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I've been noticing a trend at my house.  Bart is now the go-to guy for help with math homework.   Apparently my children think I stumble through life without doing any math. How do I go the grocery store all by myself?!   Or calculate prices at a Gap sale?!   Last night, Owen was worried because Bart had a meeting and he needed help with math homework.  I offered my assistance and he actually stammered and said things like "you're so creative Mom" and "you're so good at social studies."  Then when he went to go get something from his room, I did the two math problems on another sheet of paper.  Yes!   I can do 5th grade math!    

Owen returns, I briefly flash my work so he can't see the answers and leave him with his mouth hanging open in disbelief.  Fifteen minutes later, his math was done and compared with Mom's "answer sheet."   And then this happened:

I'm a rock star!   I really hope that Caroline doesn't ask for help.  Seventh grade math might be beyond me.  Go out and use your math today kids!

These shoes were made for walking

I saw a car magnet the other day that said "0.0  I don't run."   A soulmate!    Or should I say sole-mate?

I don't dislike runners of course.  If you run for fitness and you love it, have fun.   But the hype around running, that is what drives me crazy.  So many posts and pics uploaded from half marathons, full marathons and beyond.  And why do runners get medals?   Lets think about other occasions where adults receive medals - the Olympics, a Nobel Prize, active duty in the military.  Yes, those all seem on equal footing with a half marathon turkey trot.   I feel bad for the person who trains and struggles to run a 5K - its would almost be embarrassing to post about that meager distance.    I have no runs under my belt, not even a mile.  I'm okay with it.

I do however like to walk and today I wandered in to the runner's den, Fleet Feet, to be fitted for a new pair of walking shoes.  It was the first time I bought a pair of shoes based only on comfort and not style.   That is harder to do than it sounds.  Just like it is hard to choose a paint color without being swayed by the name, it is hard to choose a shoe without noticing the color.    Jane, my lovely salesperson, asked me what I liked about pair 1 over pair 2.  I blurted out "they're pink and orange and the others are Buzz Lightyear colors."   I think she is used to dealing with serious runners.    After measurements and practice walks down the sidewalk (awkward) and many shoes later, I found these:

Not the cutest, but by far the most comfortable.  In an effort to make them a bit more stylish, I swapped out the gray laces for blue ones.  And now I have no reason not to get walking.

Thank you Jane at Fleet Feet for welcoming this non-runner into your world .    Now where's my medal?!

Baby books

I'm a big fan of record keeping, especially for my children.  A few years ago, I was still using my film camera and had all of my children's pictures edited and in albums.   They love looking through their albums.   And then I went all digital and Finn was born.   I have not printed one picture for him and have not touched the albums since! The process of printing and sticking the pictures down seems so cumbersome in this high tech, instant share world.    Last year I made photo books for the older three children for Valentine's Day - one year in one album.  But poor Finn - I really need to make a baby album for him.

What I have kept up is their baby books.  To keep it simple, I have four copies of the same book:

The illustrations are darling.  I originally bought it because it was adoption friendly - not pre-printed pages with info. that adopted kiddos don't necessarily have.   There's lots of room for writing whatever you want.

I love to write little snippets in these books - favorite outfits, first words and special friends.   Yesterday, when thinking about Halloween, I decided to write down each of the costumes that they have worn over the years.  It took a bit of research through pictures to find 12 for Caroline, 10 for Owen and 7 for William.

So many memories with each costume.  I remember when Owen was 2, Elmo costumes were everywhere but he deseparately wanted to be Cookie Monster.  I remember staying up late to win an eBay auction so that he could proudly parade in the blue fur.

Oh gosh - look at that face.   ME LOVE RECORD-KEEPING!  (say in Cookie Monster voice)

Dear Land of Nod, I love you

This post pays homage to my favorite store - one I have never stepped foot in - the Land of Nod.   I love, love, love when their catalog arrives.   The rooms are beautiful, the toys are of the best quality and the descriptions are so clever.   Lets get right to my favorites shall we?

The smore-the-merrier-plush-campfire-set  

Now that's my kind of camping!!!  How cute would this be for a metropolitan camper?

Indoor explorer pup tent

  Or would this one be better?

A teepee to call your own

And since Finnegan is on the nice list, I'm sure Santa will bring this on his sleigh:

Happy Pop Up

I have loved the Rainbow Happy Tree for two years.   Maybe Santa will bring it to me.  I have been very good.

