Embrace Life

Reflection | June 2014

So many moving parts this month with activities starting while others were winding down, it was overwhelming and my introvert self just wanted to turtle for a while. Maybe next month? We started with the volleyball banquet, it was eye opening - on so many levels. Bloodwork was re-done and 15 vials should yield some answers, I hope! I drove Chloé to Massachusetts to interview with a prep school. Sixteen hours in the truck for two hours of interview/tour should be sufficient proof that we're serious! The first day of exams was on a Saturday and Cole had two! He actually managed to have SEVEN exams in three days - crazy. Claire had her first Whitecaps tournament in Dundas and it was made clear they need to communicate better as a team if they want to be successful. River Oaks diamond is still out of commission so Caden is attending practice in our backyard, Trafalgar Park. So convenient! Chloé and her grade 9 classmates survived ASCENT which consisted of long days filled with group activities in lieu of exams. Caden presented his POL and got rave reviews from his panel. I learned it's easier to deal with a "lost" child when she is not yours. After four months of healing, Cole has a new girlfriend and I'm happy he's happy. Mercury was in retrograde for most of the month and it made it's presence felt! Claire and I have become quite expert at using jumper cables. Every few months the radio stations in my truck get switched around - this time it must have been Cole since the new addition is the XM Country music station. The best part of no school for Chloé is binge watching shows she missed all school year! Netflix is going to get a workout. I ordered and received an EZ Pass in the mail - for our future trips to New York and Mass - no more waiting at toll booths! Painters, flooring repair guys, roofers, plumbers and electricians have been keeping me company through most of the month in one home or the other. Lots of heavy-duty non-sexy home work is happening! I enjoyed a writers workshop at the Oakville Library, Brian is such a great teacher. The boys enjoyed heading into Toronto to watch the Scotland vs Canada rugby match. We all went into Toronto to Mistura Restaurant to celebrate my nephew's recent graduation from high school. Father's Day was spent (back) in Toronto where we celebrated with Grampy and sisters and families. Caden attended the year-end dinner dance - I know he ate, but doubt he danced! He has become quite social, rounding off the time between the last day of school and closing ceremonies with a few parties and get togethers with friends. The move was perfect - completely uneventful! Well, until Caden had FIVE friends over for a slumber party! Over the course of the first few days it was so nice to have a few friends drop by to say "hi" during the chaos of it all. Chloé had a blast at a surprise party for a friend - and she was surprised at some revelations. I started Yoga for Beginners a 4-week course that has proven to be very infomative. Braces: Chloé's can come off and Caden had his lower hardware installed. We're all measured up for our Phantom Screens - and I was able to take advantage of Claire's employee discount :) Closing ceremonies came and went with little notice - next year is a big one. As Jessica's escort, Cole went to the Appleby Prom - what a difference having a son attend rather than a daughter. So a friend could go away with her husband it was "all hands" to care for her aging mother - and I'm pleased to say my kids enjoyed the experience! Chloé went to Kundalini Meditation for me and plans to return - I miss it and can't wait to get all settled to I can return to my routine. Caden represented by attending the beach volleyball bbq - he brought the burgers :) Report cards arrived and all of the kids did well - no suprises, thank goodness. Claire went skydiving! Cole got his bags packed and left for his World History course - in Eastern Europe. He's off to Poland, Czech Republic, Germany, Russia and Finland. Caden left for his first visit with friends to cottage country - off to Muskoka for a couple of weeks. Chloé and I found ourselves somewhat deserted when we were the only two left at home! She was able to fill her time with shopping, friends and endless Netflix. On that note, over a weekend I managed to watch "The Blacklist" and I really enjoyed it! The flooring guy was remarkably quick and now Tony the Painter has started "fixing" up the old house to prep for sale - he and his team are so good - now I'm choosing colours for the new place!

In the lives of the kids:

Claire | Claire got herself a job as a summer receptionist. I'm so proud of her and the lessons she's learning: "rush hour" is a new and frustrating concept as is the realization, lunch out every day is not cheap and time management is indeed an art. She's putting tons of mileage on Gandalf - taking care of the house in Kingston and all over for ball tournaments.

Cole | Is happily off with a group of teenagers to take his Grade 12 World History course in Eastern Europe. This is going to be a tremendous experience for him and I appreciate all of the Skype updates! It's a great distraction as he waits to hear whether or not he will get a leadership position at school next year.

