28 April

our weekend.....

It's another one of those fall into bed before 10 type of Sundays.  Lots of good stuff going on and lots of good stuff done around the house.

T had his First Lacrosse games.  this year he's on the 5/6 team and the six grade boys, well some of them are taller than Josh......for real.  The first game was tame, and the boys played well, good passing, great ball handling..  I had to leave after the first game to take B to a birthday party.  Glad I did b/c the second game got a little rough.  B had a blast at the swimming Birthday Party.  I think half of the second grade girls were there and all her besties.

Saturday, In the evening L learned how to ride a two wheeler after having at least a 30 minute meltdown before hand saying he would never do it.  We made him and he did it and I think he was proud of himself:)  Everyone in their own time.....

L got a Rocket for his birthday, and J and him finished building it Saturday night.  On Sunday, First thing we went down to the soccer field in our PJs to launch it.  It went something like this:

I don't know who was more excited....the little boys or the big boy.

then we snapped this shot of Mom and kids.....

then we got home and the chores commenced.....We finished power washing, we stained the decks, we painted the front doors black (Pic to follow), We cleaned out the garage, put out the tiki torches (J loves those things), mowed the yard to pick up the debris, went to Lowes, planted 6 trees,

Ate popscicles.....(and icecream)

Rode our scooters (free range kids in the neighborhood)

Played some corn hole....

The daffodils were blooming.....

and it was a perfect 60 degrees, not a cloud in the sky.  We soaked up every bit of goodness it had to offer.  What a great weekend!

26 April

Middle School....

I'm so not ready for you. Really, wasn't he just born five minutes ago!

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

25 April

thoughts on inclusion (School and otherwise)........

Last night was their First T-ball practice (J is assistant coach).  Lucas came home saying, "Mom, I got my first grass stain!" Love that....  This is the very First sport that we have signed B up for with her typical peers.  We felt vulnerable, but we felt ready.  Of course she is playing with 4-6 year olds, but It's really just right for her (and being with her little brother who she adores).  A Bunch of us DS moms were talking at Dance one day about this feeling vulnerable.  Mostly vulnerable to what other parents might think of our kids (and us!) . And One Mom's advice was really to just reach out to the parents and let them know how you were feeling....ask for support.   Honestly, no one has EVER not welcomed Bre,  really and they are usually more worried about their own kids behavior than watching out for my kids doing an occasional nose pick or shirt lift in right field.  And if they do, we can all laugh together :) The world really is full of amazing and supportive people.  This new Found support I feel from the friends, teachers and community in my life has really changed me.  I am strong and I can do hard stuff.  (B's name actually means "strong") Someone actually essentially  "high-fived" me in a text the other day.....Loved that.
       Next year, at the new school,  we decided on B being in a special Ed classroom for a good part of her Day.  In some ways, It's letting go of the "dream" of total inclusion, in other ways it's putting my own feelings inside to do what would make B the happiest.  To do what would give her the most belonging and to do what we think will help her learn the most.  To give her that special teacher who she will never forget.  I'm totally struggling with that decision (I know, nothing is set in stone), but, really,  It's just so not about me any more.  This Spring, I find vulnerability slowly disappearing, and I'm finding myself at a place of total acceptance and joy for what is, for the first time in a long time, maybe ever.  It's just awesome.....and  she LOVED t-ball too, they both did:)

inspiring read for today....

I came across Zen Habits post today as I was wasting a few minutes time waiting to leave for a meeting.  I'm so glad I did.....changed my whole perspective today, must have been fate.  LOVED the boat story.  :)

24 April

When I got to work on Monday morning.....I was feeling heavy with tons of Mom Guilt.  This past weekend, I was in the "right after I finish my one million chores, I'll come play a game of cribbage with you..." mode.  Let's just say the game never happened.  I was in the "I spend my whole life carting you around and supporting all your favorite activites, so just leave me alone to finish my chores , or maybe even help me out for 10 minues without complaining...." mode.  Not to mention that totally being out of routine last week left us all a bit lost, I did a super crappy job of food shopping and planning for meals and we ate out way too much (which I now attribute to Ts migraine on Saturday,  L's eczema flare up, and J's general grumpiness about "whats for dinner?").  Yelling at them for not listening, not helping, and just generally moving in slow motion.  and L, his "I'm going to be a leader someday" willfullness, and the fact that he was embarrasingly mean to another kid or called someone "poopy head" in the grocery store and then blamed it on his sister.   Most of the time it takes everything out of me to try to guide him in the right direction.  My newest thing is to give a "long talk" about what is right and wrong and why we need to make certain choices.  I'm hoping he gets sick of all this talking and just does the right thing...eventually.




