AC's First Concert

Anna Cate wants to be a rock star. She wants to sing in front of crowds, sell lots of CD's and have everyone singing her songs when they are played on the radio. She also wants to play the guitar. When she dreams, she dreams big and it's one of the things I love about her.

But, I told her that she must first learn to play the piano and she agreed. This compromise brought us to a music program called "Let's Play Music". It's a three year program that teaches children musical concepts through hands-on activity and games. Anna Cate absolutely LOVES it. They had their first recital tonight where the first year students played "Jingle Bells" on their bells. I couldn't get the picture bright enough during the recital, so I asked her to repeat the performance in our kitchen.

Hope you enjoy!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Anna Cate came into our room this morning and snuggled up to me like she always does, but this morning she added that we only have 14 more days until Christmas. FOURTEEN DAYS! Really? She again commented about how long the wait is while visions of all the things I have yet to do filled my mind. We lay there and discussed things for a few more minutes and I mentioned going to see Santa.

She got real quiet for a few moments and then said, "I don't want to see Santa because I don't know what you have wrapped for me and I don't want two of anything."

Hmmm, good point. I suggested that Cheesehead had watched me wrap the presents and therefore would probably tell Santa if there were any duplicates. Then she added that she was "pretty sure [we] wouldn't wrap a bike" so she would go with that choice.

We arrived 5 minutes after the mall opened and there were only three children in front of us. She got on Santa's lap and he gave her a huge hug and said he remembered her from last year and I was shocked to see her smile and give him a huge hug in return. I walked around to choose my picture package and looked to see them in deep discussion. Anna Cate later told me that she couldn't remember how to explain the type of bike she wanted, but Santa said he understood because "a lot of children were asking for that this year." (Just in case you are wondering, she wants a bike with the "brake on the handlebars where she can pedal backwards and not stop")


So after adding an art kit to the wish list, they smiled for pictures. Santa then gave her a book and she gave him a double high-five that I really wish I had been able to capture on film. He gave her a big chuckle and looked at me and gave me a wink. I guess he knows how special she is too!

Five for Friday - Five Christmas Traditions

Ahhh, the songs, the shows and the shopping...the decorating, the baking and the picture taking...We all have our favorite things about Christmas. When I was a child, I loved the smell of the freshly cut Christmas tree, driving around looking at all the lights and the presents stacked under the tree. Now that I am an adult, I have been able to share some of the memories I once loved with Anna Cate and we have created some traditions of our own.

1. Hot Cocoa and The Polar Express. We kick off the Christmas season by snuggling on the couch with cups of hot cocoa and watching The Polar Express. Instead of a fire, we have our windows open while cool breezes blow in making it actually necessary for us to use our Christmas down blanket. With only the lights from the tree lighting the room, it is a cozy and calm way to begin the most hectic of seasons.


2.Elf on the Shelf. Four years ago, an elf by the name of Cheesehead, began visiting us throughout the Christmas season. (It happened to be the year Matthew and I were discussing having a second child and AC wanted to name said child "Cheesehead". I thought if the elf received the name than the child would be spared.) Even now, Anna Cate wakes up every morning intent on discovering the elf's most recent hiding spot.

3.Playing in the Snow. I know this one seems strange, but many different venues bring in snow during the season and set up areas where children can sled and build snowmen. This year, we will be travelling to Colorado Springs for a weekend and are hoping to find lots of snow!

4.Christmas Eve at Mission. Our church makes Christmas Eve a true event. They bring in live animals for the nativity, snow mounds for sledding and several rides for the children. The night closes with a short message and carols on the lawn outside the community center. Everyone bundled up in their coats and scarves, drinking hot cocoa and singing carols to candle light leaves me with such a feeling of peace and joy.

5.Travelling to Georgia on Christmas Day. When we began this tradition, I wasn't sure I would like it. But, now when all the presents have been opened on Chrismas day, there is no sense of it all being over. Actually, for us it is just beginning and we are all excited to get back and see everyone.

We make so many fun memories during the Christmas season in our home. Anna Cate's memories will be completely different from the ones I had as a child, but I hope they are as happy. When asked in music class last night what her favorite thing about Christmas was, she answered, "I don't really have a favorite, but I know what I don't like...the waiting!"

November Highlights

I am so behind on my blogging and the more time that passes, the more memories I am missing...So, I decided I should at least capture the highlights of November. The month flew by so quickly, I feel a little like I have whiplash.

Anna Cate's Gym Show
Anna Cate started gym class this summer and she has really enjoyed it. The gym hosted a competition for all the little ones that are not actually able to compete at the team level. Anna Cate was so excited that I thought I might have to pull her out of the gym because she was acting up so. But, she pulled it together and ended up finishing second in her class. She was so proud of her metal that she wore it for the next two days. I was really proud to see her congratulate the little girl who won first place and hear her tell her, "You did a really good job."




New Moon
Last Christmas, I began reading the Twilight series and was immediately hooked. The first movie was such a disappointment, but I was hoping that with an increased budget the second would better reflect the book. A few of my AZ friends also really enjoyed the series and we planned to see the movie the weekend it was released. We had so much fun! We met two other couples (yes, we managed to talk the guys into going too) for cocktails and dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and then arrived at the theater 45 minutes early to ensure we would get seats. The movie didn't entirely capture the feel of the characters' emotions in the book, but there were some high points. It was fun spending time with friends on an activity that didn't at least somewhat center around our children.


Molly's Birthday
Anna Cate has developed the cutest little relationship with one of her classmates from Eagleridge. They pretend they are sisters because they, "both have some blond hair, both like Narnia and both LOVE dogs". (I wish adult relationships could be that easy) So, when Molly's birthday came around, she choose AC to be the one friend she would invite to Build-a-Bear and lunch at the mall. I wish I could have recorded their laughter and the smiles on their faces when they saw one another and running down the sidewalk, arms outstretched, to greet one another. We had lunch, made cute stuffed animals and then spent some time in the puppy store. The girls were laughing and playing and having the best time. An added bonus was that I was able to spend some time chatting with another home school mom, who is much more experienced than me and always a new perspective.


