briefly...

so much to say, so little time to say it. I have 9 minutes before it's time to leave for the guys. I want to post a picture or maybe two, but my camera battery died. sigh... (and I just wasted 30 seconds typing that.)

It was a super great thanksgiving weekend, filled with food and family and friends and little chores around the house getting done. Bob and I had a date and did some Christmas shopping. The kids had play dates, and it was soooo nice to get them out of the house (!!!) and off doing something happy. We went to the Betty Brinn Children's Museum in downtown Milwaukee on Sunday, which was fabulous, as always. Here's hoping the new Madison Children's museum is a little more interesting in their new space.

But a moment I have to blog about is meeting a blog-friend in person at the Craftacular. I love going to this craft show. It's so sweet and lovely and handmade and local. Plus, I once went to a pretty fun wedding in this space, so it brings back fond memories. Anyway, I met Stephanie over at www.wewerebuilttolast.blogspot.com in person after blog stalking her for a while (ha ha). It was nice to put an in-person face with blog pix and words, and the stuff she was selling there was as sweet as she is. I left and realized I had comments/questions that I didn't address (your kids are so cute and funny, how is the pregnancy?, when are you due?, isn't it HARD being pregnant with your third kid? (was for me, at least), how do I get my picture up on my banner with my blog title as well?, how do you refer to other posts/websites without typing them out?) but maybe another time. And, Stephanie, thanks so much for the bingo card! I have had to beat my children to keep them from trying to move the markers. It's adorable. I wish I would have insisted to pay for it, but instead I'll take your generosity graciously. Muchas gracias!

And ding! time is UP!

happiness is...

learning a new hobby (soap making, colored with tumeric and scented with lemon and orange)

Newly built shelves stocked with canned goodies from this years' harvest

family game night

a happy doggie outside in the sunshine

being able to hang out in jammies and rain boots all day long and make pretend phone calls

chicago weekend

So, on Saturday Alex turned 9 (!!!), and we decided to head down to Chicago for the day. First, we stopped at Dave and Busters. I decided that that place is pretty much my idea of hell, but the boys love it (sigh). So I endured, barely, and then MY idea of fun started.

We walked down to Michigan Ave to check out the Festival of Lights festival, or Millionaire Mile Lights Festival, or something like that. Parade, crowds, big city noise and excitement, ending in fireworks.

Enzo started off a little reluctant...

We finally convinced him to soldier on, and, when we got to Michigan Avenue, we bought light sabers from a street vendor. I normally shun these purchases (crappy toys from street vendors AND weapon-toys for my children), but I got caught up in the moment and actually RAN DOWN the street vendor to buy them. I also tried my best to argue down the price, but to no avail... Anyway, once armed, the boys were content to do battle up and down Michigan Avenue.

We were all so happy to be together there in downtown Chicago, celebrating Alex's birthday.

We didn't make it to the fireworks. The parade was taking a looong time to make its way down Michigan Avenue, so we decided to turn around and head to the car. All in all, I think we walked about 3 miles, and Mr 3 year old walked about half of it. Suffice it to say, we were all tired by the time we got back to the car.

Alex declared it "one" of the best birthdays ever. I agree!!!

briefly...

We have a fun, busy weekend coming up. On Saturday, which is also Alex's ninth b'day (more on that in a future post), we are going to Chicago to see the sights, which may also include the festival of lights on Michigan Avenue and fireworks at night. On Sunday, we are hosting Alex's football party and their families for a post-season celebration party. I suppose about 30-40 people will be coming. So, since we'll be gone all day on Saturday, I've been spending today getting ready for the party... by sorting thru the basement laundry room. Because, of course, the nine year old boys coming to the party will notice a tidy and organized laundry room... Why is it that when I get the urge to do that throw out/goodwill sorting is exactly when I should be doing some other, more pressing house duty?

weekend review

I'm a little behind around here. Let's review the weekend, shall we?

On Saturday morning, Finn and I walked down to school for Marvelous Math Morning (Alex opted out and I did not invite little Enzo). The math part was ok - fine - but I just really really REALLY enjoyed hanging out one-on-one with my Finn for a couple of hours. We played Yahtzee there (!!) and did some other little math type of activities, and then we saw a guy blowing bubbles do some cool things and talk about shapes and the math and science with bubbles. We had a leisurely walk home hand-in-hand. It was lovely.

