The Write Life

Some Peaceful Moments Amidst the Chaos

2008-07-24T14:17:00.003-05:00

It seems the theme for most summers is "Hurry up and slow down". We try to cram so many wonderful experiences into these few short months of summer that the pace is often very hectic, yet we try to sprinkle that with some days of relative leisure as well...those days where we just "chill out" at home, the kids and I enjoying each other's company (and each of us probably also wishing for just a little "alone time" sometimes).

This summer feels like one of our most balanced yet. We're busy, but not insanely so. The kids are getting along well for the most part, with the usual sibling bickering from time to time. Each of the kids has a week of camp this summer (day camp for Theo, overnight for the girls) which gives me extra time with the other two while one is away. We've enjoyed some wonderful experiences, yet I don't think we'll even come close to being able to check off everything we wrote on our "summer ideas list". And you know what? That's okay with me. It seems to be just fine with the kids, too.

Annie is starting middle school in September -- a major life change for any kid -- and we have had some great heart-to-heart talks about it. She started taking some babysitting jobs this summer and it has been heart-tugging to see my daughter taking care of other people's children (and doing it well, I might add) and earning her own spending money. Caroline is showing such maturity this summer, more independence, more awareness of the needs and feelings of others. I find myself frequently thanking her for her positive attitude and her help with various tasks. Theo is his usual sweet, funny self, enjoying the opportunity to try new things, like a couple all-day zoo classes by himself and a week of day camp this week where he has experienced many new adventures and greets me with all kinds of stories at the end of each day. The first day I dropped him off, I kissed him goodbye and watched in the rear-view mirror as he trudged up the hill to the building where they start their day, his backpack bulging on his back with everything a kid needs for summer day camp. He looked back only once, very briefly, and then off he went. We had taken a tour of the camp several weeks earlier, but he didn't know anyone there yet and everything was new and I thought to myself "There goes my baby...in more ways than one." So brave and ready for "big kid" adventures like his older sisters.

Yet as much as I am enjoying all the fun with the kids this summer, life is so different around here during these months. The housework doesn't go away (darn it) and "Mom time" is in short supply. From the moment my feet hit the ground in the morning until we put the kids to bed, I would dare say that the name "Mom" is spoken at least a thousand times. I go upstairs to use the bathroom, just to buy myself a few minutes of quiet (and it doesn't always work). There are many days where each of the kids has their own "agenda" for the day and I become the mediator to help find a solution that everyone can accept. Such is the life of a busy mom of three kids, right?

Well, I have discovered the secret to surviving those hectic, stressful days. I have had a couple really wonderful peaceful moments mixed in amidst the chaos. A couple weeks ago, Theo was invited to join the girls and their dad and step-mom for a weekend at a cabin in northern Wisconsin. Steve and I enjoyed a whole weekend to ourselves. We slept late, had a wonderful gourmet group night, went to a movie and took a 10-mile bike ride. While on our bike ride, we found a little side path that opened into a huge meadow and we laid in the grass and read books and just closed our eyes and took in the sunshine and the perfect breeze that was blowing. We stayed there at least an hour. No one interrupted us to break up an argument or ask for a snack. No one called our names. We barely even spoke to each other. We had time to just "be" as a couple. It was bliss. I do get alone time with my husband. We take date nights from time to time and we sit at night and talk to each other or watch a movie together after the kids go to bed. Of course, we could always use more. And time alone OUTDOORS just for fun, not to work in the yard? And to have it be a perfect, sunny, breezy day to boot? It's almost unheard of and all I can say is I wish I could bottle that day and save it forever. I guess the memory will have to do.

My other recent peaceful moment was a week ago. Annie was at band camp, Caroline was spending the day with her cousins and Theo was at a class at the zoo. Rather than drive home and back again, I decided to stay in Milwaukee and kill time until I could pick up Theo again five hours later. I had a list of possible things I could do, but first I headed to Barnes and Noble. I adore bookstores. I always have. My mom and I loved visiting them together during my childhood. As an adult, though, I don't get many opportunities to just leisurely browse. The kids are usually with me and I don't feel comfortable letting Theo out of my sight, even with the girls, so I usually just stay in the kids' area with them while they browse. Last Thursday, at the bookstore all by myself, I was in heaven. I browsed until my stomach started growling, then headed next door to P.F. Chang's for some lunch (and I read uninterrupted while I ate) and then decided to go BACK to the bookstore and browse some more after lunch, where I sat and enjoyed some tea and people-watched and read some more of my book. I ended up spending about four hours at Barnes and Noble that day! It was a pleasure I wouldn't allow myself often (there always seem to be other "more important" things to do), but it certainly was fun. I was practically giddy when I walked out of there! Talk about feeling energized and ready to dive back into "Mom mode" again.

Last Saturday, I went to see a movie with three friends and last night I had dinner with a friend I used to teach with that I hadn't seen in about four years. We talked non-stop for three hours and they had to kick us out of the restaurant so they could close the place! It was such a pleasure to laugh and talk like that.

These little moments are so vital and I am often guilty of not taking them when I should, but in these past few weeks I have allowed myself to take them when I can and I really feel a difference in my mood when I do. It's not about needing to get away from my kids. It's about getting back to ME for a brief time. And it always makes me a better mom.

What do YOU do to find those peaceful moments in your life, either alone or with your partner? What moments have you had recently? Please share your ideas in the comments!

I Gave Birth to Three Rocks

2008-07-11T06:51:00.002-05:00

My children love to sleep...and they do it very well. Barking dogs, a noisy car driving by, a major thunderstorm, not even a HURRICANE, can deter them from the peaceful bliss of sleep. They have always been this way. All three of them were good nappers well past age 4. They've always gone to bed at a decent hour without complaint (well, maybe a couple complaints here and there, but sorry...after 8:30 at night is mom and dad time, thank you very much.)

They tend to be early risers, often waking up on weekends the moment the clock strikes 7 a.m. (we don't let them get out of bed until at least 7:00 or it would probably be earlier) because they know on the weekends they can wake up and watch a t.v. show or play a game on the computer and since that's FUN, they wake with no problem. On the weekdays, however, when school is in session? I have to wake them every day because, well, that's just not as fun a reason to wake up! Amazing how their bodies instinctively KNOW this stuff.

It just amazes me, though, that three people can sleep through SO much. Starting around 1:00 this morning, a wicked thunderstorm moved into our area and seemed to position itself over our house for the long haul. The thunder was loud and literally non-stop for a long time. I went in to check on Theo and he was snoozing away, completely oblivious to the craziness outside his window. (The girls were at their dad and step-mom's house, but I assure you they were snoozing soundly as well...I've witnessed it many times.) Of course, Smudge, our 60-pound 4-year-old lab mix, was wide-awake and promptly came over to lie down on the floor as close to my side of the bed as she could for protection from that nasty storm outside. Six hours later, the rain is still coming down and the thunder is still rumbling and the dogs started barking like crazy at 6:30 when the girls' step-mom dropped off Annie's clarinet...and Theo is still sleeping.