Holiday Visitors

Both Nana and Gigi were able to visit us this month. The last Gigi was here we drove up to Sedona and explored Slide Rock State Park. We had the best time walking along the river and playing hide and seek amongst the rocks and forest. Nana visited soon after. She was recovering from mersa so the trip was very subdued. We did manage a trip in to BJ's and took AC to see Planet 51. Matthew and I also saw Blindside, which I highly recommend.


It was a fun and busy month that brought us swiftly into the Holiday season.

A Moment of Thanks

I had a moment to reflect on this Thanksgiving Day and this is what I decided...

I am thankful for the sweet voice that wakes me every morning with, "Rise and Shine! It's Morning Time"...


A husband whose love and support is constant...


Friends that teach, inspire and fill my life with laughter...


A family that manages to feel close even when they are far (three visits in two months is pretty nice)...




Crisp, cool mornings, breathtaking Arizona sunsets and a heavenly Father that makes all things possible.

Thanksgiving Turkey

So, I have three unfinished blogs just waiting for my attention. It seems I have been so busy getting things done, that I haven't been able to get things done. Ever have that kind of week? Or, month, for that matter?

Anyway, I wanted to make sure that I did post the picture of our completed "Turkey Full of Thanks". It is a special family tradition that has become even more important to us now that we are unable to see our extended families during the Thanksgiving holiday. Matthew, Anna Cate and I each think of three things for which we are thankful and then write each item on an individual feather that we add to our posterboard turkey. We then invite our families to send us the things for which they are thankful and then add those "feathers" to our turkey. As you can see, the completed turkey becomes quite full of the everyday blessings.


We then display him proudly for visitors to see. This tradition is a great reminder of how full and wonderful the year has been for us and those we love. We sincerely appreciate those who contributed this year.

All Fan Girly

I consider myself to be a level-headed person. I'm practical and tend to be a bit reserved. I believe everyone to be equally important in the grand scheme of life. This idea includes celebrities and their lives, of which I rarely know more than what I catch while reading People during my pedicure. But, something changed in me in the winter of 2008.

I was working on the computer when I heard a voice on the television speaking of being a "wordnerd". It pulled me in and the performance that followed was incredible. From that moment on, I learned this person's middle name, the symbolism behind his tattoo's, and his favorite place to eat breakfast in LA. I consumed articles written about him and was completely inspired by the way he handled his brother's fight with cancer and visited a young girl who was battling leukemia. I looked forward to Tuesday night just to see what he what he would do - what song he would pick, how he would arrange it and what guitar he would use. For the first time in my life, I experienced what it was like to be a fan girl...and it was utterly delightful!

Months pass and I buy his CD the day it is released. I admit my excitement to the cashier, who gets an extremely puzzled look on his face and says, "Really? You've been waiting for this?" I listen to the songs until I have every one of them memorized. And then, as so often happens with music, the lyrics I once loved, faded to the background. I moved on with my life and no longer knew what city he was performing in on any given day or even the names of his band mates.

Then, while checking the weather, I come across an advertisement for his concert in Phoenix! I was so excited, I think I might have bounced up the stairs to share the good news with Matthew. (Based on his reaction, I think he had already heard the news and was not going to share it with me) I knew he wouldn't join me, so I called my friend, Cindy, who excitedly agreed that we must attend the show.


And we did! His performance was outstanding. At one point, he asked the crowd to be silent and then sang the chorus of "Lie to Me" without the mike. It was really cool to be able to hear his pure voice and also the quietness of the auditorium increased the power of the moment. The band left the stage and the audience continued to scream and stomp the stands. After several minutes, the band reappeared and he said this would be the last song of the night. He then began singing "Daily Anthem" and started moving to the right side of the stage. He then jumped off the stage and walked into the crowd. It was crazy. The two middle-aged women in front of us jumped
out of their seats and took off running towards him (considering the beginning of this story, I think it is important for me to include that I stayed in my assigned seat) Incredibly, he continued walking down the aisle until he passed us - just an arm's length away! Then he stopped four rows behind us, got up on a chair and continued to sing. So we stood on our chairs and "sang along" just like the song asks us to.

It was a great ending to the the night. In that moment, I didn't have a thought about finding the perfect house or the future of my strong-willed child or the 500 things on my to-do list. I just happily sang along. And in the afterglow of the moment, I realized what all fan girls know...it's fun to be a fan girl, not because you would actually trade any part of your life for someone else's, or because you think that person doesn't burp or leave his dishes in the sink, but because it allows you to go back to a time when life was fun and innocent. And for that, I thank you, Mr. Cook.

Five for Friday - Halloween Songs

There is a fun little website called jibjab.com where you can insert faces from your personal photos to make funny little animated creatures sing and dance to songs. Well, AC and I did this a few weeks back and the characters were singing to "The Monster Mash". This song introduced Anna Cate to the world of Halloween music and we began searching for the "best" Halloween song. Here are the ones we consider to be the top five Halloween songs of all time.

1.The Monster Mash. Considering it inspired the whole idea, this song had to be included in the final list. It also is just super catchy and neither of us can stop ourselves from dancing whenever we hear it.

2. Thriller. Being a child of the 80's, I simply couldn't let this song be excluded from the list. Honestly, I had forgotten how it sticks in one's head. We had plans to learn the dance, but they have not yet come to fruition.

3. Ghostbusters. Possibly one of the catchiest songs of my childhood, I felt a certain responsibility to introduce Anna Cate to this hit. Also, I must admit that Matthew and I, on occasion, will still utter the phrase, "Who ya gonna call?" and the other answers, "Ghostbusters!" After hearing the song AC is now officially "in the loop".

4. Purple People Eater. I really wonder what the writers of this song were thinking when they came up with the lyrics to this song. But, Anna Cate thinks it's funny and I suppose a flying purple beast with one eye that eats people should be considered scary enough to make the Halloween songs list.

5. Ooooo Halloween. This song is not a "hit" by any means, but the children in AC's music class think it is absolutely wonderful. They all thought it was hilarious when they yelled, "Boo!" at the end and scared all the moms. Also, Anna Cate has been singing it since the beginning of September, so I thought it was one that I definitely wanted to remember from this year.


So, these are the songs we have been singing and dancing to throughout the past several weeks. We even have special choreography that accompanies the music and I must admit, we're really pretty good. Happy Halloween!

