This Dog

The dog pictured above may as well be one of my children.  

Although he walks around on four legs, sheds tons of fur, and slobbers over tennis balls, and prefers a stick in his mouth over a lollipop, he is one of our children. I didn't give birth to him, but seriously, the amount of worry that he causes is akin to those my human children create.

This dog is driving me crazy  insane right now.  

Don't get me wrong.  I adore him.  I really do.  

The problem is that we've been fighting a tummy bug since the middle of May.  He got over it, resumed eating his "special diet" aka high end vet prescribed food only to say, blech and refuse to eat.  So, we started the process all over again after an expensive trip to the vet, round of testing, all to say that there is no problem.  We bring him home only to have him return a week later, this time with my HH.  

Diagnosis:  he has a sensitive tummy tract.  

So, here were are three weeks of dealing with special soft food only.  Then slowly introducing hard kibble.  Finally, lessening up on the soft food.  He was doing GREAT.  Well, now he has decided that what he really wants to eat over anything else in the world.  His soft food.  Give him soft food only and he devours it.  Give him soft and kibble and he turns his nose up and walks away.  Great.  

Picky eaters are found even in our furry kids.  Looks like we have one in the clan.  Excuse me now while I try to entice him to eat his yummy expensive prescription kibble.  

This dog is extra special.

This dog is hysterical.

This dog is picky!

This dog is making me crazy!

St. Francis, please intercede for me at our time of need.

Summer Survival

Watch out for the ice cream thief!
Summer 2013

Summer!
Oh sweet summer!
How I adore Summer!

Really...I do...the arrival of summer comes on the boot heels of a very chaotic school year that was jam packed with countless projects, endless tests, and a flurry of after-school activities.

Truly, we have been blessed that both kiddos love school and do their best during the school year, however, the heralding of summer days makes each of our hearts sing for lazy mornings, fun outings, Popsicles on the lanai, and chasing fireflies as the tree frogs begin to play their nightly performance from the treetops over lush green grass.

Often, I hear as the days of school slips down to merely weeks left and finally days the tales of summer camps sign-ups,  endless activities to keep the energy level at a doable level, and the plight of moms everywhere to avoid the dreaded (as far as I'm concerned not even a word that describes anything so don't use it) phrase escaping past their loved ones lips:

 "I'm bored."

This phrase is simply overused, not possible, and frankly, a huge pet peeve of mine.  There is no way that anyone can be bored.  Find something to do with your time.  Make use of a handy dandy survival kit to ward off that nasty phrase.  Place it near your home first aide kit so you are ready and charged for the months of summer.  The following are some of my favorites in my kit for summer:

10.  Hoses

       One minute you're feeding the parched plants and the next minute finds everyone running      

       through the sprinklers for some great splash fun.

9.  Sidewalk chalk

     Make sure you are well stocked with sidewalk chalk.  Budding artists will have a blast drawing all

     over the walkways, driveway, and lanai.  If your mind draws a blank on what to draw, open up the   

     dictionary and pick a word...learning and playing...perfecto!

8.  Bubbles

     Even the most stubborn kiddos can't resist blowing bubbles.  Even that hormonal prone preteen

     will try hard not to let on that they are having a great time seeing who can blow claim the title of

     "Blower of the Largest Bubble"

7.  Fruit & Yogurt

     Smoothies are simply da bomb dignity during the summer.  Make sure you stock up on mother   

     nature's bounty in season for a reason...to make relish smoothies!

6.  Library Card

     Get out of the heat and the house.  See how many libraries you can visit and make sure to stay a 

     while choosing the best book before heading back for a smoothie on the lanai.

5.  Camera

     You will be surprised at what your darlin's find interesting.  Taking a walk with the dog you may 

     notice that the grass is really green but did you notice the ladybug hanging out on the flower petal?  

     Young eyes are still phenomenal for spotting the interesting in what adults take for granted.

4.  Pandora App

     Hook up your iPhone or iPad to blue tooth speakers and take a dance party outside as the sun   

     starts to make its farewell before night.  Nothing beats dancing crazy with your kids.  Especially  

     during moments that you feel like you are going to go crazy!

3.  Fire Pit

     Take a stick and you can roast just about anything over a fire.  Hotdogs are super fun for young   

     hands to assist with dinner cooking.  Some of the best evenings are spent around a fire roasting    

     s'mores.  Try to see who can come up a new recipe for s'mores.  It's amazing how many variations   

     there are!