And that thing about the hurricane? I wasn't kidding about that. We rented a house on the ocean in North Carolina two summers ago and on one of our last days there, Hurricane Ernesto decided to pay us a visit in the middle of the night. I've never experienced anything like it before in my life. Winds whipped around this unfamiliar home at well over 100 miles per hour for several hours. The hammock on one of the upper decks came loose on one side and banged into the sliding glass door repeatedly until we were able to make it stop. The rain poured down in buckets like nothing I had ever seen before. The house creaked. It was quite terrifying at times, these noises in the pitch black of night in a house that wasn't ours, not knowing what to expect next. The kids? They were sleeping through all of it until we decided to WAKE THEM and bring them downstairs to a safe spot away from any windows where we could see and hear them. Yes, my children would have slept through a hurricane.

I don't remember being able to sleep that soundly when I was a child but perhaps my memory fails me. I remember having a lot of nightmares when I was a kid, and going through a stage where I imagined all kinds of creepy things in my room, like spiders and a mean man with a hook for a hand that I was sure was hiding above the canopy on my bed. (What can I say? I had a vivid imagination as a child.) The kids have a nightmare here and there and Caroline did go through a stretch where she had them more often, but 99% of the time they sleep like rocks, oblivious to the world around them. I take comfort in knowing that perhaps it means my children are at such peace that nothing can disturb their sleep.

I'm now off to help Theo finish packing for his trip to northern Wisconsin this weekend. He is going with Annie, Caroline, their dad and step-mom, Tracey, and some of Tracey's family members. He went with them last year as well and had a blast and yes, it means Steve and I get a weekend completely to ourselves. I've been looking forward to it since oh, March. Sleeping in, watching a movie whenever we want, going out without needing a babysitter, uninterrupted conversations...I will be so glad to see the kids on Monday, but a weekend alone with my wonderful husband is truly a little piece of heaven on Earth. May you all have a wonderful weekend as well!

And We'll Have Fun, Fun, Fun...

2008-06-29T21:50:00.002-05:00

So let's see if I have this straight...my last post was an apology for being a "bad blogger" and yet I have now let another month go by without a post. Apparently I'm going for Ultimate Bad Blogger now. It's good to have goals.

Rest assured that all is (basically) well in our part of the world. The reason for bad blogging is directly related to good parenting. See, it's summer and with the three kids home and angling for some good quality time with mom, my priorities are right there, right now. It's all about the kids. Which is good...except when it isn't. I'm having a little trouble adjusting to the change in routine. I LOVE having the kids home during the days, with all the fun summer activities available to us to take or leave as we please. It's just that Mom time takes a major back burner and sometimes when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror as I'm rushing by, I think "Who is that woman? I haven't seen her much lately." I've taken to calling myself "Julie, your cruise director" recently, which is a nice shout-out for all you "Love Boat" fans but which basically flies over the heads of my children who don't even know what a "Love Boat" is (and perhaps it's better that way). I'm all about the activity planning and making sure everyone is having another summer to remember.

During the summer, we try to achieve a nice balance of outings and "bigger" events (a day at Six Flags Great America, trips to the zoo and museums, local festivals, etc) with some low-key activities at home (playing in the pool, games in the backyard, bike rides, making s'mores in the fire pit, etc). The kids each have a couple special things they are doing as well. The girls are in a local swim club which meets for practice from 7-9 a.m. (for Annie) and 8-9 (for Caroline) three mornings a week. There is a nice Mom-time bonus attached to that, though, as it meets at the health club where I work out, so I drop Theo off to play with some of his friends in their supervised kids' area and I work out while the girls are swimming. We've been doing that for a couple weeks and it's going well so far. At least my workouts aren't suffering during the summer! If anything, they have ramped up with the addition of more bike riding, working in the yard, taking walks, etc. in addition to my time at the gym.

In addition to swim club for the girls, Theo has a few activities lined up this summer, including one week each of baseball and basketball and a once-weekly Tae Kwon Do class with Daddy! Yes, they are taking the class together. How cool is that?

Each of the kids has one week of camp this summer as well. Annie will be doing a week of band camp (I know, I know: "This one time...at band camp..."), Caroline is doing a week of overnight camp for the first time at the camp Annie attended (and loved) last year and Theo is doing a week of day camp at the local YMCA camp for the first time (and he is beyond excited). They are all looking forward to their week of camp (each one during a different week, so the other two kids will get extra time with mom during those weeks that their sibling is away).

Our other obsession of ours during the summer is most definitely the library. We are there at least 2-3 times a week for special programs or just to check out books. They offer some wonderful programs throughout the summer, all of them free, and I am thrilled that we have not one but two wonderful libraries near us to utilize! We do a LOT of reading during the summer. I have to admit that I actually read more in the summer than I do during the school year. When the kids are at school, I don't seem to allow myself the "luxury" of reading for pleasure during the day (except maybe while I eat my lunch), but during the summer, while the kids are in the pool, I have to be out there supervising anyway so I always have a book handy. I call it "forced relaxation" and it can be a beautiful thing!

I'm pleased to say that the summer doesn't seem to be rushing by quite as much as years past. I felt more prepared going into it this year, with lists of activity ideas for the kids to do when they say "I'm bored", posted chore charts for what needs to be done each day by each child and some general plans of things we hope to do during the course of the summer. That planning has already paid off during these first 2 1/2 weeks and things are fairly peaceful around here for the most part. Yes, we're busy and yes, we're putting some miles on the car (ouch with the gas prices), but things are fairly balanced and everyone (including Mom) is pretty content. I'm a bit lacking in the "me" time department and yes, I get a little tired of yelling "Close the door!" for the tenth time in one day (at what age do they start realizing that doors don't close themselves??). But my kids are growing up way too fast, with Annie off to middle school (middle school, people!) in September, Caroline off to fifth grade and Theo headed to first. The years are ticking away and my kids still like hanging out with me, so who am I to wish it away and complain that I don't have enough time to blog? My goal is to ramp up the writing (blogging, freelancing, etc) in September but for now, I'll be in and out sporadically and I hope you will all understand. For that matter, since I know many of you who read my blog also have your kids at home this summer, is anyone even reading this? :)

Well, if you are, enjoy the moments. Make memories. Catch some fireflies. Make s'mores. Snuggle under a blanket to "ooh and ahh" over the fireworks. Ride on a ferris wheel. Make bubbles. Build a sandcastle. Splash in a pool. Go to the local ice cream parlor in your pajamas. Take a family bike ride. Pick berries. Marvel at how your kids are growing and changing. Don't let it slip away too quickly. Those buses will be picking them up again before we know it.

Hello!