A New Love

"Mom? What does it mean when you are standing next to a boy and all you want to do is..." I glance in my rearview mirror and see Anna Cate with her head tilted to the right and a shy looking smile on her face.

Uh-oh. When did this happen? Anna Cate has always had a special boy that was her friend, but it has always been more of the "who can run faster" type of friendship. She's not the little girl who can sit and dress her dolls for hours on end, but rather the one that can play tag, climb trees or ride bikes for an entire afternoon. So I knew this reaction was different than those of the past.

A week passes and I voluteer in her class (They were making applesauce and needed someone to core and peel the apples). As we walk in I hear several "Hey, Anna Cate!", the last of which comes from a little boy with dark blonde hair and blue eyes already seated at his table. Anna Cate looks up at me and says with a smile, "That's Samuel L". Later she explains that this is the little boy that really liked the kitten she brought for a measuring activity the week before.

Fast forward to this Thursday. Fall break has passed, Nana has visited, we've picked apples at an orchard and built a fort with Gator. On the way home from school AC askes, "Why do you think Samuel L didn't pick me to be on his team when we played basketball?

I answer, "Well, I guess it was just fun to be playing with everyone and it didn't matter who was on which team."

Before I am even finished, Anna Cate counters with, "But it's not like I hold Matthew's hand..."

What?! "Well, do you hold Samuel's?"

"Yes, Samuel holds my hand almost everyday."

"Really?"

"Well, yes, he loves me."

"Oh, he does? How do you know?"

"Because he tells me so...everyday."

(10 second pause)
"Mom, why are you laughing?"

Five for Friday - Five "To-do's" Done

I had a birthday this week and thought it was a good time to take a moment of reflection. The year before Anna Cate was born,I started a scrapbook devoted to things I wanted to do before I die. Well, the scrapbook, like so many things, is now tucked away in a box somewhere. But, the idea behind it is still alive in my mind. So, I was happy to see that I had accomplished many of the things on the list. Here are a few...

1. Build a Home. Granted, I only lived in that home for a little over a year, but it is still an experience I treasure. I will never forget the excitement of seeing the foundation poured or the fun of running around it with Anna Cate singing Christmas carols the week before we closed.


2. Become a Stay-at-Home-Mom. I loved teaching. I loved making an impact on students' lives and I treasure the friendships I made throughout those years. But, as much as I loved it, I hated even more leaving Anna Cate every morning in someone else's care. Although I do sometimes miss being part of the bigger world outside my doors, I am beginning to see how quickly time passes and how important it is that I am spending this time with my little girl.

3. Fly First Class. This one is just fun. I like the leather seats and getting a drink while everyone else boards. On the down side, it's hard to go back to those little seats and waiting in line for the potty after you've experienced the "good life" (wink, wink).

4. See the Grand Canyon from Horseback. We visited the Grand Canyon last Thanksgiving. It was beathtaking. I kept looking at it and it just seemed like an incredible painting - almost too beautiful to be real. And, it's also way too steep for me to ride a horse down into it.



5. Visit the Carribean. Matthew and I once said we were going to visit all the islands in the Beach Boys' song Kokamo. We made it to Aruba. The trip was a mixture of frustration, miscommunication, beauty and adventure. After that trip, I decided the song was catchy, but I was editting my "To-Do" list to just include the Cayman Islands.



The list included several other adventures that I had accomplished and encouraged me to add more. Next up - Taekwondo lessons.

Five for Friday - Taking Back the Castle

Sometime during late Spring and Summer, my rule over our figurative castle began slipping. Hard fast rules and expectations began to slowly erode until one day I woke up and realized that I was no longer running the castle. I had been dethroned by the princess. So, I created a plot to regain control. Here's how.

1. Delaying Breakfast. It seemed as if everyday, getting Anna Cate dressed and ready was taking just a little bit longer. This procrastination was not going to work with a school schedule, she had to be ready by 8:15 every morning. So, I told her that she must make her bed and get dressed before ever coming down the stairs in the morning. There have been a few mornings when her "legs were shaking so badly" that she had some trouble making her bed or her "tummy [was] so hungry" that she just couldn't manage to pull up her shorts, but amazingly, she is able to get through it before eating a bite. I also would like to add that we are now generally ready to leave for school 10 minutes earlier than necessary.

2. No More TV Dinners. (or breakfast or lunch) This bad habit began with snacks in front of the TV, then began to include breakfast and then morphed into dinners when Matthew was travelling. While sitting in a restaurant in LA in which she decided to lay down in the booth, I decided it had to be stopped. When we returned from vacation, I told her we would be eating all meals at the table from now on. She countered with, "But, I just won't be able to eat my breakfast!" I told her that was her choice, but that she would probably get hungry before lunch...and since then, she hasn't brought it up again. Added bonus - When I told her we could have a picnic in the floor while watching football with Daddy, she acted like I had given her something wonderful instead of something to which she was entitled.

3. Screen Time. This refers to any and all time Anna Cate spends in front of any "screen". It includes the TV, of course, but also the Wii, computer, DS or ipod. I have never been one to just leave a TV on all day, but I noticed over the summer that she would watch a complete movie, then want to play the wii and then I would find her in her room with her DS. Our excuse was that it was just too hot to go outside. But, I knew that it was still my job to set limits and so I did. Interestingly, she hasn't balked once about this new rule. I think she began to realize how much she had forgotten, particularly in math, over the summer and didn't want her brain "turning to mush".

4. Ban on Disney. Anna Cate is a strong-willed little girl, who has never held back when it comes to letting people know what is on her mind. But, the tone and volume in which she expresses herself has changed over the past few months. I really couldn't figure out exactly where it was coming from until I sat down and really listened to the dialogue in the shows she was regularly watching. What I heard was disturbing. They are sarcastic, disrespectful and condescending to one another and to their parents. Now, I am not blaming the shows for AC's language, but I also don't want her consistently exposed to that language to the point that she begins to believe that it is normal and acceptable. I didn't tell her she couldn't watch it anymore, I just stopped giving it as an option. She is quite interested in the shows on the Discovery Kids Channel and hasn't even asked for Hannah Montana or Wizards of Waverly Place in over a month.

