{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, please leave a link in the comments to your moment.
We are six sessions in to your group speech therapy (out of ten); over half way and you have yet to say a word. I don't care that you don't talk in class. You're an observer; a man of few words; an introvert. I can relate to this, although coupled with your stubborness it does make it quite difficult to parent you. I'm proud of you for walking into class alone. I know how painful it is to walk into new situations. The unknown of it all. I knew I could have made it all better by going in with you, but that's not doing what's best for you. You needed to learn that you can trust other adults, that other kids aren't always scary, and that I'd be waiting for you when you were done. Even though you aren't talking in class, you're always quite chatty on the way home. I know the classes are making a difference and with your newly gained words and our understanding of them you are becoming more confident. Every class it's a little easier for you to walk in and it gets a little easier for you to warm up to strangers.
One day you'll believe me when I tell you I know how hard it is for you. That it pains me to have to watch you struggle with your words or walk into class with a little pout on your face. I want you to know this though - I will never apologize for your shyness or introvertedness. If I explain it to a stranger it's so they give you (and me) some much needed space. I am proud of you.
Love,
Mom
I'm participating in a link up with Last Mom On Earth for open letter week. If you'd like to do the same, be sure to check out her blog.
I know it doesn't look like I've gotten much done, but I have. One more set of increases and I will be ready to start the lace section. It's a wonderful summer knit; the yarn is cool and smooth on my fingers. Up until now it was the knit that had a home in my going out bag. Once I start the lace section I will no longer be able to do that. I like keeping charts at home where I can use a magnetic board and keep track of what row I'm on. I'll probably start a dishcloth to carry with me. I could use some new ones.
*work in progress
Some days I wander around the house unmotivated with an Ani Difranco song stuck in my head while my children are supposed to be napping (or at least having some quiet time). Other days, I'm suckered into taking them strawberry picking even though the one that talks the most (and therefore complains she's bored the most) never took me up on my offer to pick them in the backyard. Also because I really wanted to make strawberry syrup to put in my water from the Sodastream (it's unbelievably awesome in case you were wondering). And that is how we ended up going strawberry picking last week. I was pleasantly surprised with how much Daughter filled her basket and not surprised that Son spent more time eating than picking.
We got enough to eat, enough to make 8 half pints of strawberry syrup (from this book - it's a thin syrup, not for putting on pancakes, but I do have plans to mix some with some maple syrup and see how it tastes), and 2 half pints of strawberry preserves (for pancakes and ice cream). All of this is on top of the 9 cups of strawberries in the freezer (all from the backyard), the 3 pints of strawberry jam (in smaller jars but they add up), and all those ones we ate and baked with (strawberry muffins are the best!).
*that title is just for you Kay.
After the scorching heat of last week that had the kids in the air conditioning arguing with each other and me exhausted; we finally had a nice mild weather day. I took full advantage and after Son's group speech therapy and we went to the park. One of the kids was really excited and didn't mind me following with a camera documenting all the fun being had before sitting down to enjoy some summer reading. The other sat at the picnic table pouting because we weren't inside watching tv before finally deciding that maybe the time would go faster if playing was done. I'll let you figure out which child did what.
We go to the park more often than I ever document. We all enjoy the change of scenery and being outside. I enjoy the smaller, less frequented parks for many reasons. It's easier to keep an eye on the kids because I don't have to search for them, I'm able to read a book or knit which makes the park and parenting more relaxing and entertaining, and I don't have to make the much dreaded small talk with other moms. It's not that I don't like other moms, but I hate small talk and I'm not good at it. I'll put up with it if I think it will lead to a coffee date and a friendship, but I find that at the park it tends to be more of the small talk that leads to the passing of time for the other person. For me, it slows down time and tends to be more like torture. Such is the curse of the introvert living in the extrovert's world.
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, please leave a link in the comments to your moment.
What I didn't take a picture of was the street lamp outside our tent that caused day like conditions at midnight. It also caused us to leave a day earlier than planned. The kids still got to play with their cousins though, and that was the whole point of the trip. So, that's really all that matters.
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, please leave a link in the comments to your moment.
Book #2 is complete. To be fair, it was a graphic novel and a bit of an easier read in terms of words. The content was not light in any way, but I still loved it. Fun Home was recommended to me by a friend, whose recommendations I have always loved, but I've put off reading it for various reasons. When I finally picked it up and started reading, all those reasons that I'd put it off for seemed really stupid. The book was amazing. Really well written and illustrated. Or perhaps I was just happy that I wasn't in the most abnormal family. If you want a better written review, I'm sure you could Google. There's a reason nobody pays me to read and review books.