Chloé | Completed her ASCENT (group activity evaluations) to get through her brutal Grade 9 year. The whole process of middle school was tough, and I never thought it could get worse. I was wrong. This year topped it all off so I'm glad she had a couple of years to test her resilience muscles. I'm so proud of her for grinding through the drama and mean of it all.

Caden | Started his POL with "The doctors said I wouldn't be here right now" - quite the attention-getter for my drama-free boy. He is off to Muskoka for his first time ever with friends to celebrate surviving middle school :) I look forward to hear what he thinks of the whole cottage experience. He has lots of things going on this summer and I know he's going to have a ton of fun.

There was a collective exhale as the school year came to an end.

Life in general:

Weather | We've had a very slow start to summer. We get these crazy hot and muggy days that seem to come out of nowhere. Most of the time things have been quite pleasant, but I do prefer things on the cool side :) With the unstable temperatures and humidity come some really violent weather - some far away, but much too close for comfort.

News | Sometimes I wonder if it's a good thing to have 24/7/365 access to the news. It's so often violent and inconceivable to me. I didn't mind having no cable for the better part of a week. I get my news via television and I had to wait for Claire to hook it up for me. Even with it hooked up I've been busy watching sports - so I'm completely out of touch, and that's not a bad thing.

Sports | Seasons winding down: basketball has the Spurs beating the Heat and the LA Kings took home the Stanley Cup. FIFA World Cup is creating a stir in Brazil with many upsets - as well as violence in the streets. We watched the French Open and have enjoyed Wimbledon, so far. In less elite play, Claire has been enjoying her baseball season - well, seasons as she's on two teams; Cole has really improved as a volleyball player; Chloé is fun to watch play softball and Caden is really becoming a great hitter (except he's somehow managed to lose his equipment bag!) at baseball and is all arms and legs at volleyball - now to get him on the golf course!

Discovery | I can do just about anything.

Looking forward, goals I want to keep at the forefront include:

Work | Everything is on hold until the move is complete and things have settled enough to focus on other things. Though, I find I come up with ideas at the weirdest times - while folding, while re-arranging furniture, while hooking up electronics - so I have a pad of paper set up in the kitchen (centre of my universe) so I can keep a running list of things that flitter through my mind. Who knows what will come of it! Though, I'm keeping myself "in the game" by taking a creative writing course, first assignment is due today!

Health | I started a Yoga for Beginners course up at Zenbar and am finally starting to "get it". Blood was drawn (again) and I'm tracking my eating (again).

Home | I'm doing all I can, as quickly as I can, to make our new house a home. There is a revolving door of kids coming and going so I'm glad I knew this was going to be a Mama-project from the outset!

Fun | Choosing new paint colours! Window shopping for new furniture! Purging and keeping only things I love, things that are useful or that I know to be beautiful :)

Me | I worked really hard for our volleyball team and organization and ended up being the only manager not thanked by the team coach at the big awards banquet. I have to admit, that really hurt. The team parents and players were great and all very kind and went out of their way to "make up" for the ommission for which I am truly grateful. Lesson learned? I won't be saying "yes" next season!

* * * * *

A couple of years ago I consistently wrote up posts summing up the month that had just past. Then life got both complicated and overwhelming, so much so I was just going from day-to-day in complete survival mode. With this new year I'm getting back into the practices of my past that I have missed.

hello monday | 126

 

hello skype. it was so nice to hear from cole calling-in from poland! i'm looking forward to his next call - from czech republic (prague).

hello typography challenge. i have oodles of fonts with fun swishes and swirls and absolutely no idea how to use/get to them! i'm hoping this tutorial will help.

hello grade 10 math. chloé starts her summer course this week.

hello backyard volleyball. my kids don't often ask for much, but when they all show interest in something i'm happy to get it. in this instance it is an outdoor volleyball court. i expect it will get much use!

hello essential movies. this list is directed at the under-13 set, but i think i may watch a few to get in the spirit of summer.

hello provincials. hoping for good weather and great play in windsor.

hello design trick. given that i'm in the midst of room design and furniture arranging, this trick will definitely come in handy!

hello pro sports. another full week ahead! wimbledon and fifa world cup. so nice to have something live to have in the background of my days!

hello recent television binge. over the regular season we recorded "the blacklist" and it is fabulous! we watched the whole season over the weekend. so good! 

