tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86619962603293516142024-03-03T19:25:32.141-05:00Pink Shoesmaggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-61157820340717172162018-08-26T22:17:00.002-04:002018-08-27T15:28:29.434-04:00In 18 Years.My first day of teaching ever I had to go home and change my pants before the day started because on my way into school I spilled an entire vase of flowers, that my at-the-time-fiance Chris had brought to my apartment early in the morning, all down my legs and the flower food in the water left a white powdery trail all down the front of me. I only lived about a mile from school so it was fine and I was way early (maybe for the first and last time) so I didn't even panic. And I wasn't even nervous in general really because I was just so ready to teach--so excited, inspired, motivated, full of world changing antics, and creative lesson ideas, and relationship building skills, and everything you'd hope a new, and old too, teacher would have. That was 18 year ago....almost to the day. <br />
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And now, all these years later, I will still contend that standing in front of a bunch of 8th graders teaching history, crouching down with them to look at maps, scheming with them during the Civil War simulation that we always did every spring, "shouting" at them during my assembly line simulation to work faster, letting them climb over deep crevices, a la, desks as they summited Mt. Everest, making everything a game to make it faster and more fun, hanging out with them in the hall during passing time--and probably a little bit of "ummm--what did I just hear you say?", riding roller coasters with them--front car of course--at our end of the year trip, and watching them walk across the stage all teary-eyed at 8th grade graduation, was hands down one of the most rewarding parts of my life....next to my marriage and kids......ever.....and for always. And on top of all of that I had amazing teaching partners and an incredible boss who made going to work feel like going to hang out with my friends. <br />
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I taught for nine years, moved into an instructional coach position for four years, and the last five years I spent as a Dean--which is a fancy way to say assistant principal. 18 years in education. <br />
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18 years of:<br />
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Watching classrooms get set up in eager anticipation.<br />
Kids coming to school to meet their teachers--some excited, some with a little chip on their shoulder.<br />
Back to School professional development and parties.<br />
Attendance procedures for the first day of school.<br />
Recess and curb duty schedules.<br />
Bulletin board decorating.<br />
Class party planning.<br />
Wondering why in the world I assigned that essay--because now I have to grade it.<br />
Parent teacher conferences.<br />
Behavior plans that worked.<br />
Behavior plans that didn't work.<br />
Students telling me deep, deep secrets about what scared them, what made them happy, why they liked me, and why they hated me.<br />
Unit planning.<br />
Summer conferences.<br />
Presentations at staff trainings.<br />
Talent Shows.<br />
Class trips.<br />
Student teachers.<br />
Teacher evaluations.<br />
Fire drills, lock-down drills, tornado drills.<br />
Staff Christmas parties.<br />
Broken copy machines.<br />
Directing traffic in the pouring rain.<br />
New curriculum.<br />
Interviewing new staff.<br />
Daddy-daughter dances.<br />
IEP's.<br />
Girl (and absolutely boy) drama.<br />
Sledding at recess.<br />
Student council.<br />
Fundraisers.<br />
Graudate classes.<br />
First & last days of school.<br />
Students who I still consider friends.<br />
Students who have babysat for my own kids.<br />
Lifelong friendships. <i>Life. Long. </i><br />
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So many memories stuffed and pushed into each and every part of who I am as an adult. Teaching and being in schools without any doubt has defined almost every part of who I am today. From friendships, to opportunities, to how I view the world, my faith, what's important in education, what's not, what's wrong with America, and what's amazing about it. <br />
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For the first time in 18 years I won't be returning to school today. I spent a lot of time making this decision; almost two years. It started slow. And sometimes I wouldn't think about that as a possibility for weeks, and sometimes it's all I'd think about for weeks at a time. And finally last year at the beginning of April I knew it was really what I wanted; what I was ready to do. <br />
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That doesn't mean I didn't cry, hard, when I told my boss; someone that I've had the privilege to work <i>with</i> for 18 years and who has never done anything less than his best for me, the school I worked at, and the parents and kids he served there. And it doesn't mean I didn't cry, hard again, when I told the teachers that worked for me; some of the most dedicated professionals there are who pour out their hearts every day for their kids in spite of the odds. And it doesn't mean that I didn't cry, some more, last week when I was out for dinner with some co-workers while we talked about how great our school was, and how lucky we all were to have been able to work there together for a time. <br />
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18 years is a long time. A <i>good</i> long time. <br />
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For all the teachers I know....and the ones I don't know....first days are so exciting and so full of promise. 18 years of them don't lie. My thoughts and well wishes (for snow days and no indoor recess, of course) are with you and I feel incredibly lucky that I got to share the ranks of one of the noblest professions with so many people for so long. <br />
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Make 2018-2019 a great one!<br />
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<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-57870956266015535882017-06-29T16:16:00.000-04:002017-06-29T16:16:31.038-04:00Scarcity. But....three things. An insufficient supply of something.<br />
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I can't stand that word. It gives me anxiety. And I need more anxiety like.....<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(can't even think of a good comparison here, because that's how much I don't need more.) </span><br />
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I was driving Crosby home from swimming lessons today and we always take the back route on the way home from swimming lessons so we can see the horses and I caught a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror. He was quiet, because he's always quiet after swimming, eating a sucker, and the wind was blowing his hair because his window was down; better to see the horses like that, and I just had this overwhelming swell of panic about him.....and Georgia too......<br />
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Was I soaking them up enough?</div>
Every little subtle thing about them?<br />
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The way he always smells a little like Chinese food (and I know that sounds bizarre--but I love it so much).<br />
The way he pats my back with his little hand when I hold him.<br />
How he says, "Thank you......so much.'<br />
How Georgia asks me if she can sit on the kitchen counter and talk to me.<br />
How she lets Crosby climb in her side of the car every.time.we.go.anywhere because she knows it makes him happy.<br />
How she is the only person he won't fight about having to hold their hand in a parking lot. <br />
How she is a fiercely loyal girl.<br />
How Crosby says, "Daddy, you're craaaaazy."<br />
How he calls ketchup, kep-itch.<br />
How the two of them beg me to play "It's Raining Tacos" on full blast in the car.<br />
How they can get so wildly insane together and just when I want to lose it, I watch them a second and feel so thankful for them, and how much they love each other, drive each other crazy, the bonds they share, and that they're mine. <br />
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And that list is so short. So insufficient. So needing more added to it, because there is so much more. But sometimes in the moment it's hard to recall all the amazing things about your kids and it makes me panic sometimes that I'm missing something, a detail has escaped me that I really wanted to tuck into my heart but now it's gone. And the sadness of that........<br />
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So I was thinking the other day about this feeling of scarcity and am I doing enough, being enough, remembering enough as these babies get older and older and I landed on this very simple routine we started in our family about three ago but haven't made it as much of a priority as we're going to.....our three things book. The perfect space to remember and archive forever those small moments that make us who we are. A book that we can look back at and remember.....oh yeah....that was so funny....incredible.....amazing.....significant....<br />
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About a three years ago we bought a blank journal and intended to make a list at dinner every night of three things that we were each thankful for from that day. It would be dated so we could skim back through the lists when we wanted to and remember.....all of it.....all that we needed to and wanted to. <br />
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Some past entries.<br />
Thankful for:<br />
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<ul><ul>
<li>7.28.14 Georgia read a book all on her own.</li>
<li>8.1.14 We're running the Color Run tomorrow with good friends.</li>
<li>8.5.14 In the summer....kids can eat rice with dinner.....OUTSIDE! </li>
<li>11.10.14 AND YOU GUYS---WE DID THIS ONE HOURS BEFORE WE FOUND OUT CROSBY WAS BORN.....Great first parent/teacher conference for G.</li>
<li>9.7.15 Georgia & Daddy camped in the basement.</li>
<li>12.31.15 Bubbles, the fish, is alive..........still. </li>
<li>9.23.16 Georgia got a FISH award at school!!!!</li>
<li>5.19.16 Crosby had a great eye appointment and won't need glasses!</li>
<li>6.11.17 Chris was home all week and didn't have to travel at all!</li>
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And reading through the lists is fun, a glimpse into life then, and things we probably forgot about. And there's an element of relief in reading it because it chronicles all those things I get worried about forgetting. </div>
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So I am pledging to make our 'three things book' way more of a habit for our family. Even on really hard and horrible and mean days there are always three things you can find to be thankful for. And besides it being something to bring me peace of mind, I think it's an impactful habit to model for our children; an attitude of ongoing gratitude. </div>
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It's easy as moms to get caught up in that scarcity whirlwind when it comes to our kids, and it's not as easy to do something intentional, that is realistic, to combat it.........but this little practice is one way that I've found I can work against that machine. It's not that original or even creative, but when it's done regularly, it can be revolutionary. </div>
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So whether it's in the car, at breakfast, before bed, after school....whenever.....I challenge you to create a three things book with your family too! It makes for a really good read. </div>
maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-23316160754453120112017-06-10T22:08:00.001-04:002017-06-13T14:44:45.870-04:00The Deck<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;">
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A request for some deck details was a good motivator to bring me back here. We spend a lot of time on our deck in the summer and fall because here in Michigan you blink and it's time to get back inside and shut the doors for months on end and turn on the heat. We've kind of made the deck a second living room and over the last few years have collected some really basic pieces that we use over and over again to make it one of our favorite places to be. We don't have a huge deck at all so we can't put as much on the deck as I'd like to and there are some days Chris would argue I need to stop already.<br />
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Our deck is also basically on the face of the sun, that darn western exposure, so I'm pretty thankful that succulents and cacti and palm trees are having a good long moment, and are pretty cheap, because that's about the only thing I can guarantee won't look dead every day between the hours of noon and seven p.m. I get a lot of those kinds of plants at Lowes and even my local grocery store (and Grand Rapids friends--check out the D & W at Knapp's corner for great inexpensive plants--while their groceries and produce are a joke in every context--they sell some amazing cheap plants).<br />
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I think it's worth it to go out and buy a really huge pot--really huge--to anchor small cheaper pots around. However, the really big one I have is from a local nursery (Horrock's if you live in Grand Rapids) and was less than $50. And you really only need three to five pieces in a little group to make an impact. <br />
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And the item that I'd say really transforms an outdoor space is something that creates a running water sound. My mom has had this little copper lotus leaf bubbler (featured below) for a long time and there aren't really any other ones on the market, which is so weird to me, but you can find this one on Amazon and it's so easy to just place in a pot and when you hear that little trickling water sound, it just instantly makes your deck seem like a get away.<br />
