April 19, 2012- Step by Step

"Wow, Mama,  you be the best builder ever!"  

This comment came from my four year old son as I painstakingly built his one million part matchbox race car set this afternoon.  

You see, after we opened it and after I realized I had gotten myself into something far more than I had intended with this set, I began to break the news to him that we should probably wait until his daddy came home to finish this project.  

But then, the look in his eyes instantly showed his disappointment, upon which I knew what must be done.  I changed my afternoon plans and hunkered down with pages of directions and nothing more than the will to somehow or other turn these little baggies full of plastic parts and sheets of coordinating stickers eventually into something that resembled a race track.

And it was then, as things were starting to take form, that he leaned over, hugged me and offered the above compliment.... and funny enough, it was then too, that I'd forgotten what my previous afternoon plans were after all.

~K

April 18, 2012- Estrogen

An evening with intelligent, interesting, beautiful,
funny, honest women and a bottle of wine.

Combine this with a husband and children who encourage
me to enjoy this goodness.

And you have me ... a very lucky girl.

~K

April 17, 2012 - I Spy

This is the view from my front door today.   If you look closely you will see what the camera didn't pick up as well as I'd like but is crystal clear on my glass.   Do you see it?  Four little sun screened hand prints, about 3 feet up from the floor.   

Can you imagine what I did when I found these there next to a wet bathing suit clad boy?

If your guess is kiss that baby boy, take a photo and most definitely not clean the glass... then you're right. 

Moments in time today.

April 16, 2012- Happy Birthday

My kids and I sat around the breakfast table today and
called to sing happy birthday to my grandmother.

We then passed the phone around between my husband
and I and then to my children -  we watched while they
giggled and laughed with and sang to their great grandmother.

To say that I don't understand what a true privilege and
blessing it is for all of us to have this experience would
be an understatement.

I'm so grateful for moments like these.

Happy Birthday, Nana!  We love you.

April 15, 2012

Three things cannot long be hidden; the sun, the moon and the truth. ~ Buddha

Love this quote.  So true.  And... look who's adding photos!  
~K

April 14, 2012 - What to say?

It's been soooo long since I've written.  Not here or over here even. 

Lots of little reasons.  Yet no good reasons.  Life getting busy.  Staying busy.
New Mac that I can't upload pics with or copy too much.   Note to self
to do the tutorials.  

Since I've last written, the tulip tree has bloomed and then frosted and
fallen, cutting the season shorter than I like.   The grass has turned from
brown to green, and our garden has been planted.   I watch the birds
from my feeders each morning and smile as they play in the yard in
pairs.   The dogwood sprouted buds and petals and is now lush and full.

Grandparents have visited and times have been wonderful.  We played
and laughed and shared and loved.   Recently, we were so blessed with
a team of medical doctors in the right place at the right time utilizing their
talent and skill in such a way to preserve what is most precious to us.  And
what more to be grateful for than this?

The kids are thriving and learning, both in and out of their classroom and
we are focusing on doing just that, - focusing - here more.  We have become
softball and tee ball parents and though my backside gets sore, I've found
that sitting on metal bleachers in the sun watching my sweet children is a
wonderful way to spend a spring afternoon.

A week away in the mountains was exactly what we needed (if I knew
how to post pictures, I'd have a weeks supply of amazing views and
plenty of little smiles... give me a minute and I'll get it figured out)

So much has been happening and so much to be thankful for.   I'm here
as an April resolution to be here more- to remember how wonderful
this space is and how valid it is in taking note of all that is good in our life.

The first night of our mountain trip, I looked around at this amazing life
we have created, with healthy, thriving children and a loving home... and
like the lyrics of a song I enjoy, the chorus came to me as so appropriate-

"I could not ask for more..."

And that was it-  life is too good.  So much to be grateful for.  I intend to
take note of that more often.

January 19, 2012- All over again

I've had a post that means a lot to me, to write.  And so I'm behind, but I've waited to be able to give this one the attention that it deserved.


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My daughter is home for a morning from school for a doctor's appointment.   This little girl these days seems so uncomfortably, yet beautifully stuck in a world living somewhere between big kid and little kid.   She is so smart, and curious and loving.   Additionally, she is asking hard questions, finding parameters and boundaries and trying to understand social dynamics and peer relationships.    It's such a tough spot and sometimes it feels like we're doing things right while other times I feel so completely helpless, like I'm just sitting on my hands desperately wanting to do what's right and also to just stop the inevitable and rewind; the inevitable, of course, being just simply, her growing up.


This morning, we walked together into the doctor's office and I took note of how she grabbed my hand, skipping alongside me as we entered.   Wonderful moments that used to be everyday and are now just a little less often.  


She stops me and points to a large sign with a man in a suit on it.   The words around it indicate it is a welcome sign for a new doctor.

"Mama?  What's that?" she says, pointing to the sign.

"It's just a sign, baby."  

My mind is somewhere else.  Probably on finding out exactly where we are supposed to be as I've just realized we are in the wrong doctor's office and now late to our scheduled appointment.  She is persistent and curious...

"But, mama... who is that on the sign?  Who is that person?" 

"Uh...you know,  I don't really know honey.   It looks like he's a new doctor here."

I'm trying to usher her out quickly, thinking already of how to find an address to our next stop and how we are new patients and certainly not ten minutes early to fill out paperwork as we had planned.

"Mama?   What's a car... cardio, um... cardio electrolllooogissst? "

I stop and take a deep breath.   Focus on her and try to see what it is she's talking about.

"What, love?  What are you asking me?

I see quickly it's still about the sign.  I stop, look at the suited man closer and see the words under him say that he is a cardio electrologist (whatever that is) and sure enough they are welcoming him to the practice.

"That says cardio electrologist, Peanut.   See,  that's his job -   he must be a new doctor here and they are using this sign to welcome him.    You know,  Baby, maybe you could be a cardio electrologist when you grow up.  What do you think?   I'm not sure what a cardio electrologist does,  but it is a doctor who I bet has something to do with the human heart."

I'm often terribly hard on myself and this moment is no different.   Instantly, I'm mentally reprimanding myself wondering why I didn't just go there to begin with.  Answer her question.  Apply it.  Give her information.  


But before I could be too harsh with my own faults, she interrupts my thoughts and answers my question.

"You know, I just may do that.  Daddy told me a bedtime story last night about a beautiful little girl who grew up and became a surgeon.   He told me I could be anything I wanted to be, - even a surgeon, mama!" 

::::::::::::::::

And, well... that's it.    All over again.   In this moment, I fell in love completely with this man, her daddy, -  all. over.  again.  


We want to give our children everything.  To be everything for them.   It is in these moments that I realize I cannot ever do it all or be it all.   And it is also at these times -  and so many others -  when I find myself  beyond grateful that my daughter has a daddy who also guides her gently through in between land; who tucks her in at night with her stuffed animals and baby blanket all the while effortlessly telling her bedtime stories of little girls who can grow up to be not only princesses but also beautiful surgeons.  


~K