What's your Passion?

I would love to say I am passionate about....well, anything. I'm not sure if that is a quality that I possess. I enjoy certain things, but when I think of passion, I think of "burning desire". I would love to have this characteristic. I know people that possess it and they are electric to be around. Sometimes a bit exhausting as well, but more often I feel alive around them.

My children are passionate about things that drive me crazy at this point. Things that I wish they would like a lot less. Yet, I don't want to drive this passion out of them as it will make them "electric" adults.

It is a great quality to have. Imagine all the creative and wonderful things that are accomplished in the lives of those that possess it?!

Can it be imitated or is it something you have to be born with? I wish it were as simple as rubbing against a passionate soul. I think it is because I haven't found that something that ignites mine on a constant basis.

As I am writing this post I realize that I am passionate about my children. Sometimes good and sometimes bad. I guess it's like anything else, it is where and how that passion is directed whether it is good or bad.

Decorating does that for me also. I don't get to do it often, so it is something I don't get to exercise. Maybe that is the key...exercise! Do what makes you feel passionate and you may become such?! Hmmmm...one for the thinking block.

I still want to feel like I am on fire more often than I do. It is electrifying to have all those neurons firing in unison. Definitely something to work at.

So, I want to know, what's your passion?

Unexpected Surprises

Many months ago I opened the door to a priority mail package on my doorstep. I couldn't imagine who would be sending me something...it wasn't even my birthday.

My friend Shannon, who became my friend by being my visiting teacher for many years, created this little treasure that I have placed on my computer armoire. I love her creativity and style.

Thank you so much for taking your time to make me something so exquisitely divine.

I need to add that as the person she visiting taught, I was the recipient of many unique gifts.

Drama

Miss Boo finished her first week of school and with it came some new behavior changes and attitudes. Not to mention some changes for Mom and Dad with verbage. Her teacher lasted two days and then left for family matters and Mrs. P., the principal took over. This is someone that knows Miss Boo really well and how to handle her behavior.

She pulled me aside after school on Thursday and told me that she had some new phrases that she was using and thought we might like to know what they are when the situation arose.

1. Eyes up for us to communicate. Would you like to try that again. (Miss Boo tends to look down so she doesn't have to see us or respond to us. This happens mostly when she absolutely doesn't want to do something.) She usually responds with "No Thank you", which is more acceptable.

2. This is too much drama if you are not bleeding or on fire. She got tired of us using this one because she tends to escalate quite quickly when she is upset or frustrated.

We were driving when she started getting quite upset/excited about something. She immediately stopped and said; "I am not bleeding and I am not on fire!". We busted up laughing. She put a stop to us before we could get after her.

School is going well. She is learning tons every day. The Dude loves his preschool and gets very upset the days when his sister makes us late. He keeps telling her he is going to be late so she better move it.

I still haven't gotten anything spectacular accomplished with all my free time, but I'm sure my "GET UP AND GO" is just waiting until I least expect it.

Just one more hug...

I remember so little of going to school as a child. We didn't have preschool back then, but am ecstatic that children at 3 can have that opportunity. I am inclined to believe a mother created this program. Not because she didn't want to have her children at home longer than necessary, or maybe not. (We all have these days when we wish them some place else.) But, because there is a desire in these little people to achieve more than the norm.

Our little guy is not any different. He was so excited to be going to his class. I told him that he was going to learn to write his own name. That is huge to him. No tears, just 1 High-Five, 2 hugs and 2 kisses for me on the cheek. He said I was going to need them. And then he trotted off on his journey to grow up.




When I came to pick him up, I found him doing everything but standing up. He had learned all he needed to this day and was amusing himself. I have no idea what book they were reading, but he was not interested.
This picture makes my heart skip a beat every time I look at it. He was so happy to see me! I felt the same way!

This too shall last?

