Falls Embrace

Fall has found me in transition. Just like the leaves turning, we too are turning. Our life in Georgia has ended. This is a very big deal for my hubby because he was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia.

He returned and lived in Georgia for the past twelve years. He left Georgia as a single young man and returned with a wife (me) and, together we increased by three. His father was the last living male of nine. His father was the only one to have a son to carry the family name. We, in turn have the only boys in the family that now carry the family name. My in-laws got to experience the births of their only grandsons. My hubby, their only son, gave his parents such joy.

Our twelve years in Georgia encompassed so much, but it’s time to go. In our time here, my husband’s parents are have both gone on. It was time for him to go on too.

We arrived here in Pittsburgh at a beautiful time of year. The land gave us her best. The vibrant. warm colors surrounded us as we arrived, as though it was embracing us. I realized then that although this is a transition that isn’t always easy, it is beautiful and it is meant to be.

Sons Smile

Moving and uprooting the children from their only home has been a true transition. I have to say I think they have done quite well with the move. They are a joy to be around during the transition. However, I am very aware that we have uprooted them, and it hit me hard the other day when my baby boy (who turned 6 years old the other day) said this.

Him: “Mom, can you please write to Mrs. Adams (his Kindergarten teacher in GA) and tell her that today is my birthday and, that I miss them very much”

Me: With big eyes tears in my eyes, “Of, course, as a matter of fact I’ll help you write a letter yourself”

Him: “OK” with a big smile on his face

That smile lifted my spirits and my heart. We then headed off to have a birthday morning treat before he went to his new kindergarten class where he celebrated with his new friends/classmates in his kindergarten class here.

See that smile below

His smile has always given me the boost that I need to continue on as a Mom. I know that my life influences his life so much, and I always pray that we are doing right by him and our three boys. I am so grateful for them all and their patience with my husband and I as we parent them.

Thanks for the smiles son!

Summer is Here

Summertime is here! Well, the summer solstice isn’t until June however all three boys are officially out of school today! The 5-year-old finished last week (he was in Mother’s morning Out 4-year-old class) so he’s been home. I am now counting down the minutes until it arrives with awful great expectations. I am excited that we don’t have to engage in the daily early morning “wake up get ready” yelling discussions ( I engage in – they ignore). We can sleep in, especially since they are taking a season off from swim team (first time in a while). I am feeling ready, confident that we will have a good summer.

I think…

I hope..

I Pray…

O.K. I know I am supposed to cherish these boys, love the fact they will be home everyday, all day, with me, did I mention all day.

I recognize that I have a limited amount of time with them and every homeschooling friend I have will pop me upside the head for feeling differently BUT I have to tell you my patience is running thin (notice they have yet to have one summer day here and already I feel this way)! This summer Insanity Sanity will be had by all.

A 12-year-old, 10-year-old and 5-year-old boy will not defeat me. If they do, hubby can handle it. Who am I kidding?! We’re going down, but not without my plan. I have plans!!!  Chores will be done,  lots of time will be spent outside (by them not me) and at the pool and you better believe a good VBS camp will be found! I’ll be at the gym DAILY! A few trips here and there to go on and all will be well. That should wear them OUT!

Phew! OK, that’s my plan, we can do this.

I think…

I hope..

I Pray…

Now, I feel better. I have vented and all will be well. My cool will be kept all summer long.

My yoga mat beacons and I’ll have a good smoothie to follow right now. I have to get some yoga in right now because the hours are going by fast and they will be home SOON.

ALL SUMMER LONG!

What are your summer plans?

Being a Mom

My youngest son is 5 years old. He hasn’t started kindergarten yet, so we get to spend time together alone, for a few hours, on weekdays. During most of these days I often find myself wanting to spend time doing chores, checking my emails and doing “stuff” as opposed to just “being” here with him. One day this week while he played, I just sat outside on the deck and caught up on my emails, worked on my computer and was there for him when he wanted my attention or wanted me to play with him. My munchkin played; no toys, no brothers just him and myself close by.

He doesn’t want me to bother too much. We have a ton of toys and notice he picked up the some bricks the contractor left and went to the sand pile (again left by the contractor) and began his own project. I just sat and watched, he sang and played and afterwards we ate together and were happy. I am glad I took the time to sit outside with him on this day.