5. The Happy Mouth Card. Banning Disney hasn't completely solved our problems with Anna Cate's language, so I devised a second attack. I made a "Happy Mouth Card" that she is responsible for keeping all week. It contains 20 stars on it and each star represents one quarter. She is given one warning for tone, sass, etc. If she stops, everything is fine. If she continues, she loses a star. At the end of the week, she can redeem the card for the amount of money she has earned that week. I know parenting books say that children should not be taught to work for rewards, but sometimes I think a reward sets them on the right path and then the behavior becomes the norm for them. At that point, the reward can be taken away and the behavior sticks.

So, as of now, the drawbridge and left wing of the castle has capitulated under my attack. The princess' counterattacks have been strong, but I'm thinking with consistency, authority and patience, I can once again bring the entire castle under my rule. (But please, keep me in your prayers all the same.)

Five for Friday - Five of Our Favorite Halloween Crafts

Fall has always been my favorite season, but when we moved to Arizona it became my least favorite. While the mornings do get cooler, the highs are still in the upper 80's to low 90's. I've worked hard to adjust to the continuing hot weather throughout the month of October so the crafts that we do every year have taken on even more importance. Here are five of our favorites:

1. Scarecrow. Every year we take a pair of overalls and one of Matthew's shirts and stuff it with newspaper. Anna Cate really gets into this one and will often wiggle her little body completely into the legs to make sure they are adequately stuffed. We change the head construction a little each year. We are thinking of using a pillow case this year so she can paint it's face and add yarn hair.

2. Salt Dough Ghosts. We started these last year and even coaxed Matthew into creating a few. After shaping the dough into ghost shapes, we put them into the microwave and reshape them every 10 to 15 seconds. The microwave causes them to dwarf somewhat which really gives them an authentic "ghost" shape. We then add paper bag trees to complete our haunted forest.


3. Painting Pumpkins. In previous years, I have bought the mini pumpkins and let AC draw on faces with sharpie markers and add yarn hair. But, at the end of the season, we are both really sad when we have to throw them out. So this year, I bought the manufactured ones from Michael's. They are bigger and she will have room to paint the features with acrylic paints. I think it will be fun to keep them and watch to see how different she decorates them from year to year.(The picture is from last year)


4. Milk Jug Ghosts. These little ghosts are super easy but turn out really cute. We simply save milk jugs and when we have collected four or five, we cut out the backs, then with black markers, we add simple features on the front. Using the hole, we attach the ghosts to the lights that surround our pool. When it gets dark and the lights come on, it looks like little glowing ghosts throughout our back yard. (We have also placed candles in the holes, but AC is very afraid of fire, so the candles cause more grief than joy)

5. Anna Cate Skeleton. This craft is fun because we get to see how much Anna Cate has grown each year. First, we trace around her feet, hands and head. Then, I have her lay down to measure her legs and arms. She then cuts out her hands, head and feet and then draws her face on the head. While she is doing that, I use the measurements to make her arm and leg "bones" and then cut those. We then use brads to attach all the "bones" of her skeleton. Then she can dance around with it and compare it to previous years.

Anna Cate loves the different crafts we create each year and we both look forward to spending this time together. It really helps me to focus on the fun of the season (and not the heat) and it helps lengthen the excitement of this time of year for her. So, here's to a month of happy ghosts, laughing pumpkins and dancing skeletons.

Lessons from Narnia

As I mentioned in an earlier post, our family is reading The Chronicles of Narnia. We have made it to the middle of the fifth book and honestly, I'm waiting for AC's interest to wain. She has started moving around a lot while we read, which I usually take to be a product of boredom. Also, I often wonder how much she is actually understanding about the book. The vocabulary is advanced and much of the phrasing is one of an earlier time. Add to that the symbolism and I sometimes think that Matthew and I may be enjoying it more than her. But, apparently, I have underestimated her.

We had reached the part in the book where the character, Eustace, has become a dragon and realizes how badly he has been behaving towards the others. He has treated them with arrogance and contempt and has seen their actions through the ugliness of his eyes, not through the purity of their intent. After becoming a dragon, he begins to change his ways and is more helpful and thoughtful than originally. One night,while lying away from the others, Aslan comes to him and he immediately feels fear and distaste towards Aslan. (For those of you not familiar with the story, Aslan is the embodiment of Jesus)

This is a crucial part of the story, one I was not sure AC would understand, so I stopped to take a moment to explain, but before I could even begin, she exclaimed, "Oh, he's like Kylie! He's a good person, but he hasn't ever been told about Jesus! So, he's scared?" (Kylie is a little girl who was in Anna Cate's class last year whose father was Native American and still follows the spiritual religion of his tribe)

Yes! Exactly! What a big cognitive leap to make for a six-year-old! I was so proud that she was able to not only understand the symbolism, but apply it to real life.

I'm also glad that she sees that believing in Jesus and being a "good" person is not the same thing. I hope she sees that making the right choices should be a byproduct of her faith, but that not all Christians are "good" and not all nonbelievers are "bad".

Thank you, C.S.Lewis, for a wonderfully adventurous tale and the lessons we are learning from it.

Five for Friday - Five for the Earth

This summer, Disney began a huge campaign to get children involved in efforts to save the Earth. Anna Cate, already a huge nature lover, took everything they said to heart. So, we started making some changes in the way we do things around our home. Here are some of the changes we have made to "Save the Earth"...

1. Canvas Bags. I used to hate to get behind someone who used canvas bags at the grocery store because it seemed like it took so much longer for the cashiers to fill them with groceries. I don't know if the structure of the bags has improved or the cashiers are just more familiar with them, but it actually goes quickly AND I only use three canvas bags instead of the ten plastic ones.

2. Bento Boxes. A friend showed me these cute little boxes and I admit that their cuteness is really what first encouraged me to use them. But, using them has really decreased the number of plastic sandwich bags we use. I have actually not even had sandwich bags in the house for about a month now, which is huge considering all we once used them for.

3. Propel Packets. One day I looked in the garbage and was amazed at the pile of water bottles. The next week instead of buying Propel in the bottles, I bought the little packets and again decreased the plastic usage of our home. A side benefit to this practice is that I can limit the amount of the mixture that is added to AC's water and in turn limit the amount of sugar she is drinking.