2.  Hammock

     Place one of these up and nap time is a breeze.  Wrapped in a cocoon, starring up into the trees 

     towering above with birds singing...Zzz.....

1.  Wine

     Your days are full of excitement, discussions, preparations, so any mom is going to need a nice

     glass of wine to unwind after a wonderful day spent with your darlin's.  Life goes fast when you

     are a mom.  Take it all in.  

Yes, I am one of those moms.

I crave summer with my kids.

This is not to say that every moment is picture perfect.  In fact, on any given day during the summer I am sure that you will hear a sibling squabble, a frustrated mom who is tired of saying "clean up ____, please", and a dog who is wondering where on earth all this extra noise came from that messes up his nap time.

Summers will only be like this for so long.  One day, when I blink, my kids will be calling me and asking, "what in the world should I do...it's summer and the kids are out of school!"  Well, at least they have some kind of memory map to use when planning an awesome summer for their own children.  That, in a nutshell, is the goal behind any summer...memories.

Wordless Wednesday {Impersonate}

HS impersonating The Bard

Sixth graders at HS's school begin World Civilization class with one very paramount question:

Who will you become this year?

That's a loaded question when you ask hormonally unstable preteens.  Of course they know who they wish they could emulate.  Pick any random pop artist, actor, or athlete.  That's who they think they want to impersonate.  It's not until the list of famous people throughout civilization who have made an impact on our world is passed out that they realize that there isn't going to be Justin Timberlake, Shakira, or Pitbull claiming one of the spots.  

Their first assignment right out of the shoot.  Decide who you want to become.  Decide based on what three pivotal things that stand out in their time period and the impact they had on history.  HS came home with William Shakespeare.  It was then that his time of becoming The Bard was a reality.  With each quarter that passed in his 6th grade year, he stepped closer to becoming the impersonator.  

Quarter 1~  Design a costume that makes you look like your figure in history and write a speech in 1st person that clearly explains who you are, what you are known for doing, and why that was so amazing to make a dent in the historical timeline.

Quarter 2~  Create a 2D timeline of significant events that occurred during your figure's life.  Include photos of those events and make sure that the time line is designed on an element of importance for your figure (for Shakespeare, HS recreated Shakespeare's desk and inkwell)

Quarter 3~  Build a 3D architecture important to your character or to a moment during your figure's life.  For HS, he painstakingly  put together a paper model of The Globe Theatre with HH during Christmas break.

Quarter 4~  Develop a trifold that includes a newspaper that highlights at least three important events occurring politically and socially during your figure's life in addition to making sure that a hand drawn detailed map of the trade routes during your figure's life is on the trifold.  Additionally, be ready to speak in front of the school, dressed as your character, and relay who your character was.

To say this was amazing to see all put together by the time his World Civilization Fair would be an understatement.  All the students were remarkable.  Although, I have a certain special place in my heart set aside for my dear son.  He carried out his task to the tee.  He impersonated The Bard beyond measure. 

 "All the world 's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts" - (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII).

Trust me on this one, as HS took his final bow as Shakespeare, from the heavens, William was smiling down as yet another generation was introduced to the power of the words that he proclaimed. And this proud momma...well, what more can I say than

There Shakespeare, on whose forehead climb

The crowns o’ the world; oh, eyes sublime

With tears and laughter for all time!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861), A Vision of Poets

Wordless Wednesday {Tire Joy}

The days have been GORGEOUS here!  Everyday after school LD races to the backyard after finishing her homework to take in the joys of her playground.  Her favorite item right now...the tire swing.  She twirls around singing songs while the birds add her background chorus.  Joy found with a tire.  May we all remember to take the time to swing a little joy into our lives!

Tooth Be Told

In this pocket you will find
A teensy, tiny tooth of mine.

So while I sleep where dreams are made,

Let’s see if you can make a trade.

~Author Unknown

The tooth be told, I can't get over the twinkle in LD's eyes as she shows off her new smile~minus one baby tooth!  

The tooth be told, I cried the day that little baby tooth began to wiggle and she rushed downstairs bright and early to announce with pride to say: "momma...something cool is happening in my mouth!"

The tooth be told, I can't believe that my baby is old enough to even be losing her teeth!  Seems like just yesterday she was working so hard to get her baby teeth to push through!

The tooth be told, I am delighted that we get to resume having visits from the Tooth Fairy.  She is one awesome fairy!


