Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Halloween highlights
Before neighborhood Trunk or Treat...
Pumpkin carving night...
A Halloween-themed lunch (yes, that's a Frankenstein made out of bologna!)...
Family Halloween fun night at school...
Halloween socks at soccer...
I hope everyone had a fun Halloween season like we did! :)
Friday, November 4, 2011
big news!
Fall is always a little hectic around here. We're getting back into the swing of the school scheduling while also juggling the extracurricular activities of choice...this year soccer and football. We're volunteering for field trips and Oktoberfest and classroom parties. Kris is working. I'm preparing, in my business, for the busy holiday season ahead. What we're apparently not doing...is blogging!
Here's the major update of our fall season: we're moving to Michigan! Kris took a new position with a company in Auburn Hills and we're waiting on the house to sell so we can all make the transition. It was a pretty tough decision, but when we consider our own childhoods, we don't really think of where we went to school or what our parents' job titles were. What we think of is birthday parties surrounded by family and family vacations and Sunday dinners with our grandparents. While we'll still be a couple hours away from the closest grandparents, we are anticipating our family being more a part of our normal routine rather our "vacation". And the prospect of giving this to our kids makes me so happy.
So, as we fumble through sports and school and activities, I'm trying to take advantage of all we have enjoyed about living in KY, since I know the time to leave is quickly approaching. It will be bittersweet as we have really loved it here, but we are also so excited to be back in the state where Vernors in a can is readily accessible! Okay...and, where we have the potential to see extended family members on a more frequent basis. :)
Updates on fall sports coming soon!
Here's the major update of our fall season: we're moving to Michigan! Kris took a new position with a company in Auburn Hills and we're waiting on the house to sell so we can all make the transition. It was a pretty tough decision, but when we consider our own childhoods, we don't really think of where we went to school or what our parents' job titles were. What we think of is birthday parties surrounded by family and family vacations and Sunday dinners with our grandparents. While we'll still be a couple hours away from the closest grandparents, we are anticipating our family being more a part of our normal routine rather our "vacation". And the prospect of giving this to our kids makes me so happy.
So, as we fumble through sports and school and activities, I'm trying to take advantage of all we have enjoyed about living in KY, since I know the time to leave is quickly approaching. It will be bittersweet as we have really loved it here, but we are also so excited to be back in the state where Vernors in a can is readily accessible! Okay...and, where we have the potential to see extended family members on a more frequent basis. :)
Updates on fall sports coming soon!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
now is the time
The kids have been back to school for three weeks.
But, that's really not what this post is about, even if I am including an obligatory first day of school photo.
Last year, the first weeks of school were filled with anxiety, nervousness and worry...for me. Sure, the kids did great, but I was a ball of stress as I sat waiting for the phone call from school that someone had just had an allergic reaction or had just fallen and split their head open on the playground. Of course, as always, I was worrying for no reason. They were safe and secure and I learned to let go and put my trust in the awesome school we've chosen for them.
As the year went on, though, I started to realize how fast they would be exposed to major issues in the world...issues that I worked diligently to keep from seeping into their brains and sparking the very worry that I had for their safety. The day they came home talking about the "bad guy" drill they had at school, I wanted to pack up my family and move them to a desert island. Then I remembered that my kid is allergic to coconuts. So, I regrouped and started to change my ways.
The morning after they told me how they were told by their teachers to hide in their classroom and practice being as quiet as possible so a "bad guy" wouldn't find them, I stopped turning down the radio in the car when the news report came on. If questions ever arose from that news report, I tried to answer them honestly, but tried hard not to scare the pants off of them at the same time.
As much as I would like them to be sheltered forever and believe that the world is all rainbows and butterflies, I realized that, now that they were venturing outside of home without us, they were going to have to start to be aware that there are not so nice things in this world that may affect them or someone they love. It was this summer that they first really learned about why we are so thankful to our soldiers when a young man that I had the privilege of babysitting when he was a smiley little blonde preschooler was killed in Afghanistan. My emotions were visible as I proudly showed my kids the photos and news reports of the hero welcome that my hometown displayed as Brian's body was brought back to be laid to rest.