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A few of my other favorites are in the collage below--the rug we have from Target, some pots from Target that we've had for years and they still are doing well despite baking in 100 degree heat every day, the love-seat from World Market that's a few years old but they still sell them, the little house lights from Target that are under $10, and some more favorite planters and plants. <br />
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/deck/set?.embedder=9247387&.src=share_desktop&.svc=blogger&id=223036552" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Deck" border="0" height="573" src="https://img2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set?.out=jpg&.sig=OlCP5LU5jxwUksQLhqdHQ&id=ulQum0pO5xGmhPK0pQKH7g&size=c600x573" title="The Deck" width="600" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u2wNmdquV3LmnUyZSdA24Qy1YEh461ZVXLdgDPqpIEPlNgClQU0ZS95IO-Lleb6hN3xnVZ9GgZsQ5qz-aadyViqnmzliDghKMItuJMTUdRkh2Nn4fTBnPO2hmP1MhgbEdoqVkazDvDc/s1600/IMG_1072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6u2wNmdquV3LmnUyZSdA24Qy1YEh461ZVXLdgDPqpIEPlNgClQU0ZS95IO-Lleb6hN3xnVZ9GgZsQ5qz-aadyViqnmzliDghKMItuJMTUdRkh2Nn4fTBnPO2hmP1MhgbEdoqVkazDvDc/s640/IMG_1072.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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That little cactus in the turquoise planter is called a road-kill cactus and I got it at Lowes. No prickles either!<br />
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So--that's about it! We also have two pretty huge cantilevered umbrellas on the deck that we bought on clearance one year at the end of the summer but that's not too exciting--but so necessary being that whole face of the sun thing. <br />
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Hope you're cooling off somewhere good today!<br />
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-14685919220889890922017-02-28T15:53:00.000-05:002017-02-28T15:53:06.658-05:00Wills. (The kind that scream at you.)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeEcIB4Opb8FJFC2AlqzQgVfu5HNl6sAft5Lg39XTbIlP_qYhghyphenhyphenh-r9kxNyBvYMGNQDqfGHgk5dlc8etPMu0KvwC6JJOvB_qLDoPr3td-eAZFKt-hfX5Y7mZi2l7TTNPiiVBjpgvsxM/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeEcIB4Opb8FJFC2AlqzQgVfu5HNl6sAft5Lg39XTbIlP_qYhghyphenhyphenh-r9kxNyBvYMGNQDqfGHgk5dlc8etPMu0KvwC6JJOvB_qLDoPr3td-eAZFKt-hfX5Y7mZi2l7TTNPiiVBjpgvsxM/s640/IMG_0670.JPG" width="426" /></a></div>
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It's fairly obvious when you look at this picture of Crosby that there's sure to be a strong-will in that little body (and let's be honest--an incredible sense of humor). One that has strong opinions on fire men, winter boots, clothing, protective eye-wear, and just about everything in between--opinions that so often clash with mine, common sense, public decency, necessary social norms, and just general, "I'm not going to unleash a crazy person into the world," parenting. </div>
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And man---sometimes it leaves me feeling like the worst mom in the world. I don't keep my cool nearly as much as I'd like to and do the things I swore on a Holy Bible I'd never do as a parent. And it makes me want to curl into a fetal position and wish I could erase the last fifteen minutes and do it again the right way, the super nanny way, the love & logic way, the transformative parent way----really just any way except the "Are you sure you're stable enough to be a productive parent?" way. And I'm one of those moms that let's herself feel some mom guilt; makes us better if we don't let it consume us in my opinion--but that doesn't make it easy. </div>
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So today--I'm really just here to say......solidarity moms. We're all in this together. This afternoon wasn't necessarily a mom resume builder as we're currently butting heads over how many books to read before nap and bed-time, where to read these books, how to read them, what voice to read them in, how fast to turn the pages--or how slow, if we read them once or twice, if Crosby reads them or if I do, if they get to go into bed with us or not, what color I incorrectly say a balloon on a page is (it's ALWAYS ORANGE.....ALWAYS....and why I haven't learned that by now is beyond me), and whether or not Crosby sits next to me in the chair or on my lap--this one is a moving target. For the love---it's all a moving target. And the whole ship really just goes down when I get tired of the game and give a few warnings and then....you're just going in your bed. Oh.my.word. </div>
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Yeah, that. And then there's the part where I decide to act almost the same as my two year old. </div>
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So like I said. Revel with me in the days where you really just can't wait for the re-do to start tomorrow morning and know you're not alone. Not alone at all. </div>
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These kids man. These incredibly amazing, beautiful, hilarious, wouldn't trade them for the world, I'm going to start climbing the wall.....kids. </div>
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I love you Crosby. Cute pictures to follow because it erases the last 1/2 hour. And so does remembering the way you say thank-you to Jesus for fire trucks and tall ladders when you pray, how you roll your 'r's' when you say things like SOCCERRRRRRR ball, how you can make the perfect fire-truck siren noise, how you say 'awesome' and 'gross' as a two year old, how you make your Little People talk to each other, how you think it's so funny to steal peoples seats at the table, and how you give the tightest and best little two year old hugs around........</div>
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There is no little boy I'd rather have a battle of the wills with than this one. Not a single one. Sometimes I just wish it involved less shrieking at me and irrational chucking of stuff over the side of a crib. </div>
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A girl can dream. </div>
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<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-26520488152644641672017-01-10T14:14:00.001-05:002017-01-10T14:14:17.312-05:00Ban Busy. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Remember a few years ago when Sheryl Sandberg launched her "<a href="http://banbossy.com/">Ban Bossy</a>" campaign. The one where we should stop calling little girls bossy but instead say they had "leadership potential," "CEO skills,"and were "risk takers." (Side Bar….<a href="http://www.rageagainsttheminivan.com/2014/03/i-dont-want-to-banbossy-but-i-will.html">here's an interesting perspective </a>on that.)<br />
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How about we add 'busy' to that list? Being SO busy, so overwhelmed with life, crazy, insane, can't keep my head above water, don't have time to call you back because I'm running from here to there, can't commit to anything because something bigger and better might come along, and "oh, my word you wouldn't believe how much I have to do," has become the newest syndrome in America. And maybe it's not so much that being busy is the newest syndrome (because I know we were busy growing up--and my mom and her friends didn't even have Amazon Prime!) but talking about it incessantly. <br />
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It seems to me that people like to throw around the "I'm so busy" line lately like this passive aggressive weapon that proves how important they are. A way to say that their pursuits, appointments, schedule, jobs, commitments are more important compared to yours because they take up more time, are more demanding, and are more urgent. Because heaven knows---no meetings, events, paper work, initiatives, after-school sports practices, cookie sales, budgets, schedules, or outlook appointments could EVER be completed without their input. <br />
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Just ask them if you haven't seen them in a few days or weeks…."how've you been?" "Oh my word--sooooo busy. It's crazy. I can't even believe how busy I am. <em>YOU</em> wouldn't believe it." <i> </i><br />
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And I find all of that so, so, so frustrating. And I bet it's safe to say that the majority of people we lament to about how busy we are would find it as frustrating. It's not that being busy is annoying--<b>it's the constant talking about it</b>. Because the truth is…..a lot of us are really busy. With things we've chosen to do. <br />
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A more demanding job.<br />
More responsibility at work.<br />
More community involvement.<br />
A full calendar for our kids.<br />
Amazing opportunities to advance our careers.<br />
Volunteering.<br />
More helping out friends.<br />
Book Clubs.<br />
Committees.......for literally everything.<br />
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Good things. Fun things. Important things. Marginally necessary things.<br />
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But bottom line--things of our own choosing.<br />
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And we choose them because….generally….they're fun, and challenging, and fulfilling, and stimulating…..at least they were when we first started them.<br />
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But sometimes those things become less fun, less fulfilling, less life-giving, and less defining.....but we think they're now mandatory.<br />
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They become the things that erode our relationships because we're always trying to make them more efficient (hint--relationships--if they're good ones--can't be efficient) due to the calendar space we've abused, turn us into users-of-people, make us late to the next thing, and suck our joy out of the moment because we've got eight more "moment's" left in the day that we're supposed to find amazing.<br />
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So what I'm saying here to<strong> myself</strong>…..to you if you need to hear it……is to <i><b>be busy if you want to be</b></i>. Suck every drop of life you've been given bone dry. But please stop talking about it and lamenting about it and blaming your neglect of other things on it. <br />
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When people ask how you've been say "Great!, I have a fantastic job that keeps me on my toes, my kids are loving soccer and gymnastics, I'm repainting my bathroom and it's been a learning experience." Or just say, "great," or "I'm a little tired--but it'll be fine," or "It's a tough season but nothing I can't handle--how are you?," or "I'm really sorry for not getting back to you--I don't have a good excuse." But not----I'M SO BUSY followed by a dramatic pause and sigh and the world-is-ending-but-I-don't-have-a-choice-because-I'm-so-crucial-to-the-sun rising look. <br />
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Because we always have a choice. We absolutely do. If you want to be busy--be busy, busy, busy....but embrace it as your choice, not as a cross you have to bear. And let's stop telling each other how busy we really are. <br />
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We can do it. I can do it. <br />
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<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-37434729833908122312017-01-04T14:51:00.000-05:002017-01-04T14:51:40.151-05:00Turning Pages<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzvEHUWX4DKVUL0_SaGEKAFvxDa6mTSZtvIdgEZ5fmvgcGQfEs0XRS5g_luapvOw2VUOrTjsBOg0lfjcCJhbQlfbZGmT_t5Jc-lTIX4TkJq0KHFuePYoHpL9Y-0IifhQZgWdLe95O9-w/s1600/IMG_0643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzvEHUWX4DKVUL0_SaGEKAFvxDa6mTSZtvIdgEZ5fmvgcGQfEs0XRS5g_luapvOw2VUOrTjsBOg0lfjcCJhbQlfbZGmT_t5Jc-lTIX4TkJq0KHFuePYoHpL9Y-0IifhQZgWdLe95O9-w/s640/IMG_0643.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is not the thought provoking post that the title alludes to. It's quite literal. <br />
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I am always on the look out for beautiful new children's books that make my kids want to sit on the couch and flip through the pages of actual books. I'm not anti screen in any way and think kids should be pretty adept at maneuvering their way around technology but I think it's fun to look at printed pictures together; to touch the words we're reading, see the colors in a big way--bigger than a phone screen can provide, and to work our way through a stack of books and claim victory over them.<br />
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Here's a few we've been reading the last few months....in case you're on the look out too!<br />
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1. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/TouchThinkLearn-ABC-Xavier-Deneux/dp/1452145032/ref=pd_sim_14_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=JSSGMMR4NEPQ8RQ07S9A">The books on the top of the stack</a> in the picture above are AMAZING for the toddlers in your life who are learning colors, and letters, and basic vocabulary. Xavier Deneux fills his books with thick cardboard pages and rich colors and a tactile element that is so perfectly done for little hands. Everything sticks up and kids can feel the shapes of letters and objects to hold their interest just that much longer. And he has so many books! We have three--there are a lot more to pick from. <br />
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That little finger. I kind of love it. <br />
