Thursday, May 27, 2010

Love links....

This has been such a busy time...good busy actually, with a visit from our favorite Auntie Bean (not her real name, but the only name we use!), lots of swimming in the neighbors pool, lots of Mike's Hard Lemonade consumed, gardens planted, slight sunburns for all, and many many BBQs.

Despite the crazy heat-I should say I DO NOT DO WELL IN THE HEAT-this really is such a great time of year. The kids are tanned already- They naturally go very dark in the summer...might have something to do with the lack of sunscreen applied in this house, but that's a post for another day!!! The flowers are blooming, which is so so beautiful. The windows are open, the breeze is in and everyone just seems more relaxed.

Of course, I don't want to paint a fairy tale picture that warm air heals all, because amidst the beauty we have had more than one rough moment (referring back to mama does not do well in the heat). Mahone keeps leaving the house without us knowing (funny how he can already climb the fence and before we know he is actually gone, he is playing on the neighbors swings-AHH!!-again, so thankful we really KNOW our neighbors) and we have a 7 year old that is often refusing to go outside because this year he is SOOOO afraid of bees/wasps!!! I would welcome any suggestions when helping him with that as I am beginning to fear this could be a long summer.

With the busyness of course, I have not been posting here. Who knew this blogging thing took so much thought and time. To ease myself back, thought I would just post some online wanderings that I have been doing lately....

If you are married, please please read this

I am so wanting to read this book

I am redoing my bedroom-It has been our room, Seamus' room, then Seamus and Mahone's, then we moved back in with Mahone, then Mahone left and Seamus moved in (you can imagine the state of the walls with all the changes from actual pictures and art to posters and chaulkboards). Anyway, we are feeling ready to make it our space-at least ours for the most part, until we ALL go to sleep in there. But despite their sleep presence, I can still make it my little refuge of sorts. This bedroom is of my dreams. Not sure I can make it a reality, but did just purchase a iron frame for $5.00 at a flea market, that I think I can make look very similiar.


Every flea market I go to ( I go to a variety of them EVERY weekend), I am looking for these

I feel these emotions daily I think. I find comfort that if SHE feels it, then there is hope for me!!


Me

Saturday, May 15, 2010

My day off...

As a parent who works outside of the home, I have often had conversations with others about how much easier things are for me, you know "not being a full time parent and all." I  cannot even begin to explain to you how that statement angers me beyond belief. It strikes me right at the deep part of me and it takes all self-control to just nod and walk away. For one thing, why do women do that? Why do we feel this need to one-up each other, to make us questions ourselves, to feel the need to comment negatively on choices we all make???? I simply don't get it. But that is a post for another day and since I have about 43 pictures (okay, perhaps a slight exaggeration) to show today, I won't write much... Just know that women who work outside of the home for whatever reason-be in financial, because they are single moms, or even aghast, they actually like working, are also in every sense of it-FULL TIME MOMS. I am on call 24-7 as any other mother-I just have one different responsibility thrown in there, being work. I cannot even count the amount of times I have been in meetings, with three more scheduled that day, and have dropped it all because the school has called, the daycare has called-someone is sick, someone is sad, someone is being suspended....I do it because I am mom and that is what mom's do-we respond when our children need us, whether that means we leave our desk or leave the playgroup. So, please if you ever meet me in "real life" please never comment that I am not a full time mom, that somehow my parenting responsibilities are less because I work outside of the home. It is offensive, hurtful and well....wrong!!!

So, some pictures of my most recent "day off". My daycare provider needed some time with her own children, so I used a vacation day from work and too the "day off." Because I am not home throughout the week to accomplish a lot of home stuff-with the exception of still doing laundry and cleaning floors at 10:00pm-I take these days to get it done... so-my life in pictures for 1 day...


The day started nice and early. Not captured by the camera because quite frankly I was too busy to take pictures of the morning routine around here. I prepared breakfasts, made Seamus' lunch, ensured all was in the school bag, put a load of laundry in, showered, gave a kiss good-bye to Seamus and Gary and then....found Mahone in my bed "hidings"-his most favorite idea of a good time-"find me mama, find me!!"




I put toast down for my breakfast. You see somehow I can feed my children and yet, not feed myself. So when Seamus and Gary left, I thought I should eat. I wish this picture was time stamped because you see, it was taken just before supper-YES, SUPPER. I guess I never got around to that....




