The Most Important Things

I usually don't post many "Anne's Thoughts" on here. I don't know why. Maybe I think you'll think it's boring and that so many other people can say it better, but today I have something to say. And I want to share it with YOU.

Charlie began Kindergarten this year. I was a nervous wreck before he started! Bart might not tell you about the (several) late night cries/talks/is-our-son-ready? chats, but they happened!! Every parent worries about sending their kid off into a new situation--one where they, the parent, have absolutely NO control and won't even be there to stop something potentially bad from happening. Charlie had never even been to preschool and I wondered if he was ready socially. The kid is BEYOND shy.

But, worries set aside, we knew that it was time to cut the apron strings and send him into the world of Kindergarten. (Boy, I sound like an overprotective mother if ever there was one, don't I??)

This is Charlie on his first day of school. Handsome chap!

The end of his first Quarter ended last week. We have seen mountains of improvement! His drawing, coloring, playing, and reading are all so much better! It's amazing what a teacher at school can do with him that I couldn't do (and believe me, as far as reading goes I TRIED!!). He is so much more confident and actually wants to participate in things that I thought he never would.

This morning his school had an awards ceremony and all parents were invited. I wasn't notified that Charlie would be receiving an award, but I thought I'd go show my support anyway.

Jane, Tommy, and I got to our seats just before his class filed in. In fact, I passed by part of his class in the hall and some of the kids waved to me (I volunteer in the classroom.). Charlie was at the end and didn't see me.

As his classmates walked to their seats I watched for Charlie and saw him scanning the crowd of parents. I saw his face go from vague interest as he wondered who the extra people were, to wondering if I might be there, to actively seeking for me, then to RELIEF as our eyes locked and I waved to him. He waved a little wave back and took his seat. He turned several times during the program to check that I was still there and we smiled at each other every time.

Charlie didn't get an award today. But do I care about that? NO WAY. Sure, it would have been cool, but the thing that made that awards ceremony today was knowing that my kid wasn't disappointed when I wasn't there and could have been. I'm glad that I showed him that he didn't need to receive an award in order for me to support him.

So, all-in-all, Charlie didn't need an award. He needed his MOM and I'm so glad that I was there.

New Family Picture

Getting a family photo with this crew is something of an art.

An Adventure.

An outright headache.

1. I don't know why Tommy wouldn't smile in this picture. That's usually all he does (unless you take him away from his mommy. Then he cries.)! He's definitely a happy boy. NOT that you could tell from this picture.

2. Charlie hates having pictures taken. And when I say, "Hates," I mean LOATHES. He can usually sniff a camera from a mile away and runs, ducks, hides behind, eludes said camera with an art that any detective agency would be proud of. Maybe they wouldn't be so proud of him yelling at the top of his lungs, "NO PICTURES!!", which is also part of the deal.

I'm still flabbergasted that he stood still long enough to say, "Cheese," AND smile, even if he did whip out his Spiderman hands--which I'm not complaining about. We usually have to bribe him for a long time, OR hold him upside down as shown here (Scroll down a bit.).

3. Jane cannot sit still. I don't know why, but she really can't. The ever, "I AM HOLDING STILL!" exits the mouth that is sitting on the bobbing head. Her hands are always going (as you can see in the above picture). Never a dull moment with this girl.

4. Everyone has to be in a relatively good mood. I think no explanation is needed here. Any parent--any child for that matter--KNOWS what family pictures are like, right?

SO~ with all that said, and for all the negative tones (sorry, a little sleep deprived) I'm really happy with how this picture turned out! (A big shout-out to our friend Jorge who took it!)

It really shows our personality, doesn't it?

Anne's Patronus

I probably shouldn't publish this to the entire world. Afterall, what if someday I need to send a secret message via Patronus?? Now everyone will know who it's from.

Oh, well.

Sly, quick, stealthy, full of wit (have you ever seen Fantastic Mr. Fox? Yeah, definitely witty!), beautiful (oh, yeah, baby!), soft, warm, and stylish (hence all the fur hats)...

The list goes on.

We'll leave out THIEF, SCAVENGER, and MENACE TO CHICKEN COOPS, mm-K?

I think my fox is quite fitting, don't you?

Guess Who's 1?

THIS BOY!!

Happy 1st Birthday, Tommy!

(More pics to come later)

Hurricane Irene

Our first official hurricane: IRENE.

Luckily we were already pretty prepared because of our church's teachings on being self-sufficient and keeping storage on hand. Friday I put our 72-hour-kits together, because that is one thing that we didn't have. We had enough drinking water to last us a few days, and the night before Irene came plowing down the runway we filled our bathtub, cooler, 5 gallon cooler, and washer with water for things like doing dishes and flushing the toilet. It is amazing how you don't really appreciate those little things--flushing the toilet. I'll tell you that the prospects of no running water and sitting around with that schtuff floating around is enough to make anyone queasy. Really.

Anyhoo~We began the day at 6:15 with Charlie and Jane coming in saying they looked outside, saw the wind, and got scared. We still had power and I thought, "Take advantage of it! BREAKFAST!" and downstairs we went to make mush (instant oatmeal) and have cold milk.