2008-05-22T08:40:00.006-05:00

Remember me...your (not so) faithful blogger? I've been a HUGE slacker in the blog department and it's time to take a few minutes and remedy that. I might have shared previously that I have a physical NEED to write. When I haven't written in a while, I get crabby and snippy (and probably a few of the other seven dwarfs as well). The problem is that I'm usually the last one to catch on. I'll see my patience with the kids dwindling, I'll feel like I'm in a funk and it starts to feel like a little black cloud is hanging over my head. I'll vent to Steve about how I'm in this crabby mood and he'll say "Then write. Take some time for YOU. It always makes you feel better." Huh. Why didn't I think of that? He suggested this yesterday morning after I had a particularly stressful time getting the kids out the door to school, but did I take his advice? Nope. I cleaned. Like a madwoman. I did those projects that call to me every day but I politely try my best to ignore them...cleaning out the freezer, organizing the pantry and finding things I had long forgotten were in there, going through some paper piles (you know the ones you hope will just disappear if you wait long enough? The ones that aren't "urgent", but still require some attention?), took care of some stuff in the yard. I accomplished a lot and it felt great, but I still wasn't writing and it wasn't quite clearing away the funk I was in. My friend Kim emailed me with a question at one point in the day and when I replied with the answer, I shared that I was in a funk. Her reply (and I quote): "If you are in a funk why don't you take a half hour and write your heart out. Stop cleaning and do some ME time!" Huh. What a novel concept. Had Steve put her up to that? Doubtful, but now TWO people were telling me to write. This was getting serious. So here I am and the scary thing is, I feel better already. I told you it works.

So just a few random notes to share about what's been happening around here since my last post. I had an amazing Mother's Day. I have such mixed feelings about that day. My mom passed away 2 1/2 years ago and it serves as a painful reminder. As it approaches, I agonize over every commercial ("Give Mom a gift she'll love this year", "Show Mom how much you care", etc). Thanks for reminding me thirty times a day that I don't have my mom anymore. It's a rough time. But I am also a mom, to three amazing children who need ME and want to make the day special for me, so I try to brush the sadness under the rug and focus on the JOY of the day. And did they ever pull out all the stops to make sure there was joy. Steve made an incredible brunch and I would describe it in detail, but I don't want you to start drooling on your keyboard. They gave me an at-home spa day, complete with facial, painting my nails, a massage, an uninterrupted bubble bath...it was all so heavenly. The kids cooperated for me to take lots of pictures of them. They gave me a Roomba, one of those vacuum cleaners that runs by itself...and it works! We even gave him a name (suggested by Annie) and I have thoroughly enjoyed having "Ramone" do my vacuuming while I do something else. We had a little tea party in the afternoon and Steve also made a fabulous dinner that night. I really couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day and I am so blessed to have a family that cares so much about making it special.

Homemade Strawberry Crepes with Almond Whipped Cream, one of the wonderful dishes Steve prepared on Mother's Day:

A photo Steve took of me and the kids:

The other big news is that we have been doing projects like we're on the DIY network around here. Just a few that we've done recently: replaced all our window blinds, installed new six-panel doors and stained them all, painted all of our deck railings, planted flowers, replaced the outside lights on our house, re-painted all the peeling paint around our outside doors, started prepping the pool for summer, did a bunch of cleaning and organizing projects. It's been really fun seeing all of these projects come together. We've also been shopping for new flooring for the kitchen/laundry room/entryway and new carpet for the family room. The flooring has been purchased and we will be installing that in about a week and the carpet replacement should follow close behind. We spend so much time in our home and I'm so glad we're doing some of these projects we've been talking about for a while because I look forward to really enjoying them. Some of these projects are fairly small, both in cost and time to do them, yet they make a HUGE impact. And then you have one of those "Why didn't we do this sooner?" moments.

Part of our newly painted deck:

Our front door, with freshly painted trim, freshly planted flower pots and a new light (and two nosy dogs):

Last weekend we had our gourmet group dinner. We have seven couples that get together every 6-8 weeks and share a meal planned by the couple hosting that particular dinner, with each couple preparing one of the assigned courses. It is always such a wonderful evening filled with laughter, friendship and amazing food. This time the theme was Scandinavian and everything was delicious. Here's a picture of the shrimp with dill and mint cream that Steve and I brought as the appetizer. Doesn't it look pretty served in martini glasses?

And here are a couple other pictures I took that night to make your mouth water:

Onion Soup with Port Wine and Jarlsberg Cheese:

The dessert, called Veiled Farm Girls:

Well, I need to finish a few more projects today. Steve's mom is arriving tomorrow for a visit and we're so looking forward to spending time with her! We haven't seen her since Christmas. But that means I need to get some groceries in the house and finish cleaning. I've written and now I am ready to tackle some more chores WITHOUT the little black cloud over my head.

I'll be back soon...I promise. In the meantime, enjoy the long weekend and whatever your plans may be.

Excuse Me While I Get on my Soapbox

2008-05-02T08:22:00.004-05:00

I have one really major pet peeve and it's a tough one to have because for many people, this particular thing is not even a blip on their radar, much less one of their pet peeves. I know many of us share some of the same pet peeves. You know the ones. People who don't use their turn signal, people who talk with their mouth full, people who can never be wrong and the list goes on and on. Those things bug me, of course, but my biggest pet peeve by far is when people use the word "retarded" to describe someone doing something they viewed as "dumb" or "stupid". It burns me just to type that to be completely honest.

Since using that word for that purpose is much more common than I would like, I get the feeling it's viewed as socially acceptable in some way. I've been wanting to write about this for a while, but kept putting it off. I don't know why. Not wanting to use my blog as a place to lecture others on their behavior, I suppose. But I'm not singling anyone out here. I don't specifically know of anyone who reads my blog regularly (of the people I know personally) who does this. If you do this, you know you do and perhaps my thoughts on the subject will enlighten you a bit and change your way of looking at it. I do know that I hear it fairly frequently out in the world by strangers and acquaintances, both adults and young people.

So why is this such a "hot button" issue for me? My younger sister, Wendy, is deaf and mentally retarded. The "politically correct" term now is cognitively delayed. She is delayed in her functioning, certainly, but she is also very smart in many ways. She plays with my kids while I'm in another room and immediately lets me (and them) know if they are doing something she feels is unsafe or inappropriate. I wish I could say that all supposedly "typically developing" adults had the same common sense Wendy does about those things! She has a great sense of humor, is very thoughtful and helps around the house she shares with my Dad, including insisting that she clean up the kitchen after dinner every night. She is "mentally retarded", but also very capable! I also taught children with special needs for 11 years. Many of them had cognitive delays. Many of them can't speak for themselves. I hope I can be one small voice for people with cognitive disabilities.

When someone cuts you off in traffic or drives poorly, why must we equate that with someone who is lower functioning? When I hear someone yell "What are you, retarded??" it's like ten people running their nails down a chalkboard at the same time. That person is a lousy driver, or completely inconsiderate, but not retarded. Then there's the sort of "funny" way some people try to use the term. A girl bumps into something and her friend teases her with "You're so retarded." A person watches someone doing something unusual on t.v. and says "That is so retarded." When did my sister and people with disabilities like hers become the poster children for poor drivers, people who are clumsy, people who make bad choices, people who embarass themselves in some way?

