Time flies

It is funny how you can blink and notice that a lot of time has flown by. These days have kept us busy. Hubby is off to his new command. The girls are gearing up to for cookie season and my boy is working hard to finish all his work in scouts too. We are all dreaming of summer time leisure and maybe some spring fun too. For now though it is a lot of hugs, movies and waiting. Enjoying our time to be close as much as we can.

Ending a chapter

Three years ago I was closing the chapter before this one. We had just closed on our new house and I was finishing the cleaning of our old house so that the kids and I could be moved and settled before hubby came home from deployment. Another set of orders has come through, another deployment is on our horizon and moves are a whole other story we have lots to discuss about. For now life is one day at a time trying to enjoy any and all moments we have.

Tradition

Today my husband took part in welcoming new Chiefs to the brotherhood.  This tradition is just one of many the United States Navy is steeped in.  This year my children attended with me.  My youngest (also the photographer for this post), looked at me and said, " Mommy, this is boring."

A tradition that turns out great leaders.  One that brings tears of pride for the hard work and many hours put forth.  Knowing that your Chief will never be the same person.  They are more.  They are looked up to and called upon by all.

When my husband was pinned I knew life would be different.  I knew expectations would change.  I knew his commitment was worth it, every second.  What I did not know is that every year as the new class is pinned I would tear up.  I know the emotions, pride, joy and overwhelming awe these families are going through.  I am looking at a sailor who is forever changed.  You can see in their eyes that they also know they are forever changed.

It is a life and a family you do not expect and cannot describe.  You can only feel it and live it.  I looked at my youngest and while rubbing her back told her, "no honey, this is tradition."

Mondays

Life is full of unplanned events.  Last night we had dinner and watched football with friends we had not seen in a while.  It was great to catch up.  So great We stayed later then intended. 

Unplanned events.  The kiddos have slept in today.  I have to decide if tired kiddos up at the right time is more important or well rested kiddos.  Today I choose well rested.

Will we get our list accomplished today?  I do not know.  The list will not go anywhere.  We might have to readjust some.  Nothing new, we have been doing that for a long time now.

The most important lesson today will be love.  Sharing love with our friends, our family.

The start of school

We have begun.  This year my children are in 2nd, 4th and 7th grades. It is amazing how fast time has gone.

My youngest loves to sleep.  She would sleep until lunch if I let her some days.  Once she is up (and has had breakfast) she is unstoppable.  She gets so excited to look at her progress bars after every few assignments.  And put stickers on her chart at the end of units.  Her biggest love is to read.  It took her the longest time to learn.  But wow does she love it.  No book is too big for her.

My son still loves math.  In fact he is a whole grade ahead because he loves it so much.  He is doing a decent job staying on task this week and getting his lessons all complete .  Writing is something he does not love so we have been giving that extra attention.  Once he figures out he is capable of writing he does amazing work.  He also gets excited to see his progress bars move.  He likes to know what is expected and then to make it happen.

My oldest is doing great.  This year she is working with the high school curriculum for math.  I am so impressed with her motivation to stay on top of her lessons.  This course is set up much more like college and gives her due dates for tests, not every assignment.  She is really enjoying it.  She is also doing amazing with her other courses as well.  The connections she makes during history to current events always astound me.  I cannot believe how much she has blossomed.

I am happy to say this year is starting well.  The kids are transitioning nicely from Summer break to school year.  We even have more time to do things like all read from one novel.  Seems simple but when school is across a wide age group sometimes just reading for school and our own fun is easier to get in.  This year we are enjoying the new change up.

I am sure we will hit some bumps in the road.  We are still working out our final schedule.  I know in the end they will still rise up.  They impress me with how much they grow every year.

However your family is educating your young I hope you have a wonderful and successful year.  I hope you all cherish the triumphs and learn from the struggles together.  Here is to a successful year of educating our most precious treasures.

Thursday

It almost seems like any other day, this one is not though.  It is the last Thursday of August.  The last Thursday before I start the school year officially.  The last one to remind me how incredibly busy I am when summer time is over.  Thursday.

All my failed summer plans, all my big ideas.  Today is a reminder that time is short.  It has been a lot to take in.

Today is also for reflection.  Time to reflect in what I did right.  What I have  learned.  How I have grown.  Time to make new plans and be purposeful in what I feel needs to be done.

It is a day to be grateful.  Grateful to have my needs met and some of my wants.  For the ability to help others.  For having three small hearts to guide and love.  Grateful I have the best person by my side to help me when I stumble.

Thankful.  Today I am thankful for a new day to get up and move forward.

August

Where has the time gone this month?

I feel like I blinked and here we are. It has been a very busy month. I have been busy helping my sister get to and from work and find a new car. Getting plans ready for our upcoming year of girl scouts and helping to get our school program ready for the new year. I am now working on helping to get my brother on the process of completing his high school diploma and need to finish organizing our school space.