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2. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Before-After-Matthias-Ar%C3%A9gui/dp/0763676217/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483557972&sr=1-1&keywords=Before+and+After">Before & After</a>. Honestly--a genius but simple book. Truly such a basic but engaging way to teach kids cause and effect, progress, the passage of time, and transitions. There are no words in this book so the conversations you can have with your kids and the predictions they'll come up with are really fun. If I was still teaching a great activity would be to have kids write their own narratives describing the sets of pictures and why A leads to B. There are very straightforward cause and effect images as I've detailed below and even more in depth ones that span four or five pages that show the change in a plot of land over many years. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOfpAO6Kd5cihBy9g_0GHsrEfw1BuKQ5cWez8yxHT1ppNmNkHBSuSO4nVnezlpiW1M_B1G_C1XSgKGqiCSSoyPM5VGLA70_vE3-4Cfg5WfKXQ8B7kJ_XhYluZrRgKmoNUKb9FA2gaFV0/s1600/IMG_0648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOfpAO6Kd5cihBy9g_0GHsrEfw1BuKQ5cWez8yxHT1ppNmNkHBSuSO4nVnezlpiW1M_B1G_C1XSgKGqiCSSoyPM5VGLA70_vE3-4Cfg5WfKXQ8B7kJ_XhYluZrRgKmoNUKb9FA2gaFV0/s640/IMG_0648.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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3. A lot of kids are curious about Braille since it's on every bathroom sign they ever pass, but don't necessarily come in contact with people who use Braille on a very regular basis. Georgia was curious about it....and of course Amazon delivered with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Six-Dots-Story-Young-Braille/dp/0449813371/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483558478&sr=1-1&keywords=Six+Dots">a very pretty book on Louis Braille.</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWiHzBWv3TlSHj6WEcYF36PTkI8QdeqSDIiSnpftpDX98u8mlx4RvIFHmtS9DZpADZXgbjYbT4CZFBi2ZCsfluMa9ICm1cBmAgS6v4JR1592Csudtju95iW70M6VW7o_hY5tARPPaOic/s1600/IMG_0651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWiHzBWv3TlSHj6WEcYF36PTkI8QdeqSDIiSnpftpDX98u8mlx4RvIFHmtS9DZpADZXgbjYbT4CZFBi2ZCsfluMa9ICm1cBmAgS6v4JR1592Csudtju95iW70M6VW7o_hY5tARPPaOic/s640/IMG_0651.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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4. The <a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-Do-You-Idea/dp/1938298071/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483558604&sr=1-1&keywords=what+do+you+do+with+an+idea">"What do you do with...."</a> books. Problems? Ideas? We've all got them and sometimes kids (ummm--and adults too) need a little clarity on how to process them and know that problems and crazy ideas are kind of normal. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczMp2kziaPvYPbXo1XmyHTejeOmAP7Rt4r-_oYSekGlqTQORZAx5uBWEvWCM8nxg_RK4_1TMi-CekllLUU-Cw_OF6Ny9ML8pKe4VrQMKsfaUuRgMs-_udY9qU6zVK0d4BOGSuNW9oVPI/s1600/IMG_0650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczMp2kziaPvYPbXo1XmyHTejeOmAP7Rt4r-_oYSekGlqTQORZAx5uBWEvWCM8nxg_RK4_1TMi-CekllLUU-Cw_OF6Ny9ML8pKe4VrQMKsfaUuRgMs-_udY9qU6zVK0d4BOGSuNW9oVPI/s640/IMG_0650.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOX6DONuLKnk4L2a4rnLjdhLiitr7ECzNoRDYJEN-sIuTSN7XSle-EjkJpQEjLk4ajYiz18UI21jdrk_vseWawEJ9MDMvgOQACpzXTkqGVDgPou5j2smZXNm2_NIwVs5IT2CiIBL4dS0/s1600/IMG_0649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOX6DONuLKnk4L2a4rnLjdhLiitr7ECzNoRDYJEN-sIuTSN7XSle-EjkJpQEjLk4ajYiz18UI21jdrk_vseWawEJ9MDMvgOQACpzXTkqGVDgPou5j2smZXNm2_NIwVs5IT2CiIBL4dS0/s640/IMG_0649.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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5. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/I-Am-Story-Dan-Yaccarino/dp/0062411063/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483558785&sr=1-1&keywords=I+am+a+story">I am a Story.</a> I seriously love this book. So incredibly much. This book details the importance of story and how it is passed down from generation to generation and even how some stories have been shunned and burned at certain points in history. Loved reading this one with Georgia! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsgJRLsXb-gpeAsAqtJQom9_O0icHpNExjEwQ7jD7EuAwRdQKYrDoixoGjf1ZLQ5Xd_RsiHU2QyD2w769hysOTs0WE1INr90UC8j5bqU_c19lkJpATbcpssMNRGVfPv2pMXsEPzMCyk0/s1600/IMG_0658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsgJRLsXb-gpeAsAqtJQom9_O0icHpNExjEwQ7jD7EuAwRdQKYrDoixoGjf1ZLQ5Xd_RsiHU2QyD2w769hysOTs0WE1INr90UC8j5bqU_c19lkJpATbcpssMNRGVfPv2pMXsEPzMCyk0/s640/IMG_0658.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6CtGHLmfTbFQW66nfMs6uJ3MaJM0lcPSeenCwi0YbTn-rRJ4AAWEEcrGKySmpwBFo5FByU6N-dOhndFjxG1Xq9LmCmI6T3FnGd3Q9OUa75wLAOw4P0ZxDUR6F03ZS1oDh-6S0pv_5x4/s1600/IMG_0659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC6CtGHLmfTbFQW66nfMs6uJ3MaJM0lcPSeenCwi0YbTn-rRJ4AAWEEcrGKySmpwBFo5FByU6N-dOhndFjxG1Xq9LmCmI6T3FnGd3Q9OUa75wLAOw4P0ZxDUR6F03ZS1oDh-6S0pv_5x4/s640/IMG_0659.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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6. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/House-Maple-Street-Bonnie-Pryor/dp/0688120318/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483559111&sr=1-1&keywords=the+house+on+maple+street">The House On Maple Street</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/At-Same-Moment-Around-World/dp/1452122083/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483559147&sr=1-1&keywords=at+the+same+moment+around+the+world">At the Same Moment Around the <span id="goog_1100635352"></span><span id="goog_1100635353"></span>World </a>are perfect for helping kids to understand timezones and the passage of time. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc_BBZfSI8BGINwGHpk2s4TXRX6ofW5vcy63teL7PohIphMYlD2KPQ93tNM8Akc1TFBymP3DGfgo1xVr7AL-F6OQtxVs9N9Yd2cT5N0KCjzdQzGYAZvdiESWveb83JpQt3kbzerdpeYU/s1600/IMG_0652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc_BBZfSI8BGINwGHpk2s4TXRX6ofW5vcy63teL7PohIphMYlD2KPQ93tNM8Akc1TFBymP3DGfgo1xVr7AL-F6OQtxVs9N9Yd2cT5N0KCjzdQzGYAZvdiESWveb83JpQt3kbzerdpeYU/s640/IMG_0652.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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7. And finally, these two books about <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Home-Carson-Ellis/dp/0763665290/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483559300&sr=1-3&keywords=Home">being home</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lets-Go-Home-Wonderful-Things/dp/1416908390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1483559346&sr=1-1&keywords=Let%27s+Go+Home">what home means</a> and all of the wonderful things that homes can hold are as visually interesting as they are thought provoking. </div>
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January is maybe one of the most perfect months of the year to curl up on the couch and read books with your kids. What are some of your favorites? </div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-17836400925238184432017-01-03T21:40:00.001-05:002017-01-03T21:40:20.739-05:00Hey Little Blog.....I had a moment of panic this afternoon when I decided to quick log into the control panel for Pink Shoes (for the first time in five months) and found myself locked out due to inactivity and I couldn't remember the log-in information. I knew it was paid for because I had the confirmation e-mail from October--but the really rational side of me freaked out that everything was lost. <br />
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But here I am.......and here's Pink Shoes......safe and sound.....and really neglected. I've been missing it for a long time now but clearly needed the threat of a break-up to feel motivated to return. I have about 20 posts just missing a period or two that have been hanging out in draft purgatory since I took a "break" back in June. Some of them were dumped immediately into the little figurative trash can and others are ready to go. <br />
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I don't want to make a resolution to write more, blog more (do people even really read blogs anymore the way they used to), or create more........I just want to hope that I get around to stopping in here on a more regular basis because I just really like to be here.....once I'm here. And the more I'm here, the faster I return the next time. That's kind of how it goes with everything worth doing right? <br />
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A few pics from the last six months.........<br />
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Okay--dipped my toes in the water a bit.......<br />
I'll come back tomorrow. <br />
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<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-74069632410946918942016-06-03T13:56:00.001-04:002016-06-03T14:26:20.579-04:00It's Friday, I'm in Love. Putting these little temptation collages together keeps me from shopping online……sort of. However, since I own half of this stuff--maybe it's not actually helping me at all. But……a lot of it's really <strike>necessary, super-helpful</strike>, just plain fun stuff.<br />
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Anyway--it's the first Friday of June! Happy Friday and happy shopping!<br />
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/277464302/round-geometric-reclaimed-wood-and-brown?ref=related-1">These reclaimed wood</a> wall hangings are so simple and beautiful. I love the leather strap too!// Sandals <a href="http://www.joie.com/features/getaway-shop2/sable-sandals-black-natural">like this</a> are a splurge but I have a feeling they'd become an everyday item if I had them.// I don't think saying we <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EE9O1PW?ie=UTF8&keywords=marren%20morris&qid=1464564138&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2&tag=polyvore006-20">listen to this </a>100 times a day is an exaggeration. Georgia and I know it by heart now and we've completed some pretty awesome car concerts to it.// A <a href="http://www.worldmarket.com/product/ceramic+planter+with+leather+strap.do">great find at World Market</a> and so cheap compared to others I've seen like it at more expensive shops.// I think I make batch of popsicles <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chichic-Silicone-Popsicle-Lollipops-Chocolates/dp/B01DF17J0O?ie=UTF8&keywords=popsicle%20molds&qid=1464806768&ref_=sr_1_22&s=kitchen&sr=1-22&tag=polyvore006-20">in this little mold</a> a few times a week. I use smoothies, fruit juice, and even ice-cream. They are the cutest little size and perfect if you have a tiny kiddo (or a big kiddo) in your house. // Suuuuper tempted by <a href="https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/DENIMBAR/flarejeans/PRDOVR~F1600/F1600.jsp?color_name=birdie-wash">this style</a> this summer and I love Madewell jeans……so we'll see. // It's finally grilling season and I found <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spanish-Smoked-Seasoned-Salt-127g/dp/B01ATNY314?ie=UTF8&keywords=urban%20accents%20spanish%20smoked%20sea%20salt&qid=1464563949&ref_=sr_1_1_a_it&sr=8-1&tag=polyvore006-20">this amazing seasoning salt </a>at my grocery store and might just be using it on everything this summer. // I've tried on lots of <a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/caslon-knit-blouson-jumpsuit-regular-petite/4205764?cm_mmc=PolyvoreExplore-_-datafeed-_-petite_women%3Ajumpsuits_coveralls%3Ajumpsuit_romper-_-5062351">jump-suits this year and this one</a> is by far my favorite in terms of feel, fit, and price--size down if you try it……it runs big!// Roman and Leo is one of my favorite little boy clothes web-sites and I love Crosby in tank tops…..<a href="http://romanandleo.com/products/goat-milk-sleeveless-onesie-in-black-and-white-stripes">so striped tank tops</a> win every time. // I didn't have a high chair for Georgia….probably because this one wasn't invented yet. But if you're in the market for a <a href="http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S79067506/">high-chair and like modern design this is it!</a> Seriously the best ever….and it's $20.// <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/product/40318?article=40318-E&variant=134">These pants for Georgia</a> are super great---not fitted pants (which she thinks the devil created) but not leggings either. // I'm not a girl who seeks out natural products <a href="http://www.piperwai.com/products/piperwai-natural-deodorant">but when I stumbled upon this one I was intrigued</a> and now I'm hooked. Smells amazing, works just as well as regular deodorant, and doesn't have any carcinogens in it.// Noonday is one of my favorites and I feel like <a href="http://www.noondaycollection.com/Pws/homeoffice/store/AMUS/product/Leather-Leaf-Earrings,2311,397.aspx">these earrings</a> will be in heavy rotation this summer. // <a href="http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=99541&vid=1&pid=124819002">This is a girls tank top</a> from Old Navy--but if you buy a girls XL or XXL it's the same as a women's small or medium…..so there you go. // I've been on the hunt for a <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/38368262.jsp?color=005&cm_mmc=CSE-_-Polyvore-_-US-_-fragrance-desktop&zmam=34183124&zmac=7&zmas=1&zmap=001101999&utm_campaign=CSE&utm_medium=Polyvore&utm_source=Fragrance&utm_content=P38368262#/">good vanilla perfume for years and I think this is it. </a>// These l<a href="http://www.letterfolk.com/shop/the-poet-limited">ittle letter boards</a> are kind of everywhere right now and I think they'd make a cute little wedding gift…..or just because gift….for someone (like yourself). // G doesn't love flip flops <a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1060319&vid=1&pid=197956022">so these are a good alternative</a> for cheap and easy summer footwear. </div>
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Have a great weekend! And 'whoo-hoo' for those of you already on summer break and 'you're almost there' for those of you who have a week to go!</div>
maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-49995633286249284282016-05-04T10:45:00.000-04:002016-05-04T10:48:54.840-04:00A tale of two viral videos. The good & the "this actually blows." <div style="text-align: left;">
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Mother's Day season always brings out the video makers that know how to make us all cry. And this year is no exception. There are two videos making the Facebook rounds this week……..and I get why they've both gleaned a lot of attention. One deservedly so….it's a super tear-jerker….I mean….it really is. See the first video below. There's not much to say about it other than it's an incredible capture of how us moms (and yes…..dads too….but let's not miss the point Internet cynics…..it was made for Mother's Day) feel when we watch our kids running across the yard and can imagine that same scene four short years ago and it catches our breath how much has changed and we know it's only going to start happening faster. </div>
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And then there's this one….</div>
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and I'll just come out with it. I hate it. I watched it once and thought--that's cute, funny, gimmicky…..and then I kept thinking about it. And I starting resenting it and feeling like it's another commentary on how we view children. I've been on a plane with a crying baby--other peoples and my own. And here's what I don't understand about our culture……..when have children become so intolerable that people who might have to be subjected to a child who is crying on an airplane(where their ears might hurt, they're over-tired, they aren't used to being held on a lap for two hours, and on and on) or wherever, warrant getting a free flight or some other reward? </div>
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I know--it's fake, they're actors, it's supposed to be a nice thing, everyone was pumped when the babies cried because they were one step closer to a free flight and the moms didn't feel bad……I understand all the nuances. But I can't stand the underlying message here. "Those of you who have to be tortured by hearing a baby cry on an airplane absolutely deserve a free flight---I can't believe you had to be inconvenienced for three minutes until you got your headphones on by hearing a BABY cry. Does our society really need more fodder for feeling justified that it's okay to walk around about to blow at any minute when someone so much as puts their toe over the line? Does our society really need more reason to think of children as an inconvenience and a nuisance? </div>
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I think a better use of time and Facebook likes would have been if every time a baby cried in their fake commercial Jet Blue gave a free ticket to the saint on the plane who stepped forward to offer genuine help to the mom who was trying everything in her power to get her baby to stop crying. "I've been there. It's okay. Your kids are a gift. Let me give you a ten minute break and I'll walk them up and down the aisle for you." </div>
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That deserves a reward, not the random exasperated cranky traveller who believes that everyone is constantly imposing on their life. </div>
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Mountain out of a mole hill here? Maybe. Maybe not. </div>
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I suppose I'm just tired of messages that subliminally send the message that kids are a problem to be solved. </div>
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So watch the first video again and again--because that's the real spirit of Mother's Day. </div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-42906983128063762262016-02-25T21:15:00.000-05:002016-02-25T21:20:50.530-05:00The Chipmunk Family. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello, hi-there little blog. I didn't forget about you. Apparently I just needed a good snow-day with the kids to get my creative mo-jo back. And I just needed to do it. Post. Hit publish. So tonight was the night.<br />
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Last summer Georgia and I took some pictures of her Calico Critters having fun outside with the intent to write a story about them. Well….summer plans started rolling and time got away from us and we kind of forgot about it. Earlier this winter I found the pictures on my memory card and had them printed. And today was the day we made this story happen. </div>
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I buy blank books for Georgia at the dollar spot at Target whenever they have them. She can churn out books faster than Danielle Steele so we like to have a good supply on hand. </div>
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When we took our pictures last summer we decided that the story would be something like….the chipmunk family needed to move…..for a reason yet to be decided, and they'd make their way from their outside home to an inside home. </div>
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A few of our pictures…….</div>
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And this afternoon we put everything together……</div>
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She was pretty proud--as she should be! She's thinking maybe her teacher will read it during snack time tomorrow. Super simple project you can do with your kids--with just about anything they collect or love. So head to the dollar spot at Target and keep your eye out for cheap blank books and show your kids how to self-publish a book!</div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-8394408424928593422015-11-20T14:32:00.000-05:002015-11-20T14:32:16.122-05:00Pantless. For Dressember. I've got about a week left of pants and skirts and jeans before I start my second go-around with <a href="http://dressember.org/">Dressember</a>. I even got my pins in the mail today! (If you're already on my team--I've got one for you!)<br />
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If you're not aware of Dressember you can check out their site <a href="http://dressember.org/">here</a>……<br />
And even better, you can watch the founder of Dressember detail this growing movement below. She is fabulously well spoken and convincing.<br />
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I was amazed with Dressember last year. I'd thought about backing out at the last minute on account of having a three week old and being on a maternity leave and not having the motivation of getting dressed for work propel me towards the dresses in my closet. But I did some serious self-talk and acknowledged the fact that Dressember wasn't about getting dressed up in fun dresses for the month (the two sweatshirt dresses from last year that were worn at least every other day can attest to that) but about raising money and awareness for the hundreds of thousands of women and children and men too who are trapped in situations around the world where they're enslaved to someone against their will. </div>
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I've typed line after line here about how the known and unknown atrocities that these individuals face on a daily basis--so many of them being children--make me feel and I've deleted them all. They're all trivial and pale in comparison and can't touch how devastating these crimes really are. What I can do though is participate in this movement during December. The money Dressember raises through their worldwide efforts is split between two grant partners; <a href="https://www.ijm.org/">International Justice Mission</a> and <a href="http://www.a21.org/index.php">A21</a>. Both of these organizations use their funds to train local law enforcement agencies around the world to bring to justice the criminals that perpetrate these horrendous acts and to rehabilitate rescued victims. </div>
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If you're interested in joining our team: </div>
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-Click <a href="http://www.dressember.org/participatex/">here</a>…..</div>
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-Follow the directions listed and when you get to the page that asks if you'd like to join a team you can search for my team…."For all the girls." </div>
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-Let me know the you've joined my team!</div>
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-Share our team page (or your individual fund-raising page) with friends and family to see if they might be interested in donating to the team. </div>
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If you can't commit to a team this year but want to help Dressember raise money (their goal is 1 million this year!!) I'd love it if you'd consider donating through <a href="https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise/team?ftid=59761">my team page</a>. I've set my team goal at $1000. </div>
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I'm really excited to see the amazing things Dressember accomplishes next month. Their efforts are gaining momentum every year and the power of collaboration is palpable! </div>
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So here's to a few more days of jeans…..and then bring on the tights. </div>
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Brrrr. Michigan. </div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-79576387441413787552015-11-10T07:52:00.000-05:002015-11-10T07:52:33.378-05:00One Year. One WHOLE year. Crosby is one today.<br />
I have to let that sit in. ONE. ONE. ONE. <br />
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It's breathtaking how fast this year has come and gone and how fast our lives changed last November 10th with no warning and no time to think about saying yes or no -- just….we'll be there at noon tomorrow-- to this amazing little man who was already born when we found out about him. <br />
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Wait--we had twenty minutes--let me be transparent. <br />
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It's so strange to think back to that sheer panic inducing moment standing at my kitchen island talking to my social worker on the phone as she was ordering food from the KFC drive-thru because her day had been as crazy as mine was about to become. <br />
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We'd always heard about these "alleged" adoptions that happen at the last minute with no warning and never for one minute thought that would happen with us. That's always a dumb assumption--because thinking something will never happen to you pretty much seals the deal that it will. And I could keep going with this train of thought--but if you've been around here a while you know the story. If not, you can read about it <a href="http://www.apairofpinkshoes.com/2014/12/crosby.html">here</a>.<br />
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Onward….<br />
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I've written here less this year than I ever intended to. For no poignant reason really. Unless you consider being tired, and somewhat lazy, and having a newborn, and needing to binge watch Blacklist last winter, and laundry, and playing on the floor with a baby and a first grader, and really enjoying my part-time job at school, and reading some good books, and hanging out with my husband, and playing outside poignant. I'm sure I could write a post about how all of that is poignant and moving but it really wasn't an intentional decision…..and that's left me feeling all those panicky feelings of scarcity and un-intended apathy that I can't stand. I worry that I've chronicled less of Crosby's first year here than I wanted to, and those thoughts that I'm so sure I can hold on tightly to in my head will slowly start to dissipate. <br />
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But when you're a mom and you know the paralyzing love a baby brings on you know there are just some things about your baby you'll never forget……….<br />
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Like how Crosby points at everything and yells for you to hand it to him--even though we've never been convinced yet to hand him a pair of scissors, a tube of red lipstick, or a hot straightening iron. <br />
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Like how he puts his hands in the air and sways all soulful to music. Even better--how pumped he gets when he can see that we're about to turn on the music and he's getting his moves ready.<br />
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Like when he cranes his neck down to look you straight in the eye if you're not looking directly at him…..and he's starting to say "hi" when he does it which is truly awesome.<br />
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Or how about when he hugs the stuffed animal dog whose nose turns red when it "sneezes," and only when the nose turns red--and not a second earlier.<br />
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And how he holds his hand to his ear whenever he hears the phone ring like he's talking on the phone.<br />
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And how when he hears us laughing about something he interjects his own laugh just to be part of the group.<br />
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And the smooshy. Smoosh has become the best verb in our house. You're happy about something……smoosh. Something is delicious? Smoosh. It's stupid--sure. But when Crosby started smiling the smooshy smile--it changed our lives. We got a little nervous back in September because he stopped doing it for about three weeks…..and then….miraculously….it came back. <br />
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And you know how it is--this list is endless. <br />
