Blue and Gold - Day 2

On to the 1st graders blue and gold day. It threatened to rain all day, but that actually turned out to be a good thing. The overcast clouds kept the temperature at a lovely 72 degrees. We had a nice breeze keeping us cool all morning, which felt much better than the sunburn I got yesterday.

This age group has a different set of activities than the older kids, like the ever popular parachute. They also play a game that I'm going to call "fetch". I don't know what it's actually called, but that's what it looks like. They start by throwing a tennis ball. Then they run, pick up the ball, and the first one back to the line wins. The reason that this game only works for the younger kids is because they eventually figure out that if you lightly toss the ball you don't have to go as far to get it, thus getting back faster. At this age though they all throw the ball as far as they can. So it pays to throw like a girl. This game has all of the parents laughing on the sidelines as we watch our children play fetch with a tennis ball, which they drop multiple times on the way back to the finish line. I watched one girl turn around in a complete circle three times before she caught the bouncing ball. If you think it's wrong to laugh at children, you aren't a parent. Children are a wonderful source of comedy. I'm thinking of setting this game up in the backyard this summer. Free entertainment for them, and me.

My sweet 1st grader is not the super competitive athlete that her brother is. She throws like a girl, which does pay off for her in the aforementioned game, but not so much with everything else. In fact at one point I had to pull her aside because she stopped mid-field to have a complete meltdown. One of her classmates yelled at her for being a "slow-poke". Words deeply wound this super sensitive child of mine. So having a classmate yell at her caused a volcano of tears to erupt in front of everyone. A few deep breathes later, she was ready to get back in the game, with her sister by her side. Sicily is very tall for her age so she was able to sneak in and help her sister out. Shhh, I won't tell if you don't. Alright, so I wouldn't actually let my children cheat. The PE teacher encouraged Sicily and some of the other siblings to join in on the fun. Having a friendly face helped Analiese to play with a lighter heart and have more fun.

At the end of the day, everyone was happy and sticky faced from ice cream. Another wonderful day as we count down the days until summer.

Blue and Gold - Day 1

This is the last week of school for us. The last week as a 3rd grader, a 1st grader, and a preschooler. This week we are celebrating the end of another year of growing and learning. During the last week of school there isn't much learning going on. We aren't doing a whole lot of reading, math, or science. But we are doing a whole lot of running, jumping, and ice cream eating. I find these things to be necessary parts of any child's education.

I know I've said it before but I have to say it again, I love my children's elementary school. It's full of tradition, wonderful teachers, and a healthy dose of fun. One of those traditions is Blue and Gold. Essentially it's field day with a little added competition. The whole school is divided into two teams, a blue team and a gold team. Then they compete against each other in fun games like tug of war and four square. Each grade takes a day to compete and at the end of the week the principal announces the winning team who get's bragging rights. It's so much fun. The students get very excited about it as it approaches. And if you've been there long enough you know that you want to be on the blue team. The gold team has not won in 17 years! That's a long losing streak to be a part of.

Today 3rd grade took their turn on the fields. Chris was awesome. In every picture I took it seems like his feet never touch the ground. He flew over the hurdles with ease. He ran the last leg of the four man relay and crushed the opposing team. He was one of the anchors in tug of war and helped drag the other team across the line in under a minute. I'm very proud of my boy today. More importantly, he had fun playing and laughing with his friends. Then the ice cream truck pulled up and they all got a sweet treat to cool off with. We left school sweaty, sticky, and very satisfied from a good days work.

Weekends Are For...

hikes that lead to the search for the perfect mushroom cap, and for imagining the gnomes and fairies that live beneath them.

Apparently It's My Birthday

I'm told I've turned 29 today. Surely that's not right. Not that I think that sounds too old. I think it sounds too young. In fact, I told people for two years that I was 28. Really! Last year, when I turned 28, Steven had to convince me that I was actually turning 28. I had been saying I was for the whole previous year. I just missed 27 all together. My oldest child turns 10 this year. So surely I'm older than 29. I kind of skipped the whole stage that comes with the 20s, so I often feel like I'm living in my 30s. But the birth certificate tells me I'm wrong.