Anyway, I found this note in their room and realized that they are just kids (not little adults) and they are not trying to make me mad....and maybe I deserved a little ambush!   Now..... that we're all breathing a sigh of relief that we're back deep into our routines, I feel myself feeling grateful that I have another day to do a little bit better and make it up to them... (after all, I'm surrounded)  :)

23 April

He has a bedtime shirt (not pictured here), that says, "I'm pretty much the best person I know"

Tonight, he says....."Mom, I should have a shirt that says Trevor is pretty much the best person I know because he cuddles with me, he taught me how to play Cribbage and he ALWAYS plays with me..."

Love that.

22 April

This weekend......

One of those all work and no play weekends that left us tired to the bone and wishing there was just one more day to get everything done not to mention leaving for little patience with children on the last day of vacation.  Power washers are awesome, first time we used one and really, it's like a magic wand.  On Sunday, we headed over to the BP school to help build some new raised beds for the kids' garden.  It was awesome fun and the kids got to "free for all" paint the boxes, rake dirt and hammer. Yikes, but fun....Can't wait to see what grows!  Love our schools!

21 April

Friday night......we got a babysitter for the six kids and went out with K+K (Friends since we were six=family:).  Appetizers and Drinks at Grace (so, so overrated, weird vibe and weird food that was way to classy for this crowd), and Dinner at Walters (fabulous!).. OMG, the fun, the laughing, the walking through the drive up ATM machines. The discussions about various outfit choices we saw around town.  The Laughing, and the fire when we got home and more laughing until we couldn't breathe into the wee hours.  One of the best, nights, ever.

20 April

Thursday.....

I had to work the evening shift and Josh  and Kevin took all the cousins to the Seadogs game (2 Guys + six kids :)  ).  It was a cold night so the stands were empty.  The kids sat in the front row, ate their fill of ball park food, EACH caught a game ball, acted crazy, stayed up WAY past their bed times and had a blast!  Good times:)

Goosebumps.

I remember watching this singer sing the national Anthem every year at the Sea Dogs.  He sings ALL the verses (there are verses I didn't even knew existed!) The fact that he didn't even sing when he usually sings for a VERY long time, brought tears to my eyes.  really so amazing.

Also read......How to keep our babies safe.

19 April

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Eight!

Happy EIGHTH birthday Lily! We love you and miss you:)

18 April

Right Now......

What's on my........
VANITY | I don’t have a vanity. I keep all my toiletries/hair and make up stuff in drawers in the bathroom

PERENNIAL TO DO LIST |   Go through the kids clothes, Clean out the kitchen cabinets, Clean up the yard.......redo the front porch lattice/steps and back lawn, paint the front doors and shed......etc.etc.....

REFRIGERATOR SHELVES |  Activia Yougurt, Grapes, Milk, Apple juice and Strawberries

ITINERARY | Planning a Girls weekend away in two weeks, Dinner out With Friends this Friday.

FANTASY ITINERARY | Italy, California, The Grand Canyon, Hawaii.  I hate flying but love seeing cool stuff/places.

PLAYLIST |  Nora Jones, Mumford & Sons, Justin Timberlake, Counting Crows, Adele, Phil Phillips, P!nk, The Lumineers,  Dave Matthews, Relaxing Guitar,  Rhianna.

NIGHTSTAND |   The Secrets of Happy Families, Magical Journey and Wild (always have more than one book going) and my phone for the alarm.

WORKOUT PLAN | Running every Day, early mornings now that it's nice out.  .  Sometimes a Step class at the Gym (really it's kind of a cult).  

IPHONE | Pic Tap Go, Instagram, texts from J and K and T and L and our sitter for Friday night. Errands, Pinterest, Momento, Pandora, Micromedex (for work)

TOP 5 LIST |   Gardening in my yard, Finishing  the Race, Being with Friends and family,  listening to music , Taking photos, watching my kids make good choices and accomplish something they thought they couldn't do.

BUCKET LIST |  More live music. More travel and adventures with friends ; my kids ; family. 

