I've finally been to Boston (in the Spring)

While Memorial Day weekend may have started out with a bloody head and a trip to the ER (see previous post), it turned out to be an enjoyable and memorable one.



The kiddos had a fantastic time with Nana and Papa (and got to see aunts and uncles), while Hubby and I took our first trip by ourselves in a severely long time. As in, we have never left both kids and went away (so that would be at least 3 years).



We were Boston-bound by 6am that Saturday morning:





Yes, on a motorcycle. And yes, that pack on the back is all that we took with us. It was a bit difficult for the planner/preparer in me to not take everything I could possibly need, but Hubby kept reminding me that there ARE stores in Boston in case we need to get medicine or Band-Aids. :)


Ahh, Boston...this was my first trip there (Hubby's second), and it was wonderful! For several weeks we were planning and talking about what to see, where to go, what to do...and we did it ALL. I mean, from Hopkinton to the North End to Downtown to Cambridge to Chinatown, we walked everywhere (including parts of the marathon course), rode the subway, ate the food, took in Harvard,





held a pastry box as if we were in an episode of Seinfeld,

(Cobblestone streets of the North End...don't you just love it?!)

loved the history,



and just took in the culture and beauty of the city. We laughed like kids again and enjoyed being together and talking...and actually got to finish conversations! This was surely a trip we'll never forget, and one that we will definitely do again.


But maybe in the car next time. I'm not so sure my back and bottom can handle another 5+ hour ride on a motorcycle. ;o)

Fall Risk

I don't think the bracelet was needed. The head told the story perfectly well.






This is how we started out Memorial Day weekend: an early Friday morning visit to the ER after my little man fell off a curb and hit his head on the ground. Now, I knew a head injury could bleed...but seriously?! That was enough to make me jittery for the rest of the day!

(This is one of the better/not looking as bad pictures...about an hour after the fall)

Thank the Lord, though, a little super glue did the trick, and Caedon was back to his "let's go play dinosaurs and turn everything I touch into a pretend gun" self.




Given my son's gender and his history of accidents and sickness, (dare we forget the severely burned hand incident), I'm pretty sure this wasn't our last ER trip!

Busyness...and the arrival of Kindergarten!

Wow...again, apologies for the long absence! It seems like when life gets busy, getting my thoughts down on paper typed on the computer takes a major backseat...probably not healthy for this brain of mine. Let me know if you notice twitching when you see me. ;o)


Every March through May gets this way: working at one job while trying to prepare for the upcoming summer lacrosse program with my other job. (I am fortunate enough to have some side work where I administrate a girls' lacrosse club from home.) Don't get me wrong: I am not complaining in the least! I love being busy and having variety in my work and life, but I realize the importance of reflecting, relaxing, and slowing it down a bit. I'm so thankful that this "crazy busy season" with the lacrosse club (filled with rostering, registering, scheduling, tons of emails each day, several phone calls each day, and LOTS of paperwork) lasts two months and then slows to a trickle!


Besides work, I've been mentally preparing for the arrival of Kindergarten. Yes, it's going to take me a few months to be okay with having a child in school, so I'd better start now! Danae had her Kindergarten screening recently, which went well for her. Me, on the other hand...I teared up most of the morning, trying hard to not let the school principal and other teachers see me make a fool of myself. Seriously, if I reacted like that on the Kindergarten screening day, what will I be like on the first day of school?? Note to self: take that day off of work. I have to admit: accepting that my oldest will be a kindergartener in a few months has been hard for me to swallow. Danae has always been with me, whether it be to a friend's house or to the grocery store, and pretty soon that time spent together will be less. I'm happy that she's SO SO excited about going to school, but I'm going to miss my baby!





And what on earth will I do with this little boy who is already saying that his sister can't go to school because he wants her to stay home and play with him all day long?? My guess: lots and lots of baseball, Matchbox cars, and snuggling. :o)

My Cookie (and Lunch) Monster

I think I've told you about my sneaky little soon-to-be three year old boy, right?



You know, the cute one who likes to eat food here and there (usually when it's convenient for him)?



Here's another story about the boy I'm referring to:


On the mornings I go to work, I try so hard to stay organized and focused. The kids have their clothing laid out the night before. Hubby leaves for work at 6:45am, so I then get my lunch ready, maybe file or clean something, then get myself and the kids ready and out the door by 8:00am. I tend to get the kids ready and send them downstairs while I finish up.


This morning went as planned...except that when Danae and I came downstairs, we found this:








There stood our little Eating Machine, polishing off a Ziplock bag of recently made chocolate chip bars. (I think the bag had three or four bars left in it...somewhere around there.)


I just had to laugh and find the camera. After capturing this memory, though, I gathered my lunch bag and purse to head out the door...and realized he had also eaten part of my lunch. Game-changer.




