Thinking ahead to 2011

I'm already thinking ahead to the start of the  new year.  I love Christmas, but am always glad to see the hustle and bustle leave.  Today we just relaxed.  Hung out and took it easy.  No presents to buy. No places to go. Just us and our toys.  It felt so good.  I've already started thinking about my goals for 2011.  I like to have something to focus on each year.  As I was snooping around the internet I found this list of things to do before 2011 is here.  I love the list.  My favorites are:


4. Declutter 50 items from your home. If you don’t know where to start, start here.
8. Drop something you absolutely hate from your life. For instance, outsource the business accounts, get a fortnightly cleaner, or resign from the committee. 
11. Make a date to catch up with someone you miss. The years pass quickly – don’t neglect this one. If you already have too many people in your life, declutter your friends.
20. Teach your children to do one thing they’re old enough to take on themselves. Cooking one night a week? Their own laundry? Tidying their rooms each night?


Number 8 was already on my list.  I'm working on saying NO to commitments that keep me away from what I really want to do.  I've already written a few emails to get off of committees at work that just don't fit into my goals.  It felt great.  


If you are interested in organizing your life, the site Getorganizedwizard.com has a free giveaway right now if you 'Like' them on Facebook.  Oh Facebook....can you rule our lives any more?  I think not.  Here's the directions on how to get it for FREE!

Today we play!

This:

and this:

The Baby Alive doll was wrapped up under the tree for Addison and in the last 24 hours she has pooped and peed her way through all availab;e diapers on hand.  I've had to hand wash clothes and clean up messes from food and water.  Her mommy (addison) is beside her self.  In fact, right now, she's planning her wedding to Rob so that Baby Alive can have a mommy & a daddy!

And somebody must have been a good boy this year because Santa left Will a Lego Deathstar.  This has been the coveted Lego piece for nearly 2 years.  Will has been saving up his allowance and every penny he has to buy it.  Looks like he'll have to set his sights on something else.  Right now, Rob and Will are powering through box 1 of 4, bag 9 of 12.  I've officially lost our living room to Legos!

Mommy/Son Dance

Tonight was the the Mommy & Son dance at the Rec Center up the street.  First time Will and I have attended.  So much fun!  Favorite songs of the night....Baby! by WIll's man crush (Justin Beiber), Dynamite, and the YMCA.

 Will is very sweaty here.

 Our table - we made ornaments

Will coloring

I love this kid

I'm in Vegas at a conference for school.  You know how I love me a little conference time!  The quiet.  The bed to myself.  The no dishes to clean up after. The thoughts that can be completed without some saying 'MOMMY'.  But every time I go away to a conference I learn something great about my kids.  I'm supposed to be learning about my classroom, my teaching, and somehow I always walk away with something about Will & Addi.  

Yesterday we listened to a pretty good keynote speaker you reminded me that time moves so fast and that sometimes we get hung up on the little things that we think are really important at the time, but really aren't in the grand scheme of things.  It hit me like a ton of bricks.  See...Will is like our guinea pig kid.  The first.  We get to try out all sorts of things with him, see which ones work, which ones don't, and then do the right thing with Addi. I'm hard on Will.  Much harder on him than I am on Addison.  And I'm not sure why. Maybe it'e because he so smart and I want just the best for him.  Or maybe it's because he's a lot like me.  Or maybe it's because he's the first....the guinea pig...the tester rat.  I don't know.  But I'm hard on him none the less.  The speaker yesterday told a story about how he walked into his son's room the night that he left for college and looked around at the blank room.  There was a picture left on his son's desk from his first grade year of T-ball.  The dad picked up the picture and thought back to all of the great things that his son did growing up that he never said great job for.  Then he thought about all the things he did talk with his son about....the 'getting good grades' talk.  The 'you should have made better decisions' talk...the 'who better control yourself better' talk.  The 'you need to make better choices' talk.  The 'what are you going to do with your future' talk.  At the end of it, with the son long gone down the road to college, he realized that he should have spent more time celebrating and less time nagging..harping on the things that get in the way.  He shouldn't have been so hard on him.  

Hmmm....So then I get all teary eyed and I start to panic that I've forever scarred my son.  I then I think to myself...self..isn't it your job to teach life lessons, develop good character and give this world a boy that can act his age.....And then I remember...self....Love and compassion...and caring...can go a long way. 

And then, because I can't run home a devise a plan with Rob on how to better tackle this (ps...he needs no plan...he's great at this) I decide to instant message chat with him.  Rob tears up...I tear up...At the end of the day....Kids grow up fast.  There's a lot of things they need to do.  There's a lot of pressure on these little bodies do this and to do that.  To learn this and get that.  It's a lot.  And while my job is to develop good, responsible little citizens that will contribute to the world...It's also my responsibility to to teach kindness, compassion, the act of slowly down and just taking it all in.  I also have to remember that kids are kids and nobody is perfect.