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

hello monday | 125

this is the face of my baby, my introvert, my social animal. what? social animal? yes. i am still suffering from the shock of it all!

hello summer solstice. the longest day of the year was jam-packed with activity. everyone was happy to welcome the new season!

hello packing. cole is off to eastern europe to get his world history credit over the summer. caden is off to muskoka with a buddy. crazy diverse clothing choices. i do hope i manage to keep the suitcases straight!

hello type experiment. i love this idea! i wonder what the final font will be?

hello creative ideas. last week i gained an incredible amount of wall space and shelving. time to fill it up with some projects! on that note ...

hello holstee manifesto. i have a framed poster of this inspirational message currently hanging in an area I can see it regularly. i am seriously considering putting the wall sized decal in the house!

hello giant weed. truly terrifying.

hello space. i believe we've finally claimed this new space as our own. the kids are 75% settled and happy to be in our new home.

hello personal float tent. imagine having a personal float tank in the house. swoon!

hello beginner yoga. i've started a class at zenbar healing studio (love that place!) and kind of hope that it can lead to some weight loss!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

 

the current | thirty-nine

the we've just moved - again - edition

dateline: oakville, ontario, canada @ 11:18pm on 18 june 2014
weather outside: a clammy 21C - yes, humid!
mood inside: exhausted yet open and optimistic

drinking a glass of very cold sauvignon blanc - out of a red solo cup as the kitchen is still intact at the old house and i am at the one with internet!

eating on the fly. trying to make good choices! the problem is the club makes the best french fries.

embracing change - and the dust that comes with it.

enjoying the first page of this next chapter.

cooking clean and healthy.

trying to juggle schedules: a move, end of school year, work and social lives of four teenagers!

missing a sense of calm and comfort as we go through this transition.

feeling über organized! executing plans according to schedule. well, all but the fridge install! but hey, wasn't i planning on being on the phone with goeman's tomorrow? ;)

listening to the silence of our new neighbourhood. as cole says, "it's dead quiet" - witty that boy of mine :)

watching boxes as they sit waiting to be unpacked in the living room.

reading lists. many, many lists in an effort to execute many projects as flawlessly as possible!

wearing crop pants, t-shirt and fit flops (my summer uniform).

packing not just a house! with the guidance of an extensive packing list, we are also packing for cole's trip to eastern europe and caden's visit to muskoka. so exciting!

planning the best way to celebrate the end of this latest adventure. champagne? nah. i'm leaning toward a week of sleeping and doing absolutely nothing.

stopping the crazy running around to be more mindful of what i eat, how i move, what i think, how i speak.

wanting to hear from the u.s. prep school one way or the other so we can make a plan for september!

needing to get the painter in to make this place feel more like home. yes, that means a rusty nail bedroom for me and a spiced rum office. considering an autumn leaf (now called spanish red) kitchen/family room.

wishing for the time to focus on the conscious booksmith and start (and hope to complete) the assignment for my intensive creative writing class.

waiting impatientlyfor all of the final marks to come in!

thinking it's time to get on paper - or in the computer - stories and tender whisps of ideas swirling in my head.

enjoying the journey. all of it.

paying attention to the calendar and setting up appointments and making plans for fall and beyond.

encouraging the kids, by all but example, to pace themselves and enjoy their summer. i'm also encouraging them to take in as much as possible. oh, the contradictions in growing up!

celebrating my surviving seven consecutive years of middle school. some years were better than others. now just four more years of high school awaits! pray for me.

cultivating a daily practice that is consistent and do-able.

marveling at how wonderful my kids are and how they (even sometimes reluctantly) embrace change.

anticipating a hot summer filled with fun, travel, photos, music, stories and adventure.

and tada, a photo from my week:

hello monday | 124

beauty is everywhere.
in front of what appears to be a ready-to-be-condemned building, each spring a dozen or so stunning poppies grow for a few weeks. i wanted to make sure to capture some photos this year. lovely.

hello perspective. i enjoy perspectives of people who have a different life experience than me. a navy seal? he definitely falls into that category! his ten life lessons are really smart.

hello vessyl. how i love this idea! imagine knowing exactly what is in your cup.

hello clean routine. a lot of "routines" don't fit my life but i did find this one. through the move i won't use it right away - too much chaos with moving this week - but i've got it downloaded and plan to start once we're all settled into our new digs.

hello prom. though cole is not graduating, he is escorting one of his friends. i think they're going to have a blast!

hello happy phrases. i'm doing my best to be more mindful of how i speak and think throughout my days. this article was encouraging.

hello veggies. i'm doing my very best to offer more diverse choices at meal time - beyond roasted everything (which i love). i found these vegetarian offerings that i think my kids will actually eat - me too! combined with this chart we will be eating plenty of veg all summer and winter.

hello professionals. happy to have a good team: plummer, electrician, painter, movers and security will join the cable guy, locksmith and gas man to get us all up and running!

hello orthodontist. hoping for good news and chloé will get her braces off soon.

hello last day. caden has his middle school dinner & dance. chloé has her last day of ascent. cole has his final exam. i imagine there will be lots of sleeping tomorrow! and then the season of late nights at movies, in pools at the club, off to day and overnight camps, fast-paced summer courses and social outings with friends begins.

