Boys. Need I say more?

My sweet boy. He's nuts like every other little nearly-six year old male of his kind. It's been a long, long week at work and one of those long (did I say long?) days ended with an about face on the freeway on the way home to meet daddy and Big D at the ER. Nothing like a vague conversation by phone with your spouse that goes something like this: 

Spouse: "So, I just got off the phone with the advice nurse and she thought I should take Big D to the ER. He fell of his bike and has thing with his chin." 

Me: "Um. Ok. I'll turn around." 

A thing with his chin? Like what exactly? Do NOT leave this sort of thing to my imagination. My hubby later commented that he had been impressed by how "calm" I was on the phone. Well, my dear, you didn't see me clenching the steering wheel or alternating between stomping on the gas and break pedal when traffic failed to cooperate with my sense of urgency. Of course the little dear is fine with the addition of some surgical glue and a band aid. 

Then there's today. The photos really speak for themselves . . . that's my bright guy shooting himself in the eye with the water "shark." I'd like to be able to tell you he only did that once! He was the only child sporting a benign animal-inspired water pistol. The rest ran around with full-fledged back-pack sporting water-shooting machines. I'd never seen anything like it! Clearly, I need to make a trip to the local Target and update our ammunition. Um. Yea. 

I don't know how mothers survive parenting their boys! The nurse in the ER commented that most boys end up with 1 of 3 scars on their face: eyebrow, chin or cheek bone. Oh lordy. I think spouse has all three! And a pin in his ankle and nose that's seen its share of action. Myself, on the other hand, has not suffered any "traumatic" injuries and kinda thought that was the way it was supposed to be. On a related note, I was relieved to discover as we were checking in at the ER, updating our info and the like, that we had not brought Big D  in for over a year. That's progress! 

Sun and Sprinklers

Another day of beautiful weather! I suppose that the majority of the continental US would not be surprised by sun and warmth in late May/early June, but around here, we expect that we haven't seen the end of cool rain showers . . . in fact, Big D's birthday (mid June) has seen rain nearly every year since his birth. We're crossing our fingers that our plans for a backyard barbecue and play date pan out this year! To complicate matters, there are THREE other birthday parties for Big D's classmates the same weekend! This mama missed the opportunity to get her invites out before the others so it may be a small gathering. Who knew the competition was so fierce for birthday party planning?
Yesterday was a busy day, beginning with a 7mi run with some of my team mates for the Hood to Coast relay, followed by a trip to the Nike employee store to replace worn out work out attire and finally, a made dash to Target for a birthday party gift . . . only to discover that the party is next weekend! To make up for Big D's disappointment, the kids played in the sprinklers while daddy washed the car. I snuck out with my camera to see if I could capture some pics with the falling water and sun. 
It was delightful to watch them run around, dumping watch on each other and dancing in the showers of water. As I look at our calendar over the next several weeks, we have lots of activities to look forward to -- perhaps too many. This past weekend, I had a group run both Saturday and Sunday morning, date night with hubby to celebrate his birthday, a canoe adventure, various trips to the store and the every day household chores that get saved up for weekends. In a moment of sanity, I called and bailed out of the women's book group that was to meet Sunday evening. Instead, we had grilled mushroom burgers, melon and birthday cake on the back porch. Then hubby and I curled up on the couch for a movie -- after updating my several weeks old pedicure. Ah. Lovely. 

So on another note -- I'm debating the wisdom of joining a photo scavenger hunt dealie-whopper. It's the Sweet Sauer Photo Hunt. Hmm . . . 

Memorial Day Weekend Part 2 -- sort of

Let's see, where did we leave off in the weekend saga? Oh yes, laboring in the yard and the first barbecue of the season! We got the grass seed planted and a good portion of the path laid. Of course it's anyone's guess when the rest of the path will be completed . . . The highlight of the day was purchasing a used 17ft canoe off craigslist. It kept the kids entertained in the backyard while we worked! Unfortunately, didn't get any pictures of the young pirates/fishermen/adventures of various types. Our hope is to spend quite a bit of time exploring the lakes and waterways around PDX this summer. I have fond memories of canoe camping trips as a kid and am still a water fiend.
Back to the barbecue -- we packed way too much into a single day so the prep was a bit rushed. Fortunately we have good friends who don't mind making an emergency trip to the grocery story for vegeburgers or waiting on meal prep! The kids ran around, kicking soccer balls and occasionally each other. Accidentally, of course:) They were bribed with ice cream to pose for mommy. I was experimenting with the wonderful evening light but my window of opportunity was a bit small and the subjects more than a little wound up!
I love this pic of Sweet Sis running into the light! It was a lovely evening and a good reminder that these things don't have to be perfectly planned or orchestrated. More often than not, I approach the weekend tired and reluctant to have people over or commit to outings, etc. Its a shame -- we all benefit when we relax with friends and get our silly on.
As an aside, Big D is without training wheels! He's a little hesitant but the promise of a new bike for his 6th birthday is highly motivating.
And Little Sis is peddling on her own. They're growing up!

