We spent every evening reading on the couch together and cuddling. I finished "Unbroken" It's one of those books that just sticks with you, and you think about it ALOT.   I can't get enough photos of the kids helping out with the dishes (apparently).  They usually argue about who gets to be "counter man"  Maybe someday they will be telling their own kids stories of how they used to do the dishes.

Mom had to work a few long days and Dad had a few extra days off.  On the nice days there was a lot of going outside and doing this.

and this.  they would make a road with the sidewalk chalk and ride their scooters around it all day.  This girl is seriously pure joy.  

On Thursday we headed down for some serious Cousin time.....and to celebrate a special 9th birthday with Bowling and Laser tag.  L was so excited about his "strike" it was priceless.  Super fun.

T learned his first jazz "tune"  

Saturday all our activities were canceled due to the weather.  The girl scout "camporee" was moved to Friday (so we couldn't go)  and the Lax games were cancelled.  So, we spent the weekend at home......doing more of the above and a little food shopping.   Next week is going to be a doozy, so we are soaking up all these last few hours of vacation have to offer.

25 April

{This moment.}

(Stay tuned for a Spring Break Recap)

21 April

The Weekend Lens......Easter Edition. Saturday, we got some seeds planted.  The ones that say "plant as soon as the ground can be worked" seeds.  Peas, Spinach, Mesculin Mix, Arugula, Beets, 2 types of carrots, Leeks and Green onions.  My girl was all about being the "helper girl", then the "sign girl" then the "digging girl" then the "seed hander girl"  Love that.  I'm the "plant it and forget it" type of gardener.  I can't wait to see what grows.

The kids rode bikes,scooters and played lacrosse.  The Girl is a mad defense player.  All Day outdoors.  Love that.

L had a 2 hour Lacrosse practice.   I'm still trying to figure out why they need to practice longer than the 6th graders.  It's always so cold and windy at this field.

The start of vacation leaves plenty of time for extra chores. The kids are cleaning up and the adults are sitting back and engaging in adult conversation.  I sat back and took in the moment......just for a moment.  Let's just say the boys are very "sensitive" about who does what.  The girl just dives right in and most of the time is like "C'Mon Guys!"  It eventually all gets done.....EVENTUALLY.  (Just keeping it real).  WE also hit our favorite Dairy Corner.  The cold couldn't keep us away!

This girl has been learning how to do her own ponytail.  She insists on no adult help at all.  She's getting close.

Easter morning.  Since we were going to be having an egg hunt at church this year, we had a non-candy scavenger hunt with presents at home.  We got new swim suits and sneakers.  Summer is coming soon, I promise!

then it was off to get in our church clothes.  He was learning how to tie a tie himself with a little help from You tube.

He stuck with the clip on, and it was so refreshingly awesome that there was no crying and complaining over outfits this year.  Everyone had what they needed.

The traditional family Easter shot.

And the kids.....

and a lovely church service followed by a coffee hour and Easter egg hunt. T decided he was "too old" for the hunt this year.

In the afternoon we went to the MOVIES!  T and I saw Divergent (cause we had read the book) and the little kids and J saw the Muppet movies.  Then we ate our fill of a Pulled pork dinner that J ahd cooked on the grill all night the night before.....yum!
I hope your Easter/Spring weekend was lovely.  XO.

18 April

{This moment.}

16 April

this.

Loved This.

this is 39.

15 April

Monday....the first night of outdoor practice....it was supposed to be warm but it was cool and windy. Hello spring and new routines. here's to running outside during practice when it's still light out. Teacher conferences....which lead to phone calls and emails and frustration...learning about the blood moon. here's to the Monday of a new season 

14 April

The weekend lens.....

Friday and Saturday were absolutely beautiful.  My friend and neighbor Tina posted on Facebook that the one great day erased the last "150 days of crap" Just like that..  So true.    I got some compost spread on my garden.....kids were playing outside in the yard.   Awesomesauce.

Our local Dairy Corner opened up and of course we were there.  With Gammie and Grampa.  They have some amazing new cheesecake flavors this year!

Saturday night was the Girl Scout Annual Father Daughter Dance.  I was on the committee that helped plan it this year and volunteered to take all the "couple" photos.  There were over 100 girls.   I had a great time doing it.....it was such a nice way to get to talk to everyone that went.  Of course my girl loved it. She's so grown up now.    Anything to dress up, curl her hair and put on make up.  This girl speaks dance as a second language....for sure.  She was in heaven. The boys attended a big band Concert at the High School that Grampie was playing in.  They loved it, got to stay up late and the report was their behavior was "excellent".  They can't wait to go to Grampa's next "gig"  :)

We made smoothies (at practacally every meal) with the vitamix,  LOVE it!

