Gardening and a Mountain Goat

***This post is like a double - I haven't been keeping up as well!**

Green seems to be our current color.  The gardens, decorative and edible, front and back, are thriving and growing and beginning to produce beautiful and yummy-licious things.  The lush green of Summer is nearly upon us, the rains have been plentiful and the Sun is warm.  Even the Pond garden is doing well, producing its first blue Water Lilies (2nd and 3rd year plants) and reproducing lily pads by the day.  

School is done.  In our digital world, Chase and Indy both received picture slideshow DVD's set to music to remember their school year by.  Pretty neat. 4th Grade Promotion was cute and fun.  I barely got by the frenzied week of class picnics and parties.  My Dad and Stepmom came to visit and stayed with us for 3 days.  We ate terribly.  Having moved to North Carolina 5 years ago, a state which apparently cannot produce a decent pizza, bagel, soft pretzel or cheesesteak, the 'rents, or more specifically, my Dad, insisted on enjoying these aforementioned carb-y culinary delights throughout his visit.  Nonetheless, any time with them is time well spent.  We did give them a Farmhouse tour, in which I believe they were impressed.  

Farmhouse update - we will soon be ready to pour concrete footers for the back addition.  So. Exciting.  

RJ, now 10 months, is simply all over the place.  Chase affectionately calls him the "Mountain Goat" for his love of climbing anything and everything.  From gates to stairs to people who happen to be lying on their bellies reading books, RJ will climb it and stand up to proclaim his accomplishment.  He climbs and stands on toys with wheels (ugh), he  piles toys in corners of rooms to climb up by using his hands on the wall corners to steady himself.   He makes a run for the stairs any chance he can get.  We don't have any gates permanently in our home, never have.  And now, there are just too many people in and out, up and down and all around for that to make sense.  My own kids would get used to it, but the kids that hang out here or come over would cause a problem and the neighbors might fall over it or even break it.  So you can see it doesn't make much sense.  Except for the part where it's supposed to contain the baby.  Yes, yes, back to the baby.  He's using baby signs, signing "more," "eat" and "all done."  He says, "cup."  Although with him, he adds an "a" so its more like, "a cup!" "a cup!"  Most of his pre-verbal sounds are in exclamatory mode.  He walks when it makes sense, but since most of his toys are still on the floor (exactly where I want them to be!!) he crawls a lot too.  He can walk 3 or 4 feet before he gracefully (psych!) plops to the ground to go after what he wants.  He is decisive, determined and strong-willed.  He will push you, pull you, growl at you and plainly remove your hand from his if you are in some way preventing him from getting to something he wants.  This has earned him the occasional nickname of "The Prince" as he seems to believe that he is.  He laughs.  A lot.  All the time, really.  At many different things.  At us singing.  At himself.  At his siblings performing antics for his amusement.  Everywhere we go, strangers call him "the happy baby."  He does cry, sometimes, when thwarted, really hungry, really tired or when upset at himself for crapping his pants so that he has to lie down and get changed.  He still falls, bumps into things, stands up and bumps his face/head/arms/self on all sorts of things that look and SOUND like they hurt, but he often does not cry at these.  But growls.  Obviously, it is the item's fault for being in his way.  And he always tries again.  He is not the type to sit and cry about it.  

Riley is learning sight words and reading Beginner Reader books.  It sounds early, it IS early.  I am very aware of this and am not sure of my full feelings on the matter.  But she has memorized most of the children's books we have and still voluntarily spends a good part of her day "reading" or being read to.  She speaks with the vocabulary of an older child and uses words appropriately.  She spends car trips asking me to explain what "rude" means or what the water cycle is. She still spits out a classic kid-ism once in a while, like "that man has a mustachio!"  To her credit, she is big fan of pistachios and doesn't know many men with a mustache....lol!  Ry is a very smart kid, and I say that not to brag, but to state a fact.  In a functional manner, having a very smart kid means it is my job as her parent to engage her mind appropriately, to present her with challenging but not overwhelming educational opportunities and to allow her to advance at her pace while at the same time allowing her to act her age.  Her intellect paired with her size (she has always been 90% since birth and although she is not chubby, she wears 2 to 3 sizes up depending on the brand) means people sometimes have no idea that she is 2 yrs old.  Not for long, of course, in less than 30 days she will be 3.  She is very much looking forward to her birthday this year.

The pool is being used every day, even in the rain, and rain we have gotten!  Roger and the neighbors are working on homemade solar panel pool heaters but the kids don't seem to mind the chilly water.  

