Life At The Circus

I come from a long line of crafty and artistically talented people.  I am not one of them. But, I do ok with basic elementary arts and crafts.  I even considered them my forte.   Until this week. I was quite excited to do some apple stamping with the  kids after our trip to the orchard last week.  I’ve never done it, but wanted to for awhile.  This seemed like the perfect time… last week we did the short a sound in phonics, went to the orchard on Friday, so this seemed perfect for art on Tuesday.  The kids LOVE paint, so it was sure to be a hit with them. I cut the apple in half so we could see the star. Then I squirted paint onto paper plates.  Gave each kid a piece of apple and had them press the apple into the paint and then onto the paper. oops… the three year old dipped the wrong end into the paint. no worries… rinse at the sink and try again I have no idea why, but it didn’t work. I didn’t think there was any trick to this, just slice, dip, and stamp onto paper. Yet, this is the ...

We came home with so much more than freshly picked apples…   we returned with smiles, laughter, and many fond memories   Visit here or here for more fun with pictures!

Every now and then at the circus, I find myself enjoying a moment of peace.  All too often that peace and quiet is the result of complete and massive destruction going on quietly in another room of the house… say an overflowing sink, or crayon art on the wall, or something else which seems to bind my children in complete quiet.  But sometimes, sometimes all is calm and when I fearfully peek around the corner, I catch a moment like this. or this   (first one taken one afternoon last week and the second one taken Friday morning… I love how when I walked into the room his arm was around her as natural as can be) And I do my very best to hold fast to those moments and savor them.  Because I know all too soon someone will be touching someone or taking her book or sitting on his blanket.  It will be “my turn” and  “she hit me!” and “he’s not my best friend” and I will want to throw my hands in the air and scream for quiet!  So I cherish these m...

Last night I came home from Kids Quest (our church’s evening class for kids in which we teach them the questions from the Shorter Catechism), pizza in hand and Scott and I quickly tag teamed to get the kids in bed so we could hit play and watch the recorded Steelers game.  (I seriously think the invention of the DVR has got to go on my top 5 list of inventions that changed my life… I LOVE it)!    Pizza, coke, beer, terrible towels… we were set for one of favorite kind of date nights… Steelers Football. And for awhile the date was going well.  We were ahead, the defense was holding them, life was good.  I started to relax.    And then came the fourth quarter in which no relaxing took place as my stomach was in knots and I watched Limas Sweed drop a beautiful catch in the end zone.  And Jeff Reed miss a field goal (2 weeks in a row now) and our defense let the Bengals pound us down and score a game winning touch down in the last 14 sec...

In my last weekend thought post, I mentioned my desire to teach my children to live their life in full and not let fear keep them from enjoying life’s pleasures.  Ironically enough a week later I found myself having to choose between sitting on the sidelines or facing my fear. 15 years ago I got on a Gerris wheel with my friends.  It seemed harmless enough at the time.  But the combination of the height and the swaying car sent me into a full fledge panic.  I don’t recall much, other than screaming at the top of my lungs, pleading with the attendant as I passed him, begging him to make it stop and let me off.  No such luck for me (or for my incredibly embarrassed friend who was stuck sitting next to me during my loud panic attack).  Ever since, I have avoided Ferris Wheels with great success. Until the county fair this year.  As the day for the fair approached my son starting talking about how much he was looking forward to the Ferris wheel....

One Sunday I picked my 2 year old son up from Sunday School and found goldfish in his bin.  He had saved some of his snack to share with Mommy and Daddy.  My jaw hit the floor.  His thoughtfulness both touched and humbled me. Our church has a fellowship time between services in which you can have some cookies, popcorn, coffee, and lemonade.  Once my son was old enough to attend church with us after Sunday School, he got to come join us for the fellowship time as well.  Each week for the past two years he’ll grab three cookies from the table.  The first time I stopped him, telling him he only needed one.  Turns out the other two were for his sisters.  And every single week, he grabs 3 cookies so he can eat one with his sisters in the car on the way home. He does things like this often.  Last week in Kindergarten his teacher gave them each a bag of Swedish Fish.  Knowing these are Daddy’s favorite candy, my son did not each his candy at school with the rest of the class.  Nor did he tear...

