"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

Monday, October 26, 2009

Something For Me

This blog, and in many ways my life, for the last several years has been about the children. I'm happy it's been that way! Not in the "I'm going to knock myself out being a martyr and sacrificing everything for the sake of the kids" kind of way, but in the "I love and respect my children, I brought them into this world, they're only young once, and right now their happiness is what's most important" kind of way.

But I'm still me. To that end, I wanted to share why my blogging will be sparse to non-existent from now until the first of December. I'm taking some time for myself, and doing this:


I honestly can't remember the last time I've been so excited about something that was strictly for myself.





Friday, October 23, 2009

Everett in Uniform


I love it when we go someplace like Walmart, and see someone walking out with an exciting purchase: a dad with a big-screen TV, a toddler with a lollipop, a girl with a new bike. There's just something about the look on their faces... a look of giddy, childlike, unadulterated joy.

The thing that I love about watching Everett play baseball is that he has that same exact look on his face the entire game. I can't help but smile when I see it.





Pizza Grows in the Ground


Yesterday we met up with an old homeschool group for a trip and tour of a pumpkin farm. *Old* meaning a group that we used to belong to and have just recently reconnected with. The group isn't old. The people in the group aren't old either, in fact they're mostly quite young.

What was I talking about?

Oh yes, a farm. We spent a long time wandering around the corn maze. We went on a barrel train ride, Tegan and Everett bounced in the bouncy house, and all three boys rode the pedal go-carts. They had a snack, they milked a pretend cow, and they each picked out a pumpkin to take home.

But the whole day started with a tour and explanation of their "Pizza Garden." What an ingenious idea! Designed to show kids what goes into the makings of a pizza, it was a big circular farm divided into "slices", and each slice had a different element of the pizza: One growing wheat for the crust, one growing tomatoes and herbs for the sauce, one housing a cow & goats for the cheese, one with two pigs (Pepper and Roni. Hee) representing the toppings. As we as a society get more and more disconnected from our food, I think it is great that they are doing their part to show kids where our food really comes from.... and that pizza doesn't just appear in the sweaty box from Little Caesars, or in the frozen aisle at the grocery store.

The boys were excited to tell Mike about their day, and the first thing out of Everett's mouth was "Did you know that pizza grows in the ground?"

In case I haven't mentioned it lately, I love these kids.














Monday, October 19, 2009

Paper

Everett got out his paper making kit the other day, and he and Spencer spent an afternoon soaking, blending, and creating.


Here are a couple of their finished pieces, drying out in the sun.

The paper scraps have to soak for two hours before you can make the pulp. While they were waiting, they availed themselves of the open craft bin filled with construction, scrap, and decorative papers... and got creative. They of course documented with pictures.







Saturday, October 17, 2009

Signs of Fall

Changing leaves, pumpkin pies, cooler weather, football games.

Except...we'd have to drive a bit further north to see changing leaves. I haven't had a pumpkin pie since last Thanksgiving. The weather is still, sadly, hot. And the boys are in baseball, not football. But it IS still undeniably fall in Phoenix, and it is wonderful! Fall feels like a fresh start, full of energy and promise. Makes me want to go buy a Trapper Keeper (anyone know if they still make Trapper Keepers??), a new pack of pencils, and shiny new shoes.

And I want to eat lots and lots of these...








Friday, October 09, 2009

Life & Tattoos

I have wanted a third tattoo since... well, since I got my second one. I have been looking through pages and pages of beautiful Japanese kanji, but couldn't decide on that one sentiment: something I wanted to think on and look at and be reminded of every day for the rest of my life. Then I came across the phrase ima wo ikiru which means Live in the Moment; Carpe Diem. If I have reminded myself of anything the past several years, especially when it comes to parenting, that would be it. To be present at all times, to be mindful of the moments, to appreciate the little things. To recognize that life IS the little things.

Plans change, I know this well. But as of today, this will be my new tattoo. Life is about the moments.

Here are a few happy moments from the past week:












Thursday, October 01, 2009

Tee Ball


I saw a Dr Phil episode once, where the guests were talking about their overscheduled kids. Kids they were dragging - literally - kicking and screaming, to ballet and karate, music lessons and soccer. The poor kids were miserable, the parents were miserable, and yet they somehow continued, thinking it was good and/or even important in some way for them to be involved in many activities. They were forced to go to activities they hated, and were too burnt out and exhausted to enjoy even the activities they would have otherwise liked. I promised myself that I would never do that, that when my kids wanted to try an activity or two that it would be of their own volition; that they were welcome to pick and choose; that if they tried something that wasn't a good fit that they could discontinue it.



He has only had 2 practices (though to hear him tell it, he wishes he had practice every day!) but Everett so far ADORES tee ball, and hasn't had a moment's hesitation about his decision.







LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails