December - Road Trip!

Holiday road trips = the long-standing family tradition when all extended family live states away. Growing up, my grandparents lived in California and Pennsylvania, so I have fond memories of being crammed into a Volkswagon Rabbit or Volvo for days on end. Now I am a grown up (sort of), with my own family, and the tradition continues. Somehow, despite being raised in the Midwest my whole life, all my family ended up back on the West and East coasts.

So we're off! Michigan to Southern California: 9 states, 35 hours straight, one way - yay! Extended car time really brings character into the light and here's what I know about my kids: they're awesome! Somehow they do better 2-3 days in a car than in 20 minutes to church! We do have a comfy mini-van, and spend more time driving at night than during the day, but only needed the DVD player for a few hours. They're amazing in their ability to entertain and take care of each other.

Last spring my sister and mom helped with the drive. This time Dad's taking both directions. The family gets to continue to make memories together. I'm so excited and blessed!

October 2 - Homecoming

I was raised in a Seventh-Day Adventist community that doesn't promote competitive sports, so I don't really understand homecoming. I'm trying to get a handle on it because anything that brings the community together and is fun seems like a good idea. In Edwardsburg, this is something that's promoted starting in preschool. The entire school system (granted, we're small) decorates, cheers, goes to the pep rally and parade, and learns the school fight song. My 5 year old even know's the hand motions. Team spirit at its best, with glitter and everything.

So even if I think our mascot is dorky (an adolescent boy with a giant head? really?!) I'm on board. Yay Eddies! Go Eddies!

October 8 - Apples!

A few weeks ago I dragged the kids, almost literally kicking and screaming, to enjoy the outdoors on the last decent weather day. We went to a totally non-tourist apple orchard, Grandpa's Orchard. Turns out that kind of outfit is difficult to come by these days with everyone jumping on the fall-fun-photo-op bandwagon. Don't get me wrong, it was all about the photos for me too, I just don't like to pay premium prices for my country memories!

Pretty cute, huh? :) Seth was actually in attendance, but he was having a pre-teen fit about not getting to bring a friend and pouted the whole time. NOT a picture perfect attitude.

Action shot! Now I need to figure out a use for the 6 different varieties of apple we brought home. It's not quite enough to justify dragging out the canning equipment, but we're getting kinda tired of caramel apples, apple crisp, apple pancakes, apple bread, apple-upside-down beans...

September 25 - Favorite Summer Reads

I seem to have lost my ability to write intelligently about anything, or form coherent, witty thoughts for that matter. This is seriously detrimental to my blog world. Ugh!

So I'm just going to list my two favorite books so far this year and leave it to ya'll...

Non-fiction: The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science by Natalie Angier

Just Wow! Funny, informative, perceptive and totally readable by a non-science person (although admittedly I rather like chemistry and biology). Science is really a way of thinking more than a specific subject or set of facts, and it may become extinct without conscious effort. I could re-read this every year!

Fiction: The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton

A little bit of everything I enjoy in a novel: community building, a touch of history, engaging characters I identify with, romance, inspiration. This book about young women who meet by chance in a park and develop into a sisterhood was very fun for me to read.

September 16 - School Dreams

OMW! How can it be the middle of September already?!? (And aren't I too young to be saying dumb stuff like that?!) Well, the family has launched right back into the routine as if the last 3 months of summer schedule-free bliss hadn't happened. On Day 2 Seth said, "What? It's just like always!" Even Naomi, in all-day kindergarten for the first time, is just taking it all in stride. I think that's a compliment to a well-run school system where my kids feel comfortable.

Seth is in a looping classroom for 5th grade, which means he has the same teacher, Mrs. Harley, and most of the same kids, as last year. The year starts with a lot of standardized testing and review, which probably helps too.