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Crosby came so fast…..we didn't have time to really process this major life decision…..we just said yes. And what we've learned by just saying yes is that sometimes when you do--without analyzing the situation to do death like we're so inclined to do as a culture is that you get to experience a truly authentic surprise and there are so few in life, and you get to experience the sacrificial love of your friends and family who rally around you and set up pack and plays at your house while you're gone, buy you diapers and wipes and clothes and formula, and help your mom with your other kid who's sick and show you how to accept help and love it, you get to come face to face with the realization that there is so little in our lives that we get to control and even when it doesn't feel okay it's making you a better person, and that when you think there's no way in the world you were cut out to be a boy mom you find out that being a boy mom is just as awesome as being a girl mom…..because……<br />
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and,<br />
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oh, and this too….</div>
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Happy first birthday you incredible little boy. You have been one of the best surprises and the best yes's ever to come our way. </div>
<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-77824516108080055872015-09-11T21:07:00.002-04:002015-09-11T21:07:06.563-04:00Parenting is a Process. <i>Started this last weekend….finished it today. Working on getting over some writer's block--the fall weather and a scented candle today are helping. </i><br />
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<i>This is for the moms of one who just became moms of two. Who feel like they are missing something--because it's a lot harder than they thought it would be. Not in terms of laundry or missed sleep or more chaos--but in that your heart hurts a little bit and you just can't come to terms with why….or say it out loud….because you feel like that smacks against everything everyone always told you about a second baby. And it makes you feel guilty and sad…..and like something is just not clicking with you like it did for everyone else. And by everyone else--I mean those liars or those people with short memories who are a year or two into more than an only child………..</i><br />
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As I type this, Chris and Georgia are sleeping in a tent in the basement. Our unfinished basement. Chris blew up an air mattress for G to sleep on and he's sleeping on some foam sheets and an old kitty cat body pillow that my mom made for me when I was about six. It's absolutely 'glamping.'<br />
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You see….we normally go camping on Labor Day weekend, but this year we didn't because Crosby is crawling all over the place and crawling + dirt + fire pits + people and cars everywhere = one of the more un-relaxing ways to spend a weekend Chris and I could think of. So we talked my parents into staying home this weekend and we headed to their house for a few days and Chris promised Georgia that they could camp in the basement tonight---our last official stay up late, it's still summer, night of the summer. <br />
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And she was pumped. She didn't want me down there. Just her and daddy. Their bond has gotten tighter since Crosby was born and he's been able to meet her needs as she's adjusted to being a big sister and having someone else in the house to contend with in some ways that I haven't been able to over the last nine months; at least not as much as I've been used to. On some days this bothers me and on other days I'm just so thankful that she has this incredible man to look up to and love like crazy and feel so protected by. <br />
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One of the hardest things about adding Crosby to the family has been juggling two kids emotionally. I spent weeks laying in Georgia's bed with her last winter just wanting to be near her because I missed her. I wanted to take care of Crosby and kiss him and breath in his new baby smell and not miss a minute of it but it left me feeling incredibly guilty. Every time Georgia would hug me I'd cry, and mourn a little bit the fact that it wasn't just her and I anymore---this power team had been infiltrated. And while I wanted the infiltration and I couldn't imagine life any other way and I was so in love with this new little baby, I felt mad. Mad at all the people who told me, "adding a second is easy--you won't even remember what it was like to only have one--your heart and your love just grow and it'll feel like it's always been that way." <br />
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You people? You're all liars. Or you have an incredibly different DNA make-up than I do. Which I suppose now that I'm typing this is entirely more plausible. <br />
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But really--I want to be honest with you…<i>you</i> being people who haven't added a second yet and are riding that fence wondering how in the world you could make room in your heart for another one without feeling guilty about the first. My answer is that you can--you absolutely can. And it will be incredible. Like mind-blowing incredible. And probably around month four for five you're not going to believe how lucky you are and how much you love these two little lives more than anything in the world. And when you run to stop your older child from picking up the baby <i>but then you see how the baby looks at her and you can tell he doesn't want anyone else man-handling him the way big sister does you pause your lecture because the bond they share is just so divine</i>….you'll know….your heart has officially gotten bigger. The addition is finally finished. <br />
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But that's what it is. It's like building an addition. It's like you have this great house; amazing in fact, but you know it's missing something. You know that your house could function better with more space, so more people could fill it, and more laughter could be heard, and more love could flow--but you have to do the work to make that space bigger. And you do--and you love that new space. You could spend hours and hours in it; making it lovely and making it yours and making it just what you want…..but it takes some work and some elbow grease and some long hours and……some better budgeting---but when it's done? It's better than you could have ever imagined. And you'll breathe this sigh of relief that you made it, you did it, and everyone is better off for it. <br />
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And sure--this is a trite metaphor--that's not lost on me, but the point here is that parenting is a process. It doesn't just change over night for the better. Things don't just magically get fabulous because of a split second decision or even a well thought out one. It takes some time. And I don't know if you've come to this honest punch in the gut yet but we really suck at things that take time. We are looking for quick fixes and fast improvements. I mean--I was irritated that it took over a minute (literally--one minute) the other day for all my apps to update once I decided to finally hit "update." That is embarrassing. <br />
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But I find myself in that same place so often in my parenting. Why isn't her behavior changing right now? I implemented this great point sheet…….20 minutes ago. Why isn't he sleeping through the night? He is NINE months old. (And FYI--this was totally our fault. Hello? Babying the baby.) Why doesn't she love piano? She's had two fantastic lessons. <br />
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<i><b>Why isn't this two kids thing the bliss and heart bursting experience everyone told me it would be? How can I love both of these babies with everything in my being but feel like a guilty, crappy mom who misses them both so much because I want there to be more of me? </b></i><br />
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Because it's a process. That demands some patience and ability to just sit in the mess for a while--not too long--just a while. But that quick fix thing I mentioned above? Those first few months when things feel messy in your heart and in your head--it's hard to believe you'll be able to feel like yourself again and that all those promises of 'more love' will actually come true. But they do. They so do. <br />
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And soon--you'll have a ten month old that knows the minute he sees the bus pull up to the curb at 4 o'clock that it means the most amazing person in his world is about to run down those bus stairs and hug him and he gets his little hand raised proactively so as not to miss a second of being able to wave at her……and you just know…..this process……this stretching…..it's one of the greatest highs you'll ever experience. <br />
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And just to keep it real---I'll keep coming back to this post and all these feelings the next time he's screaming and she's yelling about how he always pulls her hair and wrecks her Barbie houses and gets to throw food and he NEVER <i>never</i>…..<b><i>NEVER</i></b> gets in trouble. Because it's not good to always stay trapped in your head……sometimes you have to clean up the crackers off the floor and put a six year old on the stairs to cool down once again.<br />
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Because this whole parenting thing…..this whole life thing……this being a human thing…..it's a process. Anyone who says otherwise is selling some clothes to an emperor. maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-44371419848283892142015-09-02T22:00:00.001-04:002015-09-02T22:00:16.008-04:00Summer Rituals…..that happily bleed into fall.<br />
Because with the onset of September we're good to call it fall in my book. And last week, here in Michigan it was in the low sixties and it was lovely. Once school starts I see no need for ninety degree weather. It's September--my tan is fading--let's get the boots out. <br />
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But….the farmers market is amazing in August--and in September--and let's be honest, October too. It's like the triple threat of outdoor activities. My parents joined in on our Saturday morning ritual last week, and even in the rain it was great! <br />
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A few pictures………..<br />
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Basil bouquets smell amazing!</div>
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We always head to Van's for donuts after the market--and I'll be honest--and I'm sure I'm committing some sort of Grand Rapids heresy here--Van's has some of the worst donuts ever. Ever. But we still go almost every time we go to the market; because it's there, it's the after-market thing to do, and it's next to all the antique shops that we hit up next. </div>
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We gave him a bit of donut….but it wasn't on a spoon so it doesn't rate in his book. If it's not fed to him on a (silver) spoon he doesn't like it. <br />
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And nothing looks better on your counter than market "stuff." </div>
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And on an unrelated note--this guy is ten months old next week. Which is ridiculous. He's amazing, adorable, so much fun, a little rambunctious, has an adorable mischievous streak, and is lucky he still owns two cheeks and all ten fingers……because I could eat him up every day of the week. </div>
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Happy "it's basically fall!" The MOST wonderful time of the year! Lots more market days to come!</div>
<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-70778659224411073892015-07-29T14:57:00.000-04:002015-07-29T14:57:18.841-04:00Chicago is always a good idea. We took a little mini vacation to Chicago this past weekend--actually Sunday-Tuesday…which if you can swing weekdays is way better with little kids in Chicago. Shorter lines, fewer crowds, and way easier to get into restaurants. It's one of our favorite cities with so much to do. Every time we're there we think, "oh--we should have planned to do…………," and there's just never enough time. So every time you go you feel like you're just scratching the surface and visiting for the first time. We hit up Lincoln Park zoo this time (a free zoo in the city), American Girl Store, Shedd Aquarium, a few city parks, and some early morning walks down Michigan Avenue (a luxury afforded to us parents with kids who are early risers--and it really is a cool time to walk down an otherwise crazy busy street). <br />
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Not pictured below…..night swims at the hotel with mermaid tails, breakfast overlooking Michigan Ave., the 112 year old firehouse right off Michigan Ave. that let us come in and climb in a firetruck when they saw us checking out the plaque on the front of their building, and our trashed hotel room! Seriously--we are clean, neat-freak people….but when we get in a hotel room….yikes!<br />
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But anyway--Chicago; in a few pictures……….<br />
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Our hotel had a pretty cool ledge above our bed that was a magnet for kids to play on. It made some great pictures as well. <br />
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I really can't say enough good about Shedd Aquarium. It's so beautiful, interactive and entertaining for kids of all ages, it just pulls you in from the minute you walk through the doors--and hopefully you have a stroller so you can get through the stroller doors faster and quicker than everyone else without a stroller. </div>
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He thinks taking selfies is maybe one of the best activities ever. And side note…..blogger autocorrects selfies to selfless--oh they irony.<br />