People who truly have a cognitive delay didn't CHOOSE to be that way. They are doing the best they can. Life is a struggle for them in so many ways. When someone says "You're acting like a retard" do they even know what that means? Do they know someone like my sister and think that he or she acts that way because of her cognitive delay? More than likely, no. I don't really think anyone who spends time with someone who truly is delayed would consider it acceptable to use the word "retard" or "retarded" as a derogatory term in their everyday language. I realize it's most often a case of being ignorant or uninformed on the issue.

While many other derogatory terms related to race, gender or even disability have become more politically incorrect in the past several years, "retard" seems to still be deemed acceptable to use by many people. I can't tell others what to say or not say in their everyday vocabulary, but perhaps I've enlightened a few today. I hope you'll share this post with other people you know and that they will share it with others and so on. I'm inspired by the thought that we could help to teach others about people with cognitive disabilities and how inappropriate it truly is to use the term "retarded" to refer to people who knowingly do something they shouldn't (or even just make a simple mistake). It brings to mind one of my favorite quotes by author Margaret Mead:

"Never doubt that a small group of committed people can CHANGE THE WORLD. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."

My legs are getting tired from standing on this soapbox, so I think I'll step off now. Thanks for listening. And here's a picture of my sister, Wendy, with my daughter, Caroline at a water park last weekend:

Love Thursday: Boys and Puddles

2008-05-01T12:09:00.002-05:00

Puddle Reflection
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

I've been away from the blog for a week, itching to write but just not having enough time in the day. The kids were off school for a four-day weekend and we had a wonderful time at an indoor water park for two of those days. We took my sister along which was so much fun. We returned Monday night and it seems that life keeps wanting to get in the way of what I want to do, darn it!

So I am finally jumping in (slight pun intended) to share a Love Thursday post about my little boy. Wow...after being the Mommy of two girls first, I had no idea what to expect from my little man. Being the mom of a boy was foreign territory to me at first and though I was delighted to add one to our family, I was fairly clueless on the whole concept. I have a few friends who only have boys and they are probably going to laugh as they read this confession.

Theo is still a mystery to me at times, but then so is my husband...and my father...and my brother. I've no doubt that to some extent, they all feel the same about me.

As Theo has grown (recently turning 6), I've been stumped by a number of things. What do you mean you want to sleep with matchbox cars? Why is the word "poop" so hilarious, especially at the dinner table? What motivates you to burp in front of your sisters and then announce that you did it in case anyone missed it? (Trust me, we didn't.) What is the appeal of Spiderman and pretend fighting with foam swords and shields? Thank goodness Steve seems to understand and even embrace it all (although he is quick to give Theo lessons on when it is and isn't okay to announce your burps and say the word "poop", for example, which is a huge relief to me.)

I do love his unbridled exuberance for all things "boy" and I'm slowly getting that some of this stuff truly just seems to be a "guy thing" . I don't have to understand it completely, but I accept it as part of who he is. I accept that grass stains on the pants (even the brand-new ones) is a frequent and unavoidable fact of life. I'm learning to use a foam sword and shield with a fair bit of confidence. I'm all about letting him turn on the hose to make messier "roads" in the sandbox for his monster trucks.

But between you and me? I love that he is a very well-rounded boy, too. He plays rough and tumble, but he also loves to snuggle. He is a great reader and he loves story time. He can color and draw pictures for hours and writes me the sweetest little love notes. He is always willing and eager to help me cook or bake something.

Last week, I bought Theo a pair of rain boots with frog faces on them. That very day, it rained hard. As soon as it let up a bit, I turned him loose on the puddles in our neighborhood and just marveled at his "let 'er rip" approach. He was splashing, running, lying down right in the puddles to see his reflection, stomping, giggling and soaked to the skin within minutes. I never said stop or told him just to stomp but try to keep his clothes dry. I just let him go for it and it was a moment of pure joy for both of us. I took a ridiculous number of pictures but they captured the true essence of my little boy.

On this Love Thursday, I am all about love for my sword-fighting, coloring, Spiderman-loving, cooking and baking, Lego-building, bike riding, grass-stain wearing, snuggling, reading, yes, even burping and puddle jumping little boy. He is teaching me as much as I teach him.

Love Thursday: Where are They Now?

2008-04-24T20:17:00.002-05:00

Where are They Now?
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

Steve and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary and visited one of my favorite places - the last covered bridge in Wisconsin. It's a beautiful structure located next to a gorgeous park. You can no longer travel across the bridge with vehicles, but you're welcome to walk through it. There are so many inscriptions carved and written on this bridge, which was built in the late 1800's. There is no shortage of declarations of love, some of them over 50-60 years old. This photo is just one example. I can't help but wonder what happened to K.G. and D.E., who declared their love on the bridge 55 years ago and left their mark on it for many to see in the years that followed. Perhaps they are together still, perhaps they found love with others. Either way, on one day many years ago, they were in love with each other and they shared it with anyone else who might pass through.

Here's hoping you're with someone you love on this Love Thursday (a weekly event on the Shutter Sisters photography blog)

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-23T09:08:00.006-05:00

A few of my favorite photos I've taken in the past week (click on images for a larger version):

Mastering Scooter Tricks
Happy Anniversary to Us
Tree Reflection in a Window
Steve at the Creek
Duck in Flight
Bee's Stinger on Display
My Girls
Spring Awakening
Heavenly Light
Antique Trike
Mr. Sun

Happy Earth Day 2008

2008-04-22T13:41:00.007-05:00

Earth Day 2008
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

Earth Day is a wonderful opportunity to take action in caring for our planet, the only place we have to live and the home we need to leave in good condition for the many generations yet to come, our grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond.

It's easy to say "What can one person or one family really do?" but you would be amazed. If every family just made one or two of these changes, the overall impact would be tremendous. We can't realistically do it all. I admire those families I've read about that are on a major mission to do everything they can to "go green" in their own homes, but some of the ideas they are doing are pretty overwhelming. Thinking you have to do "all or nothing" will stall the progress you REALLY CAN make to save this beautiful planet before it's too late for our future generations. I believe that teaching my children better ways to care for the Earth will leave a lasting legacy, as they then teach their own children and so on.

Our family has been taking many steps to do our part in helping to preserve the Earth for those future generations, not only on Earth Day, but every day.

I'd like to take this opportunity to share some of the things we're doing at our hous, perhaps in the hopes that it will inspire you and your family to take a few steps to help save the Earth in your own home.

First, take a look at the first photo in this post. That was taken yesterday after we spent about 30 minutes picking up trash along the bike/walking path behind our home. We filled several bags with trash in just a 1/4 mile or so stretch of the path! The kids were on a mission to get everything they could find and it was great to see them so motivated to make this small part of the Earth more beautiful. We had a great time out in the fresh air as a family, getting some exercise and doing something good for our community at the same time.

Some other simple steps we've taken as a family include:

Perhaps one of the most obvious: RECYCLING. If you aren't recycling everything you can, why not? It doesn't take much more effort than throwing something into the garbage can, but it has a huge positive impact on our planet! It takes CENTURIES for aluminum cans to break down if thrown in the trash!

