S&T - Back to School/New School - Middle School!

Please stop over to participate!

Michael started 6th Grade this year--which is Middle School(!) (For me, I went to grade school from K-6, then Jr. High School 7-8, so this is something a bit new to me).

Every school year I have a set of poses that I always get photos of, and there are some I have added throughout the years...


All packed the night before.


This morning, all ready dressed and ready to go! Normally, I would have gotten a photo of him in his bed, as I woke him up--but my Middle Schooler has his own alarm clock now--and he was already up and dressed!




Breakfast time! It seems First Day of school is always scrambled eggs and some type of melon (usually cantalope).



Kif wants some too!! And lately, the cats always have to invade the pictures...


Ready to go...


Middle School awaits!


Blowing a kiss, as he goes to school. (This photo was taken from the car window...he did not need us to get out and walk him there, we just dropped him off--and watched him go...and then I cried).

Happy First Day of Middle School, Michael!

Oh, and to compare, here is Kindergarten and Third Grade...it goes by fast!

Back to School Anxiety (Mine)

Tomorrow is it. Michael will be going to Middle School. A new school, a new schedule, a new set of teachers. A new routine for the whole family.

And then there are the anxieties of a mom of a Quirky Kid (good book). To keep Michael focused, he has to take ADHD medication. Which not only focuses him, but also focuses him so much that he gets OCD about various things. He tends to think in black and white terms, while the world around him is gray. He is funny and intelligent--sometimes qualities that get him in trouble, since he doesn't always understand appropriateness in situations.

Back to school time for me involves thinking about strategies for keeping my son on track and focused on his homework at night after he has spent all day staying focused. It includes every other Tuesday night taking him to behavioral therapy. Note writing to teachers explaining how my son thinks/works--helping them try to understand him and help him learn. Meetings with teachers, phone calls in the middle of the day concerning behavioral issues. Worries about teasing and fitting in and friendships.

The good news is that I have seen Michael mature along the ardouous journey of elementary school. I know there are many obstacles in his way, not the least of which is puberty, peer pressure and PILES of homework. But I also know that he can meet those challenges, and that I am ready to help him in any way that I can.

Ok, Middle School...we are ready! (be gentle, please!)

Thoughtful Tuesday

JJ has a wonderful idea for posts on Tuesdays expressing either something that you are thankful for, something that you have witnessed that was an act of kindness or something that you have done to "pay it forward".

I am thankful for my organizational skills. They served me well when I was in high school and college, meeting deadlines and keeping up with homework and tests. I am the type of person who loves nothing more than juggling several different jobs all at once, prioritizing them and being able to cross them off my list. Boy, I had no idea that these skills were not only PERFECT for having a family, but would be challenged and brought to new strengths through the various demands of said family.

I love technology's role in this--I just started an on-line calendar system--and I am actually excited by that (!) Yep, I am an Organizational Geek! I have excel spreadsheets for holiday gifts; I use reminders from Amazon for birthdays, etc...(and yeah, I STILL lose track of some things)

I am thankful that my skills are useful in my work environment, that often this is the major asset that I bring to the company I work for. I have whipped my current office into a much better working state that it was when I started there over a year ago. And I am proud of that.

But, I am especially thankful that because of my organizational skills, we as a family not only run pretty well (well, sometimes a bit chaotically, especially with the addition of Todd-lor, but still...our family runs), but also we often are exploring and adventuring with different activities and fun things to do and places to be. And we wouldn't be able to do as many of these things if I wasn't such an Organizational Nerd.

Read more Thoughtful Tuesday Posts HERE.

Perfect Moment Monday

Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between. Once a week we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join.

Moment #1: It's 11:00 p.m. on Saturday. We are going to go to bed soon, but we hear a commotion upstairs in her room. My husband goes upstairs and then yells for me to help out. Her sippy cup leaked water ALL over her, her bedding...everything. We change her, change the bedding. But her hair is still wet. We bring her downstairs and turn down the lights, finish watching a little television while she snuggles against us, her hair drying. She is awake, but quiet (so unlike the active toddler we usually see in the day). It strikes me that in a few years time, it will be just us three on the couch watching television while my son is in college. I also remember times like these with my son when he was her age. The small unexpected moments in the last minutes of the day remind me yet again how much I love her.

Moment #2: Saturday during the day. We go to Salem to walk around and enjoy the day. We go to a wax museum that has Horror statues from various classic horror movies in it. Scary music is played and the atmosphere is very haunted house-like, but yet pretty tame (no one jumps out at you). My son LOVES classic horror movies and scary stories--but within his control. So, when we go there, he bulks. He is scared to go in, even though I say I will be right with him. We go in the lobby and see incredibly wonderful replicas of the Mummy and Frankenstein (one of his favorite characters) and the Phantom of the Opera. The museum's operator talks to him and explains that the rest of the exhibit is the same, just darkened (with spooky music and sounds, which are actually creeping me out a little). He still bulks. But then says he will do it if I go in with him. And then the owner and I spend about 10 minutes trying to get him to go inside the exhibit. And he starts to, then stops. Both the owner and I are very patient, but we can just tell--its not going to happen. My son and I leave...I am a bit tearful, because I know that he is letting his imagination stop him from enjoying something I know he would like, if only he would let himself try to overcome his fear. I tell him nothing of this, I feel that he tried his best and that is fine, I was willing to leave it at that. But he says to me "Mom, are you crying?...Let's go in again--I will do it this time."

And, after a little more hesitation, we do. At first he wants me to hold onto him. But, after a while, he becomes my son again--intrigued by the characters and the movies and the various artifacts. He points out that the music and sounds actually are the worst of it to him, and when he hears a skip in the music, it helps him to understand the artifice of it all. And then we go through the whole exhibit again.