As I’ve returned to the classroom these past few weeks (though in a very different atmosphere), I can’t help but reflect on my years of teaching prior to becoming a stay at home mom.  I was blessed to teach for 3 years at a small, Christian school.  I learned a lot and grew from the experience.  I honestly think it shaped the way I parent today. That being said, I can’t help but reflect on the single. worst. teaching mistake of my life.  I share it with you so that on those days when you do something truly stupid, you can comfort yourself with the fact that “at least it wasn’t as bad as what Crystal did…” Seriously, brace yourself b/c it just doesn’t get worse than this. It was my first year of teaching and I was very excited to have my kids read Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Being fresh out of college, and brimming with ideas, I was eager to involve the parents and children in hands on activities.  I sent home a letter at the beginning of the book asking the...

This year in addition to the farm animals , the kids enjoyed some other treats at the county fair.  Rides Cotton Candy   And a visit with Spiderman himself So, what’s your favorite part of the fair?  The animals, the rides, the food, or the super heroes? Visit here or here for more fun with pictures!

Every fall, since my first born was only 5 months old, I’ve taken my children to the county fair.  We don’t by any stretch live in a rural area, so I am sure some of you country folk would laugh and heckle what we call a county fair.  But, for my suburbanite children and I, it offers a rare opportunity to see some farm animals up close.    It is a fall tradition we look forward to all summer long!  Of the 6 years I’ve gone, this was by far my favorite year.  Not sure if it was because the exhibits were that much better, or if it was b/c my children were older and better able to enjoy and participate in the event, or b/c I wasn’t pushing a stroller or nursing a baby in the midst of the farm fun.  Either way, it was a glorious morning at the fair.        For more fall fun, visit Monica’s Fall Festival at Daily Dwelling.

I’m sorry.  Really I am.  I had every intention of posting a thought this weekend and here it is Sunday night and I haven’t posted since Thursday!!  Last week was my first week back into the real world.  For the past 5 years I for the most part lived without an alarm.  I’d wake when the kids woke, and our day would begin, sloooooowly after that.  Now that we’re in Kindergarten I’m up at 6 and getting the circus crew fed, dressed and ready to start the day by 8 am.  We did it.  But, man was I exhausted by Friday.  Top that with a fun filled field trip to the county fair on Friday morning (after completing our schoolwork) and an afternoon spent cleaning and cooking for a weekend filled with company, and well, you get one tired Momma.  Friday night we had the pleasure of entertaining cousin Joel who was in town visiting during his R&R from Afghanistan.  We did our best to give him a hero’s welcome.  The kids had a bl...

In the interest of keeping it real and not pretending to be something I am not, I feel the need to come clean. Remember how excited I was when my 2 year old was wearing underwear at her 2nd birthday? Yea, I believe I received many a pat on the back and comments of “You’ll have to come potty train my kid.” Well, I must come clean and say for the past few weeks she has totally regressed.  Yes, she goes on the potty several times a day, but she also goes in her pants several times a day.  This is quite frustrating as for several weeks she was doing wonderfully, even being dry at night on more than one occasion.  But after peeing not once, but TWICE in Safeway a few weeks ago, and after my having to ask for paper towels 3 times during that shopping trip to wipe pee of the cart, the floor, and our groceries, I decided she’s in pull ups until she proves she is capable of big girl pants.  Because I am quite tired of mopping up pee, especially in public places.

After months of deliberating , praying , waiting , and a little second guessing, the first day of school finally arrived this week.   As you may recall we decided to home school, but with a twist.  We’ve enrolled our son in a home school tutorial that he attends two days a week.  So he has school at home with me three days a week, and at his tutorial 2 days a week.  In a lot of ways, it’s the best of both worlds.  Here’s a glimpse his first week at school.    Doesn’t he look so grown up?    The “Mom, really do you have to take this many pictures?” face Here he is waiting for us to pick him up at the end of the day in the “dismissal room”  Doesn’t he look so little here? Who took my baby and put him in this big kid room? And here’s our first day of school at home.  The pledge. Seat work   Visit here or here for more fun with pictures!

