It's there right before my eyes when my eyes are on them. Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
On My Mind Monday
The most important thing about a person is always the thing you don't know.
Barbara Kingsolver - Lacuna
Friday, October 22, 2010
Grateful Friday
Today I give thanks for...
Helping hands.
T. Bone's waterclolor still life.
Miss Bit's "fancy" storybook pumpkin.
Silly bands.
Too cute to eat Halloween treats.
Too yummy not to eat pumpkin seeds.
Last Sunday was shorts weather, and despite the fact that it was 70 degrees out my girl still donned her fuzzy, suede, favorite boots.
Carving pumpkins with Miss Bit. She was able to create her own jack o' lantern with just a little help from me.
Tigger did not carve his own pumpkin, but he was rather curious about what we were doing.
Photographic proof that Peanut is responsible for destroying my pussy willows.
First and foremost...15 incredible years with my hubby. Yesterday was our anniversary. Wow...we have known each other for over half of our lives now. I cannot imagine anyone I'd rather share my life with, and that is such a warm, fuzzy, fabulous feeling.
Dinner out alone last night to connect and chat even though it was quick. We are celebrating with a weekend away in a couple weeks.
Great conferences. T. Bone and Miss Bit are both making great progress academically and socially. Miss Bit's teacher said that she is never alone...she's made many friends. She's also going to talk to the class about kissing. Lil Bit confided to her Dad that her new boyfriend keeps asking her if she's ready to kiss yet.
My bil for coming to watch the kids so we could both attend their conferences and steal away for dinner. He's cheap (charging only the cost of take out), and the kids and cats look forward to seeing him. When we got home they were all snuggled on the couch watching The Bad News Bears and sipping shakes.
Tea tree oil hair products...they make my scalp tingle and my nose run.
Martha's pumpkin whoopee pies filled with butter cream frosting...perfect in the morning with a cup of coffee, and for that reason...I'm also thankful they are gone.
Miss Bit called from her sleepover last weekend because she was missing home, but she stuck it out and had a great time.
Pot roast in the slow cooker this week.
The enthusiasm Miss Bit has for her cheer class.
Walking through the Audubon yesterday holding hands with both my kids at their request.
After school movie dates.
Helping hands.
T. Bone's waterclolor still life.
Miss Bit's "fancy" storybook pumpkin.
Silly bands.
Too cute to eat Halloween treats.
Too yummy not to eat pumpkin seeds.
Last Sunday was shorts weather, and despite the fact that it was 70 degrees out my girl still donned her fuzzy, suede, favorite boots.
Carving pumpkins with Miss Bit. She was able to create her own jack o' lantern with just a little help from me.
Tigger did not carve his own pumpkin, but he was rather curious about what we were doing.
Photographic proof that Peanut is responsible for destroying my pussy willows.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Operation Free Fuzzy Wuzzy
The kids had the sunny afternoon off and since I figured Fuzzy had about all the playing, petting and cuddling a caterpillar can handle, I suggested we take a trip to the Audubon to set him free. Miss Bit's eyes immediately welled up and over at the mere suggestion and she worried aloud, "Won't Fuzzy Wuzzy miss me? I'm just gonna miss him so much? But I don't want him to get hit by a car!"
After much conversation, coddling and a little coercion, Miss Bit came to the conclusion that Fuzzy was best off in the forest with other caterpillars and far away from the freeway, but she kept reminding us that she sure didn't have to like it. We found the perfect spot for him, she kissed him adieu and then she burst into big, fat tears. From what I could decipher she moaned something like, "Oh! My heart hurts so so so bad. Even though I only had...what's his name? Fuzzy what? Oh, yea Fuzzy Wuzzy for like 1 day, I miss him so so so much!" T. Bone and I shared sly side ways glances...like really? Yea, really. Don't worry...drama lessons start in January. This girl is destined for the stage. I was just relieved that she wasn't wishing death on herself the way she was a couple weeks ago when she had a case of the throw ups. My girl: big, bursting heart...weak tolerance for pain both physical and emotional. (And I wouldn't have it any other way.)
Well, Fuzzy was rather eager to inch along to find his friends and family and get far far away from my girl's grips. That caused her even more turmoil to the tune of, "I know he's better off in the forest with his friends, but I'll never see him again and I just wanted to keep him forever!" I suggested we circle the pond and stop back to check on him. She shot that down lickedy split, "Oh no, I don't want to say 'goodbye' again cuz' that'll hurt even more!"