Skyler, however, is in a new building, on another campus for 2nd grade at Eagle Lake Elementary. He's been pretty excited so far and seems to enjoy learning. Plus his teacher, Mr. Cebra (like "zebra"), seems kind and perceptive. I got to help out in the classroom a little today and the projects are already piling up. I think I even got homework today!

Naomi has the same teacher Skyler had for kindergarten, Miss Schirripa. She decided in advance that she absolutely LOVES her teacher and that has certainly helped any transition anxiety she may have had.

It's going to be another exciting adventurous year!

Kid Conversations

Overheard today at my house:

Skyler: Wanna go hunting with me?

Naomi: No. I'm going to my wedding. It's time to get married.

Skyler: Well, you can't get married without going hunting first.

Naomi: Oh. OK. Let's go.

August 10 - Beach Bums

Since we had to move away from Garver Lake, I've been packing us off to Lake Michigan whenever the sun is shining this summer. We must have gotten lazy with the opportunity to swim in our own backyard for the last 6 years. I forgot how much I truly love the silky shoreline, dunes and aqua-green waves that I grew up around.

The atmosphere is magical. Most of the time we bring a humble picnic and a few sand toys, and the kids play for hours. Between wave jumping and gull chasing and castle construction everyone is content. What a blessing!

July 22 - Park Adventures

"Hey Boys!"

"Uh-Oh..." The local thugs are heavily armed.

Seth defends the maiden!

Skyler stands firm!

But it's not enough, she is overcome.



Feel free to fill in your own story...

July 10 - Berry Good Times

It's an annual tradition at the Blueberry Ranch in Granger, Indiana! The berries are quarter sized, sweet and juicy this year! We brought a few friends along this time.

Belle, Skyler, Naomi


Braden

The first round is a novelty, and the kids have fun munching and filling their buckets. I think it's important to think about where our food comes from and how much work it takes to enjoy what we are so blessed with. And all we had to do was spend an hour in the sunshine and sweat a little.

We're so spoiled!

July - Halloooo!

Is it really July, already?! What have I been doing? Where have I been?

I think I've got about 20 posts half-written in my head. I'd love to share them, but that would require taking time to sit down, connect to the internet and actually, well, write them. Hmmm... Maybe next month... it's summer people!

June 10 - Long Weekends

Good times this past weekend and little time to write about it all!

Saturday was the Sunburst Race in South Bend & I completed my 2nd 5K race with my running partner, Sarah. The kids were able to cheer us along from her front yard. :-) Met my goals (under 35 min and beat the 23 y/o guy from the last race) but so many people were ahead of me!

A few observations:
- real runners don't wear the t-shirt (yes, I'm a dork)

- a good soundtrack helps a ton

- a sweat band truly is a good idea

- good looking, fit people run the 10K (time for new goals!)

Since the kids were spending time with their dad after that, I took the opportunity to adventure south on little road trip. I enjoyed time with a friend, mountain biking & hiking in gorgeous territory, chatting and eating delicious, simple food (French Silk ice cream is my current fave.)

A few more thoughts:
- keep your eyes focused where you want to go on the trail and the rest of you will follow

- obstacles (tree roots!) are less likely to derail you after you clear the front tire

- the easiest way to maneuver a tricky spot is often head on

- sometimes the most exquisite beauty is in the lowest spot on the trail

June 4 - Summer's Here!

What happens when a task-oriented mom is afraid that (1) the kids will complain that they never do anything and (2) the summer will come and go so fast we'll forget to do anything memorable:What happens when task-oriented kids pick up on the idea: they're trying to check everything off as soon as possible. Thirty activities and counting - because we don't do bored. Come play with us at the zoo, or the beach, or the fair, or the park!

Audio Book Review - Change of Heart

Typical Jodi Piccoult, full of difficult issues and well-researched human realities, this story focuses on what happens when a death row inmate wants to donate his heart upon execution to the sister of his victim. Interesting exploration of religion, belief systems, capitol punishment and mother-daughter relationships. Narration by the talented cast helped since the story changes point of view frequently. Loved it!