When my older boys were his age I was able to take time to sit outside to play with them, engage them in activities and really spend more quality time with them. They are 16 months apart so my life revolved around caring for them. Now that I have three boys and there is a five-year gap between the middle and youngest son I find myself busier and not taking the time to really focus on my third son. He is going to begin school  this upcoming Fall, and I will miss these opportunities, so I have decided to spend more time with him and to allow him to be free to play and be a little kid for a little while longer. I will transition into a new season of motherhood soon. I will have all three boys out of the house for the first time in 12 years. When he goes to school I will miss this, so I will enjoy this time now.

In light of the current news of families losing their boys to murder, suicide and tragedy I just want to love on my sons and appreciate their life and my life with them. We are blessed to have these boys and I am blessed to be a Mom.

Being a Mom is so rewarding, difficult yes, but these days and moments are refreshing for me!

Bakasana Family Love

The other night when my entire family decided to practice yoga together; I was very touched. It wasn’t a pre-planned event where I laid out mats and we had instructional time. It was spontaneous, challenging and fun. I felt love and warmth in my heart and soul for this bunch as they practiced Bakasasna (crow (crane) pose).

I have been teaching yoga, weekly, for about 6 years now.  I have really tried to not push yoga on anyone in the house. I do have my own practice, so, of course, throughout the years they have watched, participated and even inquired about it on their own. My two older boys have even taken classes that I have taught for kids. In yoga the boys giggle and enjoy it but are not serious yogis. My husband has back issues and visits the masseuse and chiropractor often. They always tell him to do more yoga and he tells, ‘them my wife teaches that”, and they just give him a crazy look and ask him why he doesn’t do more yoga. He then comes home and we will do some yoga. We do yoga every now and then, and I show show him things to do to help him out. We even do a little couple yoga now and then, but no consistent practice. So we aren’t the “yogi family”, or  so I thought. Being with three boys and a man-child has makes us a football and baseball family.

Now, don’t get me wrong my family knows the importance of a yoga practice especially with the type of sports they are engaged in but, they need a little prodding and I already nag about  enough stuff (chores, homework, etc.). So imagine my delight when it hit me that my family is a “yogi family”.

The reality hit me the other night when my oldest (11 yo) showed me he could do Bakasana. He struggled a bit and was getting frustrated so I then got on the floor and just talked him into being calm and focused and trying again.  He began to  look to me for more guidance so I then did Bakasana.  He tried again and then hubby wondered if he could do it so he got onto the floor with us. He was so surprised and excited that he had the strength to do it! My middle son happened to walk in on us and jumped right in with confidence and an attitude of  “let me show all of you how its done”. He dropped on the floor and did it with ease (he has always been able to do this). Now all four of us are on the floor practicing our Bakasana together and then trying to go into other asanas (postures) as well. The little one (5-year-old) even jumped in!

The entire J5 (our family nickname) is all into it. I sat back and just watched and it hit me, I do have a “yogi family”! Look at my little brood, practicing together, finding their strength, being challenged, laughing, goading each other on to just try again, and just having fun doing what Momma does all of the time. All these years I didn’t need to nag, or push them into it, it just happened. I guess I do have some influence over these bodies filled with testosterone and they do see the value in what I do and how valuable it will be for them in their own personal journeys as well.

Love, Love,Love

Today is a day to share your love! There are so many ways to express love to your loved ones, your pets, your neighbors and most importantly yourself! If you have no one to share it with do it for yourself! Here are some ways I shared love today.

Hubby left to go out of town yesterday so I stuck a card in his bag and this morning I called to tell him to look for it. This morning, I woke up early enough to make heart pancakes for my three boys. Chocolate chip for my middle son, blueberry for my oldest, and regular ones for the baby (well he is 5, not such a baby anymore).

heart-shaped blueberry pancakes; made with fresh blueberries

I made a “love” playlist for my cycle class. We had class this morning at 9:45am and what better way to love yourself than taking a class to improve your health. This is one of my FAVORITE love songs, which I played in class:

I also gave them dark chocolate heart-shaped pieces of goodness! I have never done that before;  we all need a treat sometimes. Not all 45 took it, but some did and appreciated it. I appreciate them for working so hard. Some of my students work harder than I do and I love them for always coming back to my class and working hard with me and inspiring me to be better ( a better teacher and better with my own work out routine)!

There are great things you can do today and everyday to show love. Today, I have a friend who is going to write a letter to God, and express her love for Him! WOW! I think that is beautiful. SO, see today need not be a downer day. Give love, give it to a friend, a neighbor, your family, yourself. No greater gift is there that love. As Stevie says:

“Did you know true love asks for nothing?

Her acceptance is the way we pay.