Another change I made in the past couple months is switching to reusable grocery bags. I purchased 7 reusable bags for $1 each and I keep them in the car. When I go to the store, I bring them in with me instead of having them use the plastic ones (which are a major problem in our landfills...scientists' best guesses are that it takes DECADES for plastic bags to break down!) I personally prefer the reusable bags and we use them for many other things as well. We even have a local store that gives us a 3-cent rebate for every one of my reusable bags we use during a shopping trip. It's a small amount, but every little bit helps. I've used these bags at several different stores and none had a problem using my bags instead of theirs.

Something we changed in our home quite a while ago was our lightbulbs. We use energy-efficient bulbs wherever possible. They are a bit more expensive to purchase initially, but they last MUCH longer than regular bulbs and they save a ton of energy.

Along those same lines, Steve recently put a motion sensor light in our laundry room. This is the room where we come in and out of the house most often as it's connected to the garage. Our pantry is also located in that room as well as (obviously) our washer and dryer. The room gets used often and the light was being left on A LOT. I asked Steve to install a motion sensor light, which took him just a few minutes. Now the light comes on when someone walks in and it turns off a couple minutes later (unless someone is still in the room). No more turning on the light to get something from the pantry and having it stay on for hours! We also have one of these lights installed in the kids' play room.

The last way our family is helping the Earth that I'm going to mention today (there are others we do , but no time to list them all right now) is by purchasing organic produce. We have a box of fruits and vegetables delivered right to our home twice a month. Organic produce isn't affected by pesticides and chemicals which harm both the environment and our bodies. It's often locally grown, which saves on the pollution of delivery trucks bringing these items from all over the country, and it supports the local farmers. We also purchase organic eggs and hormone-free milk from the same resource. The cost is reasonable, it's very convenient and I feel better about what my family is eating.

My family is challenging you to share what you're doing to help the Earth! Please post a comment if you're doing one or more of our ideas or something I didn't list here. My kids look forward to seeing what others are doing! Enjoy Earth Day...every day!

Seventh Anniversary Haiku

2008-04-19T09:14:00.004-05:00

Haiku seems to be all the rage on many of the blogs I visit. I haven't personally written haiku since high school but I thought I would give it a whirl in honor of my seventh wedding anniversary today to my dear husband, Steve. For those who might not recall or be familiar with it, the definition of haiku is an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively.

Here's my best attempt. If it's not up to par, at least it was written with love.

Seven years ago
I married a man who brings
such joy to my life.

He loved my daughters
right from the start and never
made me doubt our love.

He is smart and kind,
always there when I need him
with an open heart.

He works very hard
but always makes time for us.
Family comes first.

Seven years ago,
vows were shared in Jamaica
with family there.

Just one year later
we welcomed our son Theo,
our love’s precious gift.

His instincts as father
are gentle, patient and true.
A father-son bond.

The girls adore him,
think he can fix anything.
Their beloved Pop.

We share a passion.
He understands me and he
always supports me.

The rough spots are rare.
We communicate so well,
blessed beyond measure.

He is what I need.
I am grateful for his love
and our partnership.

My husband, my friend,
my partner in parenting.
Sharing hopes and dreams.

You are what I want.
I look forward to every
adventure with you.

My darling Steven,
Happy Anniversary.
I love you so much.

Sparking Family Creativity

2008-04-18T21:46:00.002-05:00

Family Drawing Time
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

The past week has been practically bursting with creativity at our house and I am loving it. It all started last week with a mother-daughters field trip to meet one of our favorite authors. Jeanne Birdsall wrote an absolutely delightful book for middle grade readers called The Penderwicks. I read it aloud with the girls a couple summers ago and we all enjoyed it immensely. If you have children between the ages of about 8 and 12, pick it up for them. I'm certain you will fall in love with the characters just as we did. The girls are such excellent readers (Annie is almost never without a book by her side, stealing a few moments to read a few more pages whenever she can), but we still enjoy reading books aloud together. It can be difficult sometimes to fit in the time to do it, but we do the best we can because it's something we all value so much.

When I heard there was a sequel to The Penderwicks coming out and that the author herself would be speaking and signing books at a wonderful bookstore about an hour from our house last Friday night, the girls and I couldn't wait to go. When Jeanne Birdsall, the real-live writer of this real-live book that we loved, walked into the room and started sharing what inspires her to write her books, I thought Caroline was going to turn inside out from excitement. "That was so cool" came out of her mouth no less than five times after she was done speaking and had signed the girls' books. Caroline adores writing, so this was akin to a little football fan meeting Brett Favre. And as an aspiring writer myself, I was equally inspired by the evening and enjoyed every moment. The boys stayed home and did whatever fathers and sons do when they have the house to themselves and we had a very special girls' night out that we will always remember. We've already started reading the sequel, The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, and it's like visiting your favorite relatives after a long separation. We can't wait to see what happens next.

The girls with author Jeanne Birdsall (can you tell they're excited?):

Following that event, a new book I had ordered arrived in the mail and I couldn't wait to crack it open. This one is The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule. This book is stuffed to the brim with ideas to help you connect creatively as a family, through fun and unique projects, lovely traditions, exploring nature and much, much more. I have already flagged a number of pages that inspired me, but we started with a very simple idea first...Family Drawing Time. I purchased a sketch book for each of us and a few special drawing pencils and crayons. So simple. We gathered around the table after dinner one evening this week and everyone drew together at the same time. Annie suggested we put some ideas on little slips of paper in a bowl, pull one out and then everyone could draw their version of that item (for example, a tea cup, any candy, a flower, etc.). It was so fun to see the different variations each of us created and I loved the sharing we did after each "round", offering praise and admiring each other's work. It was a simple, lovely family moment that sparked creativity in all of us, even those of us who don't consider ourselves to be even remotely good at drawing (raising my hand here). The next night at dinner, Theo eagerly asked "Can we have Family Drawing Time again tonight?" That is the mark of success in my book. I highly recommend checking out the book yourself and finding some activities that spark creativity in your family.

Finally, I continue to be inspired creatively by my new camera. I am so amazed and even moved by the beautiful images that are showing up when I download them from my camera. I am so inspired by the tiniest little items around me that I could never have done justice to with my previous cameras. Smudge is my eager sidekick on my many outings to explore the often-missed beauty all around our community and I am so touched by the many little signs of spring that I might not have seen if I wasn't out there looking for them. Even if you don't have a camera or you don't enjoy photography, take a little time to notice the tiny buds forming on the trees and bushes, the daffodils and hyacinths beginning to peek out of the earth and the fresh, new leaves pushing their way free. It is such a special but fleeting time of year and it's so easy to miss it.