Outside to play for an hour or so. We played hockey, on the trampoline, the fun new game of weeding flowers!!! By this point, Mahone is now shooting me with a hockey stick-look at that mouth as he makes the noises "shhhshhshhshh-you are dead mama, you are dead!!!" Really how does this happen for a child who rarely watches any TV, certainly nothing violent, we don't have guns in the house-the real or fake!! Welcome to life with BOYS!!!!




Snack time.......




Off we go to the car wash. You see my vacuum just doesn't cut it with the amount of ....well everything.. on the floors, seats, roof of my car. What do we do in there??!!?? 




Then off to the grocery store. Just needed a few things, but you know how that goes-7 bags and $150.00 later.......Mahone was super great in the store. He loves to grocery shop!! I noticed not going on Saturday was so much nicer-a lot less people and we could take our time and look at everything. That was great!




We ate lunch, watched a show, had some version of "quiet time" (Mahone does not nap, so if he is somewhat quiet and in one place for even the briefest amount of time, we call that quiet time!) After our rest, off to have an oil change and I also returned a mat at Cosco, shoes at Reebok, shoes at Payless (which meant the mall, which meant an ice cream cone at Laura Secord of course!!). I also dropped shoes off at the shoemaker for repair. My mother-in-law came with me for the afternoon trip so that was great. 


As an aside, isn't is nice to do things with other women around. I think so. I love to housekeep and grocery shop with other women. My mother-in-law is always around. I almost always grocery shop with my neighbor. When my mother visits, I so enjoy just cleaning through the house and cooking with her. I understand why in the "olden day" women worked side by side. 


Moving on.....




Because I was out and about for most of the day, this is what greeted me when I returned-keeping it real here!!Lest you think I am always on top of things.... To be honest, this pile stayed there for a number of days actually growing and growing.....




Gary is unbelievably helpful-when he is home. He has a crazy job schedule, along with being out with Seamus two nights/week at sports, so he is not home near enough, but when he is, how sweet it is!! I am sitting, because quite frankly I am tired. Lots done today, lots played today. Gary came home and swept into gear-he made supper for the boys (and by made, that means warmed up left over kraft dinner, opened yogurt and washed fruit), then started the muffins for us for the week. Nice isn't it!!! How do single mom's do it-saints I say, they are all saints.....




And to end the lovely day, Gary put Mahone to bed (which is rare, so really nice) and Seamus and I went with our neighbors and friends to the library. So so so much fun. I love the library. 


It was so nice to spend the time with Mahone; nice to have a change in routine sometimes.. dreaded working the next day.

A glimpse of my day off

Me

Sunday, May 9, 2010

"It's your day mom...."

Yes, indeed it is.. I have been somewhat spoiled today and am loving it...not ashamed to admit that a day dedicated to my role as mom is exciting for me-a day in which with no guilt, I can relax, let someone else make the breakfast, tidy up, change the bums-all while I read a book that I simply cannot put down-The Forgotten Garden-excellent-as an aside...

Seamus rolled over this morning and said-"don't forget, today is your day." He snuggled in a little closer and I snuggled back, reminded again what an amazing blessing it is to be HIS mom. Later in the morning, Mahone, with a smile and a glee in his eye, helped me open the little thumb-print flower picture he made for me, saying "for you mama, for you," and again a reminder what an amazing blessing it is to his HIS mom. I tell my children (and myself in those bad moments-you know the ones....) that God choose me specifically, with my strengths AND weaknesses to be their mama, and while there are moments, in fact, there are days, in which I question what God was doing because so many many times I fall so so short on being the mom they need-I know they wouldn't trade me and I for sure wouldn't trade them!!!!! Grace and love and grace and love-that's what being a Mom is-giving grace, receiving grace, giving love, receiving love.

So today, it was my turn to receive and oh, how sweet it was.....


***loving the thumb-print flower, and the lovely book made for me by Seamus-inside a coupon made just for me saying "this coupon entitles you to play basketball with me". The Mappins bag was quite a surprise let me tell you, since we tend to go very low key for these sorts of holidays...however, I have to say, I don't mind a little splurge when this was what I found....




**loving loving loving the vintage feel-in "real live" you can see the black diamonds surrounding the blue and it looks as old as anything-which is SO my thing. What's even better is that my husband knows that and knows that shiny, fancy new isn't me-faded, understated, old-well, now we're talking....


