27 May

The Weekend Lens......

Our long weekend started with a VERY early Lacrosse game on Saturday.......a Leaving the house at 6:45 AM early.  My Kid is the one with the pants under his shorts.  Smart move, it was COLD!

I love watching the little ones play.  They all love it.  They feel like superheroes dressing up in all the gear.  The parents and coaches are so good about encouraging both sides.  It's a hard game.

He's so excited when he "gets the ball"

The coach helping L with the face off his T's Travel team coach from a close by town.

Then on to the big boys games on the next field over (two games).  They played a small field game. Notice how some of the boys are taller than the coach.  T is number 25.

They played awesome.....best I've ever seen. He Scored three goals.

They all played pretty much the whole two hours.  The sun even peeked out for part of it!

It can get physical.....

SO love watching this game.....

OMG!  He's so big.....I'm trying not to blink.

Then we were quickly onto the first challenger baseball practice/game!

T was her buddy for a while  helping with skills. Such a good big brother.

It's really amazing to watch.....these kids.  After a while you can't see the wheelchairs and walkers and disabilities......all you can see are kids having fun playing baseball.  So many smiles :)

After the sports were finished, all the cousins gathered at our house for the weekend in celebration of four special birthdays, and a 50 MILE trail race.  WE took all the kids out for Pizza on Saturday night.  Hello party of FOURTEEN!  We put  all the kids on one end.......they were great.

We came home to some seriously good cake and presents......

The kids christened the new backyard with a family kickball game and ran around in the front playing basketball and riding bikes and scooters.

Then on to the slumber party.......girls in one room boys in another :)  They all slept way better than expected!

Sunday....J and K left at 4:30 AM for their 50 MILE race.  The kids played ALL day, I mean seriously awesome cousin time.  Kickball at the baseball field, hide and seek at the playground, red rover, Red Light Green Light, corn hole, basketball, bikes, and scooters!  There are really no words to describe how awesome the day was (and the sun even came out!)

There we no rules about shoes apparently.....

There was some adult Fun in the sun too....

occasionally I hang out with this guy....here's the proof.  I'm the worst Corn Hole Player ever.

The kids were so wiped that some of them had to take a Movie break....

Nine kids in my yard and living room makes my heart full. Love them all so, so much.

The guys got home, finally, feeling a little weak (just a little).  They had finished the race in 10 hours and 21 minutes..  seriously crazy (Did mention they ran  50 MILES!)

After that we had an amazing BBQ (even though it rained!)  and pack ups and goodbyes.  Just an amazing day......all those memories are going away in my little vault to carry me through my tough times.  So, so  blessed with this amazing family.

Monday, the Girl Scouts were in the Town Memorial Day Parade.  We had never done it before and It was super fun!

Then onto plating plants and the usual Memorial Day stuff.  SO , SO thankful for this life.  Seriously, best. weekend. ever.

23 May

{This Moment}

Seriously funny Stuff....

A Message for my Beloved children.....

21 May

(photo- April 2014)

They are my everything.  Motherhood is crazy joy with a dash of suffocation.  This is all I ever wanted from life.  This journey. I get to be their Mom.  I can't wait to see who they become (maybe I can wait just a little).  Best part, tomorrow is a new day.  I can start all over again and do it better (thank god!).  They love me in a way that I'll never be loved.  -Mamalode

Here's to Changing the World.....

The Gift.

You have to read THIS.

19 May

The weekend......(and part of last week) lens......

Last week......The sixth grade band concert.  It's amazing the difference a year makes......you can never see T with his saxophone, he's in the back.

We clearly have a lot to do on the lists.

There were forts to be made.....
ans struggles......It was a stressful week.  Let's just say there was a lot of unexpected.  Some middle School stresses about friends and homework and sports, Some extra household chores.  A little boy who just wouldn't give us a break in his intense personality.  An IEP meeting.......an intense one.  One that led itself into two more meeting being scheduled and several e-mails being sent back and forth.  We are asking for a lot next year, a WHOLE lot.....and there is quite a bit of push back.....so it's stressful, and I was wound up and thinking about it for several days after.  I'm confident that we will come to an agreement, on the best plan for next year.  I'm hopeful that they don't let fear get in the way of trying something new, and eventually see this as an opportunity to grow and learn and make the school better.  All kids learning together sounds amazing doesn't it?  It's all such hard work, being an advocate for your child (which all Parents do by the way)....it's a freaking hard job.  Here's an awesome article:

On Inclusion.

We voted on the school budget....it didn't pass.  So sad that our community, year after year doesn't want to invest in our future (our kids!)