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Chris and I have decided that the key ingredient to parenting is stamina. Traveling to big cities with little kids (especially one that's a baby) demands it--but it's so, so, so worth it! </div>
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We love you Chicago! And we can't wait to come back!</div>
<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-88389074927281284372015-07-24T15:28:00.005-04:002015-07-24T15:28:45.686-04:00Fostering #Natural Potential for Our Daughters<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: xx-small;">This post has been created in partnership with <a href="https://www.greenworkscleaners.com/?keyword=green+works&gclid=CNnQsPaS8MYCFc6PHwoduwQDTQ">GreenWorks</a> but all thoughts and opinions are my own. </span></div>
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Georgia tells me daily that she's decided what she's going to be.<br />
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A vet.<br />
An entomologist.<br />
A ballet teacher.<br />
An artist---that draws insects.<br />
A doctor.<br />
A stuffed animal maker. (We don't know the technical term for that)<br />
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And on and on. <br />
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It's interesting to me how fixated kids at this age are in honing in on a career choice. And I suppose it's a 'thing' so many of us spend our lives doing--we're kind of hardwired to pontificate on what we want to be when we grow up. At thirty seven I still do it. <br />
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Sometimes I ask her why she wants to be a vet, a doctor, a ballet teacher…..and for the love….why a stuffed animal maker. Moms all over the world don't want any more stuffed animal makers--promise. She always has a rational (ish) reason for why she wants to be what she wants to be. I told her a few weeks ago after a lengthy conversation about what it means to be an entomologist that I thought it was so cool that she was interested in something like that, "because you know--girls make great scientists--we need girl scientists." <br />
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She looked at me a little baffled and responded, "I <b><i>know</i></b> girls can be scientists." An interesting response. I think a lot of little girls <i>know</i> this. But what about big girls? Do they know this, do they remember this from their younger years? Do they forget these childhood dreams somewhere along the way? <br />
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Statistics indicate that they do.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/On80VFsYmdo" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I showed Georgia the above video and asked her what she thought--if she were going to draw a scientist what would she draw? She thought for a minute and said she wasn't sure--maybe a man even though she wanted to be a scientist herself. She wasn't sure why she only thought of a man when she thought of a scientist.<br />
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So how do we change that mental picture for our girls? <a href="https://www.greenworkscleaners.com/">Greenworks</a> cleaning products, a company founded by a woman scientist in 2008 is working to do just that. They want to help girls unleash their natural potential and change the fact that even though women fulfill 50% of the jobs in America, only 25% of scientists are women. Greenwor<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">ks </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">collaborates<span style="background-color: white;"> with the <a href="https://www.greenworkscleaners.com/girls-in-science/">American Association of University Women</a> to help provide girls with opportunities to explore their scientific curiosity and connect with female role models. They emphasize how important it is for girls to have female mentors in the sciences if they show an interest in a STEM field early on, they highlight the kinds of classes girls should take in high school to prepare them and even provide ideas for extracurricular activities parents can enroll their girls in to foster and grow a love for the sciences. Georgia took a chemistry of cooking class this summer and told me everyday how cool it was that something she loves so much--baking--really had so much science behind it. Changing that mental picture has to start early! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We've been doing science experiments with Georgia since she could stand up. They're messy--sure….but they're also a lot of fun and provide some great one-on-one time with your kiddos, things to talk about, things to predict and guess, things to laugh at, and most definitely opportunities to foster her natural potential for the sciences! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Greenworks <a href="https://www.greenworkscleaners.com/girls-in-science/">provides a lot of ideas</a> of simple science experiments you can do with your girls! Do one today! They're a lot of fun…..and when you have to clean up the mess, do it with a Greenworks cleaning product and know that every time you do you're helping to support STEM opportunities for girls all over this country and feeding their natural potential…..including your own! </span></span><br />
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-16546455361135496702015-07-20T21:38:00.001-04:002015-07-24T22:21:08.308-04:00Black & White….it's all right. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I started decorating Crosby's room and buying baby supplies for him before there was a Crosby. And so…..I stuck to neutrals. But really--I stuck to my favorite colors with a few colors thrown in. And thankfully, they're super popular right now so there was/is no end to amazing black and white decor items for baby rooms. I have a lot of these pieces and love, love, love them or I wouldn't feature them here. The mobile is one of my favorite things in Crosby's room as well as the zebra head. </div>
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Happy shopping to you!!</div>
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<a href="http://www.hannaandersson.com/pdp.aspx?from=SC&pcid=878&styleid=44024&simg=44024_990">Hugs & Kisses Garland</a> // <a href="http://www.landofnod.com/all-kids-lighting/kids-lighting/pop-icon-nightlight-cloud/f17084?t=7&a=274&bid=12790bid">Cloud Light</a> // <a href="http://www.hannaandersson.com/pdp.aspx?from=SC&pcid=663&styleid=43307&simg=43307_015">Wire Basket</a> // <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VT8DB6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00&tag=polyvore006-20">Gallery Art Cards</a> // <a href="http://www.hannaandersson.com/pdp.aspx?from=SC&pcid=877&styleid=44525&simg=44525_DK4">Zebra Trophy Head</a> (super great deal and lots of other animals to pick from too!!) // <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/169985175/sales-in-summer-rain-cloud-print-cloud?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=black+and+white+cloud+prints&ref=sr_gallery_31&utm_source=polyvore&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=home+decor">Rain Cloud Prints</a> // <a href="http://www.candykirbydesigns.com/products/organic-cotton-baby-blanket-in-charcoal-plus">Swiss Cross Blanket</a> // <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pantone-Color-Mini-Board-Books/dp/1419704192/ref=pd_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0JY2NRZCZZA35JAJK217&tag=polyvore006-20">Pantone Board Books</a> (for stacking in cute places around the rom) // <a href="http://www.hannaandersson.com/pdp.aspx?from=SC&pcid=877&styleid=44430&simg=44430_CV5">Wildlife Chart</a> // <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/124241422/polka-dot-mobile-by-puka-puka-felt-ball">Felt Ball Mobile </a>(I have this one for Crosby and it's currently sold out but similar ones are available) // <a href="https://society6.com/product/stack-v_print#1=45">Stacked Stripes Print</a> (I painted similar pictures for Crosby's room--but pictures like these were my inspiration) // <a href="http://www.landofnod.com/zebra-throw-pillow/s180033">Zebra Throw Pillow</a> // <a href="http://www.landofnod.com/new-storage/new/high-contrast-floor-bin/s483895?t=7&a=274&bid=12790bid">Black & White Floor Bin</a> // <a href="http://www.becobabycarrier.com/cat-20/soleil">Beco Baby Carrier</a> (lots of other great patterns available too) // <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/202518535/give-me-kisses-print-love-quote-gift?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=black%20and%20white%20sayings%20for%20kids&ref=sr_gallery_5">Kisses Art Print</a></div>
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Some black and white action from our little man's room…………..</div>
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And P.S. that cloud picture and the one next to it? It's Crosby's life goal to rip those off the wall. He gets changed up on that dresser about once a week when he's real groggy. Otherwise, we stick to wrestling with him on the floor. </div>
<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-65323819751653128452015-07-13T15:58:00.000-04:002015-07-13T15:58:10.669-04:00Tracking. Do it quick before the footprints disappear. I made a horrible mistake a few nights ago. I was cranky and frustrated and Georgia and I had been going at it all day about a variety of things. We're so much alike about so many things and it's an explosive combination sometimes. Not atypical for a mom and a daughter, I know, but nonetheless it leaves me feeling guilty sometimes. <br />
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Thoughts of, "I should have said it like this, " "I shouldn't have used that tone," "I wish I would have handled that differently," and "I needed to walk away for a few minutes before reacting and I didn't," can linger for a long time. And I know--there's a camp out there that says, "Don't let mom guilt get to you." Yeah, well…..sometimes I think that camp is a load of garbage and a product of the self-esteem generation. Because you know what? I'm a <i><u>human</u></i> mom…..that makes a lot of mistakes given my species. And <strike>every once in a while</strike> a lot of times I handle things the wrong way because I'm still learning and I think it's okay to feel bad about doing something wrong……so you can work not to repeat the mistake over and over. <br />
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So, to bring it back--the other night I made a horrible mistake. <br />
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Georgia has this space behind a chair in our front room that she's deemed her secret hiding spot. It's not secretive by any means but it's her place, she loves to go back there and play on the iPad or read a book or set up little scenes for her dolls and animals. She's even taped pictures she likes on the back of the chair to decorate her spot. It's cute. We never really make her move stuff clean it up back there--it's not hurting anything, so it's hers.<br />
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Additionally, Georgia likes to "make books." We're talking stapled together construction paper, blank books I get her from the $1 bin at Target, even tied together leaves; this girl can make a book out of toilet paper if given the green light. So on this fateful night she'd been working on some books. I was making dinner and carrying on a casual, albeit distracted conversation with her because Crosby was shrieking and missile launching toys onto the ground from his high chair. She announced out of the blue, "I'm going to keep all of my books behind the chair in my secret space!" </div>
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"No you're not, " I responded, a little snappily. </div>
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"Why?"</div>
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"Because, Georgia--there is enough behind that chair for now." I was huffing my response--I know I was. </div>
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"But they're special to me and I want to keep them safe."</div>
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"They're safe right where they are." </div>
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<i>Crosby starts to cry. </i></div>
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<i>"</i>They're my books and I'll put them there if I want to." </div>
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"Come again?"</div>
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<i>Crosby is really ramping it up. </i></div>
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"If you don't let me put my books back there then I'll NEVER put anything back there again and my whole secret space will be ruined." (Using the word <b>never</b> in combination with something seemingly dire is a commonly employed strategy of Georgia's.)</div>
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"Fine Georgia. Listen--we'll have to talk about this later. I need to finish getting dinner ready and Crosby needs to eat."</div>
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"I'm doing it. I'm putting them back there."</div>
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"Georgia. Stop it. Listen to me. I said no. I don't want any more crap back there." I'm pretty sure I yelled this.</div>
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<i>Pause. </i></div>
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"What's crap?" </div>
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<i>Ugh. But I was mad and wasn't thinking straight……so……</i></div>
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"Stuff that you don't need, stuff that is junk."</div>
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And then she was crushed. She stopped talking back. She started to cry a little. </div>