4. Recycling and Reusing Art Supplies. Family Fun magazine had an issue devoted to ways a family could reuse household items to create wonderful little art projects. Some of the ideas really inspired me. So now, instead of buying new products for art, I search the house to first see if we have different items that I could use as substitutions. One of my favorite "recycled" projects we did was bracelets whose beads were made from old magazine pages.

5. Unplugging IPOD and Cell Phone Chargers. I'm not really sure how much energy this practice actually saves, but Anna Cate has assured me it is A LOT. So, I unplug them and if I forget, she climbs up on the counter and does it herself.

I'm pretty sure the changes we have made are not going to result in closing in landfills anytime soon, but it is nice to know we are at least thinking about protecting the wonderful planet which feeds and houses us. And, I agree with Edmund Burke who is quoted as saying, "Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."

Cracks of Happiness

A crack has formed in the tiles that lay along the original foundation of our kitchen. Matthew and I have discussed it many times and have always viewed it as something that needs to be fixed. We see it as an imperfection that should be erased. During dinner tonight, Anna Cate pointed to a line in the granite on the island and told me that she loved "cracks and divots of all kinds". I asked why and she explained that cracks allow the "love to come up". She went on to say that happiness sometimes gets stuck, but a crack lets it come through. So, when she sees cracks, it makes her feel like love and happiness are all around her.

I like that idea. I think she has taught me to see cracks and lines in a totally new way.

You Make Everything Glorious

David Crowder wrote a song that contains the following lyrics,
My eyes are small
But they have seen
The beauty of enormous things
Which leads me to believe
There's light enough to see
You make everything glorious...

As I sang along to it today, I realized that those words best explain the vacation we just experienced. Because, although our eyes are small, we were able to see some incredibly beautiful and enormous things that point to God's unbelievable artistry in all He has created.

Our first day in San Clemente, we embarked on a whale-watching tour. We weren't promised any sightings, but were told that they generally see one or two on any
given day. So, Matthew gets Anna Cate set up at the very front of the boat, we're cresting the waves with the wind in our hair. I really kind of imagined opening my arms like Rose in the movie Titanic. Matthew points to a buoy and there are five California sea lions basking in the sun on top of it. Everyone takes lots of pictures and we continue on our way. A few moments later, a lady yells, "2 o'clock! 2 o'clock" We all turn in time to see the spray coming up and a huge grey body rolling over just on top of the water. Then it disappears and we can see a faint blue glow underneath the water's surface. The captain begins explaining what the whale is doing and how long we should expect it to be under. The next time it surfaces, we are more prepared. We watch the water spout up, the rolling and then the fluke comes straight out of the water and we are able to see it, facing us. It was truly amazing. One enormous creation down, and it was truly "glorious".

We were also able to see several dolphins swimming up to and around the boat. They looked to be playing in the waves, which made Anna Cate just giggle and giggle.


On our second day, we drove to Los Angeles to see the tar pits in La Brea. Thousands of years ago, during prehistoric time, the pits were part of the natural landscape of California. As prehistoric animals walked around, they often fell, slipped or unknowingly walked into the pits and found that they could not get out. Very unfortunate for them, but exceedingly cool for us, because full skeletal remains of these creatures have been excavated, cataloged and displayed. We saw hundreds of wolf skulls, eagle legs, saber tooth cats and woolly mammoths that had all been recovered from the pits. Seeing that far into the past really tends to put momentary troubles in perspective.

Finally, we spent a day at the San Diego Zoo. We saw many cute and interesting animals. We saw an anaconda that was easily seven feet long, an anteater that weighed more than Matthew, a baby gorilla that was half the size of Anna Cate and many more. We watched the gibbons being fed and laughed at how the male held his lettuce in his toes and broke it off with his hands to eat it. We laughed and looked at one another in awe as we took in all the glorious creatures God had created. We left with blisters on our feet, but a happy aura around us all the same.


We arrived back at the beach in time for Anna Cate and Matthew to take one final dip in the ocean. While they were running on the beach, they looked out to see dolphins playing in the waves. As I settled AC into bed that night, I opened her window to see the most beautiful mix of deep purple, bright pink and orange coloring the sky.


Sure, the vacation contained it's share of grumpiness and sassiness, but that's just what happens when travelling with Matthew. I know those snags will be forgotten as we continue to grow and learn, for as the songs continues...


You make everything glorious
You make everything glorious
And I am Yours,
So what does that make me?

Five for Friday - Five Favorite Summer Reads

This summer was different and exciting in that Anna Cate was able to spend time reading to herself. This new ability allowed me to actually spend some daylight hours reading what I chose to read. I tried to use the time to read a variety, some light reading, some intelligent reading and some reading to learn and inspire. Of the many books I devoured this summer, here are my favorites.

1. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. Incredibly written with flawed, yet memorable, characters, this book ruined fiction for me for several weeks. I just couldn't find characters that intrigued me the ways the ones in this novel had. It is also centers around circus life, an arena I had never given a second thought.

2. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis. I did an extensive project on the Roman myth of Cupid and Psyche in high school. So, when a friend mentioned that this book was Lewis' interpretation of the myth, I was immediately interested. It centers on the selfishness of human love and our inability to see ourselves clearly. I am honestly surprised that this book hasn't gained as much notoriety as many of Lewis' other works.

3. Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs. To be fair, I began reading this book in the Spring. But, because I did not complete it until the summer, I am including it in my list. It really made an impact on mine and Matthew's relationship and the way we view one another's needs. The idea that genders view the world differently is not a new one, but his explanation of the way we react and why, was truly eye-opening for me.

4. Another Mother's Life by Rowan Coleman. This book I picked up not even sure that I was interested in reading it, but I am glad I gave it a chance. The characters in this book struggle with issues from long ago and attempt to decide if they are living the life they were meant to lead.

5. Lighting Their Fires by Rafe Esquith. I have long thought that we spend entirely too much time teaching children what they need to know instead of who they need to be. This book focuses on fostering qualities in children that society as a whole is losing. Some of these traits include time management, humility and selflessness. The author explains why the traits themselves are important and also gives suggestions as to how to encourage these traits in children.

