I'm Remembering

Flipping through an Ltd. Commodities magazine the other day, I came across a "retro" Monchhichi doll that was a flash back to the golden age of my youth.  Ok, so I'm not that old, but still...man, it took be back.  I'll be honest when I say that I haven't even THOUGHT about Monchhichis since probably the 2nd grade.  Believe it.

I posted a status update on Facebook asking if any of my friends also remembered them as I thought it was a bit of an obscure reference and I was bowled over by the mass quantities of people who not only remembered them, but could recite their slogan, sing their theme song, even knew the date of their arrival on US soil.  (Ok, so I may have exaggerated that last part, I think it was actually Wikipedia that told me that!).

Anyway, that conversation sparked a whole other reference from my dear friend, Tiffany, who introduced me to this.  Imremembering.com - only the best website, ever.  Seriously, I'm loving this thing!  All things retro from back when.  Stuff you don't see anymore.  Things that aren't even made anymore.  And if they are, they're just not the same.  Flipping through these photos has waves of memories, emotion, even people and places flooding back.  It's fantastic.  It's also giving me some credence to throw away some of my sentimental kids stuff from back in the 80s since I can just reminisce right here with less storage issues.  (But not before I take a photo of this stuff to share on the website and run a quick check on ebay to make sure these classics aren't worth a fortune!!!)  They even have a Facebook page! 

I'll make you go look if you want to relive your youth first hand, but here are a few of my personal favorites (taken from the website):

 Friendship bracelets.  Who doesn't love these?!?!  It makes me want to break out with my embroidery floss and whip one up right now!  Does anyone have a saftey pin so I can attach it to what's left of the knee of my

 acid washed jeans?

New York Seltzer - my BFF always had these at her house growing up.  In every flavor imagineable.  It was the coolest drink ever.  Even made me feel a little grown up to drink them! 

C'Mon!  Tell me you didn't LOVE the Crystal Pepsi!!

I'd be embarrased to admit I might still have one or two of these kicking around.  

 

I LOVED these!  I had this Glamour Gals case (with the revolving door in the center) and the one in the middle with the red stripes was one of my favorites.  I think her name was Lana or something.  They were fabulous!

 

I was never cool enough to OWN one of these, but they were so cool.  I'd touch people just to leave my handprint on their shirts!

These stickers ROCKED!

Something about these ribbon  barrettes just made me feel like more of a princess.  Perhaps the ribbon hanging down allowed me to pretend I had long glorious locks.

So, go visit the website and reminisce a little.  You'll be glad you did!  (And thanks, Tiffany, for the suggestion!)  I think I'm off to photograph my Major Morgan and Pogo Ball for inclusion on this webpage! 

Le Echo de Menos, Abuelita

  My Mom and Grandma (Abuelita)

September 2004

In the Spring of my freshman year of college, I was given an assignment to choose a subject of importance to me that related somehow to the areas of Humanities we had learned about in my English class.  I chose to write about my Grandmother (on my mother's side) and was granted a rare opportunity to spend the weekend with her, listening to her tell stories, share memories, and reference books, articles, and other personal momentos she had placed on shelves or in drawers years ago.  It was a fantastic weekend.  One that I will never forget.  From that weekend, I wrote the following report for my college class.  In memory of my wonderful Abuelita, on this, what would have been her 93rd birthday, I share this story and the history I learned that memorable weekend...


Everyone has something that is dear to them. Whether a movie, a person, a song, an event, they each have their own individual significance to our lives. And each of these things relates to other aspects of a person's life in one way or another. It just so happens that my grandmother relates to my English class in college. The entire semester we have learned about several different areas of the Humanities. These areas consist of art, music, literature, poetry, and theater. My grandmother is of strong Spanish and Mexican backgrounds. These two heritages hold a respected reputation for their abilities in the humanities. My grandmother had an extremely rich upbringing and was constantly surrounded by several areas of Spanish and Mexican art forms.

To me, my grandmother is very important. I love her very much, and she has taught me quite a bit over the years. Her life has been one well-lived thus far. Throughout the years, she has fully experienced and thoroughly loved life. She has stories to tell and I love to listen to her tell them.

