The past two days have been spent treasuring time with my husband and children.
We haven’t left the house. No yoga. No shopping. No returns. (Okay, I did get my nails done… but there has to be some kind of minor exceptions for a girl! ;)
Just us. Finding our path again. Cuddling with our children. Special dinners for four. Reminding ourselves and our babies how very special family is and should always be.
Perfect. Overdue. Necessary.
~K
So grateful today for safe travels and for having a foundation worth returning to.
Love begins by taking care of the closest ones - the ones at home.
-- Mother Teresa
~K
Starting to get it. To play. To hug. To giggle. To love. To romp. To wrestle. To converse. To love. To be.
When I grow up I want to be a little boy. ~Joseph Heller, Something Happened, 1974
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boys.
~K
Experiencing his first snowflake with his grandma.
“A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement…”
- Rachel Carson
~K
Merry Christmas
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
-- Calvin Coolidge
~K
Christmas Eve.
Snowflakes falling gently from the sky and carols cheerfully serenading from each speaker. Traditions proceed, yet this year, they feel more like obligations- lacking their usual excitement and at times desperately painful as evidenced by the strained look on our faces as we go through the motions.
For this year there are too many noticeable voids among the shiny silver bells. Vacant seats and vacant eyes, replaced with only memories and wistful tears.
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What’s the positive and peace about today? The peace in today, after the fact, lies in the truth. The truth is that each person made an individual choice to show up, and sometimes showing up is the hardest part. The positive is that a group of people, – family - , found a way to come together during difficult times, and in the midst of such, were able to find comforting smiles, share special moments together and enjoy authentic smiles.
For that’s what they all would want. And that’s what these traditions have always been about.
~K
Their excitement is palpable.
Their eyes are gleaming.
Their belief is genuine.
Trying to enjoy these moments, this anticipation, their faces and voices and sweet little beings.
The only thing better than being a kid at Christmas… is being a mom.
~K
Today, I am so grateful for a special three year old in my life.
Time flies. So often I want it to slow down. Even stop for a moment. But this is impossible.
And so for today…. I will enjoy and appreciate every. single. special. moment. of my perfectly perfect, amazing and curious, beautiful birthday boy.
Happy Birthday, Baby Boy! Mommy loves you too much.
~K
Tomorrow morning, I will share coffee with my grandmother.
It may be some of my best holiday moments.
We’ve lost too many family members this year. Too many people who were too important to us who are no longer here.
She is here. She means the world to me and always has. We’re having coffee tomorrow. And probably cheese and donuts. We’ll laugh holding hands. She’ll warn me of any latest health scares she’s heard of. We’ll look at pictures of the kids.
I am so grateful for her. For our moments together. And for our morning to come.
~K
Grateful today for a long car ride with two children.
Grateful today for a long car ride with two children, dry roads and a safe arrival at our destination.
A very appreciated gift…
~K
We have finally arrived at our destination. We are excited and tired and ready and weary and anxious and grateful.
It’s time to rest and enjoy. Focus on peace and positivity. Create the space and surroundings for which you want your experience and the experience of your children to be.
We are finally here. Let there be peace and rest and joy. Let the season begin.
~K
I parked my car today and as I got out, I saw a bumblebee.
Instantly, I knew it was my moment for the day and felt such gratitude. I stopped and watched it for a few seconds. I took a deep breath of the fresh warm air and then moved on with my holiday hustle.
I love seeing bumblebees in December.
~K
Tonight we attended our daughter’s holiday performance.
Tonight I watched my child flourish and smile.
Tonight I watched my child blossom and make others smile.
Tonight I watched my baby assimilate with a group of children and adults as an individual among a group.
Tonight, I watched a shining star… and was so proud to call her mine.
~K
I found this quote by Oren Arnold. Isn’t it wonderful?
Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.
-- Oren Arnold
I love this. Absolutely love this.
~K
Tis’ the season… remember and enjoy it to the fullest.
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
-- Hamilton Wright Mabie
~K
Thoughts for the week. Most of us spend our holidays, some of the busiest times of year, with family, with friends and extended families and extended friends. It’s not uncommon to have overscheduled days and overbooked schedules. With all of these factors, it is possible to create an atmosphere where not only tensions but also excitements are running high.
Virginia Satir was a noted American Author and therapist. I found this quote by her and thought it held great power and importance every day of the year, but especially during the busiest and most special of times when what we all really want is to truly be able to recognize and to appreciate the hustle and the hurry, the busy and the bustle.
Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible — the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family. - Virginia Satir
~K
Cold weather. Gray day.
We closed up the house, made a pot of chili, watched movies by the fire, popped popcorn, taught chess, built things, caught up… on housework and each other.
All of a sudden the cold, gray day was just what we needed. The perfect day to slow down and connect with each other.
~K
Today a very special little boy had a celebration. It’s almost his birthday and the day was all about him. I am so appreciative of the many friends and family who were so kind to take a minute out of the busyness of their schedules and the season to join to celebrate our sweetheart.
Happy almost Birthday, my precious boy. I am so grateful for you in my life.
~K
We took the children to the ballet this evening. We’re not typically ballet people, and weren’t sure how they’d hold up, but the Nutcracker was showing and a sweet dear friend had generously offered us tickets.
Here’s to a thoughtful dear friend, awesome local art, unbelievable talent, beautiful storylines, amazing music and a fantastic night together, - going out on a limb, trying something new and enjoying our time together.
~K
Tis’ the season …. for my head to spin with to do lists that litter each counter of my home.
Tis’ the season …. for me to miss my daughter’s end of the semester performance over a blown out of proportion argument about, of all things, a turtleneck.
Tis’ the season … to buy gifts with thought for everyone in my life and to then sacrifice on my spouse, the most important person in my life because it’s too much.
Tis’ the season … to be consistently a week late on my day to day blog.
Tis’ the season … to spend two weekends in a row on a calls to India, pulling my hair out in frustration with computer virus specialists.
Tis’ the season … to organize neighborhood events, volunteer in classrooms, promise delivery on school supplies, entertain guests, host play dates, assure attendance for meetings, secure healthy dinners and deliver dozens of cookies.
Tis’ the season … to be scattered and short with those dearest, to not understand or even desire to find the time or attention for relaxation and fellowship.
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Tis’ the season, yes. Sure, some of this insanity is part of the season and the hustle and the bustle that makes it all so special, but I want to take this season and try to incorporate some changes.
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What I intend to focus on changing this particular season is my outlook, my actions and my reactions during the hustle and bustle. I am trying to feel positivity and calmness more than hectic and flustered; I am trying to be forgiving more than demanding. I am trying to do better and to be more present in the moment- and enjoying all of the special moments of the season.
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And so… with that in mind…..
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Tis’ the season for Peace, Love, Forgiveness, Understanding and Joy. Today I am grateful for these thoughts to enter my mind and for the hope that they stay there a while longer each day and linger.
~K
"I do not know what the most important lesson is that I will ever teach my children, Kate, Emma Claire and Jack. I do know that when they're older and telling their own children about their grandmother, they will be able to say that she stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her away -- and it surely has not -- she adjusted her sails."
- Elizabeth Edwards
Rest in Peace, Elizabeth. Thank you for modeling your amazing grace to not only your children but to the women and children of this world.
~K
It was the middle of the night. I had been tossing and turning and had just fallen into a not so sound sleep. I rolled over and saw her face. A surprise, as she doesn’t come into our room too often anymore.
‘I’m having trouble sleeping, mommy.’
‘Well, me too,’ I mumbled. ‘Get on in.’
It was a cold night. She hopped in and snuggled up, sharing a pillow and fell soundly asleep. I was almost back to sleep myself when he woke up and his bare feet padded into the room. He needed a fresh drink, a change of diaper and wanted to sleep with us. My husband got him settled and moved him into the middle, next to his sister, between the two of us. He quickly fell asleep. I rolled over, wrapped my arm around the little one closest to me and then heard a tap, tap, tap on my floors. And then felt a “thuump!” at my feet. The dog. Joining our late night party.
And there we all lay. I tried to go back to sleep, but instead, I found myself spending most of the night enjoying this rare moment. Everyone cuddled together. Peaceful and resting. Finding the safety and comfort of Five in the Bed.
~K
Thinking of Elizabeth Edwards today and learning from her positivity. Below is her statement released today after being given only weeks left to live.
"You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces – my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. The days of our lives, for all of us, are numbered. We know that. And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human.
"But I have found that in the simple act of living with hope, and in the daily effort to have a positive impact in the world, the days I do have are made all the more meaningful and precious. And for that I am grateful. It isn't possible to put into words the love and gratitude I feel to everyone who has and continues to support and inspire me every day. To you I simply say: you know."
And yet… still finding gratitude.
May we all learn from this beautiful, strong woman and the way she has carried herself with positivity and dignity and grace.
I am grateful for her.
~K
My girl went on a date today. Without me. Or her dad.