The tooth be told,  HS was a true big brother and swapped out the tooth fairy pillow that she thought she would use, and gave her his special tooth fairy box.  Can you just say, sweet and caring young man?

The tooth be told, I am totally bummed that she lost her first tooth at school!

The tooth be told, I am so grateful that I didn't have to try to pull the very wiggly tooth out...it came out on it's own.

The tooth be told, I am 100% in love with her new little grin!

Carefree in a Type-A Personality

We purchased a new computer recently and I am finding that making the transition from IBM to a Mac has been interesting.  I adore the capability on the Mac and have had a great time checking out all the "bells & whistles."  Today's discovery...the photo booth.

Truly, I sat in front of the photo booth and the very Type-A over the top personality that I have suddenly disappeared and for the next twenty minutes I let go of what needed to be done around the house and just had fun.  It felt fantastic to not be so caught up in the daily routine and to take a moment to just be carefree and fancy free.   Yep.  My hidden nature came sprawling out with each photo shot.  So, selfie beware...Type-A gal is on a roll!

Wordless Wednesday {Romp & Roll}

A sunny day and a favorite tennis ball

Rolling around in a sprawl

Days full of sunshine are meant
to be enjoyed y'all!

Dancing Through

My Darlin'

Our marriage turned eighteen today!  Can you believe how quickly the time has flown?  We continue to dance through our life embracing the moments that define who we are and who we will become.

We've moved nine times,
enjoyed laughing and crying with our two blessings,
raised two puppies,
snuggled two cats,
and endured countless months of deployments,
planned around weird and crazy duty schedules,
and loved each other more with each day.

Eighteen.  That's longer than I lived at home.  Two years more than the age you are when you learn how to drive.  Legally the age to vote.  Many head off to college by the age of eighteen.  Well my love, our beginner driving days are over.  We successfully navigated the early years of marriage.  We have exercised our right to agree and disagree and when we are at a crossroad for a decision, I'd like to say we have been better than congress and the senate when deciding what we are going to do that is in the best interest of our clan.  Our college days are long behind us.  Thank God for dear ole' R for serving as the grounds that not only educated us but also introduced us.  No, we are not bound for something even greater.  Our masters level.

It is within the next eighteen years that we will
grow even stronger,
love even deeper,
and
dance to the beat of life.

I love you.  Here's to our next eighteen!

Devote

LD proudly holding up her sign
after her class performance at
the school wide assembly

"Momma!  Guess what?  We get to do a performance for the trait of the month in front of the whole school!"

"You mean you are singing?"

"Nooooo...I'm performing!"

"Ok, darlin'.  Do you have something special to work on?  A song?  A dance?"

"Noooooo...it's important...I speak!"

Clearing of little throat...and then my littlest blessing proceeded to twirl herself around the kitchen island as she sang out...

"Devote yourself to The Lord!"  that's my line. It's a special, very, very special line!

So, for a week and a half, HS and I sat every day pretending to be her audience as she practiced for her performance.  The two seconds of fame that every little girl dreams about.  She practiced her facial expressions, she practiced what level of voice to use, how to add the right stage presence.

The day of her big debut was at hand.  I sat with all the other proud and glowing kindergarten parents, craning my neck to see each facial expression as she waited patiently to go up on stage.  Her big brother sat with all his 6th grade pals and you could see his pride as she walked onto stage....

As they began their performance, there wasn't even a sign that she may be a little nervous, tentative, or have a bout of stage fright.  She held out her laminated D and spoke with her little smurfette voice...

Devote YOURSELF to The LORD.

Then, she waved.  Yes.  She waved...the tiniest wave over in my direction with a grin from ear to ear.  So it begins.  A proud momma awaiting that clear sign that "mom...I've got this.  I'm fine."

Whose Fault

Look closely at this moment from our camping trip caught in a selfie.  Take five family members (one of which being a furry son) on a camping trip for spring break and the everyday stress disappears.  Viola!  *snap of fingers* NO school, NO work, NO activities dictating the mom taxi service, and NO distractions.  Who is at fault for all of these outcomes anyway?  Who is the puppeteer behind those grins in the photo?   

Whose fault is it that instead of throwing a fit that the camp stove acted up I was instead excited to to cook over a raging open fire?  With a smile from ear to ear?

Whose fault is it that the fire even reached bonfire worthy?  

Who caused the furry son to be so pooped by the end of each day camping that he was snoring the loudest in the tent? 