Some of my favorite captures from the past week (click photos to see larger versions):

Where Truth Resides for Me

2008-04-11T12:50:00.004-05:00

Laughing Mom and Theo
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

I was inspired to write this post after today's post at Shutter Sisters, my favorite photo blog. The inspiring post was all about treasuring that which is real in our lives. Our society is so tuned in to "perfection", to the constant pressure to look your best and be your best all the time. Many of us buy into this pressure, these expectations. Those that don't, those precious few who TRULY "don't care" what they look like, what others think of them, etc. have my admiration, I assure you...assuming that there is actually truth behind their words. For most of us, though, the desire is always simmering to be a little better, a little more (or less) of something than what we currently are.

The amazing technological advancements in photography further this frenzy to achieve perfection. I applaud the celebrities who have recently gotten real about how photos of them are doctored and airbrushed to make them look ridiculously perfect. The message those kinds of photos send to young girls (of which I am the mother of two) is that real isn't good enough, that you must achieve some superhuman level of perfection to be admired by others.

Thankfully, my children live in the real world and they know that beauty comes in many forms, shapes and sizes. As Midwesterners, we don't live in an area where the trends happen first or where everyone is out there trying to get everything they can possibly think of sucked out, cut off or surgically removed. We talk about make-up and when it will be appropriate to wear some and how important it is to let your natural beauty shine through. It did my heart a world of good to hear my two girls talking to each other recently about how some of Annie's classmates are starting to wear makeup and they wear "way too much" and it "doesn't look good on them" and "how much prettier she would be if she didn't wear all that makeup". Yes! The message is getting through.

My children know I'm working out more and trying to lose about 35 pounds, but the message is loud and clear that this is for my health and well-being. They know that my mother died at 71 due to complications of diabetes and I don't want to follow in her footsteps, that being around for my children, my husband and someday, my grandchildren is the most important thing in the world to me. We've always promoted healthy eating and physical activity in our home, not because you need to be skinny and look a certain way, but because you will feel better, live longer, have more energy and be able to live life to its' fullest.

I don't talk about feeling "fat" in front of my kids or complain about how I look in a particular outfit. I feel my job as a mother is to be a good role model and let them know that they are beautiful inside and out. In my private moments, of course I sometimes have those human feelings of wishing I could look a certain way, but this is me and there are only a limited number of things I can control.

Having a younger sister with special needs has heightened my sensitivity and perhaps that of my children as well. It reminds us that we are all different, we all look different and in God's eyes, we are all perfect. We should strive to be healthy and to care for our bodies because we only have the one we are given, but beyond that, we are a product of our parents and their parents. We are part of a genetic history.

Annie has a small, but noticeable birthmark on her cheek. Those who know Annie don't even see it anymore because she's just Annie. If she wants to have it removed someday, I will certainly support her decision. But I don't see a need for her to do that. She is Annie, birthmark and all. Caroline had 17 stitches on her forehead about four years ago, When her hair isn't falling in front of it, there is definitely a noticeable white line on her forehead about two inches long. Again, she might choose to have it removed by some medical means someday, but if not, it's a badge of honor, a great story to tell and it certainly doesn't detract from her beauty.

I own Photoshop, a very savvy photo editing program that would allow me to modify pictures until I looked almost "perfect" if I really wanted to take the time to learn the program (it has a pretty complicated learning curve, in my opinion, so thus far it hasn't been for me). And believe me, I've been tempted. And a lot of photos with me in it never make it to a public forum like my blog or my Flickr page because I'm hard on myself when I look at them. The picture above is a perfect example. I took this one myself of me and Theo laughing hysterically while playing on the front lawn. The camera was on my lap and I just snapped a couple shots. I loved it in the tiny window of the camera, but when I uploaded it onto the computer the scrutinizing began. Where did those laugh lines come from? Doesn't my face look splotchy? I look really tired.

Then I put on the brakes and took another good long look. This is beautiful. This is me and my perfect little specimen of a son, with our matching freckles and the same smile. This is a joyful moment between a mother and child, the sunlight behind us and spring hope in the air on a relaxed afternoon at home. This is a moment I will cherish forever and now it's preserved in a photo. How could I dare to change the moment by altering the photo so I looked "better"? I am his mother. He is my son. And together, we are perfection.

Slipping Through My Fingers

2008-04-10T11:36:00.004-05:00

Schoolbag in hand, she leaves home in the early morning
Waving goodbye with an absent-minded smile
I watch her go with a surge of that well-known sadness
And I have to sit down for a while
The feeling that I’m losing her forever
And without really entering her world
I’m glad whenever I can share her laughter
That funny little girl

Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see what’s in her mind
Each time I think I’m close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time

~Part of the lyrics for “Slipping Through My Fingers” by ABBA

Every time I hear this song about a mother wondering where the years with her daughter have gone, I think of my beautiful Annie and Caroline. Our children are “ours” for such a short time. Some might argue they never really are, that they are born as their own little beings and we are just here to nurture and guide them through their journey to adulthood.

It seems right now that my children are all going through an age of tremendous growth and change. Of course, every age is an important part of a child’s development and they are destined to grow and change with each passing year, but you moms out there know this: Some ages just bring MORE change than others.

No one would deny that Annie’s age (11, turning 12 in July) is a huge milestone. Stuck in that complicated vacuum between childhood and being a teenager, your own body starts to feel foreign to you and the changes are swift and sometimes alarming. Your friends are all over the place with their development after years of everyone looking pretty similar. One minute Annie wants to snuggle and the next she wants some personal space. If you ever visit my Flickr page and look at photos I’ve taken, you’ll notice there aren’t as many of Annie. Annie has never been a major ham when the camera comes out (that job has been gladly accepted by her sister and brother), but she used to at least tolerate it pretty well and sometimes even enjoy it. Now she usually groans when the camera comes out, gives a rather unnatural smile that she hopes will satisfy me and escapes at the first indication that our photo session is finished…but usually not before asking if she can see the pictures first, of course. This is an age where how you look and what you wear and whether a photo your mom has taken might be embarrassing become so much more important.

Last week, the principal from the middle school came to talk to Annie and the other sixth graders about what they can expect at the new school next year and sat down with each one of them individually. She came home so excited I practically had to peel her off the ceiling. She wants to participate in “student council and yearbook and book club and forensics and band and she’s been assigned to the advanced math class and they have this and they have that and”…and perhaps she could take a breath in the middle of her story?  I love Annie’s exuberance for life. She’s a kid that soaks it all up like a sponge, usually does the right thing, always tries her best and just generally makes a mom gush with pride. She still adores her family, but I can feel the time slipping away a little more quickly now. We have fewer years left with her here at home than years she’s been alive and sometimes it truly does feel like she’s slipping through my fingers little by little. I just wish I could hold on a little tighter, but I know I can’t. I just have to make the most of the years ahead and embrace the changes which I know will sometimes have my hair turning grey and may even cause me a few sleepless nights.

Caroline is also at an age of big change. She will turn 10 in June and she is craving more independence. She clearly knows everything there is to know about everything (just ask her) and she often gets frustrated when things don’t go her way. Caroline has always been quite dramatic and we all do our best to embrace that side of her, but there are days…well, if you’re a parent, you know that despite our preferences, our children are individuals and they don’t always conform to what we might expect them to be or do. And, really, would we want them to be just little carbon copies of us? How boring that world would be.