And then he makes his father go with him a third time.



To see more Perfect Moments, click HERE.

Summer Assessment

As Labor Day approaches, its time for a look back at this summer.

Weather-wise, here in New England, it was better than last summer (last summer ALL of June was RAIN). We did have some heat waves, but generally speaking, the weather did not hamper our activities very often.

Before school even ended, we kicked off our summer by going to a Weird Al concert. One of the best performances I have seen, it was so great to have our friend Tom along and to watch Michael mesmerized. Michael is actually pretty good at knowing the words to several songs—verbatim. Of course, that meant that on the long ride to the venue Tom and Michael had a musical singing war; it was an off-key rendering of many many Weird Al songs…at times the back seat seemed to have two 12 year olds back there!

Our week on Cape Cod was wonderful -- the weather was awesome, the beaches beautiful, yummy seafood and relaxation! We did some things we traditionally do, but we also did a few new things—a Pirate Adventure, science tour, catching hermit crabs…all fun!

Then July 4th at Canobie Lake, a tradition that keeps getting better. And my mom visited and got to enjoy her grandchildren. We introduced Willow to the Rainforest Café.

Usually I am the one desperately looking towards Autumn (one of my favorite times of year, especially here in NE). This is the first summer in a long time that I will very much miss. I think this is because we did a lot of fun things and enjoyed ourselves, but it’s more complex than that.

There is the passage of time that the change in seasons brings. Michael starts Middle School, with a locker and “Home Room” and “Gym Uniforms”. Willow has become more verbal than ever, often surprising me with the things she says and the concepts she has learned. She gives kisses (“tisses”) and hugs to people, she has started the slow march toward potty training.

However, I think the feeling that I have about summer is different this year. I think this is one of those rare summers where everything clicked and I was really able to enjoy being a parent and watching my children grow. I LOVED the fact that my children embraced summer. They have both went to the beach more times than I have this summer. Willow’s daycare provider has taken her to the local zoo and to playgrounds, the beach and to birthday parties. Michael went to a summer camp for Adventure Role Playing and then has spent the month of August at the YMCA Camp, where he passed his test to be able to go into the deep end of the pool to swim and got so filthy at a state park that I was reminded of Pig Pen from Charlie Brown. The kid’s hair has grown out, their bottoms of their feet toughened, tans glowing. There were sleep-overs, late nights, trips to ice cream stands, camping and playing in the dirt. There has been discovery and fun and smiles. And I have enjoyed it all.


Thank you summer 2010. You really were something to remember.

S&T - A Cow Goes -- MOO!! (And poop, and all sorts of disgusting things!)

My friend Suzy has decided to revive one of my favorite things--Show & Tell!!

So, please stop over to her blog and participate!

This Sunday found us surprisingly unscheduled. So, in thinking of things to do, I decided on an old stand-by. We have been going there for years...


(oh my, really, he used to be THIS small?!)



(and yeah, I left my camera in the car, so no matching photos of Willow)

There are many interesting things about this dairy farm. First off, its a State Park with many nature trails, etc. Secondly, it has an actual family owned, working dairy farm. And Thirdly, there is an ice cream store at the farm--the ice cream is made fresh, and there is a window where you can look out at the cows!

But, the many times that we have been there, we have never taken the free Park Ranger tour of the farm. Until Sunday.

First off, being a working farm, being in the middle of a heat wave, meant that we could smell a not so sweet smell when we entered the farm. We thought it was manure--but it was actually Silage (feed for the cows). Our Ranger was really helpful in showing us the silage (YUM!--well for cows it is!).

We got to see the pregnant cows in their "maternity" ward and then we went into the barn and got to see the wonderful machines that cows are as they process that food (yeah, we saw some elimination action!). Michael was very astute and asked many interesting questions...and he even noticed that one of the cows (all of them are female) had a recent incision...and asked if she had had a C-Section (yes, she had).

The best part (for Willow, especially) was seeing the "baby cows". (Willow doesn't get the term "calf") There were about 10 calves housed outside the barn area and we were able to walk right up to them and while some of them were shading themselves inside their little houses, we were able to pet a couple of them. And I even let one suck my finger (cows don't bite as they only have teeth on the bottom). Boy, did that calf have a lot of suction!

We all learned a lot of neat things about the farm itself (they are using concrete silos on the ground level, and building a new barn with a robotic milking machine) and it was fun watching Michael and Willow each take in something different from the experience. (This is so WHY I love DOING activities with the kids!)

The other bestest part--ICE CREAM afterwards!! :-)

Thoughtful Tuesdays

JJ has a wonderful idea for posts on Tuesdays expressing either something that you are thankful for, something that you have witnessed that was an act of kindness or something that you have done to "pay it forward".

For this first Thoughtful Tuesday, I will talk about what I have done to "pay it forward".

Earlier this year I joined a social group for women dealing with infertility. Originally I joined to get myself out there more socially (I tend to be an introvert). I also thought that this was a way to lend support to people who were going through the hard trails of being infertile.

Last month, the founder and leader of the group asked me if I would take over running this organization, as she was stepping down. I feel more of an obligation to provide support and social opportunities for these incredible women since I have experienced what they are going through--not just from what I had to go through, but through the many connections I have had through the IF community on-line.

Hopefully I will be able to keep this wonderful organization running.

Read more Thoughtful Tuesday Posts HERE.

Perfect Moment Monday

Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between. Once a week we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join.

