counting catching corners cupid

My house has so many corners, the cluttered shelf, the moldy edges of the sink, the disorganization in the garage, stories waiting to be read together, projects unfinished, so many opportunities to improve.  Meanwhile, I look out the window at the sun on the mountains, hoping that before the end of the day I'll go out and breathe in it's beauty, relieved. I say wait there I'm coming, but by noon, I start to feel desperate because I know it won't wait.

It's Valentine's day and absolutely the most beautiful morning of the year, warmth, sunshine, blue sky, white mountains.          

Driving to school today Caitlin asked,"If it's Valentine's day why is Cupid not shooting arrows in the air?"

Sam replied, "He is.  He's just invisible."

I dropped William and Sophie off at Grandma's, then Caitlin and Grant off at the preschool.  Grant's class was already out at the playground, but on the classroom carpet were bags decorated with red hearts and each child's name, already filled with surprises, lined up in neat rows.

Valentine preparation has been the industry around here lately.  Counting, collating candy and cards.  Some spreading their goods out carelessly on  the carpet, then screaming with horror to find William tearing in to their lollipops.

I went to the store to buy Valentine cookies, frosting, sprinkles for Olivia's class.  Found some beautiful hyacinths to give away. I love the smell of hyacinths..like Easter.

Came home, walked in to the off-to-the- bus- clutter...it was extensive and all throughout the house.  Determined to leave it and sit down to write. About what? Accepting the limitations of the day.  Learning happiness that way.  Because Saturday, while I spent the day cleaning I kind of had this idea that it would make Monday easier. But here I am again.

So I even left the bags of groceries on the floor.  Looked down to see the enormous pork loin that was half price still lying on the carpet, slithering out of the bag like an anaconda.  I have to find a zen focal point and let the rest go.

Keeping this blog is a way of reminding myself that this is about more than catching up. I've already arrived at the day.

And here were some things to celebrate.

Thursday, February 10, I was grateful that we were able to pull together Olivia's science fair project. Proud of her for wanting to do it and for keeping me on task.

Bethany made a Valentine's day box to take to school. 

Friday morning, Ben invited me to come to the Middle school to see his musical theater class perform a one-act play.  I think Ben has a future in physical comedy.

Friday at noon, the preschool kids had open houses for me to attend.  Caitlin is serious and detail oriented about her artwork.

I got to frost cookies with Grant.

Friday evening, on the pizza pick-up the kids and I stopped by Petco.  I was planning to buy a new companion for the Dwarf Hamster.

"Not gonna happen," the Petco guy responded when I told him we were looking for a new cage mate.

Apparently, once they've tasted independence they can't be paired again.

But he did give us some advice about  how to catch a Dwarf Hamster.  Here it is.  There's an apple, her favorite snack, there at the bottom.

Sophisticated as this may be, Julie the hamster is still at large.

Saturday cleaning.

Sunday warm and beautiful. I went to the park with the kids. It was great to see them playing with their neighborhood friends outside.

bus love

I never see a school bus pass by the park, my door, pass under the leaves green, or brown, or red, or bare branches covered in white snow, that I don't stop and appreciate its yellow-orange... and think about my childhood,and how quickly childhood passes by.  Then I look for my children, and I think how grateful I am for them and how happy I am that they are walking home together, talking about their day. I remember taking the bus with my sister, walking up our long street together. We passed red bud, dogwood, and sycamore trees.

They realize I'm watching them....

Tuesday, August 24, the big kids went back to school. Grant thought he was going to go too.

Diaper, backpack, anything more is just details.

Ben's first day of seventh grade.

Thanks to Grandma Martha, Olivia had a week's worth of new clothing.

Friday evening I took the kids to the school carnival. The middle schoolers were pretty surly about the whole thing. I sent them off to buy snow cones.

This was Grant's favorite thing.

 William enjoyed waving at the "car car" but wouldn't get near it.  I think he was still traumatized from Lagoon.

This was the most lively turtle I have ever seen.  Sam and I both agreed he seemed like he was animatronic.

We tried to get behavior management mileage out of this boa constrictor...but Grant is getting too smart for that type of " the snake is going to get you" child psychology.  Too bad. 

We were standing under the snake's canopy when it started to rain pretty heavily. Soon the forecasted micro bursts of wind started to blow in along with some lightening and everyone made a dash for the building. I was sorry that we had to evacuate the carnival early, but it did add a kind of 2012, disaster movie fun to an otherwise low-key event.

Saturday we had a fun time at the Dollar movie.  Sunday Ben spoke in sacrament meeting, did a wonderful job. Kyle also spoke in Primary.  Some new friends from the ward invited us to dinner.  That doesn't happen very often...brave souls...

Monday was Caitlin's first day of preschool.  Poor Grant walked in and made himself comfortable too.  He was quite offended when I had to drag him away from morning circle.

Caitlin had a great time.

first days

Our first days back in Beijing were about adjusting to the time change. U.S. to China jet lag is surreal. I start to feel like I'm dragging about four o'clock, when it's time to make dinner. The children are playing one minute and then quickly, a quiet falls over the house. I walk from room to room. All sleepers. I try to make it until 8:30p.m. I hate going to bed too early. I wake up refreshed and it's not even midnight. The kids are up again by 3:00a.m. It's not even 4:00a.m. before we all turn on the light and start the day. That takes at least a week.


More first days came later on in the week. Thursday August 13, was the first day back to school. It was Ben's first day as a middle schooler. Ben and Sam left for the bus by themselves in the morning. I took the younger kids to the welcome picnic at 11:00. That was frustrating to Mary. She was afraid that she was going to miss circle time.

It was Mary's first day of Kindergarten, but she attended all-day preschool at ISB last year, so this first day stuff was old-hat to her. It was Olivia's first day of first grade, and it was Bethany's first day to admit that I was embarrassing her with all my picture taking, and her first day of second grade. Kyle was starting fourth grade with Ms. Woolsey, the dream teacher, just what we need for Kyle this year.



Monday August 17, was Caitlin's first day of preschool. We walked down the block to Miss Bri's Create and Learn Preschool. Bri is my friend from church. She is teaching from her home in River Garden. The classroom looks beautiful. I'll get a picture soon. But for now here is Caitlin with Miss Bri and Ash the cat.