Christmas Cards

Just finished Christmas Cards for this year!  Yeah!  I opt for photo cards every year because it is easier and I like being able to show a bunch of photos.  I have all of our past cards hanging up on the bulletin board right here at the computer and it's fun to see how everyone has changed.  I ran quick through my iPhoto and was able to pull out the past pictures...

I couldn't find the actual card, but here's the image that I used for 2007.  Not the best picture but I was likely sleep deprived and had just returned to work and so clearly, my brain was no functioning well.

The 2007 picture/card is nowhere to be found.  In fact, I don't even have one up here on the bulletin board.  I tried scrolling through pictures of 2007 and quite frankly, I remember nothing of that year.  I did find pictures, that I almost posted, about how AWFUL I looked which most certainly equates to me feeling terrible.  Which, again, I attribute to sleep deprivation from Miss. Addison who spent her days sleeping and her nights awake all while mommy was working.  That and the 50 pounds that I gained (and hadn't lost) when I was pregnant with her.  So...Let's just forget about 2007...

2008.  Happy family!  Addison's first professional pictures of her life.  I skipped the whole Picture of the Month thing with her.

2009.  There we go....that's us.  Sleeping well and happy!

2010.  Which looks remarkable like 2009.  I like the collage style, what can I say?

"I only had to hear him once...

...and I was a fan." Spoken by Justin Bieber's newest fan...

posing after a soccer game

Will says this to me in the car a few days ago after we'd listened to Baby, Baby for the 10th time on repeat. It so sweet too because he tries to sing along without anyone seeing him, and we do.  I cheat and look in the side window mirror when Rob is driving and he adjusts the rearview mirror just so so that he can fake looking at cars behind him to catch a glance of Will belting out Baby, Baby.  Addi provides good back up (although she prefers Cee-Lo Green, Forget You instead).   And then, when Will is supposed to be going to sleep, he usually belts out a little tune thinking no one can hear him.

I'm a fan too little Will.  Who doesn't love listening to a 16 year old belt out love ballads for the world to hear?!

it's coming.....

I love shopping on Black Friday with my dad. Early morning alarm clocks, long lines, crowds...I love it all. I found this little list from this little blog that I thought was a good idea. Sometimes, I have so many things to grab, without a good list, and then I forget.  Go forth and shop my friends!

Chess club

On Saturday, at 8 in the morning, when we all should have been sleeping just a little while longer (especially after BUNCO birthday party bash 2010 for Lyndsey), my mom dropped Will & Addi off at home from a slumber party. After waking Rob up and moving him to the couch (BUNCO was a lot for FUN Bobby!) I packed Will up and took him up to school for his first Chess Tournament. He almost didn't attend this one because of that time when he almost got kicked out of Chess Club. I thought that maybe we should keep the kid with minor classroom issues away from large group activities requiring total self control. I was just trying to help everybody out! But then the chess club coach pulled me aside and told me that he thought it would help Will to compete. See...Will has this odd little idea that he knows everything. Shocker right? He is partly a Hawkins and 1/2 of me so I'm not sure where this comes from. But, he's convinced he's the best Chess player to step foot into Chess Club (or at least he did). So we decide to play in the tournament. Nothing like getting your ass handed to you by your opponents to provide a little humility.

First off, Chess people are odd. I'm just going to say it. They are serious like NBA players on Finals day. Serious. I saw tears on Saturday. Tears of sadness and regret pouring out of 10 year old's eyes. Even Will cried a tear by the end of the day. Chess is so predicatable and yet totally unpredicatable at the same. You start the same every time (white on right, king on his color-or is it queen). But then, you just don't know. That's the scary part. So the chess tournament is a 5 game tournament with an hour time block for each game. 5 hours total, no breaks for lunch unless you finish early and the potential for a game clock only if things are running long. Will's first game is against a 4th grader - one of only two girls at the tournament and I knew at the first move that Will was going to get his ass handed to him. She OWNED that chess board. Will tried to hang in there. He did exactly what the chess teacher told him...the first four moves he built the wall and then like lightning she tore it down. She had captured at least 7 pieces in so many moves and Will couldn't figure out what happened. I cringed at some of the moves he was making (although not loud enough for him to hear otherwise I would have been kicked out of the playing room). I think he got nervous...I was nervous...and then just couldn't think ahead. He calmed down eventually and the two battled it out for 20 minutes or so. He ended up losing but was able to capture 4 of her pieces.