Moment #1: She is up. It's 2-flipping-a.m.(!) and she has awoken for some reason. We have a small noodge contest to see who deals with her (we had gone to bed around midnight--silly parents!). We ended up doing what we do best--work as a team. He went in a changed her diaper, I went in and rocked her and soothed her. We make a great team.

Moment #2: She is up again. For some reason, this is not our magic night. We have these nights rarely now, but sometimes, when she gets up, there is nothing to be done. It's 3 a.m. and we need sleep--so, in the bed with us she comes. In the morning, I am snuggling with a kitten and a 2 year old, my husband on the other side. As I struggle to get myself up and out of bed--she has her head tilted up, mouth wide open, sleepingly oblivious of the havoc she created a few hours ago. She is beautiful.

Moment #3: He has become more reclusive, going into his room and shutting the door--being a pre-teen on the edge of teen. Tonight tho, as I am reading to her, he comes over and hugs me. And we hug each other for a long time...I hold my son and he holds me...just cuz.

To see more Perfect Moments, click HERE.

Perfect Moment Monday

Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between. Once a week we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join.

This Saturday was exhausting, but in a good way. And you can tell what a day from this shirt:




We all wore our cool shirts--I was in my Spider-Man Shirt, hubs in his Hulk shirt, son in his X-Men shirt, daughter in her Dr. Who Cybermen shirt...

Our first moment of the day--when our friend took us out for lunch (his treat) to a Japanese Steakhouse. He bought lunch for all of us, including his sister and her husband, her daughter, and grandson. First off, our friend doesn't make too much money, and he had gotten a windfall--and the first thing he wanted to do--was to take us all out for a wonderful time. Second, he is often mysterious about his family, so to have him open up to meet his sister and her family was a special feeling. It meant a lot to me that he gave of himself that way to us.

My daughter loved meeting the grandson (18 months old) and she was so excited that she nearly fell off her chair--spilling cranberry juice on herself.

Then, we went to Canobie Lake Park for the second time this year, and she had a blast--seeing her smile was awesome!



Before we left, daughter had chocolate ice cream to add to her shirt...

Later, we went to the end of a pool party at another friends house (friends who we hadn't seen in 2 years). And we stayed and stayed until the wee hours of the morning. We re-connected so well, we vowed to meet up more often--and even calendared it up!

So, the perfect moments were many and messy and fun and exhausting. Meeting new friends, re-connecting with old ones. Enjoying our friendships and feeling loved and happy. Appreciating our connections in the world around us.


To see more Perfect Moments, click HERE.

Show & Tell - Cars

My friend Suzy has decided to revive one of my favorite things--Show & Tell!!

So, please stop over to her blog and participate!

Looking over at some recent photos I have, I wondered what I wanted to S&T today. I have TONS of Cape Cod photos, but I miss our time on Cape Cod so much now, I really did not want to remind myself that the summer is over THAT much...

So, we have pictures from the Spring! These pictures are from this May.

I find it interesting the little things that one finds when one is not looking for them. We had went into one of our favorite towns (Lexington) to just look around and walk around on a nice spring day. And...lo and behold, there was the Lexington's First Annual Classic Cars festival happening right there!

One of the gentlemen had brought in this car from 1901. He not only let Michael sit on it, he actually pushed Michael around on it, letting him steer it (yep, that is the steering mechanism that Michael is touching there), and then demonstrated it to us by starting it up and riding it around the parking lot.



Willow, not to be outdone, found a car to match her outfit.



There were various cars, an old fire engine and you could vote on what car you liked best (we voted for that 1901 vehicle which is in the background of this picture--the owner is the guy in the baseball cap).



It was amazing to see these old cars, especially since they were displayed right nearby modern cars.

On Flip Flops and a Certain Explorer…

The call on my cell phone comes at 9:15 a.m., I am sitting at work. I answer and I hear crying (um, well, really screaming) in the background and my husband says: “Okay, where are the DAMNED flip flops??!” We figure out where they are, and he hangs up abruptly.

Like anyone else, Willow has obsessions. But, being a 2 year old, her obsessions become YOUR obsessions—cuz, woe be onto you if she is left wanting….

This summer will go down as the summer of FLIP FLOPS. I bought her a cheap pair for use on Cape Cod. And since then (which was late June), Flip Flops are on her feet most times without fail. I have gotten her to wear shoes a few times (usually by using her sense of fashion—yep, my toddler has more of a sense of fashion than I do). We have spare shoes at the Daycare provider’s house, so that she can get her into them for safety reasons (for playgrounds, etc.). But, like some other obsessions she has, it is actually easier to placate her at this point…there is no real harm done…except when one cannot FIND the flip flops (she has 2 pair now).

Willow’s love for Spongebob and Fraggle Rock has waned and she has found another character that has captured her imagination. Do.ra the Ex.plorer has become the new IT Girl in our lives.

While Spongebob and Fraggle Rock, we could all agree on (and, truth be told, these were things WE watched and she became enamored with them)…Do.ra is the first character/television show that Willow has found on her own.

Do.ra is, well, she is cute and all, but kind of repetitive and, well…I guess my son can explain it best…he calls her “Do.ra the Bore-a”. Which is funny, of course, because HE had a love affair with her for a few months when he was 3 years old…and we have the DVD to prove it…which now we have dusted off for our daily viewing “pleasure”. I thank our cable company for DVR…because I can try very hard not to have to watch the same shows over and over and over (well, at least no more than 3 times). I have to remind Michael of his past discretions (oh, remember Drag. On Ta.les…Oh WE do, Michael. We do.) So far, I think we are all more amused than annoyed by this new obsession…but give it time and I will want to take a cross bow and….