Flavia Amanda Naranjo was born in a small ranch in Escobares, a small town on the border of Texas and the Rio Grand River, in Starr County on September 16, 1917. (a little tidbit I learned looking up Escobares, according to the 2000 census, Hispanic & Latino people made up 98.72% of the population - talk about a rich culture!) She was the seventh child of ten born to Flavia Garza and Emilio Naranjo.

Flavia is what is referred to as a "mestisso", a person with part Indian and part Spanish heritage. Emilio Naranjo was of Indian decent and was a "jack of all trades." He served as the post master, a teacher (who taught Flavia's first four brothers and sisters in school), and an immigration officer in the small town of Escobares. Flavia Garza was from Mexico and her ancestors traveled from Laredo, Spain on a grant from the King to serve as representatives of Spain in the New World. It was these ancestors that founded Laredo, Texas.

Growing up in the Naranjo household was a very exciting time. The entire family, minus the father, Emilio (who stayed home to work), commuted back and forth to San Antonio so the children could attend school at Brackenridge High School. They would stay in San Antonio while school was in session and return to Escobares when school recessed. They were a bilingual family, as well, speaking only Spanish at home and speaking English while at school. Flavia returned home to attend high school at Rio Grande High School for her senior year, and went on to San Antonio Junior College for her teaching certificate.

My grandmother has spent her entire life surrounded by all the humanities of the Spanish and Mexican traditions and cultures. She spent quite a bit of time while she was growing up learning the traditional songs and dances of the Mexican culture and many more years teaching them to others. Texas has very prominent influences of these cultures, as well. The art, music, dances, and literature of Spanish and Mexican cultures are all a part of Texas and a part of my grandmother's history. I couldn't wait to find out as much as I could about this culture and heritage.

Right up the street from where my grandmother went to school, there is a historical national park renowned for its beautiful architecture and art. As my grandmother told me, she spent a great deal of time in this part playing with her brothers and sisters, nearly every day. This park is the San Antonio Mission National Park in San Antonio, Texas. This series of magnificent buildings depicts days of the 18th century Spanish Missions. In those days, Franciscan "padres" rode-up from Mexico to Christianize the Indians and place claims on North American land. This park displays four missions along a seven-mile stretch of the San Antonio river. There are more than 40 original and reconstructed structures in the park itself. Having so many makes this one of the richest sources of Spanish colonial architecture and culture in the entire United States.

The first mission in San Antonio Mission Park is Mission San Jose, which was established in 1724. This is the largest and most restored of all the missions, with a striking and absolutely beautiful church complete with an ornate sculpted facade and a "rose" window. This particular site also has several restored Indian quarters with typical furniture of the time and displayed pottery, house wares, and farming equipment. The other three missions, Mission Concepcion, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada were built in 1731 and each develops their own concepts of the missions. Mission Concepcion projects the concept of the mission being a religious center through the churches and priest quarters. Mission San Juan shows farming, trading, and ranching to give the aura of an economic center. Finally, Mission Espada contains the original irrigation dam and aqueduct, the only remaining Spanish colonial stone aqueduct in the United States. All are beautiful displays of architecture and art. These missions also serve as the hosting grounds for frequent music festivals.

It would be at these festivals, for example, that many forms of Spanish and Mexican music would be heard. A popular type of music in Mexico is the mariachi. The early use of this music at weddings explains the derivation of the name. Mariachi is basically Mexico's equivalent to our country music. The difference would be the instruments used. Mariachis are a lot like a string orchestra of sorts. The music is composed by violins, guitars, harps, mandolins, and double bass. Often times mariachi accompanies street performances of folk music. Mariachi is still performed and appreciated widely in
Texas. Annually, there are mariachi conventions held nationwide. People can attend, listen to the music of the culture and enjoy themselves.

Much of the typically well known folk songs that are so historic among the culture of the Spanish and Mexican people, are quite popular in the United States, as well. 

Many know the song "La Cucaracha". Translated, this simply means "The Cockroach". In English, this song is about a bug that runs across a carpet. However, in Mexico, this song was a battle march. The poor, oppressed people of Mexico sang this song while marching on the powerful aristocrats.

In Spanish the words go as follow:

"La Cucaracha, La Cucaracha,
Va no puede caminar.
Porque no tiene, porque Ie falda,
Marijuana que fumar. "

In English, these words translate to read:

'The cockroach, the cockroach,
We can't go on.
Because we don't have any, because we need some,
Marijuana to smoke."

