Sneaking Up

She is somewhere else in her imagination. I wish I could see what she sees.

Singing and twirling in the dining room

So Helpful

A little explanation... As a pup, Jack was kennel trained. As a result, he often feels safest when he has a roof overhead. He's always under the table whenever anyone is sitting at it. He likes to be under the desk when anyone is using the computer. And his latest - he likes to be under my sewing table when I am sewing. He's weighs more than 90 pounds and my desk is quite small. It's really the most helpful thing.

Birthday #8

I can't believe we made it! She's eight. It's official. I watched home videos today of when she was smaller. Sadly, I hardly remember some of it. I remember her being a sweet, happy baby though. She had everyone wrapped around her little finger. Not too much has changed, except now she speaks instead of screams(mostly), stills giggles a lot and she makes sure everyone is listening.

Instead of a kid-party this year, Sis decided she wanted to have all her favorite people over for pizza and cupcakes. This was much more appealing to me so we fired up the pizza stone and cranked out about a dozen pizzas for 25 of Sis' nearest and dearest, ranging from a 3-month old to many, many grown-ups. She asked everyone to wear masks and knowing Sis' love of all things Phantom, one grown-up friend even came as the Phantom, tux, mask and all. Thanks Daniel.

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Sissy......

New tradition of opening presents at breakfast. I mean really, why wait?

Bigger boys had their own pizza party on the deck.

I love the look on her face. She's genuinely thrilled!

We're blessed to live here and have so many fabulous people to call family. Happy Birthday Sis!!

Happy Birthday Sis!

My baby is eight today. She's such a funny, creative, pretty, vibrant young girl. She drives me crazy one minute and has me in stitches the next. I can't imagine life without her. Happy birthday you crazy beautiful girl!!

Deep Sick Thoughts

I woke up late this morning after another night spent unable to breathe through my nose. Initially I woke early with a raging case of cramps, but after taking care of necessities I tucked myself back into bed, curled in the fetal position, thinking tragic poor-me thoughts. Being sick (this time) has revealed to me that I am an impatient person. I didn't think I was impatient by nature, but the truth has been revealed. Another morsel I discovered about myself is how much I take my health for granted. By and large I am a healthy person, or rather I don't often get sick. I have come to see these as being two very different things. Not getting sick does not make me healthy. It makes me lucky. I am fortunate to have not been unwell much in my life. I have only ever been in the hospital to have babies. I spent loads of time in the ER as a kid, most of which can be explained away by my lack of grace. I haven't had stitches, that I can recall. I've broken plenty of bones, but again - only as a kid. In fact, the first year we lived here in Baltimore, I can hardly remember being sick at all. We went the whole winter without catching anything. Nothing. Not one of us. Amazing right?!
I have been sick for two weeks now, since the drive home from the beach. I feel like I should have lost weight as I haven't been able to taste much this week and I have been expelling massive amounts of nasal debris daily. Not the case unfortunately. Oh well. I know it will pass and I will be well again. I do want to be well. But more importantly, I want to be healthy. I am going to take better care of this great gift I have been given - my body, my life. Here's to a healthier me.

When I Grow Up...

Sis is going to be eight this week. For the last few days she has been saying, when I grow up... (fill-in-the-blank).

Take for instance our trip to the grocery store today. She wanted to buy three bags of marshmallows. I said no. She said: When I grow up I am going to buy them all the time. I got the same response for everything I rejected. I told her I hope she has a good job.

My favorite conversation took place while we made rolls for dinner. I was telling her how I loved chicken noodle soup and rolls because when I was little and it was a cold day or someone was sick, my mom would always make it for us. She thought about this for a minute and said:

Sis: When I grow up I am going to buy lots of movies for my kids. Kid movies. Grown-up movies. Shows.

Me: What kinds of movies?

Sis: The Office

Me: Why do you like The Office? (which she's not allowed to watch BTW)

Sis: The jokes.

Me: Really? (said while trying to suppress a smile)

A pause...

Sis: I'm hariess(sp?)

Me: You're an heiress?

Sis: No, it starts with an H.

Me: (after thinking for a moment) You're hilarious?

