Life Lessons

It can always be better and it can always be worse.

I live my life to the fullest, but I'm not a martyr trying to live up to a mythical parenting standard.   I'm extremely fortunate, but I stress trying to juggle the demands of my marriage, my young daughters, an old dog, friends, myself and a full-time job. I am an optimist and I am a realist and I have a lot of satisfaction in and gratitude for my life.

Here's how: I take a few minutes each day to focus on myself and ensure that I'm OK. If I'm not, then I figure out the issue and deal with it. Sometimes I'm just tired so I allot time to go to bed earlier. Other times I just take some time to sit still and not think. Usually once I recognize the problem (i.e. I'm tired or neglecting a need), then I can vocalize what I need and ask for help. If I can't change the circumstances, I change my reaction and make peace with it.  This too shall pass.  I've learned that if I ignore my needs everything will fall apart very quickly. I have negotiated a flexible schedule by sacrificing some evenings/weekends as necessary. My daughter loves that I come to her school every week and I have some fun too. Working with kids (both low and high achievers) definitely helps me remember what is important so I appreciate my family. I'm not perfect, nor do I want to be, but I find peace in knowing that I've done what I can do and remembering there will always be more to do. Life is a journey, not a destination.

All we can do is our best and find a way to make it work. I consciously choose not to judge my life by material standards and focus on family time and expanding our community. I'm trying to teach my girls that you can only control how you react to life and inner peace comes from letting go of everything else. Live your life being true to yourself and that will ensure your kids can handle whatever they life throws at them, including granting yourself some peace. Don't stop dreaming about what your passions are, but don't expect it to just happen to you. Step outside of your comfort, take a risk and grow. Don't allow dwelling on "woulda coulda shoulda". And never stop hoping.  Send out a positive vibe and focus on constructive energy.  (And it's okay to hide out every great once in a while to recharge and get some alone time.)

My daughters:  I love you and it is a huge honor to be your mother.

Weekend away from the kids

Daddy and I took a long weekend away to visit the "up north" region of our state.  The North Shore of Lake Superior is amazing and a wonderful place to visit, especially when the forests are changing in autumn.  Daddy and I had our own adventures hiking, canoeing and relaxing.  We enjoyed ourselves very much and are grateful to Nana and Papa for staying with the kids!

Life is beautiful.

When we stopped to view the sunset

Fall is upon us and we wore coats to the park. The summer has flown by and we've made it through a week of school and preschool. But, with all the adjustments and more arrangements being made, all of us oohed and ahhed at the sunset we saw driving home from "cranky park" tonight. (It has a crank toy.). It was gorgeous. There were shades of pink, orange, purple and yellow... Just a beautiful sight. I'm so proud that even in our fast-paced life, we can still stop to admire something as simple as a sunset. The most awe-inspiring things I have seen in my life resemble tonight and it's a moment I will never forget. That feeling is best termed as serenity and I'm grateful for it and my family sharing it with me.

Como Adventure with Grammy

After previous attempts proved unsuccessful, the girls and I were finally able to take Grammy to the Como Zoo and Conservatory.  She hadn't been there since chaperoning a school trip from my elementary school days!  We saw some of the animals and strolled around the conservatory.  Of course, we squeezed in some fries and an ice cream treat too.  We were all tired, but glad we finally got Grammy where she wanted to go!

Here are some pictures:

We love you Grammy!

First Week of School 2011

Welcome to the beginning of the school year!

Samantha was extremely excited to get on the bus and go to school every day this week.  Her class ended the week with  and a day themed with teddy bears, including a teddy bear picnic.  Both Daddy and I love that she loves school so much!

Sofia was eagerly anticipating school and disappeared to play as soon as we walked in.  There was no hesitation and she was quite happy.  Sofia and I were up a couple of hours Monday night, so it was a good thing she had a short nap her first day at preschool.  On Wednesday morning she asked to go to Leslie's, but did fine at school.  She is making friends and having fun, which is good to see!

Labor Day Weekend 2011

This weekend was a fantastic way to end our summer!  Family life has been wonderful here.  Sofia keeps asking if she can go to preschool today, Samantha can't wait to start school and we have had plenty of fun adventures!

Friday was their day with Daddy while I was at work.  They went to our health club while Daddy worked out in the morning and Chucky Cheese in the afternoon.  After dinner, they all went to Cold Stone Creamery.  Sofia wanted to go to Dairy Queen and began expressing her reluctance in a tantrum, but after Daddy convinced her to try it, she chose "different colored M&Ms" for her dessert.  Samantha wanted every topping.  Everyone came home jazzed on sugar.  Then it was time for my birthday party that the girls had planned in the guest room.  I love that my kids are incredibly sweet!  Samantha planned games, had activities for us to do and even set the ambiance with her Glow Dome.  Sofia decorated a picture frame with many jewelry adornments.  Both girls were proud of themselves and I was honored.  I am amazed by our girls every day, but this was special.

On Saturday we started out the day with a picnic at a park with Uncle Todd, Aunt Shelly, Jordan and Dylan.  The twins are so fun!  We all got some playtime and I got to hear them both laugh with me.  It was nice to catch up with Todd and Shelly too.  Later, Daddy went out to dinner with their friends.  The kids were tired which was a completely natural response after the past couple of days!  Grammy came over and had the brilliant idea to stop the coming meltdowns by playing hair salon.  The girls enjoyed spraying the same spot on Grammy's and my head for quite awhile.  I was tired too, so again I say thanks to Grammy and I hope she enjoys the french braid I gave her!

Here is a great photo of the cousins!

I didn't think we'd be able to top ourselves, but on Sunday afternoon we pulled it off!  Antie She came by in the mid-afternoon, so we headed out with Fonzie for a hike to my favorite regional park.  The weather was beautiful and Sofia wasn't too heavy to carry on my back.  We all enjoyed ourselves and I was finally recharged.  Samantha asked if we could go canoeing (what we did the last time in the area) and it turned out that everyone (excepting Fonz) was up for it.  So we did it.  Antie She took Sofia in a kayak while I had Samantha and Fonz in a canoe.  Sofia was happy when Samantha let her have her paddle since she hadn't gotten one and Samantha was happy to give it up.  Antie She was especially grateful because otherwise she wouldn't have gotten her paddle back.  And Fonz went canoeing for the first time in his 13+ years!  Other than standing up a few times, he even tolerated it well!  And yes I realize I must be crazy, but it was an exciting impromptu adventure! 

Once we made it home, we played color tag and beauty salon after dinner.  The girls enjoyed putting on makeup (a rare treat) and doing Antie She's and my hair.  Here are some tidbits:

Everyone slept in Monday morning and we kept it a lazy day with games, snuggling at home and a park visit.

State Fair 2011

We celebrated my birthday by going to the State Fair again this year.  It was the first year we didn't take a stroller and everyone handled the walking wonderfully!  We went on the Ye Old Mill ride, the Skyride, and plenty of rides at the Kidway.  We watched part of a rodeo which was more of a cultural experience for Daddy than anything.  I love the Fair!

Things we ate this year: fried pickles, roasted corn, Sweet Martha's cookies, honey nut fudge ice cream, sunflower seed and honey ice cream (my favorite), deep-fried cheeseburger (for Daddy), cheese curds, french fries, falafel (as shown below), grilled shrimp (Daddy makes it better), chocolate covered bacon (Aunt Shelly's is better), lots of water since it was hot, slushies for the kids, a diet coke for Daddy and an iced chai for me.

Mmmm, good.