Getting Better With Age

Photo Friday
Apologies, a day late. But better late than never!

Happy Birthday/ Father's Day to the man with the broadest shoulders of anyone I know - both physically and responsibility-wise.

For Sale, Not By Owners

Exciting news, we are attempting a sale of "ye old homestead" once again. With Kate ready to enter Kindergarten our goal is to be out and gone to a better school district before the end of summer. Paul has spent his entire week long vacation, even his birthday, (aside from our Whitewater trip and a Lorax movie viewing) cleaning, de-cluttering, prepping and taking care of the longest "honey-do" list of all time. The new floors are in, we are awaiting painting estimates and even met with our first seller's agent today.

Wish us luck!

Photo Friday

Photo Friday turns the camera on me. Seems as if I'm a bit allergic to, well, something. Left side of face, under left eye, under chin, left shoulder and left arm all not too fond of whatever it was that touched my skin. Headed to the doctor's and the good news is the rash is nothing he feels a bit of antihistamine and steroids can't fix. Between you and I, it does itch as much as it looks like it would.

 

Kings and Queens of Crowder's Mountain

Today we had a wonderful day of hiking and togetherness. We climbed 1.76 miles of the VERY strenuous Pinnacle Trail, culminating in 322 steps to the most gorgeous view, which really seemed to impress Ashton.

On the way up Kate's tiny legs wore out and Paul unbelievably carried her on his shoulders 1/3 of the way up. (This lead to an undisputed agreement that Daddy is strong like an ox.) Then, to my disbelief on the way down, I see Ashton being hefted up on to those broad shoulders and Paul jogging with our 80lb youngster perched up there like nothing. Unbelievable.


On the way down the kiddos decided to branch off and tackle the Crowder's trail, adding another 3.0 miles of hiking to our afternoon. Half way through, Ashton loudly declares "I love nature!" and seemed very peaceful out there in the woods. Kate loved leading the way in the less inclined trail, softly singing the beloved song from Peter Pan "We're following the leader, the leader, wherever SHE may go." and both found their own walking sticks to assist in their journey.

I am happy to being them to nature and hope to instill in them a love and comfort with the wilderness at the same time getting them up and moving. I am looking forward to our next exploration, wherever we may go.

Photo Friday

Kate offered Candy Cane Cupcake Christmas a friend which he quickly cuddled up with.

The End of an Era

As I look to tomorrow, it is with mixed emotions. The last of my babies will graduate from preschool and I will be there so proud and, at the same time, so sad. From this point on I will have no choice but to turn my last little one over to others for care. For some reason I don't feel as bad dropping her off at preschool, because that is a choice I guess, with freedom to come and go as we please, not like Kindergarten.

However, in spite of the bitter, I will do my best to focus on the sweet and watch proudly as Kate passes a milestone and looks forward to continued success in her academic career - which, based in the fact she confided in me she aspires to be a doctor, maybe a very long one. Congratulations to Kate!

Photo Friday

Today for photo Friday here's a picture of Kate's ballet debut at the North Carolina dance theater. We are so lucky to be surrounded by such a large fan base a.k.a. family for such a small performance in length but big in accomplishment for Kate.

Highs and Lows

Since it's really a mixed bag today, let's start with shoelaces.

Yes, shoelaces! On a trip to Target to purchase new shoes, Kate insisted she wanted "shoes that tie", so shoes that tie she got!
The good news is that she is almost able to tie them herself, the not so good news is that whole "almost" part. But, I guess practice makes perfect and she will get there.

Also, same day, Ashton was subjected to the utter misery of allergy testing - the whole stick 40 needles into your back to cause hives thing. The poor dear took it in stride, only looking at us in utter terror during the initial pricks, not scratching once per strict instructions, but itching all the same.
Turns out he is crazy allergic to all molds, cats, dogs, house dust, dust mites, some trees, some grass, beef, soybeans, chocolate and milk. Poor, poor thing.
So, needless to say, dinner out Ashton's choice, was in order. After realizing his favorite restaurant would limit me from eating ( frankly it makes me sick) he insisted on choosing a spot where he could eat with his WHOLE family instead, an act of pure selflessness. What a special and kind boy he is, I am so proud.

Random Radio Thought

Just flipping through the radio and heard a local AM personality comment "Yeah, you probably don't want to do a cartwheel with a loaded gun in your pocket." True words to live by.

We're Baaaaack!