Who is behind the constant giggling from LD?  

Why is it that HS seems so content to just be himself and not have to try to be the "hormonal" teen? 

Who kept having HH and I hold hands like we were transported back seventeen years ago and dating?

Who provided such a beautiful place to call home with sun and no rain for the days we camped?

God provided us a wonderful backdrop of nature to enjoy some well deserved family time.  We came back refreshed, ready to tackle the daily grind, and offering up our thanksgiving for having God in our midst.

Wordless Wednesday {Quality Time}

Camping always provides phenomenal quality time.

Linking up with The Jenny Evolution's Worldless Wednesday

There's This Woman

There's this woman that I know

who follows me wherever I go.

If I'm blue and feeling  wound

she always turns my frown around.

If I'm ready for an adventure

she creates a joint venture.

If the kids have something to share

they know that she'll always be there.

There's this woman that I know

who has birthday wishes from me to bestow.

There's this woman that I know

that makes all hearts aglow.

This woman isn't just any tom...

she's my mom!

Happy Birthday  !

 

 

Honest to Pete

See how peaceful I look in this photo?

I can still feel the suns rays soaking into my clothing warming skin that has been a frozen popsicle since December.

Bet you thought that the reason I've been missing in cyberspace is because I've been enjoying a billion books as I soaked in the day....or maybe you just wish that is how we could all spend our days.

I'm not gonna even try to lie about why I haven't been blogging since...um...well...the 1st of January...I'm just gonna lay it all out there for everyone as to the great void in my writing:

Questioned.  I had reached the point that I wondered why was I writing a blog.  Really.  I knew I was the only one reading what I had actually wrote so why bother typing what I could keep in my mind.  The worst critic of ourselves is always the one who resides within our brain.

Chaotic.  Life with two kids not even remotely in the same stage of life has kept me busy, exhausted, and enjoying the chaos that they provide.  One day...I'll wish I could get the chaos back.  So, I have been focusing in on spending time in the moment with them instead of drafting a blog entry about what I'm doing with them.

Bitter.  This was a cold winter.  All I wanted to do was curl up with a good book and a nice steaming cup o' Joe.  Only see reason #2 and you'll know why that didn't occur.  So, my thin Hawai'ian blood was just a tad bit bitter.

Abandonment.  Honest to Pete, I haven't really been inspired. I have missed writing, but the inspiration and drive that once pushed me to sit and type during a quiet moment just seems to have vanished with our move back to the mainland.  Not sure why that is.  I just know that's what happened...my inspiration abandoned me.

So after questioning, living through the bitter winter, dealing with the vanishing inspiration, and the chaotic life I lead I am left with one thought.

I hope one day the kids will read what I've written over the years.  I may not have a huge follower base and no comments left after I write.  However,  it felt WONDERFUL to sit down between taking the kids to school, cleaning the house, and meeting a friend for lunch...to write.

Dribbling the Night Away

I was really a naive mommy.  Seriously.  I didn't have a clue about the reality of watching your child grow older and what that would actually mean and what the impact would be.

I can still vividly recall snuggling with my HS as he fell asleep cooing.  I can still feel him stroking my fingers as I read his favorite book to him.  The angelic little vice of a four year-old HS reading BOB books to me before bed.  Evenings of supper followed by bath time and then a very predictable routine.  Book.  Snuggle.  Song.  Lights out by 7:30.  I was a naive mommy.  I thought nights would always be so predictable.  So comfortable.  The friends I knew with teenagers always seemed to be so busy after school.  After supper.  I was naive.  It wasn't going to be how my son's evening was...sure, bedtime may change from year to year, but I refused to allow our clan to lose our evening time.  How little I knew.  

It is inevitable.  One day, that little Darlin' begins to expand his horizons.  Activities that used to meet right after school are no longer for the older middle school kids.  That time is reserved for after-school clubs and activities.  The homework routine still remains placed solidly as after 4 as possible.  Supper is earlier because now...

activities have invaded that once precious time.  Here I sit while HS, #14 to the rest of the world, dribbles, passes, shoots, steals well into the night.  Bedtime is now 9:30 on nights like these.  Would I change it?  No. I wish we could have that time when he was little back, but at the same time, sitting here in a stuffy school gym watching HS try learning a new sport besides karate is worth it.  

I was naive.  I was right about one element...no matter what the time he falls asleep...it is always preceded by a whisper of "I love you."