Routine driven Boy...

During tonight's Cleanup Battle Jacob was asked to pick up the markers and put them away...

"But Kyleigh was the one..."

"Please, son, for once...don't argue and just pick up what we asked you to pick up."

"Of course I'm going to argue! That's what I always do."

Daddy had to walk out of the room and I quickly found something Over There to look at. Because laughter only encourages them.

And he did pick up the markers.

Pauses...

Mommy, could you hold me?

Yes, my precious child.

Mommy, could I sit with you for just a little longer?

Yes...for just a little longer.

Mommy, can you carry me?

Yes...but you’re getting so big.

Mommy, I just checked a new book out of the library, could you read it with me?

Yes...come sit beside me and we’ll read.

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It's been a fairly odd day...not bad, just...odd. But scattered amongst the oddness were shiny gems given to me by my children--who also, ironically enough, provided a portion of the oddness, but that's neither here nor there.

I may have mentioned once or twice how much I love these kiddos...and I seriously do. They're the snicker to my doodle...the aid in my lemons...the laughter in my rain...the shiny side of, well...everything.

A slight hiccup in peace talks...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Peaceful vigilance...

Ah, parenting...

The first note from the Boy's teacher regarding behaviour came home today. School started almost three weeks ago. That was a pretty good run for someone who shares my genetics!

I’m having him write out an apology. I wrote it, but he’s copying it (he is, after all, still a 5-year-old). And it’s seriously cutting into his snack and PBS Kids time. That and having to sit and talk to me about it appears to be punishment enough.

Think I'll still be able to get away with this as punishment when he's in high school?

"Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth." — Walt Whitman

A return to balance...

There's a new girl in town.

A friend found herself in the heartbreaking position of having to find a new home for her one-year-old doggie. We found ourselves ready to bring in another family member. It all worked out.

Mirabella T. Doggie has made herself right at home! Kitties are less than impressed. They've been at full fluff all day.

Poor Sean and Jacob...outnumbered by five girlies!

On a Friday...

I'm packed and ready to head a couple hours south for the weekend...work in the morning, then I get to hang out and play with an old friend.

Daddy's flying solo for the next two days! The man can disarm a nuclear warhead wearing a 100lb bomb suit...two munchkins in full out Crazy Mode should be a cake walk!

I'm updating the 5k journal on run days...today was one. I like journalling this particular journey...I'm finding the accountability of it is a Good Thing.

My laptop is staying home. See you on the flipside.

Flashback...

Both of my kiddos are throughly enjoying their first forays into school. Jacob loves the bus ride and he's excited about school every day. Kyleigh is delighted with the newly filled sandbox she gets to play in!

A while ago my parents scanned in boxes of old slides. As I was looking through one of the albums I came across this one...

Other than photographic proof that I once wore a skirt, this is off to my first day of first grade (at Rosslyn Academy for those who might be interested.) I actually never went to kindergarten. We were traveling--a lot--and then it wasn't offered. The school officials sat me down for a test and determined that even though I was only 5 and no where near the birthday cut-off date, I should be able to handle first grade just fine. Fat lot they knew.

So...fast forward over three decades...my son at the same age, showing a slightly higher level of exuberance!

And, yes...I've added his teacher to my prayer list!

Journal bits...

The 5k journal has updates. I'm starting them top to bottom and with dates this time instead of bottom to top like I've been doing on the garden one...since that method didn't seem to be working out too well. The garden journal is slumbering...much like the garden itself. Except for one lone okra plant with one lone okra still growing. But it is, apparently, very happy to be alive and growing.

Well said...

You put your right foot in...

Wee girlie starts preschool in the morning. I'm lacing up my running shoes. C25K week 1/day 1 begins. Oy.

Thankful...

Thankful for peace...

Thankful for quiet...

Thankful for love...

Thankful for those that went before...

Thankful that there is comfort in remembrance...

Thankful for the hugs and whispered

"I love you, Mommy" at bedtime...

Thankful for the ones sleeping in foreign deserts tonight...

Thankful for their loved ones keeping them in daily prayers...

Thankful for the sacrifices no Man should have to make...

Thankful for freedoms so few know...

Thankful for grace...

Thankful for love...

Thankful for peace.

Live like a princess...

Someone has been spoiled rotten this week...being the sole attention getter of mom and kitties and all. Mornings filled with elaborate Play-Doh construction. Massive road building in the sandpit. Books read uninterrupted. Walks in the park...chit chatting with sheep, chickens and horses...

She starts preschool on Monday. But only three days a week...we still get two mornings a week to play.

"Forgiveness heals. Hate cripples."

The closer we get to this year's anniversary of 9/11, hate threatens to destroy the freedoms and tolerances this nation was built on. Then I read a story about two women made widows on that day who, instead of hating the nation that bred the fanatics who murdered their husbands, have worked to help widows in that same nation.

I believe in forgiveness. I refuse to lend power to hatred.

Saying goodbye to summer...

Early this year we were brutally reminded that life is fleeting. While multiple blows beat us up--they failed to beat us down. Once the dust settled, it was clear that while we were doing many things, we were busy with many unimportant things. Life, apparently, failed to realize just exactly who it was picking on. We decided to teach our children how to live life...not just how to survive it.