Friday and Saturday night I worked.......and the kids went to the SeaDogs Game with their cousins.  I got the garden planted (stay tuned for a separate post.)!  So weedy already :(,   We bought a POOL!!!   24 foot round, right off our back deck.  Install should be sometime before the end of June.  IT is so, exciting!   And started planning for a fun family weekend next weekend to celebrate some special Cousin Birthdays!

16 May

{This moment}

This.

In honor of our IEP meeting today.....This, This THIS!

12 May

The weekend Lens......(Mother's Day edition)

Saturday, T had a lacrosse game in the pouring rain, (No photos).  B's baseball practice was cancelled.  T also had a friend F over all day.  Later on in the afternoon, it cleared up beautifully for spreading my mulch (I had awesome helpers!) and going to the High School Lax game. Not the greatest photo, but the HS boys were playing against Cape (different division) for a fundraiser for Autism Speaks.  There are two boys with Autism on the team.  T loved going and walking around with friends.  I remember doing that at the High School football games (kind of a rite of passage, I guess).  Anyway, so inspiring and mature these HS boys are.  WE're going to be there before we know it (sigh).

The afternoon also cleared up beautifully for L's very first Lacrosse game ever.  Seriously, it was so awesome to watch.  The boys from the other team were in K-1 and there was no pressure, no competition, just a lot of learning and fun.  So, SO refreshing.  My boy of course loved it and did AWESOME!  So unexpected.

watching him have this much fun after all that happened earlier  this year to him, well I was the teary eyed Mom behind the sunglasses, for sure.

Sunday......of course I woke up to lots of Hugs and kisses and homemade goodness!  Then off to do a fun run and a 5K with my loves.

T and I finished together....it was HOT!  I'm so proud of him.

They made me an amazing brunch when I got home.  Good thing I had run 3 miles :)

We finished off the day with a family yard lacrosse game, an awesome grilled dinner and a walk down by the shore.  Best. Day. Ever. I am so blessed.

11 May

To all the incredible selfless, amazing Moms' I know.  grab a tissue and watch.  Happy Mother's Day.

9 May

{This Moment.}

8 May

Week in review, the words.....

Between work and school and working out and  practice there have been some long days.  Some 6 am to 7 PM away from the house days.  Temps are SLOWLY pushing their way up to the 60s and we're hoping for 70s this weekend.

The boys are doing awesome at lacrosse practice.  L's coach came up to me and said that he was doing so "incredibly awesome"  for his first time out there (despite his small size).  Really that boy learns quick.  Their Piano teacher also went out of his way to pay them a compliment.  T found out which Lax team he was going to be on for the season (their youth club age group is divided up into 3 teams).  He got the friends he wanted and the coach he wanted for his team so he is psyched!  GO team WHITE!

B is doing super awesome in her swimming lessons, she has come so far.  She also got a blue ribbon at the Special Olympics Track meet (Huge deal!), we just recently noticed what a fast runner she is!  She also is getting ready to meet a new friend.  We met "Maggie" today, and hope to have her start working with us in June.  B is taking this transition with more maturity than most of the adults involved.  Enough said.  She has been my super "cheerful helper with any chore that needs to be done around the house" girl.  She sweeps the floor, empties the dishwasher, and puts away the laundry.  All with the most enthusiasm and confidence of anyone I have ever seen.  I am so just enjoying her right now.  I met with a friend (and fellow parent advocate) for a LONG lunch today, brainstorming about the upcoming school meeting next week.  We're changing our mind and going for full inclusion for 4th grade.  because it's better, because she can do this, and because it is her right.  It's amazing how much fighting parents still need to do in 2014.  This rivals the "back of the bus" people.  SO, SO tired of fighting.

 In the garden, just a few of the greens we planted 3 weeks ago are slowly peeking out of the ground.  I'm not totally optimistic about this gardening season.  Leaves are coming out on all the fruit trees.  "We" mowed, and I cleaned up all the flower beds.  Looking forward to the "how are we going to get everyone where they need to go parents divide and conquer" Saturday, and Running a 5K, eating a high calorie breakfast made by my loves, Working in the garden and Mother's Day Sunday.  Hope yours is great!  

4 May

The weekend lens....
Saturday.....sleeping in.....2 Lacrosse Games for T and practice for L.  The weather was perfect.     The big boys were defeated in both games by a GREAT team from NH and left the field feeling a little defeated :(

Number 25 This year.  How did he get to be so big?

Win or lose these boys and their coaches rock.

This Girl had opening day for the baseball season.  Their team led off the parade and they got their uniforms. Little Girls in baseball hats are just the cutest.

The rest of the weekend, The little boy and Dad spent tuning up the tractor and adding some more pipe to the side of the yard drainage system.  This Boy is a seriously hard worker.  It's his favorite thing. Even though it has been cool and a bit showery here this weekend, Spring is finally fighting it's way here.

2 May

{This Moment.}