Better Late Than Never

So last week (yes, I said LAST WEEK.  There will be no judgment!) The Girl's school celebrated Grandparent's day.  This is the second grade class' big hurrah for the year.  One thing I have to say about that is: Thankfully, it happens in September, and not in May.  It was a very cute, and very long event in which the kids got to show off their grandparents, put on a few musical numbers, do some crafts, read some stories, give school tours, and finally sit down and have a refreshment...or twelve. 

Here are some pics of all the fun that was had:

Some singing goodness:

(Side note: The Girl was very excited about singing at Grandparent's Day.  She practiced for a few weeks.  She has become quite the little singer as of late.  Since she has shown no real love for music up until now, I am quite surprised at this new little development.  I was flat out shocked to learn that she got up in front of the whole lunch room to sing "Happy Birthday" to a recess aid ALL BY HERSELF.  Apparently, the lure of the microphone and some candy was more than she could handle, and she caved.)

Here, she and her grandma are making some bracelets:

Next up: The Bookmark station: 

On to a little reading:

And if no one has built up a sweat yet, then it' was on to the photo booth:

Thank you so much, Grandma, for coming out for Grandparent's Day!  It was so fun to have you!

Next up: Our small weekend getaway...Yes, it was last weekend. 

So. 

I am working on promptness.

As If You Cared

Dear Fall,

Today is the day that you officially return to us.  While I do apologize for all the nasty thoughts and words I have said about you in the past, it is true, you are not my favorite time of year.  

However, your color is amazing.  At times I actually go breathless taking in all of your gorgeousness.  And who doesn't like stomping around in crunchy leaves? 

Yesterday, when I was out and about, I took in a deep breath of your crisp air and realized how fresh it smelled.  Instantly I  thought about pumpkins, apples, harvest, and all things cinnamon.  A smile crept onto my face.

I have to admit, as I read a magazine on the porch yesterday, I was actually happy to not be sweating.  It's true, the temperature had dipped below 85 degrees, and I was still able to find happiness.  Also, I have been finding a small amount of joy in trying on sweaters and cardigans. And the boots this season?  They are too cute!

However.

*ahem*

My biggest beef with you still remains.  Why must you bring along all of the nasty colds, viruses, and flu bugs?  Really?   They are pure misery.  You know, you are who you hang out with.  It is for this reason that you and I cannot be BFF's, or even F's for that matter.   Some will say all the other aforementioned things totally outweigh the illnesses that come with fall.  I say, "No. No, they don't." You have hurt me in this area, and I will forever have a guard up with you in regards to this.

Sincerely,
Me
Team: Summer

(But you already knew that)

Driving, and Luches, and Volunteer Time Oh My!

Just so we're clear, it's not for lack of material that I am not blogging very often.  Oh, no.  It most certainly is not.  What I thought was an all time low for number of posts per month, is now going to become even lower I fear.  While there is plenty to chat about here on the o'l blog, there just isn't much time to chat.

I'm sure you knew that by now.  I however, am still flabbergasted day in and day out at the amount of busy that is my life.  And really?  There isn't too much to show for it.

Sad.

The Hubs and I started noticing something with my car lately.  It seemed as though, we were constantly filling it with gas.  And by constantly, I mean once a week. 

Because I am quite the world traveler. 

Usually, a tank will get me two to two and a half weeks.  Everything I need is within a five mile radius.  While some might call that boring or maybe feeling trapped in, I call it blessed.  I love that everything is so close and there is little opportunity for me to have to fight off traffic to get to where I need to be.  Another word I would use: convenient.

Lately, however, I have been quite the traveler.  Unfortunately, it's primarily all been done in that same five mile radius.  Having two kids in two different schools and on two different schedules equals more car time.  Add to that errands, errands, a few activities, appointments, and then a few more errands and BOOM, there you have it.  I feel like I am never out of the car some days. 