It didn't take long before the kids were playing and I was wishing I could just curl up with a good book. Jane asked over and over to go outside. She just couldn't understand what the big deal was. Finally, after she asked to go make hopscotch outside, I opened the front door to SHOW her why we couldn't. She saw the rain, the wind, the branches and leaves littering the ground and said, "Oh," but with a look of disappointment I just couldn't take. That's when I remembered the Spiderman Christmas wrapping paper Charlie picked out two years ago that I've been dying to get rid of! YES!

Roll it out with the white side up, use a marker, and voila! Hopscotch!

When we got bored of playing the game, we decorated it.

As the day wore on, we were increasingly surprised that we still had power, but wanted to utilize it to the fullest. Bart and Charlie pulled out the Legos. (If you nerds out there really want to know, Bart began building the Star Wars AT-AT. Super cool.)

I just had to put this up of Tommy. He's the cutest!

The rest of the day we just kind of played around doing whatever suited our fancy.

Bart and Tommy cooking us some grub. (WHAT? We STILL have electricity? I'm not saying that to brag--we really were flabbergasted!)

Saturday evening the kids and Bart decided to go on an adventure "into the hurricane" (since the biggest part of the storm had past) to the dumpster. The little dare devils.

This is what we found the next morning:

Our back yard "caved in." The trees hit the back of the unit 2 doors down from us, damaging the outside. We can usually run the span of the yard to the end of the building in the back of this picture, but now: not so much.

Uprooted trees (Bart and Charlie to the right by the roots.)

Trees snapped mid-trunk and a mail-"building" (about 30 boxes) down.

One single daffodil that managed to make it through the storm.

The kids were very concerned about the swing set being smashed and gratefully it wasn't.

One of our maintenance guys (in dark blue) clearing the road that was completely impassible with trees before.

SAVE THE ACORNS! begins as the kids realize that 100s of acorns are down without a home. I think they collected at least 30 of them before we said, "No more!"

More downed trees and debris.

Our drain completely clogged. When we went to bed last night there was a pool filled up to the sidewalk!

and leaf-plastered cars--all the new hype!

All-in-all we weathered the storm quite well. I feel almost guilty because we never lost power or had to use all that food storage that we had prepared when so many of our friends DID lose power (some still don't have it).

We are so blessed. We are blessed with good friends and family and are so thankful that everyone here is safe and secure--that Irene didn't claim any victims. Thanks to all of you for your well wishes!

Breakfast

We scored this cake from a good friend yesterday.

I had a piece for breakfast this morning.

You. Should. Be. Jealous.

Two Girls Are SEW Fun!

Grandma Bloody Mary sent us some fabric for sun-dresses, so Barbarous Bel and I got out our needle and thread (OK, OK, we used a machine) and went to work! The whole project took around an hour.

This is Barbarous Bel's daughter, The Lark, and Jane. Aren't they sweet?

Evidence of a Busy Body

All of these pictures, except the one of Tommy IN the cupboard, were taken within a 45 minute period. Whew!

Finding Joy in the Journey: Fun With Chalk!

It's easy to get bogged down in the monotony of the everyday things. Don't you think?

I'm not sure why, but this last time we played with outdoor chalk was especially enchanting.

Maybe it was all the color:

Maybe it was Jane's vigor--I don't know why she won't smile for a picture any more, but she really was happy!

Maybe it was the realization that Jane's drawings are becoming recognizable.

"Look, Mom! It's Yeti's footprint!"

Maybe it was Charlie doing what he always does.

He doesn't usually draw. If there is any water, he gets a piece of chalk and colors it. The chalk gets all mushy and soft. I assume he's learning something, I just know what!

Maybe it was Tommy's excitement for the whole thing. He doesn't draw, either. He tries to eat it instead.

I think it was probably the FUN we had in such simplicity,

and in being together.

Whatever it was, I'm thankful for small reminders that life is good.

Rejuvenation: To make feel or seem young again.

Webster's New World Dictionary

Are you feeling hampered by life?

Are you tired of the endless piles of laundry?

(No pun intended)

Are you wondering WHY the ONLY time your living room is ever void of toys is right before you vacuum?

Is your kitchen sink looking like a waste dump?

Do you wake up Monday morning wondering WHERE all the MESS came from in so little time?

Does the thought that you haven't done anything FUN in a while make your face look like this:

?

If any (or all) of these questions fits you, then we have the cure!

Come to our Southern Beach!

It's where the smiles are endless:

Where the water is refreshing:

Where you look at the on coming trouble and laugh at it:

Where the only thing you run from is the waves...and then, only if you want to!

Where the sand is an endless supply of fun:

We promise you'll leave here feeling YOUNG again,

even if a bit...er...GRITTY.

And if you don't feel young again,

It's our guarantee that you'll be tuckered out and feeling so comatose, you'll forget all your problems. Long enough to get in a good nap.

And we all know that EVERYTHING looks better after a nap.

**Disclaimer: Not responsible for sunburn. Sunblock, people. Sunblock.