Each of these books really gave me a chance to think about different issues in life and I think that is probably why I chose them from the others. I would like to include that Anna Cate and I completed three of the books from Chronicles of Narnia together this summer and that experience is one I will treasure forever.

Flip-Flop Party

Anna Cate has repeatedly asked for three things this summer - breasts, braces and a party. Since the first two are out of my hands (and I'm pretty sure she will see that they are highly overrated), I decided I could deliver on the third request. So, we made invitations and delivered them to her three closest friends on the first day of school.

Once the invitations had been delivered, I began planning. I love planning children's parties. There are so many cute themes, games and decorations from which to choose. We picked the "flip-flop" theme and I began to prepare.

I wanted to have an activity that the girls could participate in when they arrived. I began with three pairs of flip-flops and hid one from each pair in the yard. Then I attached a clue to the other flip-flop to help them find the hidden one and make a pair.


When they had all found their lost flip-flop, they decorated them with jewels and ribbons.


Then came time for games. They burst water balloons to see who could make the biggest splash, played sprinkler freeze (in this game, the children run or dance around the sprinkler while the water is off and then have to "freeze" when the water begins to squirt from the sprinkler), jumped on the trampoline and swam in the pool.



Finally, it was time for the cake. Baking is definitely NOT my strong suit, but I think it turned out cute. The girls loved the skittles that outlined the flip-flop shape.



All in all, it was a fun afternoon. I heard lots of squeals and giggles, which is music to this mother's ears.

Five for Friday - Ways Childhood Has Changed

As Matthew used a "clunk, clunk, clunk clunk clunk" to explain to Anna Cate how we changed channels when we were children, I realized that childhood has changed so much since we were children. And, it wasn't that long ago! So, I started thinking about other things Anna Cate would never experience and the following is what I found.

1. The Joy of Saturday Morning Cartoons. I remember rushing into the living room to watch the Smurfs on Saturday mornings and my heart sinking when I realized I had missed some. It wasn't as if I could record it, or that I could watch it a few hours later when it came on again in the Western half of the country. But, that cartoons only came on once a week kind of made them special. Anna Cate can now watch any show she wants whenever she wants to.

2. The Ability to Chicken Out When Calling a Boy. Let's face it, we all started to make the call and then found our voice had disappeared when that special someone answered the phone. Then came caller ID and the cell phone. Now, any call you make is immediately recognizable. The days of prank calls are definitely long gone.

3. Long Rides Stretched Out in the Back Seat. The back seat in my parents' Thunderbird was the perfect length for me to make into a bed on long trips. I did it so often that I recognized the tree tops around our house and knew when we were close to returning home. Poor Anna Cate has never once had the luxury of laying down on a six-hour trip because she is strapped into a special seat with buckles surrounding her little body. Of course, she also has a DVD player to watch and hand-held video game systems. I guess it's an even trade.

4. A Bike Ride Sans-Helmet. I loved to feel the wind across my face and blowing through my hair as I coasted down the hill in front of my childhood home. It was such a peaceful and free feeling. Anna Cate returns from a bike ride with sweat running down her face and helmet head.

5. The Sting of a Sunburn. Maybe I am jinxing us, but to this day, Anna Cate has never felt the sting of a sunburn. She is sprayed anytime she is expected to be outside more than 30 minutes. Again, this precaution is to better her health, but I can't help feeling like maybe she is missing out on something. That sting is a wonderful memory for me of long days at the beach or picnics at Sun Valley.

It's funny how much things have changed in such a short time. I can only imagine what my grandchildren will be teaching me.

Misunderstandings

I'm never quite sure what I am getting into when I enter into a conversation with Anna Cate these days. Sometimes, she will begin talking to me and then get distracted before I even know what she is talking about. Or, she will assume I should totally understand what she talking about when the only words she uses are "that thing" that happened "the other day" when we were "at that place". Then other times, I think we are totally on the same page and then realize I was completely wrong. One such instance happened this morning.

Anna Cate came in to show me her "beautiful, shiny teeth". She had done a nice job brushing and I commended her. She went on to tell me that Abby had really yellow teeth near the gum and that she tried hard not to smell her breath. I answered that maybe we should buy some more of the denta-bones. They seemed to be doing a nice job of cleaning her teeth. She looked at me strangely and said, "No, not that Abby. I meant the little girl in my class."



Oh. Okay...

Five for Friday - Rules of Life

Monday around 11AM, I walked into the pantry to see that it was bare, completely void of any ingredient that would satisfy Anna Cate or myself for lunch. So, I told her to grab her shoes because we were going to Chick-fil-A for lunch. Why, you may ask, did we not head to the grocery store? Well, because that would go against one of the very rules that govern my life. I realized that I have picked up these little tidbits of wisdom as I have gone about my days and now I choose to pass them along.

1. Never go to the grocery store hungry. I picked up this little truth from my mom as I watched her carry in bag after bag of food that would later be thrown away because we would either forget we had it or it would ruin before we got around to eating it. The point is that when you are hungry, everything looks good to you. In turn, you buy food that your family will never eat. So, maybe I wasted a few dollars going the fast food route, but, we did consume what we bought.

2. Never leave one day's clutter for the next. One of my first days of student teaching, I looked at the mounds of paper on my mentor's desk and I must have shuddered because he looked at me and laughed. He told me that it may look like a mess, but that it would be clean before he left for the day. In the six years I worked with him, I noticed his desk was clean every morning. I no longer have a desk or a classroom, but I still believe in taking care of each day's tasks before that day is done. I know there will be more to accomplish tomorrow and it will be harder if I have to start that day with today's mess still there.

3. Always put your scissors back in their place. My Granny had a scissors holder that hung on the wall for as long as I can remember. It never moved in the 18 years of my life that she was alive. And, the scissors were always there. And, I never once saw her search for those scissors. Really, she had a place for everything and I guess that really became ingrained in my soul.

4. Always say "Thank-you". I'm sure this one was drilled into me as a child, but it wasn't until several years of adulthood that I began to see the impact of the words. People, in general, are not noticed for all the things they do for the other people in their lives. I've seen eyes visibly brighten when I take the time to stop and show my gratitude for some small action someone has performed. I've also noticed that people begin to do more when they know that someone notices and appreciates all they do.

