A Few Things...

Inside Out is wonderful. Have you seen it yet? I keep thinking about it. It's really more of an older kid and adult movie, although my kids enjoyed it. It's very thought-provoking and incredibly imaginative and wonderfully done. Please go see it.

Gun Control And The Need For It. Wonderful post and accompanying videos.

Working moms have more successful daughters and more caring sons.  I think perhaps it's more about having moms who are pursuing personal goals, whether they are making money or not. It's also about having parents who are true partners, both contributing to the home.

My cousin Krista wrote another great post for Huffington Post.  This one made me tear up a bit.

Another frustrating but important article about parenting.  "Affluent parenting can deprive a child of fundamental life skills."  I especially liked the end of the article, comparing our kids childhoods with our own, and thinking about the experiences that we had growing up that our children won't get to have. I will admit that it does make me sad sometimes. I don't want to be as poor as my family was growing up, but I do want to make sure that those same values that I was raised with - responsibility, frugality, empathy... - are passed on.

Interesting article about how optimistic people are always late.  I'm never late. It's probably my biggest pet peeve. I am also a pessimist, so I suppose that fits. I have many optimistic-and-always-running-late friends, though, including the one who shared this article. It's interesting to think about how their minds work.

Free personality test.  It's a quick, 10-minute test. I am a sucker for doing one of these every year or two. They always say the same thing, so I don't know why I'm compelled to take them. My personality is pretty set in stone at this point.  I'm an ISTJ, through and through. These descriptions of strengths and weaknesses are pretty spot on.

This is very random, but I'm thinking I'd like a pair of cute, casual shoes like these Vans.  I'm not sure if I'll think they are comfortable enough, though. What do you think?

Well, this is a not surprising find: Screen addition isn't good for children.  My oldest (Aaron) is 8 and a half, and he already has friends who have their own smart phones. So many of them have been playing Xbox for years, and they've had tablets since they were toddlers. And let's not even mention TV! Just the other day, Aaron made a comment about when he'll be "...in the 5th grade and I'll have a phone...".  I guess he heard that a few of his friends were getting phones then and assumed that he would as well. I had to correct him on that. We'll see how it goes, but I'm going to keep all the screens to a minimum for as long as possible. One day they'll thank me. Or not. I don't care.

I had such fun sharing the Women's World Cup experience with my boys. They love watching soccer, and I love that there is a women's sport that is so awesome to watch.  I think it's important that my boys get to see women being amazing in sports.  I loved this article containing reactions from the 1999 team on this year's World Cup win.

A Few Things...

via Simple Lovely

Just wanted to share a few interesting reads...

What you learn in your 40s.  I loved this. I am absolutely loving my 40s so far.  Perspective is a beautiful thing.

The Definitive Guide to Healthy Eating.  Brilliant.  Exactly what I think whenever I read a new article about some particular food I'm eating that is supposedly going to ruin my life.

Sarah Silverman Gets Serious at Sundance.  I mostly loved reading this because I hate when people get pigeon-holed.  "People are not all one thing."  Amen.

Teenage Kicks.  My talented friend Lou writes about being a mom of a teen and reminds me of the phases still in front of us.

8 Reasons Why You Should Marry the Complicated Girl.  Here's to speaking your mind and being your own woman, and to the men who decide we're worth it.

Seth Avett and Jessica Lea Mayfield put together an album of Elliott Smith covers.  There is so much to love about that sentence.

The Mother 'Hood Official Video.  So funny and so true.  We all judge each other, even though we try (some of us harder than others) not to.  Ultimately, though, it is (or it certainly should be) all about the kids.

You're a Mom, You Know.  And this one sums it up. No matter what kind of mom we choose to be, we all get it, because we're Moms.

Weekend Accomplishments

I ran a 5K.  Yes, we must start with this one, because who would believe it?  I have long professed my hatred of running, and I'm still not exactly sure how I got talked into doing this.  A friend of mine was running a Mother's Day race with a few other girlfriends and invited me to join them.  What compelled me to say yes, I do not know.  I think I just wanted to see if I could do it.  It was not easy, especially since I did nothing to prepare for it and stayed up too late the night before drinking wine.  But despite this, I jogged the entire time and finished the dang thing.  Slowly, of course, but I did it.  Maybe there's a little runner in me after all.