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

 

list | 09 places

52 LISTS | Week Nine | list the places you want to go

Graduations of all of my children from university - or learning institution of their choice . pottery classes to experiment with making the art that lives in my head . to Newfoundland - with my camera - to watch icebergs float by and eat fresh seafood and listen to the lilt of the Newfie voices enthralled in storytelling . to restaurants - new and old - to review for fun . for a walk, every day, at least 10,000 steps . on a photo-safari to South Africa . on quick weekend get-aways with friends . back to Scotland to visit castles, golf courses and fields of purple and yellow . the delivery room for the birth of all my grandchildren . to listen to Brené Brown and Malcolm Gladwell and Seth Godin and Pema Chödrön and Dalai Lama and Sir Ken Robinson and Daniel Pink and Tony Robbins and Oprah and Ken Follett and Dan Gilbert and Susan Cain and Whoopie Goldberg speak, live . to walk through the Distillery District, with my camera - and to Queen's Quay, the Beaches, Union Station and Kensington Market and the BSS art room and other highlights in Toronto . to NYC for Broadway shows and great food . to reformer Pilates class at least 3x each week . regularly, to a patio for lunch to people-watch through the summer . to Canyon Ranch in Tucson with my sister every Spring . to my back deck to meditate every morning . to a publishing house, completed manuscript in hand . to a creative retreat to learn from others . walk through our new house for a final inspection . back to the Cloister's, this time with kids . to the Greenbriar, too . to the spa for a regular mani/pedi . through the car wash as often as possible . back to Cape Cod, every summer, forever . a happy place in my head and heart, every day .

What about you? What are the places you want to go?

And this week, there is a CHALLENGE: this week I will go ...

for a photo-walk through the campus of Appleby College

* * * * *

Do you want to join in? Head over to Moorea Seal and check out the 52 Lists.

* * * * *

The 2014 collection:

1 of 52 | 2 of 52 | 3 of 52 | 4 of 52 | 5 of 52 | 6 of 52 | 7 of 52 | 8 of 52 | 9 of 52 | 10 of 52 | 11 of 52 | 12 of 52 | 13 of 52 | 14 of 52 | 15 of 52 | 16 of 52 | 17 of 52 | 18 of 52 | 19 of 52 | 20 of 52 | 21 of 52 | 22 of 52 | 23 of 52 | 24 of 52 | 25 of 52 | 26 of 52 | 37 of 52 | 38 of 52 | 39 of 52 | 40 of 52 | 41 of 52 | 42 of 52 | 43 of 52 | 44 of 52 | 45 of 52 | 46 of 52 | 47 of 52 | 48 of 52 | 49 of 52 | 50 of 52 | 51 of 52 | 52 of 52

mindful | word elimination

Words are powerful things.

I am becoming more mindful of how my words effect me and those around me. Surrounded each day by four teenagers, I often have to pause and take my time to construct, carefully, exactly what I say. I love words. All words. Or so I thought.

Over the past few months, I have realized there are a handful of words that bring with them unkind,  negative or judgmental connotations. With their simple elimination have added vastly to constructive conversation in my home.

Those words include:

WHATEVER is so passive-aggressive it makes my teeth grit and brain explode - simultaneously! The word combined with the inevitable shrug or stomp or turn in the other direction is a teenage (or immature adult) tactic that had to stop around here.

CAN'T is the one word that makes me sad. The whole idea that my kids think they can't do something makes my heart sick. I have told my kids for years the Henry Ford quote, "if you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." Nothing frustrates me more than my children having an immediate response to an idea or project with "I can't". They are so capable, it annoys me when they limit themselves. If there is one word banned from my home it is this one.

SHOULD implies that something needs to be fixed and there is some level of judgment involved on behalf of the speaker (authority) to someone who is deficient in some way. Nothing like putting your audience on the defensive by evoking feelings of guilt and shame!

JUST is not a word I like to use - it is so limiting. Sometimes I use it depending on my audience, though I find it negative. Ever since I heard it in terms of "I'm just a mom" the word has rankled me.