The peasants sang this song because of a desperate need for strength and resistance against their stronger enemies. They felt marijuana was their answer, so they used it to obtain the power they lacked to march against the rich in protest.

Many of the Spanish and Mexican dances, too, are universal. The Mexican jarabes are quite popular among the American knowledge. This particular dance merges adaptations of mazurka, waltz, and European dance steps into its secular couple dance. Practiced primarily in central and Southern Mexico, the jarabes are a folk dance for couples that are derived from the Spanish pop music and such dances as the sequidillas and the fandangas. A jarabe is considered the dance of flirtation where the man is meant to be vigorous and attentive and the woman plays a shy role. The jarabe is more commonly known as the Mexican Hat Dance.

Another aspect of the Mexican and Spanish humanities that is quite prevalent in the United States, is the area of art. The majority of Mexican art has a very strong influence from the Mayan Indians. The artistry of these Indians is very noticeable in the works of many Spanish and Mexican artists. A large amount of this art is a cross between the artistry of the Mayans and the European materials. Artists such as Diego, Picasso, Dali, and many more have brought a great deal of wonderful art and culture to the United States through their work. They are known throughout the world and have been an influence of their own to others.

Doing this research project has taught me so much about so many things. First and foremost, it provided a wonderful opportunity for me to visit my grandparents, which is quite a rare opportunity in itself. In doing a research paper that I chose the topic for, it held my interest, while at the same time, it provided me with information I never knew but always wanted to have. I learned so much about my grandmother that I never knew. Before interviewing my grandmother for this paper, I never knew about her childhood. For example, her family, what she did, where she went to school, her jobs, and how she met my grandfather. These are all questions I never asked before. I learned so much about my grandmother as a person, instead of as a grandmother. I came to find out, that my grandma and her life are not that much different than my life and myself. I really enjoyed being able to sit with her and talk about her life and her experiences. It opened up a whole new world for me. On top of that, it made me feel so much more close to my grandmother than I ever have, because I knew so much more about who she is and how she became that person. It was new to me to learn that the Mexican culture still plays such a huge role in the culture of Texas even to this day. Also, the many influences that go into making the humanities what they are, are remarkable. Choosing this topic brought a ray of light and knowledge to a previously darkened corner of my wisdom. I am glad I chose the topic I did, and I am glad I learned all that I did from researching my wonderful grandmother and her culture. 


Every culture has its own influence on other cultures. As the Mexican and Spanish cultures have had an impacting influence on our culture, so, too, has our culture made an impact on others. This is the whole concept behind having open door policies with cultures other than our own. We can thus open our doors to alternate worlds and learn from them while simultaneously, they learn from us, too.

 December 2006

Mom, Grandma, Nate, Me

I was lucky enough to spend a long weekend with Grandma a couple years later in San Antonio learning first hand about her roots.  I was able to see the very missions she had talked about just a few years prior.  Beautiful place and history!  I will save that story and those photos for another post.  Te Amo, Abuelita!

Wordless Wednesday...Classic Summer Fun

Simple Woman's Daybook...September 14, 2010

FOR TODAY...September 14, 2010

Outside my window...the sun is shining.  The fall temperatures have crept in (which is ok by me...).  I noticed the leaves starting to change on my drive into work this morning!

I am thinking...about my brother and sister-in-law who are just (2!) weeks away from welcoming my nephew into the world!  Now begins the dreaded "waiting game" and I sympathize!  I hope for a quick and easy (and safe!) delivery for all involved!

I am thankful for...the time spent with my mother-in-law at dinner last night.  She is a fantastic woman and she and Nate are so cute together.  She has recently been diagnosed with cancer and has decided at her age not to take any action against it so I am thankful for any time we have to build memories with her.  She was telling stories of Dave's father last night which was nice to hear.  It's difficult to get Dave to talk about anything much less his family so I was grateful for a glimpse into his past.

From the kitchen...I am trying really hard at eating better and keeping better options around the house.  I started Weight Watchers two weeks ago and have (only!) lost 1.6 lbs or something.  It's frustrating.  It's also hard to coordinate with everything else that's going on (start of school for Nate, pacifier send off for Alex which is affecting his sleeping schedules, work, new house, etc.)  It takes time to weigh and measure and think but it's getting out of those habits that got me here in the first place!!