During Saturday afternoon, it seemed like things were kind of quiet around here, so I took off for a bit by myself. I picked up some books on hold at the library, and then I went to a pawn shop just to check it out. I've never been to a pawn shop before, and I was curious. It was fairly creepy in a very desperate way. I felt very sad for the people and things that were in there. There were tons of guitars and a few video game systems and fancy tvs (that didn't bother me too much), but then there was a whole shelf of tools and some vacuums. That bothered me. If you're pawning your tools and vacuum, things must be rough. I plan to never return.

Later that afternoon, we went to a turkey dinner at a neighborhood church. We don't attend this church, but some sweet neighbors do, and this is our second year attending. The food was fine, but I most enjoyed the atmosphere. There were many neighbors there - most I recognized, and some I just met for the first time. People were happy and friendly, and it was nice fellowship. After we ate, Bob popped into the kitchen to help out with dish washing. The kids were kind of running wild with a good buddy of theirs and the other kids who were there, so I decided to check on them.

And this is when I come upon THE SCENE. Alex was hiding in the bottom of the stair case. Finn and friend were sneaking down the stairs, and other kids were skidaddling out of there too. And then there was Enzo. The pastor was talking firmly (sorta yelling, actually) to the kids about not running in the stairs, and Enzo stood his ground and talked right back to her. Sorta yelled, actually. "It is NOT SAFE for you or others to run up and down these stairs!" she said. "If you say that, the POLICE will come and SHOOT YOU," replied Enzo. I quickly intervened and apologized profusely to the pastor and tried to shush Enzo out of there, but the pastor made sure to tell me that he was being VERY RUDE. My first inclination was to respond, "he's just three" but I held my tongue.

Since then, I've been reflecting on this. Do I excuse his behavior too much because "he's just three"? He's a very strong-willed child, not afraid to speak his mind, however inappropriate it is. But, in addition to being pretty rude at times, he can also be very sweet and charming. So, although I think the pastor was a little out of line saying that (mostly because we don't have a relationship with her, so it felt a bit heavy handed and unnecessary), I'm thankful that she did since it's given me an opportunity to reconsider how I view his behavior.

Back to the weekend... On Sunday, we met up with some old friends whom we haven't seen in way way too long. Our oldest two kids are the same ages (and they stopped at two), and this is the mom whom I bonded with during those loooooong days nearly 9 years ago as a brand new mama. This mom and I would spend hours sitting in the same room together, gazing at our new babies, marveling at/worrying over every aspect of our babies. In many ways, she was my lifeboat, since she was right there with me on that strange and scary journey. I will always feel so fondly about this family. So, we met again -- this time, going to their youngest son's hockey game. We picked up right off from when we last talked (which was months ago), and I was thrilled to see that the kids also jumped right back into their friendships. What a wonderful day. Filled my heart with joy.

and one more...

so just when I declare that I have no one tidy little comment about Alex, he goes and does this...

We have this virtual post-its on our computer screen. I sat down on the computer last night and found he typed me a post-it. "Dear mom, I love you more then (sic) the ocean. love, Alex" and then another one. "Dear mom, I love you so much more then the gamecube and the ocean. love, Alex". And today? A new one. "Mom, What is 8+8+5+2+10+500+1? Use the calculator to help you find your answer. Love you, Alex"

Love it.

lovely little things

This picture was taken when we were apple picking about a month ago. This reminds me that I have another bushel of apples to make into sauce. We drove back out there this past weekend to pick more, but alas, self-pick was closed for the year. I bought a bushel of Jonamac apples, which I will combine with a bag of Empires that we haven't eaten yet (from the month-ago trip), and hopefully we will have enough sauce for winter. We do love our apple sauce.

I want this blog to remind me of little moments that I'm afraid I'll forget in the blur of daily life. So, here's an attempt to record one or two.

Finn's take home journal, which we get every Friday (he writes in it and then we write back over the weekend), has contained the sweetest little notes to, well, everyone in the family. To Dash the doggy, he wrote "you mack me hape" (happy). To me, he wrote, "I lov having a dog" and "I hop (hope) you hav a god lif" (good life). He can be quite the tenderheart underneath all that boyness.