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"You think the books I make are junk? I work really hard on those." </div>
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"Wait, you're talking about the books you make?"</div>
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"Yes," she whispered through a few tears. </div>
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<i>Deep breath. </i></div>
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"I thought you were talking about all the books in your room, actual books, from your bookshelf."</div>
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"My books are actual books."</div>
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<i>I can't get this right….for the love. </i></div>
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And she got sadder, and Crosby got louder, and I felt worse, and I tried to smooth it over with her and told her I was sorry and I shouldn't have lost my temper and I should have asked her more questions about what she meant…..but I didn't….and I was wrong. </div>
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We talked about it more after Crosby went to bed, over ice-cream sandwiches on the front porch. I apologized again, and I cried a little bit because I felt really bad, and she hugged me like she always does and told me she didn't have to keep stuff behind that chair anymore if I didn't want her to, and that she was sorry for talking back. I assured her that I wanted her to keep her secret place in tact and I wanted her books back there. She showed all of them to me that she was planning on putting back there. And thankfully, she spent some time in her secret hiding spot rearranging things and making room for her books--no plans to vacate the property. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrw5VddOc9jAmtAxkKq1r30m3cfXuQemstsfr0Cli6HJ_qvO2n_fY3UicXV7-Iu1up1EbnSyPAtFpmth9pQ27oDA_E6j4wDZI3yKiBsFrvHlgmNvR3ja2X7GBdVEroQzQ5lmu_c3_C0U/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrw5VddOc9jAmtAxkKq1r30m3cfXuQemstsfr0Cli6HJ_qvO2n_fY3UicXV7-Iu1up1EbnSyPAtFpmth9pQ27oDA_E6j4wDZI3yKiBsFrvHlgmNvR3ja2X7GBdVEroQzQ5lmu_c3_C0U/s640/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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But it got me thinking--all these little footprints that our kids leave around our house that are specifically theirs….markings that will go away as they get older and be replaced by something else, possibly something not so endearing……I don't want to rush those away--I want to track them, follow them, memorize them. I'm not talking about fingerprints on door frames, or ripped up Kleenex all over bedrooms, or a sticky cup holder in the car from a left over slushie, or a moldy piece of string cheese in a couch cushion, or other bits of evidence that you don't use a vacuum or a Clorox wipe. </div>
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I'm talking about…..</div>
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word walls on the plate rail of the front room for weeks at a time, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkqMaUbi5Z5LnSow3HRKp2BIG0GuM1aYmVNAAfWe37jMX9aj1PLVM3J6i2AQtwH-4ES1O3_d2qsy5jEnuepDQoVBOEPTVlWZIWNZcVRu8HsZnZSNpGDHO9zmNZ1LgYsFwUe0swPdnQFs/s1600/IMG_7010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkqMaUbi5Z5LnSow3HRKp2BIG0GuM1aYmVNAAfWe37jMX9aj1PLVM3J6i2AQtwH-4ES1O3_d2qsy5jEnuepDQoVBOEPTVlWZIWNZcVRu8HsZnZSNpGDHO9zmNZ1LgYsFwUe0swPdnQFs/s640/IMG_7010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and pictures hanging on my bathroom mirror, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bSjd1pSEYWfphbdcSjRkoqZhJ68wjcilIJLlUbnx3gx0kM8f2vR9Zbpujv0ob_ZTmHQbXBHZtXSYh0rVDvgALLecM2EQMkLasz1mFojoeShnz7RNS3tFZk4lIPA3MJqFEQz5GoLZx18/s1600/IMG_7006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bSjd1pSEYWfphbdcSjRkoqZhJ68wjcilIJLlUbnx3gx0kM8f2vR9Zbpujv0ob_ZTmHQbXBHZtXSYh0rVDvgALLecM2EQMkLasz1mFojoeShnz7RNS3tFZk4lIPA3MJqFEQz5GoLZx18/s640/IMG_7006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and forts that last days in the play room, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgaKIs4yYlKd7X8Odj9NxVAxiTNeuycUtBVAE-bqBODWakNErxlzPCDGB6JZBhBzziZw1R-ox7EYjSToDEYzldzqSnWdoYjvh5Gs2YMeJn9wmvc_jQZw-UGfXTrInXrygqHRLu3ZBoJc/s1600/IMG_7011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQgaKIs4yYlKd7X8Odj9NxVAxiTNeuycUtBVAE-bqBODWakNErxlzPCDGB6JZBhBzziZw1R-ox7EYjSToDEYzldzqSnWdoYjvh5Gs2YMeJn9wmvc_jQZw-UGfXTrInXrygqHRLu3ZBoJc/s640/IMG_7011.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and art tables in the kitchen overflowing with 'genius at work,'</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSUE8VpPtLHHcSeLHgC9NhynFSdXvjA00tJzRJntrg2pTqKurKPpX5ahGVc3GLUKHZO5qJ3PojRhPFIWJjgR7sbdku178RvXFH7JAUFfQ0BQGODy2vZ4Gv0zE_uX8kZDs3KSocIVe0GA/s1600/IMG_7009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSUE8VpPtLHHcSeLHgC9NhynFSdXvjA00tJzRJntrg2pTqKurKPpX5ahGVc3GLUKHZO5qJ3PojRhPFIWJjgR7sbdku178RvXFH7JAUFfQ0BQGODy2vZ4Gv0zE_uX8kZDs3KSocIVe0GA/s640/IMG_7009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and </div>
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animal menageries on bathroom counters (that you better not clean underneath without supervision). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQOavYWYsK02FcsKUdUHifADe8FSTBSxac3vwrYm-mv2frqBNqjYDDfzWdvUnNb4ehGAJM2xp5hB67T86QdPuJIiHe6NYWpB9BMGnhUZmKegJM7zqumwPabZOoXzsuqfd61RvLtAc5uU/s1600/IMG_7013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQOavYWYsK02FcsKUdUHifADe8FSTBSxac3vwrYm-mv2frqBNqjYDDfzWdvUnNb4ehGAJM2xp5hB67T86QdPuJIiHe6NYWpB9BMGnhUZmKegJM7zqumwPabZOoXzsuqfd61RvLtAc5uU/s640/IMG_7013.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I think it's so easy to want to brush these signs-of-life and fun and developing minds away in our haste to clean up, straighten out, and feel that calm that, for many of us, comes when things feel in order. But….I think we can find an order in the 'footprints' our kids leave behind, in the whisperings that fill our house that a curious and amazing little six year old lives here. </div>
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These little glimpses into our kids hearts and minds--that speak to the wonder and imagination of child-hood disappear so fast, I don't want to shuffle my feet over those footprints, making them invisible. I want to hold on to them and appreciate them. </div>
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Even on days when I'm not at my best. Even when I mistake them for <i>crap</i> and can't appreciate the art that they are I want something to remind me to stop, just stop…... </div>
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What are you 'tracking' today? All of our kids leave different footprints…..make sure you take note of them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2v4bbAAbrtbebOlX3almNc_5EaF5e1Q8_EUTuSrXIZC0iIB6-T11UdL8fmL9IRHMqbgmQ__oIwtefjXyyN4CgnA3cGtF6BWFYsZ2v_T9IPHwGvotUYCxC7WLAZVgqp4yFMzMzFMbUQ0/s1600/IMG_6835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2v4bbAAbrtbebOlX3almNc_5EaF5e1Q8_EUTuSrXIZC0iIB6-T11UdL8fmL9IRHMqbgmQ__oIwtefjXyyN4CgnA3cGtF6BWFYsZ2v_T9IPHwGvotUYCxC7WLAZVgqp4yFMzMzFMbUQ0/s640/IMG_6835.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bb6SwVgKNpqBpIhtm27a1vlqr9n1AEwjAStmrLv91BrX6sewcBfBk1qS5gXlCzBfitsfio5CbrvtQP2cadW9gfljnHp11lR7hV4-a-y5a_lI2T5cPdHJaOzUc5wXDBscUi-WCUsa7Qg/s1600/IMG_6788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_bb6SwVgKNpqBpIhtm27a1vlqr9n1AEwjAStmrLv91BrX6sewcBfBk1qS5gXlCzBfitsfio5CbrvtQP2cadW9gfljnHp11lR7hV4-a-y5a_lI2T5cPdHJaOzUc5wXDBscUi-WCUsa7Qg/s640/IMG_6788.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV420Vpkto3TfFx87E-a4McyFOBuj_bvB-7HMFkL9o4Oq1RoAoub2XYeh1ODh5nzMm9zX-AGBCzGGFOpg6g5u2Y2YV0YEsSU_0wVdZvjI-ycgRSIHxaVQmRZRdfNLL89ramOHbJblu_Do/s1600/IMG_6749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV420Vpkto3TfFx87E-a4McyFOBuj_bvB-7HMFkL9o4Oq1RoAoub2XYeh1ODh5nzMm9zX-AGBCzGGFOpg6g5u2Y2YV0YEsSU_0wVdZvjI-ycgRSIHxaVQmRZRdfNLL89ramOHbJblu_Do/s640/IMG_6749.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-3525544714615125992015-06-24T11:00:00.001-04:002015-06-24T11:00:40.355-04:00Easy "To-Do" Chart Magnets DIY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfgkyMKzRN6kabtyKANS7JsCdjCZECRCYdvCeJt-Omdj_juYEPV7SCRfsPrzKc6n9GABfXxNJUJfDhYAB7-H-ajb4glsJ_UlyuCF8wQ_DMaa03FgJ6qMh0AzHeOMDTT31ln2_L_BrLMQ/s1600/IMG_7094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvfgkyMKzRN6kabtyKANS7JsCdjCZECRCYdvCeJt-Omdj_juYEPV7SCRfsPrzKc6n9GABfXxNJUJfDhYAB7-H-ajb4glsJ_UlyuCF8wQ_DMaa03FgJ6qMh0AzHeOMDTT31ln2_L_BrLMQ/s640/IMG_7094.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Georgia will be in first grade next year and over the course of the last year in kindergarten she's become accustomed to a pretty scheduled day--and really likes it. And in all my years in education I'll tell you that for the most part--all kids like some structure and consistency and scheduling; no matter what they tell you. They like it. It feels safe, and expected, and calm, and anticipatory.<br />
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I fully embrace the loveliness of summer with its lazy mornings, pool days, ice-cream truck treats on the lawn, and late nights playing in the yard….but I also know that we need a little structure, albeit loose, to these days or we all start to climb the walls a little bit. <br />
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I've seen a lot of ideas for 'chore charts,' and so many of them are really cute, but they also require quite a bit of work and DIYing. I'm not afraid of that but because I knew Georgia would be handling this chart in that she would move her items from the 'to-do' list to the 'done' list it needed to be pretty durable and not fussy. <br />
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I used the Beautfiul Mess app to create my 'pictures' on my phone because they have great backgrounds, fonts, and little doodles, e-mailed them all to myself (you could also post them all to Instagram and save yourself a step), and then printed them using <a href="https://sticky9.com/">Sticky 9</a>; a website that turns your instagram pictures into magnets. Sticky 9 will let you upload pictures from your computer--which I did--or it can pull directly from your Instagram account. I chose the bigger option for my magnets--they come in two sizes.<br />
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The gist of this is pretty simple. There are a bunch of things we CAN get done in a day and some things that I want done in a day. It's your choice. When she completes the things I really want her to get done (making her bed, brushing her teeth, picking up clothes off the floor, practicing piano, doing a summer smart page, and reading two books) she can earn something I know she really likes to do. If she completes more things she can earn more down-time activities. And I'm pretty loose about it. This isn't meant to strong-arm our summer days. Just to give us a loose outline and make sure it's not noon and we've done nothing but watch Peppa Pig (which is hands down my new favorite kids show).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKY_ahJKNbuBWqN0CRN2PGyvQdagpWDUonhnOOB2XZYWxE1SpPgbKnDD6aTVT2mh9viJvl8a6xXLx9filVNjQ0crFVQJ0ZZUo9T2rOLRzJ0cg9DXmQEuqir1EmJlW7GkVs7DsOHkyOKYs/s1600/IMG_7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKY_ahJKNbuBWqN0CRN2PGyvQdagpWDUonhnOOB2XZYWxE1SpPgbKnDD6aTVT2mh9viJvl8a6xXLx9filVNjQ0crFVQJ0ZZUo9T2rOLRzJ0cg9DXmQEuqir1EmJlW7GkVs7DsOHkyOKYs/s640/IMG_7092.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmsYhCpkOyEaYT2B8yEiX2uCGovCcF7WOxpoJWHdnnfNjXmd3362kAMG1MDDRE074yZS-L7MbI6qHXuzOSMw10_-KfarliBQVIHERitcVWnhaZA-1ypzKn3FSs5JdpvI-78dKu5iifAI/s1600/IMG_7093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNmsYhCpkOyEaYT2B8yEiX2uCGovCcF7WOxpoJWHdnnfNjXmd3362kAMG1MDDRE074yZS-L7MbI6qHXuzOSMw10_-KfarliBQVIHERitcVWnhaZA-1ypzKn3FSs5JdpvI-78dKu5iifAI/s640/IMG_7093.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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And now--we're off to the pool! Enjoy this Tuesday! </div>
<br />maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-12380294865025014662015-06-21T08:25:00.000-04:002015-06-21T08:25:17.093-04:00Chris. Georgia & Crosby's Dad. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We've got two kiddos this year for Father's Day! Two! Two babies who are lucky to have this guy as their dad. A little girl and a little boy who light up when their dad walks into a room. <br />
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When I married Chris almost fifteen years ago I knew I loved him and we were together forever--the best feeling. And then, nine years in, Georgia was born and this new layer of who we were and who we were to each other was peeled back. <br />
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Parenting is hard to do together….and easier. And through all those nit-picky conversations that sound like, "why didn't you remember to bring her blanket-you always forget that kind of stuff, why are you holding him like that--it's not helping, I really need you to put the laundry away in the drawers--otherwise it just gets all messed up and I can't--I just can't, and I need ten minutes alone--like really alone….can you give me that?," there are more conversations that sound like………….<br />
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"you should have seen her face when you told her you'd make something else with her in the easy bake oven---so great!"</div>
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"You show her everyday how she should be treated by someone one day…..I love that." </div>
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"Oh my word--his giggle around you is amazing."</div>
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"I loved watching you guys out there today--you make her brave."</div>
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"He sits with you so peacefully--like he just knows--he's where he wants to be."<br />
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"She loves you babe….she's so crazy about you."<br />