I am wearing...a sweater and skirt.  It's chilly (comparatively) today!  I'm happy to be back in jackets and layers, though...it helps me hide my trouble areas.

I am remembering...mi Abuelita.  Her birthday is Thursday.  She would have been 93.  I can't believe she's been gone for a year and a half already.  I have a special post coming up for her birthday in her memory. 
Siempre en mi corazón, Abuelita. Le pierdo.

I am creating...a patch board for Nathaniel to display the fire department patches he's collected.  I'd like to get his firefighter room put together before winter.  I'll see if we can work that into our budget/plans. 

I am going...to be busy for the next couple of weeks. September always proves to be busy, I think, but this year, with Nate starting Pre-K, and just having moved in, it's been crazier than usual. 

I am hoping...to be able to work exercise into this hectic week.  So far I have not been able to squeeze it in and I know that will help jump start my weight loss!  Unfortunately with Alex's bedtime fiasco's of late, I haven't been able to get both boys to bed and sleeping before 9:30 and by then I'm in settle down mode myself and deemed useless at that hour.  If I don't fall asleep with them, I usually do shortly after getting them to bed.

I am hearing...Zac Brown Band on my iPod...their music makes me very happy!

Pondering these words..."When I feel my world crumbling around me.. I look in my baby's eyes and am reminded why I must always stay strong" - My cousin had this posted as her Facebook status and it's so true.  There are many days when my children give me the motivation I need just to get out of bed and function.


Around the house...boxes, piles, and clutter.  I need a good solid weekend when the kids are occupied to tackle the mess that is my house.  It would also help to make it a priority, which my procrastinating nature has a hard time doing. 

On my mind...the Photoshop class that Heidi and I are starting tomorrow!!  I'm so excited about it!  I hope it teaches me what I need to take my photos to the next level!

Noticing that...it's very quiet around here today.  Which I like.  It makes for a better thinking day.  I feel less chaotic and cluttered when it's quiet.   I think that's why I turn off the TV at night when the kids are in bed.  It's more peaceful that way.

One of my favorite things...Alex just learned to say "I love you" and it's SO cute.  It warms my heart!!

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Photoshop class tomorrow, setting up with my sister for a garage sale she's having this weekend, spending the night with my sister to hang out at the garage sale on Saturday, then some family fun for the weekend since Dave is actually off!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 Cousins - September 4, 2010

Nate and Alex got to spend the day with Kensie at the zoo for her birthday 

- we're about to add another cousin to our brood - and can't wait!

I ♥ Faces..."Vroom, Vroom!"

This week's challenge over at I ♥ Faces is "Vroom, Vroom!"  I knew exactly what photo I wanted to use for this challenge!  Longtime readers of my blog first saw this photo as a Wordless Wednesday last November, but it remains one of my favorite captures of my oldest, Nathaniel, doing what he does best...mimicking Daddy.  Daddy was working on his truck next to us so Nate propped his beloved fire truck up on an available jack and "got to work"...The best part about this picture is his serious look, I think.  He was hard at work!

For more great photos of this week's challenge, check out this website!

Make-A-Wish

I am a big fan of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  I think they do great things for wonderful kids and serve a fantastic purpose!  So, I feel a little guilty using this analogy, but I'm not sure how else to adequately describe it:  Nathaniel got a Make-A-Wish of his own granted this week (minus the usual terminal illness, of course).

As you know, my Bug is a bit of a firebug, if you will.  He lives and breathes all things firefighting.  We live in a "fire house", we have a "fire dog" (known as a lab mix to the rest of the world), we drive a "fire truck", and he introduces himself as an FDNY Firefighter to everyone he meets.

It all started with a letter writing campaign I decided to undertake in an effort to get some local fire department patches to decorate the firefighter bedroom we promised Nate in the new house.  I wrote up a short letter explaining his love of all things firefighting and sent it out to the local fire departments that I had addresses for.  I enclosed a self-addressed, stamped envelope to keep their costs and effort down and figured if I got a few patches out of the deal, it was better than nothing.