Yesterday, when I told Enzo that we were going to stay at the playground to play for a bit afterschool, he jumped up for joy and said, "you got the power, mom!" Also, yesterday Enzo painted a couple of notes for his brothers and had me write what the notes said. Basically, he was telling them that they were his best friends, he was proud of them, and he loved them (well, technically, he loves Alex and likes Finn).

As far as Alex goes, I don't have one specific anecdote, which, I suppose, is a bit reflective of his age. But lately, I have been overwhelmingly proud of how well he is doing in and out of school. He seems to have adjusted to the transition of 3rd grade very, very well. He is a smart and kind kid. I got him to sit on my lap the other night as a joke, and I found myself getting a little teary eyed. My little baby is gone. I feel like he's on the brink of some big developmental changes (wanting more privacy with his body, being more private about his life, thinking that Bob and I are kind of dorky and annoying) -- all normal pre-teen stuff, I know. I will love that journey too but I can't believe how fast the time has flown.

It's all good. It macks me happy.

President Obama's visit to Madison

On Wednesday, President Obama visited Madison. It was the first time in nearly 60 years that a sitting president visited Madison. He came to a middle school less than a mile from our house to talk about a new education initiative. The city was all abuzz about his visit, and I caught a little of the Obama fever. I decided that Enzo and I would walk on over to see what we could see.

First, a very official looking helicopter, protecting the restricted air space, I suppose. It circled overhead prior to Obama's arrival.

And there he is! (I think) We were waiting about a block or so from the school and I decided to walk in the middle of the street to see what I could see. I stopped to take out my camera and I realized - hey! There's the motorcade! There were dozens of Madison police cars and motorcycles, a bunch of white SUVs and then a couple of presidential looking limos. He was in one of them, maybe it was this one!

As soon as the president arrived, the snipers popped up on top of the roof of the school. Although I totally understand and appreciate their job, their presence kind of gave me the willies. Not a job I would wish for my boys to someday have.
I was standing with a bunch of good old Madison liberal hippies. It was a fairly small crowd (100 or so) but there was good energy, some spirited chanting, and signs. Lots of signs.

halloween

Blog catch-up over the last few days.

Lots of Yahtzee is being played. I've tried to introduce some fresh games (monopoly, chutes and ladders, boggle) to no avail. I'm not complaining -- yahtzee is fun and quick and actually making Finn's and Alex's math facts come pretty quickly lately (look - I have 4 threes, that's 12!). I'm just trying to be prepared for when we all hit that yahtzee wall.

Here's some proof that Dash is still with us.
We carved pumpkins. Well, first we grew them on at the farm. And then we brought them home and carved them. Oh, and we roasted the seeds - a first for me. Yummy!
And finally, halloween costumes. Rain cloud (with a squirt gun for rain - ha ha), superman, and leaf pile. Rain cloud and leaf pile were assembled last minute with materials on hand. Love it.

football tournament

Last Saturday, Alex had a football tournament, which concluded the football season. It was cold, and the tension was THICK. For the first time in our flag football lives, the score was officially kept, and wow did that make a difference for coaches, players and parents. Especially coaches and parents.

Alex played great. He was center for all three (yes, three) games. His snaps were unbelievable. Only one went a little haywire, and that was due to the brisk wind. They were a thing of beauty, those snaps of his. Alex also grabbed some key flags -- one which stopped the opposing team from getting the game tied and going into overtime.

Overall, the team played really, really well together. They were tight. Plays were fairly complex and good. We had some thrilling plays with long touchdown runs and two interceptions. The coaches (and some parents) weren't so impressive, unfortunately. I will mostly blame one opposing team's coach in particular, even though our coach yelled something very inappropriate during a tense moment between that other coach and the ref. I'm taking the tactic that, although I don't like it, it's all just going to get more and more intense if the guys continue in sports, so we should get used to it.

And, the best part of this report is that Alex's team (the Packers!!!) won the entire tournament! They were very proud, as were we. What a fun and exciting day!

Enzo and Finn were total troopers during this day-long event. They never complained once about how their entire Saturday was spent outside, in the cold and wind, watching their big brother.
It was a great day!