Lucas's 10th Birthday

Happy birthday to my sweet (not so little) man

My breath is taken away. 10!!! What?!??!! I didn't actually sign on for anything past 5 so we are going to have to seriously have a talk. Like a go back in time talk.

Value

I just finished watching the new movie Lincoln. It stars Daniel Day Lewis playing President Lincoln - for which he (Daniel) won the academy award for best actor. Well earned.

And this movie got me thinking - as most things do these days - about my life and parenting and raising the future leaders of American society.

Is it the fact that I turned 30 last year, or am about to turn 31 that has brought on all this soul searching?? Or is it just that I have been going through a lot lately? I sure as heck don't know - but I do know this.

I hope to God I do something meaningful with my life.

I hope to God I am not forgotten when I am gone.

I hope I make this world a better place for all time and that this lifetime is something I can be proud of.

Children, 

I beg of you - use your life and energy for good. DO things with yourself you can be proud of.

Remember the incredible men and woman that came before you and fought for freedom in the face of unimaginable obsticales. 

A little heavy and deep? Maybe....Sometimes that's a good thing though.

It is every mother's prayer that her children will go on to do great things. I am no different. 

Lucas, you are so attentive to those around you and seek justice for everyone, even those that have wronged you.
Charlotte, you are so fiercely and uncompromisingly inquisitive and your heart hurts when others are hurting.
William & Savannah your full personalities are yet to be seen, but I sense rumblings. :)

Would I love nothing more than for you all to go on to be incredible, moral, strong leaders at the top of your industries? Of course. But remember great things come in large and small everyday packages. Acts of character, no matter the size are profound greatness. 

Acknowledge them in others and we will create a better world.

Here's to many packages of greatness - in all sizes. I love you fiercely.

Pressure

When I think of all I have to get through, get done, cross off the list, etc. in a day - a little song comes to mind...

"When you try your best and you don't succeed...." 

Thanks Coldplay - y'all really know how to nail a busy homeschooling mom's dilemma on the head.

My feelings of failure were threatened to overwhelm, so I decided to stay up late and organize our homeschool cabinets, paperwork, etc. This always soothes my soul, warms my cold heart (muuuhaha), washes away the crazy in my eyes, brightens my Dark and Scary....you get the idea. 

And this is what a found. Pretty large stack of completed paperwork. Huh....feeling a little better already!

Then I decided to measure that sucker. 4 inches of paperwork the kids did so far!!! Not counting their math books, spelling books, stacks and stacks of silent reading books, history, science, etc. Wow - maybe the heavy heart 'twas all for naught?!

And then I organized it by week. And it covered a sizable chunk of my living room floor. 

Now, HOT DAMN!!! That's more like it.

Take that Dark and Scary feelings of failure!!!! That what an a*s beating looks like! Bam!!!!

You're the bomb!!! (and fun date night ideas)

"You're the bomb!"

This is how John says goodbye to most people. This is completely symbolic of his personality. He is the most nonjudgemental, funny, carefree, weird, laid back, hard-working, gross, amazing, insightful man I know. 

Damn........I just love ya honey!

Recently we've started dating a little more regularly (thank the lord). And since "dinner and a movie" does not foster nor nurture the strong relationship & bond I want....a little research 'twas in order.

I found a great list on this blog and wanted to record it for all time - with a few of my notes. Not all these ideas are my thing but who knows!

“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”  -Dr. Seuss

 1. Make chocolate covered strawberries

2. Paris night: get a baguette, French wine, and cheese! (Not exactly Paleo friendly - but a good idea)

3. Read your favorite books to one another

4. Bake cookies together

5. Watch the sunrise, then make breakfast together

6. Attend a local soccer game (or football, basketball, or martial arts showcase. We were just talking about all the local games we could take the kids too - free & awesome entertainment!)

7. Watch an entire season of your fav TV show (not so much)

8. Go for a long drive

9. Planetarium

10. Art gallery

11. Play board games 

12. Movie

13. Visit garage sales

14. Volunteer for a homeless shelter

15. Go dancing (swing dancing!)

16. Go to the driving range (oh hells yes!)

17. Build a snowman 

18. Ride go-carts

19. Rent a movie

20. Have a carpet picnic

21. Go to an arcade

22. Play Frisbee

23. Go kayaking

24. Go ice skating

25. Visit the pumpkin farm

26. Go to a forest preserve

27. Go to ballet performance (LOL riiiiight)

28. Visit a place listed in an entertainment book

29. Bike riding

30. Study social media marketing

31. Bowling

32. Haunted house 

33. Out for coffee

34. Visit a flea market

35. Play bingo

36. Go to an opera

37. Swing by a bookstore (just like our first date <3 font="">

38. Visit another city (yes please)

39. Go hear jazz or reggae

40. See an NBA game                                                                                                                          41. Play in the batting cages (so I can be 4/50 again? hmmmm)                                                                                                                  42. Vegas anyone, lol?