Sis: Yes, I'm hilarious.

Yes Sis, you are hilarious. Sometimes I wish I could stop you from growing up at all. Just don't do it too fast okay?

Gettysburg

Its 10:00 Monday morning, aka Labor Day. Jon and I are staring at each other wondering what to do with our free day.

M: How 'bout Gettysburg?

J: Sounds good. Let's go.

(If only all decisions were so easy...)

Half an hour later, with a full tank, a cooler full of food, book for Et, art goods for Sis and tunes for Jon and I - we're off.

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. It was cool and overcast but not raining. There were people there, but I wouldn't call it crowds. We spent an hour at the museum and many hours more touring the battlefield - which is enormous BTW. I don't know how much Esther even understood. Et was amazed, as were Jon and I. I won't bother to write me feelings about the place except to say it is hallowed ground and I was completely overwhelmed at times. If you haven't been there, these pics will seem random.

The HighWater Mark - where's Pickett's Charge took place.

The Pennsylvania - The largest monument in the Park.

at Devils Den

E remembered all the names of the different battlefield areas. I thought he understood and would remember some names and battles. Apparently it had more of an impact than I thought. (Me with a big smile.)

A Couple of New Ones

 

Just a few of Jon's latest for you to check out. The yellow one is small and red is much larger. Tremendous!

My Little Phantom

She does this sometimes. She'll appear, midway through her school day, ask me to turn on Phantom and then reenact various scenes. Todays performance, starring Claudio her cat, The Point of No Return. The laundry basket is the boat. The cat, Christine.

Oak Island, NC

(I can't believe how long it has taken me to get this posted! Too many photos to sort through.)

This is E, not getting wet on Sunday after church.

What a perfect way to end the summer!

A fabulous lady and family friend let us use her beach house for a week. We invited some friends, loaded up the car and spent an amazing week at the beach. Thanks Lee!! You're the best!

Jack followed Sis around much of the time.

I love Sis' expression. This was the night we arrived. The kids were in heaven.

The kids had never been to the ocean. Not really anyway. We went to a beach on the Mediterranean, but it was in a harbor so no waves. Molto bella! It was great to see them take to the water like fish. Even Sis who is not my water-baby became quite the little boogie-boarder.

My boys.

Sis' first time in the ocean. Priceless!

I tell you I couldn't get enough of the water. I can't find them, but I know I have gills.

There was a hurricane moving up the coast on our last few days there making the waves very big and extremely addicting.

Flying kites.

Jack loved the ocean. He's a water-dog.

The crab Jack spotted and Jon caught on the beach. The kids almost loved him to death.

Christmas Countdown

I love the holidays. I do. When I was a child, my mother made Christmas a magical and special time at our house. I don't know how she did everything she did, but she really pulled out all the stops during that final month of every year. She never waited until December to pull out the Christmas music, which in fact I am streaming via Pandora as I write. There are certain pieces that transport me back in time when I hear them. I love that. I think that is one of the reasons I love the holidays so much. They are magical and fully of wonderful memories for me. So, why am I writing about Christmas in August? Well...

It's time. I can hardly believe it, but it is already time again for me to begin the Holiday Grand Plan. (Don't know what I am talking about? Click the link.) I have done this off-and-on for the past 10 years or so. I love it! I really do. I am a planner and an organizer at heart and this is a perfect fit for me. Here's the long and short of it...
~ The plan covers 18 weeks, beginning today.
~ It tells you what to do and when, to prepare for the holidays.
~ It does everything in easy and manageable steps.
~ It's free.
~ It makes the holidays, not just Christmas but Halloween and Thanksgiving too, wonderful and relaxing.
~ You can actually consider the season and what you are celebrating.
I guess to fully understand why I like it so much, you just have to check it and try it for yourself.
Let me just paint a picture for a moment to tempt you a little. (It may sound impossible &/or cheesy, but it is possible and I can't imagine a better way to spend the holidays.) It is the first week in December. It's a cold night out and you, holding a cup of cocoa, are watching a movie with your family. The tree is trimmed, the house decorated. You have little on your mind because you have finished your tasks for the season. You mailed the Christmas cards last week and finished wrapping the last of the gifts you were making and purchasing too. There are nearly 2 dozen dinners in the freezer and equally as many containers of holiday goodies tucked snugly away as well. The house is not only decorated, but clean and in good repair - many of those nagging fix-it projects finished over the past few months. You have already mailed your Christmas packages to loved ones, the advent calender is on track and you have time to read the Polar Express to your kids. It doesn't matter that there is a great sale at the mall and it is a blizzard out. Your packages are already wrapped, labeled and hidden in the closet. Your bank account thanks you too as you have spread your spending out over the last few months, not all during the month of December.