I always thought that when the kids were in school I would have all this time that I would have to fill.  I thought maybe I would go back to work (Doing what, I have no idea because what I wouldn't be doing is teaching.  How people are able to be parents and teachers at the same time BLOWS MY MIND.  That's a whole lot of "kid" in one day.  The thought of picking up the ol' lesson planner gives me the willies.  Of course, there is always Been Blessed (at least that is what the plan was), but WOW! Running your own business takes a TON of time.  Especially when said business is run exclusively by yourself.).   However, what I am finding, at least right now, is that when your kids are in school, you don't have more time, you have less time. It feels much more busy now than it ever has.

So what are we spending our time on?  Well, as most mom's of school aged children will say, it's a lot of little things that add up to a whole bunch of time.  Things like:

1. Driving.  If your kids don't go to a neighborhood school or are attending a preschool, where there is no bus service provided, you are taking your sweet little cherubs to and from school.  Everyday.  Since The Girl's school is a charter school, no one takes the bus.  Everyone is driven to school.  That means there is a carpool lane.  That wraps around the entire school and neighboring neighborhood.  And you must wait your turn in it. 

2.  Lunches and snacks.  Yes, The Girl's school does provide a hot lunch everyday, however, they are not that affordable, and the quality of food is only so-so.  So while she does order lunch about once a week, there are all the other days of the week that we must pack.  The Little Man's pre-school does not provide lunch at all.  He must pack everyday.  And don't forget the snacks and the water bottles!  OH! and The Little Man?  Yes, my sweet little boy.  He will not touch lunch or snack if he thinks it has gotten too hot in his lunch box (honestly, I can't say I don't blame him.  The thought of a warm turkey sandwich with mayo on it makes me want to gag, too).  So, we have ice packs for all lunch boxes and snack packs.  Once we ensure that everyone will have a lunch and snack that will both a) stay the proper temperature and b) not leak all over everything (remember the water bottles!) we are ready roll.

3. Homework.  I really don't need to write too much here do I?  Honestly, the amount of homework given to kids these days is a bit ridiculous.  Maybe it's just me?  Being a former teacher, I do understand the value of homework.  Really, I do.  However.  The Girl is only seven, and just like all humans, she will only be seven for one year.  I don't know.  I just think she should be able to come home and play a few days a week.  I will say a few things, though.  First, the amount of homework really isn't too bad about 90% of the time.  Second, we are getting into a better routine and having a better attitude about it which is about 95% of the battle.  



Secondly, on Thursday, The Girl brought home an invitation she had gotten from the Math club at school.  Apparently, they would like to put together Math teams from grades 2-6 and participate in a Math competition at the end of the year.  She was invited to join the team.  Of course, I was very proud of her and excited at the thought of her doing something extra curricular that would boost her self confidence.  She didn't feel the same way.  At all.

I think her exact words were, "I think this is about the dumbest thing they could have ever asked me to do!  I would never want to do anything like this ever in my whole life!  What are they thinking!?!"

I still have the invitation. 

Clearly, I cannot (and should not) force her to do anything that she feels that strongly about, but on the other hand, I really think it would be so good for her.

I really have to start wrapping my head (and heart) around the fact that just because someone is really good at something doesn't mean that they like doing it.

4.  Volunteer time.  Right now, my volunteer time is at a minimum.  And, yes, I feel like a major slacker.  I do get into the school, though, and I will be doing more in the next few weeks ahead.  For some reason, right now, an hour a week feels like I am donating half my day.  And that is just for The Girl's school.  When The Little Man's school even looks like they are coming after me looking for a volunteer, I panic and run.  Sad, I know.  I have rationalized though that it is just pre-school *ahem* Jr K, and we will only be at that school for one year.