Rainbow happy tree

Do yourself a favor, grab your yummy drink and spend some time looking through their entire website.  Read their knock knock jokes on every product page.  I could list so many more items that I love.  I feel quite sure that if I went in their store, I'd want to move in.     

I leave you with this - a mere sampling of the goodness awaiting you in their holiday shop:

All of the colors of the rainbow ornaments

Thank you Land of Nod for brightening my mailbox and delivering the most beautiful presents under our tree!

The Ferris Wheel

Top of the Ferris Wheel,  2013

I have always wanted to ride a ferris wheel with a boy.  At our church's fall festival, I had my chance - with two boys!   When we were stopped at the top - I looked at their faces and I just had to capture it.  They were excited to share their new perspective from atop the world, a little apprehensive about the next step and both said they were glad I was with them.  I thought how much life feels like that ferris wheel.   A ride of thrills and uncertainties, of courage and faith.

Lately, I have looked at my sons (at least the two who can walk and talk) and I worry that I am not doing enough to raise the men I picture them to be.  Someday I want to sit in the front row at each of their weddings and know that I have raised a man who is so smitten with the woman standing next to him that he can't imagine life without her and so sure of the God that he stands before that he can't imagine life without Him.  I want to know that all three boys will confide their secrets in each other, as brothers should, and that they learned to treat women with respect by the way they treated me and their sister.    I know they won't be perfect, but I hope they welcome mistakes as ways to grow and suffering as a way to learn compassion for others.

When they ask someone how they are doing, I want them to stop and listen for the response.  I want them to see each person they encounter as God's intended creation and honor that by seeing the best in them.  I want them to work hard at something they love and feel the satisfaction of of a job well done - whether it's raking leaves at home or running a company.  I want them to be scout leaders and Eucharist Ministers, good neighbors and son-in-laws.   While I want them to find careers that they love, I hope they'll realize that riding a bike with their baby strapped in will bring them more happiness than any day at the office.

I am on top of the ferris wheel with my boys - the best part of the ride.  I am the woman in their life and I know that won't last long.   Their dad is the perfect role model for them and I feel blessed and grateful.  I know though that my role is huge.  I know that I will need courage and faith for sometimes life is going up, sometimes down and sometimes it is still and waiting.  Either way, its a thrill to be along for the ride.

Good bye bunny friend

We've had a death in the family.   My bunny under the desk, Doodles, died peacefully this week of old bunny age after eight years in our family.  I loved Doodles.  In a house of loud chaos, he was quiet.   The strong silent type.  Absolutely expressionless.  Second, he was litter trained.  Oh sure, sometimes those pellets that looked remarkably like his food, but weren't, fell out of the slats in his cage, but for the most part - easy to care for.  Third, he was funny.   Racing around in circles and twisting in the air.  If you have never seen a bunny do that, it's impressive.  Fourth and most important, he was my children's first pet and they adored him.  He started off as Caroline's kindergarten class pet and we volunteered to take him home for the summer break.   I told Bart that for my birthday that year, I wanted to keep Doodles.  I was crazy smitten.   Could he call the teacher and ask if we could keep Doodles?  Now you are probably wondering why I didn't just call her.  I don't know exactly.  I think I didn't want to hear her say no.  The kids and I loved that rabbit and I knew that all bunnies are not as friendly as Doodles.  So my sweet husband called and as luck would have it, the teacher was transferred - to a school with a no pet policy.  Happy dance - Doodles was ours!

Doodles was the honored guest at many child planned bunny birthday parties, was taken to many school show and tells and survived our house fire because he lived in the basement.  He lived with our neighbors for three weeks after the fire, moved with us to our rental house and was the first family member to move back to our rebuilt house on the corner.

Sweet Owen found Doodles, he had just died laying in his bunny bed.

So, what is a mother to do?  Plan a bunny funeral of course.  I laughed so hard when I saw Modern Family this week because Cameron planned a huge funeral for a fake pet.  While I didn't go that far, we did have a eulogy (written by Owen), a pallbearer (William) and a flute solo (Caroline).  We also decorated his casket (a men's shoe box) and made a stepping stone to mark his grave.  The finishing touches were sprinkling his favorite nibble ring treats on the box and a flower in his food bowl. Maybe we did cross the line to crazy a bit.   I do have to admit that I find myself sitting in the rocking chair on the front porch looking at his stepping stone.  Its weird that my bunny friend is buried there.

What crazy things have you done for your pets?   Please tell me so I know I'm not alone!!