5. It's okay to splurge every now and then. Another piece of advice that I received from my mother that I find to be true. Day to day, discipline works for me. I can accomplish what needs to be done, I can keep myself relatively fit and our budget on track. But, that piece of dulce de leche cheesecake or the Coach wallet are wonderful pick-me-ups when all the discipline starts to weigh me down.

Now, I'm off to the clean the muffin pan, because not doing so would break two of the five rules listed above!

An Intervention May Be Necessary

Second morning of Eagleridge did not go as smoothly as the first and left me with a bit of anxiety. So, I decided to find something "fun" to do.

Yes, scary, I know, but doesn't it look cute?!? It's the closet located to the right of the door that leads to the garage. The top row holds my various household cleaners, the middle row contains our beach towels and the bottom are the random items which concern Abby.

I realize that organizing things is my way of feeling in control of the world around me. Plus, it keeps my mind off all the many areas of life which are completely NOT in my control. But, I figure it is a good coping skill and the people in my home and life can benefit from it also. So, intervene if you feel necessary or just come and enjoy the cute and organized insanity that is my happy place.

New Beginnings

"Do you remember what today is?" I ask.
"Oh Yeah! It's Eagleridge today!" answers Anna Cate as she wheels around and runs out of the bathroom.

Forty-Five minutes later and we are ready to head out the door. Anna Cate is dressed, new shoes are double-knotted on her sensitive little feet, hair is brushed and has a ribbon in it, heart bracelet has been placed on her wrist because is "matches [her] shirt", teeth are brushed, backpack is packed (okay, I did that last night), water bottle is full. And, even though we will be ten minutes early, Anna Cate insists that we go ahead and get on the road. Wow, what a difference a year makes!

During our time together this morning she shared a few of her insights concerning First Grade. First of all, she wanted to explain that pre-k and kindergarten were similar in that they were both really for little kids. First grade, second grade, "all the grades" meant that you were really getting closer to being a grown-up. (She really cracks me up!) She also explained that already knowing some of the children and schedule really made things much easier.

So, here she is, ready for her first day of first grade at Eagleridge...


She spotted two of her friends and without so much as a backward glance, marched right into her new classroom and sat down. I was happy...and sad, I mean, where is my hug? My little kiss on the cheek? My "will you come a little early, Mom?"

I would also like to mention that I was not the only one who was missing the little stinker. I happened to walk by Anna Cate's room, and this is what I saw...


Little Abby, laying on one of AC's shirt, wondering where her best friend has gone.

Five for Friday - Sometimes You Want to Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name

There is just something about going to a place where people recognize you. I think it makes the world feel smaller, or maybe an area feel more like home. I love when someone sees our little family and his face lights up with recognition and joy. Here are the places that happens most often...

1. BJ's Resturant. BJ's has actually become a joke, because everyone who has visited us has eaten at least one meal there. The wait staff come by and say "hi" to us even when we are not seated in their section. I no longer have to request a booth because the hostess already knows that is what our family prefers. When AC and I came in alone last Sunday, the waitress asked if Matthew was out of town and then said that the mozzarella sticks would be out shortly (before I had even ordered them).

2. Create It! This little pottery painting shop is a bit of an oasis during the HOT summer months, but we also drop by throughout the year when we are looking for a relaxing, peaceful activity. Ms. Nikki always greets us with a smile and asks Anna Cate if she is still planning on owning a store of her own once she is grown.

3. Target. We spend a lot of time in Target, but still, it is a big store and this is a big area, so I didn't expect for the employees to get to know us. But, one day when Anna Cate was at school, the cashier asked about her absence. It was funny to think that we had made that much of an impression.

4. Anasazi Animal Clinic. This one may not seem that unusual, but we have honestly only been in the office maybe seven times since Abby came to live with us two years ago. But, I have to be honest, it's not Anna Cate, Matthew or I that they remember. They remember Abby and they love her. The lady actually thanked me for "letting" Abby stay with them while we were away. It was like she was staying over at a friend's home or something.

5. Bath and Body Works. It was actually at this store that I started to notice people were remembering us. I walked in like normal, was offered a shopping bag and then the lady looked at Anna Cate and asked her if she was "a puppy or a little girl today".

So, maybe we are creatures of habit and visit the same places too often, or maybe we are a little strange and people notice it, or maybe, just maybe, Arizona is becoming a little more closer to home for us.

Five for Friday - I Forgot...

I was listening to a morning radio show the other morning and the topic dealt with forgetfulness. A recent study found that an average adult forgets at least four different things in a day. I began to wonder if that statistic applied to me. After a few days, I realized it did. Here are some of the things I routinely forget...

1. The Mail. One of the things I miss about living in Georgia is having my own mailbox at the end of the driveway. In Arizona, we have little boxes, much like the ones found in apartment complexes. The problem is that we cannot mail packages from our box, we must take our mail to the post office or UPS. As of right now, I have a birthday card lying on the island that I completed on Tuesday. I'm hoping to send it by tomorrow or it will be late.

2. My Age. Honestly, when someone asks my age, I really do pause to think about it. It happened just the other day. After 30, I just stopped keeping track. And, as long as people continue to tell me I look 27, I'm sticking with it.

3. Emptying the Dryer. It's funny, because I actually just forget to empty the white loads. I think subconsciously it is my brain's way of avoiding matching all those pairs of white socks. I seriously cannot stand to sit and match 20 pairs of socks that each have different decals or vary slightly in ankle height.

4. The Page Where I Stopped Reading. I realize that there are these simple little things called "bookmarks" that are used for this purpose, but I don't use them because I like to create little mnemonic devices to remember my page. Apparently, I need to come up with a new method.

5. My Canvas Shopping Bags. Yes, it defeats the purpose of having them if I am always forgetting them at home. In my defense, I am getting better. I actually remembered and used them today.


The report ended by comparing everyday memory loss to early onset Alzheimer's symptoms. I'm happy to report that at this time, I am simply like all the other moms my age...too busy to remember all that I need to be remembering.