Other obsessions have been on the new kitty and the cats’ new water bowl (she “cleans” her hands in it; she puts their dry food in it). Juice is another necessity that cannot be left out. And MONEY. She loves playing with money, putting it into a little purse, trying to put it into slots on toys, especially her rocking horse.

Perfect Moment Monday - Musical

Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between. Once a week we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join.

Moment #1: His friend comes over and the boys go upstairs, taking my daughter with them to play in his room. I hear jumping around, tossling, giggles...the typical stuff. As I finish making dinner, I then hear something I have not heard since school ended. Slowly, almost silently, I hear it. A familar sound to me, more familar than my son can guess...the soft tones of a clarinet playing Hot Crossed Buns; Are You Sleeping; The Snake Charmer song. He stumbles a bit, but hardly any squeeks. And I am astounded that my son is playing his clarinet so well, without any practice, without any prompting...he is playing his clarinet to his audience. Dinner is ready. I let it sit a bit, because I do not want him to stop.

Moment #2: Daddy is taking a nap upstairs in our bedroom, I have to distract her as my son and his friend go outside (it is too late for her to be going out right now). I have her go upstairs so that my son and his friend can sneak outside. And outside my bedroom, we sit in the hallway...and she sings songs to me. These are not songs that she has learned...these are songs that she has made up about her day or about her toys. Ocassionally I hear a word or two I know and understand...something about her baby (doll) and the beach. She stands as she sings and she sways her arms and hands, reminding me of those Hula dances you see on t.v. After she is done, we both clap. And then she says "Now, YOU." and I have to sing--I at first sing a made up song about her and how much I love her. And we clap. And then she sings another song. When it is my turn, I cop out and sing the ABC song (which she sings along with me). I am struck by the thought that singing is the ultimate in happiness...at least right now.

To see more Perfect Moments, click HERE.

Things Noticed - August 2010

His hair, his mannerisms, his lanky-ness and how he drapes himself on a couch...my son, the pre-teen teenager. His skulks away sometimes and I see him through sideways glances--but I do see him and wonder how amazing life is that I can see my son grow into someone I know/but do not know.

Her vocabulary springs forth in many surprising and touching ways, whether she is demanding "I want juuuuuuuuiiice!" "Tisses!" (kisses) or she is just singing her own songs, with words I know sprinkled amongst the words I do not.

He is over worked and over whelmed, but still finds time to send me a link to a site that he knows I would like. He comes home and she runs to him, hugging him around his long long legs. I worry about him. I love him, even as he drives me crazy sometimes....like when he leaves his many many glasses all around the house....

Kitten getting bigger and more adapted in our routines...loves to snuggle against me at night.
Cat is starting to show signs of enjoying the companionship--snuggles kitten (on her terms). Kitten reciprocates overly.

Mid-August all ready, and while I have enjoyed this summer to the fullest, I still feel like I haven't done enough this summer. School shopping looms and I dread it. School looms and I worry. I get my mind off of worries by having lunch outside--sushi and a good book...

ahh...summer, stay a bit longer, please....

Shrimp, Bears and Freddy the Chipmunk of Terror

The camping trip was a great success. Michael and I had such a great time that I am certain this will become a tradition (for a longer period of time, for sure--maybe with Willow added next year?).

After buying groceries on Friday night, we slept over at our friend's house and then left the next day. We got there on Saturday morning, set up camp. It was nice and secluded, although up four flights of steep stairs (which, considering the food intake, probably was good exercise to burn those extra calories off!!)

My friend Ana had all the camping supplies, including a 6 person tent. Michael and I brought our clothes, our sleeping bags (new ones actually) and our air mattress. I have not been camping in a long time and it was great to have Ana the Expert there (I could have never set up this tent!)



Upon arriving, we noticed these warnings all about:



bears were in the area, so they had precautions on how we dealt with our food. Our food could never be unattended and we needed to take our food (and toothpaste) into the car after we were done with it (and make sure there was no scraps put into the fire or left on the ground). This was so the bears would not be attracted to our site. This was thrilling and very camp-like (and logically we had nothing to worry about), but that little undercurrent of fear would factor in later...

Michael embraced all aspects of camping...he loved snuggling into his new sleeping bag (his old one was a child's one for sleep overs--this one was a full adult camping one). He loved playing inside the tent.



Once we arrived, we made lunch on the fire--hot dogs!



Then, swimming in the lake, a ranger education program on turtles...and finally, the start of the really fun parts of camping--the campfire in the evening!!



Ana made shrimp kabobs, and a cheeseburger for Michael...YUM!

While we were waiting for the fire to get hot enough, Ana taught Michael how to whittle...


I love his expression..

As night fell, it was time for S'MORES!!


"Mom, these are the BEST S'mores EVER!! They are so much better on a real fire!"



I made sure to sacrifice one of my marshmallows to a firey death--cuz it looks so cool!



Afterwards, we sat by the fire and just talked. And, every so often, we heard a crackle of leaves in woods right near our fire. We all talked about how, if it were a bear, or other worrisome critter, the dogs would warn us...

Did, I mention Ana's dogs? Here are Ryka and Jack--the bestest dogs to go camping with!



So, every so often, we would say these words of wisdom and talk about the various small creatures that could be making those occasional noises so close to us. (However, you KNOW that BEAR or RABID RACOON was going on in our minds...right?!)
It was time to stoke the fire again. So, I stood up, getting close to the woods to pick up some of our wood...and out DARTS -- Freddy the Chipmunk of Terror!! I jumped a few feet (protecting my son--at least that is what he says--I don't recall).

The rest of the night was uneventful, we looked up at stars, talked and enjoyed the fire. Michael went to bed first, mainly cuz he was anxious to get the experience of sleeping in his sleeping bag in the tent under way. Ana and I stayed up later to enjoy the fire some more, making it last as long as we could.