Game 2 was a Bye for Will, an automatic win (his only win of the day). Game 3 was against a long time rival from chess club. When Will saw the pairings up on the board he threw his head back like 'oh. my. god." This kid is the shit at Chess and I think the two of them don't play often enough. It was Will's best game and they were paired pretty fairly. About 3/4 of the way through the opponent gobbled up his queen with the knight and it was all downhill. Once Will loses the queen, he thinks it's all over (I see this as his ultimate respect for women). Games 4 and 5 went alright. By game 5 he was a bit antsy and had a hard time concentrating. There was, however, trophies on the line so he tried. He really tried. But he lost. And I felt sad for him. He wanted to play so well. He knows how to play really well. It was just all so new to him. ANd the competition was really good. They even brought in private school kids and we all know they play chess at recess instead of public school kick ball.

When it came time to trophies, Rob said Will cried just a bit. He so badly wanted a trophy. But, like the chess teacher put, "this isn't kindergarten soccer.' nope. guess not. I was proud of Will though. He was one of two first graders who played. He hung in there as long as he could and never gave up on a single game. He learned a few moves and mostly learned that he has a lot to learn which is ome times the best lesson ever. Just like me, sometimes a does of humility is just what us Hawkins people need.

A list of things that I don't want to forget about, but that I still haven't put words to

Here is a list of things that I want to remember...

1.  Addison opera singing answers to us.  Up until about 2 weeks ago, Addison would respond to any question like an opera singer.  She'd even go so far as to raise her arms up higher and higher and she finished her sentence.  WE never got video so I hope this comes back.

2.  Will almost getting kicked out of Chess club.  Not a proud moment for mommy.  I have a feeling that this will not be the first time this happens to Will.  Story to follow.... Let's just say that Will is definitely Rob's son. And if this means nothing to you, just know that Rob's favorite statement on a weekend night is 'They think I'm FUNNNY!!!" 

3.  Leaves.  We have so. many. leaves.  We waited until the second to the last leaf pick up and raked like mad today for 3.5 straight hours.  My arm is aching so bad.  Before bed Will told me that I should rest my arm for just a little bit because it sounded like I worked it to hard.  Yes I did Will.  I worked it WAY to hard.  Yard work is for crazy people!  I usually don't mind it, but when it is cold and wet and your gloves have holes strategically placed right at the fingertips...well it's not as much fun then.  

4.  Two nights ago when Rob and I sat down to watch a movie...Rob could not get the remote for the DVD player to work.  It was like that Modern Family episode where Phil couldn't figure out where the chirping fire alarm was at.  Rob just kept scratching his head and trying the same button over and over and over and over.  What is it with men and persistent.  Two tries..that's all an electronic device gets from and then it's over.  I'm on to the next thing.  Rob took 20 minutes to get the damn thing fixed.  I fell asleep and then had to WAKE back up to watch the movie.  Damn DVD player.  ps. Rob wants to be Phil Dumpfy.  

5.  Rob loves True Blood.  I can not comment anymore on this other than he loves and it is funny.  He asked me last night which vampire series I liked best.  It's important to understand that I have read the Twilight series twice and both times Rob goes crazy without how much time it consumes.....Now we have to watch True Blood anytime a new NetFlix package arrives

6.  Tonight, in the bath, Addison was giving herself a pep talk for seeing Santa.  She is consumed by the "ho-ho-ho man" and scared to death to sit on his lap.  She did it once when she was 4 months old and screamed.  It was tragic and I'm going to guess she never does it again in her life.  Who knows though...her pep talk sounded pretty good.  

7.  Laundry never ends.  Enough said. 

 

 Right now Addison's most commonly spoken phrase is 'My brain says..."  Rob thinks she's gone off the deep end.  I think she's getting in touch with her inner spirit.  Whatever the case, it's FUNNY.  She'll say things like "My brain told me to go potty Mommy, so I went."  Or last week, after deciding that she would not wear her costume to daycare, she tells me "my brain told me I should have brought my costume but I told it I would be ok" when I picked her up.  Huh?!  

So far, her brain is a boy most of the time (she refers to it as a 'him') and a few times it's a girl (it's also in her stomach some times...whatev!)  And in case you are concerned for this more little girl with possible multiple personalities, don't be.  She's learning about her body at daycare and they've been talking about brains.  I'm guessing it was explained to Addi that 'our brain tells us what to do."  My literal daughter has just taken the literal meaning to the extreme!  

Good Night!  My brain is telling me to go to sleep and enjoy this extra hour tonight!

Happy Halloween

Quite frankly, I could have written Halloween off this year.  We never quite got in the spirit around here until it was too late.  Will was sorely disappointed that we didn't have our annual party, or that we didn't attend the Fall Festival.  But, on the bright side, we made it to the Pumpkin Patch and we actually carved pumpkins.  Plus, we all made it out the door in costume (mostly - except for me) and everyone had a great time. 

