31 May

{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.

30 May

Today....

As it happens every year in Maine, it jumps right from a very and cold rainy spring-ish winter to an 85 degree summer, overnight.  Suddenly we have to find the sandals, shorts, sprinklers, hats and bathing suits.  We dig out the sunscreen and bug spay.  We prepare ourselves to schlep across beaches and to pools.  Yay, it's here!  What seems like a lifetime of cold, and snow is so easily forgotten.  Finally.  Today, The Second graders all took a trip to the local Estuary (literally the school principals backyard).  It was one of the most fun field trips I have ever been to.  We sunk deep in the muck, dug for clams, found worms, snails, and hermit crabs.  We went on a treasure hunt, got a lesson about a lobster, climbed aboard a real lobster boat, and toured a pier.   It was awesome to spend  the day with B, all her bffs, and the Moms and teachers that I have grown so close to over these past two years.  Awesome day, perfect weather....great memories!

29 May

Today....
A work day
A run
A butterfly garden planted to honor a very special boy
A town council meeting attended, with two young children armed with books....in support of our schools. It was standing room only (or in our case sitting on the floor room only) the courage, the stories, the diversity of the families that came together to support the next generation. Love that. June 11 people. Vote.

28 May

Right now.....

These two LOVE, Love, love putting on Dance routines and talent shows to all their favorite music,  The last note of the song always ends with a move something like this.  Love this.

27 May

Our Memorial Day....

Involved a work day for me (which was hard b/c it was GORGEOUS out!), getting out early enough to get the garden fully planted and harvest some of the greens.  The Arugula made a REALLY yummy salad with strawberries, feta and creamy balsamic.  Then off for our walk to Dairy Corner (2 miles total)... a little stressful with the traffic, but we made it...walking scootering and biking.  Awesome end to an awesome weekend and beginning to a busy week ahead!   I hope your first weekend of summer was grand and celebratory...

And for Memorial Day....Our police Department Facebook post said it best......

While you enjoy your BBQ's and holiday time off; remember that somewhere, someplace a family sits around their table with a vacant seat. Somewhere, someplace, a service member is donning their boots in preparation for a daily routine in the military, and may very well not make it home for next year's BBQ. Somewhere, someplace, a veteran shows up loyally to work, clutching their dog tags in remembrance of a time once past spent in servitude to the colors of our great Nation. Somewhere, some place....a family cries because they are visiting a loved one at Arlington.

To all the brothers and sisters in arms who read this today, we respect your sacrifices daily. To those already passed, we will never forget your ultimate sacrifice in keeping our Nation safe, and your family that was forced to go on without you. And for them, join us in remembering all our brave men and women who never made it back home......

Reasons to join a CSA

Only a few more weeks!  The bags are ready (and a new one is ordered!)!  Can't wait to make the first trip to our favorite farm.  Need a reason to join....Read here.  or here. (I find the whole GMO thing quite disturbing)  Love this.

26 May

This weekend.....

The very first sleepover at the Bath cousins. ever.

I want to remember.....

The Lasagna dinner.
The Cupcakes from here to celebrate 10 and 6 for two special girls (I've been waiting for an excuse to try them!)
The Kids playing, outside and in, plugged in and not, muddy and clean, but (mostly) getting along really great.
How I was so excited to Give V her very first Project Life mini album set (and take her shopping for some extra accessories)
Little girls spa night...pink and purple nails all around (and I am HORRIBLE at doing nails!).
The Ponch sunglasses and pulled up sox.....
The Mustache hat and glasses.
The jokes about the item at the hardware store that was required to fix the chimney.
Guess the 80's Classic Rock music Night
Kids all bunking in together (and sleeping great!)
The awesome breakfast
Ending our evening with some amazing TV comedy.
Relaxing and laughing :)
How much I love these people :)

This week has been one of those weeks to really make you focus on what you are grateful for. Anytime there is a tragedy, really, it cuts right to the core of making me think about what matters. 

It's the people.

Not the stuff. Not the success. Not the money. Not the popularity. Not the perfect weight. Not the anything else.

Just the people. And the love. 

-Cathy Zeiskle

25 May

Around the yard......

Peach, Plum, crab-apple and apple trees are blooming, lettuce and spinach is almost ready for picking (yum!), the peas are getting higher and the herb and cucumber seeds are sprouting.  The containers are planted, all seeds are in the ground (except corn, peppers, melons  and tomatoes).   Oh, how I love this hobby.  It's so amazing to see everything come to life again after the long winters we have.  It's a miracle actually. Happy weekend!

Ten!

Happy 10th Birthday to our sweet, spirited, one of a kind niece Veronica!  Double Digits!  Have a great day V and can't wait to party tomorrow!

24 May

{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.

six.

Happy Sixth Birthday to our smart, sweet, amazing Niece Emma!  Can't wait until you live closer!!!