ACTUALLY might be annoying more in the tone used when the word is said than the word itself. When a sentence starts with "actually" I know the words that follow with will be tinged with condescension.

BUT because (usually) every word after it is the truth. I find that the use of "but" is a way of saying uncomfortable or mean things with a disclaimer. Speak plainly with your intent and you never have to use "but" ever again.

ALWAYS absolutes are trouble - as is the opposite NEVER. I ask that we try to speak in a basis of truth and not exaggeration, which both words represent. Tough with this crowd when adolescence is all about extremes!

Words that need to be spoken only after a mindful pause are YES and NO. Once you have fully considered the implications of the words then say them.

I do my best to encourage my children by setting an example*. Each time I hear a "whatever", "can't", "should", "just", "actually", "but", "always" and "never" out of my mouth, I bite my tongue and then apologise. Behaviour modification at it's finest! I figure, if I expect my kids to behave one way I'd better hold myself to the same standard!

I have been toying with the idea of a Swear Jar to hold monetary penalties for the use of each word. Ironically, I have no problem with the use of the F-bomb or S-word, if used in proper context.

* Often this method is too subtle for my teenaged lot, but at least it strengthens my argument should it come to it.

Morning | 30-minute Ritual

Now that the weather is improving and morning is more welcome, I've realized I want to savour the start of my day rather than continue with the frantic jump out of bed at the sound of the alarm slapping my clock, setting up the coffee maker (I had not yet mastered the automatic setting), jockeying of cars to take kids to school, a quick shower and then drive to the school and back with green juice in hand.

Just when I was forming my desire, I realized I wasn't the only one as I read this article which confirmed exactly what I suspected: it is time to slow down.

For the last few weeks, I've set the alarm a little earlier: 6:30AM vs 6:45AM to build in a 15 minute cushion before our daily 7:30AM departure for drop off at school. I have now mastered the automatic brew setting on the coffee maker so when I enter the kitchen I simply have to pour a cup.

I anchor my new peace and calm ritual with:

1. My first, and only, cup of coffee for the day,
2. I open a single serve greek yogurt and add 10 almonds,
3. doors at the front and back are opened and I enjoy the weather that greets me, relieved that the temperatures are now consistently balmy,
4. enjoying the silence, I spend about 5 minutes breathing and becoming centred, often outside on the back deck,
5. my writing computer - a little 11" MacBook Air - is opened and I spend the time, before hollering up to wake children at 7AM, writing out my morning pages.

Once the kids come downstairs in various stages of dress, maybe eat something (none are enthusiastic breakfast eaters), put their bags together with whatever is needed for their school day, the chaos is in full swing. The deal is that the first one downstairs, fully dressed and organized gets "shotgun". While they're getting organized, I run down to the garage and move up Claire's car and park it on the street. I walk in the front door, grab a green drink out of the fridge, and follow the kids to the basement and out to the garage and we leave as close to 7:30AM as possible.

What I no longer do is:

1. Resent the alarm clock,
2. frantically do anything,
3. skip breakfast,
4. immediately shuffle the cars,
5. take a quick shower before leaving for drop off, I now shower upon my return.

This new ritual really resonates with me and my well-being. I am far more mindful of myself and what I need to do during the day, week, month. I find that by being far more centred I am more energized through the day. I'm not sure how it will change now that we're in exams and school will be finished for the year in little more than a week.

I am happy I've established a practice of peace and calm that is good for me, reinforcing my need a kind and positive start to my days.

Of course, this will all be changed up in a few days when we enter our summer holidays. I am hoping to continue to wake earlier than the kids and keep a slower pace, a more gentle entry to my days. I find over summer I lose my sense of routine and it affects me in a negative way as I tend to spin when I have no anchor for my thoughts and activity. I hope this will provide that daily ritual that keeps me grounded!k

hello monday | 123

after a long drive she was ready and eager for her early morning interview!

hello exams. cole has seven exams in three days. crazy. he's been studying like mad. two down over the weekend.

hello presentation of learning. in lieu of exams, the middle school will be doing some kind of new testing of ability. who knows! the process changes every single year. at least it's only two days and then caden is d.o.n.e.

hello ascent. another non-exam form of testing which teams up the kids in upper school. i suppose all i can do is cross my fingers that chloé gets into a good group for each subject!

hello lots of studying around here. no matter what form the testing takes there will be lots of hitting the books around here this week. my job? simple: do my very best to keep everyone in a low-anxiety and belly-full condition. 

hello conscious booksmith. so looking forward to starting this course. today!

hello even more writing. i have signed up for another workshop over at the library on the weekend.