She went with four of her friends. (And their parents) She got all dressed up. She waited at the door for them to come. She was ready 15 minutes early.
She spread out and did well. She was ready and excited and had so much fun. I’m so grateful and proud.
We have a great relationship with her friend’s parents. They do things as we would also do. There is a strong trust. They were the perfect people to help my girl experience additional independence. For them, I am also so grateful.
Our boy got some special time with just his mommy and daddy while she was gone. Some time he, too, deserves and enjoyed.
Playdates with friends. Growing independence. Special times at home.
A wonderful winter day.
~K
I went to yoga today for the first time in a bit.
I’ve been significantly under the weather.
I didn’t have time for the whole class, but showed up early and stayed through 20 minutes in.
It was worth every one of those twenty minutes.
I’m back in the saddle. And very grateful.
~K
It’s the simple things.
Ending the week with a family dinner date with good friends.
Kids catching up with crayolas, knock knock jokes and giggles.
Adults catching up with wine, tales of the week and giggles.
Dinner Date with Friends on a Friday. Perfect ending to the week and a beautiful start to the weekend.
~K
I am so grateful for the smiles that one particular naked biker gives me each day.
He circles my house in his blue Harley, sans pants… and sometimes with a snake in hand.
He and his bike are loud and often destructive.
Today, I am grateful for my Naked Biker and the endless joy with which he provides me.
~K
It’s 6:15am.
The house is dark and quiet.
For just a moment anyway.
Within seconds there is screaming that awakens us both.
“HEY GUYS! HAPPY FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER!”
Our children are awake. They are squealing in delight. For no other reason other than it is 12/1. The beginning of a month. And this is the enthusiasm in which they wake up.
I am so grateful for the joy they bring to our lives. Even when it’s at 6:15am.
~K
My little girl heard a recording of another little girl singing yesterday. She had a beautiful voice. My six year old said she was ‘jealous’ of the girl with the angelic voice. Jealous, she said, because she couldn’t sing like that, but would love to.
It was time for a talk and so we sat down and discussed a few details. Details about ability, motivation, determination and attitude. Spoken well below with the words of Lou Holtz.
"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."
Lou Holtz
I hope she learns and remembers what we all need to remember: that motivation and determination are huge components in achieving our goals and the attitude of which you handle any task certainly changes the outcome.
~K
Fun… fall memories….
Frolicking in the fallen leaves….
My neighbor came home to me taking pictures and commented that these were the most photographed children in town…
Fine with me. :)
~K
I spent Thanksgiving with my great big mixed up happy family.
Kind of like a Brady Bunch of two individually intact families. Maybe it doesn’t make sense.
But no family really makes sense, now does it?
Allow me to borrow the words of Erma Bombeck below.
The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together.
This quote describes us well. It makes me smile each time I read it. This Thanksgiving, this year, we did as we only know.
What began with ten of us: three boys, three girls, four adults and -- no idea where this would take us, 20 years later, and now over 25 of us, we now know. We congregate… coming from far and wide… bringing spouses, offspring, who are now friends and who call themselves cousins. New generations of one big mixed up happy family.
And I am so grateful for each of them in my life. And for these beautiful Thanksgiving memories being shared among several generations. Each person has so much positive to offer, different mixes of people freely mingling and catching up while catching rays in our special spot of the world.
It is something so rare, so beautiful and for which I am so grateful.
One of these days, I will get everyone together for a wild and crazy, mixed up picture of love and thanks. And for that I will be extremely grateful. But, as I said… we are a strange little band of characters….. and in time…. we’ll figure it out. Don’t hold your breath.
~K
Today was ‘Decorating Day’ at our home. No, that’s not a spelling error. It is intentionally capitalized. An event. Our tradition. About 5 years strong now.
It starts with cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove. Warm breakfast rolls and carols playing on the house speakers. Boxes from the attic unveiling lights, stockings, the tree and decorations. No bad attitudes allowed.
The day goes on until evening when the entire house looks and smells of Christmas. We build a fire and enjoy.
I’ve always loved this day, but the greatest part is now my kids have started to dub this their ‘favorite day of the year’ and wake up with equal excitement and anticipation.
I love that we are starting our own traditions. Making memories, enjoying special times,…. creating lasting effects.
~K
My parents have been married 39 years. Thirty nine years is a lifetime together.
Through the ups and downs, I’m grateful that they have created something of which so many of us all live and build a family beneath.
“A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year."
~Paul Sweeney quotes
Happy Anniversary.
~K
