lessons at play

"Believe in yourself."

"We are getting stronger by doing hard things."

"You can do lots of things when you are strong."

I'm listening to Munchkin and Lovey play right now.  Those two.  They come up with the messiest and craziest adventures.  They've been known to transform a room quite handily.  But it seems that they also are able to come up with some pretty good life lessons through that mess and adventure.

"Believe in yourself."

"We are getting stronger by doing hard things."

"You can do lots of things when you are strong."

I'm listening.

It's been a rough couple of 3 weeks.  The kind of rough that, when dismantled, seems doable, seems manageable, seems mostly inconvenient.  But collectively is exhausting and overwhelming and paralyzing.

I'm trying to be gentle with myself (and others) right now. Which is hard to do when the rough demands so very much of my attention and energy.  Hard to do this time of year when cheerfulness and joy are expected, when thanks is prescribed.  And I like joy and cheerfulness and gratitude, so I am gently and slowly wading through the hard things to get to them.

And apparently I will be stronger for having done so.

And believing in myself is a good way to go.

And don't mind the mess along the way, every good adventure has some.

on packing, kids, and packing with kids

This, my friends, is what's a happenin' inside this whirling mind of mine. I say whirling because, well, you'll get the idea...

:: it is essentially impossible to pack anything when the kids are awake

:: when optimism wins and I do pack when kids are awake, you never know what greater mess they are making in the other room

:: if you let your kids play with a jump rope tied to a slide (a slide without a ladder, and rigged up with wood) eventually there will be tears

:: please don't report me to authorities for allowing the kids to play on the slide with a jump rope

:: it is hard to believe my oldest, Buddy, is making the transition to upper elementary, we are attending a special ceremony this week to mark the occasion

:: why make only one kind of cookie as a teacher thank you when you can make two different kinds and homemade caramel corn too?

:: I know how to bake when kids are awake

:: maybe I'm in denial that this house needs to be packed by next Thursday

:: I'm so glad there is a play set (with a proper slide) at our new house

:: I have about a dozen eloquent, thought provoking blog posts, with accompanying photographs all in my head

:: they are trapped there, you get this instead

:: Pal spends his entire waking day on the go, discovering, squealing, spreading joy

:: I spend my entire day following him around

:: with the amount of exciting stuff Pal discovers each day, I have no idea how he can fall sleep at night for thinking about it all

:: Lovey is going to be a flower girl soon

:: every day she asks "is it my wedding today?"  No, not today, but soon.

:: every time I mention that I need to pack something she asks "are we moving today?" No, not today, but soon.

:: Buddy got to bring his recorder home from school yesterday

:: I am being serenaded by the most wonderful rendition of "Hot Cross Buns" right now

:: I envy people who have professional movers.  Sort of.

:: I am glad that by packing on our own we have to take stock of our belongings and decide what to keep and what to let go

:: next week when I've stayed up way too late a dozen nights in a row to pack I may change my mind about the professional movers

:: Munchkin and Lovey helped wash out some storage bins in the back yard.  Lovey was singing "It's a Hard Knock Life" from Annie while doing so

:: I got a new camera.  A one-of-a kind Lego camera designed and created by Buddy.

:: did you notice the workable flash?

:: that kid amazes me

:: I can't seem to convince Lovey to stop picking my planted flowers.  It is hard to stay frustrated with her when she always presents them to me as a gift

:: today when a police car drove by Munchkin mentioned something about "Cobs," as in "Cobs and Robbers"

:: that kid cracks me up

:: Honey has spent the last several evenings patching up holes where pictures - lots of them - used to hang

:: The house is sounding more echoey now, just not quite like home anymore

:: I've used the word "bittersweet" about a billion times in the past week

:: Does anyone need a slide?  Slightly used, hours of fun, needs a ladder.

lately

A larger than life version of Fruit Ninja.  Oh the wonders of the mall.  Not shown in the picture are the hordes of pre-teens hanging out.

Yes he is typing.  No, I can barely keep up with him.

Free Cone Day at Ben and Jerry's.  Those are balloons, not ice cream.  We ate the ice cream, waiting for the balloons.  It took me days to realize that Munchkin thought you only got the CONE on Free Cone Day.  He was quite concerned about what we would do for ice cream.

A peek of spring color, coming oh. so. slowly. to our world.

She makes friends wherever she goes.  Always.  Even with dolls at the kids furniture store.

Today I received a message from a dear friend reminding me "Don't leap in front of grace."

It is a quote from Sr. Helen Prejean.  Sr. Helen rocks.  My friend sent the quote in response to an update I had e-mailed about our house hunt.  As happens our journey in finding a house is like that experienced by many others.  A time of great anticipation and anxiety.  Hope and disappointment.  A roller coaster that is more nauseating than thrilling. 

Thursday evening we found out our offer on a house was bested by an offer from someone else.  Hours of disappointment followed the news.  Until the next morning when we entered a house that we really love.  So the waiting has begun again.

How perfectly timed was this quote from my friend.  And in my year of grace, no less.  So, best as I can I am living in the moment, and letting grace take her lovely time.

the rules

There is nothing quite as pleasing as playing chess on a real wooden board, with real wooden pieces, weighted just so that they make a pleasing pleasant thunk as you move them about.

That is except playing Munchkin's version of chess.  With Munchkin's explaination of the rules.