Apparently I really am 29 today. However old I am, I am positive that it's my birthday if for no other reason than the fact that my email inbox had 30 or so Facebook messages telling me it was. You've got to love Facebook. Everyone who would have otherwise had no idea that it was your birthday now knows and you get ten times more birthday greetings than you would have. It's a lovely self esteem boost. They love me, they really love me. Or at least you can pretend like they do. It's really a nice little bow on the day.

I haven't asked for anything for my birthday from anyone but God. I'm just asking for an easier year than last year. I'm not going to lie, 28 kind of sucked. So I'm not asking for the perfect year or even a year without some life drama. I'm just asking for easier. Rolling into 30 next year feeling pretty good and stable in life would be the greatest gift I could receive. So far we're off to a rough start, but there are still 364 days for that to change. I'm holding out hope.

If not, I at least have August to look forward to. Even though I didn't ask for anything else, my husband couldn't let the day go by without something to make me smile. And Jack Johnson concert tickets definitely make me smile. An outside concert listening to one of my favorites with my best friend. Yes, I'm smiling very big indeed. Thank you love.

So happy birthday to me. I'm treating myself to the gift of not making dinner. Cereal anyone?

I'm So Easy...

Really, I am.

I get a lot of flowers. A LOT of flowers. I have a box in the attic just for dried roses. My husband knows that a fresh bouquet of flowers for me can cover a multitude of sins. All he has to do is walk in the door with some wildflowers and a smile. Maybe not even a smile. Just the flowers and I melt. I'm way too easy to please.

And it's not just in my marriage. I'm really easy all around. If you want to win me over buy me a thoughtful gift and I'm yours. I am a fantastic non-profit worker because I require very little compensation. I work at an art studio where I don't make enough to even buy our groceries. I spend two or three days a week volunteering at my kids school. And of course there is my primary job, being mom to three super cute kids, which is pretty much thankless and all consuming. It's all a lot of work, a lot of time, and I'm not going to lie, sometimes I feel a little under appreciated. But a small gift of some kind and I'm eager to keep going. I recently received a gift card from my boss. That was enough to sign me up for another year. I got a gift bag of the cutest note cards from my daughter's teacher yesterday that totally made all of the work this year worth it. And an "I love you" or a hug from my kids gets me through the most stressful mommy days.

See. I'm easy. I'm OK with that. Because, really, I like what I do. I love my husband and my children more than anything, so I really don't need a lot in return. But the lovely vase of flowers in the living room does make me smile and love that man a little bit more.

Rainy Day Lullaby

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. - Langston Hughes


It's raining again. It's rained for days now. So much that the ground refuses to drink it. Water sits in streams through the yard and pools around the trees.

Thunder beats the roof like a big bass drum, shaking our small cottage and lightening flashes through the windows lighting darkened rooms.

This evening fog rolled in to join the band, hovering just a few feet from the ground. It's heavy with heat, enfolding itself around the tops of the trees.

This is summer rain.

Sweet smelling summer rain, warm and inviting. It's good rain for exploring. For seeing snails creeping along tall blades of grass. For standing face up and letting it wash over you. This is the kind of rain that makes me want to walk around the backyard barefoot until my jeans are heavy and soaked. It makes me throw open windows and sit and listen.

It's like a wonderful lullaby. It quiets us and rocks us into a deep slumber of mind and soul. And as it tapers off, dripping slow, it leaves us with beautifully, peaceful dreams.

Hoping in Hope

we are walking one day at a time

sending our yells across silent air
gentle, merciful, soft
we are careful with one another
hoping kindness kills the beast

you see me vulnerable
i see you heavy
we dance slow, kiss long
we are listening to each other breathe
hoping love will restore what was lost

we tiptoe on broken glass
love hangs heavy on soft sheets
something beautiful comes in the tears
we are learning to trust
hoping hope can hold us together