I can't believe it has been so long since I last posted,  I guess Facebook as been my "go to" place to capture moments with the kiddos. But, as of today, back in the blogging game. I keep meaning to capture more of the good/bad moments of parenting, the things in life that I will look back on and say, yes, it was a fun and wild ride!

From Kate

Out of nowhere and direct from Kate's mouth to my ears today: "Mommy, I love being four years old." Yes, Kate, I bet you do. :)

Organic Food Update

Quick update on our food change. It seems to be working! Ashton's having more green faced days at school, Paul and I have had the energy to hit the gym 4-5 days a week, I've lost 7 lbs and Kate, well, she always ate well.

We aren't 100% organic and unprocessed 100% of the time, but have focused on organic dairy (to help keep the hormones away from Kate's undeveloped body), organic produce for items that would be directly sprayed with chemicals(apples, grapes, etc) as opposed to items in the ground such as onions, traded up for much better tasting free range eggs and eliminated almost all high-fructose corn syrup. (I even have HFC free ketchup, but can't find a similar Ranch dressing product). It was shocking as I paid attention to the food labels of the products I was buying and where I found high fructose corn syrup. I may pay $7 a bottle for pasta sauce, but it tastes as good as it is healthy.

The other thing that I think has been of tremendous health benefits is we are getting away from the "meat and two" mentality. Instead of thinking of dinner as meat-centered and a veggie and carb side, I plan our meals around veggies/fruit in season with meat as a seasoning or side. This is proven to be less expensive and I think helps us up our fruit/veggie intake.

Great examples:
Stir Fry
Pasta dishes (just tried the butternut squash pasta sauce from Costco and Ashton loved it!)
Rice and veggie casseroles
Seafood dishes
Curries

I hope you've made some changes and are feeling better too!

Semi-Annual Fall Poem

Re-posting of my autumn poem -
Falling From Me
By Dawn Reid

O leaves that fall from our tree.
Staying one more week, frozen in time and frost.
Your peak is pretty as can be,
But in the wind and fluttering you are lost.

To my little ones I request the same,
Stay for me, young and innocent a little longer.
Alas they do not listen either,
Growing always older and taller.

Tooth Fairy Learning Curve...

Ashton, I hope that by the time you can read this, if you ever do, the truth doesn't stun you about your parents lack of basic parenting skills or the fact there is no Tooth Fairy.

Last week Ashton lost his 1st tooth. Bottom right. As exciting as that was for us all, the real story here is the faulty tooth fairy.

Ashton was so excited about thoughts of a winged being putting some cash behind his pillow he couldn't fall asleep. As we waited for a safe time to enter his room and swap tooth for money, Paul drifted off to dreamland. Around 11pm I was able to slip in, take the tooth and place $5 under his pillow. Apparently, at some point in the night, Ashton tossed and turned knocking the money off his bed.

Then, around Paul's normal time to go to work, 3am-ish, unaware I'd already played Tooth Fairy, he entered Ashton's room. According to Paul he spent a fair amount of time rooting around Ashton's room looking for the tooth and not seeing the missing money I'd already placed there. During this time Ashton apparently partially woke up, so Paul stashed the cash and went to work.

How did I know about what happened with Paul/Ashton? The next morning Ashton comes racing down the stairs to proudly show me his $5 and tell me he saw the Tooth Fairy. "Mommy" he says "I saw the Tooth Fairy last night...well at least half of it. There were no wings, only grey and white striped shorts like Daddy's. I think Daddy is the Tooth Fairy." I was quickly tried to cover the snafu by telling a white lie around Daddy coming to check on him to make sure he was asleep. I then VERY quickly threw out the suggestion of immediately going to pick out a new toy for his Tooth Fairy money to be spent on. I shamlessly admit this was to continue distracting him and hope my son still holds on to what little bit of his childhood essence his too mature self possesses.

By the way, he already has a 2nd loose tooth!

Also, side note, Ashton was able to get the $20 suitcase to hold his Hot Wheel cars as a result of a combination of this mix up and his kindness. With only $5, he asked if he could get the $20 toy he'd been eyeing. When asked where his piggy bank money was to cover the spread, he told me it was empty. "Empty?" I said raising an eyebrow and picturing candy or stickers he most likely blew it on. "Yes Mommy, I gave all my money to kids with lukemia" (fundraiser at his school) he replied quietly. "Well" I told him, "maybe I could help with the difference, just this once." And of course Kate got the purple baby doll and stroller she'd been eyeing. (Teeth are one costly body part.)