Try using that excuse on your boss as to why you're 5-10 minutes late for work. "Yeah, uh...my son ate my lunch, so I had to scramble and find more food to throw in my bag and clean up the mess of crumbs, chocolate, bread, and Ziplock bags he left on the floor." Has a kind of "The dog ate my homework" type of ring to it, don't you think? :o)


Gotta love that boy! (And his cute big sister, too!)

Words of wisdom...from Papa

Caedon: Hey Papa...you wanna play baseball with me?
Papa: Sure, I'll throw a couple.








(while in the backyard)

Caedon: I wanna go in front of the house.
Me: No, buddy, let's stay back here.
Papa: Yeah...the cars will hit you out front.






The truth, spoken only as Papa knows how. :o)

Potty-training Corner-turning

Newsflash to all bloggy readers out there: We may have turned a corner in the little man's potty training!




Unbe-stinkin'-lievable!



Sometime last week, while I was changing Caedon's diaper (pooped, by the way), we had a little conversation that went like this:


Caedon: Mommy, are you using baby wipes on me?
Me: Why, yes, I am!
Caedon: But I'm not a baby, I'm a big boy.
Me: The first step is admitting it, man.



Maybe it was my biting sarcasm. Or that Caedon suddenly has a desire to enjoy life as a "big boy". Or maybe it was God whispering in his ear, "Hey man...get your act together, ditch the diapers, and listen to your mama and daddy."



Any which way it was, I believe we are making some progress! He has been wearing his Spiderman underwear (courtesy of Nana and Papa) :) for a few days in a row. And while Spiderman's face does experience a flood of pee from time to time, the little man is definitely keeping those undies dry for a good part of the day. We just needed to convince him to take play breaks and get to the toilet in time. Yes, it was more so that WE were the ones trained to take him to the potty, not vice versa. For some reason, playing with Matchbox cars and dinosaurs and teasing his big sister and crashing into things is waaay more important than aiming for the potty at this age. Huh...you don't say! ;o)



But today...well, today was the real kicker! My little boy stayed dry ALL.DAY.LONG. In underwear. At our babysitter/friend/neighbor's house! And (get this!) he was the one who said he needed to use the potty, instead of being told every hour that he needs to make the trip to the porcelain throne!


We've definitely turned some sort of corner!


And while I am excited that my Caedon is becoming a little boy and I think he's stinkin' cute in little boy undies, there's a part of me that feels a little sad to hit this milestone with my last baby. I'll be grateful for a reduced Wal-Mart bill, (well, it will be until he hits puberty and starts eating like an animal), but it's hard realizing that these years go by so fast and you don't get them back. The saying that "time flies" totally rings true in those first few years with your kiddos!




Anywho, I'll be sure to share more tales from Caedon's potty-training adventures in the coming weeks!

Days like today...and I told you I'm a list-maker

It's days like today...



- when I wake up oh-so-tired after a night of restless sleep...

- when work is so beyond stressful that I just feel like leaving my desk and taking a little trip across the street to Quips...

- when I feel like I can't get it right and wonder why God has me at the job I'm at...

- when yet another earthquake hits an already hurting Japan and you wonder what effects this one will have...

- when the tied-up traffic almost doubles the commute time home...

- when that guy just cut me off on purpose...

- when I get a great "potty report" from the babysitter, only for my son to pee in his pants and rain boots the second we step foot on our property...

- when I come back into the bathroom with fresh clothes for said little boy, only to find poop on the floor, on his foot, and possibly on his hands (to which he confessed only after he touched me)...

- when my impatient responses are not what they should be...

- when I feel lonely and friendless...

- when Hubby's truck has to go baaack to the mechanic because it's still giving him problems...

- when the worries of life seem to outnumber the joys of my heart...



...it's times like this that God usually provides a song that serves as a gentle reminder to me. It came on the radio while I was lost in thought and getting dinner ready:

In Christ ALONE, my hope is found
HE is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

He always seems to remind me, usually through music, that I'm not living this life for myself, for my bosses, for my children, for my husband, for my friends or family. I'm We're supposed to be living for HIM and putting our hopes, worries, regrets, and anxieties in HIM, not in this world or in others. And I say "we" because it not only applies to me, but also to YOU!


This means:

* remembering that He has me at this job for a purpose.

* working as if I were working for the Lord.

* fulfilling my roles in this life with a cheerful heart, not one that is burdened and focused on myself.

* always loving the "unlovable", no matter what.

* if I ask God to give me more patience (especially with the little people in my house!), then I better wake up and realize the opportunities are there.

* TRUSTING in His plan (even if that means Caedon will still be wearing diapers in middle school). ;o)

* remembering that He always loves and we are not alone.



(I've always said I love lists. Can't ya tell?) ;o)