I woke up this morning excited to see my little girl off to her first day of Kindergarten. I was taken by surprise at the emotion that welled up in me as I was getting her ready. It wasn't that she was going to school, it was that she was growing up. (I told someone the other day the only tear I would have taking her to school would be from pulling a ham string sprinting out the front door past the crying mothers.) She looked like a little lady posing for her 1st day pictures. It was the first time that she really got into it. She wasn't even arguing, which is a norm for all things associated with school.

I was taken aback by how much she has changed since her last day of school in May. How does that happen? Too many hours at home with Mom that one is forced to grow up?!

We left the house in pouring rain and as a result I had to hustle her in to school and forgot my camera and then out because there were many other parents waiting to drop off their children. She got a little panicky as I walked out, but Mrs. Clement assured me that she had a great day with no tears.


A victory for Miss Boo.

And now to see if this too shall last.

p.s. Miss Boo actually sat down for a haircut yesterday and we got about 4 -5 inches off. She was a trooper.

Sleeping in the Rain

We are blessed to have this amazing little boy in our midst. He truly gives us many reasons to smile...even while he sleeps.

95 degrees outside and still a need for his favorite "Meet the Robinsons" hoodie and froggie umbrella. Oh, how I love this little boy.

One little, two little...fishies!

YES FOLKS! Our little man is swimming on his own. And Miss Boo is helping him swim all over the place so she has a swim buddy.

Map...Quest

Miss Boo and I enjoy shopping together. Actually I enjoy shopping and she enjoys playing games on my phone. And when she isn't playing games, she is taking pictures of her favorite Giraffe.
Later on that week we went to the COOP Annual meeting. Starts with a hayride, then on to a carnival and then dinner. Well, not that order, but we enjoy it. Did I mention they pay you to come? Totally, the best day ever for me!

This is Miss Boo on the Pirate Ship ride. YES! I was sick, but figured I would take pictures of her having the time of her life. She loves all that kind of stuff.
This past weekend we traveled down to Springfield to get away from it all. I truly cannot remember being this relaxed. We were all that way. The children were remarkable even when we got lost in the Mark Twain Forest. I guess the first time I make a executive decision to bring the GPS without the power adapter, it is most positively going to be a disaster. Who would have known that Mr. Finn would not mapquest the way to his "relative" in the Ozarks! We got totally lost and heading the wrong direction. Thank heavens he still keeps those paper things with squiggly lines and directions on them. And YES! I can still read a map and got us back to Ava. We decided that we would forego finding their home. Maybe next time?!

We decided to do fun, non stressful things from this point on. Swimming, movie, Zoo, Food...Sleep. It was great! Springfield has a really cool zoo where you can pet and feed the Giraffes. Heaven! Miss Boo was all about doing both of these things. He was very tolerant of the petting, but I could tell he was all about the food.
This guy had a fetish with the railing. Like to lick the salt off. I just say he had something going with the rail. Wouldn't leave it alone. Started to creep me out. Can you see how wet that thing is. The deck under him was a puddle. By the way does anyone know how long a giraffe's tongue is?!

Children and parents had a great time in spite of the heat. We found out that Miss Boo is a lot like her daddy. She would get to an exhibit and almost immediately say she was done and ready to move on. She definitely is not one for loitering. Helped go through the zoo in 2 hours from start to finish. Perfect.

Ice Cream Love

I am laying on the couch with Miss Boo and she is telling me about how wonderful it was when I brought her a cup of chocolate ice cream. Very kind and special she says. I tell her she is welcome.

She then tells me how she is going to do that with her little girl someday. And that when she gets bigger her "chi chi's" are going to get bigger and she will have milk come out of them to feed her baby. That's right Mom, isn't it? I nod yes all the while laughing on the inside as she continues her train of thought and ending with, "It was so nice that you brought me chocolate ice cream".

I learned a lesson about my little girl during this experience. Doing acts of kindness are required for a relationship to grow and to be full of love and compassion. I forgot who she is. She is a child of God just like me and requires the same things I do to feel special and important.

Here's to more ice cream given with love.