One Word Wednesday

SPRING

(nothing says spring like TULIPS!)

Red Balloon

Stella's Red Balloon

This weekend, Stella went to a birthday party and came home with the above red balloon.

As I was processing photos, I was reminded of another little girl and her "red balloon" story.

When Hailey was 2 years old (she's 16 now), we went to a friend's birthday party.  When it was time to leave, she decided that she wasn't yet ready to go.  She was furious with me for making her leave.  FURIOUS.

As I buckled her into her car seat she yelled these words at me...

"I wish I was a red balloon!  I wish I was a red balloon! 

So I could go

UP

UP

UP

AND AWAY FROM YOUUU!!!!!!"

I remember thinking, "man this kid is gonna be SOMETHING ESLE when she's a teenager."

But she's really about the easiest teen in the world.

Nowadays, Stella is starting to show some real temper. 

 Can't wait to see what she comes up with!

"Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength."- August Wilson


I haven't been in the best of moods lately.  Definitely feeling the darker side of things.  When spring came early, I kept feeling like it was too good to be true.  Kept waiting for some cold days.  Somehow, we managed to have several weeks of wonderful weather.  BUT now we are in the doldrums again.  The temp went from somewhere in the 80s to 44 and rainy.  OH HOW I DISLIKE COLD RAIN.

Anyway, it isn't just the weather.  It's quite a few other things.  Mostly, indecision. 

Can't seem to decide what to wear, what to eat, what to do, or how to do it.  So this weekend I chose to stay in bed a lot.  Under the covers.  Sleepy, sleepy.  Lazy, lazy.

Now...to get ready for MONDAY.  How shall I do that???
Well.... I'll probably have to sleep on it!

My goal for tomorrow is to get out and find some sunshine.  I know it's out there.  I just need to bring some in here.

let the work begin...

Savannah, GA

We recently went on a quick trip to Savannah, GA for a gymnastics meet.  I was so excited to go because I have never been and have dreamed of that place my whole life. For a while, after college, I thought I would go and live there.  I had never even been there and was sure it was the place for me.  So you can see why I needed to go there!  I had to see what all the daydreaming was about.  It did NOT disappoint.  That place is full of old southern magic. 
The south has it's hefty share of sad and tragic historical moments.  But there are also fantastic stories of great courage and endless compassion.

I love the south.
LOVE it with all my heart. 
And Savannah reminded me of the good stuff. 

and of course, this didn't hurt our fantastic experience either!!!.....
  medals on beam, floor, and allaround!! woooohoooo!!

One Word Wednesday

Indulge

One Word Wednesday!!

(this is my new sketch book!  i created my own cover by using gesso first, then paint, and finally stamps with india ink. it says beautiful journey...in case you can't read it!)

(my new favorite thing...Artist Trading Cards.)

play!

Patio Surprise for Nick!

Before...

During

and

AFTER!!!

(can you see a little hidden surpise in the shot above?  look behind the chairs. :)

It's official. 

Our little corner of the world is convinced it's SPRING.  

One Word Wednesday!

ingenuity

Movie Day

It cost so much to take the whole family to the movies that I decided

 we should record the special day...

Family Photo Booth

Theme:   Movies

One Word Wednesday...

survival

(this is usually my wordless or one word wendesday.  not supposed to talk so i'll whisper very quietly.)

this lovely plant, given to me by my sister on Thanksgiving, just bloomed.  i almost killed it.  well actually my cat almost killed it...but i almost let it die.  then for some reason, i panicked and refused to let it go. i nursed it and cared for it and it literally came out it's shell of darkness and sickness.  what i thought would never bloom, grew into this little bunch of lovely. 

and i was sooo happy to see that she survived. 

there's a parallel here.  this year, i'm refusing to let the winter make me sick. 

 i feel a bloom coming on myself...a little earlier than expected.  i'm excersizing and eating well. maybe that little plant inspired me to take care of myself, too! 

Best Friends

(Ava, Stella, and Finn)

Finn and I have had many conversations about friends.  (Above is a picture of his best friend, Ava. )

Friends are soo extremely important  to children.  As Finn explains, school is really only bearable because you get to see your friends everyday.  And recess of course.  Recess and friends make school tolerable for my little guy.

