While we are talking of hubbies...

Karen's last post about her fantabulous hubby reminded me of night last week-yeah I am late writing this post but the nice weather, baseball, and BMX are crimping my evening typing. Anyway I notice many of our blog posts are about kids, work, bad days, good days, deep stuff and small stuff. I notice-for me at least anyway-the posts about the most significant person in my life outside of my parents are few and far between. This leads me to an evening of too much wine and excellent conversation hubby and I had last week late into the night. We all know there is the usually daily conversations we have with those we love and live with, and sometimes the deeper conversations come along like stolen moments. We discussed so many things, things we haven't talked about in a long time. We talked about work, the directions we are heading, where we want to be. We complained while also sharing worries about decisions our parents are making in their older years. We talked about the boys and who they are like, what we want for them-the good, the bad, and the ugly of each. We talked about the third child we had so planned to have before two years of unexpected medical situations exhausted us mentally and physically. I remember going to bed a little fuzzy but feeling so content that the person I live with each and every day is still the one person I can share everything with and want to share everything with. Do we get caught up in the daily grind? You bet. Do we take us for granted? Sometimes. Do I tell him enough how much he means to-probably not. Do we all tell the people we love ENOUGH? Probably not, today sounds like a good day though...

Letters to my son

Oldest child has terrible handwriting and has always hated to write. His OT finally got him this little keyboard thingy called an alpha smart and his wonderful teacher lets him use it all the time. Sooo he started this journal to ME and it is about wanting to "keep" the rabbits we found under the deck as pets. I am writing our exchanges so far. I love it because he is actually writing but more the stuff that comes out of his brain makes me smile...Its long but hope you enjoy it.

Dear mom,
I would like it if you would let me try to take care of a bunny. I would try best to take care of Spike and the bunny stuff at the same time.
Love A

Dear A
I believe that you may be able to take care of Spike and a bunny but dad and I think that is too much responsibility. We think a better idea would be to keep feeding the bunnies until they are bigger and can find food by themselves, which they will. Animals that are born in the wild don't do well in captivity. We are ok with you watching over them like you and "Q" have been doing until they are bigger.

Dear Mom-
Ok, maybe you were right. I still think I should try to take care of it for a day. And I would try to take care of Spike to. I think that you should let me. I would save up my money to get the stuff, They are abandoned so they are in Q's and my care now. I read that you touch them, you take care of them.
PS You will let me do it
PS Can I do it on a trial basis?
Love Alec

A story of forgiveness

PS-click on the pic below it is a great face when seen close up

I have a story of forgiveness which I think is one of the hardest and most valuable lessons we can learn as humans. My oldest son has had a good friend the last couple of years that he has suddenly not got along with this year, he calls him an "enemy". The situation is even trickier because I am friends with the child's mom-she is such a sweet person AND related to my bestest friend. Anyway we all plan a camping trip for August with us and kids and I don't think another thing about it. So "A" comes in after school sobbing and when I ask him why he says this other child called him a "retard" twice. Now my friends, being a special education teacher-nothing infuriates me more than that word. Being a mom and hearing it is just about as bad. I immediately call the teacher, we discuss and I feel better, and older son is let off the hook for camping-he is frantic about having to go with this child.
So son comes home on Monday and says "We all moved seats, guess who I HAVE to sit by", yup you guessed it. The teacher has a conversation with him about how this child feels and how he has been picked on and maybe there is a way "A" can teach him to be a friend.
Soooo Wed, oldest son comes bounding through the door telling me he is inviting a friend for a sleep over (yeah you know what is coming). The same "enemy" because this is their "grand opening" as friends again (his words).
What do I say??? Yes of course...Forgiveness can be learned at any age...

Weekend review

Hi there, we made it through the busy weekend which wasn't so bad, the only thing we didn't accomplish is the laundry, no big thing it will always be there. I would love to kayak with anyone, anytime. Now remember this is not the daring flipping over kind, but the more mearndering across the lake kind. I did go on Sunday, a quick jog around the park and then tried to get an upper body workout by paddling as hard as I could across the lake a few times-think of it as intervals in a kayak. I enjoy it as my "off" workout day.