Memorial Day Weekend Part 1

My goals were simple for this weekend: revel in my family, soak up the sun (with appropriate SPF protection, of course) and beautify the backyard. So far, we're right on track! Saturday found us traipsing around a rhododendron garden, snapping pics of blooms and baby ducks, only occasionally being terrorized by Canadian Geese. I feel as if I aught to know the names of some of these lovely flowers -- such as the one above. The long, delicate stems of blossoms tucked on the underside of luxurious green leaves . . . We had a lovely picnic, a family nap and a trip to the famed "Pirate Park." We are making a return trip there this afternoon for hours of sand/water fun.  
When Hubby and I were cycling -- pre kids, the fields of clover were always intriguing. They give off a lovely, warm, sweet smell and the color is stunning. They have come into bloom in the last week or so and I've wanted to get a more up-close-and-personal look at them. They do not disappoint! 
And finally, a shot of the little darlings . . . I had hoped to capture more of their fluffy cuteness but my own little duckies seemed to send them scurrying away. Oh well. Speaking of which . . . 

Big D has developed the habit of speaking in a silly, baby voice and is driving me over the brink. I think that I'd be a wealthy women or at least able to by myself a nice new pair of jeans if I got a dollar for how many times I say "Your Big Boy voice" in a single day! The irony is that I know if I just ignored the behavior it'd probably extinguish itself -- the more attention I give it, the more stuck it becomes. But it's driving me CRAZY! And Sis is her delightful sweetness except when she's not:) I could get some fabulous new shoes if I got a buck for every time I tell her to "Try that again. Talk nice." Oy! 

Having my own children has, I hope, made me a better therapist. I work with some young female therapists who have not had children yet and there is sometimes a parent-blaming tone in their voices as they present their cases. They just don't know yet how humbling being a mother can be -- that the most educated, skilled parents still feel like pulling their hair out and selling their children on the street corner. Self-doubt is a regular feature of this whole mother-experience. Often I think, "There but by the grace of God go I" as I listen to the stories families share. 

Today is the yard work portion of the weekend. We are planting grass seed and laying out a path . . . I'm also planting some Fox Gloves! Yea! I've been admiring some stunning plants of my neighbor and now I'll try my own hand with them. I was a little disheartened to discover they are poisonous. Digitalis. EECK. We'll be having the "don't eat the plants" chat later today!

Buzzy, Buzzy Bee

It was a beautiful, sunny weekend! We jam packed every spare minute (barring the 2 hour nap the ENTIRE family took on Saturday. That was lovely!) with work in the garden, meals outside, running (for mama) and bikes (for Big D). Even ended the weekend with a movie with hubby. As I quieted my mind for sleeping last night, I read this poem and thought I'd share with you:

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care, 

We have not time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have not time to stand and stare.

W.H. Davies

This sweet little green frog was discovered by Big D and daddy and delayed lawn mowing by quite some bit. Both children were entranced and it was with considerable effort that they left off manhandling him and let daddy deposit him safely under a bush . . . I know that I promised "lessons learned" and such from my week of vacation. Hmm. I'd be happy if I could learn just one and learn it well. To take time "to stand and stare." To see things with my children's wonder and not rush, rush, rush like a worker bee from flower to flower, never truly seeing or experiencing them. 

Mother's Day

Here is my sweet son's Mother's Day offering. Isn't it beautiful? He was so proud and the colors so lovely . . . it is now my wallpaper and I have framed it to take to work. Ah, I bask in my mother-glory for just a bit more . . . I also received several lovely cards, a painted flower pot and a wind chime. 

Stay tuned for updates on all the priceless gems of wisdom accumulated in the last week of  "vacation."  

Newts

Yesterday, in keeping with the rest and recuperation goal for the week, the family and I headed up to Bloom Lake for a newt hunt. It was a fabulous success! We expected rain and mud -- and there was plenty of the later but no rain to dampen our spirits. The kids learned how to identify raccoon and deer tracks, found newts in rain puddles and listened to frog songs. Mama happily traipsed behind her clan, camera in hand. I think the find I was most excited about was the little snail on the side of the path. It was as if I had found a secret, miniature world . . . with beautiful alien beings. 

I was thinking about how childlike we all were together in the forest -- delighted with tiny little newts with their orange bellies, hunkering down on a log hushing one another so that the frogs would sing again, slipping and sliding in the mud and singing our own silly songs along the way. It was good for the soul! This week I plan to join my children in more of their play.