This year, as we drove to the first day of school, I couldn't help but think of this time of year ten years ago. Kris and I had just gotten married and moved and were excited about our new life together. Then, one month later, the towers fell and my "rainbows and butterflies" perception of the world changed completely. Yes, I'd dealt with tough times before then...medical issues, teenage angst, and my best friend losing her younger brother when he was hit by a car when we were in high school. But, I will admit, I was still pretty oblivious to most world issues. But, that day...well, I'm pretty sure I will always remember where I was and what I was doing as I learned of the news and watched the second plane hit. And this year, on the tenth anniversary of that tragic day, I think I have decided that it is time to share it with my kids.
I want them to know about those "bad guys", but, more importantly, about the heroes that day. I want them to know how it affected us and those around us. I want them to know that someone we went to school with was in those towers and made it out and ran for his life as far as he could. I want them to know that Mrs. Brook was in the city when it happened and fearfully walked the miles back to Brooklyn, unsure of what was to come. I want them to know why those soldiers are at war now. And how patriotism swelled and "I love you" could be heard amongst strangers. I want them to know that we cried and that it's okay to cry and feel compassion for those we don't know personally. I want them to know that I prayed for the families of those lost and the safety of those I love.
But, most of all, I want them to know that we were scared. And that, slowly, but surely, we learned to try to not live in fear. And I want them to learn that every day is a gift.
Okay, yes, I still have my moments where the anxiety takes over, such as those first few weeks of school last year. But, I was truly transformed by that awful day ten years ago and the months that followed, as I'm sure many others were, and I feel like it's time to share that with the two that I have been entrusted to love and comfort and teach.
Last year, the first weeks of school were filled with anxiety, nervousness and worry...for me. Sure, the kids did great, but I was a ball of stress as I sat waiting for the phone call from school that someone had just had an allergic reaction or had just fallen and split their head open on the playground. Of course, as always, I was worrying for no reason. They were safe and secure and I learned to let go and put my trust in the awesome school we've chosen for them.
As the year went on, though, I started to realize how fast they would be exposed to major issues in the world...issues that I worked diligently to keep from seeping into their brains and sparking the very worry that I had for their safety. The day they came home talking about the "bad guy" drill they had at school, I wanted to pack up my family and move them to a desert island. Then I remembered that my kid is allergic to coconuts. So, I regrouped and started to change my ways.
The morning after they told me how they were told by their teachers to hide in their classroom and practice being as quiet as possible so a "bad guy" wouldn't find them, I stopped turning down the radio in the car when the news report came on. If questions ever arose from that news report, I tried to answer them honestly, but tried hard not to scare the pants off of them at the same time.
As much as I would like them to be sheltered forever and believe that the world is all rainbows and butterflies, I realized that, now that they were venturing outside of home without us, they were going to have to start to be aware that there are not so nice things in this world that may affect them or someone they love. It was this summer that they first really learned about why we are so thankful to our soldiers when a young man that I had the privilege of babysitting when he was a smiley little blonde preschooler was killed in Afghanistan. My emotions were visible as I proudly showed my kids the photos and news reports of the hero welcome that my hometown displayed as Brian's body was brought back to be laid to rest.
This year, as we drove to the first day of school, I couldn't help but think of this time of year ten years ago. Kris and I had just gotten married and moved and were excited about our new life together. Then, one month later, the towers fell and my "rainbows and butterflies" perception of the world changed completely. Yes, I'd dealt with tough times before then...medical issues, teenage angst, and my best friend losing her younger brother when he was hit by a car when we were in high school. But, I will admit, I was still pretty oblivious to most world issues. But, that day...well, I'm pretty sure I will always remember where I was and what I was doing as I learned of the news and watched the second plane hit. And this year, on the tenth anniversary of that tragic day, I think I have decided that it is time to share it with my kids.
I want them to know about those "bad guys", but, more importantly, about the heroes that day. I want them to know how it affected us and those around us. I want them to know that someone we went to school with was in those towers and made it out and ran for his life as far as he could. I want them to know that Mrs. Brook was in the city when it happened and fearfully walked the miles back to Brooklyn, unsure of what was to come. I want them to know why those soldiers are at war now. And how patriotism swelled and "I love you" could be heard amongst strangers. I want them to know that we cried and that it's okay to cry and feel compassion for those we don't know personally. I want them to know that I prayed for the families of those lost and the safety of those I love.