5. Speaking of running and school, the other thing that is sucking the life out of me taking up large amounts of time is running.  While the kids are in school, and I am not running away from volunteering,  I am still running, but for another reason.  I signed up to run another half marathon in October.  I know.  What was I thinking?  I don't really think I was thinking at all, actually.  I think I went crazy for a little bit, and got all swept up in the fact that I knew quite a few people that were running the same race, the fact that it was the inaugural race for our city for this particular series of races, and that since I have already raced in this series this year, I will be getting a special medal.  Because at the end of the day, it is all about the medal.  *ahem*  I keep telling myself that this is the last big race I am doing for a VERY long time.   Of course, I think I was saying the same thing, at about the same point in training, for the last one.  But this time I am SERIOUS.  I mean it.  Really.

I have lots of lunches, homework, driving, and volunteer time I need to be focusing on.

And maybe some more consistent blogging.

Finding the Missing Link in Time, Moutaineering, Burritos, and Faith

A few things on my mind:

1) WHAT THE HECK!?!  How is it already almost mid-September?  I feel like I am in a race.  I know the  race is a marathon and I should pace myself, but instead I am still running a bit faster than race pace.  Ug.  Not something that makes me happy.  I don't like that my days are slipping away faster than the speed of light.  We don't get these days back, people!  This song playing on the radio all the time, isn't really helping me with the guilt factor either.  I do love it, though (the song, not the time moving at the speed of light thing), and will probably be using in an end of the year project I am hoping to do.

I would say that I think things will slow down here shortly, as I can tell we are getting into a much better routine with school and all, but I think that could be a lie.  Because let's face it, it never slows down.  There's always something when kids are in school.

I don't think I have to remind you how much I love summer, do I?

Well, OK then.

B) We've taken the kids out on two successful outings recently.  Being that they are five and seven you might think that they should have accomplished successful outings years ago.  Have no fears, they have mastered the grocery store, the dentist, even a bikini wax (That's a story for a different time.  A time that doesn't exist in blog world).  No, these were outings that were going to require serious physical activity, which surprisingly, my kids are not that into.  I KNOW!  Who's kids are they?

Recently, we went to cheer my sister on in her first triathlon.  Since it was a very popular event, parking was CRAZY.  So, The Hubs decided he was going to beat the parking issue and find a spot in located on the back side of the event and walk in a different entrance.

Well.

We did find a spot.

However, we ended up having to walk about a mile and a half to get to the finish line of the race.  Obviously, the Hubs and I were going to be fine with that.  The kids?  Notsomuch.  The fact that The Little Man starting whining about all the walking he had done BEFORE WE EVEN LEFT THE PARKING LOT should have been our first clue.

But we forged ahead.

For me to type out the rest of this story is really just a silly waste of time.  I'm sure you all know how the rest of this day went.

So, when The Hubs started getting a hankering for a family hike, I was like "Um, no way.  And please stop trying to give me flash backs to that dreadful triathlon parking experience."  That was all that needed to be said.  He too started having flash backs, and dropped the subject.

Well, this past Labor day, we decided to give the ol' "family hike" idea another shot.  We stayed relatively close to home so that if we needed to save ourselves, home wasn't too far off, and we also would have saved ourselves a ton of driving for nothing.  The good news is:  The kids did FABULOUS!  I was super shocked all day long.  I have never seen/heard The Little Man be so chipper about hiking/walking around.

They were heavily bribed, but who cares?  It was still a wonderful day, and I too enjoy a little ice cream after a hike.

The second outing which involved physical activity was an evening out rock climbing.  Again, we were on shaky grounds here because the amount of effort we were asking the kids to put forth, without putting a bounce house in front of their faces, was big.

Again, I was totally blown away with how hard they worked, how they kept trying when they struggled, their happy can-do attitudes, and also, I'll admit, I was shocked by how well they did.  I mean, I really feel like they could take on Everest in the next year.

*Ahem*

Before I get too full of pride, I should remind myself that neither of my children will ride their bikes.  One child won't even look in the bike's general direction.  Thankfully, there are scooters.

3) evol. = Love for me.  Try some for yourself, and find out why.   I especially dig the bean, rice and cheese burrito. YUM.  Especially good on the days that everyone is in school and I have to try to come up with something for lunch on my own without stealing stuff off of the kid's plates.  Looks like they will have a new fall line up as well...can't wait!