We slept in the tent all together, Jack and Ryka included. Every so often in the night, I could feel a friendly nuzzle and lick. I woke up this morning, happy to have had this wonderful time with my son and my friend!!





Me, Jack and Michael.


Michael, Ryka and Ana.


Pancakes and Eggs this morning, a'la Ana!


Pancake Mask.

Show & Tell

My friend Suzy has decided to revive one of my favorite things--Show & Tell!!



So, please stop over to her blog and participate!

Tonight for dinner I made something that my husband and I like, especially during the summer...Salmon Macoroni salad.

I am amazed that I was able to make it tonight. First of all, huge traffic jam made me late picking up the kids, so I got home an hour later than normal. And then: the cats needed/DEMANDED to be fed; Willow would not leave Kif alone; Michael wanted to go take a B.A.T.H. (which he had to spell out because if Willow knew what he was doing, she would want to); change an extreme diaper blow out; give her a bath after my son; and go out for bread because I like the salad on toast and I thought I had bread in the house, but did not.

And yet...I MADE it!

I wanted to try something new for Show & Tell, so here is a video!





Artistically it was a mistake to stir while I was videotaping, but, I do like the squishy sound it made.

And here is a picture of the Salmon Macoroni Salad:

Quality Time

This weekend I am going to experience something I have not done in a while. Quality alone time with my son. My friend and I are taking Michael camping for the first time.

Since husband does not like camping, he has volunteered to wrangle Todd-lor this weekend (and good luck to him!)

I am excited, because it has been years since I have been camping (mainly because of the aforesaid husband-who-hates-camping-or-anything-too-outdoorsy) (which is funny, cuz it is about the only thing that we are not of the same mind on).

I am also a bit trepidatious about leaving Willow for a weekend because she is very Mommy-Clingy lately. Last night, I took Michael to his therapy and Willow was picked up by daddy. And, even though I was gone just a few hours--she was insistent in her calls of "Where's Mommy?" to the point that husband called me to talk to her to re-assure her I was coming home...so, I guess my cell phone is coming camping with me.

But, the BIGGEST thing I feel--is a strong sense of love and caring and happiness to be able to, without all the other distractions in my life and his, spend some time with my son. Before the new school year, before summer is waning. And I get to show him something that I cherish and experience something with him for his first time.

I have bought two sleeping bags. I hope that despite his often-times husband clone-likeness, that I find this outdoor part of my son that links me to him. Like his love of Mad Magazine and scary stories and Halloween and Christmas. I hope that this is an investment in future outings with my son.

Perfect Moment Monday

Perfect Moment Monday is about noticing a perfect moment rather than creating one. Perfect moments can be momentous or ordinary or somewhere in between.
Once a week we engage in mindfulness about something that is right with our world. Everyone is welcome to join.

Glimpses

Moment #1: After falling asleep in the car, she is put down on the couch in the living room, under a blanket. About 15 mins. later, she rouses, sees that everything is okay, and goes back to sleeping, her flip flops hanging over the loveseat's edge.

Moment #2: He was staying overnight at a friends and he has come home. It is evening time, and he is going back and forth into the kitchen, grabbing yet another snack (after dinner) (usually healthy). He goes from there to the couch and lays there under a blanket--he obviously did not get much sleep last night (8 boys tend not to during a sleep over). I am suddenly struck by how much like a teenager he is acting.

Moment #3: We have a lazy morning, waiting for one child to return, watching other child play. As she returns to playing with toys, we sit on the couch and lay against each other...hubs says that he is going to go do something--I say, stay, let's just hang out some more (usually HE is saying this to ME). We do. Half and hour later, my son comes home and we are thankful we took our time to ourselves.

Moment #4: Kif takes a flying leap to Gabby's back; she tossles him to the ground; they grasp and grapple. And then Gabby goes back to what she was doing--until Kif tries to play again--and I swear that I see Gabby sigh.


More Perfect Moments Here.

Thoughts on Stages/Phases

It is a bit weird having two children with such a difference in age. Its like being in a time machine, going backwards and forwards and sometimes I forget one stage and recognize it only too late. Or sometimes I realize this is a stage that is yet to be.

Today, Michael is at a sleep over in another state (okay, its New Hampshire, which in NE no state is really that far, and frankly he is about an 45 mins away)...its the first time he has been this far away from me on his own. And, despite the fact that it is 11:30 at night and normally he would be in bed...I still miss him--miss his presence in this house. And there it is--a glimpse into the future...the teen years when he will be in and out of the house, out on his own...college where he will not be here at all for weeks/months on end.

Today, Willow continued on her two year old rampage...putting cat food into the new water receptacle for them; defiantly saying "NO" back to me when I was telling her "NO!"; opening up my wallet and throwing all my cards around the car (not malevolently, she was playing--I was wondering why she was singing so much in the car ride home--then I found out when we got home) arguing over the clothes she was wearing--she wanted to wear something "prettier"; not taking a nap; asking every couple hours--"Where is Michael?"

And then there is potty training. That is starting up and I tend to have forgotten a lot of this from when I doing this with Michael. And all the horrible-ness of it is coming back...ah, yes, the intermittal waiting to see if she has gone. The many false callings of nature...the accidents...and I want to fast forward to the times I remember with Michael when he was four years old and so much fun...so innocent but not a Terrible Two (he was actually never a TT--I must be getting double karma on Willow!), potty trained and curious.

And then I realize that I don't have a four year old Michael anymore. And I never will. And I have traveled to the past and future...and find myself yanked back to the present....

when I realize that Willow has actually put an apple slice in my shoes....