Baseball was good, Q-man got a hit every time at bat so he was excited. I missed most of the game, by visiting with a friend, so didn't get started on my pics but there is a lot of season left. The highlight of the weekend was the discovery above. I went to move a planter and surprise a nest of bunnies. The boys have been "observing" the small creatures -meaning they try to restrain from touching them:)

The weekend agenda

I was thinking of the list of things to do this weekend and it reminded me a very shorterned version of Karen's weekend lists she shares so well. Mine of course not quite as busy but the season of "stuff" has begun

Fri-Last minute Chamber mixer-of course used that as an excuse to buy a new dress
Sat
Boot camp
Opening cermemony for baseball
Baseball pictures
Baseball game
Run across town for birthday party for one son
Pick another child for a sleepover HERE for other son
Groceries-including stuff for grilling and smores if the wind goes down
Toys r us for two bday parties
Hobby Lobby for painting supplies for retirement gift

Sun-
Internship homework
Laundry
Gardening
Kayaking

Whweeeeeeee oh yeah that doesn't include the normal weekend craziness:)

today's word is....

benign:)


All my over reacting was over nothing-as usual!

Ranting

I don't like to rant on my blog, because all of you are so good at NOT ranting and being motivating and such but I had a weak moment today. I tend to have weak moments and lapse into old patterns of self pity when it comes to all things with my health. Long story short I have a cervical polyp-not to be confused with previous polyps but a polyp just the same. The dr is VERY reassuring, "always benign", can have it removed no hurry BUT due to your history getting removed is a good idea or if it doesn't bother you just cancel the appt later blah, blah blah. So I get in the car and lose it of course, almost a full blown panic/hissy fit in the car-which I haven't done in a long time. I come home and get on the dreaded internet and read words like "rarely", less then 1% yada yada yada. These words would be reassuring to most but my over reaction revolves around these same things said to me 5 years ago. I hate losing control-over my emotions, my body, my patterns of thinking. I hate that the word polyp/pathology in the same sentence just sends into panic mode, absolutely not doubt about it hate IT. My bestest friend is reassuring, says go in get it checked and move on, hubby reiterates that thought and actually shows some empathy-big step for him the non-worrier.
I decide to end the pity party-when there really isn't a need for one and take older son for a bike ride while I run and sweat it out. I am indulging in this one written rant and then hoping it will all fall into perspective, as it should.

Ok, one more

Ok, one more. We got the schedule for baseball-dratted baseball practice totally messes up with the new kick-ass, extreme boot camp Shane and I have started going to AND dratted baseball games are on Wednesdays same time as my old-standby boot camp. July 10 is coming fast ladies-I NEED these classes:<

Playing catch up

I have been out of touch with the civilized world for 2.5 days at a retreat. Our elegant accomodations was a 100+ farmhouse which was actually an infirmary for a logging camp. Bobbi-you would have LOVED this house. I couldn't help but walk through it and think of all the cool things you would want to do with it, it had all the original things-door handles, windows, etc...

Anyway at the retreat (for future educational leaders) gulp, which I could be one day there was a common theme that all the speakers had and it had nothing to with how to be a leader. Their first and most important piece of advice was to know that no matter how much you want to be a good principal you need to be a good family person first and the needs of your family are the only priority no matter how much you get bogged down with everything else. I had a lot of down time to think about this, without a tv, emails, facebook, blog, and cell service. I have to admit I was going through a little withdrawl without all my connections but then had great conversations with others and reflected on myself in so many ways. Where this is going is where all good retreats or reflections should go is to the action part, what am I to do now. Here is my first step, I am going to greatly limit my computer time, with all the homework I have had and staying in touch with people I admit I don't always look my kids in the eye when I talk to them or focus on those right here in my house. So as of after this last post I am going to allow myself 15 minutes of computer in the AM-unless the boys are asleep and 30 minutes in the evening after they are asleep and that is it. I am hoping this becomes a habit this summer when this nifty little laptop sucks the time right away from me. My second step is to do less, to just sit, I did ALOT of that. To understand that mach 90 is not the only speed, the slower ones are better.
I promise to be a faithful poster, I can't give up my bestest blogger friends but just may not be as quick to respond:) So my 15 minutes are up and need to go lay with a sick kid.