Simple Woman's Daybook...August 31, 2010

FOR TODAY...August 31, 2010

Outside my window...darkness has fallen.  It's been a long day!

I am thinking...of how pooped I am right now.  Did I mention it had been a long day?  Yet, I haven't done one of these in a few weeks so I figured I should follow through for once.

I am thankful for...a nice, cozy bed to go to sleep in.  And a fan to sit in front of - it is HOT today/tonight!  I'm also thankful that Nate was offered an available spot in the UPK program in our school district.  I was worried that we'd have to put him into an expensive private program that meant he'd only go 3 days a week, need to be dropped off and picked up by Dave, and he'd be in four different schools before he started Kindergarten.  At least this way, he gets to ride a bus, go 5 days a week, and be in the same school as he'll start Kindergarten in next year.  Oh, and it's FREE, which is fabulous!

From the kitchen...my beloved husband is getting me a drink because it's 500 degrees in here and I'm parched.

I am wearing...an odd combination of my work clothes (top) and comfy clothes (bottoms).

I am remembering...to watch Rescue Me with Dave tonight...if I am able to stay up another hour+, that is!

I am creating...I was able to work on a project for my (new) boss at work that was kind of outside the box of my usual M.O.  It had to do with editing a photo and getting it printed/framed for presentation to Chuck Schumer's office as a thank you for their help in making it possible for some of our HW-SC youth to attend the World Cup.

I am going...to be pretty busy this week/weekend.  I'm looking forward to it.  Lots of end of the summer fun to be had.  And less time to stress about what's (not) getting done at home.

I am hoping...to get the garage cleared out and the house settled before winter so I can park in the garage and not have to brush my car off.  There's a lot to do to get there (and a lot of summer fun left to be had while we still can) so I'm not sure if that will work out, but we'll try.

I am hearing...the sound of the news on the TV and fans.  We have 5 running in the house right now to cool it off and it's still 80 degrees in here.

Pondering these words...I've heard a lot of great quotes this week but of course I can't remember any of them right now when I need to.

Around the house...lots of projects to do.  A wish list a mile long and a list of tasks to tackle is never ending.

On my mind...not a whole heck of a lot at this time of night.  I'm empty.

Noticing that...living in the country is a lot different as a MOM than it was as a kid.  We've been tackling our fair share of poison ivy, bug bites, bees, skunks, snakes, and other country fun.

One of my favorite things...the internet.  I've been keenly aware lately of all the fantastic things available at my fingertips.  When Nate brought home a frog the other day, we were able to look up what frogs eat, and how to care for him (not that it mattered, in the end).  I can search for a much loved recipe, purchase diapers or coffee without leaving the house, look up the words to Nate's favorite song(s) for an impromptu sing-a-long, or get directions for how to do anything from tile a floor to sew a sock monkey.  It's an amazing resource for anything and everything.

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Melon Bean with Tiffany, having my BFF over for a tour of the new house, celebrating my niece's 2nd birthday, hanging with my sister, and catching the Great NYS Fair!!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Nate's "Thinking Tree"...he spends a lot of time here, swinging, hanging out, just having quiet time - I love that he has a tree of his very own.

When I grow up...

I've been thinking long and hard about what it is I want to be when I grow up.  Okay, so I know I'm grown up already.  The early morning wake times and mortgage payments and job and household responsibilities remind me of that daily, however, I still don't know what I want to BE when I grow up.

I asked Nate the other day, since he (even at only 4!) seems to have it all figured out and he told me I would be a police officer.

Um, no.

I asked him if he could actually picture Mommy as a police officer, fighting crime and bringing bad guys to justice, and he said yes.

Which is proof that he has no idea what I should be when I grow up, either.

I wish I could pick a card (like in the game of Life) and know what I was destined to be.  It seems like all the things I wish I could do/be/achieve are long shots.  I have no idea where to even start.  I'm learning that I'm not much of a problem solver.  I like other people to fix things for me.  Tell me what to do.  Even after years of my father encouraging me to "look it up" instead of doing it for me, I still managed to develop a bad habit of sitting on my laurels until someone else takes care of things or it takes care of itself.  I'm a big fan of the "ignore it and it will go away" theory of change.  On one hand I believe this has made me a very malleable and easy going person.  I tend to be flexible and adaptable, but I also spend a lot of time spinning my wheels and never really getting anywhere.

Thus my current crisis.  If you asked me what I wanted to be, I'd say "an author" or "a photographer".  I'd spout off some grand plan to start my Keurig cartridge recycling business or find someone who can manufacture and distribute my "Feet Sheets", share any number of my children's book ideas, or ramble on and on about my dreams of making a living on Etsy so I can stay home with my (not-so-very babyish anymore) babies.  But where to start?!?  I have the passion, the desire, and the ideas...I just lack the most important things:  Know how, motivation, time, and skill.

The Story of a Boy and his FROG...

There once was a boy named Nate.

One day Nate found a frog in the backyard of his new house and brought him home to show his mother.

"Mom, look what I found!  I'll give you a hint...it HOPS!  Can I make him my pet?  Puh-LEEZ?!?!", he asked, batting his eyes with his free hand tucked under his cute little chin.

