My Hiawatha Song: 2008

Sunday, December 21, 2008

A Snowin' and A Blowin'

We braved the weather yesterday and went sledding with some good friends. It ended up being really fun, and a beautiful scene to look at. Almost like a snow globe. Gage's friend spent the night for his birthday and Dad (Grandpa) decided to brave the weather and come for a visit.

The kids had a little bit of an early Christmas opening gifts from Grandpa and then we had some quick cake before he had to leave. All of a sudden the wind turned our snow globe into a mini blizzard!! Thankfully he made it home ok - and probably liked the drive too!

Sunday, December 7, 2008

The Polar Express

We went to Mt. Pleasant today to ride the Polar Express to the North Pole. The kids had a great time (even though it was freezing!!) The pics are out of order...sorry.

Getting ready to see Santa!

Ella and Santa

Gage and Santa

Rare moment of the kids getting along (must be that holiday spirit)

On the train

On the train

Pic they took of us there.

Gage boarding the train.

Ella waiting at the train station.

Gage and Ella ~ North Pole

In the craft room at the North Pole

Another rare moment.

I wanted to add something else to this that I didn't have time to write in the other day..but feel it's worth the time to share. Gage no longer believes in Santa. :( He said he didn't believe last year either, but he didn't want to tell me. I think he tried to tell me actually - but I was purposely not listening to him. He asked me (last year) if I was Santa and I just said no and we carried on. Well the other day Gage and I were in the car together and he asked me again, "Mom, are you Santa?".
I took a moment and asked him what he thought. He said he thinks that Santa is not real and I put the presents from Santa under the tree. I told him that yes, he was right, I do put the Santa presents under the tree. I didn't want to leave it at just that though. I also told him that just because a man in a red suit doesn't sneak in our house to give us gifts on Christmas Eve - that doesn't mean that Santa is not real. I told him that I believe in the spirit of Santa because I think that anyone can be Santa. Santa to me is anyone who is willing to help someone else in need. To give to someone less fortunate around the holidays or to share something that means a lot to you with someone you love. His eyes got a little wide and a smile spread across his face - and he said "That means that I am kind of like Santa because we did the angel tree gifts". I told him yes, that is exactly what I was trying to say. I asked him if he was sad and he said that he wasn't sad, but he was sorry I had to tell him all this because I seemed a little sad about it. I guess I was.

Ella LOVED the North Pole. She was a little sad there were no Polar Bears to pet, but other than that..she thought it was awesome. Gage was a good sport and I think he had a great time too. On the train on the way home, Ella told me that the Santa we met wasn't the real Santa because he didn't have enough beard hair. I told her it was probably one of Santa's helpers because he is so busy this time of year. She agreed and said she wanted to go see the real Santa at the mall. I am so happy we braved freezing temperatures on a train with no heat to travel to the "North Pole" to meet a fake Santa and have to go to the mall to see the "real" Santa anyway. Ah well - whaddaya gonna do?

Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays to all if I am a non blogger until then.

PEACE

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Me and Ella - pumpkin farm

Gage and Ella - pumpkin farm

Gage - pumpkin farm

Ella - Pumpkin Patch

Gage, Ella & Gage - Pumpkin patch

Pumpkin Farm

Pumpkin Farm

Gage & Ella - CSA farm

Winter Squash

Wade - CSA farm

Ella, Gage, Shane Aidan - Halloween

Gage and Ella - Backyard

The other day I was given a gift. I watched my child play as if watching through a one way mirror. The moment was so perfect I felt it was my moment, but it wasn't. Though in a seperate way from that moment itself, it really was mine.

I sat leaning against a tree reading and watching them play. They were building a castle of dirt and sticks on the ball diamond for a bug they had caught. The leaves were rustling over my head and the wind was blowing soft as a secret. Their voices were drawing me in more with each passing second. Their laughter and playful banter making me put down my book to watch them.
There was a smell of dried out leaves and playground dust in the air. My mind began to take a trip backwards to my own youth. A time of non-worried thought and never ending days.
My heart swelled with the hope of my children being able to feel this feeling and remembering as I did. Maybe even while watching thier own children play.

If I could take each moment like this and put it in a picture frame, or actually write the words elequontly enough to really explain that would be ideal. For now I guess writing these snippets will at least help me if I decide to come back to this later in life.

As Gage and his friend called to me, letting me know they were ready to go home they were already climbing on their bikes to head up the hill and cut through the church lot. It was then I realized I was proud of something bigger than myself and being a parent. I was extremely happy for more than just this life, but for each that will come after it.