We are, as a whole, ridding ourselves of "stuff."  We are paring down (again!!) on toys, clothes, random items, accessories, etc.  In a year's time, so much makes its way in, at holidays and birthdays and other types of events, and so again it is time to purge.  This year we are HOSTING yard sales, and driving the other way when we see them.  I have a great love of organization and cleanliness, but I am also entirely functional.  A completely clean and organized house would never be fun, creative and enlightening for a child (or for me!) and so we tend to live more functionally than otherwise.  But when something does get totally cleaned, spotless, beautifully organized, I stare at it... for those lovely 10 seconds that it lasts.... 

The Missing

So I lost something the other day, well, more like the other week, maybe more.  I lost it and I can't find it, even though I have LOOKED EVERYWHERE.  It's not under the couch (but there ARE tons of neat things under there), it's not in a closet.  It's not in the sink, the pantry, on the counter.  It's not hiding in the laundry (wouldn't have been surprised), it's not in the fridge (did THAT one or two times somewhere in motherhood) & it's not in one of Indigo's purses (everything you can imagine ends up in one of Indigo's purses at one time or another and she NEVER remembers putting it there).  

It's not in the basement, garage or shed (but you could probably build a brand new house out of all the stuff hanging out in those 3 spots).  It's not in our bedroom or any of the kids' bedrooms.  It's not in the office, under the desk, in the office closet or the filing cabinet.  It's not in the playroom and I even checked that little bathroom off the playroom that we generally forget about and rarely use anymore (it's been slated for rehab for a long time but we haven't gotten to it yet). 

 It's not hiding under bathtub toys, between stacks of diapers, in the shoe bins by the front door or behind the TV cabinet that goes in the corner but isn't a corner thereby wasting triangular space behind it.  It's not in one of my reusable bags that hang on the hooks, the hooks I hung up for hanging the reusable bags, you know, the bags that I forget every friggin' time I go shopping.  It's not in the downstairs fridge, although sometimes I DO forget about what's in that fridge until the basement starts to smell funny... it's not in the attic (just went through for our giant yard sale last weekend) and it's not in the car.  

I just can't find it anywhere.  

Days start, they continue, they somehow move forward and eventually they end.  

Still I look for it. 

Piles grow on the kitchen counter, the grill top, the island, next to the coffee machine and where my purse sits (good thing it can just sit on top of anything).  

Food gets made, leftovers go in the fridge, we forget about leftovers and make more food. 

I go grocery shopping, in a daze, have no idea what I bought by the time I get home, put it away and realize nothing matches up for a meal.  By the way, the store didn't have what I'd lost either.  

Laundry waits for me.  Like a dumped boyfriend, with a slump and a frown on it's face.  Stares at me when I walk by.  Sends a sideways glance in my direction with one eyebrow up.  "Please, please - come back!" it says as I walk the other way to avoid it.  Threatens to start growing like a vine out of control after a rainstorm, using the railing in the hallway and the foot of our bed as a trellis.  

Phone calls need to be made, appointments followed up with, paperwork filed, the office organized.  

I'm still looking for what I've lost!  You would think I would have found it by now!!  

There is one week left of school, and not even a "real" week.  Two regular days and then 3 noon dismissal's.  No homework anymore but there is BUTTLOADS of stuff coming home - papers, projects and random things with pictures of the kids on it that used to line classroom walls and hallways.  "Mom, no, we did that at _____ with _____ and then we ______ and so you can't just throw it out!" "We need to save it!"  OMG. 

The pool has been up and functional for a week (everyone's husband goes onto the roof and redirects the rainwater to fill the pool instead of using the hose, right? Right? RIGHT??) which really just means there is a NEW pile of stuff in the corner of the kitchen nearest the outside door - towels, halves of suits, pool toys, flip-flops.  

I really wish I could find what I've lost.  Maybe then... ONLY then could I possibly tackle the massive amounts of daily things that await me, gang up against me, pile up in stacks and towers, grin mischievously in my face and threaten to consume me.  

If you see it, could you send it back my way?  Stick a stamp on it and mail it to me?  Tie balloons to it and float it over here?  Send it by courier, maybe even wrap it with a pretty bow?  I mean, it's not very big.  It's doesn't weigh much.  It's not much to look at but it sure is important.  And I really miss it!





Please help me find my Bucket of Motivation!!!  

Time to Chase

Considerate.  Helpful.  Attentive.  Sweet.  Energetic.  

Masculine.  Intelligent.  Observant.  Fast learner.  

Wonderful son.  Best big brother.  

My Chase.  

This is Chase's post, if you haven't figured that out.  He will be 10 in 21 days.  As the oldest child, he is the trail-blazer, the experimental child.  He and I know nothing else.  He is the one who made me Mom.  The first kick in my belly, the first doppler heartbeat, the first sonogram pic, the first, the first, the first... etc.  10 years ago, Chase had his very own geocities website, with weekly updates and pics, from pregnancy to birth to kidhood, very blog-like really, and then geocities went away and the internet got more intense and life got more intense, so anyway, after a brief hiatus, he's back! 