May 26 - Naomi Turns 5

A very happy birthday to my precious princess! We partied all week!

We celebrated with Libby, Leah and Belle at a dress-up tea party.

And again with family and Sarah and Natalie and ice cream sundaes!

I hope all your wishes come true! (Except maybe the one about getting a Pug, I'm not ready for another pet just yet...)

May 19 - Field Trips R Cool

Today Skyler & I had the priviledge of going to Fernwood Botanical Gardens with his 1st grade class. I grew up just around the corner and have been going for years, so I'm biased, but I think it's a wonderful place. Full of frogs, fish, ferns and of course fun!

After an orientation to the evils of poison ivy, we set off in groups. We had a funny, strict old lady guide who kept tsk-tsking the adults for holding up progress as we tramped through the forest, over streams and along the river . We saw frogs, birds, spring flowers and several snakes sleeping in a bush over the St. Joseph River.

Skyler has always been an outdoors guy, prefering to play outside whatever the weather. I hope he keeps that joy forever!

May 14 - The New Place

The move went fantastically thanks to thorough organization by my mom and tons of help from all my wonderful friends. Of course there were things that got left behind or messy that I would have liked to have taken care of, but I kept running out of daylight!

So we're settling into the new place, which felt like home to me from day one. I can't believe it's been almost a month already. Now the insecurity of riding a new bus, following a new routine, and having less stuff in a very small space has worn off.

Thought I'd touch base with the kids and see what they thought so far:

What do you like most about our new home?

Seth - TV

Skyler - my bunk bed and playing

Naomi - the whole house, riding my bike

Melisa - life simplified, just what we need

What do you miss most about the other house?

Seth - I don't miss anything about it

Skyler - Shrinky Dinks

Naomi - the swingset and the rocks

Melisa - playing by/in the lake

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Seth - Japan, because that's where they make Pokemon

Skyler - in a wooden house I built somewhere around here

Naomi - everywhere in the world

Melisa - Right here (at least for right now)

Book Review - Sex God

"Exploring the endless connections between sexuality and spirituality", this book was recommended reading during the recent Sex for Sale series at my church. I hesitate to write about this issue because I don't want to be judged and I'm still working out how I feel about sexuality and desire and boundaries and, well, pretty much everything in life. But I found the perspective from this book helpful in the journey. I like this description: it's the story of God becoming human, of humans mirroring God, and love made manifest in the messiness of our humanity.

Yep. It's messy all right. Some days I'm angry for being designed with these desires and drives at all. Some days I'm angry with Scott for leaving me without a healthy, safe outlet for expressing them. (Hel-lo. Mid-thirties female. I'm like an 18 year old boy, just with the added responsibility of being a soon-to-be divorced working mom of three. Ugh!)

It does give me an opportunity to value sensuality as an aspect of human interaction and multi-dimensionality in daily life, not just the mechanics of fitting body parts together. We are incredibly and wonderfully made! I hope I can remember that if, well, "push comes to shove" as it were.

May 10 - Naomi's a Chicken

Well, actually, she played a mama duck in her stage debut "On the Farm". She was so excited, bouncing around the house, yelling her line "Look at all my ducklings!" for days. The boys were less than excited to have their evening video games interrupted by preschoolers, but Naomi set them straight. "This is important to me and we will go as a family." Aww.

Then we arrived at the Performing Arts Center with the small crowd of families and hysteria set in. I was the ONLY parent who had to go back to the dressing room. After 30 minutes of clingy sobbing, I carried Naomi onto the side stage and the teacher pulled her off me with soothing words and a firm hand. I stayed close by, sure she was going to run off howling.

But she surprised and impressed me, making it through the whole program cheerily participating. She sang every song, announced her line, and knew all the moves. At the end she even posed for pictures, saying "that was fun!" Maybe she's not a chicken at all, but a star waiting for the right motivation.