I planted the garden.  It was a gorgeous weekend, and we spent the entire time outside, loving every second of it.  This year, I planted tomatoes, kale, broccoli, lettuce, green beans, zucchini, butternut squash, and cucumbers.  In addition to our usual herb barrel containing cilantro, rosemary, scallions, and basil.

We worked in the yard.  Besides preparing the garden, I weeded and planted some flowers.  Kevin mowed and seeded and watered and cleaned the shed and edged and did what he does.

We stopped working to play catch and soccer with the boys.  The boys had a great time playing outside together, but sometimes they wanted us to join in.  We played two-on-two soccer and had fun trying to see how long we could keep a catching streak going.

We entertained friends.  Some friends and their two boys came over to hang out in our yard with us.  The boys ran around playing while we got to talk and catch up.  They live about two miles away in the same town, and yet we only see each other every few months.  It was fun to get together.  We let the boys stay up way too late so we could extend our visit, and I hope we get to do it again soon.

I prepared myself a Mother's Day brunch.  Pancakes, fruit, bacon, and mimosas, enjoyed on our patio in the warm sunshine.  Me and my boys.  Does it get any better than that?  No, no it doesn't.

A Few Things...

Don't wait...

Happy Friday!  We had a smooth week.  Parent/teacher conferences, baking cookies, budgeting fun, and some extra cleaning that makes me feel like I'm actually getting ahead.  I had an especially good yoga session this morning, and we're headed back to the slopes tomorrow - I feel great!  Hope you all have a great weekend.

Here are a few interesting things that I've run across this week:

Five Pete Seeger songs to sing together.  We lost a good one this week.

Parenting Behaviors That Keep Children From Growing Into Leaders.  It's so easy to do some of these things, but it's so important to remind ourselves what is best for our children in the long term.

Extremely Long But Fascinating Article About President Obama.  Seriously long, but a worthy read.

Mindful Drinking.  I've been doing the same thing, not reaching for that glass of wine even when I really want it.  That said, it's Friday night and I'm making something of the Mexican variety.  There will be beer.

Solar System Tour.  I'm a space geek.  I just love this stuff.

Two posts from Momastery:  This one, about the questions we ask in a relationship.  And this one, that you should read and share. And then go thank a teacher.

Four Ways to Hear More in Music.  Read this and then listen to a song you love.

Marriage Advice From a Divorce Lawyer.  Written by my cousin, this contains a lot of great advice.

Have you read the post on Design*Sponge about the changing face of blogging?  It's genuine and thoughtful.  I think one thing she neglects to discuss is that there are different segments of bloggers.  At least two - one that's trying to build a business/brand and potentially make a little money, and one that blogs for themselves, a creative outlet, communication with family/friends...  It's thought-provoking, though.

Seven

photo by Kate Eden Renyi

My baby is seven.  Wow.  I love having the opportunity to celebrate him and to think about the cool kid he has become.  Here are a few things I want to remember about Aaron at seven.

1.  His favorite color is now green.  Just like me.
2.  His favorite food is still seafood.  When going out to eat, he asks that we choose a restaurant that serves clam chowder.
3.  He hates carrots with a vengeance.
4.  His favorite TV show is Wild Kratts, although I also introduced him to Looney Tunes this year.  He'd watch that every day if I let him.
5.  He has three pairs of pants that he will wear.  Comfortable, lined pants.  He won't wear jeans unless forced.
6.  He still thankfully loves school and is enjoying first grade.  He has aced every spelling test so far, and he likes doing extra equations on his homework.
7.  His best friends are girls.
8.  He started piano lessons this Fall and he loves it.  He has asked if he can take lessons every day.  He plays every day, and he is very excited whenever he learns a new song.
9.  He stays up way too late, sometimes later than me.  I tell him to go to sleep, but I can still hear the click of his flashlight and the flipping of the pages.  I have to wake him up almost every morning.  (Weekends are nice!)
10.  He loves his little brother, and he loves teaching him things.  He sometimes forgets that I am in charge, though.
11.  He still loves art, especially painting.  Lately, he has liked painting rockets, solar systems, and christmas trees, and he still loves making patterns, using different color combinations.  I love watching his creative mind work.
12.  He loves legos, magna-tiles, and his marble run.  He loves building things, seeing how things work.
13.  He finally learned how to swim, and after months of lessons, he's swimming underwater now as well.  Yay!
14.  He still gives me a big hug when I pick him up at school, and it's not rare that he'll crawl onto my lap to snuggle.  He gives the best hugs.
15.  He wants to be a baseball player when he grows up.

