With birthdays eight days apart we can’t resist capitalizing on a double birthday celebration. We were originally going to take the boys out of school, but learned Legoland would be closed for two days this upcoming week in preparation for snow (next weekend until the end of the year). So last minute plans changed and we went today. The boys woke up and learned about their surprise at the kitchen table. They definitely freaked out (in a good way). We arrived when the gates opened with sunshine and big puffy clouds. After pinning on birthday buttons and reading the map, we were off to wander. For a weekend, I was grateful it was not crowded, which gave us plenty of time to look around andgo where we wanted without long lines. We had a one to one ratio of kids and adults (Grammy was as excited as the boys!) that meant many rides were evenly split.This pirate ride got us a little wet but it was early enough in the day that we dried without a problem.
The weather could not have been more perfect. I read up a little before going. That way I would know where to find the “granny smith apple fries”- Amazing! No ketchup dipping here, that is whipped cream.Grammy planned ahead for the figure trading (works like Disney pins).
The boys brought along guys to trade at stations or with workers wearing them.We saw all the Star Wars legos and it was seriously impressive.We let the boys pan for gold
and learned Henry is fearless when it comes to roller coasters.
Legoland allows water bottles and snacks so we stayed happy until lunch. Besides rides and legos on display, they had ingeniously designed areas dedicated to just playing with legos. So my boys built boats and we could hang out for a few minutes without any rush or crowds.I was honestly worried about going to an amusement park. I wanted to go for them. I knew they would love it. But turns out, not so bad. I expected worse and was pleasantly surprised. Legoland was bigger than I thought and for all three of my kids, the ages were perfect. Olivine couldn’t go on all the rides, but she also wasn’t interested in all the rides. This was my favorite ride to watch them go on together with their expressions of fear and fun combined.
Definitely memorable.
Spinning ridesand the 4-D movie made me feel old. A dizzy head and blurry eyes is a reminder that I am old. I am a mom of a boy who is about to be eight.By the time were leaving it was raining and I realized I locked the keys in the car. Grateful for AAA, these ones were oblivious as they played in the Lego Hotel Lobby or laid out on the carpet, exhausted from having missed her nap. She is “zoning out.”I have no idea how the years have slipped by so quickly but the older these boys get, the more fun and adventure that awaits, can’t you see it in their eyes?Do they know how much I love them? Happy early Birthday!

Meeting friends on a Friday night, gathered around a single table sharing drinks and (always) bread with cheese. That communion of bread and wine stands strong.

Making scrubs with sugar, coconut oil, and scents. Yum! We all raved about Jenny’s recipe last year. Then she revealed her secret: three ingredients.

Decorative trees. Very Pinterest. I love felt.

My favorite part was the repetitive circle cutting. Using scissors always feels like therapy.
I hope we keep this up. I need this space. A way to catch up, slow down, listen, laugh, and make memories.

I feel blessed to have these ladies.

Fellow wives, teachers, daughters, and mothers. We share many of these roles. I also look around and know there is strength, resilience, real life hardships and stress. Yet we can lean on each other and freeze time for a little while. What a gift!

Today was a crappy day. I was impatient with Olivine. A student fell asleep in my college class (I really like her, such a disappointment). My mom and I need to change up birthday boy plans next week due to unforeseen issues. I am lagging on my homework. I flaked on some friends for Sunday (sorry no patchwork and no flea market). I feel out of sorts.

But then a student (perk of teaching college) gave me a gift:

On any other day it might not have hit me as hard. Tonight I was shocked and honored and grateful. How did she know I would need that?

Now I am ready for Friday.

I love a mellow, no pressure kind of gathering.

Olivine’s friend Nora turned four. Her mom had this brilliant plan to have the girls see the Peanuts movie at 9:30 in the morning on a Sunday. I love this. Hardly anyone was there and the movie choice couldn’t have been better.

Then brunch with a larger crowd afterwards. The girls couldn’t be bothered with the jumpy house out back. They wanted to play in Nora’s room the whole time.

Cake for you girls, and a mimosa for me. What could be better?

Oh and bonus points for homemade cake.

As for the “no gift” policy-we couldn’t resist passing along a favorite book and some art supplies. Never out of obligation but out of tons of love am I learning is where we celebrate with gift giving.

I usually don’t like a party where the only person I know is the host. But I wrote myself a permission slip this morning to learn three people’s names and engage in some relatively authentic chit chat. It was a little bit of an opportunity to stretch and grow. A Sunday where I am recharged and ready for a week ahead.

We never went camping this summer and are still learning how to make plans a few weeks in advance to hang out. So happy it worked out today, because school and parties and soccer schedules make it all feel so tightly packed.

I love sharing pizza slices and ice cream cups in our party of ten. I love barefoot children running wild or laying in a dog pile. I love talking seriously about our combined experiences in the world of education.

As for future plans. Yes let’s rent a covered boat and cruise around the bay. Let’s meet up for a “parents only” night out. India says the cookies with salt are delicious.

I want more days like today.

The weather has cooled down. The sweaters give us that cozy feel.

I have some days full of homework and heavy stress, then there are days like today, where I just shut all of that off and out.

Keeping up our Friday picnic routine.

These pictures don’t show the complex wrestling in my heart.

But then I am struck by these little eyes and the stare. I know life is more than the work, the degree, and the other distractions. I am learning to pay attention by purposely keeping that book closed, my arms open, and accepting the very different rhythm of my days.

For every letter sound Henry learns, he also comes home from kindergarten with easy readers to practice. They don’t always make sense, like this page.

As he read it he then side bar explained how he disagreed with this page. “Needles are not nice. They poke people and hurt.”

Meanwhile his sister will chime in about how they are like “pokey pines” that are also not nice. I am quick to follow that she is referring to our visit to the zoo recently where the zookeeper showed us the marks the porcupine make on people. Once again, Olivine’s vocabulary is much more cute and accurate.

I have a pretty sweet deal with an open Wed. schedule and boys just down the hall from each other. My friend Mimi takes Olivine to school for me, I do a hand off to her at drop off as I sign in and grab my badge.

I have been practicing the art of permission slips. The idea comes from Brene Brown’s newest book “Rising Strong.” One of her many great tips is to practice giving ourself permission as a way to shift our thinking. I have given myself permission to show up in the classrooms only if I am ready to be present and not distracted. If I am too stressed with homework or cleaning, the reverse is true. I give myself permission to say “no.”

Bonus: each chapter has these beautifully worded lines in various fonts.

Today I saw the hanging turkeys that I helped students paint last week.

Like any kindergarten class, it is festive looking with seasons and holidays galore.

My favorite part is the writing. The closest insight I get into all those little hearts and minds. I read a story in Paul’s class about a girl seeing a shark tooth in the ocean, but not being able to reach it before it was swept away in the tides. I was captivated by her writing.

Now I am off to do homework, attend Henry’s parent conference, and go to school until 10 pm. Somebody pray I will make it.

is what she titled her drawing.

How could she be so biographically concise at three?

These two want to sleep in or take naps any chance they get.

They love to joke and laugh loudly.

There is a sweet side too, with the same love language: physical touch.

Never enough hugs to go around if you were to ask these two.