April 29 - Race for the Cure

Last Sunday I had the opportunity to participate in a community event and my first real run ever: the 1st Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure along the Mishawaka riverfront. I was extraordinarily impressed!

The set up was a great tribute to a cause close to my heart (literally!). Between the vendors and volunteers, we had plenty of motivation, snacks, and lots of fun people to watch. It included a 5K race, or walk, or stroll - pick your pace. Everyone from professional local runners to women in wheelchairs with pink capes and dogs participated. It was so fun to watch the families and friends cheer each other on.

I jog-walked with a couple of girlfriends from work (GO Angie & Sarah!), and I'm pretty pleased with my time for a beginner: 36.32 minutes! Maybe if I actually started training this could be a regular gig.


Now I just have to get the kids excited about it too. They were good sports, hanging out and playing while Mommy stretched, sweated and sighed. Maybe the dozen Krispy Kremes helped.

April 26 - Playing Catch-Up

So... where have YOU been in the last 30 days? We've been incredibly busy. Cliche, but true. Each event deserves its own blog post, at a minimum, but this is how I get terrifically behind and feel guilty, so I'm just gonna hit a few highlights and move ON. Maybe I'll take the time to expound later.

- I went to the doctor about the lump. She suspected it was fine, but was also suspicious, so I had to get a breast MRI. After arguing with a couple facilities and the insurance about the necessity of the procedure vs. a mammogram (Hel-lo, there's no breast tissue to squash between those plates!), South Bend clinic did it and found the results to be normal scar tissue. Yay!

- My friend Kem Meyer had her 1st book published! I was lucky to get a preview, and now with the hard copy in hand I'm looking forward to re-learning all the brilliant stuff she teaches about.

- We yook a major cross-country road trip from Michigan to southern California and back for the kids spring break. My sister helped on the drive out and Mom on the drive back. Fun, beautiful, memorable, and too much for a sentence or two to describe.

- Everyone but Naomi has been battling stomach flu off and on all month. Ew.

- Work continues to be just a little more than we have time to get to. I'm truly thankful to work with a growing business and great people in a difficult financial time.

- And we moved! Just a few miles north of town, but into a rental half the size of where we have been. This is a HUGE process facilitated but many fantastic friends and my mom. I'm still processing all the feelings involved with the new place so there will be more on that later. Here's one phenomenal note however: In 4 hours my friends physically moved and set up the new place to be completely functional. Slept here the first night and haven't regretted it a moment since. Ahhh... fresh starts! :)

Audio Book Review - Sex, Lies & Fairytales

Predictable, fun story about the intersecting lives of a lottery-winning bookstore owner, a successful chick-lit author, and a PR specialist in Ireland. A lovely theme develops around the promotion of a local Arts Festival in a sleepy country town. The characters are interesting and it was a good diversion.

March 25 - Grandparent's Day

When everything in my life started to crumble, and I had to scramble to find child care, an angel showed up to help save the day. Now it has been almost a year since Geneva started loving and teaching my kids. She plays and reads and does projects and is so much better at organization than me! Today she spent a little time in Naomi's classroom with other "grandparents".

My family is so blessed to have her in our life! We love you Grams!!!

March 23 - It's Maple Syrup Time!

Yesterday, the kids and I enjoyed Sugar Camp Days at Bendix Woods County Park. I value nature and developing an understanding of where our resources come from, so this kind of stuff is always fun for me. I plan to take field trips like a 1st grader for the rest of my life.

The kids weren't too sure at first. However, once we were stuffed with pancakes and fresh maple syrup they perked up.

We learned about multiple syrup-making methods over the years. Boil and boil and boil and boil it all day long! Did you know it takes 40 gallons of sugar maple sap to make one gallon of syrup?

We also hiked around the park, took a wagon ride behind 2 ton (literally!) horses, and sampled crafts and maple goodies.

What a beautiful way to spend Sunday morning!