Happy Birthday, my sweet and gorgeous boy.

A Few Things...

source unknown

I feel like I haven't had much to write about lately.  It's been a quiet time, settling into Fall and shorter days and cooler weather.  I've found myself doing more reading than writing.  Taking things in rather than letting them out.  I thought I'd share a few interesting things I've read recently.

Is Music the Key to Success?  A very interesting article discussing the link between music training and success in other fields.  I'm going to practice some piano today.

Six Words You Should Say Today.  Like the author of this blog post, I had recently read the article discussing what makes good sports parents, and I was similarly affected.  I am so happy I read this at the right time - just as my kids are starting to get involved in activities.  I have found myself saying "I love listening to you play piano", "I love watching you run", "I love watching you read."  And it's obvious that it's what they want to hear.  I will continue to remind myself of this as they progress in sports and music and other activities.

What does your favorite yoga post say about you?  My favorite is the pigeon pose.  I love the feel of stretching my hips, those spots that rarely get stretched outside of a good yoga session.  "Working the edges", as they say in the article.  What's your favorite?

I'm not ambitious, and that's okay.  I very much related to the author of this article.  It's nice to hear from someone more in line with myself.  Someone who's honestly not interested in being at the top.

15 Recipes Every Parent Should Know.  A good post by my favorite food blog.

Interview with Malala Yousafzai.  I just wanted to make sure you all saw this.  Hopefully you know who Malala Yousafzai is, but even if you don't, check out this interview.  You'll be astonished this teenage girl is as poised and articulate and compassionate and mature as she so obviously is.

Summer Fun List - Update

Well, we did it.  We got our Summer Fun List documented and hung up for us to keep track.  The boys are super excited, and we already have a couple items checked off!  We bought popcorn on a cob from the farmer's market last weekend, which was awesome and super fun to try.  And we made a new flavor of popsicle - Fudgesicles!  The recipe was found here, and oh. my. goodness! are they good.  Seriously.  Crazy good.  Good enough for adults.  Serve them at your next party.  Yum!

Now this is my kind of to-do list...

via Weed 'Em and Reap

Both Sides Now...

Traditional Home

I met some new friends over the weekend.  When I was being introduced, my friend mentioned that I was staying at home with the kids.  The woman to whom I was being introduced, who works full-time and has two small children, asked, "Oooh, how do you like it?  Is it hard?  I always imagine it being harder."  I told her that yes, it is hard, and it was definitely a transition for me.  I also honestly said that I was really enjoying it.  I did not go on to say that I was so happy to be able to have this time with the boys while they're young, and that I think it's been important and worthwhile for us as a family for me to be home at the start of the school years.  Not everybody gets this opportunity.

A few beats later, I felt the urge to clarify that I was only staying at home "for the moment".  That I'm taking some time.  That I was working up until last year.  And then I wondered to myself why I felt the need to do that.  For some reason, I still have a hard time seeing myself as a stay-at-home mom.  I am a working mom who is taking a break.  All the people I've met this year only know me as a stay-at-home mom, but I still don't see myself that way.  Perhaps because the plan is for me to return to work after another year.  It is a long break, but it really is just a break.

I am enjoying many things about this time, but one thing I appreciate is being able to relate to both sets of parents.  To the ones who stay at home, I can talk about preschools, after-school activities, how to get things done around the house...   To the ones who work, I can still relate and talk about the evening rush hour, prepping for the week ahead, drop-offs, day cares, the mad dash to get dinner ready...  I've seen both sides.  I understand.

One side is not better than the other, of course.  The answer depends on the person, the family, the time.  I'm fairly certain I would not have been happy staying at home just a few years ago.  But at this moment, for now, it is working for us.

A Few Things...

Day 26 of The Challenge.  Something you read online.

liz.rusby via flickr

20 Things Every Parent Should Hear.  Things we all know and yet need to remind ourselves.  And often.

No, The Pope Didn't Just Say All Atheists Go To Heaven.  I thought this was a really interesting and optimistic article.  Perhaps there is a path to more openness from the church.  Regardless, the idea that whatever our beliefs, we should all strive to do good, is a worthy one.

