It's May

We've had a few sunny days.  Sunny enough to wear the high heels that were a gift from Easter Bunny.  And nice enough to run around outside, without leggings and to fall and skin your knee.

The cherry trees in bloom, covering the ground like snow.  Hanging out with your friends on the sidewalk, wearing flip flops.

I see a shift.  It's coming.  The constant cell phone in hand.  The journal.  The drama at times.  The teen is on the horizon.  I'm excited and scared.  And for today I'm happy.  There is still obvious affection.  She loves me.  And we are okay.

Hello Sun

Today was a beautiful day!  It actually felt like spring with weather in the mid 60's.  I was up and running errands early.

We found some time to visit Jan's Plants down the road, love their plants, love the ladies, a bit more expensive, but a family run local business.

The kids each picked up a new plant, flower.

{she dressed herself}

The weather was perfect for sitting field side for JH's baseball game.

He batted 1000....3 for 3.  And made some great saves.  I love that he gets baseball even more this year. We had the Afeworks cheering him on as well, good people, they are really good people.

It was a full day.  We didn't get dinner until nearly 8pm and dyed eggs at 9pm.  Next year, better planning and remembering to buy the vinegar.

Happy Easter to all.

Nada

My brain is running full speed as I type.  So much I want to do and so much needs to be done.  I feel like the nocturnal Pinky Lee (JH's class hamster) who spins the never-ending wheel each night, in the dark as the moon shines through the window.

My head is spinning.

Easter is coming.  I'm hosting my family, about 30 people on Sunday.  We are having a BBQ, the first of the year and a nice welcome to spring.  It will be later in the day, which will better allow for church visits in the morning and preparing for the guests.

I'm praying for nice weather.

Back to spinning....

Spring Break 2011

Spring break has nearly come to an end.  As quick as I snap my fingers.  It's done.

This year was the first year I've taken time off with the kids.  I have always felt guilty as family and friends travel to grand places during the break -- Hawaii, Disneyland, Florida -- as my kids sit at home and do spring cleaning.

Then a coworker invited us to spend some time at her family home in Long Beach with her and her two kids (who are the same age as mine, 12 and 9),  I thought hey, it's not Disneyland, but it's also not Federal Way.  We agreed and packed up the van and headed out.

We arrived late Sunday night and had assistance from two soon-to-be friends, unpacking the van in the dark and pouring rain.  As we settled in for the night, I thought about what might be the best ice breaker for the house of strangers....a game of Monopoly.  We played until nearly midnight. And everyone was toasty warm by then, bonding occurred.

Throughout the weekend there were many games of Monopoly, Dominos, Sequence and Speed (I was the house champ, hmph!).

Each morning started with fresh fruit and cocoa.  We sipped the hot cocoa, as we cozied up on the couch, stoked the fire and listened to the rain beat against the windows.

And it rained, rained and rained.  There were five-minute breaks of sun here and there that would fill the living area with a warm glow, but then darkness would follow and the rain returned.

Regardless of the weather, there were walks on the beach, jumping waves and playing in the sand.  I was bundled up as if it was a snow storm, but the kids frolicked as if it was summer.

We'd return for hot showers and more hot cocoa.

Each day we ventured into town for one activity.

We saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid at the Neptune Theater, there was a total of ten people (including eight of us) in the theater.

We visited an amazing bakery and had fresh baked goods, beyond delicious.

and there were bumper cars,

and go-karts,

and the merry go-round,

Thank you Davidsons, we had a great Spring Break!!

Heading to the Beach

Day one of spring break went well.  A bit of sleeping in, a birthday party and shopping.  Tomorrow we're heading to the ocean, post soccer game for a few days.  The kids are so excited.  I hope its all they are hoping for.....

SLC

Last week was Student Led Conferences x 4.  SLC is the new "parent teacher conference".  It's where the student shares their work/portfolio, shows the parents around the room and then there is an introduction to the teacher where we hear more from his/her perspective. 

8:30 JH and Mrs. Marsten.  JH has come a long way this year.  He has a IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for reading, where he is "pulled-out" of the classroom once each day to spend some one-on-one time with the resource room teacher.  JH began the school year reading 50 WPM, his year end goal was 87.  He's at 97.  Wahoo.  He's doing great and has finally taken an interest in reading.  Due to his prior speech issues, he's lagged some in the reading, I'm glad he's catching up and having some notable success this year.  Math is his best subject.  He takes after his mom, hmph.

9:40 Sofia and Mrs. Palm.  Sofia's a straight A student and has been for a number of years.  She truly loves school, not only for the social aspects, but for the academics and PE of course.  But she does have to work at it, and she does spend quite a bit of time on homework.  I can't complain.  Mr. Wood her PE teacher is quite impressed with her drive....her pull-up bar for Christmas has her at seven pull-ups now, up from one at the beginning of the year.  Mr. Wood can't praise her enough and she loves it.

10:00 Alex and Mr. Sangalang.  Alex too has great grades.  3 A's and 2 B's.  He began AVID this semester.  AVID is a college-prep program designed to increase the number of students who enter a 4-year college or university.  The most immediate difference is in Alex's organizational skills and his interest to take more time in finishing his work completely.  Alex loves school too, but it's the social time he loves best.  He joined Sofia in conditioning with Mr. Wood this semester, he's building muscle and can nearly take me down in arm wrestling.  My ego is doing ok.