But, most of all, I want them to know that we were scared. And that, slowly, but surely, we learned to try to not live in fear. And I want them to learn that every day is a gift.
Okay, yes, I still have my moments where the anxiety takes over, such as those first few weeks of school last year. But, I was truly transformed by that awful day ten years ago and the months that followed, as I'm sure many others were, and I feel like it's time to share that with the two that I have been entrusted to love and comfort and teach.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
cousin time
My kids are squeezing in the last quality brother/sister summer play time this week since they head back to school next week. But, even though they really enjoy each other's company (most of the time), I think we're all wishing we could have a little more cousin time, too. Below are a few shots of the kids with their cousins from our trip to MI at the beginning of July. While it is fun to watch them play now, I think all the parents went into slight panic mode when we came to the realization this year, that there would be SEVEN teenagers all hanging out in the driveway in 10 years!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
scarecrow
Sam,
I was trying to fall asleep the other night, but my mind was going a million miles a minute. That's usually what happens to mommies...or maybe just your mommy...who knows? I get caught up in what needs to be done the next day to fulfill my work role, my mommy role and everything that falls in between or my mind starts planning art projects.
So, I was laying there thinking about a project I might want to tackle. I'd been working on an alphabet painting for a custom order that week and thought it might be fun to tackle a farm themed one to post to the shop. I started to fill in what I could in my head for each letter that might pertain to farm life ...apple...barn...corn... I worked my way down the alphabet leaving some letters to ponder when I woke up just 5 short hours later.
When I got to "S", I immediately thought "scarecrow". And that's when your adorably chubby little 18-month-old face popped into my head. That fall, I was starting to get concerned that you were going to have a hard time developing your vocabulary. Sure, you could say "mama" and "daddy" and a few other staples to be able to communicate when combined with your laughing or crying and pointing. You had a name for your newborn sister...no, not her given name, but "Chee". It was as cute as could be, but, as hard as I tried, I couldn't get you to call her "Grace".
One day, I ran out to grab some groceries and came home with a cute fall scarecrow to hang on the front door. You were intrigued. After an afternoon of checking it out, that evening, on your way up the stairs to bed, you stopped at the front door, pointed to our new decoration, and clearly stated, "Scarecrow". I stood there dumbfounded with tears in my eyes as you toddled happily up the stairs to brush your teeth.
Today, as you carried on a lengthy conversation at the zoo casually using words like "evidently" and repeating every fact you'd ever learned about lions, I had to laugh to myself at how silly I was back when you were starting to talk. "Scarecrow" was the turning point and you haven't stopped talking since.
You've developed an ability to captivate an audience with your tales, no matter what the subject. You love to learn and love to teach what you've learned. As much as I'd love to find a pause button for the here and now, I really can't wait to find out where you go with this amazing speaking and story-telling ability that you possess. I can only imagine that it will be remarkable.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
summer in KY...
summer camp!!
Sam wrapped up his 9-day summer camp at the end of June. He was sad to have to miss 3 days of it due to strep throat and pneumonia, but we made sure he got to do what he was most looking forward to: archery! He thinks he's freaking Robin Hood now. :)
He had a blast at this camp...the complete classic summer camp that included crafts, capture the flag, archery, canoeing, fishing, hiking in the woods, etc, etc, etc, etc! We were invited for a fun show on the last day and then our camper showed us around the camp.
He will definitely be attending next year, along with his sis, who was too young to attend this year. Such a great program!
gone fishin'
They are both anxious to get back out and do it again. Fishing is so not my thing, but it was fun to watch their excitement. :)
time flies... (July 4th festivities)
Sam: "Now there's something you don't see everyday." :)
Sam: "Don't shoot!"
Grace LOVES the horses...and Ronald McDonald... :)
And what's a street fair without sugar?
Fun day! We ended it by skipping the fireworks downtown since last year was NOT fun. We got to see a nice fireworks display while at the drive-in movie the night before and we knew we were looking forward to fireworks on the beach in MI, so it wasn't a tough decision. Fortunately, it seemed most of our neighbors decided to put on a show of their own, so we were able to enjoy some anyway from the comfort of our home.
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