Instead of days spent indoors, in front of a computer or television, our days were spent playing. Our son had an amazing 5th birthday party with friends and family. We spent days at the children's museum...playing in their water play area, exploring new exhibits. I turned my back on my life long boycott of zoos and my children were delighted by their day at the National Zoo. I even swallowed my own fear of fireworks and we all experienced fireworks on the 4th of July together as a family. My daughter learned to squat and pee outside when we found ourselves far away from public toilets. My son learned the theme song to Ghost Busters. We created an entry for a national cake decorating contest. Even though our beach fund was depleted on medical expenses for our daughter, we decided the week at the beach with cousins was more important than Christmas presents for ourselves. Our son ran in--and finished--his first mile race! Even the two-year-old can pick out the landmarks along the hour drive out to the grandparent's. She knows when we pass the llamas, we're half way there. Jacob spent hours exploring the acres of woods. And we discovered the bliss of swimming under a waterfall.

Monday we made one more trip to spend the day with cousins, aunt and grandparents. A most delightful and fitting end to an unbelievable, unforgettable summer.

No one does a Labor Day parade quite like Small Town, USA...

The award winning high school marching band with cousins strutting their stuff in new uniforms. The entire fire department was out with their trucks and rescue vehicles...the local sheriff in his brand new Charger......and all were tossing out candy. Much to the delight of at least two children I know...

Even Daddy got to join us!

We finished the day by descending on my parents and a belated birthday celebration for my mom. The back terrace we've all worked on over the summer was finally--mostly--completed, and a cookout complete with roasting marshmallows was a perfect end to the day.

All of the kiddos were going back to school the next day...lots of firsts...one starting kindergarten, one starting middle school, one starting high school and the eldest going into his junior year.

Lots of pictures taken...very few non-blurry ones...everyone was in constant motion.

Our resolve to live our lives to the fullest and pursue our own dreams certainly doesn't end with summer. I sort of look back over the past several months as a boot camp to the rest of our lives...an immersion course in carpe diem...and we've come away with the tools we need to continue. And to live. And that's Important.

Kindergarten blues...

The baby the doctors told us we wouldn't be able to conceive and carry full term started kindergarten today. To say I'm a tad emotional would be kin to saying the Himalayas are merely a bunch of rolling hills.

We were waiting on the steps and not at the end of the driveway and the school bus drove right past us...

So everybody piled into the car and his little sister and I escorted him to his classroom...we weren't the only ones...the word Chaos comes to mind! I only embarrassed him with one picture...no slobbering kisses, though I did have a quick word with the classroom aide.

But he'll ride the bus home. And I'll be at the end of the driveway waiting for him. His sister will be napping so it'll be time for just he and I.

Still a better start to formal education than I had...my first day I fell off the monkey bars and landed in a pile of safari ants.

The one about the cats...

For the first time EVER we are living with cats who actually play with actual cat toys. Honest to goodness, marketed for cats Toys. Every single cat I have ever known or lived with has totally ignored--in that way that only cats can ignore something while at the same time making you feel like a complete idiot--every thing that even remotely resembled something made for their species.

I've always just assumed cats playing with cat toys was an urban legend. You know, like babies who sleep during the night at some point during their first year of life. Or toddlers who eat something other than peanut butter. Or children who are potty trained in two days at 18 months.

So yesterday we found a combination hidy hole, scratching post and bell ball hanger-thing on sale and it somehow found its way into our house.

The dangling bell balls? Best toy Ever. They were, however, later removed since our options were to either remove the toys or turn the movie up louder and thereby waking the munchkins. Sleeping munchkins will always win by default. Sorry kitties, thems the rules.

Hidy hole? Perfect. And the Kitty Displacement Theory was proven...one kitty goes in, the other comes out. Works with toddler as well--toddler goes in, kitty comes out.

Scratching post? Meh. Apparently it's redundant. The slipcover on the armchair is still available. They are, after all, still cats.

While my computer gently sleeps...*

I was left alone this afternoon for the precise purpose of an undisturbed and much needed nap. Someone forgot to tell the kitties. So, instead, I'm coming back here in some vain attempt at breathing life back into what appears to be a dying blog.

So much has changed...evolved...in the past several years that it's difficult to stick with the initial purpose of writing a blog. At first it was simply a connection between me and the outside world. I spent my days with a toddler, a new born and a husband who slept during the day. It was a necessary outlet. And it brought me sanity when I needed it most. It allowed me to pour out angst and depression instead of allowing those things to fester inside. It brought me friends I will cherish forever...connecting me to beautiful people I would have never have met otherwise. To say I am grateful is an understatement.

Now what? My marriage is no longer on the verge of imploding. The toddler steps onto the school bus Tuesday morning for his first day of kindergarten (yes, I just got a little teary eyed typing that) and the newborn rejoins her friends for playgroup three mornings a week. I look back at the person I was three years ago and I almost don't recognize her. Maybe it's the regular showers now. Maybe it's because I've grown as well.

I'm certainly not closing the curtains on the blog...just trying to figure out what the next evolution will be. I've always hesitated to write a lot on the aspects of my husband's job. He has his own blog for that and I would rather err on the side of caution and he keep that job than relay a fantastic cop story, share too much and get everyone in trouble. The kiddos and I are all starting a new phase of life. I'll most likely write more about them. Maybe more of my work with the National Arthritis Foundation as I become more involved.

I realize I don't fit into any one niche...mommy blog, LEO wife blog, farming blog, survival blog, crafty blog, weird cat lady blog...but I'm okay with that. Like I said before, at the end of the day...I'm simply me...and I'm pretty comfortable with that.

*My humblest apologies to George Harrison...

Run away! Run away!

Hurricane reaching out to take a swipe at us...food poisoning...regressing potty-training 2-year-old...anxiety prone 5-year-old regressing on many issues due to the looming start of kindergarten...himself working long hours all week...

I believe this why They came up with the term "The Loony Bin"...just waiting on the blokes with the long armed jacket...