And) I am still amazed at the fact that you don't have to teach boys how to spit or make awesome sound effects.

Finally, here are some recent reads that are totally changing my perspective on God, myself, and life (especially the life I have been given to live):  Crazy Love  by Francis Chan really opened my eyes (again) the the crazy love that God has for me and His children.  It also reminded me of what loving God back should look like in my life, and it gave great examples of people who dedicated their lives to loving God in a "crazy" way.  Warning: Lots of conviction here, be ready to take deep breaths.

Another Francis Chan (because after the first one I needed more) Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit.  Gulp, and double gulp.  Makes me crave the Holy Spirit and His power even more.  If you are ever curious about the Holy Spirit, how He works, and His power, then grab this book FAST!

Lastly, Radical by David Platt

Let's just say, God is working on my heart like crazy now through these three books.  Add to that a summer spent going through the book of Isaiah, and I am praying that, like God promised Israel, He will rebuild me in a way that makes people stop and say, "Only God can do a work like that!"

Oh, there is much to be done.

A Different Light {Project Two Times Twelve}

So, it was almost bedtime on the 31st of the month when I realized I hadn't done this month's Two Times Twelve project.

Oops!

In my defense, it's been a busy month!  We've traveled and started school, and with school we started new routines while we held onto old, wonderful routines with a death grip. 

So with no time, and no light for an outdoor shoot, I figured I had to come up with something.  It was the perfect storm for forcing me to find something different, something outside of the box.  Yes, I am going to regret not being outside while the weather permitted, but that's the way the cookie crumbled this month.  So, with much trepidation, I hauled out the ol' studio lights and did something different.

I know when you see these, there will be a few thoughts that run through your mind.  Just remember, this exercise is about stretching my brain creatively.  This month's pictures are more on the artsy side than I usually go.  They are about emotion, but they are not about perfect grins.  They are about lighting and drama.  They are about the subject (the kids in this case), not the clothing or environment (because I didn't plan out outfits or have light for environment). I also was working on using negative space (space that has nothing in it) instead of my usual "fill the frame with faces/people" technique.  I was quite surprised at what more space around the subject would do, how it changes the whole image.  How moving the subject around in the negative space, even though it's the same subject, same pose, same look, can create a whole different feel.  It was very interesting to me to play with space.  I feel like I have really learned something new through this month's unprepared, very simple, shoot.

The Little Man is up first:

 Above is an example of no negative space.  Below I added negative space to the image:

Can you see a difference space makes?  I think it's huge!  In the bottom image the kids look like...kids.  They are small compared to the space around them.

The Girl's turn:

Both images of The Girl have negative space, but even more negative space in the bottom image, again, let's the viewer understand how small she is compared to the space she is in.

The other thing I loved about this exercise is how the lighting really helped me to see little things that I usually miss on a daily basis.  Like The Girl's perfectly shaped lips and the best divot thing-y below her nose that I have ever seen (how's that for technical terms?).  How perfectly shaped each of their noses are.  Their cheek bones, and the squareness of The Little Man's jaw.  When photos are this simple, you see these things.  You are forced to look at every inch. 

Every perfect little inch. 

And drink it in.

I'm glad I almost forgot my project tonight.  I got to see my kids in a whole new light.

Workin' On My Heart

Before I get started on the serious stuff *ahem* I do have two Little Man stories that I must share, mostly for my own documenting self's sake.  First, The Little Man will never eat fish again in his whole life if I have anything to do about it.  After whining and grumbling his way through some fish tacos for dinner the other night, he had what we think was an allergic reaction to the fish.  Either that or kids sometimes spontaneously turn into shooting geysers in order to scare the tar out of their mothers.