43. Piano bar

44. Visit a nursing home and hand out flowers to everyone

45. Have lunch at a trendy new restaurant

46. Grab a fish fry

47. Grab a pint at an Irish pub

48. Chinese food and DVDs – the perfect mix

49. Attend a poetry reading 

50. Attend an author reading from their latest fiction work

51. Go antiquing

52. Go out for drinks

53. Visit a winery

54. Attend a painting class

55. Visit an animal shelter – you may come home with a new pet (dangerous)

56. Go for a carriage ride

57. Visit the tourist spots in your hometown

58. Take a trip to the hobby store – pick out a project to work on for the afternoon

59. Take a walk – around a lake, in the moonlight, by the river, on the beach

60. Go to a festival

62. Create a scrapbook

61. Go to a shrimp boil

63. Attend a matinee

64. Visit the zoo

65. Go see a local band

66. Have lunch at a church festival

67. Go camping

68. Go hiking

69. Go rock climbing

70. Play croquet

71. Attend a farmer’s market

72. Have dinner at a new place

73. Try out a new cuisine

75. Take part in a community theater performance

74. Go strawberry picking or visit an apple orchard

76. Attend a live, outdoor music night in your town

77. Go see fireworks

Some of my ideas:

78. Take a weekend course at Front Site

79. Play tennis or racketball at our local park or YMCA

80. Listen to a good lecture & talk about it afterwards

81. Rollerblading or bike riding on the beach

82. Shady hike near water

83. Martial Arts or weapons class
84. Comedy show
85. Small venue to see whatever local bands are playing

Top 10 Pics of May

In absolutely no logical order at all.....

This pic of L and his buddy on the trampoline. Love it.

Mr. Dirty face and his digger. We have been reading "Goodnight Construction Site" for weeks. It's his favorite book. We know it almost by heart. 

Madam S loves baby dolls. A lot. It might possibly be the cutest thing ON EARTH.

My mini freak show. How I love thee.

No words.......xoxo

The dress. The hair. The foot. Mi amore.

(are those slobber stains on your sheet?! What kind of mother do you have?!?!?)

Oh buddy. LOL. Haircuts are not that bad!

Found on old car.........totally snagged a picture with it. My white legs match my dress & the white interior. Oh lordy.

Please tell your mother you are too big for walkers! If you can climb out - they are no longer safe.

Love this shot. A lot. It appears many times here. I'm okay with that.

My lovers........

(Willsie your bottle has a pink lid. Who is your mother anyway?!)

My sweet girl loves her horseback riding lessons. A lot. She won't stop talking about and drawing horses. My walls are covered in horse art. I am so proud of you C.

This might actually be my favorite picture on earth.

Another favorite. 10 years together and going stronger than ever. Mr. LeBaron you are the shiz.

Sweet baby girl and daddy L. awww

Happy Mother's Day to me!!!!!

The faces......best ever.

My bestie. Truly such an incredible bestie. xoxo

What? That was more than 10?? Sorry? ;)

Lyrics

I found you at the table madly scratching away.

Here's the song you were creating:

Why can't I see you

by Charlotte james

Oh why is the chance

That i can't see you in the sky

Of Blue daceing in the

light so bright.

love is so bright

Love is so light

Sometimes Hevey

and stroge

Oh wye is the chance

that I can't seeeee

you in the sky oof

blue

Why can't i see you in the dark

in a pile of bark

You see a rainbow

when the wind blose

the rain away

Oh why is the changce

that i can't see 

yoooouuuuu.

You are amazing.

(As a side note I was just thinking how AMAZING it would be to be a child again for a bit where your meals are made and serious responsibilities nill and lots of free time to create songs, art, etc. Amazing! But I like driving.....and iphones......and using sharp knives.....so I'll stay a grown up thankyouverymuch)

Mother's Day 2013

It was another great M Day this year even if we did roast alive at the park......

We have been doing our M Day brunch with my family at parks the past few years. I love it. I love that no one mom has to clean her house to prep or clean her house afterwards. Score! I love playing our traditional game of tag. I love being outdoors. 

But this year....the weather decided to be 99 degrees. No joke. My gaggle of redheads were wilting. Makeup was sliding off female faces. Brows were dripping nonstop. It was memorable!!

To the pictures!!!

I love this pic. I love the warm colors and the yummy lovin' going on between you two.

My sweet sis and her fan

I love my parents more than words. My mom is amazing, amazing, amazing. It's pretty difficult to pay tribute to someone like her. But we tried. 

My brother J is a great uncle. Love you J!

Check out those eyes. They are different colors. Kinda like her personality. Muuuhahahahaaaaa!!! 

Love my seestors!!! 

I love this shot. 

Allie: Sara put down your friggin arm!

Sara: Oh crap, I'm falling over!

J: What the heck?!

Mom: Jesus you guys, can't we just go situated for a dang picture?!

Jess: ....going with the flow

Gab: You guys are soooooo funny

Luke: PHOTOBOMB!

Belly grab!!! We love you soon-to-be-Jack!!!

The lovin' shot. We all love you so much MOM!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for everything, everyday, notice or not - we appreciate the heck outta ya!

Savannie loves her Grammy and gets so excited to see her.

Ah ha!!!! Success is ours! A decent family photo! Wooohooooooo! 

Thank you family for an awesome mother's day. 

This has been a crazy last 12 months of soul searching, baby addition, home schooling extravaganza, rocket ride work statistics, and more soul searching. 

One of the coolest things I realized this year was that there are two ways to look at all my career failures of my teens and 20s. 

1) Failures

2) Doors closing one after another to lead me to my real calling.

I choose #2.

I choose you guys.

I choose family.

For better or for worse, for all the good and bad days, 

This is my dream job!