MIND |  Kids Going to new schools next year.  Getting out more.  Letting stuff go. Organizing the House. Big meetings. Teaching kids life skills, managing snacks and electronic time.  Eating Healthy local and organic, giving Back.  Being Present. Approaching situations with kindness.  Being less worried about what could happen.   Being thankful.   

BLOGROLL |  Soulemama,Aliedwards,Beckyhiggins,Enjoying the Small things, and a bunch of funny ones, too many to list

WALLS OF YOUR FAVORITE ROOM IN YOUR HOUSE | Sherwin Williams Macademia (pretty much the whole house) it's a nice neutral that goes with black.  I also like the bright teal in the kids bathroom

LIQUOR SHELF |  Not Much since we usually go "out" for drinks.  Some Segrums 7 (don't drink it) , Whisky for Whisky Sours (Christmas and New Years) Pink Moscato, Sparkling Cider and a Red "paydirt" wine (for a special occasion)

LAST CREDIT CARD STATEMENT | Grocery store (pretty much daily)  Lunch out with the Kids, Lowes and Ace Hardware, seeds and compost for the garden.

SCREENSAVER | Pics of the Kids

TV EVERY NIGHT | The kids only watch TV once a week (movie).  We watched the news the other night for the first time in ages (Boston), usually we watch some cheezy show on Discovery (J actually texted me last night that there is a new show coming on about people who try to drill for oil in their backyards, really, I can't make this stuff up!), Home and Garden, History channel,  concerts on Palladia or maybe the Voice after the kids go to bed.  Usually I'm reading or browsing the web and only Half Watching. 

 

17 April

Tonight.....the first LAX practice of the year.  Even though T has been SOOOO into swimming, I know he'll be super excited once this gets going.  Spring Sports around here, well they take FOREVER to get started and they are over in the blink of an eye.  I love this sport (except for the danger of getting hurt part), it's super exciting to watch and mama will be at all the games and practices this year as Dad will be coaching the t-ball team for L and B.  Super exciting and super fun spring/summer coming up.  The Long winter was worth the Wait!

16 April

This spring vacation.....
We did a whole lot of hanging out at home, and I don't feel the least bit guilty that I didn't have some sort of fun activity planned each day( like I normally would given I'm a planner) bc we went to sugarloaf in feb and Disney in November. So, today, we slept in, we laughed through breakfast, we didn't fight the construction traffic at Dunstan Corner (It will be the end of me!) played with beans, rode bikes and scooters (and videotaped ourselves doing tricks) we begged for snacks and juice all day, and talked about 10 year old opinions (there are many)! And he folded mount saint laundry as he called it, seriously it must have been like five loads. He's getting so good at it( I paid him:) ) They talked about what they were going to do in the Olympics (you know, when they are in it) T will be in swimming and L in Golf (he said every hole will be a hole in one).  Here's to dreamin' and to being boring on vacation.  Boring. Kind of like this post, But good.

So Sad.

three Years ago, J crossed the finish line at 3:58:57 as I sat there in the stands (we had special seats for the charity runners) with my then EIGHT year old boy.  Read more about that day here.   My heart is broken for those families and the city of Boston.  Praying for Boston tonight.

Funny Stuff.

Kmart Commercial goes Viral (it's actually on TV)

new Table manners for Kids

15 April

This weekend.......After we fixed the gardens and planted the seeds we did a little reading.

Then I found this note from my girl (who had written real words down on paper on her own for the first time ever-YAY!)

Then we played a little baseball....don't let the t-shirt fool you, it was FREEZING!  

Then I got this shot :)

Then we came in and brought all the toys and games we own out into the living room and did weird things like brush the stuffed animals with the game pieces.

Then we had dinner and The boy who ate five beans and five pieces of turkey got to go to Dairy Corner  (For the first time this year....even though it was freezing out!)  for some salted caramel pretzel ice cream.

Then we took out the trash (with girls supervising)

Then the man who loves fire, lit up a fire to "burn away some gas stabilizer and junk wood "(I think he might have a problem ;).

Then....Time for a Dance Party to burn off some of the salted caramel pretzel to some borderline  inappropriate "clean version" tween music

 (and the dog didn't move from this position the entire time)

And If you promise this girl some Taylor Swift......She'll do anything for you....even clean the living room :0

JOY.

14 April

He learned to tie his shoes.  He watched me two times and then wouldn't let me help him (actually had a fit if I tried to help even if my hands came the least bit  near his shoes.....in the total L fashion.).  I think he learned the left handed way (b/c that's how I learned given my mom was left handed).  In about 2 minutes of not giving up he had it down and was on his way, double knots and all.  Yay!