The first week or so we got a couple patches sent back.  I was excited to see that it was paying off.  Nathaniel loved getting mail with his name on it, and the discovery of a fire department patch inside was even more thrilling!

Then one day, a gentleman stopped at our house.  He introduced himself as the Lieutenant of the Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Department and held up the letter I had sent saying, "I'm here about this".  My initial reaction was "uh oh"...I immediately started wondering what law I had broken or what etiquette I had failed to follow.  The gentleman went on to say "We won't be sending anything back in response to this."  To which I quickly responded that that wasn't a problem, that I was only asking....when he interrupted and said "We won't be sending anything in the mail...We'll be personally delivering him a patch...in a fire truck...on Tuesday."

My mouth fell open and I was giddy with excitement.

Little did I know that one short week later he and his entire crew would be parked in our driveway with every piece of equipment the fire department owns just to make my little boy's day year lifetime!

To say Nate got the royal treatment is an understatement of great proportions.  Lt. Chilson presented Nathaniel with a slew of goodies including a bunch of department patches, a F-H-M firefighter license plate, coloring book, ruler, pencil, calculator, 9-11 teddy bear, stickers, and his very own, real life fire helmet with shield.

He got a tour of the trucks, they opened them all up and showed him all the equipment, and then, as if that wasn't already a fabulous display, he got a ride around the block in the pumper truck with the lights and sirens a blaring!  It was priceless.  He was over the moon!  And almost a little overwhelmed by the whole experience but as he got more comfortable, he finally started warming up and was "radioing" in to his guys on the crew and singing his firetruck songs.

I can't say enough good things about this fire department and the fabulous people who make up this 100% volunteer organization.  They treated my son, a boy who was a complete stranger to them a week ago, like a rock star.  And solely on the precipices of making a 4-year-old wanna-be firefighter happy.  And that they did!  I don't know how I can ever repay them.  My gratitude and appreciation is inexpressible.

Happiness is...

the peace that a pile of dirt and some sand toys brings.

I love when my boys play nicely together.  Even if they're not interacting with one another, the silence is golden.  For 5 or 10, or sometimes even 15 minutes I get these moments where I can peacefully fold laundry at the back door or wash dishes at the kitchen sink and look out on the boys just doing what boys do.  Playing, getting dirty, exploring their worlds.  It's glorious.  Of course it often ends abruptly with one (or both) of them running to the door screaming "Mommy!" with a story of what the other one did to them...but until that happens, it is pure bliss.

Deep Breaths

Today was a less than stellar example of my motherhood skills.  I am generally able to possess mass quantities of both patience and understanding when it comes to my children, however, today, my stock was running alarmingly low on both.  It was one of those kinds of days.  You know the type...nothing was going smoothly, no one was listening, and even the "helpful" gestures from my small human beings were making everything twice as difficult.

Finally, near my breaking point, my husband intervened and told me to go take a walk.  "Grab your camera and go", he said.  I glanced at the clock.  I had 20 minutes before he had to leave for work, taking with him what was left of my sanity, so I didn't hesitate another second.  I did just as he suggested.  Without haste, my Canon XSI and I went for a walk in the woods - out into our newly acquired "back 5" (acres) as I like to call it!  

As I walked away from my house with nary a backward glance, I heard the bellowing screams of my children..."Mommy!"  "Come back!"  "No, Mommy!"...(please don't judge me if I tell you my steps may have gotten a little more brisk at the dissonant sound of their little cries).  If there is ever any question as to why I might be losing my mind, this moment brought it into crystal clear focus for me.

As I disappeared into the woods, I realized I had to walk a REALLY long way before I found silence, but I kept walking nonetheless.  Finally, surrounded by nothing but trees, with burrs covering my pant legs, and thorns nipping at my ankles, I started snapping photos.

Allergy inducing goldenrod suddenly took on a bright yellow, fresh, innocent beauty.

Simple piles of stone took on a life of their own as a story of how they came to be there unleashed itself in my head.  I heard the crisp snapping of grasshoppers jumping out of harm's way in front of me as I walked.

And I breathed.  Deep, slow breaths.  I took in this wonderful (and rare) moment of silence and I realized how lucky I am.

