this moment {first tooth}

Headed off to gladsome in a couple hours.  Such goodness awaits...
You can get a glimpse on Twitter, just follow along at bcomingclaudine.

~ ~ ~

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

a few moments ago

His first day.

My big kid.

He was excited.

His Mama and Daddy were tearful.

How can it be already?  Already?

Though I know you are ready my dear one.

Sending you into this new world of yours, and yours alone.

With love and hope and keeping a soft place for you to land back home.

Always.

this moment

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of grace and goodness!

this moment {lovey on prom night}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of grace and goodness!

the deep end

I know that there will be many a rite of passage for my children.  Some big.  Some subtle.  All an important part of growing up.  I've already witnessed some:  the first time newly walking feet walk away from Mama, the start of Kindergarten, reading a chapter book on one's own.  Many rites are yet to come:  a friend sleepover, a first kiss, college.

This summer has brought a rite of passage that is part accomplishment, part freedom: passing the deep end test.

For most of the summer Buddy has dreamed about and discussed passing the deep end test.  Passing would allow him to swim in the six foot deep area of our local pool.  There was much talk and anxiety about how hard the test would be, after all certain lengths of swimming and treading is involved.  Treading water is hard.  Treading water while a lifeguard is watching and counting seems even harder.

But Buddy did it.  He passed.

I stood by, quietly watching, hoping for him.  And snapped a few phone pictures as the lifeguard declared his passage and made it official by writing his name in the "deep end test" notebook.

Buddy glowed.

And jumped.  And dove.  And swam.  Over and over he rocketed to the very bottom of the deep end, touching it with his hand before resurfacing.

I relished his ability and desire to reach the bottom of the pool, then realized that his newly gained status as a deep end swimmer is another of many steps toward his independence.  His jumping in and swimming into the depths is solo.   An exploration of his world from the underside of the water, while I wait poolside above the water.  He couldn't do this just a couple months ago.  I couldn't anticipate my bittersweet pride at his reaching this rite.

So it seems, his rites of passage changing him, and me as well.

so long summer

So it seems that fall has begun.  Even though the calendar gives a smidgen more time, I know it is true.

I know because we used the last bit of sidewalk chalk last night.  Chalk that had spilled out of the container a few days ago and left out in the rain.  So it wasn't so much chalk anymore, but soggy bits of color which caked on our fingers and smeared on the bottoms of our shoes.

But to me, it was perfect.  A project we all did. 

Together.

Buddy and I had the job of filling each brick in completely.  Munchkin and Lovey added the colorful embellishments.  The goal was the whole patio,  but the chalk dictated the final size of our art.  As did the darkness coming in so quickly, and mosquitoes (darn that rain) urging us faster. 

I felt deeply that bittersweet knowledge that we won't be spending many more evenings outside, instead cocooned in the comfort and light of home.  We won't head out in shorts and sundresses and sandals, but layered with sweatshirts and socks.

Even though the pool has been closed for weeks and we are well into the school year, this felt like the last act of summer.  So I let the kids stay up and chalk well past bath and snack time, even though only I knew it was our own little way of stretching that goodbye out as long as possible.

And I loved every collaborative, artistic, summery minute of it.  So good bye summer, you've been so very good to us.

rite of passage

It's official.  I'm 40.

And it feels just fine.  I think the fact that I've been celebrating for weeks now just might have something to do with that, I always like a good celebration.

This past weekend was the culmination of this birthday season, and I shared it with some girlfriends of mine.  I invited them to gather to celebrate this milestone birthday of mine and enjoy our friendship.  Some of the women I've known for years, some for just a few  Some I see often, others just a couple times a year.  All of them are special to me and help me to know the best of myself as well.

It was wonderful.  We talked. We hugged. We ate.  We reconnected.

I was serenaded Happy Birthday with an Auto Harp.  Really, what fun.

Honey cooked all day, and created amazing appetizers and six gourmet pizzas and three desserts from scratch to knock your socks off.  Regrettably I have no pictures of this feast, but boy so yummy!

I wanted to do something extra-special that marked this rite of passage, so I invited a henna artist to come.

Everyone chose different, meaningful designs.

Me?  My design represents change and growth.

There is lots of change and growth going on here these days.  That is why this blog of mine has been a bit quiet, ahem.

I am anxious to soon share details.

this moment {new backpacks}

Joining SouleMama, and many others, in this weekly ritual of pausing to savor a moment from the week.

A single picture with no words.  Beautifully simple.  Extraordinarily lovely.

I love to see your moments too, so leave a link in the comments!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

this moment {first pedicure}

Joining SouleMama, and many others, in this weekly ritual of pausing to savor a moment from the week.

A single picture with no words.  Beautifully simple.  Extraordinarily lovely.

I love to see your moments too, so leave a link in the comments!

Wishing you a lovely, loving weekend!

Script

Scene: 

Living Room

Characters:

Mother --  seated on  sofa, reading a magazine

Son --  playing nearby with Legos, using teeth to separate stuck pieces

Dialogue:

A quiet "ting" noise occurs, as if a Lego has fallen to the hard wood floor.

Son:  sounding a bit scared "Mom, can a Lego knock out a tooth?"

Mother:  "Well I guess it can.  What happened?"

Son:  "I was taking apart Legos with my teeth and my tooth came out."

Mother:  "Oh, that is what I heard fall on the floor.  Was your tooth loose?"

Son:  "No."

Mother:  now peering in son's mouth, trying to sound reassuring without actually freaking out that a Lego could possibly knock out a solidly-in tooth "Well, it must have been a little loose for the tooth to actually come out."

Both now on hands and knees trying to find tooth on the floor.

Mother:  "Well you better find it, do you know why?"

Son:  seeming much more okay with a lost tooth "The Tooth Fairy?"

Mother: "Yep, you know what the Tooth Fairy does, don't you?"

Son:  "Yes, leaves you like one or two dollars for your tooth." 

Hmmm, well I guess The Tooth Fairy that visits this house does...

And about that magazine reading on the sofa thing, it was totally coincidental!  That never happens in real life.  Honestly, it was like for one, maybe two, minutes!  See, I was reading for two minutes, and then, the tooth!