OK then...we headed off to get far away from Mystery Pond and the memory of Fuzzy. We explored the trails and enjoyed the beautiful day. Miss Bit was dragging her sad feet a little so she was the caboose. Every once in awhile she'd let out a wail behind us, we'd comfort her and then trek on.
They tackled "THE BIG BLUFF." He was an incredibly sweet and patient big brother helping her down the whole way and offering words of encouragement, promising protection. "Don't worry Lil Bit, T. Bone will catch you if you fall." And he did. I love when he refers to himself in the third person...it's so parental.
I bunkered down on a bed of leaves while I listened to their teamwork and gazed at the dreamy sky.
They were both peacock proud when they finally made it to the bottom. I heard her shout, "I did it! T. Bone says I'm a demigod!" Then he chimed in, "And I'm THE God of climbing cuz' I helped a 6 year old get up and down a 90 degree hill!" Fuzzy was mostly forgotten by the exciting attainment of this feat.
I suggested we round the Grassland Loop because I tend to see deer on this path most frequently. Not 20 steps in and we literally crossed paths with a couple does. It is such a blessing when my kids see that I am, indeed, omniscient. The group of turkey and lone snake we encountered were bonuses as was the fact that most everyone was posing for pictures today. T. Bone was proud to capture this close-up of a deer.
The afternoon was declared, "fun," and "awesome," and "tiring" too! 
We all were called to attention just in time. There were 4 deer in a clearing on our way out of the preserve.
After much conversation, coddling and a little coercion, Miss Bit came to the conclusion that Fuzzy was best off in the forest with other caterpillars and far away from the freeway, but she kept reminding us that she sure didn't have to like it. We found the perfect spot for him, she kissed him adieu and then she burst into big, fat tears. From what I could decipher she moaned something like, "Oh! My heart hurts so so so bad. Even though I only had...what's his name? Fuzzy what? Oh, yea Fuzzy Wuzzy for like 1 day, I miss him so so so much!" T. Bone and I shared sly side ways glances...like really? Yea, really. Don't worry...drama lessons start in January. This girl is destined for the stage. I was just relieved that she wasn't wishing death on herself the way she was a couple weeks ago when she had a case of the throw ups. My girl: big, bursting heart...weak tolerance for pain both physical and emotional. (And I wouldn't have it any other way.)
Well, Fuzzy was rather eager to inch along to find his friends and family and get far far away from my girl's grips. That caused her even more turmoil to the tune of, "I know he's better off in the forest with his friends, but I'll never see him again and I just wanted to keep him forever!" I suggested we circle the pond and stop back to check on him. She shot that down lickedy split, "Oh no, I don't want to say 'goodbye' again cuz' that'll hurt even more!"
OK then...we headed off to get far away from Mystery Pond and the memory of Fuzzy. We explored the trails and enjoyed the beautiful day. Miss Bit was dragging her sad feet a little so she was the caboose. Every once in awhile she'd let out a wail behind us, we'd comfort her and then trek on.
They tackled "THE BIG BLUFF." He was an incredibly sweet and patient big brother helping her down the whole way and offering words of encouragement, promising protection. "Don't worry Lil Bit, T. Bone will catch you if you fall." And he did. I love when he refers to himself in the third person...it's so parental.
I bunkered down on a bed of leaves while I listened to their teamwork and gazed at the dreamy sky.
They were both peacock proud when they finally made it to the bottom. I heard her shout, "I did it! T. Bone says I'm a demigod!" Then he chimed in, "And I'm THE God of climbing cuz' I helped a 6 year old get up and down a 90 degree hill!" Fuzzy was mostly forgotten by the exciting attainment of this feat.
I suggested we round the Grassland Loop because I tend to see deer on this path most frequently. Not 20 steps in and we literally crossed paths with a couple does. It is such a blessing when my kids see that I am, indeed, omniscient. The group of turkey and lone snake we encountered were bonuses as was the fact that most everyone was posing for pictures today. T. Bone was proud to capture this close-up of a deer.
The afternoon was declared, "fun," and "awesome," and "tiring" too!
We all were called to attention just in time. There were 4 deer in a clearing on our way out of the preserve.