** Updated with new quote from this very afternoon** One of my favorite parts of motherhood, is watching my children grow and develop.  As they get older it is so much fun to see their individuality and personality emerge.  This week marked some big milestones in the circus family life.  On S unday, for the first time in 5 years, I didn’t drop any of my children off in the nursery for church.  As of promotion Sunday this week, all of my kids are now old enough for the Sunday School program.  Our youngest was thrilled to go to the big kids room for the 2 year old Sunday School class. As if that wasn’t enough for one mom to handle in a week, the next morning I dropped my son off at the home school tutorial we’ve enrolled him in for Kindergarten this year! (More pics and stories to follow tomorrow on that milestone day)! In the midst of these milestones, I wish to call attention to my middle child, lest she be overlooked.  She seems to be growing up righ...

  My children have been inundated with Chick-Fil-A from birth.   The first thing I ate after my daughter’s delivery was a CFA sandwich .  I have scrapbook pages in each of my daughter’s first year scrapbooks, dedicated to their first Kids Meals at Chick-Fil-A.  The first logo/graphic my son recognized was for Chick-Fil-A.  Anytime he saw a cursive C when he was a toddler, he thought it was the word Chick-Fil-A.   They’ve known and loved the Chick-Fil-A cow since they were babies and we’ve even dressed like one for the past 5 years. Knowing this complete obsession and undying love fondness for all things Chick-Fil-A which they’ve grown up with will help you better appreciate the conversation my son and I had last week after enjoying the free Labor day Chick-Fil-A sandwiches. Son: “Mom, I love Chick-Fil-A burgers without the pickles.” Me: “Really?  More than their nuggets?  Son: Yea, well it’s the same thing as the nugge...

My child has been permanently scarred by a helium balloon. I’m sure you think that I am kidding or exaggerating, but I promise you I am not.   Remember this ?  Well two months after that traumatic experience, Scott took the kids to buy a balloon for my birthday, and needless to say my son (being the oldest child, and the overly cautious one that he is), was very nervous about the balloon flying away.  Scott assured him multiple times, that the balloon was not going anywhere.  He promised that he would not let go of the string and he himself would bring it into the house.  As they step out of the van, my son started freaking out about the balloon.  Scott couldn’t figure out what was wrong since he was still holding onto the string.   While that was true, the part of the string holding onto the balloon came undone and the balloon floated off into space.  Ever since he’s wanted nothing to do with helium.   You should have seen...

Last week I captured this sweet father/daughter moment. Which reminded me an awful lot of a very similar moment captured a year ago. Funny how life repeats itself, isn’t it?

I love my husband’s Nana.   She’s a remarkable lady.   I loved her for years, just based on hearing about her from her grandson and reading her sweet letters.  Then, I flew to California and met her.  And I loved her as my own Nana!!  When I walked in her side door, I instantly felt at home.  I sat down at her table and never wanted to leave again. Gana (as my kids call her b/c she is their Great Nana) is famous for her quince jam, her tacos, and her French toast (among many other things). Being a mother of three boys, she is used to making food in bulk.  And her method of making French toast totally works for me ! I used to cook my French toast one at a time in oil in a frying pan.  Not exactly healthy or quick. Then a few years ago my in laws gave me a large waffle iron.  I squealed with delight, “Now I can make French toast like Nana!”  Yes, Gana’s secret for French toast is to cook it in one of those large wa...

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend." - by John Leonard Nothing says labor day weekend to me, then a house bursting at the seams with  friends.   For the past 8 years, we’ve spent labor day with my group of 6 best friends from high school and our growing families.    While we’ve changed locations over the years from rustic accommodations, rental homes, and friends houses, some things have remained constant.  If ya wanna see some pics of how the group has grown and changed through the years, check out this post .  As the kids grow, it’s been fun to watch them interact with each other.  It adds an entirely new dimension to the gathering. Believe it or not of the 34 pictures I snapped of the gaggle of kiddos (ages 5-1 month), this was the best one as it was the only one in which you could see each of their 14 faces (and the one with the least tears). This year the kids put together a talent show for the parents (mu...