*Shudder*

On another, much more funny note, The Little Man brought home a worksheet that he had filled out after working some experiments at school that taught buoyancy.  According to his sheet, the kiwi and the grape did not float.  So, I asked him about it:

me:  Wow, Buddy!  Did you do a Science project today with fruit?
p: Yup, we had to see which ones would float and which ones sunk.
me: So it looks like the grape didn't float.  How come?  Why did the grape sink?
p: I don't know.  It just did.
me: You don't know?  It just sunk?  Why do you think that it couldn't float?
p: I guess it was just a baby grape and hadn't taken it's swimming lessons yet.

Awesome.

Now, I will attempt to be serious.


This verse has smacked me upside the head with a two by four.  "Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.  For we are each responsible for our own conduct."- Galatians 6:4-5 NLT.  

Ouch.

I can't stop thinking about it.  I think some might call this "Being convicted".  I'm just going to say that this may or may not be something I need to work on.  I am pondering just how often I am satisfied with knowing that I have done the best job that I can do, or knowing that I am working my hardest, and finding satisfaction in that versus working hard so that I can find satisfaction in knowing that I have done something better than someone else. 

Gulp.

That whole being competitive/comparative and seeking out the approval of others thing, yea, it trips me up.

Lastly, while it was one of the most wonderful summers I can recall in a very long time, there were also some trials that were endured.  Since the trial itself did not involve me directly, I won't be divulging specific details, but here are a few things that I have learned:

1. Family.  It's so nice to be so tightly bound to people who love you and support you. People who hurt when you hurt, and will laugh or get mad when you think something is funny or you get angry.  People who will listen to you talk about the same thing over and over and not care.  People who are fine with hearing the story/your feelings/your thoughts several times, and it never gets old.

2.  Sometimes (most of the time) the biggest amount of growth a person can have is when they are suffering/struggling.  While we work through hurts, struggle through raw emotions, and deal with devastation we grow and learn.  I don't know many people (myself included) who have said "Wow, you know, I think I have really grown today and learned something new about myself and what I can endure while I skipped through the daisies!"  It just doesn't happen.  But when we struggle, lean on others, and turn our hurts and devastation over to the one true, holy, and righteous God; He works us, forms us, and if we let Him, He rebuilds us into something new.

3.  Watching someone change who they are and seek out God with all their heart is beautiful.

4. Even if it isn't you who is directly in the fire, you can still learn and grow.

5.  God's plans are bigger than ours.  What He has set out to do no human can undo.  He is sovereign and perfect in His timing, and while we are surprised daily, or taken off guard,  He is never surprised.  He knows the beginning and the ending, and is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

6. Loving, seeking, and serving Him with all my heart is the most important thing in my life.  While that doesn't mean I will never endure hardships, it does mean that I will never be alone.  It also means that I can trust that whenever I am in a season of refinement, I can trust that He is watching over me and holding me close,  and prayerfully He is rebuilding me into someone more like Him.

Livin' the Life Continued...

Where did we leave off.

Oh yes, the toads.  Or frogs? No, I am pretty certain they are toads.  Who knows.

These guys:

Well, they were everywhere.  The Girl LOVED being a toad mommy for a day.  I think she may have enjoyed that more than catching bugs.  It's hard to tell because the toads were so novel that it may have influenced her excitement for them.  We did eventually convince her that they could not come home with us.

Earlier, that same day, we were able to spend the afternoon fishing.  Just a short distance from my Uncle's farm, there is a prime fishing spot off of a little bridge.  It's a spot where you literally can't pull the fish in fast enough.  Sometimes you pull the fish up two at a time here.  My kids will never, ever, know or have the patience for real fishing because of how spoiled they were here.  I'm going to be honest, I don't know or have the patience it takes for real fishing because of this place.  I can remember fishing here at this same spot as a kid.  It was so fun to see my own kids having just as much fun here as I did when I was young.

Here they are, the Fishing Fools:

As you can see, from the bend in the pole, they already have a fish (or two) hooked.

After a few rounds of fishing with adult help, each kid got a chance to reel in a fish on their own:

Ahh, sweet success (thankfully, there wasn't even a chance that they could fail.  Is that still called success?)

