lets get organized

 

So this process of getting the kids' corner organized has been a long one. A few years ago I made that big chalkboard out of plywood and some chalkboard paint. Mr. Hawthorne 'bolted' it on the wall for me and that was that. I had some plastic office bins and hooks for the kids' school papers and jackets. But I didn't love the way it looked.

 

Then last month, I spotted a great shelf/organization system in my Martha Stewart magazine and I thought to myself, "Mr. Hawthorne can totally do that for me!"

 

And did he do!

 

First, I picked out a paint color to revamp the laundry room. Then, Mr. Hawthorne made the shelf and painted it the same color as the walls.

 

I couldn't wait to hang up my vintage shutters I've had tucked away for about a year (or more?), added a basket for hats and gloves and a few 'this and thats' for just because.

 

It looks great!

 

The kids' jackets and backpacks have a place to hang so they aren't all over the house which I love.

no worries

Friday morning I was stopped at a red light waiting to turn left while two young gals waited ahead of me. Their car bounced in place while they boogied on down to some crazy dance song I'm sure and the license plate cover read alumni from some college or other.

Frankly, it annoyed me greatly.

I didn't hate them for being chipper and enjoying the moment. Heck, I didn't even know them. I can only imagine they were happy because it was the end of the week, the sun was sunshiney, and neither of them were working (maybe never??). Their hair was blonde and they rocked out to some tunes together. Probably off to splurge on an iced latte and flirt with cute boys and shop at the mall reassuring each other their rear ends aren't fat in those overpriced jeans. Whatever the case may be, I was annoyed by the bouncy car and the flippy hair and be-bopping shoulders.

I sulked in my car, with the heater on full blast because I'm always freezing, waiting for the light to turn green. I thought about how just two weeks ago I checked off another birthday. The thirty-eighth birthday to be exact. I'm a stay-at-home mom with a misshapen body, bags big enough for a wallet under my eyes, an expired teacher certificate and at that very moment, feeling very, very, very tired.

The first full week with the kids back to school sort of kicked my butt and I am not really sure why. I mean, c'mon....I'm alone from 8am to 3pm for five days straight and I felt like I ran a marathon after getting hit by a semi-truck. It didn't make sense. The only logic I can make out of my bad mood was for five days I woke up at the crack of dawn after staying up late every night and hit the ground running trying to live my new kidless freedom filled days to the fullest ignoring housework and fulfilling all the back-to-school hoopla. Whatever the reason, I was in a bad mood come Friday and the two young things getting jiggy with it just added to my already craptastic attitude.

Then Saturday morning came.

It is amazing what a little sleep does for the soul my friends. I am the first to admit I am NOT a morning person. Getting a little sleep in on the weekend does make me feel better. My house was still a disaster but I didn't care. Sometimes you just have to give in. Otherwise the stress of trying to be perfect will make you go blind.

I woke up late, sipped coffee and headed out for an afternoon football game. Watching little dudes throwing each other on the ground makes for good entertainment. I told El Fuego if he got in on some tackles I would take him to the new local pizza joint. He delivered. Therefore I had to as well.

I took the family home afterwards. The long week back to school has been hard on the girls as well. And, the only remedy for them was an early bedtime. I snuck out of the house sans hubby and kids to celebrate my neighbors' vow renewal. They turned their backyard into a scene right out of the movies and it was magical. The lights, the music, the dance floor and friendly faces. Delish!

My mood was perking up.

But here is the best part! After the reception, my friend/other neighbor cruised into our local teen center to support The Boys and Girls club. The event was a Ladies Night Out. There was dancing and speciality cocktails. And, let me tell you. It was THE. BEST. TIME!!! I haven't been to a 'dance' since I don't know how long. The best part was, it was only local, super awesome women. Some more tipsy than others but that made it even more fun.

It was all over for me when Dancing Queen came on. I took a cue from the be-bobbing twinsies, threw my hands up and let loose. Hips jiggled. Shoulders bounced. Feet kicked. Rumps shook. Hands clapped. Spins happened people! SPINS!!!

It was just the kick in the pants I needed. A reset. I thought about my friends in Costa Rica. "Pura Vida" (pure life) they say. Not just words, but a philosophy. It's like "Hakuna Matata" but in Spanish. My most favorite description of this upper-left corner of the Lower Forty-eight I call home is from a recent book I read. Where'd You Go, Bernadette: Greetings from sunny Seattle, where women are "gals," people are "folks," a little bit is a "skosh," if you're tired you're "logy," if something is slightly off it's "hinky," you can't sit Indian-style but you can sit "crisscross applesauce," when the sun comes out it's never called "sun" but always "sunshine," boyfriends and girlfriends are "partners," nobody swears but someone occasionally might "drop the f-bomb," you're allowed to cough but only into your elbow, and any request, reasonable or unreasonable, is met with "no worries."

So there you go. No worries! Be happy! "PURA VIDA! my friends!!"