In between all of that my oldest daughter has turned 12. For her birthday this year we let her get contacts. We have spent many year discussing this option. While it would have lessened the number of times glasses have been broken by her younger siblings and cousins we were very worried they might have thought her supplies for the contacts were toys. Now they are all old enough we felt comfortable going forward. The eye doctor said contacts might be a lot better for her because of being far sighted. Her follow up is this week. So far as I can tell she is doing great. I cannot believe she is so big.

Time to go again. I need to run to the store and get some things for her birthday Luau taking place this weekend.

Cast Iron

A few weeks ago I bought some cast iron skillets at a yard sale.  Today I used them to make corn bread.  The results were yummy.

Keeping them young

I am not ready for my children to face certain evils in our world.  I do not think they need to know about every shooting incident, every kidnapping or how corrupt businesses and governments are.  I do not feel they are old enough to be exposed to the topics of abortion, sexuality or many other subjects that are common place in politics.

My oldest still plays with dolls and not because little sister asks her too.  They still get dirty, build forts, pretend my furniture is something else, get lost in stories and lots of other great things children do.  I treasure those moments because I know in a blink they will be gone.

Sadly their friends sometimes discuss topics our home has sheltered our children from.  We then have to try to explain and answer questions that our young ones should not be learning about yet.  These are heavy adult conversations and choices.  When children are given so much information at a young age we can no longer truly consider them young children.  It steals their childhood and innocence.  I do not believe any adult or other child has the right to steal innocence from children.  That does not mean they are uneducated, or have no idea how the world works.  I have heard them make many educated statements about the government or elections, rights and wrongs of the world and more.

They only get to be children for a few short years.  Let's slow down and let them be little while it is ok for them to be little.

Reflections of Camp

Good times.  My kids all walked away with new skills.  I walked away with new skills too.  We are all excited to go cook some food over the camp fire and try new things.  They loved the knife safety lessons and all want pocket knives now.  While we know they are not all ready for one it is nice that they all want one, gives them incentive to work for. 

Just as we are resting up and relaxing this week it is almost time to pack up my husband and son for cub scout camp.  I understand there will be more outdoor skills and horse back riding to do.  They are both excited for the new adventure.

Our girls also have more camp adventures to enjoy this year.  Horse camp, service unit encamporee and a few other things. 

My house is currently filled with camp songs and games.  Most importantly happy children.

Day Camp here we come!!

Probably the largest Summer time event we attend.  It is a whole week of getting up early to pack our lunches, eat our breakfast and loading into the car for a drive to camp.  We all come home tired and so for that week things are planned to a "T".  But that is not what is so good about this.

All week our days are packed with hikes, crafts, creek walking, exploring, hiking some more and enjoying new people and new skills.

My kids come away having conquered challenges, learning new skills, new songs, new games.  And they play them and sing them all year long.  I network with othe girl scout leaders where I get new ideas and enjoy the conversations.  We all make new friends.

Day Camp has gone from a fun event to attend to the must attend event of our summer.  We are all excited to pack our lunches, back packs and eventually over night gear for this week.  The stories we will share after this week are going to be so much fun.

Happy 4th of July

We never seem to do the same thing twice on the fourth.  This year we are staying home for a "quiet" fourth in the neighborhood.  I do not really think it will be quiet but it has been fun not running around and getting ready.  We did some chores, bought some fireworks and will soon eat a simple dinner.  Then the kids will play until it is dark enough to let the fireworks go.  How did your 4th go?

Busy, busy

It has been a busy week.  I celebrated my birthday by hitting up the Value Village.  My oldest had no shorts and only a few tees, these were not just needed for home life but for her upcoming camp trips.  While there I found a nice dress and two skirts for me as well.  Then we went to see the Croods at the $3.50 theater.  It used to be the $3 theater but I am guessing times have been hard.  The movie was cute so long as I watched and did not think about things like personal beliefs or if it was a propagandist agenda maybe.  I do not think it is one we will watch again, but the kids liked it and if they watch it on Netflix I will use that time to teach.  Then we went to Costco for dinner and ice cream.  Very nice day. 

The next day we took our oldest to her first camp.  She is in the Program Aide training program for girl scouts and they were planning a badge day for the Brownies.  She is so happy there and loving every second.  I am excited to pick her up later today and hear all her stories.

Yesterday was the badge day my oldest was working on with the other girls.  I took my youngest daughter, my niece and a friend.  All cute little brownies in my troop.  We had a blast hiking and learning about science in the kitchen. 

That about sums up what has been going on.  Looking forward to a low key weekend with my family before day camp next week.  That is where I will be super busy.