 This was our 'party' crew.  The cousins came over for a little pre-funk of pizza and apple juice.

 And here the are pondering life.  Actually...I told them to look up at the clouds like they were thinking.  I think they all can follow directions perfectly!

 Our little family.  I finally got my fireman! 

and the pumpkins....a cat, darth vader, frankentstein, and Addi's little on that she loves so much that she hugs.  Shortly after this picture I discovered that these beauties were infested with fruit flies.  Yuck!  THey've already been tossed.   In exchange for a bug free front porch, I promised Will that we would start Christmas early this year.  There may just be a few decorations sprinkling the house by the weekend...you never know. 

I want to remember...

...how Addi says 'rashwag' instead of 'washrag'.  We tease her about it all the time and she thinks it's the right way to say it.
...how Will read the Halloween story first, by himself tonight, to make sure there were no scary parts for addi.  Then he pulled me aside and told me about them, and then, right before the page, he gave me a litle sign so i would know to skip a page with zombies.  And addi asked if we missed a page and Will tried to distract her.  he thought she would be scared
....my sister is chatty after a glass of wine!  We don't talk on the phone a lot (i'd rather see you in person lyndsey!)  but last night we chatted about all sorts of things.  I'm so glad I have a sister and it makes me want to have enough children so that everyone has a sibling of the same gender.
....Thinking up creative gifts is harder than buying something off the shelf....get ready Mom for the big Living Room reveal!
....I can't believe I never wrote about the garden that I bullied my parents into growing at their house.  I propsed it like this:  "It will be great...a huge garden, fresh veggies, I'll come out every weekend to help!"  In truth it went like this....my mom and dad did everything (i did pull weeds one weekend) and then my mom delivered baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables to my door 2x a week all summer long.  what?!  I think i got the better end of this.  I have a freezer full of fresh veggies and enough zuccini to feed a small village and I couldn't be happier.  I hope that they do it again next year and I hope that I participate more.  Some things never change huh?!
...when you Run like Hell, your legs hurt like hell.  well not horrible, but sore.
...Tonight after i finally lit the pumpkins, I found Addi sitting on the front porch with a wet head (she just got out of the shower) no socks, and a short sleeve pj shirt.  She was hugging her pumpkin.  She loves it so much.
....being Booed three times = a lot of candy.  I love the idea of community though and so tomorrow...we Boo a stranger!
...how good our ticket allowance system works when Rob is home and how bad i am at it when he is not.  I'm theory gal, Rob's the one to put these into practice.

Years of pumpkins

I just got back from a nighttime run and let me tell you the pros of such an event:

1. you run fast because you are scared that the boogeyman is going to jump out and get you
2. you run fast because you think that cars are going to run you over because they can't see you
3. you don't care that you can't catch your breathe because you are scared.  

Cons of such an event...SCARY!  the good news is, I ran fast. At least that is something.  That and I have enough energy to keep me awake until 2AM which is not good because then I'll never get up in the AM.  oh well.

So I went back through pics this evening and pulled out a few from the last few years.  Here's a trip down memory lane...

Here's Will when he was about 1 1/2.  

Here he is a year  later with a brand new baby sister.  

 here's Addi just a few months old.

Here we are in 2007...

And 2008...

And last year, 2009....

And last weekend...

My how time flies...

pumpkin patch

 On Sunday we headed to the Pumpkin Patch. It was SUCH a pretty day in Portland. This year planned to spednt he whole afternoon there. usually we try to rush the whole process and everyone ends up grumpy. Aunt Lyndsey and Brooks came along to take pictures and to enjoy the fun times. We had so. much . fun. So much Fun! It was cray busy that day at the patch, but regardless we just had a really great time. Brooks got the elephant ears he had been dreaming about and Will found the perfect pumpkin. Addi got to dance through the maze and Lyndsey took some great pictures. So much fun. Even thought the news keeps reporting on the worst pumpkin season on record, we had a great time tromping through the patch looking for the perfect one. Will even pulled his straight off the vine. We have quite the variety of pumpkins waiting to be carved this weekend.

 Family portraits! 

 Addi dancing in the corn maize

 Enjoying fresh corn on the cob.  They look like an old married couple.

 Our chaperones and happy picture takers.

 This pumpkin was so damn heavy. 

 ahhhhhh..... (ps... earrings were a bday gift from my friend Andria and they have instantly propelled me into a burning desire to wear earrings everywhere!  love them!)

 The perfect pumpkin for little Addi.

 I have this picture of Will each year since he was a baby.

More faily pics.  They need a little photoshop love! 

 

Addison did her own hait that day.  Lots of flowers!