"Poor in things, Rich in life" is my tag line and I try to repeat it to myself every day. It's easy to feel bogged down. Pooped out. Run ragged. I'm guilty of letting the pressures of this messy life get to me I admit. However, I've decided to do myself a favor, now that I'm thirty-eight and all, and not let myself wallow in the crap. I try to recognize when my mood takes a nose dive as soon as possible and remind myself of just how freaking great a 'dancing queen' I am.

tis the season

And just like that, Fall is here. Yesterday was hot while today is dark and chilly. The weather peeps keep reporting the pending rain. At first I was mad at the lame summer we had here. But, today I have reminded myself that September/October is my favorite time of year. Kids are back to school. Leaves change colors. Sweaters are worn. Muffins and coffee are indulged in. Fireplaces are enjoyed. Pumpkins are hunted. Pies are baked. So I've decided to embrace the fact I will never be warm again!

 

What else does Fall bring?

 

Football! 

 

El Fuego's second game was yesterday. The team's first win! And, my son has earned himself the nickname "bulldog" (secretly he loves) because of his size. It is also hilarious to me his coaches tagged him as such because I used to say he looked like a bulldog when his was a baby.

 

Woof!

  

and so it begins

Yesterday was a big exciting day!! The kids met their new teachers and found their classrooms. School supplies were labeled and packed into backpacks. Everyone went to bed early too.

 

Whoop, Whoop!!

 

5th grade

3rd grade



1st grade

 

 

 

**********************************************************

 

 



The moment this mama has been waiting all summer for. But this year is bitter sweet I must say. This is also the last year all three kiddos will be going to the same school, on the same schedule.

 

After this picture was taken, El Fuego hitched a ride with dad for his job as safety patrol. The girls and I waited for the bus.

 

I met them at school and got them to their lines, snapped a few more photos and waved goodbye.

 

They found their friends and away they went. First day of the 2012-2013 school year begins!

Before leaving the building, I tried sneaking a quick shot of El Fuego since I missed getting any photos of him while he was "working". But fifth grade boys are totally over getting their picture taken on the first day of school so a shot of his head was the best I could get. Sigh.

winner, winner, chicken dinner

 

What fun! I opened my email to find a surprise. I had been nominated over the weekend for the Liebster Blog award by Helen from The Flaky Fashionista. "Thank You Helen!!" Apparently the rules for this award are that it is awarded to to bloggers with under 200 followers....'check!'....and in order to receive this award one needs to answer some questions and divulge some unknown facts...'I'm up for the challenge'....and, then pass the nominations on....'I can do that'....Ready - Set - Go!

 

1. Why did you start to blog?

About five years ago my talented friend, Emily, shared her blogspace one afternoon and I thought it was great. Being a newly christened stay-at-home mom, in a new city and struggling with feelings of loneliness coupled with the need to find a creative something or other for myself, I decided to pull up my boot straps, saddled up, and jumped on the blogger bandwagon.

2. How has blogging changed your life, if at all?

Well, for the most part, all has been extremely positive!! However, I can't say no one has never taken my words and misinterpreted my thought process causing upsets. And, I can't say no one has never gossiped about this blog causing people in my life to write me nastygrams and hold grudges. That said, even the not so great parts about having a blog has turned out to be positive in the long run. Sure, when I was knee deep in muck and ugliness, I was angry. But it allowed me to trim the fat making sure I was only surrounded by people and things that brought me peace and happiness. Silver lining!

3. Who, dead or alive, would be your perfect four dinner party guests?

Easy! Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis because I've always admired her grace, intelligence and beauty. I even wrote a high school paper on her life and got an 'A". Still have it too. Lewis and Clark (counting as one) because I've always been fascinated by their expedition and I would love to learn more about their discoveries and hardships. Elvis Presley because let's face it, that dude was cool! And, my mom because I never laugh more than when I'm with her.

4. If you could be anyone in history, who would you be?

Hmmm, this is a tough one not because I can't think of anyone but because there are lots of people from history I would love to walk a mile in their shoes. Picking one is hard yo! But because I can only pick one it would might have to be Abraham Lincoln.

5. Why?

Although he considered himself a republican, I've always admired his work towards equal rights, liberty and democracy. And, really, who wouldn't want their face chiseled, all gigantic, on the side of a mountain for all of eternity?!

 

Alrighty, now the five unknown facts which may or may not be completely unknown. 

1. I do not like ladybugs. Yes, those cute little red and black, polka dot bugs. I hate 'em!
2. My Freshman year of college was by far my most favorite year of all my academic years. 
3. Dirt under finger/toe nails grosses me out. And, the fact that my youngest would rather run around OUTSIDE bare footed all the live long day drives me batty.
4. High School wrestling does require cheerleaders...how do I know? I was one. Don't laugh.
5. I fractured my hip/pelvis and broke my tail bone from falling off a horse while running through a hay field because I passed out.  Yes, lost consciousness while riding a horse that was running. Terrible time to pass out huh?!