5:00 Lilia and Mrs. Davis.  Lilia looked so forward for her conference.  She danced around her classroom like she owned it.  She showed us her amazing drawings and stories.  Granted she has had many sad faces this year due to poor choices (talking, not listening, lipgloss in the back with other girls), she is an excellent student.  She reads.  Yes, she can read.   Expectations for a kindergartener are so much different from when her siblings went.  And she also loves to write.  She is quite comfortable with best guess spelling -- sounding out the word and writing what she hears.  I love the notes and stories she leaves me at home.  Mrs. Davis just loves her, and so do I.

It's hard to believe there are only 3 months left of the school year.  Time is moving like it or not.  

I'm very proud of A&S&JH&L.  xoxo

Reflection | Landmark

When I was growing up, our family didn't have a lot of money.  Until I was 9, my dad was the sole breadwinner in the family.  My mom worked out of the home....she did it all.  She maintained the inside and outside of the house.  I didn't think much of it then, but now, I think wow!!  We lived quite modestly.  There was no big spending on birthdays or holidays.  There was the Sunday outing, post church, at Royal Fork.  Oh, how I loved RF, all the food you could eat, my kind of place.  We'd eat until our belly's were full and then we'd go home and nap with our bursting belly.  For birthdays, my mom would combine them into one big party a year, it didn't matter that my sister's birthday was in December, and it was June.

When I turned 10, my mom went to work.  She worked swing shift so there was always a parent at home.  I can remember coming home from school to the smell of  a casserole in the oven.  I loved casserole, remember I love food.  We'd eat early, as my dad got home early, as early as 4pm.  That would leave the evenings free for play and soccer.  My dad began coaching around the same time, my brothers who were 5 and 6.  He continued to coach for 20+ years.  One thing I remember about my dad, even though we didn't have a lot of money, he always provided for his players.  He wasn't a paid coach, as they seem to be now, it was all volunteer work.   As was his position on the soccer board, his other duties in the league, managing fields, schedules and equipment.  If one of his players couldn't afford to play, he'd chip in.  If a parent couldn't juggle practices, he'd drive the yellow submarine taxi throughout Federal Way.

My dad has done well financially over time.  He's made some smart investments.  And though he struggled with unemployment through the years, it's been a blessing in disguise, as he now has three (I think) retirements that he collects from.  He's always been content.  Never a materialistic person.  Never wanted the big house, fancy car.  Well, wait, let me take that back some...I think he did want a bigger house but my mom said NO.  I remember her telling me the thought of paying $23K vs. $16K on a house back in 1962 was too much for her.

It wasn't until recently that he's shared some of his wishes with me.  He wished he had had a farm...he always wanted some pigs, cows and chickens and a house with a white picket fence.  He thinks now that it's too late.  At 77, he might be right.  I don't know.

But it makes me think about my life.  Is it going in the direction I want?

Sometimes I struggle with this, actually lately I've struggled with this.  I'm nearing what could be considered middle age.  Although I still feel young, I'm straddling the line and not keeping my balance very well.

I think I am a lot like my dad.  Well, maybe not so much on the saving part of his "story" and I can be a bit materialistic and have to slap myself when I get caught up with the "keepin' up with the Jones'", but I overall, I think I am.

Those near and dear to me know I've always, always longed for a farmhouse, land, chickens, cows and maybe a pig.   They know I love the sweet smell of hay and everything farm.  But it's always been a dream a wish.

My current house is no where close to my dream.  In a culdesac, no land, I can see my neighbors out my bedroom window, but at the time of purchase, with three kids, it was a conscious choice.  Sidewalks, community and neighborhood schools were the priority.  I AM making the most of it, I am thankful for what I have.  I am truly blessed.  I do love my house, but I'm not IN LOVE with my house, do you know what I mean?

I do think now, as the housing market has fallen and ten years have zoomed by and I'm only four years away from potential retirement, will my wish ever come true. 

I am working on being content.  I'm working on not suffering over my choices.  I'm working on being present with what I have.  Being thankful.  I'm working.

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Years ago I participated in Landmark Education.  It was amidst an ugly divorce, working out an ugly parenting plan, starting a new position and feeling like my world was upside down with a 8-month old stuck to my chest. 

Landmark changed my life.

Feeling a bit of a funk in my world, Landmark is reentering the picture.  {read scared}

Tonight I start an 8-week course, "Causing the Miraculous -- A New Realm of Possibility".  Here's a description.

Oftentimes, we think “yes, we can create possibilities,” “yes, we have a say in the matter” - but can we really create something outside of what we consider the realm of the possible? Can we consistently produce unimaginable results - not by serendipity, chance, or luck? Do we have the capacity to create an environment in which the miraculous can occur?  You can't create miracles by earning them. You can't get one because you deserve it - or work hard enough to get one. Making the miraculous possible exists outside of what we can explain - the miraculous doesn't fit inside reality as we understand it. This seminar is about allowing what you would think is not possible to occur. It is about gaining tools, insights, and understanding into what it takes to create an environment in which you can have the miraculous occur - and occur reliably."

Why do I start such things when work is hella busy, baseball season has started, soccer continues, volleyball.....

My word for 2011 is change.  I'm hoping and praying for change.

xoxo