Inspired

Today I woke up just feeling kind of "blah" and decided I was needing to feel inspired. A bit later I happened upon this poem posted by a good friend of mine on her facebook page and thought I'd share it. http://www.katemessner.com/a-tuesday-poem-revolution-for-the-tested/ I really like it because even though my kids are not yet in school (kindergarten in the fall), I think alot about what their school experience will be like and how different it will be from my own. From what I hear, they will be tested out the wazoo. Tests, tests, and more tests. The creative person inside me worries so much about this and wonders if they will spend their entire school careers being groomed to take a standardized test. Anyway, with that being said, I'm sure my kids will get some incredible teachers who will teach them outside of the box- and just like me, those teachers will stand out in their memories as unforgettable. My third grade teacher Mrs. Malone was a Jewish woman who played the mandolin and would teach us about Passover and read to us out loud from her favorite books. There we were in an elementary school in Small Town Texas in reality, but in our minds we had entered a wardrobe and landed in Narnia. I still remember the stories of Zeus, Aphrodite, Poseidon....all from this third grade teacher. I'll leave you with an excerpt from the above poem: Read for yourself. Read because it will show you who you are, Who you want to be some day, And who you need to understand. Read because it will open doors To college and opportunity, yes, And better places still… Doors to barns where pigs and spiders speak, To lands where anything is possible. To Hogwarts and Teribithia, To Narnia and to Hope. Read for the world. Read to solve its problems. Read to separate reality from ranting, Possibility from false promise. And leaders from snake oil peddlers. Read so you can tell the difference. Because an educated person is so much harder To enslave

Summ Summ Summa Time

I have composed a list of things I want to do this summer in my wonderful city. Here are just a few:

http://barleyswine.com/

Trying this restaurant is at the top. I'm thinking that since both my birthday and wedding anniversary are this summer, that it may make the "been there, done that" list.

I want to try all the swimming holes that I haven't tried yet.

Jeremy and I love to eat at the food trailers and there are some that we haven't tried that are a must:
-East Side King
-Mmmpanadas (I die for empanadas. YUM)
-Kebabalicious
-Gourdough's

Bananarchy is my fav one, so we will definitely be frequenting it this summer. Olivia and I love to share the one dipped in Oreos.

Camping as much as possible was also on the list. We've been once so far and have 3 more weekends booked. I think 4 is a good number at least until September or so and we'll see how hot it is.

Oh, and we plan to go to lots of outdoor festivals and take our Lucy.

Here she is with her adoring fans:

I'm Baaaaack

Maybe. At least for today I'm back. I told myself I would try to do better at my blog. I really don't think I could do much worse, seeing as how the last time I posted was in July of 2011. Oops.

2011 and these first few months of 2012 have been BUSY. Just super duper busy. I'm happy to say, though, that it's been the very good kind of busy. We have a more active social life now :-) and I've been making all kinds of goal lists for this summer that will keep me even more good-kind-of-busy.

For today, I just thought I would do what I did last year for the kids' birthdays and post some pictures and do a little bragging on my two babes.

Oh, and also just throw in that I am obsessed with the color orange right now. That has nothing to do with anything, but this is my blog and I felt like saying it. :-)



Estlin and Olivia at Disneyworld in February with Olivia's hero Goofy. For real, she is obsessed with Goofy.




Estlin at Disneyworld doing what he does best- ninja moves.



Getting a peak at the Beast. The first time O saw the movie she cried because, "I don't want the Beast to become a man! He is a sweet animal!"



My girl. My smart, loving, thoughtful, compassionate, imaginative, beautiful girl. One of my favorite parts of life is when you come in my room right after you wake up in the morning and climb in bed with me. You snuggle right up to me and let me go back to sleep and then you will whisper, "Mama? Mama?" and start asking me questions about all kinds of things that have been on your mind. It is our special time together and I cherish it. You are a treasure to me. I look at you and see the most incredible person- just so full of life and love and wonder. You have a limitless imagination and are goofy and funny and spunky and silly- also with a very tender heart. Your carefree spirit makes me feel more free. I love you and am so proud of my big 5 year old girl.




My boy. My playful, sensitive, smart, energetic, silly, loving boy. For the past year or so, you have really started to remind me of your dad- a mini version of Jeremy. :-) You are obsessed, and I mean OBSESSED with "guys". Star Wars guys, ninja guys, super hero guys, Transformers guys. You LOVE toys. And the world is coming to an end if I ever say anything like "You have too many toys. We need to do some cleaning out around here." :-) You make me smile so big. Everyday at least once a day, you climb up in my lap. And when you do, I always just squeeze you and say, "Do you know how much I love you?? Do you??" And you always give me a little smirk and almost eye roll and say, "Yes, Mama. You love me soooo much." I just adore you, my sweet little guy. I am so proud of you and when I watch you play and hear you with all of your awesome sound effects I always wish I were a kid again.

Summer is in Full Swing and it's HOT

Just a few camera phone pics from our summer so far.

Photos la la la

Just some camera phone pics of the last couple of weeks. And now I am finished working, finished blogging, and I am about to have a cupcake that my sweet husband made and actually sit down and take a break. Sigh.

And I was never again the same

Today my Olivia and Estlin turn 4. I use the word "my" with careful consideration and much meaning. I know that I won't always be able to say that word, at least not out loud, but I will always hold it in my heart. From the first instant that I saw them (and believe me, it was a very quick instant, as they were rushed away from me immediately)I knew that from that moment on I was different. And then when I finally got to hold them! It was like no other feeling I've ever had. And even though my little Estlin was all hooked up to wires, I could still feel his heartbeat and was so thankful they were both finally here. It's been 4 years and I just grow more and more in love with these two little people.

I figure since it's their birthday, I get bragging rights on my blog. So I'll go ahead and tell you what I love the most about Estlin and Olivia.



Olivia. She is curious, smart, creative, inquisitive, hilarious, daring, loud... also a caretaker (yes, already), soft, sweet, and loving. Olivia is stubborn, strong, and independent, but has another side to her that always blows me away. She will look you straight in the eyes and do the same thing she is doing in this picture with her eyes. She'll just melt you because her eyes say so much. I am constantly staring at her, knowing that she will love strongly and deeply in her life. She is my sunshine.



Estlin. He is sensitive, sweet, strong willed, inquistive, silly, cautious, thrives on encouragement and affection. I don't think there has been one single time that I've ever said "Estlin, can I have a hug?" that he hasn't immediately said " YES!" and come over and just squeezed me. He is beyond loving and affectionate. He is all boy and has a total one track mind and thinks about one thing most of the time: HIS CARS. At night when I put him to bed he always just stares straight at me and smiles so sweetly looks so peaceful. He has said so many times, "Mama, I sleep good when you say my prayers. When you're not here I don't like to go to sleep." I know that in his life he will make the people he loves feel like pure gold. He is my treasure.

Happy 4th Birthday Estlin and Olivia! We love you with all our hearts.

Nothing exciting to report here. But ya know, it seems someone or something is out to get us again. ;-) We've spent the whole weekend dealing with Olivia's fairly high fever, total lack of appetite, and general tired and yucky feeling. Don't know what it is yet, but man. I really wanted a break from catching crap for a while, especially since their birthday party is next weekend. :-( Anyway, here's hoping (and praying and begging and basically whatever else i can do) that this is some sort of fluke thing and we will be in the clear soon.