Quote of the Day ~ January 28th

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Just after breakfast, C offered up this little quote of the day.  I asked him to write it down so I wouldn’t forget it (there have been a few that I should have posted, but promptly forgot them as they were said en route to school or something).

Here’s a direct rendering of what he wrote!

SnowDayQuote

With this crazy weather we’ve been having – mid-60s one day and mid-teens the next, it’s been hard to predict whether or not we’d actually get a snow day this year.  As I zonked out last night, bleary-eyed from the incessant grading of papers and projects just submitted last week I offered up a silent prayer that we would, in fact, have the day off.

The anticipation was enough to wake me earlier than usual.  Ironic, I know.  As we watched the list grow, we saw our district name appear.  And then, we noticed the “Open” next to it, when all the other district names said “CLOSED.”  A quick screenshot captured the moment as we laughed at how cruel that would be.  Thankfully, it changed to match the others and I offered a sigh of thanks.

I wish I could say I’m completely done grading, but I’m not.  I am much closer and I think the kids enjoyed time drawing, reading, wrestling and making mud pies and secret concoctions out in the rainy wintry drizzle.

Quote of the Day ~ January 12th

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There’s something about a Saturday with no commitments that makes me smile.  A little grocery shopping, a few crafty projects, staying snug in jammies until whenever we feel like actually getting dressed – it’s absolute perfection.

While I had hoped for a little more leisure to get it started, someone else (a certain little lady) informed me she was ready for breakfast at 6:15!!  I suppose that’s technically sleeping in for me, so I can’t complain.  As we headed downstairs, I smiled in the dark at the feel of her hand squeezing mine tightly.  About half-way down, she said, “OK, Mom, so we’ve got lots of work to do today.”  Of course, she’s right and we did get lots of little crafty stuff done.

After finishing little pesky sewing projects – nothing fancy, we’re talking AWANA patches and rough-looking tooth fairy pillows – we started a little Valentine’s Day project, ate lunch and then headed out for a hike because it was nearly 60 degrees yesterday!  In January.  In Michigan.

Before we left, Sis ran and scribbled a bunch of circles onto a couple papers.  She was intent on bringing them with us.  When we arrived at the trail, she broke them out because they were our maps – of course!

We started strong – running, excited and ready for adventure.  About .5 miles into the 2.5 mile course, we stopped for a quick photo op of the the kiddos and Dad!  (Look closely and you’ll see her map peeking out from behind buddy!).

photo 1

We saw all sorts of cool rocks, tracks, and just had a great time being outside and together.  There was very little complaining about the walk, but G and I had to manufacture a few races here and there in order to keep the pace moving along.  When we neared the end, the map came out again and I told Sis just how proud I was of her for thinking of that and bringing it along.  She responded with our quote of the day –

ThinkersQuote

And since I rarely stop to actually get IN a picture, I decided that today was as good a time as any to actually be on the other side of the camera phone.  As much as the unseasonable warmth was enjoyable yesterday, I’m also love the big fat flakes I see falling just beyond my picture window as I type.

photo 2

Quote of the Day ~ January 9th

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On our way home from AWANA tonight, we were chatting about what the kids learned.  Sis was sharing her “God loves you” hearts with everyone in the van, and Buddy chimed in with this little gem.

MartiansQuote

It was the perfect way to belly laugh our way out of a long day of meetings and appointments, commitments and a few “grumpy bumpys” that tried to take hold.

So thankful for the little slices of humor God allows to squeeze into our days!

Winks and Wishes

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Yesterday after school I knew I needed to get some fresh air for at least a few minutes.  Between the far-too many hours spent at the computer in the wee morning hours, I’ve managed to find a few extra pounds as well.

The brisk winter breeze that greeted us when we carted all our school gear inside was nearly enough for me to rethink my initial plan.  But thanks to some kids I’d promised to push in the jogger and a husband willing to get it around and ready for us, we pressed on.

Sweats, Under Armour shirt, parka, scarves, gloves, kids in snowsuits and ready with the blanket to cover them just in case and we were ready!  It felt good to be out there.  Ever the personal trainers, they begged me to run and I indulged them on a particularly steady downhill stretch!

Shortly after that and nearing the end of our walk, they began to get restless, vying for space which considerably less given how much they’ve grown and thickness of their winter wear.  In order to keep them focused on something else, I gave an off the cuff suggestion.  “Why don’t you catch some wishes?”

A short pause in our pace allowed me to show them how exactly they caught wishes.  “Glance around you, keep an eye out and give a little…wink.”  I said.  We walked on a while as they winked and settled in closer together, space no longer a concern.

We rounded the corner for home.  “OK, now it’s time to send some wishes back out into the air.”

“How do we do that?” Calder asked.

“Like this,” I said.  Crouching alongside the jogger, I whispered into my hand, paused for the briefest moment and then opened my gloved fingers and blew the wish into the air.

The final steps home were spent sending “Giggles” and “Goofiness” among a few other wishes out into the universe, just in case some other mom was out with her kids, making up random games that turn into some of the warmest moments of a cold winter day.

Lost Tooth

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About 6 weeks ago, Buddy came home with a loose tooth.  He was so excited by the thought of getting on the tooth chart at school, I thought for sure he’d have yanked it out right away.  He didn’t.  It got looser and looser and he tried getting it out on Christmas Eve so that Santa and The Tooth Fairy could bump into each other!  But that didn’t happen either.

So, we waited and worked and finally, tonight I asked for one more chance to work on it before we brushed his teeth!  Squeezing Dad’s hands, and holding his breath, I grabbed hold and get just a teensy little push, then a bit of a pull.  His face squinched up and he was on the verge of tears, when I said, “It’s out!”

ToothBoard2

The expression on his face was pure delight!  He was shaking and giggling and kept checking the mirror to see the big empty space where his adult tooth had already started coming in behind his baby tooth.

ToothBoard1

“I can’t believe I lost a tooth tonight!”  he said over and over!  Watching him bask in the glow of this rite of passage was absolutely adorable!  Sis went and grabbed a paper to write a note to the Tooth Fairy and I think she was equal parts thrilled for him and bummed that it wasn’t her tooth!

ToothBoard3

I’d begun prepping a tooth pillow a few weeks ago, and of course it was unfinished.  So, I put in a few rough finishing stitches and had him pin an envelope onto it.  The Tooth Fairy has already left him a gold dollar and special note, so it’s likely there will be a follow-up post tomorrow once he finds his treasure!