Snuggling Siblings

Michael and Willow hanging around the other night.

Show & Tell

My friend Suzy has decided to revive one of my favorite things--Show & Tell!! I am so excited, I am taking some blurry photos from my cell phone and sharing them, just so I can do it!

So, please stop over to her blog and participate!

So, I have been showing a lot of the kitten, etc. I figured I would go somewhere else on this one (HA! You thought you would get cute kitten pics!!):

This is Willow in a Time Out. That is her corner for Time Out, she picked it, she sulks in it. And, until recently, she went there without a fuss. NOW, she is starting to understand that this is not a good place to hang out. Time Outs are going to be frequent, I am afraid.

(Awww, but look at how pitifully cute she is!!)



And here is the kitty photo anyways! This is Kif when we first picked him up...

All Not So Quiet on the Home Front...

This is going to be more of a jumble of stuff going on, because the chaos meter is unusually high around our house lately (um, yeah, some of that we created ourselves with the kitten,right?)

Kif and Gabrielle are working things through. We are starting to see Gabby return to more of her normal routines and we are starting to see Kif create some of his own. Last night he slept underneath Willow's crib (she has a trundle drawer underneath with blankets in it--perfect for a cat snuggle). Gabby tolerates Kif more--no more growling, although the occassional hiss still--however, Kif is holding his own--he arches his back (then backs off)and he even hissed at her last night. Oh, and Gabby and Kif have no problems trying to gobble up each other's FOOD(!) And tonight I will be cleaning out the litter boxes and hope to transition them to just one litter box...

Willow and Michael are enjoying the kitten. Willow especially sees a smaller creature that she can "control". We have to watch her with him because he is so small, but she is generally gentle with him (she just wants to play with him and hold him CONSTANTLY)

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Michael is in his last week of the Wizards & Warriors Camp. He has enjoyed it, however yesterday he did have several blow outs...he needs to learn to control his temper and deal with his frustrations (easier said than done!). It was a shame too, because the day before I had gotten glowing reviews from his counselors about him. Hopefully, he will make up for it on this last three days and leave on a good note so that when he comes back for after-school care he can start out fresh.

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Willow is in a growth spurt..not necessarily in the physical sense...more in the emotional/intellectual sense. This has its good and bad ramifications. The good definitely out weigh the bad, but...oh the bad!

She is much much more verbal, stringing thoughts together with sentenaces and phrases. She perceives situations more and understands more of the relationships of time and space. She pretends a lot with her baby dolls, often walks around with cellphones and keys, taking them "out" in their stroller, taking them for ice cream, to the daycare provider (me), changing their diapers and putting them down for naps. Her facial expressions and attitudes are much more expressive...slyness/coyness being one of her favorites of late.

The list of Toddler Destruction is long but the most costly will be the Wii.

Things Willow did just last night:

--"Helped" with the cat litters by trying to scoop it up, thus making sure it was ALL over the bathroom floor

--After "reading" to her a general merchandise catalog (she brought it to me to read to her), she took the shoe rack picture seriously...and preceded to bring down ALL my shoes in my closet to our small shoe rack downstairs. She did this by wearing them, coming down the stairs on her butt (leading with her shoed feet) and putting them beside the rack.

--Picked up the kitty after many attempts by us to tell her NOT to. Kif was not amused.

--Played with Kif with a cat toy, gently at first, but after a while she was much more batting him with it (that was stopped)

--Dipped her feet in Kif's water bowl (as if she was in a pool)

--Repeatedly asked for butt medicine (Diaper Rash cream) even tho she has no rash

--Continued her nightly routine of pulling out book after book after book

--Ate five squares of cheese, one or two green beans, no spaghetti, and some kitten food

Perfect Moment Monday

We are at her home, after picking out the kitten. She puts him into a big dog crate so he will be safe and then we debate about what to do next. Originally, we were going to go blueberry picking (my son was not too keen on it, although he has never been). Or we could go to the river with my friend's dogs. Or...and then, she has a gleem in her eyes--"How about the community pool?"

Knowing that we might go to the river, I had brought my son's swim trunks, but I am currently doing a swim class with my daughter on Saturday mornings, so of course, I forgot to pack those with us.

No problem, she says--I have spares. And she does. A swimsuit for me and a swimsuit for my daughter...and they both fit fine! And I happened to have a swim diaper in my diaper bag--whew! And she has towels, and clogs for us all too!

So...off we go to the community pool (an hour away from where I live) with my friend who I don't see as often as I wish.

And we have a blast. And it is so fun to watch her play with my children. I never have to worry about them with her and I even get a chance to swim by myself, enjoying the nice sun, the breeze, the trees and clouds. And to see her smile with my children...truly a perfect moment!




More Perfect Moments Here.

Introducing.....UPDATED

Our newest addition!

He is an 8 week old black & white kitten. I think his name will be Kif (as in Kif Kroker from Futurama). My husband and I are advocating for this name, although Michael initially named him Inky (his shelter name was Rinky Dink).

So far, Gabrielle is going between amused and bemused--it helps that I bought some new toys for both of them . Tonight we will have Kif separated in a small room (the upstairs bathroom). (In fact, we have just set him up up there--food, water and litter--Gabby is now playing with the track ball toy in the video)

I am excited and a little intimated--we did not get Gabby as kitten (she was from the same shelter, we got her when she was a year old). And we have Todd-lor in the house--so, I might be crazy having two such creatures sharing space...but I think that so far, it looks like it will work out fine...

Here are some pictures and a video of our new pet.



Michael about 20 mins ago deciding that maybe "Kif" is a good name...