~ You can move your guys to any spot on the board that you want, just as long as you make that thunking sound in each spot along the way.
~ When you feel like it, you can take another person's guy.  You can even take two at one time if you want.
~ You should move like-colored pieces close together and then they are considered "buddies."
~ If the horses are near each other, they need to be looking at each other since they have eyes.
~ You play until there is only one piece left on the board, any piece, and that determines the winner.
~ Sound effects when taking another player's piece are encouraged.

Truth be told I am a bit sketchy on the official rules of chess, and it has been years since I have played a game under those rules.  I am pretty apprehensive to play chess with Buddy, who received this board from Santa last Christmas.  I would surely be schooled in a few moves.

But this version, Munchkin's rules, I'll play any day.  And sometimes I might even win!

he says

Ever since this kid was little, he has kept me laughing.  And on my toes, ahem.

Early on, I knew.  Just take a look at that hair.  All too much I say.

And the toes.  This is hide and seek with my Munchkin.

He has never been afraid to let me know when enough pictures are enough.
And when he doesn't mind a good photo shoot.

He has always had fashion flair, that one.

Right now the fashion is soccer socks pulled up to his thigh.  I say go for it, no need for sweatpants when it gets cold my son.

I don't even know where to begin when it comes to dress up.  We have dozens of costumes.  He wears them all.  Sometimes in public.

Which is where he discovered his superhero power of "opening" the door at Target.  (Notice the fashion flair of soccer shirt with the number facing forward, so he can see it.)

Recently, he has had me laughing with some things he says:

He says:  "meat bulbs"
Translation:  meatballs, as in "I don't want meat bulbs with my spaghetti."

He says: "Maim"
Translation: Ma'am, as in "Here is your coffee and soup Maim," usually said during imaginative play.

He says:  "Noctober"
Translation: October, as in "Mom, is Noctober the day after when we wake up?"

He says:  "Be End."
Translation: The End, as in "Be End!" Said with a flourish when finishing, then closing a book.

I can't correct him.  For I know that all too soon he will say meatballs and ma'am and October and The End and so many other words exactly how they are meant to be said. 

There is good reason that Munchkin has not one, but two, blog labels.  I just hope he never stops making me laugh.  Or keeping me on my toes, most of the time.

making me smile

Things have been a bit, shall I say, crazy around here.  But amidst this crazy busyness I have found many things that are making me smile.

:: Homemade "Inja" masks. Yes, according to Munchkin the N in Ninja is silent.

:: Curls, curls, curls.  Fresh from the tub and hair dryer.

:: Buddy explaining the new game he made up "whoever kisses Mommy the most wins!"  Hmmm, I think I win that one!

:: Listening to "I Love You Sweet Baby" by Kimya Dawson.  Truly, you can't listen without smiling.

:: Bunny Ears.  Worn everywhere.

:: Chocolate bunnies.  As big as your head!

:: A sweet letter from my Aunt telling me how much she enjoys reading my blog.

:: A handful of colorful lizards.

:: The book "the not so big life" which talks about spending your time in meaningful ways.  Now just to find the time to read it!

:: A handmade birthday poster for Poppy.

What is making you smile today?

welcome February

Welcome hearts.

Welcome flowers.

Welcome love and smooches and all that good stuff.

So glad you are here.

I don't usually decorate for Valentine's Day.  But this year was inspired to brighten things up a bit.

I recently came across this felt and twill tape decoration that I had saved from a Christmas package from a couple years ago.  I remember thinking then how cute it was, cute but oh so simple.

So I decided to make my own version for this holiday of hearts.

It sure isn't fancy or perfect, but I think it is cute and cheery and it makes me smile.

We even got into the warm hugs and kisses spirit inside and tied red wooden hearts to the dining room chandelier.  Love them!

Yes, I had some help.

Yes, they are standing on the table.

Yes, Munchkin refused to open his eyes.  He was, according to him, making a silly face.

Yes, it makes me love him that much more.

What simple little things are you finding to love today?

sneaking

I have been known to eat sneak chocolate. 

Some days I sneak it by 8:30 am. 

Some days it is more like 4:00 pm or 4:42 pm, right before Daddy arrives home to be the relief pitcher.

I very willingly admit that I keep little stashes in my purse and hidden in a cubby in the kitchen.

Though I may need to re-think this sneakiness. 

As the kids are growing, my sneakiness needs to be a bit more, well, sneaky.

Why?

Baby Sister loves to dig around in my purse and find treasures.

And Buddy and Munchkin can smell the chocolate on my breath. 

"Mom, what do I smell in your mouth?"  (or "mouse" as Munchkin pronounces it, so cute.)

I've found having a cup of coffee at hand helps to mask the aroma.

But yesterday I learned that I am not the only one working on being sneaky.

This is what I found in Baby Sister's hand as she happily sat next to my open purse...

She, in fact, had a hunk of chocolate in each hand. (Yep, a bit proud of her moxie.)

Notice the little tiny baby teeth marks.  Melt my heart. 

And a short while later I discovered this...


"What's on your mouth?" I inquired.

"Nothing," he replied.

Hmmm, I maybe should have offered him a cup of coffee to go with it.

scientific principle

So I am talking to Munchkin about snow and why it is not a good idea to stand on your car seat with snow covered boots, which will quickly melt in the warm car.

"What does snow become when it melts?"  I ask.

"Salad!" he replies, huge smile on his face.

Well then.