Monday, May 28, 2012

Deposit please

This weekend was a delicate dance between the usual



and the extraordinary.

Time was spent sleeping in,
Exploring outside,





hanging out.






The sun was shining so we seized the opportunity to call over some friends and
dust off the car wash from last year.





It is during these moments that childhood memories are built.




Maybe not memories of the specifics, who was there, what we ate, what days it was,
but more innate memories of the sun shining, the smell of the water
and the grass, that someday in the future when my kids are
all grown and they step outside on a late spring day and the
sun is shining and they catch the smell of grass in the breeze and
a smile drifts across their face as those innate memories
take over of unbridled happiness.






It only seemed fitting to toss in a balloon fight to kick off
summer.











Although I am not sure who was more into it the "big people" or the "little people"





I was experiencing a little but of holiday blues (aka it's a holiday we need plans!Stay home! Gasp!) So on a whim today we drove to the river and just let the kids frolic




It was a bit of an adventure for all of us,


but it panned out to be a good time



for all of us




(well maybe most of us:
joy doesn't just happen you have to decide to find it Mark! )






No it was not an exotic location.

No it was not expensive.

No it was not perfect.

Nothing ever is or will be....

but I don't want to choose those moments to define me

or us

They saw this as an adventure
They saw this as exotic.
They experienced this with joy and happiness
and those are the moments I want to define us.
 I like to think we made a deposit in their childhood memory bank

and that.........

that will allow me to drift off to sleep tonight

with a sense of a parenting job well done.





Saturday, May 12, 2012

Commitment

Reflecting on Mother's Day.


Although I am holiday loving freak...this one ranks toward the bottom. *GASP* I know! 
Funny though as I have talked to several different moms over the last
2 days and they all agree. We would all prefer to skip it. WHY?  
Well let's see shall we......
No hoop-la.
No drop and run baskets.
No paid day off from work.
No husband can ever really measure up to the great rewarding ideas we dream up in our own minds!
Just admitin'

Just another day like any other really (Dishes are still there, Laundry still needs put away, owies still need kissed, fights still need broken up).

Today was a one of those, shall we say, "rough days." I may have used more vulgar terms when
discussing the day with some friends.

It funny, a little sad, irrational, immature, and yet hopeful all at the same time.....but
Mark is working nights this weekend, which means he gets home about 7:30 in the morning, sleeps until 3-4 and leaves at 6 to go back to work. Today, the kids and I ran to some graduation parties so we saw him for about 5 minutes before he want to sleep and that is it. Tomorrow will look the same way since we have a birthday party to attend tomorrow evening. Every girls dream to single parent every other weekend right?! (yes I know it pays the bills..thank you logical thinkers! *dripping with sarcasm) We have been married 10 years, thoughtful, fun, thankful surprises are rare and that's being optimistic. ......which brings us to  the "funny" part.......I am almost embarrassed to admit it but there is an inner me that will still go to bed tonight with a glimmer of hope that when I wake up tomorrow morning, for just one morning, the moment will come when all the time, work, multitasking, worrying, running, doing, will be seen and appreciated.  (I could insert all the other cliche things that mom's say on days like this...oh just spending a day with these Angels is thanks enough or my all time favorite I don't need thanks, I see their love in their smiles and that is thanks enough) Really people,lets be honest and  save your crap for someone else! Who doesn't need a full out thank you sometimes! *smile What does that mean? What does that look like? I have no idea. *sigh  Which is completely why it is never "right" because I can't even define "it!"  Surely I am not the only one ?right?!

In the end isn't that what we all want. The cards, the presents, they're nice don't get me wrong, but deep down we all need to feel appreciated. Valued. It's too easy to lose track of those needs in the day to day living.  It is those things we mom's want the most, and those are the hardest to provide, which is why I think so many mom's say.........let's just skip it.

Being a mom is a commitment to put someone ahead of yourself and your needs, every day for...well pretty much the rest of your life.   Talk about commitment.

So to all you moms out there.
Thank you for always giving of yourself,
for continuing to give even when it seems like you have nothing left.
Thank you for managing day to day schedules with ease,
Thank you for putting your needs aside sometimes, to meet the needs of your children and family.
Thank you for getting up again tomorrow and saying today we start again.
Today I will do better,
Be better.
I value each of you. I respect each of you. I am amazed by each of you.

Happy Mother's Day.
You have every ounce of my appreciation!



Tuesday, May 8, 2012

May Day May Day (appropriate dual meaning this month)

So much has been going on lately I have not taken time to reflect on it all.
Well, in fact, I don't plan on doing much reflecting tonight either.
I am sitting amongst scattered toys, a few strays kernels of popcorn, unwashed supper dishes and mounds of laundry (mental note: Do not skip doing laundry one weekend it really sets you back)
It's to the point now that I am not sure where to start, so I don't.
I may need an intervention.
Just sayin'.

I must take a moment to give May day its Adieu

Cohen did state it is his favorite holiday
.


Our favorite part of May Day is the drop and run!



This year we had a few scuffles over who gets to ring the door bell.
Cohen was "lecturing" Kadence on the proper placement of the basket

We got caught twice and once was totally my fault for peeking around the corner!


Whoops! I wonder if they will want to leave me at home next year!


Next year we plan to make err buy, buy more May Day baskets because this year we did a few more house of some "retired" neighbors and they were so much fun. We have always kind of targeted houses with kids but this year we did several homes whose kids are grown and gone and oh the fun! They are moving to the top of our list next year!

 We even scored some scotcharoos out of the deal! Not bad I tell ya! Not bad!

Thank you May Day for being a great day!


Today was Kadence's dance recital at daycare.



 She just takes a dance class that is offered within the daycare,which works great for us!
She, of course, did outstanding, but I am her mom!


The best part.... the instructor is a fluent signer and for each recital the kids will sign the last song. At Christmas they signed the song Believe. Today they signed the entire Stars Bangled Banner.  It was amazing, heart warming, and cool. (Man there has got to be a more descriptive word than cool! Really?! I'm tired apparently!)  Here are some pictures of them signing...here the words in your head...
OHHH SAY CAN YOU SEE...



















































Each day learn something new, and just as important, relearn something old. ~Robert Brault