Arrival home meant that our neighbor came over to see him...


Willow playing ball with the kitty...






UPDATED: Here is a video of Kif this morning, where you can see more of his face and personality. (This is the kid-cat-worn out couch, as one can tell...)

Gabby's reaction--um, well, growls and a big hiss this morning...giving her some more time to get acostumed to Kif. (Have a feeling that Kif is going to become the children's cat; Gabby has been becoming and will become more of the grown-ups cat)

Kif has eaten well--dry and wet food; has only eliminated liquid once tho...figuring that will change soon enough!

Michael...um, he was up most of the night playing in the upstairs bathroom with Kif. (Reminds me of myself at that age, which is when I got my kitten Licorice).

Interpretations

This is Willow's interpretation of Spongebob:



She did this last night. We have a playdough kit that has many faces, arms, etc. for you to create different Spongebobs. But, being two years old, she sees the many options as all the options. She cannot distinguish choices as well, and to her, assembling something means using all the parts (because, of course, why would there be spare parts?). She starts off with putting the eyes, arms (the ones with a spatula and krabby patty--she knows her Spongebob!) and the hat on. Then, she puts on the first mouth/nose combination. Then some eyes go next to the hat, some arms next to that, etc. Confident that this is Spongebob, nonetheless.

This is Michael's interpretation of a situation (and apology):



It reads: "Dear ________: I am sorry about what I acted like on Friday. The last camp I went to was experienced with that sort of stuff and I reacted differently to it. Sorry to everyone especially Lauren for getting too far over nothing."

When I read this, I stiffled a laugh...and then worried that this apology may sound snarky--but it is not meant to be...this is his interpretation of something I had said to him this weekend.

Some background: On Friday, he had a temper tantrum at camp. He is generally well behaved, but he gets frustrated, and his frustration sometimes comes to a head and he then stomps and rages as if he was 5 years old (the meds help him to focus, but sometimes help him to OVER focus and this is one of the results--it is also excerbated by his pragmatic social issues). So, at Camp on Friday, he misinterpreted something and thought they were going ahead on the adventure without him. And I got The Call from Camp. Oftentimes, at this age, most teachers/instructors are not sure how to handle an eleven year old throwing a tantrum...and with Michael, he really just needs to be left alone (not comforted) and he will calm down and then be reasonable and apologetic (although sometimes still insisting his interpretation of the situation was correct).

When dad picked him up, he read him the riot act, and suggested that he write an apology to the instructors. I said nothing until this weekend (I had talked to him on the phone during the incident), when my son mentioned writing the apology. I then took the opportunity to point out to him that previously at the Y after-school care, the counselors were used to dealing with him and other children with similar issues, as they are more of an open-door community (i.e. they will not turn down a child for care for monetary reasons, etc.). Whereas this summer camp is run more like a business (i.e. if one mis-behaves, they can more easily dismiss you from the camp).** He likes this camp very much (and they have after-school care which we are thinking of registering him for) so he understood that I was saying that he needs to watch his behavior more carefully, because those incidents will be less tolerated. I then ended the lecture with pointing out that with more opportunities as one matures, one has to take more responsibility of one's actions.

Probably the camp will be happy that he wrote an apology at all and will not mis-interpret his intentions...

** This camp does know about his ADHD and does have experience with kids like him...this was just his first incident.

Perfect Moment Monday

Been a while since I have been able to post one of these (mainly because I have been having a ton of 'em and no time to blog!)

But, sometimes the Perfect Moments are from the not-so-perfect (or decent) times:

Moment #1: Last night we had company over and we were all sitting down for dinner. We had an unexpected additional person show up, so the my son offered to have my daughter sit on his lap (actually they shared the chair). Everything was going along well, until we saw the monkey-see-monkey-do going on--my son would pick up his corn on the cob and eat; my daughter would pick up her corn on the cob and eat; my son would take a drink of milk; my daughter would take a drink of milk; my son would stick his finger up his nose and play around being silly; my daughter would stick her finger up her nose--and they would both giggle incessantly. And while dad was expressing his displeasure at the rude behavior at the dinner table--inside I was laughing over the interactions of my children.

Moment #2: She is sort-of on her way to potty training (in fact she did both types on Saturday morning--but nothing since then). On Sunday, she wanted to sit down on the potty. I took her diaper off, she was wearing a dress, she sat and sat. And then got bored. And as I was about to get her diaper, she wanted to play--I thought no harm--if she seems to need to do something, the chair is just there---so she precedes to run around and around me (as she has insisted that I sit down on the kitchen floor). At one point, I am thinking--"Yeah, I better get up and get her diaper on" and as I think this, she stands right behind me and liquid can be felt on my backside and on the floor...and yet...I am not mad, but chuckle and go get the diaper.


More Perfect Moments Here.

Pooh Bear Revisited

Pooh Bear has been in and out of my life since the beginning. When I was really small (like 2 – 3 years old), I would tell my parents that since Winnie the Pooh had it (“it” being a toy or other item I wanted), I should have it. Later, at the sophisticated age of 4, I married Pooh Bear (in a polygamous relationship with some other toys, and catch phrases I had learned).

I watched the Pooh Bear movies over and over again. I loved the songs and would sing them often and listen to records featuring Pooh and his friends. As I child, I never had much use for Classic Pooh. I don’t think I even knew about “Classic” Pooh as a child, so dominant were the movies in my imagination.

Pooh and I had a separation for a while. I was more into horses, movie stars and science fiction.