Planter's Days

In our town Summer time is kicked off with Planter's Days.  I have gone for three years now and still have not made it to every event.  It is a four day weekend packed with good old fashioned fun.  Thursday starts with sidewalk chalk art, a children's parade and fireworks. Friday marks the start of the farmer's market every week.  Saturday is packed with events from morning till evening.  We kick off with a parade through town then get busy watching frog jumping, firemen games, bed races, playing at the carnival (that also lasts all 4 days), looking at all the vendor displays and much more.  Sunday always ends with classic cars, perfect for Father's Day.  Here are some pictures of the many events we took part in this year:

Wrapping it up

All of my lovely children have finished their school year officially.  All curriculum is complete and now being sorted for take back to the school next week.  We had a lot of fun at our annual end of year BBQ and awards.  Always so much fun.  I especially love how the older kids talk with the younger kids in our school program.  They treat them with the same respect they would like and the relationships and responses are so fun to watch blossom from year to year.

In the mean time once school finished for the year it seemed like a good idea to rearrange.  So currently my "classroom" space in my house (which is also our media room and play room area) is torn apart and waiting for me to finish sorting the things that need to go back on shelves.  This is great because I have found many catch all spots I am trying to eliminate and will hopefully have a tidier room now (all moms can laugh now).

Little League season has also come to an end.  Our kids and our family has been blessed by great coaches and great friends for 2 seasons now.  Our children have grown not just on the field but off the field too.  It has been so neat to watch them learn how to handle personal struggles like having good attitudes when things do not go their way.  Coming back from striking out, or missing a catch on the field.  Our whole family is looking forward to next years season already.  But truth be told we are happy to be done for now.  Now more practices or games and our season went pretty awesome!!

Scouts are all wrapping up for this year as well.  We have an end of year BBQ and awards for each group left.  Our kids always look forward to the end when they get to run around playing, eating yummy food and then celebrating every person's successes with awards.  Watching their uniforms fill up with badges is very neat to see.  Another place where our children are making great friends and so are we as adults.  It is nice to have other adults who are positive in their life also.

I suppose that is it for my end of school year wrap up.  Time to get busy sorting that pile so I can be finished with rearranging our learning and playing space.  And then we can go enjoy our towns festivities this weekend with out having chores waiting for us.

Park Days

One of my favorite good weather day activities is to sit at the park.  My kids play and play.  The equipment becomes castles, forts or dungeons.  The ground becomes lava or the ocean.  Trees are hung from and flowers picked.  Pine cones are what ever is needed for the activity: food, armory, people, pets, etc.

I sit and relax.  I enjoy the sunshine.  My kids find other kids to play with or we run into their friends.  I chat with parents or don't.  But for a few hours my kids run and I enjoy a mostly peaceful day.

Looking forward to many, many adventures at the park this summer.

Tenderness

A couple years ago I wrote a blog about hostessing.  My son's tenderness this morning got me thinking about it. He woke up this morning and came in to announce he is up for the day.  And then asked, "since I am up early should I get everyone up so we can get ready for church or let them sleep?".  I asked for the time.  He told me and then asked if I wanted to sleep more.  I said no I should get up.  "Would you like some coffee Mom?"  "Yes, I would, " I replied.  He was back up shortly with a cup for me.

This is where all my thoughts get jumbled.  I see a lot mixed messages out there today. 

• Boys need to be tough and not show emotions.
• Boys need to listen to women and treat them better.
• Boys should get dirty.
• Boys should learn to play with dolls.
• Boys are not needed in families when they become Dads.
• Boys need to be bread winners.
• Boys need to be care takers of their homes and children.

I know there are more.  And wow what a lot to think about.  For me it is simple, I look to the bible for our guide.  And I feel blessed to get to raise a boy even in such confusing times.

My boy is funny, wild, crazy, has big ideas, personality larger then life, is an amazing thinker, drives me nuts daily, has huge emotions that roll from happy to tears in just seconds.  I often do not understand him no matter how hard I try. 

But I hope that no matter where life takes him he keeps his tenderness.  His understanding to care for others before himself.  His ability to make someone smile just because.  His being able to show he cares.  It is ok for boys to be tender.

Taking things for granted

How many things do we take for granted in life? Might be our family, income, scenery, maybe even our health.  As I sit here looking at all the trees around our little league fields I am reminded of a friend commenting about them in one of my photos.  I now try to appreciate the scenery more purposefully.  When moved west after living in Illinois I remember being more purposeful about the mountians.  I am reminded today to look at other things in my life more purposefully.

2013 Summer Fun Bucket List

There have been a few times that our family has sat around and thought we should go do something.  The problem is we do not always find something.  For this summer we decided to make a list of things we would all like to do.  Some of them will take planning.  I like that most of them we can just get up and go do.  How do you plan to make this summer memorable for your family?

Yummy dessert on Pizza night

We learned about making a s'more pizza from Papa Murphey's Take-N-Bake.  Basically take pizza dough, spread melted butter, top with graham cracker crumbs, mini-marshmellows and chocolate chips.  Bake like you would a pizza.  This post also commemorates my first post via my phone and uploading pictures this way.