Book #2 is complete. To be fair, it was a graphic novel and a bit of an easier read in terms of words. The content was not light in any way, but I still loved it. Fun Home was recommended to me by a friend, whose recommendations I have always loved, but I've put off reading it for various reasons. When I finally picked it up and started reading, all those reasons that I'd put it off for seemed really stupid. The book was amazing. Really well written and illustrated. Or perhaps I was just happy that I wasn't in the most abnormal family. If you want a better written review, I'm sure you could Google. There's a reason nobody pays me to read and review books.
The start of a new shawl, Nefertem. The yarn is a very luxurious blend of silk and seacell; a very nice combination to be knitting with on those camping trips in the heat of summer. I'll save the wool for the air conditioned house. I usually have the urge about once a year to do a lace project (last year it was the liquid silver shawl), and although this isn't a lace only project I'm hoping it will be enough to satisfy that urge.
For those wondering how the jam turned out - I had to reheat and reprocess it. Now it's wonderful though. I couldn't wait and opened a jar this morning just to see if it looked like jam. The kids tasted it and thought it was delicious. Three more half pints of Strawberry Vanilla Jam (which smelled heavenly while cooking) were canned today and I think tomorrow (if I have time) I will try some rhubarb jam.
*Work In Progress
This is the third year I've tried jam making. If the pan that I cooked the strawberries in is any indication, I think the third time is a success. Perhaps small batch jam making is the way for me to go. Good thing I like small batch preserving. Today, just regular strawberry jam. Tomorrow, strawberry vanilla jam. The day after that, buy some strawberries.
First stop on the camping tour was Sangcris Lake State Park in Illinois. It was nice, we were on the lake with a wonderful breeze (which is good because I heard it was 90° F), and there was a dock close by to fish off of (no fish were harmed and all were thrown back and swimming away - how the fish are doing now I can't say). Unfortunately, the camp sites weren't very private. Back in my parents' day, you could go out in the morning and choose a camp site before paying for it. Now, you have to reserve camp sites online and read reviews. We work with what we've got and remember write down which camp site we'd like next year if we came back.
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, please leave a link in the comments to your moment.
I was that Mom on Tuesday. The one who cancelled all plans when Daughter woke up with a sore throat and stomache, but then took her out later for the once in a lifetime (literally) opportunity to see Venus cross the Sun. The one who decided this science lesson was totally worth her child exposing strangers, aunts, and uncles to whatever disease may have been lingering there. To be fair, I'm starting to suspect allergies and not enough sleep, but I didn't know that then.
So we trekked to a local Wisconsin beach where an Observatory was holding an event and saw Venus in Transit. They had telescopes, a to scale set up of the planets and sun where we could easily explain how Venus was crossing the Sun (thank you to whoever put all those planets in the ground!), and solar glasses for sale. After 6 years of hearing "don't stare at the sun," Daughter was told to go ahead and stare as long as you're wearing the glasses (she put them over her sunglasses, just to be extra safe). And what dark glasses they are, they have to be. The sun was a faint dot, but if you looked away it was darker than the middle of the night in the country.
I'm sure Son won't remember a thing about this, but I'm hoping Daughter might. She seems to have a really good memory (which totally explains where mine went), but only time will tell. And if she doesn't remember, we'll always have the photos to tell her that she did indeed see Venus travelling across the Sun.
Mom, why do I always have to be your form?
Ummm...what?
Your form? Why do I always have to be your form?
I heard you, I just don't follow.
Why do I always have to wear what you knit so you can take photos?
Oh...because you're good at it.
I am.
And with that the Mara Shawl was photographed while she stood there. Have no fear though, she really does like being my form and she wanted to show off the new sandals. So I made sure to get a shot with the sandals in them. Because I'm good at that.
This weekend we all went to the library and signed up for the summer reading program. I shouldn't say all of us, that would lead you to believe that Husband signed up. Although he was at the library he chose not to sign up. I chose to be a positive influence and encourage my children to read by setting an example. I now have 8 weeks to read 4 books. I'm trying to be optimistic, but in general it takes me 8 weeks to read 1 book. I don't give myself a lot of leisure time to read since having had that second child 3 weeks ago.
For my first book, I may have chosen the one I'd already started reading 6 weeks ago - The Life and Times of the Thunderbold Kid. I was less than half way through it, so I feel like it totally counts. Otherwise I'd have to either stop reading it or give myself even less than 8 weeks to finish those 4 books. I liked Bill Bryson ever since I read A Walk in the Woods, but this book has really endeared me to him. I'm not sure if it's because he's my father's age and I'd like to imagine that my father had a similar childhood. Or that he grew up in Iowa and I kind of wonder if that tornado he saw could have been the one my mom lived through (he didn't give the year and I've put off looking at a map because I'm not sure I want to know if it was even possible). Either way, the book has made me laugh out loud and understand why politicians have a fondness for the 1950's (even though I don't agree with it).
Next up is the Hunger Games series to see what all the fuss is about. Hey, not everything I read has to be considered great literature. Besides, I tend to read mostly non-fiction so this is going to be a step out of my comfort zone.
