Colorado!

Someone must be praying for me...My heart is in a good place...

The last day or two of our travels have been good for me.
The kids are getting into the groove,
we are not rushing or moving too fast,
we are trying to relax.
Why is that so hard for our family?

Why can't we take notes from a boy:
Find something simple in nature and let it occupy our heart, mind, and attention for hours...

Share that joy with others..."tickle it"

And feel accomplished when we do something we enjoy...
feel fulfilled to be in a new place or learning more about life from our experiences...
and being taller than Grampa!

Find a new path and explore just for the heck of it...
why do we say we "don't have time" to do simple things?

Why can a 5-year-old find so much enjoyment at a rest stop
yet we rarely take the time to stop and rest?
We adults think we've experienced so much.

Toys don't have to be new and rocking horses don't have to be pink plastic.
Yards don't have to have grass to be fun for all.

Skies don't always stay blue on a clear day, but the fun does not have to stop if it rains.
Cool mornings do not mean cool days.

If you want to wear pajamas...by all means, that is up to you!
If you want to wear dresses everyday...that is up to you too!
If you want to wear pajamas one day and dress up the next...that is up to you as well!

Some times you have to stop, look around, and absorb your surroundings
to realize how happy you truly are...
Other times...

Your happiness is in motion, and all you want to do is jump and dance and sing out of key at the top of your lungs (in your car, of course).
By all means, do it.
Don't wait for vacation because vacations end.
You have to go home after vacations and keep doing what you were trying to get away from.
Don't say you are busy...say your life is full.
If you can't get together with someone, your life is full.
Don't tell them you are too busy.
But you better try your darndest to fill your life with things you want to be doing.

Happy Fourth of July!

Nebraska Fireworks show...
An hour earlier maybe!
The kids (and Grampa) are in bed and the camper is shaking with the booms.
My eyes are heavy so this will be short, but I thought I'd put a note up today to celebrate.
What a week it's been!

All I can say for now is...
"a marshmallow would have been nice with this Grahammy and Chocolate, Mom."
These two were good friends before we left on this trip, but it's been fun watching Owen teach, Gabby lead, Owen manipulate, and Gabby sneak. They play organized games and give each other presents. They want what the other already has or wants. They are proud of the other for small accomplishments and take turns...most of the time. :-)
It has not been as taxing as I thought...but then again, it's only been three days in the car with them...Ask me again in a week or so...

More to come...

Sweets...ugh!

I'm not a fan of using food/sugar to shut up a screaming kid.
It's actually the LAST thing I would do...
However, how do you tell others NOT to do this for your kids?

For example: the local Mexican establishment...our favorite!
Gabby was screaming for a "treat" because they are sitting on the counter as we were leaving.
I almost had her out the door and the waiter/manager ran after us with blow-pops for each of the kids. He even has to go out the door to give one to Owen.
I had said, "no thank you," but he insisted.
What could I say after he comp-ed a drink and gave us extra salsa?

He meant no harm...ugh

So I had to explain to the kids that there was gum in the middle of these blow-pops and if they chose to indulge, that would be all for the day...
Owen thought about it.
Then came up with this:
"Then this is GOOD for me since it has gum in it!"

Shucks! Another method backfired!
When I was trying to get Owen to realize that he loved chewing
and wasn't really hungry, I substituted gum...
Now he thinks gum is health-food.
Ugh...

Is it a Good thing...?

Nearly everytime...I come back from errands, a date with Daddy,
or just running home to get something,
Owen asks: "Can we stay a bit longer? Do we have to go home? Now? Later?"

The other day, the so-called "going away pizza party" in preparation for our trip, we arrived back from our "mommy & daddy" time together before I was to take the kids away from Roger for three weeks, and what do I hear?
"Mom! We are not leaving, are we?"

It's always a good time at Nanny's and even better when all the cousins come.
And even better when there are marshmallows involved!

We are so lucky...

Not necessarily to have access to marshmallows...

But the closeness of friends and family.

I give in...not up...
We are the lucky ones.

Marshmallows and Graham Crackers are not necessary to earn their love,
but I would not trade this back deck for another set of in-laws.

With sticky fingers and chocolate saved for later,
We think of Gramma and Grampa...on their way...soon.
Three nights in a hospital bed may be too long for the busy-bodies they are.
Get well soon Grampa! We love you too!

Hot Days

No Lie: We were at Daddy's softball game for 5 minutes before both kids were wailing.
100 degrees will do that...

Gabby wanted me to hold her, but that would be way too hot!
Owen wanted to play baseball, but neither Gabby nor I could get the ball all the way to him.
He took two swings and then stood there for a really long minute.
We said our good-byes after watching Daddy "warm-up"...really necessary?
Owen refused to walk back to the car.
How did I entice him?
no, not food...

naked slip-n-slide in the backyard!

swinging too?

We got clean and cool in the baby pool...
Owen calls it a "kid pool"...

and we were all better!
Ok...so he asked for a Graham Cracker too...

We are just praying for Grampa Phil to be all better too!
One more day of VBS and then we can all sing you songs, Grampa!
Don't worry about a thing...we just want you healthy and here with us...

Last weekend we were quite busy and I found myself putting off doing the dishes.

They piled up so fast that I had to load the dish washer and then do a whole sink full by hand as well...both times! How does that happen?

For the past two days now, I have been able to keep a handle on the dishes. I have actually had them washed or loaded after each meal. Amazing! I know!

However, I realized why my sink fills up so fast:
We go through four knives just to butter four pieces of toast at breakfast.
Yep...four.
I guess we all like to lick our own knives after we are done...or while we butter (Gabby!).
I have no regrets about becoming a teacher. I won't ever complain about the money because I make as much, if not more, than the average American. My earning potential is not what other professions are, but I get to hit "reset" for a few short months every summer!
That alone keeps me sane...and happy!

