Sunday, September 22, 2013

5 Things

5.  Thankfully, the weather is slowly turning to fall weather.  I'm over the heat, and can't wait for more football, pumpkins, apple cider and homemade doughnuts.

4.  Sometimes all we I need is a 2-hour nap in my bed.  I still feel like crap, but at least I'm not grumpy anymore, and I can breathe through my nose.

3.  Woohoo to me.  I'm going to just say it.  I'm proud of myself.  I've continually gotten up at 5 a.m. three days a week to do Cross fit.  It's officially a habit. I love how I feel, and I love coming home to read the paper, enjoy a cup of coffee or two in the quiet of the moment.  I need this solitude more often.

2.  With Matt back coaching at the middle school, he was able to go to a Friday night high school football game with me and Grace for the first time.  And Grace did not let us down.  She showed her Daddy just how much she loves the band, "her" dancers, the Chick-fil-A cow, and concessions.

1.  Me + Matt + Grace = One HAPPY family.  Love them. 

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

It's a Tradition

I received my "Back to School" itinerary for my in-service week in the mail today.  I guess it's official that my stint as a stay-at-home mom is soon ending. I'll get 115 hormonal seventh graders instead of my four going on thirteen year old Grace.  She makes good practice for the drama.  It also means we only have four days to tackle a few unchecked boxes on  your summer to-do list.

As a family, we have been creating these summer lists ever since Grace was a year and a half. At least now, she has quite a say in what goes on the list...hence fishing.  Sorry for the lack luster picture though, but I'll fill you in on the details.

This summer we've: chased fireflies, played in the park, jumped in a bouncy house, caught some fish (to the dismay of Grace...she was soooo excited and then utterly freaked out by the bass on the hook), took a boat ride on the Chain of Lakes, played mini golf, went to the zoo...too many times, swam in a pool (a lot...which is why we never made it the actual beach), baked Halloween and Christmas themed cut-out cookies (yes, in July), story time at the library, played barbies, made crafts, had a water fight, play, eat bbq, go bowling, play baseball, blow bubbles, have a picnic, go to Chuck E.  Cheese, smores and a bonfire, read, summer reading, travel (8 cities in Michigan, 2 in Wisconsin, 1 in North Carolina), visit the Children's Museum, hike Sleeping Bear Dunes and  tour Bronner's Christmas Wonderland.

We have four days to go to the actual beach that is literally 20 minutes away (shameful...I know), visit Puff (the white goat that Grace loves) at Bergy's, have a living room sleepover, and have a lemonade stand.

One item on Grace's list will not get accomplished - visit Evan.  We tried, but his family was on vacation when we traveled to North Carolina.  Evan was a boy in our daughter's class last year.  He moved away, and it broke Grace's heart.  On the last day of school, they had a "wedding" and got married.  We know call him "the boy who shall not be named" because if you do slip up and say his name, then she starts crying.  I really can't take the crying.

So...that was our summer.  Sadly, our summer ends in four days.  FOUR DAYS!  I do believe I will make sure to get in some extra snuggles.  Thankfully, she still snuggles with me.

Saturday, June 22, 2013

catching fireflies

As Grace and I were driving home tonight, I noticed the flickering neon green lights on the side of the road - fireflies.  We had "catch fireflies" on our summer to do list last year, but she never did, so tonight instead of going straight in for books and bed, we grabbed her butterfly net and set off to catch fireflies.

Catching fireflies is a rite of passage.  It is a true sign of summer.

I do believe we will be doing this again, and a little fun was needed after a week that included:

1. pink eye
2.  which led to strep and an ear infection
3.  four straight days of a fever
4.  25 minutes of screaming over taking medicine
5.  said medicine spit out on the couch, on her body, in her hair.
6.  still more crying in the bathtub because of medicine
7.  20 minutes later I managed to get some of the medicine in...the next five days are going to be fun.

so...a little fun catching fireflies was much needed for all of us.

Saturday, May 11, 2013

Grateful to Be Mama

Dearest Grace,

    When you were born four years ago, I latched onto the song by Darius Rucker titled "It Won't Be Like This For Long".  I knew the sleepless nights would end.  Thankfully, you only made us zombies for a little over a month.  I knew the things I once cherished when you were itty-bitty would soon be gone as you grew into each stage.  I knew things would change. 

   As Mother's Day rolls around tomorrow, I want you to know that I love everything, every single thing about you.  I love that you still call me Mama, even when you yell for me in a creepy horror flick whisper.  I love that you still call me to get you each and every morning instead of getting out of bed yourself because then I'd know you'd saddle up to my side of the bed and probably scare the daylights out of me.  I love that you stall at bedtime.  Sometimes, for a drink, sometimes to go to the bathroom, but mostly when you call me back upstairs just to tell me you love me one more time.  I love our nightly story time that sometimes becomes the rosary.  I love how you still ask me to sing you bedtime songs.  Your favorites right now are "You are my sunshine", "Father, I Adore You", and "Refiner's Fire".  I love how you still wake me up in the middle of the night if you have to go to the bathroom.  You can do it yourself, but you told me you don't want to be alone.  I love making crafts with you.  I love your kindness, your laughter, your kisses, your snuggles, your hugs.  I love our lunch picnics in the front yard.  I love your sneaky little mind.  I love your gracisms.  I really do love everything.

    And I will continue to find that things won't last like this for long, but until then I'm going to keep on waking up every morning being grateful that she hasn't completely grown up just yet.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

funny book

So my little break with a book and a comforter included a cup of coffee too.  It's seven o'clock at night and I'm cup two - I'm turning into my mother.  But I digress.

The book...


is HILARIOUS and TRUE and JUST WHAT I NEEDED BEFORE I START MY WEEK WITH 7TH GRADERS WHO ARE ALREADY COUNTING DOWN UNTIL THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL.

My favorite section = The Road Trip. 

Waiting

I should be tackling an item on the never ending to-do list of my life.

Instead, I'm just sitting here doing nothing.  Just because I can.  Matt is at a meeting, and Grace is bumming around town with Grandma and Papa.  I keep getting calls from her updating me on what she is doing.  They have gone something like this:

Grace:  Mama, can Grandma and Papa take me to the dog store?
Me:  Did you ask them?
Grace:  I will.

or

Grace:  Mama, can I eat over here (I learned later meant the Chili's at the mall.)
Me:  Did you ask Grandma and Papa?
Grace:  uh huh

Next on my list...curling up on the couch with a comforter and one of new books I just checked out from the public library.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Two Things

1.  Are you open to the gifts from God?  Are you willing to accept what he has in store for you?  God calls on the ordinary.  Are you ready?  Lent begins in three days.  Am I ready?  Just a few snippets taken from today's homily that resonated with me.

2. This summer I attended the funeral for my friend's dad.  I'll never forget what her brother said during his eulogy.  "My dad always had time for us.  Even after a long day at work, he never said no when we asked him to do something."  Wow!  Years from now, I want to make sure I've said YES!  All that other stuff can wait.  It can wait until Grace is grown and on her own.  So tonight when she asked to walk to the park for the second time today, I said

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Welcome 2013

We will open the book.
It's pages are blank.
We're going to put
words on them ourselves.
The book is called
Opportunity
and its first chapter is
New Year's Day.
-Edith Lovejoy Pierce

What's in store for you?