And, now I must nominate five bloggers that deserve this most prestigious (wink, wink) award so without further adieu I give you:

 

Life Under the Big Top

 

32 Enthropy Lane

From My Casual Soul

fiona and fashion

La Dolce Vita
 

time warp

Firstly....I'm freezing!!! We did manage to get some summer-like weather in this neck of the woods and by that I mean, it's been sunny and hasn't rained. But we really only had two days of HOT weather. You know, run in the sprinkler, complain about the heat, wearing limited clothing kind of heat. And, during one of those days I got a bodacious sunburn because I decided to live dangerously and wore a tank top. My shoulders haven't seen sunlight in over a decade so they thanked me by turning a lovely shade of barn red. Other than that, I've pretty much worn long pants and sweatshirts this entire summer. For realsies.

Secondly, I seem to have been living in a crazy distortion of time these last few weeks. Days are passing by with speed I can't quite keep track of as my little family goes from one thing to the next. What is even more crazy, when I look at my date book it seems empty. Only, blocks of time are penciled in like when we went camping, and birthday parties happened, and anniversaries flew by, and out-of-state friends/family came to visit, and FOOTBALL. Dear Gawd....Football!!! The new sport that has slowly creeped in and took over. On top of all that, school starts in about a week which makes me jump up for joy and cry in my soup all at the very same time.

I already shared some of July's summer time activities....that month that is all blurry and seems so far away. We had a garage sale, swim lessons, sleep overs, doggie birthdays, antique shopping and camping. All ancient history now.

We hit the ground running in August. So much so, that Mr. Hawthorne and my fourteen year anniversary slipped both our minds. Whoops! We made up for it with a quick grunt at each other the morning of when Mr. Hawthorne went to work and I went back to bed. Watch out all of you newlyweds, that's what fourteen years will do for you...true love I tell ya, true love. It's a beautiful thing.

Before I get too much further off track, the point of this post was one, big picture dump to keep you all abreast of our comings and goings because I'm too lazy to wrap each activity up into cute little posts. So here goes....

One of our mamas from my mom's group came 'home' to visit. It was lovely getting the ole gang back together again, watching our kids play in the river and sharing some laughs.

 

On the hottest PNW day I took the kids and joined some friends on the sound. This next picture might be the exact time frame El Fuego got his gnarly burn as I was standing behind the camera getting mine.

 

 

The girls had much fun and only came home a little tanner. Unfortunately for El Fuego, he inherited my see through skin that only comes in two colors, white or red.

 

Then my bestie flew into town with her family.

 

 

This was the first time our kids had met in person and it was exciting to see them all enjoy each other as much as they did.

 

We spent a day in Seattle together riding the Duck and going to the Space Needle.

 

Then Kelly and her fam drove down to the Oregon coast as I sulked around the house being lonely and bored. So Mr. Hawthorne sent the girls and I down the road as he stayed behind with El Fuego doing guy and football stuff. See there newlyweds...that's what fourteen years will get ya. True love baby, true love! 

 

The girls and my bestie's husband caravanned up the coast in two cars stopping to enjoy the beach and sites. Much fun was had by the two women above. Very much fun!!

 

We rocked Haystack Rock and then we parted ways as bestie and her family had to leave for the airport to fly back to their home in Michigan.

 

The girls and I stayed behind and got ourselves into a wee bit of trouble....

 

No, not really. We crossed off a bucket list of mine checking out the Goonies house and the sites the little sleepy town of Astoria had to offer.

 

Now we are home again and trying to settle into a routine. Getting ready for school to begin and trying not to be depressed about the pending cold and rainy weather.

and so it begins

On the day he was born, complete with red goggles and braces, this dude started a new adventure at the ripe age of eleven.

Football!

He hasn't been more happy being made to run drills and wear a million pounds of safety gear.

His work ethic is tremendous and he tries his hardest at everything.

And he hasn't looked more like my little, first born, baby than he does right now.

down. set. hut.

It all started around November of 2011. I saw a tv commercial for some clothing company where the people were playing a game of backyard Fall football. They were all done up in their jeans and cable sweaters. For a split second a small, yellow goal post flashed on the screen and I locked on to it like white on rice. I asked Mr. Hawthorne if he saw it. He hadn't. I explained what it was and as the neurons started forming an idea, I rambled my thought process out loud "we should totally make a goal post and have a football party for El Fuego's next birthday!!"

Flash forward, eight months ...

My backyard was transformed into a small football stadium and the boys came for some flag football fun in celebration of El Fuego's eleventh birthday.

My great friend, Julie, put her talents to work once again and whipped out an awesome Greenbay Packers football cake.

We had some grub but mostly the boys just played and played and played.

We did break from some food and cake of course but it was short lived. Boys are crazy beings and need structure to keep them from getting too wackadoo.

It was super party with lots of fun.

I was happy to end our birthday season on a high note.