Twice last week, Finn got off the bus with a cloud of fury and frustration over his head.  When I asked about his day, he proceded to tell me why he was so uptight and out of sorts.  The first cloudy day, he explaied that his good friend Will was being mean to him because he wants to play with Ava all the time.  They went back and forth a while and Finn seemed tormented because Will wouldn't play with him while he was playing with Ava.  Will gave him an ultimatum of sorts and said, "Either you play with her or with me."  So in his diplomatic way, he devised a plan of action.  He made a schedule.  M-W he would play with Ava.   T-Th he would play with Will.  Fridays would be up for grabs.  He would flip a coin or something.  While he wasn't totally thrilled with this idea, he presented it to his friends and all agreed to a trial period. 

Enter 2nd day of frustration....

As luck would have it, Will only lasted a  couple of days before he started picking on Finn and Ava on "Ava's day".  According to Finn, Will and another little boy were calling Ava names and "treating her like a dog."  Finn and I discussed the situation and after listening to Finn's frustration I asked him what he would like to do.  He said, "I'd like to punch him in his face."  And I said, "Not an option.  What else you got?"  He thought about it and decided that he would try to talk to Will again.

On Friday, Finn got off the bus with a spring in his step and a smile on his face.  When I asked how his day went, he let loose the deluge.  He shot a barrel full of words in my direction.  (the boy talks so fast sometimes it makes my brain bleed)   Even though I was having trouble keeping up, I was able to make out 3 major things:

1.  He told Will that he would no longer stand for his mistreatment  of Ava.  He would have to be kind to her or lose Finn's friendship.  Period.

2.  Will agreed to be nice to Ava and to try to play with her sometimes too.

3.  Ava told Finn he was a very good friend, and thanked him.

 Finn seemed to gush with an overwhelming sense of pride and satisfaction.  And I was sort of shocked and amazed by the fact that my small (in size not in spirit) child was able to stand up for himself and his friend in such an passionate yet peaceful way.

Kids amaze me.  I have heard that our children are way more "evolved" that we are.  And that their children will be even more so.  I believe it.  While I'd like to think I taught him those things, I'm afraid I can't take any credit.  At all.  The boy was flying on instinct and intuition.  And those are two things he's had to develop on his own....on the playground jungle.  While I'm sure there will be days when he doesn't win the battle, I feel so good about the fact that he can handle the war. 

ROCK ON FINN!!  I love you my little justice warrior!

One Word Wednesday...

COURAGE

Determination  

Perseverance 

LOVE

(yeah, i couldn't pick just one!)

HAPPY SWEET 16th

'

Hailey had a great birthday this year.  She even wrote me a note telling me so.  It was very sweet and heartfelt, too.  I love that girl.  I love that last picture up there because it speaks LOADS about her personality.  She NEVER wants center stage.  She gladly hands that off to her siblings.  She would rather just kind of blend in with the crowd!  She loves to be around people and she loves to laugh...but she doesn't ever want to be the center of attention for more than a second or two.   (yes that it stella opening one of hailey's presents.)

She's still doing her gymnastics too!  I need to get new photos of her new routines.   I will post those soon!  I've written a few times about her anxiety and her beam "situation" the last couple of years.  She seems to be slowly overcoming her fear of the beam and she got an 8.95 at her last meet.  THAT IS HUGE.   I wasn't even there to see it.  Her Dad had to tell me all about it.  I cried, of course.  I was sooo happy for her.   She was kinda beaming  (haha) when she came home.  She ended up taking 5th place on beam and 5th place on bars. Yeehaw!! 
ANYWAY....all in all, her 16th year is starting out in a FANTASTIC way. 

Happy Birthday Hailo!!  You have taught me soo much about being a Mom and perhaps most importantly...about how to listen.  I love you to infinity.  I won't write all of the mushy stuff in this space...i wrote it in a letter to you instead.  Thanks for you being you kiddo.  You are my sunshine.
 (and the most courageous person i know!)