Thursday.

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life.”

― John Lennon

23 May

t-ball 2013.

I love.....
how big the shirts and hats are on every kid.
How sometimes they run the wrong way
How they all run after the ball that is hit at the same time and sometimes tackle each other even though they are on the same team.
HOw they throw.
How they laugh.
How they don't care about winning or losing.
How they need lots of direction
How the coaches are so patient.
The pink gloves.
How they line up.
How they hold the helmet up from falling down over their eyes as the y run
How they smile and wave to their moms and Dads at every base (instead of paying attention to running and hitting!)
The whole thing and How this Kindergarten age goes by so fast.....

22 May

Today....

My Boy got to leave real early in the morning on the VIP buses for the coveted 5th Grade Boston trip.  They've been looking forward to this for three years.    They had to have a drawing for parent chaperones (we didn't get picked) and they even made their own Boston Strong T-shirts.  They are going to walk to whole freedom trail and they were allowed to bring electronics so I hope he comes back with pictures!  Boy, you are just growing up way too fast!

21 May

Oh the games they Play.

I remember in the journal my grandmother gave me how she wrote about the fact that kids had no organized sports "back then" and they just had to play in the neighborhood, making up games like Kick the Can while any parent looking on became responsible for the disciplining if needed.  Well, the kids in the intermediate school have perfected a very complicated game called "Four Square".  Basically, you just have to catch the ball if it's in your square, BUT you should see the rules these kids have created.  Basically anything the ball can do, there is a rule about it, and the person in the four square gets to "call it".  Kind of like and all "kid run" government   There are cherry Bombs, baby bombs, Double Touches,   Air touches  body parts, pac-man, and shoe shines. Really I tried to learn, but gave up after a few rounds.  Apparently, it's the thing at recess and a huge line forms to play.  When you get out, it's to the back of the line.  Really....not so much different than Kick the Can after all, right Grandma? (thanks for reading everyday!)  Remember this.

20 May

Before I forget.....

The kids had a BLAST at the PTA night at the Seadogs game on Friday.  This Girl, would have never tolerated sitting in the bleachers a few years ago (she cried because of the noise), LOVED it.  She was banging her feet and clapping her hands to "We will Rock You" like it was nobody's business.  Love that.

19 May

Sunday....

Things are much to my relief back to normal with the tween boy after a good nights sleep....phew.  He even gave up the last Popsicle to his little brother and made me one of those new fancy cord bracelets that all the kids are wearing.  Double phew.  I did a 5.3 mile run this morning and even though it's not super far, I'm feeling it as I try to ramp up my miles again in the nicer weather.  It was cold again today, though.  We had our pellet stove on.  May 19th, Just Sayin....

We had a neighborhood clean up day where we all got together and fixed up the bus stop area that the kids have totally destroyed over the years.  We put down some new loam, mulch, flowers and made a stepping stone path to the infamous climbing tree.

Bre had another REALLY fun swimming birthday party with all her bffs.  I still do get nervous when I go to these things because all these girls and their Mom's hang out so much with each other outside of school at dance, cheer-leading and sports, and well, we're just not there. Watching all these girls together, Sometimes I still do picture in my mind what "could have been" (terrible I know...)  But, the three girls from her class picked her up and carried her around the pool like she was a celebrity, so I really can't complain.  It's such a blessing that she is still invited.  All that work to keep her in the regular class as much as possible......totally worth it.  So another weekend has come and gone in about two milliseconds.....and we're off to another workweek.

18 May

Hello Saturday.
Today was all about sleeping in, sipping tea and other beverages,  reading a stack of magazines and   taking a nice long nap in the afternoon---NOT!

Take two.....Today was all about T-ball, 4 hours on the freezing cold and windy lacrosse field, fighting with one overtired tween boy about being ready on time and helping out around the house on top of more planting in the yard, grocery shopping and laundry. AND rewarding ourselves with our first episode of Homeland and popcorn in the evening after they were all in bed....EARLY.  PHEW!  No matter how crazy it gets, it's all a blessing, really, every little moment of it.

PS, he played Middie for both the games (which meant for A LOT of running on the first game on the BIG field...110 yards each way) and did awesome, 3 faceoffs,  1 goal, 2 assists :)  LOVE this game!

And even more outrageous than the A&F CEO....

The Manhattan Moms doing this.  Seriously, there is a special place down under for people like that (excuse my French).  This letter says it perfectly....


And here's some more reading and listening for your weekend.

Still got it.
20 Things every Parent should hear.
My new Fav. song.
My new Fav. running song.
omg, THIS IS SO TRAGIC.   I would read her blog from time to time and get her newsletter for kids online.  Hold your family close and Hug them tight tonight my friends. 

And My favorite Quote from the office finale last night....
"I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them...."

17 May

{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.