Today we met my dear friend's boyfriend for the first time.
He was a good sport finding snails for Owen down by the river and letting her go climb the ropes with Owen for a bit. So happy she has her summer to spend with him!
Thank you Jesus for summer fun, friends, Chipotle, and all the other blessings we forget to mention!

Like kids' haircut places! And suckers to keep them focused!
:-)

Summer has begun!

Summer Sun...Playgrounds...a bit of refreshing rain...tennis camp...cousins...books...bikes...wrestling...sandboxes...picnics...
and potty training!

It always takes me awhile to get settled into summer, to rest up,
and to get to know what life without working is.
Don't get me wrong. I love it.
But you can't just go from being one thing to another in three days.

I don't want to be anything or anyone else.
I was deciding today to live my life as,
"if I don't need it, I don't want it."
Then I took another sip of my Carmel Northern Lite Latte.
Ugh

We do have a hose and water.
Baths on the slip-n-slide.

digging in the sandbox...
lots of naked time.

Who could ask for anything more?

I Smile...

Owen made me laugh the other day:
He was telling me how he wanted to get some new CARS figures...cars...like from the movie?
King, the Green one...Chic (how do you spell that?)...and Lightning McQueen.
"Mom, you can get them at Target...
you have to go in the blue door...
You go in the blue door for toys and the green door for food."
"Oh, Owen! Your two favorite things!"
:-)

I am excited that my boy likes bugs.
He collects them in a jar, a box, a can, his hands...
The other day I had to tell him why his caterpillar wasn't moving anymore.
"But, Mom...there were holes in the jar."
I couldn't tell him that the manhandling must have done the little guy in.

When I take the kids hiking...or just wandering in the woods...
Owen tells me there has to be lots of trees.
We can't go where the sun is.
"It has to be dark, Mom!"

Gabby is not a fan of collecting bugs, but she wants to tickle them.
She wants to tickle toads, caterpillars, spiders, dogs...
"Tick-a-Tick-a-Tick-a..."

I can't believe my boy was 5 a few days ago.
This time, 5 years ago...I was a new mom.

(These were trails at my Mom and Dad's...what a place...what a paradise!)

Cuddles, anyone?

I have a cuddler!
She snuggles in and wiggles her little booty, tucks her legs,
rests her head and says, "cuddle, momma?"
How can I resist? I never do...I promise!

Mother's Day was a day full of snuggles and cuddles...
from both my kids!
Owen is just getting to the age when he says,
"stop taking pictures, mom"

And Gabby's just starting to get to the stage
where she is saying "cheese" every time I take out my phone.

I even catch her snuggling with Daddy and Brother!

Okay...so they were actually just hiding and I found them like this.
:-)
Made me smile.

The way these two play together makes me so happy.
Owen speaks so tenderly and tries to teach Gabby things.
Then he gets frustrated because Gabby toots her own horn,
marches to her own beat...
Owen's a bit sensitive...and Gabby is showing her feisty self!
Feisty...Owen laughs when I say that.

I am getting this feeling that Gabby is going to be a show-off.
Allow me to try to explain the paradox my children are:
Owen has never been compliant, but he is afraid to break the rules.
He so wants to please...

Gabby is compliant and obedient, but she does it with a saunter.
A nod. A slyness I can't explain.
I have a feeling that Owen will not get into trouble...
Gabby will cause the trouble...or look for it...or want it...

My sweet angel...you make me smile...but I'm on to you!
It's easy to be motivated...to demand obedience.
I spend the majority of the day with 13/14 year olds...
I know what I will be dealing with if I don't!

Last night I was reading to Owen. Favorite books these days?
Critter books by Mercer Mayer.
Last night we read, "First Day of School."
When we were done, I told him I was going to be the proudest Momma when he started Kindergarten this fall...he gave me the goofiest grin...

He got a taste of Kindergarten when we went to his open house.
He saw classrooms, did some activities, went on a tour, and played on the playground.
I am becoming more and more thankful for my reduction of contract next year.
Part time. Ahhhhhhhh...

I made a suggestion to the administration about how to schedule my part time with another staff person's part time so we can share a class room.
They are working on it so that it will work.
I will have 3 classes, perhaps one will be advanced.
I may have a homeroom, but I will be done by 3:30.
I will be able to take Owen to Kindergarten AND pick him up!

I don't want a tragedy to be the thing to make me realize that I need to enjoy each moment.
I don't always do this though...sometimes, I am too tired to play hide and go seek or play tag on the playground. Sometimes I just want to read my own book or get my blog updated. Sometimes, the dishes must get done or I have to pick up the house before insanity sets in.

But I never want to regret the games I did not play with my kids
or the adventures we did not go on.

I want to keep laughing with my kids...

Thank you Jesus!

Easter Sunday at this point is quite a blur...
May is going by so fast!
I know that we were not able to go to church that day,
but we had wonderful celebrations together and with family.

a twirly blur...

brotherly/sisterly love...I so want them to be friends forever!

and a proud moment...

Owen didn't wear pajamas!

Easter is the recognition of Jesus' death and celebration of His resurrection,
but we need to remember that everyday.

I am so thankful for my church for showing me new things about the Easter story...

Jesus was a ferocious servant. His final act of servitude: crucifixion.
When Peter denied Christ the third time, Peter wept bitterly.
But this was after a look from Jesus.
The look was not of resentment, denial, or disappointment.
It was a look of understanding. Jesus knew he'd do this.
Jesus knew each time I would deny Him.
He still died...He still loves.

When my children fail to obey, love, or so the right thing,
how do I look at them?
Do they know I love them regardless?...