Sunday morning we  practiced music and played games.......Cat and Minnie lost by a mile.

Then on to three hours of Lacrosse in the afternoon.  Trevor had two practices (one for the travel team) and Lucas one.  I always stay for the practices because I love watching them play.  Then they practiced more when they got home.
Sunday night, (it was raw and rainy outside) we settled in for a movie and a chicken "farm" (Bre calls it) dinner.  Best weekend ever. (Aren't all of them?)

11 April

{This moment.}

10 April

What do you know.....I like brussel sprouts......love them.  Kind of funny that I always gave them away year after year when that big stalk was available at our local CSA.   I roasted them in the oven then cooked with some Asian sauce (a bottled Asian marinade) in the frying pan.   Yum.  Probably going to make them twice this week......now getting my family to lose their fear of not liking this vegetable (or any vegetable), well, that's another story.

9 April

Last night....the end of the season swim banquet.   Which meant a little arguing about what to wear, tucking in our shirt, sneakers, etc......sigh.  They had a blast having dinner and dancing (I went last year).  The DJ took all their requests this year so the kids were thrilled.  They loved seeing their photos in the slideshow.  On to the summer season (which starts April 28!)

8 April

7 April

The weekend lens......

We took Saturday morning to sleep in it was amazingly awesome (esp since J was still on  west coast time),  Lucas had a neighbor friend over and we made these muffins,  They were really good (chocolate chips definitely hide the taste of grated carrots and zucchini).

later on in the day, we took the kids to a school and played "wall ball" their new favorite.

and played on the playground.....

Sat. Night, we landed a last minute babysitter and went out to a local pub to watch the big UCONN game.  They won, which was awesome.  Too bad J had tickets to the games LAST year.

Sunday morning was all about Lacrosse.  T had the big travel team tryout, 33 kids from all different schools were trying out for 15 spots on the team.  He finds out Weds night....fingers crossed.  He did his very best, and the experience is great for him wither way.  It's good to learn that there is excitement, joy and disappointment in life. And like life, even when you give your very best, not everyone gets a spot on the team.....but we'll see.  L had his second clinic for the school team.  He loves it so far....

we spent the afternoon Sunday cleaning up the part of the lawn that was clear of snow.....it's getting there and finally feels like spring.

We planted two blueberry bushes, a dwarf cherry, and an almond tree.  It's so exciting to have so much edible stuff growing in my suburban yard :)

My front walk still looks like this..... :(

Sunday night was spent catching up with a friend downtown for dinner who I hadn't seen since the fall.  It was so fun to get out.  I can't think of a better way to end the weekend.

This Moment.

4 April

Week in review......

J was away Saturday-Friday so it meant a lot of going to bed early for me.  For me, unless the chore is done by 3 PM it's not getting done so in the evenings I would relax and read on the couch for a few minutes.  Slowly they all made their way over with a book.....

I finally started reading this book after having it out several times from the library.  I love it.

Just preserving the memory of the lunch making assembly line.  We always make the lunches the night before, right after dinner so as to avoid two clean ups.

T was trying to decide all week about trying out for a travel lacrosse  this weekend.  It was hard to decide between that and summer swim meets on the weekends  (he would still do summer swim practices). Ahhh, so much is available to kids these days.... Eventually he decided to go for it and sign up for the try outs.....I'm proud of him for making the decision on his own and not being afraid to go for it. He was out there every day after school this week practicing wall ball and making up games with his brother and sister.

B got up on her own all week before her alarm and did everything herself with no reminders (the list helps).  Her bed making skills are better than mine :) Brush her hair was on there but she erased it.....

He practiced cradling to the bus stop all week in the mornings....getting better at using his "off" hand.

It was nice the feel the warmth of the sun and hear the birds chirping in the mornings, but we still have 2 feet of snow out back and we got a dusting with some sleet and freezing rain on Monday (more on the way for tonight).  UGH!

This boy was down with a fever on Thursday night/Friday and cried because he wanted to go to school so bad for PJ and Stuffie day (love that).  So, we made our own PJ and stuffie day at home......

J got home after an overnight flight Friday AM after a super busy trip, and it would be an understatement to say we're looking forward some R&R this weekend....(and more lacrosse!)