So, yes, Seamus and Mahone, it's my day--all because God gave you both to me....

Me



Wednesday, May 5, 2010

"It's like I'm famous..."



Someone has been reading my blog, looking for pictures of himself. You see I read my entries to Seamus-well, the ones related to him anyway! I think it is important he know what I am saying about him, especially if it is the nice stuff-the feel good stuff. I think it is hilarious that he is actually looking it up and re-reading it for himself.


This is the "oh, I'm so embarrassed, but I love it kind of" face. Sweet isn't it-especially without the teeth.

As an aside-Seamus is quite proud of an Egyptian Checker board/pieces that he made-I must point out however that I have NO idea what the difference is with regular checkers and Egyptian, but his says Egyptian, so we are going with that.

Seamus attends an amazing local school and is so so well supported, I cannot even begin to describe it... a post for another day! As a part of this extra support, this year he participated in a small group all about Egypt. You see Seamus LOVES Egypt-the mummies, the pyramids, the alphabet/writing. The Student Support Teacher knew he loved it, so developed a whole small group centered on something he loved. To Seamus, this didn't feel like being centered out, didn't feel like extra help, didn't feel like not fitting in-this group was like bonus time and he felt so good in it...what did I tell you, amazing right? Two days ago, he was able to bring the game home and needless to say, we have played it each night-once or twice!!!


That's one happy kid!!! and guess what I am about to do at 9:48pm-play Egyptian Checkers!!!!

Me

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Finding treats amidst the mess...

I am what some might say a neat freak. That does not mean that I am especially clean, rather I am tidy. Everything has a place and most times, everything is in that place. I cannot rest in the evening until all is tidied. I simply can't relax. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, there are many times I wish I was not so affected by my surroundings. It takes a lot-and I mean a lot-of self-talk for me to leave something undone and go out and play with the children. It takes a lot to leave the pile of blocks to sit and read a book, to put together a puzzle, to color a picture. I have this "just one more thing" mentality and to be honest, I will enjoy those activities more with the kids if everything else is picked up before we start. The problem is of course, the children really don't care. I mean-they just want my attention. They want my focus on them-not on them AND the cushions on the sofa that just aren't right....

This is a hard time for me-Spring. After all, it is Spring Cleaning time!! The commercials show me, the magazines tell me-now is the time to organize, purge, scrub every surface-and given my "all or nothing" mentality, this is pure torture for me. I go room to room , under every bed, open every drawer, every crevice must be cleaned-because isn't that what a good wife and mother does.... Of course, in the middle of all this, I am yelling at my husband, speaking crossly to the kids-shooing everyone out of the room I am in-all in the name of being what I think I should be....I think I am missing something...

The Martha Principle-and no, I am not referring to Martha Stewart. I am referring to a story in the Bible in which Jesus visited two sisters and Martha was busy doing what a good hostess does-she was in the kitchen preparing the best feast, spreading the best tablecloth, tidying up. Mary, her sister, is simply sitting at Jesus' feet listening to him, enjoying his company, learning about true goodness. Martha of course is flustered (nope, can't say I ever felt that!! Whatever-only a million times a day...) and she expresses her upset at Jesus, telling him to inform her sister that she should be helping her. Jesus reply, perhaps for me, the most convicting words of scripture "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it" Luke 11:42. I love, love the tenderness of Jesus towards Martha-perhaps that affects me because I am Martha and oh, I cling to his tenderness amidst the ugliness of me "doing what a good homemaker does".....

So I was thinking to this when I awoke this morning to toys everywhere, a pile of laundry, gardens not yet weeded.... when Mahone, being used by Jesus for certain, provided my object lesson of the day...You see, he was playing kitchen, making me pears (not sure how you MAKE pears, but whatever..) He was throwing around the play food, the plates, the pots and pans and there was MESS.... when all of a sudden, such happiness, such excitement bellowed from him-because you see amidst the mess of his kitchen, he found a treat, a surprise, a little miracle for 8:00am-a chocolate Easter egg that had not yet been found. Amidst the mess, he found pure joy, pure happiness.... he found the better thing....





 


So I'm off to try and discover this better thing.... I am going to spend the day shifting my eyes off the clutter, the toys, the dust and focusing on the treats I will find in the mess..

Me