I am surrounded by beauty out here.  All around me are reminders of my own childhood.  Trees to climb, plants to learn about, animals to track, nature to experience.  Some of my fondest memories of growing up with my brother and sister on the "Homestead" were of the adventures we had and the lessons we learned.  My brother and I would find dead animals rotting in the woods and dissect them with a stick to see what their skeletons looked like. We caught toads and kept them in buckets.  Saw baby goats being born.   We used to squish up polk berries to make ink and used sticks as quills to write with.  To this day I almost inherently flip up the leaves of milk weed plants looking for the cocoon of the Monarch butterfly perched below.  I want that for my boys and here, I feel they will have that chance.  The chance to learn and grow and explore.  I hope I do half the job my parents did teaching us all there was to learn about the world around us.  I'm excited to have the opportunity to share this with them.

With renewed spirit, I headed home to my little men and sent my husband off to work with a fresh and level head and energized soul.  Who knew that 20 minutes in the fresh air of my own backyard would be so cathartic for the day I was having.  In the words of Annie, "I think I'm gonna like it here!"

10 on 10: September 2010

Finally, I remembered to participate in this month's 10 on 10.  Ok.  Sort of.  I got helpful reminders from Heidi all week.  Marked it on my calendar.  And still got all the way in to work this morning before I realized I had forgotten my camera.  So in a committed effort NOT to miss it yet again, I decided to do a 10 on 10 camera phone version.  I apologize in advance for the quality and unedited nature of these photos.  Hopefully you'll get the idea.  Today's photos give a few snippets at some of the stuff I have to "talk" about in the coming days/posts!  So here are my 10 photos taken once an hour for 10 hours on the 10th of the month...Enjoy!

For more 10 on 10 posts, check here!

Back in the Saddle...

Has it seriously been a week since I posted anything on here?!?!  That surprises me seeing as I usually at least get a Wordless Wednesday or Simple Woman's Daybook up...and have a million posts started, planned and/or brewing.  But not this week!  Too many exciting things going on here to put into one post so I promise to write a few of them up in the coming days and get my thoughts on "paper" before my brain moves on to Christmas shopping or a remodeling project or Nathaniel's college prep.  And just because a post is boring with no photos.  I bring you a photo of the delicious clam/shrimp dinner my husband made the other night in his latest garage sale steal (a clam steamer in excellent condition for $10!).  He threw corn in there and we feasted like royalty!  Nathaniel is a big sucker for clams, surprisingly.  He could probably out-eat me in a competition, if we were to do such a thing.  Alex, on the other hand, wants nothing to do with anything of the seafood variety.  That's ok...more for me (and Nate, I suppose!)  :)

"Talk" to you soon!

All Time High = All Time Low

I'm at an all time high. 

But before you applaud or rejoice or say "yippee", let me explain.  Never in my 34 years of life have I ever weighed THIS much.  Ok, I take that back...I did when I was 6 months pregnant with either of my children, perhaps.  But without the excuse of having an entire other human being in my body, I have never weighed as much as I do now.  This does not make me happy.

Thus, my "all time low".

Nathaniel was using one of my t-shirts (that I don't wear anymore because it's unflattering-ly tight) as a pillow the other day and said "What's this Mom?" - when I told him it was Mommy's t-shirt, he said (incredulously) "No, it's not Mom!  This is too small!   This is a shirt from when I was baby!".

I'm in a funk and I need to defunk-tify.  (Yes, it's a word.  I swear!)  I'm tired of being one of those Moms.  The kind you see and feel bad for because they've "let themselves go".  The words: frumpy, homely, uncool, and boring come to mind.  I want to be someone my children can be proud of.  I want to set good examples for them as far as eating healthy and being active go.  I don't want them to be embarrassed of me when they get older.   I want to fit back into cute clothes, and not have my wedding rings fit so snugly.  I want to feel pretty again and not worry that people are judging "the fat girl" for every little thing I put in my mouth.  I want to feel comfortable in my own skin again.

So, I vow to do something about it.

I joined Weight Watchers Online yesterday and have officially started meticulously tracking my points online today.  I will work exercise into my daily routine.  I will eat better, eat less, make healthier choices.  I have enlisted the aide of some of my best supporters and motivators for encouragement. 

So here's to big changes (and hopefully big LOSSES!) in the coming months...better Me, here I come!  

Wordless Wednesday - Disappointment

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.