13 April

Yesterday:  Spring Vacation Day 1: I worked over a 12 hour day at two jobs.  J stayed home with the kids and worked.  All I heard about was that they were fighting some and they made a fort in L's bed and formed a "secret" reading society.  I was so tired by bedtime I literally felt sick.  That was That.
Today: Spring vacation Day 2:  Getting a late start to the day.......getting outside and assessing the gardens and the outdoor to do lists (overwhelming!)  It's just amazing to me how fast everything starts growing again after the LONG winter.  I can't wait!  We're sprucing up the raised beds, adding some new trellises and new dirt.  L and B helped but fought over tools, T played basketball in the driveway and pretended he wasn't part of the family in that pre-teen fashion.  Tomorrow (and the next weekend after that and the next weekend after that) will be more of the same.  Good Times.   

12 April

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

11 April

On Being Lost and Found.  Recently, I was totally inspired by this post.   Except in my case, I think the "fun Me" has been gone for about 15 years (well maybe even 38 years).  Maybe it's my kids getting to the ages they are at (really there is comic relief here daily).  Like the Other Day when I found a trail of popcorn going down the stairs to the basement and they said that they were using a "trail of food" to lure the dog downstairs with them.  Or when my completely exhausted self decided to try to take a 10 minute nap after work the other day and woke up to Lucas Throwing Plastic Knives citing the reason as "killing ants".  Maybe it's a new friend I have met or the texts that K and I send to each other daily (Love texting!), or maybe I'm approaching a midlife crisis of sorts .  Whatever it is, I do feel so much lighter, I laugh so much more (and I want to laugh more!)  I want to get out and live and  the width and the depth and all that jazz.

The funniest person I know is my brother Kevin.  He'll say something and then days later (when the joke finally hits me) I'll suddenly be laughing.  The Second Funny is Josh i mean he just showed me the thrift shop video, and some photo-shopped stuff that they do at work, really. Another Funny, is B.  I mean she doesn't even really know she's funny, and the stuff she does may have even made me cry at some point, but it's seriously funny stuff.  You have to appreciate that she'll never be inhibited in a way that will make her not just say or do what's on her mind.  Kids at school are still flocking to her for this very reason.  She's just fun (and I need to learn a lot from her) You can't take yourself too seriously, Really, it's a gift.

The funniest thing lately is her ipod photo and videoing.  She is totally obsessed.  She will walk around all day and photo and video everything going on in the house.  Her OT suggested I use that Inspiration for the world of Down Syndrome, maybe someday she'll be a famous cinematographer. Sure.

 So,  I picked up her iPod tonight to Download her Favorite Taylor Swift Song that she has been begging for. There were 926 Videos and Photos.  325 pictures were of this cat and other stuffed animals in different poses (123 with the cat with the mask in front of it), there were some pictures of her and the dog, my plants, her feet and road signs from the car, videos and photos of her eating cheese sticks, making funny faces, or her brothers coming out of their rooms undressed (delete), screen shots of her favorite video games (sister knows how to save a screen shot!) , and other various things her brothers do around the house with helmets on.  So yes, going into a long vacation with kids at home (and already crying this afternoon a mere one minute after school gets out) and no real plans (except a night out with our friends next Friday thanks to our babysitter being willing to watch all six kids-YAY!) yes, it's good to feel a little lighter......and I have the videos to prove it :)   Oh and check out my new sidebar.......crazy funny people.  Good Stuff!

10 April

Last Night....

The Blue Point Spring Concert.  They both Did amazing......especially this Girl who has learned how to sing! And Dance!  And Lu said he was nervous, and acted a little shy, but had a great time.  Thought I might melt into a puddle of tears on the floor given it's her last concert here, but I didn't.  Read about her First Concert here, and last year here. I was just Really  Really Happy and proud of them :) and I LOVE our music teacher, she's awesome.   Bre couldn't wait to watch the videos Trevor took on his iPad when she got home :)  Fun, Fun night!

9 April

And This Guy......has been away for five days with a best college friend enjoying the lottery tickets he won to the Final Four (which apparently includes cool stuff like parties and concerts), in Atlanta.  They went to a Braves game, walked around aimlessly looking for a place to eat, looked for hats for the kids, went to a Flo Rida and Ludacris concert (because why not?) ,  a Dave Matthews Band Concert.   and of Course Three of the countries most coveted college basketball games of the year.  Really, a Total blast.  So, Happy for them.