I do know life is short..and there is only once chance at it (maybe). So lets all take in every memory we can like this. Every bit of laughter from our children and others we love. Lets do this before the next moment comes to take the first away. Slowing down in this world is not easy but each time I do (and honestly it's not very often) this reward is well worth the compromise of giving up something far less important.

As I was writing this in my journal the other day Ella was preparing a concert for me with a microphone of blocks. Another moment I didn't let pass me by.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Today is a GREAT day.

Yes, He DID! History was made last night and I am excited to have been a part of it.

Obama/Biden 2008

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Saturday we ventured to Abbe Hills farm for our veggie pick-up. This week we were lucky enough for watermelon among our usual and oh acorn squash. I don't know how to prepare it, but I'm sure I will figure something out. I think when the snow falls I will miss driving out once a week to the farm - the sweet kitties around (seems like a new tangle of them each week) the roosters crowing and the chickens clucking around the compost heap.

This week while driving out I noticed the once amazing prairie flowers are now dulled and covered in gravel dust. I guess this is a signal of the end of summer. But today more than made up for the dreary colors lining the farm road. We decided to take our lunch to the park. It was a perfect day for it. Clear bright blue sky and just enough wind to keep us cool in the sun with our sweatshirts on. We played, jumped, climbed, caught bugs and it wore me and Wade out..the kids however don't ever run out of gas it seems.

The two photos above I took, but Gage edited them. I thought they were neat so wanted to share.

Friday, October 3, 2008

so what's going on?

What's going on with the Cubs is my question? Are you superstitious?
Not even a tiny bit????

With us though..there have been a lots a goings on.

Monday the 15Th I organized a "Tree Day" at Gage's school. My goal was to:
1 - Plant a tree for obvious reasons.
2 - Get the kids excited about planting a tree and teaching them the importance of trees.
3 - Getting them excited (at least a little) about recycling.

I think we accomplished all three! I was able to secure a handful of volunteers through being a member of the green team at work. So it was nice to have some other "greenies" who were as excited as me to do this. These children are after all our future.

Without caring local businesses we could not have pulled it off. I received a donation of a 4 year old Maple tree from a local nursery, Pecks. We also got a hefty donation of 500 seedlings from Hy-Vee - and I was able to get a local master gardener to come speak to the kids about recycling and the importance and relation of trees to clean air and water.

We first planted the tree with the kindergarten class and they LOVED it!! Then our wonderful Master Gardener Devon gave two assemblies for all of the kids (K - 5) and I think it really hit home. The kids were excited to learn about recycling and hopefully the ones whose families don't actively recycle at home, will help get that started. They asked a lot of questions, and were so happy to get to take a seedling home to plant in their own yard.

Then I had some kind of stomach bug that lasted from the 16th all the way to the 25th. I could hardly eat a thing. Wade did a good job of taking care of us all, and in my hazy dream/nauseous like state I couldn't thank him enough. I do have to make this note though because I am selfish in the end - The husband and the kids cannot live with out Mom. Thank you. :)

Saturday the 20th we took a trip out to Bloomsbury Farm. The kids had a LOT of fun. Wade and Gage went through the corn maze while Ella and I hung out in the shaded hay bale/jumping area. They fed the goats, donkeys and bunnies, they raced around a track on HUGE trikes, we watched a pig race, and got to see a pumpkin being launched a million miles an hour out of this home made pumpkin launching thing. It was good fun - and guess what...me with NO camera.
I am going back with Ella's preschool this month, so at least I will have some of that.

Friday the 26th I took the day off for Gage's fundraiser at school. I was in charge of the planning and execution of this "Cougar Chase" and it went pretty well. The Cougar Chase is meant to promote health and fitness while raising money for the school. The kids get people to sponsor them in a run around the fitness trail at school. We have lots of special guests and prizes to get the kids excited and this year we were able to raise $10,400 for our school. It was GREAT!

Our CSA has had a U-Pick green beans option recently so Wade and Gage went and picked 23 lbs of green beans!! The deal is if you pick 30 lbs you can keep 10. She said they could keep 10 anyway, but Wade decided to keep only 5 because that is a LOT of green beans, and we already have so many in the freezer. They are so good fresh though..and hopefully next year I will be growing my own. Gage said he had a really good time and for Wade it brought back good childhood memories of picking with his Grandparents. Then we all had a green bean snapping party...but I ended up not attending due to my weird illness that THANK GOD is gone!

Fall is definitely here. I love this time of year. The air is crisp and fresh, and the leaves create a landscape of beautiful autumn colors. It is a refreshing time of year for me, the weather perfect for walks or runs, for hikes or apple picking. I just can't get enough of it.

And this year really is a time to renew with the upcoming election. Make sure you vote!