Sidney and Ashton have their 100th day of school tomorrow. With any important milestone there are, of course, celebrations required. The kids are observing this day in different ways.
Ashton loves jelly beans, so it's only fitting that he utilize this sugary treat to mark the occassion. He created a work of art using 100 jelly beans. The only distinguishable item on the page was a flower carefully crafted from a pile of oversized jelly beans. The other pieces on the page - I'm told - are Aaron holding a sword fighting asteroids falling from the sky. Yea. I don't see it, but I am glad he has a vivid imagination.
Sidney's class is celebrating by dressing like they are 100 years old. Being the peach that she is she walks into my room, enters my closet and says, "Okay, Mom. You have plenty of old lady clothes. What can I borrow?"
Game over, Sidney.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
2011 Reflections
Most people look to the new year with resolutions and grandiose ideas of what the new year will bring. I have done that in a slightly different way. I choose to reflect on 2011 so I can apply my learnings to 2012.
2011 certainly has not been all sunshine and lollipops. However, I have learned a lot. For better or worse. In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish until death parts us. I've experienced so many things in the past year.
I've learned...what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. And, when it is our time, it's not a matter of giving up. It's a decision to move on.
I've learned...there is strength in numbers.
I've learned...some relationships are worth some hassle and temporary disappointment. Others are not.
I've learned...even "food poisoning" can be funny in the company of good friends.
I've learned...while I love technology there is such a thing as overload. Sometimes it's beneficial to check the smart phone at the door.
I've learned...I prefer to flip an actual page of a book rather than a virtul one...no matter how good the graphics are.
I've learned...you can find friends in unlikely places.
I've learned...my kids are absolutely hysterical...intentionally and unintentionally.
I've learned...it truly is better to give than to receive.
I've learned...there are actually such things as stupid cats. And, I own one.
I've learned...the depths of love and loss.
I've learned...while time heals, it's never fast enough.
I've learned...that I have acquired a taste for running and can now understand how Forrest Gump became so addicted to it.
I've learned...board games are still relevant. Especially when it is the game "Things" and it's being played with people who share my sense of humor.
I've learned..."stay home days" totally rock and wearing PJ's all day should not be under-valued.
I've gleaned quite a bit from the year. ...here's to a year ahead filled with Sunshine and Lollipops.
2011 certainly has not been all sunshine and lollipops. However, I have learned a lot. For better or worse. In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish until death parts us. I've experienced so many things in the past year.
I've learned...what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. And, when it is our time, it's not a matter of giving up. It's a decision to move on.
I've learned...there is strength in numbers.
I've learned...some relationships are worth some hassle and temporary disappointment. Others are not.
I've learned...even "food poisoning" can be funny in the company of good friends.
I've learned...while I love technology there is such a thing as overload. Sometimes it's beneficial to check the smart phone at the door.
I've learned...I prefer to flip an actual page of a book rather than a virtul one...no matter how good the graphics are.
I've learned...you can find friends in unlikely places.
I've learned...my kids are absolutely hysterical...intentionally and unintentionally.
I've learned...it truly is better to give than to receive.
I've learned...there are actually such things as stupid cats. And, I own one.
I've learned...the depths of love and loss.
I've learned...while time heals, it's never fast enough.
I've learned...that I have acquired a taste for running and can now understand how Forrest Gump became so addicted to it.
I've learned...board games are still relevant. Especially when it is the game "Things" and it's being played with people who share my sense of humor.
I've learned..."stay home days" totally rock and wearing PJ's all day should not be under-valued.
I've gleaned quite a bit from the year. ...here's to a year ahead filled with Sunshine and Lollipops.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sidneyisms
Sidney just bought a book of animal facts from her school book fair. Apparently this was a good purchase.
Sidney: Did you know that horn toads shoot blood from their eyes? Did you know that flounder have eyes on the side of their heads? Did you know that flies lay up to 250 eggs per day?
Ashton & I: horrified looks on our faces
...Sidney, the walking encyclopedia.
Sidney has started playing basketball and on game day before I knew what I was saying, I was cheering her on by her nickname. Boo-boo.
Me: Yes, I called you Boo-boo while you were playing basketball.
Sidney: Mom, don't do that again. You're embarrassing.
...I knew this day would come, I just didn't think it would be this soon!
We were sitting at the dinner table and going through the pile of mail. I opened a card from my Dad that contained "Christmas cash." Sidney's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Sidney: Mom, what are we going to buy with that money.
Me: We aren't going to buy anything with this money.
Sidney: Dad, you could take this money and buy Mom a real pair of UGGs instead of the ones you bought her last year that were made in China.
...thank you for the laugh. For allocating my Christmas present to what you think I need. But, most importantly, thank you for the unedited conversation that you bring to the dinner table every night.
Sidney: Did you know that horn toads shoot blood from their eyes? Did you know that flounder have eyes on the side of their heads? Did you know that flies lay up to 250 eggs per day?
Ashton & I: horrified looks on our faces
...Sidney, the walking encyclopedia.
Sidney has started playing basketball and on game day before I knew what I was saying, I was cheering her on by her nickname. Boo-boo.
Me: Yes, I called you Boo-boo while you were playing basketball.
Sidney: Mom, don't do that again. You're embarrassing.
...I knew this day would come, I just didn't think it would be this soon!
We were sitting at the dinner table and going through the pile of mail. I opened a card from my Dad that contained "Christmas cash." Sidney's eyes nearly popped out of her head.