I want to see this documentary.  There doesn't seem to be enough time to see all the movies I'd like to see.  But Summer's almost here.  As TV shows end, the time for movies increases.  This one is on my list for sure.

And in the theaters, I really want to see Before Midnight.  I do think I need to go back and re-watch Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, though.  I didn't love Before Sunrise when I first saw it, but then I saw it again later and realized all I had missed.  They are movies full of talk and very little action, but they are compelling and true and beautiful.

Processed Meats too dangerous for human consumption and Does grilling cause cancer?  I've been telling this to my husband for years, but only after reading the first article is he ready to give up hot dogs and sausage.  I only buy all-natural, nitrate-free sausage for him at home, but he's a big meat eater and sausage is one of his favorite foods.  Now he's thinking twice.  And supporting me when I tell Aaron he's not allowed to eat hot dogs away from home.  (Where again, I do allow the occasional nitrate-free version.)

Why Do I Think My Salary Pays for Child Care?  I don't know that I thought about it exactly in this way, but I definitely did the math over and over again, comparing my salary to the cost of child care, housecleaning, commuting, gas, etc.  I found I did align my salary to the boys' expenses overall, but maybe because I was the one generally paying them.  (I buy their clothes, for example.)  It's interesting to read and think about.  Perhaps we need to separate those thoughts more than we do.

before midnight

Spending Time...

photo by Scott McFadyen

I've been at home for a while now, and I feel like I'm finally at ease with my new routine.  At first, it was a harder transition than I expected.  I found that there were parts of my working life that I missed - adult conversation, quiet alone time, using my brain to solve work problems...   I must also admit that being with the kids for longer periods of time is wonderful in so many ways, but it can also be challenging.  I needed to take a step back and re-learn how to prepare myself for each week.

The other thing I noticed was that there was all of a sudden so much time!  I started asking myself, "What do I want to get out of each day?" and "How do I ensure that I'm taking care of myself in addition to my family?".  Little by little, I started figuring it out.

I now begin every weekday with a large glass of water and exercise.  I've been focused on improving the food we are eating - I'm cooking every day, trying new meals, increasing our veggies, making more homemade.  I eat a nice, big, relaxed lunch.  It's an entertaining lunch, too, usually involving conversations about superheroes with Nathan.  I'm (mostly) going to bed earlier and getting enough sleep.  This is huge.  I spend time every day cleaning part of the house so that it doesn't overwhelm me.  I also spend time every week organizing part of the house so that it doesn't overwhelm me.  I plan ahead - for weekends, vacations, unexpected snow days, and summer.  I'm getting caught up on doctors appointments.  I read good books.  I get outside.  I play my guitar.  I wear comfortable clothes.  I put on loud music and dance around the house.

When I go back and read old posts, the difference to me is striking.  The stress of trying to fit everything in comes flooding back.  I know that I will go back to work, and I want to for many reasons; but I can't go back to the way it was before.  There has to be a middle ground.  I will have to find a job that allows me to contribute at work as well as take care of myself and my family.  That's not for a while yet, though.  In the meantime, I'm going to get as much out of this time as possible.  I'm going to continue to make goals for myself and to enjoy this time with my boys.  I'll figure out the next step once it's time to take it.

photo by Alicia Bock

A Few Things...

photo by tania kindersley

There's a storm coming!  It's been a long time since we had a good old-fashioned blizzard, but it looks like we're going to get hit with a good one.  We might get a couple feet of snow!  I see lots of shoveling, sledding, hot chocolate, and movies on our weekend agenda.

I thought I'd share a few things here before heading to the grocery store to stock up...

I'm glad I'm not dead.  This article in the NY Times will make you smile and think of all those perfect moments in life.  It will also make you appreciate the less-than-perfect ones.

I just ordered a new bottle of facial oil.  It is the answer to my winter dry skin, and the smell is divine.  The perfect way to end each day.

The 30 Rock series finale was awesome.  What a fitting end to a silly and great show.

Article on being a happy mom of boys.  I still get the questions.  "Are you sure you're done? You don't want to try for a girl?"  It's insulting.  My family is complete, and I am so happy that the universe blessed me with two gorgeous, healthy boys.  I was meant to be a mother of sons.

Speaking of sons, my six-year-old made his first purchase with his own allowance money.  I think he made a very cool choice...

Doing What's Best...