Caroline, with her witty sense of humor, her creativity, her unique view of the world around her, makes every day interesting and brings a tremendous amount of joy to our home. Of course, highly creative individuals are often temperamental and that can be exasperating at times, but I know that my life is infinitely better because I get to be her mother. She often makes me see things in a different way and the stories she writes constantly inspire and impress me. There will come a day when I realize she is slipping through my fingers as well and her bright light and spirit will be here much less often as she heads off to college to pursue her dreams. When that day arrives, I will rest a bit more easily knowing we survived those challenging, yet incredibly rewarding years and that she kept us entertained through it all.

This post is really about my girls and I’ll save my thoughts about the big changes that turning six has brought for Theo on another day. If you have daughters, read the words to the song again. Download it on iTunes. Let it touch your soul as it always does mine and help you focus, in this moment, on what is most important. There are other songs that make me think more of Theo and our mother-son relationship, but you could easily replace “she” with “he” in this song and think of your son(s) as well.

We’re only given so much time to cherish these little beings in our home, both the delightful and the oh-so-exasperating moments. From the day they are born, they are already starting to very slowly slip through our fingers and then you suddenly reach a day where it hits you right in the heart that it’s happening faster and faster. I, for one, don’t want to waste a moment.

Sometimes I wish that I could freeze the picture
And save it from the funny tricks of time
Slipping through my fingers...

Slipping through my fingers all the time

Annie's many charms which she loves to trade with her best friend
I found this shirt that suits Caroline perfectly

A Joyful Week

2008-04-09T15:03:00.002-05:00

My New Obsession
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

I know, I know...I've been a bad blogger. It's been over a week since I posted. Things have been a bit hectic at our house, but I'm pleased to report that it's primarily been good news that has kept me away.

I'll start with an explanation of the photo. A bit of really good luck came our way last week and I couldn't be happier about it. Anyone who knows me or follows my blog knows I have a teensy bit of a passion for photography. Okay, I admit it. I'm hooked. I love taking photos and though I don't have any formal training, I've taught myself some tricks along the way and have continued to work on developing my skills. However, I've always been a bit limited in what I could do photographically because of the cameras I've had. I was doing everything on a point and shoot camera, all the while longing for a digital SLR camera that would flash when I wanted it to, would respond quickly, would give me more flexibility, etc. I just couldn't seem to justify the expense. Well, a couple weeks ago I purchased raffle tickets for a fundraiser to help purchase phone calling cards for soldiers. I decided to put 5 of my raffle tickets in the drawing box for a $500 Best Buy gift card. Much to my shock and amazement, WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never been one of those people whose name gets drawn for raffles. I enter them time and time again with the same results. Well, this time we apparently got all of our good luck in one fell swoop! My initial instinct was that we should purchase a new t.v. for the rec room since the one currently down there recently died on us. But my wonderful husband, knowing how much I desperately wanted a nice camera (and frankly sick of hearing me complain about the other one, I'm sure! :) )suggested we get a digital SLR camera. When we discovered that there was a great Nikon with excellent reviews on sale for EXACTLY $500 at Best Buy, it was clearly a sign. We bought the camera the next day! I've been playing with it ever since and am I ever having fun with it. I thought I knew what I was missing, but I really had no idea. I have much to learn about my new friend, but I know I will enjoy every moment. If you'd like to see some of the shots I've taken with the new camera, check out my Nikon D40 set on Flickr.

In other news from the past week, I've discovered Facebook. A friend from high school suggested I start a facebook page since several other people from our high school were also on there. Not only did I find many of those friends, but other people I'd lost touch with as well, including several moms I befriended through an iVillage online group when I was pregnant with Theo. We were all expecting our little ones in March 2002 and it was wonderful to reconnect with some of them and see some recent photos of their little ones. The internet still continues to amaze me and I often marvel at how we ever functioned without it. Of course it's an amazing resource for so many things, but on a personal level I wouldn't have many of the friends I have and, most importantly, my amazing husband, if it weren't for the internet. I would have to (gasp!) PRINT OUT MY PHOTOS and put them in the regular mail in order to keep my in-laws updated on how their grandchildren are doing. Instead, they get pictures almost daily and are probably almost sick of it by now (just kidding, Omi! I know you love it.) Anyone reading this blog probably appreciates the wonderful world wide web as much as I do or you wouldn't be able to even find me on here. I can hardly wait to see what else will develop over these next years while my children are growing (and how they will undoubtedly laugh at some of the things we think are "cool" now but they will find positively antiquated by the time they are adults.) So if you're on facebook, please look me up!

Let's see...what other great news did I have to report? The kids are doing great in school. Straight A's for both of the girls. How awesome is that? Theo is starting to understand that being the class clown in kindergarten is probably not the best choice he could make (how did I not see this coming when he made me laugh constantly before he started school??) and he is making much better choices. The taxes are just about done and the outcome was better than expected (although we won't see a refund this year, unfortunately). I've been working out 4-5 days a week and sticking with Weight Watchers for 5 weeks now and I've lost 7 1/2 pounds. VERY happy about that, of course! Steve and I have been playing racquetball together which is such a blast. We don't keep score and we really don't play by the rules, but we get a good workout and we laugh the whole time. What could be better?

Overall, life is pretty good at the moment. There are downs mixed in with the ups, but I can't complain. And updating my blog feels great, too. It's like ignoring a good friend when I don't write for more than a couple days and when it's been over a week, I'm practically chomping at the bit to find a few moments to fit it in. So there you go, old friend...an update from me and a promise to return soon.

Pajamas and Giggling and Dancing, Oh My!

2008-03-31T16:38:00.005-05:00

Annie and Caroline had their first slumber party on Friday night. It's taken me three days to recover enough to post about it. :) They've each had one friend over at a time before, but this time they were each allowed to have three friends over -- on the same night. Yes, eight girls between the ages of 9 and 12 converged on my house at 4 p.m. on Friday for a night of non-stop giggling, squealing and talking. Why is it that girls giggle and squeal about EVERYTHING?

I have to say I went in with an attitude of "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst" for this particular event and I came out of the experience pleasantly surprised. There was minimal drama (but what's a slumber party without a little drama?) and lots of fun. The girls were silly, but polite. They were respectful of rules and each other. The perfect solution was that the younger girls would camp out upstairs in the bedroom and the older girls took the rec room downstairs in the basement. This helped to avoid a lot of drama that could potentially have resulted in Steve and I tearing our hair out and vowing "never again". The entire group came together for dinner, dessert and breakfast, but otherwise stayed primarily in their separate little hangouts and all was well.

The highlight of the evening was each group joining us in the family room for a dance party where we cranked the music and let the girls twirl and whirl until their cheeks were bright pink and their hair was plastered to their little heads with sweat. They are so funny at this age, trapped somewhere between wanting to be little girls and trying desperately to be "cool". They gladly welcomed Theo into their dance parties and he had a blast imitating their dance moves and showing off some of his own. Even Steve shared a few of his moves and the girls seemed quite impressed! I spent my time behind the camera capturing all these moments for posterity (despite a few complaints, they LOVED the pictures when it was all said and done), but did have a little mini dance party with just me, Steve and Theo when the girls had worn themselves out and retreated back to their separate "clubs".