Did you know that life is giving love again

To last forever, another day?”

Football Sunday = Me Time

My hubby doesn’t hang out with the guys much. He should hang out more; he needs more male bonding time. Our lives get so busy with the three boys, their school, sports etc. Then of course our personal activities, working, household responsibilities, etc. are time-consuming too. We TRY to carve out time for ourselves. A date here or there helps. Each weekend  we try to sequester ourselves in the bedroom for a few hours while our kids eat what they want, play videos games, watch TV, read. I admit it, My kids are allowed to do those things. Sometimes we just have to release and let go and let them do what they want; in turn we get to do what we want too. 😉 So back to the hubby hanging out with the guys.

Today is a big game day.

Football playoffs! My husband has invited his buddies over and now I have a home filled to the roof with all men and boys! I am not calling the men boys (ok, they are big boys) but we also have our three boys here and two more. The TV is BLARING, the large deep voices are elevated and there is a lot of testosterone floating around here.  I LOVE IT! There are MANY reasons why I  love this. It is my opportunity to escape. Now, I do like football; I can watch a game and I understand the game. I am not a “wimpy girly girl” (and for those who are no shame in that either!). I can sit and watch the games all day. But today I don’t. The men need their time and this is the PERFECT opportunity for me to escape.

I escaped to  the gym for three hours and NO ONE CALLED ME!

I have not cooked a meal all day! No one has asked me for one single solitary food item! They ordered in!

I am upstairs in my own space about to take a bath in some deep yummy bubbles from LUSH.

I think I’ll throw in a glass of wine with the bath and all is a go. I still have organic chocolate truffles from Whole Foods too.

This evening just got better!

Thanks to you NFL! 

Potato-Turnip Soup, Pumpkin Bread and Playful Boys

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This week I am very grateful because, my boys have no school and my husband doesn’t have to travel! I feel as though a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. I am VERY happy. Now, by Friday my post may read GET THEM ALL OUT OF HERE…but for now I am thankful.

We started the week, on Sunday, at home, the five of us just relaxing, watching the games and having fun. Did I mention that I have 3 boys and 1 manchild at home? Do boys ever really just sit and relax? Here is how they spent a portion of their day:

tackling daddy on the floor

They enjoyed it so much and I just watched and was worn out. So, after a nap on the couch we (hubby and I boys were still awake mind you) awoke to find it being later than I planned for us to eat dinner. Much to my joy I realized I had leftovers!!!!! Whoever doesn’t like leftovers is just sad! So, I already had made a potato-turnip soup in the crockpot (love the crockpot) and pumpkin bread earlier in the week…dinner was on!

yummy potato soup

This is actually my picture, of the pumpkin bread I made! I impressed myself with this one.

Today, I have to really cook as tomorrow is Thanksgiving day! I am responsible for the turkey and we are going to a friends house to eat. However, I will cook for us too because we these boys, manchild and Mom need to eat leftovers for a few days! Enjoy your day of thankfulness!
(I’ll post the recipes for my soup and bread.)

The Old Woman in The Shoe

On Friday, when my youngest son came home from school, we looked through his work from the week. He was so excited to share his weekly “book” with me. This week the book was on nursery rhymes. I looked through it and came across this one…

“There was an old woman who lived in a shoe

She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do;

she gave them some broth without any bread;

She whipped them all soundly and put them to bed.”

This is his art work for the old lady nursery rhyme

“You better go old woman”, I muttered to myself! That isn’t good I know but that is how I felt. In my youth I would have said you bad old woman, why do you have “so many” kids. Why do you inflict corporal punishment on these kids? Why aren’t you married? But today, I understand.

Her husband was probably out (working, looking for work, hanging out), the “so many” kids could just be two or three. She was too busy and tired to get to the grocery store, so all that was left to eat was some broth. But, then again if they were being that bad she probably didn’t want to feed them a thing. They ought to be glad they got broth and bread with it. Heck, with childhood obesity today, she was just doing her part to keep those kids at a good weight! The spanking…well to each their own, and trust me I try so hard to be neutral, but a child will take you “there”.

And, was she really old? By some standards I am “old”. Just ask my younger cousins, and sibiling…they think I am definitely “older” but I am not!

Give that “old woman” a break! I use to be against reading some nursery rhymes to kids because I felt that they weren’t “healthy”, but after reading this one, I am convinced some Mommas got together and wrote them to instill some fear into children, to get them act right. I know I’ll be posting this one on the fridge for all three of my boys to see!