It seems that every few months, a new article or book or blog post reignites the age-old "working mom vs. stay-at-home mom" debate.   This week, it's this post that appeared on Huffington Post.   Personally, I liked it.  I thought it was reasonable and thoughtful, and she attempted to communicate without passing judgment.  Then I read some of the comments and started shaking my head.  Although there were some supportive words, there were far too many of the judgmental and or even downright mean ones.  Why can't we all be secure enough in our own choices to allow others to do the same?   When will we realize that there is no right answer for everyone?  There is only the right answer for each family, and even then that answer can often change with time and circumstances.  

I've been a mom-who-also-works-in-an-office for years, and I recently joined the ranks of the stay-at-home-moms.  I've seen both sides, and I understand the positives and negatives of both, if only in terms of my own experience.  I also understand that there are so many shades of gray in-between.  I have friends who work part-time, or who work different shifts from their husbands so they can alternate who stays home with the kids, women whose husbands stay at home, moms who have parents or siblings close by who can help, single moms who make it work, women who work because they have to, and women who work because they want to...  And even when a family finds something that works for them, situations can change.  Imagine how a family's choices may change if they find out a child has special needs.  Or if one of them loses their job.  Or if they have to start taking care of their elderly parents.  Or if that mom or dad is offered an exciting job opportunity.  Or if one of them has to start traveling more for work.  Every situation is completely unique.  I would never presume to know all the nuances that go into deciding what is right for someone else's family.  

I also know that the world is a better place with women doctors, senators, teachers, CEOs, nurses, filmmakers, artists...  Thank goodness there are so many women out there who are able to take on these jobs, regardless of whether or not they also decide to have children.

This endless debate is tiresome to me.  I plan to continue to do what's best for me and my family.  I'm going to hope and assume that everyone else out there is doing the same.  Can we just leave it at that?

Valentine's Day Cards

In trying to decide what to do for Valentine's Day this year, I looked at a number of options.  I had several ideas pinned, including ones using swedish fish, these cute happy hearts offering candy, rice krispie hearts, pictures of your child offering lollipops, and these really sweet painted cards.  I was leaning towards that last idea, but then I was reminded that Aaron had ideas of his own!

He suggested that I just give him blank paper and envelopes so that he could create valentines for each person in his class.  I hesitated for a second, only because it sounded like a lot of work; but we still have over two weeks, and it's a great indoor activity.  He's been knocking out a couple every night, so he will be done in plenty of time.  I love watching and listening as he decides how to personalize each card for his friends.  "Kaitlyn's has to have lots of rainbows, because she loves rainbows!  I'm going to put some matchbox car stickers on Matthew's, because he loves cars.  Emma is going to get extra glitter sparkly hearts and stars, because she loves anything with sparkles."  And the list goes on...

So that's what we're doing.  I got a set of blank envelopes, and he's hand-making each card.  He is even decorating the front of every envelope!  He also chose the goody to put inside - red heart lollipops.  I love the thought he is putting into these, and he's having a lot of fun doing it!  

My Evening Routine

I haven't done one of these in a while.  Here is what my evening routine looked the last time I wrote about it, over a year ago.  It's actually not very different, except one significant difference:  I am not forced to start the evening festivities after a full day's work at the office, a long commute, and picking up boys from day care.  Now, I am able to prepare ahead of time and ease into it.  The difference is striking.

4:00 - Get home with the boys.  Start to prepare dinner and/or play.  (One night a week we get home late after Aaron has baseball - leftover night!)

5:45 - Eat dinner with the boys.  I'm still popping up a lot (Nathan's still pretty messy), but most nights are pretty relaxed.  Dinner conversation with a 3 and 6-year-old is always entertaining.

6:15 - Clean up the kitchen.  There is still very often some dancing after dinner.  Then the boys play and eat their dessert (fruit) while I finish cleaning.

6:45 - Bathtime.  I only have to do one now.  Aaron is independent and chooses showers a lot of nights.  It's getting easier!

7:15 - 7:45 - Storytime/Bedtime.  Most nights I do them together.  If Nathan is really tired, then I sometimes read him a story while Aaron's in the shower and get his lights out early.  Sometimes he falls asleep while I'm reading stories to both of them.  Aaron gets stories, but then he also reads by himself for a while before turning his lights out.