The beginning - 10 days late, 25 hours of labor and 3 hours of pushing.  8lbs, 12 oz.  Purple and screaming.  Him, not me.  Well, maybe both of us at some point or another.  Hair like he was a member of the Beatles.  Sideburns like it was the '70's.  Hungry.  All. The. Time.  Cried louder than the neighbor's lawnmower.  97th percentile.  Built like a Viking.  The first child, nephew, grandchild for most of his fam.  Sat at 4 months.  Crawled at 7.5.  Walked at 9 months.  On the move.  Won't sleep through the night without help.  All boy.  Ate dirt.  Rides cars, wagons, bikes, tractors. 

                                    

                                      

14 months. Threw fits.  Banged his head on the floor.  Threw more fits.  Banged his head some more while we stood and watched in amusement.  Go ahead, boy, why don't you do that on the kitchen floor instead of the carpet.  He listened.  He did it.  Head-banging went away.  Still doesn't sleep through the night.  Loves Elmo and the Doodlebops.  



2 yrs old.  Potty-training.  Hit the cheerio!  Aim for it!  Aim for it!  Great job!  Why are you hiding in the corner??  Yup.  Half of potty-training complete.  The other half won't come for a while. Playgrounds.  YMCA classes.  Long walks with Mommy.  Stroller- roller-skating with Tia and Mommy.  Sticks, guns, rocks, dirt, cars, trucks, tractors.  He knows his alphabet and numbers.  He went to see Thomas the Train and the stork struck again... Mommy's holding a baby and Chase is not happy!

                                            

                                     

                                     

3-5 yrs old.  Tolerant of baby sister but not so interested.  Power Wheels.  More tractor.  Swimming.  YMCA toddler sports classes where he can run, jump and play.  Hotwheels cars and the crane from Santa Claus.  Outside play is best.  Writing his name.  Sight words.  Worksheets.  Painting on the big easel.  It's always a road with police cars and construction vehicles.  The only paint colors he needs are yellow, brown, red and blue.  


5-8 yrs old.  School!  High marks.  Teacher says, "Excellent listener and classroom helper."  His Dad and I turn paper over and double check child's name.  Really?  Not that's he bad, he just more of an "average listener" at home.  Hot tempered.  Stomping.  Arms crossed.  Back-talk.  Learning to deal with emotions.  Gets sister in trouble and then begs for her to have a light sentence.  Earned another sister.  Big helper with the new baby.  In school, no problems.  Nearly top of the class.  Highest tier for reading, math. Stays after school to play chess. Sports.  Flag football, baseball, basketball, soccer.  Try them all to see what you like.  Baseball wins.  A new crush in every class.  Pretty girls.  Chase is shy.  Worries about new situations.  Gets over it fast.  Does well despite worrying.  Makes friends.  Does chores.  Is helpful.  

                                             

                                        

                                          


9 yrs old.  Over 4ft tall. New school year, new crush.  Helpful at home.  The stork found us AGAIN.  Claims he wished for a baby brother and it came true.  Helpful with youngest sibs, competitive with closest sis.  Still sensitive.  Feelings hurt easily.  Anger and temper improving, learning to deal, walk away, count to ten.  4th grade.  Big man on campus.  Trombone.  Baseball.  Alpha Club.  Will finish chores faster than lightning for the chance to play video games, play outside with friends, play Nerf guns with friends. Will finish chores slower than molasses if there's nothing terribly exciting waiting.  Asks," Mom, what can I do to help?"  Can pick up his Mom.  Has outgrown his growth chart on the wall.  Keeps room relatively neat with the exception of that pile of clothes that never seems to make it to the basket or drawers.  Does not see a problem wearing same clothing several days in a row. Nearing deodorant.   Hates deodorant.  Blushes when talking about his crush.  So knowledgeable about stuff.  All kinds of stuff.  Still highest tier in school.  Great grades.  Advanced scoring in state testing.  Loves SWAT, police, anything military, G.I. Joe's, LEGOs, Nerf guns.  Chocolate marshmallow ice cream.  Meatball sandwich.  All kinds of fruit.  Cabbage.  Mashed potatoes.  Sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, ham, cheese and sometimes something spicy.  Eating more and more spicy.  Tries everything.  Helps Mom cook.  Loves his family, all of them, near and far.  A joy to be around.  A treasure to those who know him.  Overall super-fantastic kid.  

       

                                               

And that's my Chase!  

So proud of him, everything he does, everything he is!