It was only after I had grown up and had my own child that Pooh entered my life again. I did not decorate Michael’s nursery with Pooh or have a lot of Pooh items (although given my previous inclinations, I am not sure why—perhaps my irritation with Uncle Walt’s commercialization?). My mother-in-law gave me a Classic Pooh Nursing Pillow. And it was well used by Michael and me. Oftentimes I would look at the characters and imagine them playing across the pillow (like they came off the pages in the movies). That pillow went through a lot with me and I regret that it had an unfortunate run in with the dryer a few years back.

Reading the books to my son was a highlight of our bedtime routine for a while. I particularly remember the first time I read the last book. Michael was seven years old and I had bought him an unabridged collection of the books. We relished each chapter, sometimes going past normal reading time to finish. As I read the end of the last book, I started to tear up. I cried as I read about Christopher Robin growing up and he and Pooh going off into the sunset together. It was the first time I had really acknowledged that my son who I was reading to—was growing up too. Willow has a pop-up book of one of the stories—but she will not inherit that collection—that is Michael’s and I treasure that time with him and hope that he will think of it too years from now when he reads it to his children.

And now we come to the reason I have thought of this Pooh Bear…this silly old bear is soon to be inhabiting the nursery of my dear brother’s children. And I am so happy that Pooh and I will have some more good times together soon!

Fast Time

It used to be that only during the winter holidays would I occasionally get melancholy over the passage of time. Some thing to do with the traditions of my childhood intermixing with my new traditions for my family; some thing to do with my actually becoming a year older; some thing to do with seeing my son (and now my daughter) grow up before the presents and carols and candle lights and memories flooding me.

However, it’s the middle of summer. And I am feeling melancholy again. And I can rationalize why. We just had a whirlwind the past month and ½ of the school year ending (a big one too, as it was Michael’s last grade school year); then right into a friend coming up for a visit; vacation on the Cape; then our traditional Fourth of July festivities; and my mother visiting. In a way we are all going to be happy to get back into more routine schedules in the next few days/weeks. But it is also time gone by. Some of the things I look forward to about the summer have already gone by.

But it is more than that. Having people visit reminds me of the passage of time. To see old friends, who, like I am, are getting older. To realize the age of people and places and things long forgotten and memories dug up to reminisce.

That time keeps moving along and while my memories sometimes want to stand still—more memories are being made and we all run to the cameras to capture them. But that is only fleeting too. I have memories on film and yet they do not always bring me the soft breeze on a summer afternoon, the salt on my lips, the ocean in my ears.

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I wrote this a few days ago, wanted to finish it up and post--but time has done that other thing it does to me--become to busy to finish my thoughts, deep and melodramatic as they are...ah, well...back to the daily thoughts, half-thoughts and whimsys of daily life!

A less jumbled post tomorrow, I think...

Kids in Shirts!

Grandma has come to visit and she brought shirts for the kids. Last night I showed them to Willow and Michael. Willow said "OOOOHHH, Pretty!!" and pointed out the cute animials on the shirt. She immediately wanted to wear it, so, since it was 9 p.m., I let both kids model their shirts and wear them to bed. They actually liked these shirts a lot, and they fit (with room to grow). These are "Fort Wayne, Indiana" shirts--where my mom lives (and where I was born, actually).

Here are some blurry cell phone pics!

Canobie 4th - 2010

Willow rode several rides this time. Most of them she had no problems however, the Alpine Swing ride was a bit too much for her (so hard to watch her crying on a ride and still keep encouraging her--"Yay, Willow!")

We had fun at the waterpark, the bumper cars and the arcade. Michael especially enjoyed the arcade.

And, of course the fireworks were wonderful. Willow's reaction was great...except that one her actions during the fireworks was to play with my hair--as in sweep it into a ponytail as if she was styling my hair.

Pictures before the fireworks...

Yes, she is wearing pjs...we put her in them just before the fireworks.

Notes from Vacation...

Just some things I want to jot down before I forget them...

Willow and flip flops--oh my. She will not wear anything else now. The damn flip flops I bought on a whim from Target--she is now addicted to them. (Wonder how we are going to get her back into regular shoes--hiding has already failed)

Love, love, love...The Lobster Pot, had forgotten about their homemade salad dressings--YUM!

Dyer Street--remember that one...

The beaches we visited each had a different flavor and I love how they went with our moods. I loved every one of them. I especially liked ending our vacation in Provincetown with the calm beach and capturing hermit crabs and other little beasties...

Such fun can be had with simple little toys in a bathtub...including the plastic spaghetti strainer in the kitchen.

So much wonderful, wonderful food--and checking the scale today--no gain!


IMAGE: Willow dancing in a sunbeam at breakfast at a restaurant.
IMAGE: Michael standing and looking out at the waves and water, contemplative.

Tom's french toast--YUM! Who can just eat one!?

Kites on the beach -- such fun! And the castle making expertise of Tom--and the destructive techniques on sandcastles of my children.

Ahhh...sunblock is such a friend--No Sunburns this time!!


Enjoyed the Oceangraphic discovery tour--found out how to sex lobsters...and then we ate some lobsters (YUM!)

Good books and magazines, DVDs and Wii games--all good for some relaxation after a nice day outdoors!

Taking 2 cars has its advantages, as Michael and I surprised dad with a B-Day cake and presents (his birthday is Monday)when we got home first.

Also nice to surprise Michael with a Weird Al Tour shirt when we got home. (which he then wore 2 days straight)

Back Home...

Suitcases are all over the place, laundry going, our friend going to the airport in the morning. Finished up our dining out with take out sushi/chinese. Kids put to bed finally and now some adult time with our friend.

Here is some videos from our last day:

We caught many hermit crabs, but this one was a different type of crab...

Bye Bye to the Crab