8 April

This Boy.....

Has been WHO he is since the day he was born.  There was no telling him what to do unless it was his idea. Really ,  since the day he was born.  He quite Frankly can outsmart me, and can make my heart leap and tear it into a million pieces all within five minutes time.  The No means,  No thing, Yep,  he's finally getting that after six straight years of sticking to my guns.  The Keeping it real part about my life is that parenting is hard, and I've made a ton of mistakes.  Today, after a rotten morning, After School he says, "Mom, You know When I say I don't like you?  Well I'm just kidding every time..."

7 April

And so one of these things I have been putting off is teaching these kids about time management (I know. I'm the Time management queen, and my kids don't have a clue!) Well my friend gave this amazing idea that had to do with Whiteboards from Walmart and magnets and not touching an electronic device until all the magnets were on one side (and Trevor wants to collect marbles).   So to keep them from wandering around aimlessly after school and before school, I unveiled this little plan to keep me from being stressed when we have to be heading out the door.  So Far, It's working brilliantly, we've taken much time off our morning and afternoon routines.   Love This.

6 April

Since Both of our husbands were away (hers way more often than mine)......we took the opportunity on Saturday night to have sleepover and a little girl time.  We took all the kids to Friendly's (I think the waitress took one look at our crew of six kids with only two adults in charge and left to go an a really long "break").  We talked, we laughed, we high fived. We compared notes and the battle stories of Motherhood and family life.   The kids watched movies while we devoured a stack of US Weeklies and watched a chick flick of our own.  There's a reason why women share the child rearing task in some cultures.  Really, it takes a village.  I left recharged, ready to live deeper, tackle some of those problems I've been putting off, and just plain be more "fun".  Thanks for that....friend. Remember that Best Friends Forever song that we made up when we were seven, you know the one where we kicked our legs high in the air?  Yeah, that.  :)

5 April

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

4 April

(Pictures above-First Day of kindergarten and February of This year)

Today, Our last IEP in elementary school.  Not that these meetings are fun......But it was really bittersweet.  Today's meeting was so easy, I learned my lesson and do A LOT of the legwork ahead of time.  I shared photos of how far she has come.  Her plan looks pretty darn perfect (If there is a perfect).  So, So , Thankful for the MANY people and countless hours of work that it takes to educate her.  I read somewhere that you truly have not lived until you do something for someone who can never repay you.   Really, so many people willing to go above and beyond with their hearts in the right places.  And,  for the humor and laughing and friendships formed that get us through the rough spots. They all are so genuinely interested in B and our life.  I'm nervous about starting over next year with a whole new "crew".  I am going to miss them all so much, but I've never been more optimistic about the future as I am today. Best.Day.Ever.

3 April

The end of the season PPSC swim banquet (and when I say the end of the season I mean the Summer Season practices start up again in two weeks.) My Boy.....He was as dressed up as he gets (notice the pants....hole free!) and for the boy that doesn't even dance in his own living room, he was cutting up the dance floor (getting chased around by some girls!) to "I'm sexy and I know it"  Oh Boy! He LOVES this sport, and I'm so glad.  He's already asking when he's getting back in that pool and he's sad that he has to wait two whole weeks.  Really, it's good to take a little time off.  This sport, these coaches, teach so much more than how to get to your best freestyle.  They teach you what hard work, goal setting, success and failure are all about.  They teach that ATTITUDE means everything.  SO happy for my Boy and so grateful for this team and this sport and the things that he will take with him for his whole life.

2 April

Today, overheard......
Mom, how do you spell Precipitation?
Mom, what if I ate eight apples a day?  Ate and Eight in the Same sentence, THAT'S confusing!
Mom, Today is the Way Life Should Be
But, WHY?
The toothbrush needs to lie down in the Cabinet so it can sleep
Cat wants to do a dance party in Bed
What Boy is afraid of an ant?!?!?
B singing, "This Girl is on Fire...."
Can you help me, because it's hard.  Things are easier to do when you like them, like swimming vs. laundry.

honestly, my jaw drops to the floor at least once a day with these three :)  Life is good.

1 April

Cousins....this photo, It's just so them.  they Love Being together, they fight, they get hurt, they have fun.  These kids are crazy (and I love them).....