I paused...knowing the implications of such an agreement, but teetering with the fond memories of myself at his age capturing frogs, bugs, caterpillars and the like to name and call my own.  Until, that is,  they escaped, or were accidently squished loved to death, or shriveled up because they needed water or food or something I had neglected to provide them.  Anyway, I caved and told him we'd need to Google how to care for him and find out what he eats. In the meantime, we needed to find him somewhere to stay.

Within seconds, my giddy little boy was (not even kidding here), shaking the froggy's little hand (paw? foot?) saying, "Hi, Froggy!  I'm Nate!  You're going to be my pet!"  He promptly made a home for him in his Little Tykes toolbox, closed the door, and peeked in saying, "Don't you die on me!".  Nice.

We put Froggy, who at this time was named "Nokie" by Nate, into a bucket.  The boys added some small touches of home (rocks, grass, dirt) and we gave Nokie just enough water to get wet in if he wanted.

Nate loved having Nokie (who by this time, had been renamed "Kooky" or "Nookie" or something...) and decided to put him in his own "sun protector" and take him for a ride in his Cozy Coupe.  He laid under the tree with him (whose name at this point I've lost track of!) and watched him hop around.

We reminded Nate to put Froggy back into his "home" from time to time so as not to torture the poor creature and to give him some water and peace.

What a day of adventure these two had!  I think Nate taught Froggy all he knew about firefighting, saving people, and peeing in the woods.  It was a match made in heaven!

Then, without warning, Alex got a hold of Nokie/Kookie/Froggy and let him go.  He escaped into freedom and is probably breathing a sigh of relief as I type this.

The End.

Make New Friends

Since moving to the new house in the sticks, we've settled in quite nicely.  After a battle with mosquitos that had waged war on the poor boys and a bout of Poison Ivy all around, we're learning to love this country living.  (Who am I kidding!?!  This is how I grew up and I'm thrilled that my kids get to learn and grow the same natural way!)

We've met quite a few new people and even made a few new friends.

We've met Mr. Snake (no photos, though!).

Sir Furry Brown Ugly Spider

Tiny the Field Mouse

Master Newt

"Cricket"

Ms. Grasshopper

and our latest "pet"...Nokie the Frog

More to come on Nokie later!  We're just thrilled to be making some new friends and learning a lot about them along the way!!

Happiness is...

freshly baked cookies!!!

Hand stirred (and sampled) with love.

Patiently attended and supervised.

Watching them grow "bigger and bigger!"

Fresh baked cookies don't necessarily make me happy just because of the deliciousness factor (though that certainly helps!).  But for me, the ability to offer my kids the opportunity to make cookies means that things are starting to feel more like home around here.  For weeks Nathaniel would ask if we could bake cookies and I had to keep telling him that we couldn't (the ingredients were packed, the stove was disconnected, we had to buy a new stove, etc.).  Having our new stove hooked up, functional, and able to cook something as basic as cookies for my boys as a feel good treat on a chilly summer night...now that's happiness. 

Wordless Wednesday...Sheer Joy

For more Wordless Wednesday photos, check here.

Hope Springs Eternal

My hostas and mint plant did not fare the travels to the new home very well.  They are withered and beat up, most definitely in shock from the tragic move (in the back of a truck, driving down a highway at 65 mph, no doubt) and looking downright pathetic.

Which I have to admit, is a little bit how I feel at this point of the settling in process.  

Withered.  Beat Up.  In shock.  Downright pathetic.

Yep . That's me.

Yet, despite all the abuse they've taken and their seemingly poor adjustment to the move, I found this yesterday:

Amongst the dried, broken, withered leaves of my poor Hosta were these beautiful flowers peeking out.  It's a sign (to me anyway) that despite our outward appearance, the road we've traveled, or the beaten feelings we carry, hope still lives on.  The hope for a brighter tomorrow, a less busy week ahead, a light at the end of the tunnel, an easier day, the company of family and friends.  Something to look forward to, instead of dwelling on the current state of our body, emotions, or status.  Ahhhh, hope springs eternal.

Goodbye Avery Street

As you know, we are officially out of our old house and into our new house.  After much drama and far too many complications, we have officially taken ownership of the new house/property and are starting to establish a new normal for our family.  As I was packing the last of our things and cleaning out each room of the old house, I had the words to the bedtime story, Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown going through my head...so in the spirit of that fantastic book, here's my bid adieu to a house that did quite well for me and our family for more than 6 years!

Goodbye Avery Street:

...Goodbye coat closet and front door

Goodbye fireplace from which many fires did roar

Goodbye peaceful back yard

Goodbye bedroom

And Nate's blue nursery 

Goodbye ugly kitchen cupboards

Goodbye gorgeous hardwoods

Goodbye built-in cupboards

And goodbye custom bathroom

Goodbye huge garage

And goodbye dining room turned Alex's bedroom

Goodbye little house
And goodbye mouse

Goodbye good times

And goodbye memories

Goodbye hoodlums

Goodbye punks

And goodbye to the old lady
across the street

Goodbye street lights
Goodbye air
Goodbye noises everywhere