Unusual Bonds

As I sank into my comfy, leather seat on my return flight from Georgia this weekend, I was hoping for some silence. I wanted to put my ear buds in my ears, listen to some music, watch a movie and possibly take a short nap. The older lady sitting to my right had other plans. She had attended her granddaughter's wedding and was pleased to hear that I had also travelled for a wedding. But, when I told her that I had taught the bride in high school, she looked at me somewhat strangely. It looked as if she was wondering what kind of person would travel across the country to watch a previous student get married. Well, my kind.


Simply put, the bonds I formed throughout those years are unusually strong. It is somewhat hard to explain to someone how much those years of teaching and those students became a huge part of who I am today. The majority of the students I taught, are now as old as I was when I was teaching them, or older. So, in a way,I grew up with them. I learned right along side them, topics ranging from the Punic Wars to being responsible for and to others. I wiped away tears, laughed at ridiculously silly inside jokes and rejoiced their successes. In turn, they confided in me, loved me in a way only teenagers know how, threw me surprise birthday parties and came to see Anna Cate as a newborn.


Through those years, we became close. We became friends bound by shared experiences. Of those friendships, the one I shared with Leah has remained strong. I remember her call when she was still a little unsure about dating Aaron, the one when ALL she could talk about was Aaron and the one I missed when she called to describe his proposal. So, yes, to a stranger the idea of me flying across the country to attend a student's wedding may seem strange, but to me, it seemed right and I wouldn't have had it any other way.

Finally! A Home for Dogs

While Matthew and I were away, relaxing, there was some serious work going on in our home. It's not easy leaving a headstrong child and an adoring grandmother alone for several days. Receiving texts dealing with construction, decorating and wallpaper make the absence even scarier. Thankfully, these terms concerned a model "Home for Dogs" and my home was only a backdrop for their creation.

But, in no way am I trying to downplay the creativity and excitement regarding this cooperative project. Anna Cate was so excited that she sent us a video of the construction so that we could see all of their "hard work" and everyday sent us updates regarding their progress. She often sent these while her Gigi was on the phone, not paying any attention to her, so she reported (wink, wink). But, I think that Gigi was pretty excited about it too considering we called one night after AC had gone to bed and she was working on it alone.

So, here are some pictures of their masterpiece....


Note the bedrooms upstairs, the actual wooden cabinets and the dogs watching the big screen television (definitely her father's daughter).


The front view of the "home". Gigi commented that Anna Cate is much like me in that everything needed to be in it's specific place.

Five for Friday (on Saturday) - Musical References I Lived This Week

Matthew and I spent a much-needed, adults-only, week in Vegas. While on our drive there, we were chatting and Matthew casually pointed out a Joshua tree. As the trip progressed, this week's "Five for Friday" was inspired. So, here goes, the five musical references I actually lived this week...



1. Joshua Tree by U2. Okay, I already gave this one away, but I was really excited to see an actual "Joshua" tree. I am always happy when I come across something that I have heard referenced so many times, but am not sure if it is real.



2. Jack and Diane by John Mellencamp. You know the line that goes, "Sucking on a chili dog, outside the Tastee Freeze...", well, we passed a Tastee Freeze while in Wickenburg, AZ. Who knew there were actually Tastee Freeze restaurants? Well, maybe a lot of people knew that, but I didn't until this trip.

3. Hoover Dam by Sugar. Not a well known song, or band for that matter, but one Matthew and I enjoyed immensely while in college. I did stand on the edge of the Hoover Dam, but while the song makes this seem a little risky, the actual Hoover Dam is so thick that it is possible some of the interior concrete has yet to dry. (And in case you weren't sure, it was built during the Hoover administration).



4. The Gambler by Kenny Rogers. Well, we were in Vegas, and although I don't gamble, I really enjoy watching others who do. I saw some who knew "when to hold 'em", some who knew "when to fold 'em", only a few knew "when to walk away", but sadly, none who knew when "to run".

5. The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The last night of vacation, we saw the Phantom of the Opera Los Vegas Spectacular and it was "spectacular". The only downside of it being performed in the theater in our hotel was that those were the only songs playing in the hallways and elevators. The phantom was truly "in my mind" the entire trip.



I have heard so many people say that Vegas is just one of those places that everyone should see before they die. I don't know that it rivals some of the other wonderful places I have been, but I am glad I had the chance to experience it.

Five for Friday - "That F Word" and Four Others I Am Fond Of

Anna Cate goes through stages in which she really expands her vocabulary. I think the reading she has been doing this summer has helped bring on this most recent stage. The words themselves are nothing special, but hearing them come out of her little mouth is. Here are my top five favorite words she has started using lately...

1. Famished. She sometimes forgets exactly how to say this one and says, "farmished" or calls it "that f word"

2. Parched. It's no longer enough to explain that she is thirsty, she now wants us to understand exactly how thirsty she is.

3. Sweet! Her newest exclamation that is meant to convey how much she likes something.

4. Cha-Ching. If she gets to a new level on a DS game or is happy about something that is happening, this is her new favorite word to use.

5. Apparently. Apparently, this is a word I use often because I have heard her use it quite a bit lately while telling a story.

I can look at Anna Cate and see how she is growing, but it never really hits me until we start a conversation and I see into her amazing little brain. Her vocabulary reminds me that she is still a little sponge, taking in everything around her.

Anna Cate's First Job

A couple weeks ago a good friend pulled me aside and said he had something important to ask me. I'm not going to lie,it really looked like bad news to me, but as it turned out, he wanted to know if Anna Cate could "cat sit" for them over the long holiday weekend. He just wanted to make sure it was okay with me before he asked her.

Of course she said, "yes". After he walked away, she looked at me and said it was like "Pet Rescue" and "Hotel for Dogs" coming together "for real". So, last Wednesday we went to their house so that she could receive her instructions and be given a key to their home. She was responsible for giving the cat new food and water and feeding the fish. They would also appreciate if she spent a little time playing with the cat.



So, for four days, I took her to their home so that she could take care of little Banjo. She loved it. She took the responsibilities pretty seriously and acted somewhat surprised when they came by to give her $10 for her hard work. They asked if she would be interested in taking care of Banjo the next time they went out of town...looks like my 6-year-old is gainfully employed!