Let me just say, the years I have been faithful to this plan, I have spent more time reading Christmas stories, watching Christmas movies, making Christmas crafts, and drinking cocoa or hot cider as my kids played games on the floor. I haven't worried about over-scheduling or money or what to get my mother-in-law or anything really. Its not for everyone. Some people thrive on chaos and they work better under pressure, but as for me and mine...
Let the countdown begin.

Bless My Life

Here's a blog everyone needs to check out. It's called Bless My Life. A very dear friend and her sweet husband put this up to help people recognize their blessings and uplift and inspire others. It does just that!

Thanks A&R for your wonderful blog and all you do for others. I feel blessed to know you both.

What are you Reading?

We have been in Baltimore for almost a year now. It has been a wonderful experience, one that required some adjusting, but I finally feel like I am settled. I have felt mostly settled for a long time, but not completely. Last week while reading, I stopped and had to laugh. It was official, I was settled, complete again. I realized how many books I was reading, 4; five if you count the scriptures. (I've always loved reading. As a child I remember reading for hours in the summer outside under a shade tree. Confession: Even in high school when I would skip school, I would go to the library to read. Reading is a part of who I am.) You see, before we moved, I was always reading multiple books. After we moved here and I took on the role of full-time homeschooling mom amongst other things, I didn't make time to read like before. I was primarily reading books relating to my kids, their education, how to fit it all in, etc. Not varied enough to say the least. One problem I have is that I can't just read one book at a time. I am a multi-tasker. It's what I do.

Here's a peek at the books I am currently reading:

I have wanted to learn to knit for ages and I am teaching myself with books from the library. However this book isn't about how to knit, rather it's a journey of one knitters' life and the healing power she discovered in her craft. So far its got a thumbs-up from me.

As a homeschooling mom, I have checked these books(above and below) out at the library more times than I care to admit. Sis has struggled some with reading. (She loves to hear stories read aloud, but becomes easily frustrated when reading on her own.) Both books are filled with lists that I have been using while writing curriculum and schedules for the coming year. I have found the Read-Aloud Handbook to be so full of interesting information that I find myself telling Jon everything I have read at the end of the day. I feel empowered as a parent when I read something that I had been doing well already and I feel hopeful at the future when I find a new idea that I think will help. I liked both of these books so much, that I finally decided to buy them instead of worrying about returning them on time. They are not just for homeschoolers. I would say they are for any parent who wants to instill a love of reading in their children. Truly wonderful books, both of them.

And finally, The Lightning Thief (the book at the top) is the first in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. E first read it in 3rd grade and loved it. He has since read the entire series multiple times. I have wanted to read them too but hadn't gotten around to it until now. It's a clever book that I have a difficult time putting down. As there are five books in the series, and I am certain to not finish them all before going on vacation, I will be taking the unread books to the coast where they are sure to devour much of my beach time.

There you have it, my current reading life in a nutshell. I find that when I am reading so much that I am on the verge of ignoring my kids and letting the house go to the dogs, or in this case, the dog and cat, I am happy. Before you start to worry, I said verge. Rest assured, the kids are well, they are fed and if I know anything, probably off reading somewhere themselves.

So let me ask... What are you reading?

Ghost Bikes

Have you ever seen one of these? This was a first for me. Its called a "ghost bike". The week prior to taking this picture, a cyclist was killed at this intersection. Essentially, it is a memorial for the lost cyclist. It was sobering and touching to see it on this otherwise normal street.