Sidney: Mom, what are we going to buy with that money.
Me: We aren't going to buy anything with this money.
Sidney: Dad, you could take this money and buy Mom a real pair of UGGs instead of the ones you bought her last year that were made in China.
...thank you for the laugh. For allocating my Christmas present to what you think I need. But, most importantly, thank you for the unedited conversation that you bring to the dinner table every night.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Deck the Halls
Deck the halls with boughs of holly...
"Black Friday Violence Worse Than Ever As American Consumers Fight Over Deals Like Crazed Animals" (Hawaii News Daily)
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Black Friday violence included robberies, shootings, tramplings and pepper spray.
Tis the season to be jolly...
"One woman actually pulled out pepper spray and sprayed it at other customers that were gathered around her."
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
"Pepper spray was used at a Wal-Mart on the other side of the country as well. Over in Kinston, North Carolina an off-duty police officer used pepper spray as an unruly shopper was being subdued."
Follow me in merry measure...
A woman was nearly trampled to death over a memory card.
Fa la la la la, la la la la!
A beautiful picture of Christmas, isn't it?
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
The Season for Giving Thanks
The Pilgrims and the Indians sitting down at a table in the woods having the inaugural Thanksgiving dinner to celebrate the first harvest while a fantastic story does not resonate with me in my "real" everyday life. I have plenty to give thanks for - more than I will ever realize - but my experience tonight really brought it home for me.
This evening I was lucky enough to participate in a wish granting training for Wishes Can Happen. During this training session, we learned how to work through the process of granting a wish for a terminally ill child - start to finish. While it was highly administrative, there were undertones of details that are required to be gathered that made an unspoken impact.
Gathering information such as: whether or not the child requires oxygen in-flight or upon arrival; securing a number of medical releases provided by the child's physician; discussing disease types and prognosis really makes one think about the severity of stress and anguish that these families face. Knowing that some children may recover, but most will not gives you a greater understanding of how important these wishes are. This could quite possibly be the last enjoyable experience and memory that the family has. One that otherwise could not be possible.
I'm thankful for the health of my children. I am thankful for the privilege to serve on the board of Wishes Can Happen. I'm thankful for my fellow-board members who see the importance of providing such a service to these families and who are willing to give up their time in order to ensure these children and their families are given the opportunity to make new memories in the midst of sadness. I am thankful for all I have. For the ability to give what I can. For the way I am inspired by these kids and how they have impacted my view on life.
This evening I was lucky enough to participate in a wish granting training for Wishes Can Happen. During this training session, we learned how to work through the process of granting a wish for a terminally ill child - start to finish. While it was highly administrative, there were undertones of details that are required to be gathered that made an unspoken impact.
Gathering information such as: whether or not the child requires oxygen in-flight or upon arrival; securing a number of medical releases provided by the child's physician; discussing disease types and prognosis really makes one think about the severity of stress and anguish that these families face. Knowing that some children may recover, but most will not gives you a greater understanding of how important these wishes are. This could quite possibly be the last enjoyable experience and memory that the family has. One that otherwise could not be possible.
I'm thankful for the health of my children. I am thankful for the privilege to serve on the board of Wishes Can Happen. I'm thankful for my fellow-board members who see the importance of providing such a service to these families and who are willing to give up their time in order to ensure these children and their families are given the opportunity to make new memories in the midst of sadness. I am thankful for all I have. For the ability to give what I can. For the way I am inspired by these kids and how they have impacted my view on life.
 |
| Jade - cancer fighter, 5 years old |
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Life Happens
My blogging has once again taken a nose-dive in the face of multi-tasking and life induced ADD. If there were more hours in the day. If I weren't running around so much. If the kids social lives weren't more social than my own. If I didn't over-commit. If I didn't succumb to the fall line up of TV. If I didn't discover pinterest. If I didn't love Zumba. ...I would certainly be blogging more about all of the fun and not-so-fun events of late.
I guess for now, I'll just live life, and catch you up on it later.
I guess for now, I'll just live life, and catch you up on it later.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Halloween Spirit
I don't find myself tearing off links on a paper chain counting down to All Hallows' Evening. I do, however, particularly enjoy watching my kids' faces light up as they prepare to embark on their journey to collect their loot.
This year Sidney decided that she was old enough to trick-or-treat on her own with her friend Sydnie. "Sydnie is more fun than you guys." Okay, thanks! It took me days to arrive at a decision that ultimately let her go to Sydnie's and claim this new found independence. That was a milestone in our Halloween history!
Ashton and I stayed the course...grabbed his friend, Anuj, my friend Aarthi and hit the streets. We had a good time together, but admittedly was a little strange that Sidney wasn't with us.
I survived... Sidney had a great time. Came home with a gluttonous pile of candy. A notch in her belt of self-proclaimed autonomy. A joyous occasion for her...a view from a different lens for me.
This year Sidney decided that she was old enough to trick-or-treat on her own with her friend Sydnie. "Sydnie is more fun than you guys." Okay, thanks! It took me days to arrive at a decision that ultimately let her go to Sydnie's and claim this new found independence. That was a milestone in our Halloween history!
Ashton and I stayed the course...grabbed his friend, Anuj, my friend Aarthi and hit the streets. We had a good time together, but admittedly was a little strange that Sidney wasn't with us.
I survived... Sidney had a great time. Came home with a gluttonous pile of candy. A notch in her belt of self-proclaimed autonomy. A joyous occasion for her...a view from a different lens for me.
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