8:00 - 8:30 - Pack lunch/snack for the next day, review calendar, work on lists (I always have a list that needs work - the to-do list, the to-buy list, the grocery list, the menu...).  During this time Kevin usually gets home and eats his dinner, so we get a chance to talk and catch up.

8:30ish - Enjoy a little dessert with some TV.

9:30ish - Bedtime.  Quality time with a book.

10 - 10:30.  Lights out.*

*Because of the more relaxed days, I've found we've been able to get to bed just a tad earlier, and we're also able to wake up just a little later.  (Neither of us have to commute all the way downtown anymore!)   In short, we are getting enough sleep!  It's amazing.  You should try it.  I'm not saying I'm not tired sometimes - Nathan had me up from 2-4AM last night, so I'm pooped today - but most of the time I feel on top of things, which is so different from a year ago.

Superhero Party

Well, we did it.  Another very successful birthday party.  Aaron's 6th birthday was marked by hosting seven of his friends/classmates at our home.  He requested superheroes, so that's what he got.  Here are the highlights from our very fun party!

Superhero wrist cuffs - Although there are much fancier ways of doing this, I stayed very low-maintenance and this simple craft was a huge hit with the kids.  I wasn't sure how they'd take to it, but they had a lot of fun!  Unfortunately, I don't think we got a single picture of them.  They're very easy, though.  Simply save up your toilet paper/paper towel rolls, cut off wrist-sized (about an inch shorter than a toilet paper roll) sections, cut them lengthwise, and let the kids decorate!  I had markers and lots of fun stickers available, including glittery stars and puffy stickers.   Having a craft available is especially good for the beginning of the party, while people are arriving and kids are getting comfortable in their surroundings.

Pin the Bat on the Batman - "Pin the..." is always a hit.  Last year we did the donkey old-school style, but this year it was Batman.  I gave prizes to the two closest entries.  

Batman Scavenger Hunt - This cheap little game was a huge hit as well.  Each person gets a card with four pictures of superheroes and villains.  Cards with those pictures are hidden throughout the house, and then the kids try to find the cards that match theirs.  The first person to find all four of their pictures wins!  It would be pretty easy to make your own version of this as well.  

Batman Pinata - Our last activity was an awesome Batman pinata.  Pinatas can either be fun or frustrating, since most of them are so hard to break open!  This was a pull-string version, and those too can be hit or miss.  However, it worked like a charm!  The kids lined up and each got a turn pulling a string.  The bottom flap opened up on about the 7th kid, and the goodies went flying!  It was filled with superhero stickers, tattoos, finger flashlights, lollipops, and little bags of gummy bears.  The pinata could actually be reused.  

Goodies - Every kid got a cape and mask as they arrived, and they each got to pick a little superhero book.  They got to take their loot from the piñata, and they all left with a balloon.  That's quite a haul!

Food - Pizza, popcorn, fruit salad, and cupcakes.  Perfect.  There's nothing wrong with having a little something healthy at a party - the kids loved the fruit and couldn't get enough popcorn.  

One last observation:  My son invited 3 girls and 4 boys, and I was a little worried about the girls.  I am a mother of boys, so I wasn't sure if the girls would be interested in all things superhero.  Well, I needn't worry!  They jumped right in, put on their capes and masks, and had a blast!  I did ensure that I had some gender-neutral prizes for the game winners (coloring books, art supplies, etc), and the book selection included Wonder Woman, which each girl happily picked up.  

Batman piñata and book favors

Somewhat messy presentation for these homemade cupcakes, but the on-sale superhero toppers saved the day!

Pin the bat on Batman

Three Crafts...

1.  Captain America shield.  This one is my favorite, especially because it happened spontaneously.  Nathan asked if he could have a Captain America shield.  I happened to have a round piece of cardboard sitting in the recycling bin, so I drew the circle outlines and let him color them in with red, white and blue.  I cut out a star for him, and he glued it on.  And finally, we used a strip of cardboard to form a handle on the back.  Voila!  Captain America!  (Aaron of course then wanted one, so I cut a circle out of another box we had to make a second one.  Easy peasy.)

2.  Snowflake ornaments.  I love craft sticks.  You can do so many easy things with them.  This one did require a few separate steps.  First, the boys painted the sticks white.  Once the paint dried, they glued them together - you just form two Xs, and then glue those together to form the snowflake.  Once the glue dried, they spread glue on each stick and sprinkled them with their choice of colored glitter.  We glued a circle of ribbon to the back for a hanger.  They are a fun and sparkly addition to the tree!