hello proofreading. since i'm doing so much writing it's a good idea to keep in mind some of these rules before publishing - self or otherwise!

hello buddhist practice. though some days i slip they are becoming fewer and fewer as i implement all twenty of these practices into my daily life. i am mindful of all of my choices and that is more than half the challenge!

hello freshly minted 15-year-old. chloé has had a lot to navigate the past couple of years and I'm so very relieved and happy with her pluck and resilience!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.

anticipation | hello summer 2014

It was the last day of school around here yesterday - and Chloé and I are on our road trip! After a very long winter and extended spring, summer feels like it is almost here. We just have exams, ASCENT and POL's (presentation of learning) academic evaluations to complete and then after Closing Ceremonies summer will start!

The other day I saw that someone had visited my Summer Manifesto post from last year and I realized time was ticking and I wanted to do it again this year! I do like the idea of setting forth an intention. A manifesto. For this summer 2014, this is the plan:

HELLO SUMMER

1. Finish unpacking and settling into the new digs - that includes purchasing and arranging everything by the end of summer. 100%
   
2. Attend Chloé's softball games and Caden's baseball games.
3. Meet friends for swimming and fun at the Oakville Club.
4. Watch two or three television series from start to finish: Friday Night Lights, The Blacklist and The Good Wife are at the top of my list!
   
5. Have all of my blood tests done and follow up - again. Maybe get some answers this time around? Fingers crossed!
6. Sign in and check on Cole's trip to Eastern Europe. A trip of a lifetime - and hard work, after all, he's going to get his grade 12 World History credit while he's there! How awesome is that?
7. Dust off my camera and retrain my eye.
8. Enjoy our annual holiday in Cape Cod.
9. Try to keep up with Claire's forever changing baseball and social schedule.
10. With no excuses, plan to take long walks or ride my bike every day - rain or shine or oppressive humidex.
11. Take day trips to Stratford and Niagara Falls.
12. Enjoy stories of Chloé's roughing-it up in Temagami for two weeks!
13. Write morning pages. Every. Single. Day.
14. Share lazy lunches and laughter with friends at JACs or Stoney's or Jonathan's.
15. Take Caden up to leadership camp, and volleyball camp, too.
    
16. Soak up as much vitamin D as possible.
17. Get out to the driving range a few times.
18. Buy Chloé a whole new non-uniform wardrobe to wear at her new school.
    
19. Settle Cole into his dorm room for his last year of high school.
20. Celebrate my 50th birthday!

Our days will be full. I look forward to many teenagers walking in and out of my house on a regular basis through the twelve structure-less weeks ahead. I anticipate much laundry with all of the packing and unpacking that is going to happen - I'm so happy to have a full-on full-sized laundry room again. Along with late nights at the ballpark and concerts, I hope for many lazy mornings with a lot of sleeping in. Me? I will enjoy my mornings with a cup of coffee and quiet time to journal and reflect, followed by a nice long walk or bike ride around the new neighbourhood.

In essence, I will spend my summer grateful and full of appreciation that I am able to live my life on my own terms and spend even a portion of it with my wonderful children!

How about you? Big plans? Small plans? Big changes? No changes? How do you manage your summer?

4 Simple Goals | 06-14

hello monday | 122

the weather has improved so much it's patio weather!

hello blog. i've been absent for a couple of reasons: troubles with typepad and trouble finding the time. i miss it and plan on making it a priority once things settle a bit. for now it'll be more "hello monday" posts.

hello june. hard to believe half of 2014 has been lived! wow. staying active every day certainly has time pass quickly!

hello last week of school. blink.

hello exam review days. time to stock the fridge, change all social media passwords and remember to count to 10 since everyone will be very stressed!

hello bare. i really enjoy the idea of this project. so brave. so bare.

hello timehop. i like apps though sometimes i am not good at remembering which ones i have! this one will give me a glimpse at what happened on the day the year before. good to know how far i've come to keep on track where i'm going!

hello massachusetts. it'll be a long drive down and back, but hopefully we get what we're looking for when we get there.

hello baseball tournament. i'm hoping the weather holds out so we can all attend the tournament over the weekend.

hello early father's day. coordinating schedules can be tough, and over the years we've realized (as a huge extended family) exact dates are less important than getting our families together. so we've created our own day to celebrate. yay!

hello monday. you are my most favourite day of the week. i love that you provide me with 52 fresh starts every year.

 

what are you saying hello to on this brand new monday?
head on over to lisa's blog and link up in the comments.