I love afternoons off, spending time with my amazing kids out in nature, how they love the outdoors, animals (even caterpillars) and each other.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
LOVE IS
love is finding a caterpillar when i was miles into my walk today, and carrying it the 15,000 steps home all for my girl. the whole way i was smiling just thinking how happy she's gonna be when she gets her hands on this little fuzzy guy.
if you must know
The heat kicked on overnight. I was so snug in my bed that I didn't think to get up so it was a little bit of a Chinese fire drill in our hurried house this morning. I scrambled the eggs while T. Bone helped Miss Bit with her math homework. The homework we just sorta forgot to do last night. He practiced his book share one last time and still had a few minutes to play with the cats. They were at school with minutes to spare.
Today was wear red day for school spirit week. The only red Miss Bit has hanging in her closet are Christmas dresses so she opted to wear blue and green and sparkles and she couldn't have been any happier. At six, she already has such strong opinions about clothing. We spar in the mornings over everything from head to toe...that is to say from headbands to socks. It's exhausting, and let me just state for the record that I give her a whole lotta leeway. This morning I heard myself going where I vowed to never go: "When I was a little girl, I didn't have a whole closet full of clothes. I didn't have choices like you. I had to wear the same things over and over whether I liked them or not because that's what I had," and on and on and on. For the rest of the week, I'll get my way, and then the whole cycle will start anew next week. And also just for the record, I can still hear my Mom saying things like that to me when I was a little girl, and it makes me smile. I know I'm not doing any permanent damage is what I'm trying to say. I realize there's a rather fine line between ladeling with guilt and instilling appreciation, and I'm willing to walk it because I think too many children have a sense of entitlement. Realize there's also a tenuous realtionship between empowerment and entitlement.
And speaking of my Mom...ever since I pulled up a random website and heard Chuck Mangione's Feels So Good the other day, I have this heaviness in my heart. I cannot explain it because I think it's such a happy song...so full of joy. I sat at my desk listening to it and sobbing for the five or so minutes it played and my whole life flashed before my eyes. I was paralyzed by the fast-paced cerebral slide show of my 41 years of living. The song reminds me of my childhood, but it's my Dad who was the Mangione fan. I guess hearing the song made me feel like a little girl again. A little girl who needs and wants her Mom.
Don't even get me started on The Time Traveler's Wife. We watched it last night and I was utterly captivated by it all, of course, to the point of contained crying jags. My hubby knew though. He always knows when I'm stiffling my tears and sniffles. Stories of love and loss affect me deeply and especially when I'm feeling particularly exposed. I'm adding Niffennegger's novel to my must read list. I think it's about #500. One can dream.
I'm off for some fresh air. It's a gray cloudy, cool morning. The perfect day for walking through my thoughts.
Today was wear red day for school spirit week. The only red Miss Bit has hanging in her closet are Christmas dresses so she opted to wear blue and green and sparkles and she couldn't have been any happier. At six, she already has such strong opinions about clothing. We spar in the mornings over everything from head to toe...that is to say from headbands to socks. It's exhausting, and let me just state for the record that I give her a whole lotta leeway. This morning I heard myself going where I vowed to never go: "When I was a little girl, I didn't have a whole closet full of clothes. I didn't have choices like you. I had to wear the same things over and over whether I liked them or not because that's what I had," and on and on and on. For the rest of the week, I'll get my way, and then the whole cycle will start anew next week. And also just for the record, I can still hear my Mom saying things like that to me when I was a little girl, and it makes me smile. I know I'm not doing any permanent damage is what I'm trying to say. I realize there's a rather fine line between ladeling with guilt and instilling appreciation, and I'm willing to walk it because I think too many children have a sense of entitlement. Realize there's also a tenuous realtionship between empowerment and entitlement.
And speaking of my Mom...ever since I pulled up a random website and heard Chuck Mangione's Feels So Good the other day, I have this heaviness in my heart. I cannot explain it because I think it's such a happy song...so full of joy. I sat at my desk listening to it and sobbing for the five or so minutes it played and my whole life flashed before my eyes. I was paralyzed by the fast-paced cerebral slide show of my 41 years of living. The song reminds me of my childhood, but it's my Dad who was the Mangione fan. I guess hearing the song made me feel like a little girl again. A little girl who needs and wants her Mom.
Don't even get me started on The Time Traveler's Wife. We watched it last night and I was utterly captivated by it all, of course, to the point of contained crying jags. My hubby knew though. He always knows when I'm stiffling my tears and sniffles. Stories of love and loss affect me deeply and especially when I'm feeling particularly exposed. I'm adding Niffennegger's novel to my must read list. I think it's about #500. One can dream.
I'm off for some fresh air. It's a gray cloudy, cool morning. The perfect day for walking through my thoughts.
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