And a few of them without fishing rods because they are cute:

OH!  I almost forgot one of the best parts of this afternoon.  Well, maybe it wasn't the best part for me, but the kids sure thought it was super fun.

Yup.  That's my kids.  Riding in the back of a pickup truck.  Sans their cars seats.  Heck, sans the seat belts.  Yup, there they are just feeling the freedom of an open country road and the wind blowing through their hair.  They thought this was pretty cool.  I'm glad they thought it was fun. 

They better not EVER do this again unless we are on the same country road.

*ahem*

More happiness at freedom found:

The next day there was a restful morning to be found.  I have never been happier at my choice to switch the kids over to PBS this summer than that morning.  Yes, the hotel we stayed at did have cable complete with Nickelodeon, but it was a Sunday morning and none of the shows they knew were to be found.  Except!  Except for on PBS.  *sigh*  Oh yes, PBS had shows my kids loved on for two straight blissful hours. 

After sitting around for  awhile, we (my mom and I) thought it would be best to exercise the children.  The small town we were staying in did have a park, so we packed them up and headed out. 

We really should have considered why there was no one at the park for a little longer than we did before we slathered everyone up in sunscreen, but we just thought we were lucky and were going to get the park to ourselves.  I think the people who live in that small town were looking out their windows at us and kind of snickering and saying something like "City Folk" or "They sure aren't from around here, are they?"

To say it was hot and sticky would not quite describe that afternoon.   Now, I am sure that there are some of you out there reading this thinking I am some sort of big ol' wimp because I can't handle a little humidity.  Well, you are right.  I can't.  I can't even say that I am willing to try, actually.

Shortly after arriving at the park, the kids started to feel like they were going to melt (because we probably actually were melting internally), and The Girl had to use the restroom (of course she did).  So as I scanned around looking for something that looked like either a bathroom type building or even an outhouse, I spotted an open door on an out building that was located across this grassy area/field-ish type thing.  All we had to do was get there.

Alive would've been nice too.

There in that grassy area is where the blood sucking bird like creatures mosquitoes hang out when it's so hot and sticky you feel like your insides are liquefying.  Upon entering the field, we awoke them from their daytime slumber, and they were oh so hungry.  Thankfully for them, we were able to provide them with a couple quarts between the two of us.

Awesome.

We quickly decided that heading over to a Dollar Store that we saw on the way to the park would be a much better way to stretch our legs.

Later that day, we had a chance to visit the farm my Grandma was born on.  It is still being worked by family today and has pigs and cows.  Usually we visit in the spring when all the pigs are having babies and it is way too fun to see the little guys all fresh and new.  In August they look a little different:

They smell a little different too:

(Oh, by the way, that sky in the background?  Yes, it is green.  We had a little storm blow through shortly after this picture was taken.)

These guys are watching the storm brew and probably wonder what we are doing outside when clearly the weather is taking a turn for the worse.

That is the only picture I have of The Little Man on this farm.  You might be able to make it out here, but he is holding his nose.  What you can't see is that he is having a very difficult time, not just with the smell, but apparently he's not real fond of animals.  Pigs, cows, dogs, cats: The Little Man is not at all interested, and also is a bit fearful.  I think he might have been trying to find his happy place.

The next morning, we packed it up, gave another pint or two of blood, had some issues with the bugs again, and headed out for a long day on the road.  I was really worried about The Little Man.  Historically speaking, he is not the best at road travel.  Or sitting for more than 30 minutes in general.  However, he surprised me.  He did great!  He's even asked when our next road trip will be.  He likes them because "They don't cost a lot of money, but we still get to do fun stuff."

Oh, and the copious amount of Gobstoppers that I serve all day long probably help too.

I have to say, I too would like to hit the open road a little more often that we have.  The kids did awesome, we had a great little get away, and it was nice to be together as a family without any distractions.

Except PBS.

We liked the PBS.