Mother's Day recap 2012

Sore.  That is what I am the day after Mother's Day.  Why?  I spent it in the garden, ripping apart the front walkway flowerbeds.  I needed to get the beds weed free and ready to fight those weeds for the season.

It took me about 5 hours to finish.  I had some visitors who "helped" along the way and took some breaks with my awesome neighbors and my family, too.  

Mother's Day was busy in the morning, too as I sang at a Mass at 10:30 in a little Church about 10 minutes from my house, then a quick shot down a couple highways to my own Parish to sing there, too.

I love to sing, but I really wanted to be in the garden, digging in the dirt.  There is just something about getting into the soil that I just love.  

The funny thing is, I am not a fan of being dirty or smelling like dirt.  I am not even a fan of the way the kids smell after playing outside, especially in the dirt; but when I am in the dirt, I can't smell a thing.
My favorite thing to do every Mother's Day is to be given time, unhindered by disruption in the garden.  Yes, I am very sore from yesterday, but it is a happy sore.

And boy, do I still have a lot of work to do!!

Loudly yours,


Alicia

Spring Break Day Trip to Jockey Hollow

This Spring Break, I was fortunate enough to have my Hubby home from work for the whole week.  Having this luxury gave our family the chance to spend more time together and take several trips in the local area.   One of the places we chose was Jockey Hollow in Morristown, NJ. A historical place that housed the troops of George Washington from 1779 to 1780.  It is a vast area, full of trails, soldier hut replicas, knotty trees, brush and many other interesting things.  There is something so very peaceful about the woods...even with a bunch of kids running around.  I just love to get re-energized walking through it. There is something so special to me, being in the woods. (Just don't ask me to sleep there overnight.)
We met with my Sister and her 3 boys, headed over to the Hollow.
First, we drove through the woods, for what seemed like forever and decided to park near the soldier huts.  We checked it out;

then we decided to hike one of the trails.  We really made our own trail starting at the yellow trail by the soldier's huts and cutting into the blue trail to keep it just long enough with the kids.

They had a tendency to run ahead of us parents.

Sometimes we would catch up with them, but they were always in our sight.
It was fun looking at the crooked trees and the budding trees at the beginning of Spring.
We had a lot of fun hiking through the woods and finding the intricacy of the paths as we walked along.
On our chosen path, there was even a brook, babbling alongside us as we walked.
My favorite.
There was even a bridge for the perfect photo op...
It was fun to watch the kids interact with each other and enjoy the fresh air of the woods.
At the end of our trail, everyone was ready for a snack and to head back home. The perfect day trip on our Spring Break!
Loudly yours,

Wordless Wednesday 4/11/12

Truthful Tuesday 4-10-12

"You are my Sport Boy!" I exclaimed to my youngest Son, yesterday on the stairs.  "What's the big deal?" exclaimed my soon to be 16 yr old Son.  "It is a big deal because your Dad and I are not "sports" and most of you kids are what Dad and I are, "music people"! "  

I am not a fan of labeling children, but in a household FULL of music, a sports oriented kid is very different for our brood.  Every single day, there is some kind of music performed in our house.  (We even have lovely neighbors who ask when the next "concert" is going to be, as they enjoy the music flowing freely into the street through the boy's bedroom windows.)

In the past,  we have encouraged the kids to try sports of many different kinds, but for the most part, they played and retreated back to their strong suits; music.  

I must admit, since it is Truthful Tuesday, that I have indulged in excluding the hectic schedules that sports bring by not pushing the kids to pursue sports for many years.....BUT my youngest Son has the energy, the ability and the potential to do well and I am going to encourage him from time to time by calling him my "sport boy". (Not that I am boxing him in that category, have no fear.  He is my best singer in the Cherubs choir, mind you!)

I know labeling is not the typical way to "mother" but it is just my way of encouraging and making him feel special.  Music is foremost in my house, automatically encouraged and something I can be an example for.  Besides running and kettle bells, there is not much I personally do to be a sport example. (I leave that to my Dad and my Sisters) 

Now that most of my 7 kids are grown, I have the ability to get away to his games and focus on the process of learning and nurturing the sport.  I don't have to worry as much about several younger kids running around and what to do with them while the game is going on.  I can take the time to learn how the game is played and spend time with my youngest Son.  I am happy to oblige and encourage him in his love of baseball.  

I must admit, in an attempt to even it out, I also have a "sport girl" in the house.  My baby girl.  I will encourage her, too and learn the sport for her as well.  It will be a fun journey for all of us, musics and sports alike.

Loudly yours,

Alicia

Wordless Wednesday 4/3/12

That is a phrase I hear a lot at home, usually from my youngest Son.  "Ummmm.... Mrs. Go....I mean Mrs.....MOM!"

My Son's teacher says the same thing happens to her, except it's "Ummmm....Mom?  I mean Mrs....."

Very cute.

I find it interesting, this partnership that his Teacher and I share to teach him what he needs to know to get to the next level in his education.

Vincent was asking this morning as he was finishing up his spelling homework, left undone from last night; "Do you spell "I"  in capitals?  All my itself?"
"Yes", my husband and I told him and he wrote it down.

One more piece of knowledge added to what he is learning everyday.

I once read a great article about how a parent is like an architect, erecting a building, little by little.
It does not look pretty on its way up, but once it's done, you could stand back and admire the whole structure.

Sometimes it is hard to appreciate what it will look like when it is finished, it may look odd to some and may take a long time to finish, but if the foundation is set properly, it will stand.

On its own.

We, the parents, together with his teachers, past, present and future, all work together to put that foundation together and continue to help construct his "building".  Quite a big responsibility....for all of us.

So I was happy this morning, thinking that it was an honor to be a part of his foundation and that maybe I could help his building stand strong one day in the future, knowing that I helped to place a good many of his bricks in the right place.

Loudly yours,

Alicia

Wordless Wednesday 3/21/12