3.  Colorful 3D Glue Art.  The results of this activity are shown in the three pieces on the top left above.  (As you can see, we did a lot of art last weekend.)  To create, use a piece of card stock (regular paper is too thin).  Let the kids make a swirly design with glue.  Sprinkle salt over the wet glue and tap off the excess.  Then, using droppers, let the kids put drops of colored water on the glue.  The colors will travel down the glue paths, and when colors meet, they will blend.  Easy to reinforce the primary vs. secondary colors.  You do have to be careful not to let the colored water get too messy, because blue + red + yellow makes brown!  It would be best to have a separate dropper for each color.  In the absence of that, just be careful and rinse it out every now and then.   Very fun!

Long Afternoons

Aaron's hiding inside, but he wasn't up for peeking out the window at me while I snapped this.

We got a big package today, which was perfect for an early-release day at school.  This box filled the afternoon.  I can't believe I ever admired this store-bought variety.  This one is so much cooler.

New Beginnings and Nesting...

I feel so removed from my blogging routine that I find it difficult to know how to jump back in.  But I guess the best place to start is just to share what's been on my mind.  Starting is the hardest part.  So here goes...

The boys have both started at their new schools.  Today was the first day for the little guy, and he faced it in his typical fearless fashion.  Once he met his teachers and assessed the new space, he was good to go.  He gave me a hug, told me to have a good morning, and said good-bye.  My kindergartener is settled into his new school now as well, and I feel like I can exhale again.  Changes can be difficult, but they do reveal so much of our character.  I'm thrilled that I get to be here to spend more time with the boys as they are going through these new beginnings.  

photo by Alicia Bock

Meanwhile, I am enjoying what feels like my first few moments of quiet in a long time.  I remain focused on turning this house into a home.  Our donations boxes are overflowing, as I pare down during the unpacking process.  I want simple, clean, neat, organized.  Only keeping the things we really love and use.  No, the work is not yet complete, but I will share more pictures this week - I just can't wait any longer!

I'm also looking forward to the upcoming season.  September is my favorite month, and I am always determined to fully appreciate the beauty of this time of year.  The mornings and evenings are getting cooler, we are enjoying the early apple harvest, and I feel the days getting slightly shorter with every sunset.  I am confident that the house work will one day be done and that we will all be able to get into our groove.  I'm looking forward to it all...

The new guest bedroom/playroom

There He Goes...

First day of school.  My heart is still with him.  I'm basically just counting the minutes until I get to go pick him up.  Thinking we will celebrate with some ice cream!

Conquering Boredom...

One afternoon, Aaron suggested we find skipping rocks in the yard and then go across to the river to throw them in.  

An excellent idea!

We're doing tons of awesome things this Summer.  Taking trips to the beach, going into Boston, swimming in Walden Pond, picking fruit, swimming in pools, going to the Newport Folk Festival!, going to the movies, visiting friends...  Especially when I was working, I wanted to make sure we packed in as much as possible on the weekends.  When it came down to it, though, the biggest thing I really wanted to give my boys was the opportunity to be bored.  To stare it down and push past it.  To see what they could come up with on their own.

You remember it, don't you?  Waking up as a kid, with no agenda, and working to figure out what you wanted to do with your day.  For me, my favorite activities were picking berries, building forts, and swimming.  The first week of this vacation, Aaron asked me every night what we were going to do the following day.  He's a kid who is used to having a schedule.  I do try to have one thing planned for the day, even if it's just a visit to the playground, but we've otherwise been pretty open.  I've watched him adjust to this, tentatively at first, asking me "Mom but what can we do?".  I always have answers, and sometimes I'll offer some suggestions.  Often he comes up with something by himself anyway.  He's been doing a lot of drawing, reading, watching baseball (baseball camps have been at the fields in our backyard), playing with his next-door neighbor friend, building lego creations, and making up tons of unique "games" with his little brother.  It's been really fun to see him get comfortable with these wide-open days.  They've been flexing their creative muscles and thinking about the way the world works.  You would not believe the questions I've gotten in the past few days alone.  

In a few weeks, we will leap back into the school routine, but I'm so thankful that we've been able to give them this gift of time.