Life At The Circus

First Day of School (1st grade and preschool) County Fair Soccer Games Waiting on the sidelines Learning to play with toys Steelers 3-0. It’s been a fabulous month here at the circus!

It began innocently enough.  It kind of drew me in with its rich, sweet aroma.  For years I’d enjoy the hint of the flavor… in mud pies or Frappuccino's…even an occasional cappuccino.  But I wasn’t quite ready to sell out and drink a cup of joe for breakfast on a regular occasion.  Then I went to our annual Labor Day getaway.  Which, in addition to being a house full of my closest life long friends and their chillin’, was also a house full of serious coffee drinkers.    They were brewin it all the time and offering it to any interested.  So I tried it.  (With milk and sugar) And  liked it, a lot.  They made more, I drank more and by the time I was home and back to life, I found myself longing for that warm sweet cup of love. I think the big reason why I switched was because I recently gave up Coke and Sweet Tea.   I am not swearing off of it or anything.  I still have it on occasion, but I am not drin...

Get out your 2011 calendars and circle Sept 19th.  It is International Talk Like a Pirate day.   I assure you it is one holiday you do not want to miss.  (If, by chance, you happen to get the date wrong, ahem, and celebrate it on the 20th per say, no worries, your children won’t know the difference and you can still have just as good of a time).  We celebrated in 2008 , but sadly missed the holiday last year… something about being in my first trimester and starting my first year of home schooling, caused me to forego the optional holidays last year.  But my kids started asking about it this summer so I was sure to look it up and mark the date (incorrectly) on our calendar.  How does one celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day, you ask? You randomly shout “Shiver me Timbers” and “Walk the Plank” throughout your meal. …. and say “argh” after most of your sentences. Make sure you show your teeth when you smile.   For dinner s...

As I left the house for my second sewing class I eagerly told Scott I’d return with 2 aprons in hand.  I recall him lovingly tried to temper my expectations by suggesting even returning with one would be exciting, but  I blew him off as  ran out the door material, machine, and new sewing scissors in hand.  I returned 3 hours later having sewed the neck strap for one of my aprons.  (and having cut out the material for the rest of the apron) hmmmm… perhaps my hubby was on to something with tempered and realistic expectations…. I had high hopes for pressing the seams of the apron during the week and perhaps even working on sewing some straight lines to practice before my next class.  But, I didn’t have any time for such lofty expectations except for the night before class and by the time the kids were in bed that night I really didn’t feel like dragging the sewing machine out.  Sewing is new to me and as of right now it isn’t yet a fun way to relax....

Writers block Momnesia Mushy brain Call it what you will, but I am sorry this circus mom has nothing to give ya.  I’ve sat down and started posts 3 separate times this week only to stop half way through.  I wanted to fill you in on our hamster wheel paced life the past few weeks but when I write it all out it just seems boring.  Really, do you want to hear about the circus family’s daily routine?  Yea… I didn’t think so.  Then I started to post pictures from our trip to the county fair.  But, I noticed that my last several posts have all been pictorial in nature and was afraid it would seem to journalistic.  So I stopped.  But I really can’t go yet one more day with the same post sitting up there begging to be commented on.  It’s 3:00 on Friday.  There is 30 min left in our afternoon quiet/nap time and I have 3 baskets of laundry to fold, a kitchen to tidy,  an apple pie I promised the kids we’d bake on Wednesday that ...

So long summer 2010…. We’ll forever hold you close in our heart for you were the summer that we welcomed dear sweet, squeezable number 4 to our fold. We enjoyed your lazy hazy days as we spent time playing in our back yard and splashing in our pool… We enjoyed time with family We caught our first keeper… and enjoyed time on Nana and Pop’s boat.   We enjoyed sleep overs with friends…. and reunions with friends. We went to the ball park. And spent some evenings home sleeping on the couch. We were refreshed and rejuvenated by all of your lazy, hazy days and can now ride into fall with its busy schedule and new routines, while eagerly anticipating the traditions the next seasons has in store for us…apple picking, pumpkin carving, trick or treating, football watching, soccer playing, pie eating… Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything,        and a ...

Woa Dad!  What are you thinking?  Your starting him on your fantasy team?

Here’s hoping you have some time to kick back and relax this weekend!

You may or may not have noticed that lately, I haven’t been blogging much.  I can’t put my finger on why exactly.   It’s not his fault… he is super easy going.  And it isn’t due to lack of fodder… the circus crew provides me with a never ending supply of bloggable material.  But, my days have been “more full” lately.  Our schedule includes  home school, tutorial, gymnastics, soccer, (and cub scouts starting soon).    I’m also struggling to get back on top of the laundry and maintain the house… got a schedule for that too.  (if I could just get caught up again so I can work on maintaing it) It seems when the day is done, I haven’t the mental capacity for more than a status update on face book.   So, here’s my past week via face book to fill in the gaps here on my blog.  put my youngest to bed tonight wearing the "hand me down" shin guards and holding the pink Adidas cleats that were given to her by ...

The cool crisp mornings we’ve had lately signal that fall is near.    So, this weekend I made good on a summertime promise I made to the kids.  We carried out the folding table and chairs…decided on a fair price for our product and made some signs. While the kids began chanting “25 cent lemonade,”  I quickly stirred some country time and water. They eagerly watched for cars and walkers and when they saw them they’d enthusiastically wave and chant.   (I think they learned well from the vendors at Camden Yards). Nana and Pop heard about their business venture and swung by the neighborhood to support the family business. She quite easily drank as much lemonade as we sold. The smiles on their faces made all Momma’s efforts worthwhile.   They earned enough to buy 2 packets of silly bands at Target that afternoon.  Though honestly, I think the fun they had selling it was much more valuable.

I do not consider myself to be either creative or crafty.  And most of the time I am ok with that.  Even though my mom and grandma are both talented seamstresses, I’ve often joked that I missed out on the sewing gene. The truth is that sewing seems to require patience and an aspiration for perfection.  And for me, close enough is usually more than good enough.  But close enough doesn’t seem to work when sewing, b/c you kinda want your dresses to be straight and your sleeves even.  So, I typically don’t even try to sew and get my sister in law, mom, or talented friend Jen, to do it for me.  My kids know this and when they need their slippers patched or a stuffed animal repaired they don’t even bother to ask me, they just pack it up and when we see Grandma or Aunt Karen next they’ll pull it out and ask her to repair it for them.  I’ll often laugh about the fact that they didn’t even bother asking me.  Then I found out one of my dear friends ...

There are many familiar and epic battles out there.  At the circus, I am often subject to reading, watching, and even role playing in such battles over good and evil. Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker fighting for the future of the galaxy.                                                                Spiderman and Doctor Octopus dueling over the city of New York.                                                     ...