45 things

I turned 44 on June 18.  An uneventful day.  Lilia had a doctor appointment and I met my padres for lunch at our favorite birthday place....Puerta Vallarta.

Another year older.  Getting close to another hump.

This past year, at times I've felt that I have no purpose.  Well, I know I'm a mom, that's a given.  I provide for my children.  Home, food, love.  But days, months, years, go by and the 24 hour routine does not change.

And I forget about me.  What I want.  What's important to me.  I have no resentment to my choices or my family.  But I'm working to be more purposeful in what I do.

So I'm trying a new approach.  The summer list.  And my list of 45 things I want to do before my 45th birthday.  I did get the idea from Meg.  Who also inspires me.

So here it is.  My list.  Don't laugh.  It's long.  I created in while in a staff meeting (shhh!)  Changed it up a bit.  But it's in ink now.  I'm happy with it.

And at nearly a month gone by, I need to get busy.  Because I don't think washing windows, window tracks and screens (today's project) was on my list :)

Night.

I'm back

It's been a while.

20 days to be exact.  Where did 20 days go?

It's been a busy summer thus far in the CK house.  I've been off for 8 days now, hard to believe.  They were filled mostly with Sun Lakes.  Then the 4th.  And really only 3 on "vacation" here at home.

I'm trying to be "purposeful" with my time off.  It's so easy for me to get in a bad routine of staying up late, sleeping in, piddling my day away.

I'm making lists and checking things off.

One thing, is to blog daily.  Share my "day".  So I'm working on that here.

Today I was up by 8am.  Not bad.  Putzed (not on my list) until Lilia woke up.  Then breakfast.   We left to swimming around 10am.  Back on the road at 11:15 and stopped at the NEW library for an hour.

Home, lunch and watched the tail end of a World Cup game (Go Spain!).

Then some laundry, yard work, go thru bills, paperwork.

Kids fill the garage -- my 4 plus 6 neighbor kids.  Popsicles shared.  Drinks.  Rice crispy treats.  Kid drama.

Baked cupcakes.  Dinner.  Clean-up.  Reading (20 minutes ... on a summer reading program through KCLS).  Water plants.

Wednesday Craft Project (samples to come)
Soccer practice.
Write out my "45 list" (future share).
Wow, it's 9:30.
Clean kitchen.
Fold laundry.
Kids teeth brushed and in bed.

Here I sit.
I've blogged today.
Check.

Another thing on my list.  Exercise and diet.  I was at 50% today.  Walked and sit-ups while kids were in swimming lessons.   It worked.

And a pic of Ms. Lilia about an hour ago.  She so wanted me to lie down with her tonight.  She fell asleep on my bed while I washed my face.  With her pillow-pet as her blanket.

Long day in the heat.  They all fell just as quick.

(see the cut on her chin.  she fell out of bed the other night and split her lip.  poor baby.)

Happy Birthday LiliLu

...it's really Lilia Marie.  Tia Favia calls her LiliLu, so do we.  And Lili Pad.  Can you believe it, she's 5!!  Five.  Cinco.  How'd that happen?  My baby is growing up.

She is so smart.  She counted down the days for the last week.  Told everyone yesterday, even the cashier at the pizza parlor, that it was her "birthday eve".  I think she gets that from her Soso, who talks, talks and talks.

I made her a special shirt for her special day.  It didn't turn out like I had hoped.  It looks okay from a distance, but close-up, it needs to be redone.  I used some cheap fabric flats (??).  Makes a difference.  I don't know if I'll redo it or not.  But she did look faboo!!

I left her this morning with Lita.  I felt bad.  But she knew once the kids came home from school (@ 11am) that she could open her presents.  She was patient.  But what ended up happening is that Lita had all the neighbor kids in the house and they blew out candles, ate cake AND opened presents.  I missed it!!!!

But she had fun, and she had Isaiah over, the love of her life and that's what matters.  The kids did save a couple presents for her to open at night.  Her pillow pet, chalk and Chutes and Ladders.  AND a Barbie bike!

She is happy.  I *think* I'll still do another birthday with her friends from school, but I need to get through Sun Lake planning first.

Sofia left to the birthday party of her best friend and here the rest of us sit.

Done with school.  It's 9:24 and no one is in bed.  There will be no one to PULL out of bed in the morning.  No lunches to make.

Schools out for SUMMER!!!!

Almost here....

....end of school.

Made our summer to-do list.

Items added since:  a trip with the Afework family and a trip to the Becker property.
Items that didn't make the "cut":  Disneyland, Hawaii and Walla Walla.

Started packing for Sun Lakes.  50s night is one of the themes.

Sofia wearing a 50s poodle skirt that was Ashli's when SHE was in 6th grade.

I love the number 5.  I'm making Lilia a "5" birthday shirt.  I've looked everywhere for this font.  Found it at the track today.  Stay tuned.

Night.

Yeeehaw

Lilia had her school party today.  A "hoe down".  Complete with BBQ, a scavenger hunt, smores and cowboy hat making.

I was in charge of the scavenger hunt:  window, car, bike, tree, flower, slide, sandbox, rock, ant and worm.  Some took it very seriously.  P wanted to WIN.  He wanted to finish first.  When I asked him if I could see the ant, he replied "it was over there, but it ran away".  And the worm, "it was over in the grass, but it slithered away".  Wow, at 4.  JH helped out.  He was so patient with the kids.  Made me proud.

I love Mrs. Arata.  She adored Lilia and Lilia adored her.  She will be missed in kindergarten.  Perhaps she'll move up and we'll have her again.

Came home.  Fed kids.  Homework projects on castles to be finished.  I supervised or at least kept reminding them to be on task.

The deal was, finish homework by 6pm and we can go to open swim at 6:30 AFTER I have them tested for swim levels at 6:15.  S&A didn't finish.  So after the 15 minute test, they showered off and we went home.  No playing in the water, no after pool ice cream.  Consequences suck sometimes.

Alex tested at L3, so did JH (Alex wasn't happy about that).  Sofia in L4 and Lilia L1.  The goal is to have them in swim class at the same time, daily for 2 weeks in July while I WORKOUT!  We'll see how that plan goes.

It's pouring outside.  Wah.

Sun

It appeared today.

The doors were open, the kids outside.  Well, at least 2 of them were.

It's June

....already.

How'd that happen?

...half a year gone by.

How'd that happen?

As we wind down the end of the school year, lots to do.  Year end projects.  Year end tests.  Class trips.  Class parties.  And staff appreciation.  End of baseball (yes!)

In can be overwhelming.

Sofia had her chorus concert last week.  A solo.  Brought tears to my eyes.  I never was that secure with myself in 6th grade!  Of course, the neighbors joined us.

Alex had his school band concert tonight.  Lilia stayed at Isaiah's house.  I took the 3 neighbor kids.  A great swap.

I realized I really didn't take pictures of the "performers".  Oops, bad mom.

Next up, a weekend of birthdays, weddings and graduations.

See you when I come up for air.