Summer!

Our summer has officially arrived.   No school, no work.  All fun.

Last weekend, before school was out... Daniel competed in his first ever skateboarding competition.   We're totally new to that scene and it was interesting.   I was SO proud that he got out there and did his thing in front of spectators.   He ranked second place in the Beginner category.   I hope this will give him the confidence to get out there in the future.    He's pretty awesome.

This past Thursday was the last day of school!!   And the last day of elementary school for our family.   Kind of sad to say farewell to the people who have played such an important role in my kids' lives.  Those teachers and staff have been such an encouragement to me, as a single mom.   They have done their part as 'the village' for my kids..... It really DOES take a village ;)

So-- as of last Friday... S U M M E R freedom!!!    yay!

The boys jumped in feet first with an awesome hiking/camping trip with dudes from church.   I am so thankful that especially one guy from church has involved my boys with serious 'man' stuff.    This hiking trip seemed huge to me.... and yet they went... and LOVED every minute!   Both boys were excited to share the details and the happenings from the weekend.     They were quick to inform me that it was all stuff that I would have freaked out about.   I suppose that's why it was so fun.  The 'shock your mom' factor plays a huge role in male development, I'm sure.
I'm so happy for them and I hope that it can be a recurring thing.

On a side  note: I completed a daunting task today.   I have finalized all the trip planning for our trip to Colorado this summer.    Plane tickets in hand, car rental reserved, and several hotels reserved!   I Also have an entire page of addresses to several skate parks along our route!  (score cool points for Mom!)
This is the first ever "big" trip that I've had to plan entirely on my own.  I think that Thayer would be proud.   We will be going to visit with his family.   I'm looking forward to seeing my brother-in-law, nephews and niece... as well as catching up with extended family.    I'm so excited!   Now that the planning is set, I can sit back and enjoy my free days.

Second side note:  Tomorrow we are babysitting my sister and niece.  My sister is doing fabulous following her surgery.  I am thrilled that God has worked wonders during her recovery!

Good news all around this week :-)



I refuse to be the taxi... (at least for now)...

I was super thrilled to read this post today.   I'm always thrilled when someone shares a common thought as myself.  It's nice to see that there are other smart people out there ;)

Anywho.  Here is my addendum to her thoughts, for what it's worth.

She nailed it.   So much busyness.  And so much busyness pushed on our kids.    I am continually learning that 'less is best' in... pretty much everything. 

Perhaps I'm lacking commitment.  Perhaps I know my own weaknesses and boundaries as a single parent.  (I'm totally not aspiring to be Super Woman).
 Perhaps I'm getting lazier with age.  I dunno.

And perhaps my kids have the same problem with commitment?
They have dabbled in soccer, violin, karate, and baseball.  Nothing really stuck.  And they quickly nayed the idea of cub scouts.  
They briefly mentioned that they would play soccer this spring... but I nixed that idea by reminding them how much they hate to leave the house when they get home from school.    
They simply like to stay home and play! 

Both kids were super interested in skiing and snowboarding... for about a month.   I'm pretty sure those sports are simmering on the back burner this month... and they'll be back at it... off and on.

Amazingly, skateboarding has stood the test of time with both boys, and I am happy.  It is an activity that has managed to withstand every season of the year... and they keep doing it.      I would consider them both to be at a very beginner stage with skateboarding... but they really enjoy their time on wheels.
One mother at the skate park this weekend told me to "watch out... it's an expensive hobby".   I understood that she was referring to the shoes, the boards, the gear.   But I keep thinking of what a lovely hobby it is.    Skateboarding takes place on MY time, on my kid's time.  There is no set practice schedule, and we're not running around to games and scrimmages.  We're not eating dinner from concession stands and we're not getting home after 9pm.  I'm loving it.

(As soon as I publish this post, they'll be interested in something entirely new.... but that's okay.)

I am thankful for our free time and the empty squares on my calendar. 
I know that once they hit middle and high school, things will be different.  I will totally encourage them to participate in extracurricular activities.     They may not be as experienced as the kids who have played baseball from the womb... but I think my boys will do okay.

hoarding

I just watched two episodes of Hoarders on Netflix. It was uncomfortable, to say the least.
I would consider myself the opposite of a hoarder. I'm not a fan of knick knacks, and accumulated piles of clutter eventually drive me bonkers. I'd be happy to throw out just about everything in my house that isn't furniture, or used daily.
I have a tendency to grow little piles of junk, here and there, but I go through crazy spurts where I'll just throw it all away without a second glance.

Interesting enough, as I was watching the Hoarders show, it disturbed me to see a recurring theme with the folks involved. Just about everyone started their hoarding behavior shortly after the death of a loved one, divorce, etc.
I kept thinking, "this could be me! I better keep a check on things!"

It's true... that after Thayer died, my housekeeping habits changed dramatically. (I used to be terribly anal about cleaning and keeping things in order. I would clean for days simply to have someone come over to visit.) But after Thayer's death (and probably a few years prior to), I realized that there are way more important things to focus on.
I've chosen to hang out with my kids,go out on the town and have FUN! And I love to have visitors even though I tell them to use the bathroom at their own risk :)

I want to make each day count!
We spent almost 8 hours at the skate park over the past two days.
I completely forgot about cutting my grass (which was the first time I've forgotten) and it doesn't matter at all! The grass can wait!
My 40 minute nap, in my camp chair, at the skateboard park was WAY more important! The kids said that they didn't notice I was sleeping because of my sunglasses. How convenient :o)

okay. that was a random story. and I have NO idea where I'm going with this post.
I'm just hopeful that I won't become a hoarder at home while I'm out sleeping in public.
please let me know if I start showing signs! ;)

And BY ALL MEANS... don't EVER let me become a CrAzY CaT LaDy! Yikes!