The party brought back a flood of memories from my own childhood. Slumber parties are such a rite of passage, a memory of a time of youthful energy and innocence and so much life ahead to plan and dream about. They were some of the best memories of that time in my life...talking late into the night about anything and everything, playing Truth or Dare (and yes, we had some interesting experiences with that on Friday night as the older girls were dared to do silly things in front of the younger ones and vice versa...funny stuff, to be sure!), silly pranks and oh, perhaps my favorite thing to do which suddenly struck me as no longer possible in this age of technology...prank phone calls! We used to call people from our class, boys we liked, even random people out of the phone book and just say and do goofy things. Harmless, but hilarious. I told the girls it's so strange to think they can't do that anymore since the introduction of Caller ID! They'll either recognize your name and/or number if it's someone you know or they will call you back if it's a stranger. Almost everyone I know has Caller ID so you really can't risk it. Oh, well. I guess they will find some other equally goofy prank to do instead.

All in all, it was a great evening and Steve and I both agreed it was a success that we would definitely allow the girls to do again. It's so important to me to support their friendships and to know who their friends are as they head toward the often-difficult adolescent years when friends are so important to girls and knowing your daughters have friends who make good choices is so important to parents. I can say without question that these six girls who came over on Friday are bright, funny, delightful and kind and I'm so glad to know them better.

Here's a group photo from the big bash. It really makes me smile every time I look at it.

Fresh Air and Sunshine

2008-03-27T15:36:00.002-05:00

Busy Kids
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

"You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again." -
-- Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The kiddos are home for spring break this week and we have been clinging to every little glimpse of spring we can find. With the early Easter this year, I knew it might be a challenge to actually have spring-like weather during spring break. I'd say we've been at about 50% in that regard this week. We've had a couple nicer days where we actually reached temps in the low 50's, but we've also had a couple days, including today, with snow and temps in the 30's. The very first day of spring break, last Friday, brought us about 14 inches of snow! Yes, we had a "white Easter".

This photo really captures a sense of spring for me. It's my three kids (the front three), plus Annie's best friend, Alex (pushing the wagon), and her younger sister, Danielle. They spent a couple hours outside yesterday, playing together and enjoying the slightly warmer temperatures and, best of all, the sunshine. They played with this wagon, rode bikes, drew on the driveway with chalk, rode their scooters, raced up and down the driveway. I was out there with them the whole time, snapping pictures (of course) and getting my own dose of Vitamin D from the bright sunshine. It felt great.

It's funny how we all focus on the snow falling, piled high in the yard, seeming as though it will never melt and then suddenly it all seems to have melted away and we don't even notice it happening. This is what it looked like just six days ago as 14 inches of snow was falling:

Quite a difference from the shot above of the kids playing outside yesterday. There's some light snow falling again today, but it doesn't seem to be sticking to the ground. I'm hoping March really will go out like a lamb.

I'm off to bake some bread and cookies with Theo. The girls are at their other house today but they will be back early tomorrow morning and I can guarantee there will be a LOT of energy in our house tomorrow. The girls are each inviting three friends over for a slumber party tomorrow night! Yes, 8 little girls between the ages of 9 and 12, plus me, Steve and Theo. It should be an interesting night. I'll post an update over the weekend.

And feel free to check out some of the other pictures I took of the kids playing outside yesterday on my Flickr page. The first few aren't from yesterday, but after that there are several. I love the ones I took of Theo and Danielle playing hopscotch!

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T11:59:00.004-05:00

Hunting for Eggs
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

Just a quick post to wish everyone a happy Easter. I am missing Annie and Caroline a lot today as it's their year to be with their dad and step-mom on Easter. Most of my family is out of town for the holiday this year and Steve's family lives out of state, so it's just the three of us on our own today. It always feels strange to have a holiday like this when I am so used to a chaotic, family-filled, lots of laughter, eat-more-than-you-should kind of event most years.

Theo was so delighted to wake up and see that the Easter Bunny came today! The Easter Bunny hid eggs all over the family room for him and I was able to capture this picture that is definitely my favorite of the day (click for the larger image). He was moving so fast to gather up the eggs that I was amazed I caught this one. I also took some others as well as some great shots while we colored eggs last night. Check a few of them out below and the rest on my Flickr page.

Off to have a quiet Easter Sunday with my boys. Whether you are celebrating today or not, many blessings to you.

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

2008-03-21T12:27:00.001-05:00

By the Light of the Silvery Moon
Originally uploaded by momofthreewi

I just had to share this beautiful shot I took last night while out on a walk. Amazingly, it was taken with my little basic point and shoot camera because I didn't feel like lugging the bigger one with me. I was so thrilled with the results. Unfortunately, we are now sitting inside on the second day of spring looking out the windows at a snowstorm. Yes, a full-blown snowstorm. The airport is closed (I feel for all those people trying to head to warmer destinations on this first day of spring break.) The snow is piling up at a rate of 1-2 inches per hour and they are predicting 12-15 inches before this storm is done. If that happens, this will officially be the second snowiest winter ON RECORD - since the 1800's! How insane is that?? Come on, spring!! I am so ready for you! We all are.

The girls are with their Dad and Theo and I are hunkered down at home, playing and laughing and taking silly pictures. Steve just called to say his boss sent everyone home and he should be here soon. I guess I can't complain too much. Hanging out with my boys with nowhere to go on a blustery day sounds pretty great to me.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

2008-03-20T08:47:00.006-05:00

So I saw this blog post by Sweetney on what she called "self-portrait truthiness" and for some reason I don't even understand myself, I decided to play along. Why on earth would I want to share a photo of myself first thing in the morning, no brush through the hair, no makeup, imperfections and all? But then I thought about it a little more and decided "What the heck?" I have sisters, daughters, friends, had roommates all through college and I have yet to see one of them look like the women on t.v. when they wake up in the morning. Real people don't wake up glowing, with their faces made up and their silky hair flowing beautifully. Nope, it just doesn't happen. When we leave our house in the morning, I don't think we're fooling anyone into thinking we woke up looking like that. There has been many a morning that I look in the mirror and think, "How is it that Steve doesn't look afraid when he sees me in the morning?" Oh, yeah...that whole "love is blind" thing. Thank God for that.

I applaud Sweetney for starting this mini-revolution to reveal the cold, hard, not-so-pretty but oh-so-real truth. My morning self-portraits are below. Prepare yourself and don't say I didn't warn you. :) For more brave photos or to get in on the act, check out the Self-Portrait Truthiness group on Flickr. It feels pretty freeing, actually. Just do it.

And taking these photos got me in the spirit to do a little chronicle of Theo waking up in the morning, from sound asleep to bright-eyed and smiling. Here's a mosaic I created, but you can see larger versions on my Flickr page. Enjoy and have a wonderful first day of spring!