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"Seeing him in your arms…..and he's so little….I just feel so much peace when I see that."<br />
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I feel humbled on a regular basis that I have the honor to parent our children with you Chris. You make me laugh at the end of the day when laughter seems 1,000 miles away. You step in to give me a breather when I need it most. You are patient when I am insane. You instill confidence when I feel like the last shred of it has been stripped away. And you are committed to making this house the most incredible home for our kids. A place where they feel safe, loved, confident, taken care of, free to be themselves, creative, listened to, allowed to make mistakes, and ultimately….where they want to be.<br />
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And I love you everyday for that.<br />
You are the greatest and most perfect dad for us. <br />
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Love you forever. maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-40243184739220388392015-06-18T08:18:00.000-04:002015-07-24T22:21:27.192-04:00When people love your kids…...Crosby's adoption finalization was yesterday! And it was as amazing a day as Georgia's was five and a half years ago. And not because we could breathe a huge sigh of relief that he would forever be our son, he was our little boy the moment we met him in the hospital, but because celebrations of family and friends and support and excitement and love are always a good idea no matter the occasion; adoption finalization's, open houses, weddings, anniversaries, and all the in between. When you love your family, and you love your friends, and they love your kids--celebrate it! <br />
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It's a pretty fantastic day when over fifty six of your friends and family come downtown with you and fill up the back of a court room and the judge proclaims with a huge smile on his face, "that this is one of the biggest finalization hearings he's ever presided over and it's going to make his day." And to hear those friends and that family each talk about Crosby and how amazing he is and how important family is really can't be beat (either can fantastic family court judges who know how to make these days special). <br />
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Georgia has been looking forward to this day for a few months now and for her to be able to experience a finalization as a six year old and have it be something she'll remember was so important to us. She asked numerous times, "Is this what mine was like? All these people? All this fun?" <br />
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Sure was little girl. Sure was. <br />
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The judge gave Georgia an official 'big sister' certificate, signed it, and presented it to her. She walked so confidently and so proud up to his stand. Didn't even give it a second thought, which for my introvert girl, means it was a pretty awesome thing to get and she wasn't letting the moment pass.<br />
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Adoption is this wonderfully intricate, emotional, life-changing, soul stretching, eye-opening, sacrificial, and sacred thing…..and that's putting it so lightly. Our social worker said in court that she loves to watch how we love our kids and how we love their biological parents and desire so much to have them a part of our lives--and that made me cry the most. Because it's so true. Without their amazing birth parents we wouldn't have our kids, we wouldn't be who we are today, we wouldn't know that <i><b>there are never too many people to love a baby</b></i>, and we wouldn't know how fear of the unknown could be conquered in such a powerful way. </div>
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So we absolutely celebrate our adoption finalization's. </div>
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Because loving your family always deserves to be celebrated. </div>
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And letting your kids see how many people support them, love them, and cheer for them is a such an incredible gift! </div>
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So Chris and I thank everyone who came downtown with us yesterday and back to our house afterwards. Your love of our kids is something so incredibly special to us and your support of adoption--every part of it--is inspirational, encouraging, and affirming. Love you, Love you!</div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-50003366813292217132015-06-14T07:39:00.002-04:002015-07-24T22:21:38.612-04:00Those Boys. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When I first started shopping for Crosby--because we owned nothing for a little boy when we brought him home from the hospital--I was convinced that baby boy clothes designers were for sure at the bottom of their class in design school. When I say nothing--please know--there is no exaggeration in that statement. When your first kid is the first grand-child and a girl…..there is no gender neutral about anything you get. But uh--frogs, and trucks, and paw prints, and monkeys abound in the boys departments and right across the aisle you'll find super great things for little girls by the same brand. But I know--we all know that. Someone told me--you're good at the Internet--just wait--soon you'll love shopping for little boys. </div>
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And you know what? I totally do. There really is some great stuff out there if you know where to look. But that's the problem sometimes--these great little pieces exist in independent web or Instagram shops and they don't make themselves super well known--they're like a jewel to be mined. I mined some for you. Some obscure--some more well known. Crosby owns a lot of these pieces and I've learned through the years, that just like adult clothes, the better they are, the longer they last. Stains come out of them easier, they look better after a trillion washings, they hold their shape, they feel better because the fabric is higher quality, they don't shrink, they don't wrinkle up, and they are more versatile. So sometimes…it's really worth it and you'll save some money in the long-run because you aren't replacing things as quickly--and you can sell them for more money at consignment. </div>
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Happy shopping and happy Tuesday! Big day for us tomorrow--adoption finalization day. I'll post some pics later on this week! </div>
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<a href="https://www.jcrew.com/baby/onepieces/PRDOVR~A8247/A8247.jsp">Striped Onesie</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://freshlypicked.com/collections/utah/products/beehive-state-utah-collection-moccasins">Moccs</a>--watch for good sales. But really the only baby shoes you'll ever need. </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/236393200/soft-mint-stripe-shorts-baby-heather?ref=shop_home_active_4">Mint striped shorts</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://www.zara.com/us/en/kids/baby-boy-%283-months---3-years%29/shorts/shorts-with-suspenders-c383501p2554522.html">Suspender shorts.</a></div>
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<a href="http://romanandleo.com/collections/accessories/products/baby-beanie-5-colors">Striped beanie</a>--all season in my opinion.</div>
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<a href="http://www.whistleandfluteclothing.com/collections/kids/products/love-script-t-shirt">Love script tee.</a></div>
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Rags to Raches <a href="http://romanandleo.com/products/geo-star-mint-romper">Geo Star Mint Romper.</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/224218836/grey-diamond-hoodie-sleeveless-baby">Grey diamond</a> sleeveless hoodie.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=414475002">Real tiger tank</a>. Love this whimsy.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=1026313&pid=414469012">Patch pocket tank body suit</a>. I can't get enough of baby boy tank tops. The arm rolls/'muscles."</div>
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<a href="http://romanandleo.com/collections/sale/products/trilogy-design-co-chevron-tee-in-charcoal">Chevron Tee</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=509016002">Color block cardigan</a>. Mr. Rogers-esque and great for chilly summer nights. </div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-17453918037524120092015-06-11T21:08:00.000-04:002015-07-24T22:21:56.837-04:00Luke 2:19. The verse for moms. A couple years ago I stumbled upon the verse Luke 2:19. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">….."<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often"</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320;">…</span></span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">….</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 21px;">She was a new mom….people were coming to visit her brand new baby……she knew who he was and who he was going to be…..and yet…..she had these secret mom thoughts…..moments that were all hers…..that she could bring back whenever she wanted to….whenever she needed to……because that's what moms do. </span></span></span></span><br />
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I'd read it before but it didn't have a big impact--probably because I wasn't a mom yet and maybe because there are some various opinions on what it means. But I remember reading it as a new mom and I thought, </div>
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This. This verse was written for moms. This verse was written for moms who contemplate and think about and love their babies to the ends of the earth. This verse perfectly describes the two hundred times we kiss our babies heads while we rock them to sleep and drink in how amazing their little heads smell….hoping to never forget that scent for as long we live and inevitably conjuring up that memory when we think about our kids, miss them, and long to hug them just one more time when they get on that bus for the first day of school or when we check on them at night before we go to bed.<br />
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As moms we all have those 'things in our heart' and we think about them often--because they belong to us--just us. <br />
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The way Crosby's feathery soft fingers feel when he brushes them along my arm while I'm feeding him a bottle.<br />
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The way Georgia shouts, "BEST DAY EVER," if I let her have ice-cream.<br />
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The way Crosby smiles with his mouth shut and his cheeks puff out so big he's lucky I haven't eaten them both.<br />
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The way Georgia mumbles she loves me when I kiss her on the forehead before I go to bed and she stirs in her sleep.<br />
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The way Crosby lays heavy against me when we sit on the blue couch and listen to Georgia play the piano--and he's mesmerized by her.<br />
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The way Georgia shakes her hands and nods her head when she's really getting into telling me a story.<br />
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The way it feels when my kids grip my hands, by shoulders, my legs, my face when they need me--when they need to feel safe and reassured.<br />
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The way Georgia tells me quietly that her stomach hurts a little bit when she gets nervous and can I pray for her to feel brave.<br />
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The way Crosby slaps the bed with his feet at the same time when he sees me peek over his crib to get him in the morning. <br />
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The way he giggles when I put a blanket over his face and ask where he is. <br />
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The way Georgia hunches over artwork and I can see her think so hard about what she wants to add to a picture next…..and next.<br />
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The way she reaches forward from the backseat and extends her hand signaling she wants to hold mine. <br />
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All those moments and what it really feels like to be in them--they're all mine. I can list them for you, paint a picture kind-of--but really…..to live them, breath them, feel them…….they're mine. You can't possibly know what it does for me, to me, and in me. Just like I can't know yours. They become part of the rhythm of our mom hearts and set the beat that keeps us going and each of us has a little different beat. <br />
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I'm reminded of verses like this and how deeply I love them at the beginning of a summer; when I have weeks stretched out ahead of me with everyone home where I can be present in so many moments that I want to store in my heart forever…..and think about often. <br />
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A few from tonight……<br />
Two little amazing friends having so much fun on the trampoline, Disney radio playing on my phone from the lawn, the trees blowing in the wind, and just these two giggling and plotting 'moves' together as they jumped. <br />
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Get ready to store some moments this summer. When they happen, you'll know it. You'll know they're the ones. The ones you'll think about often and always and that are all yours…..how it felt to be in them, how they made you love your kids even more, how grateful you were for those giggles, those little hands, that kiss, that wink, that question, that sigh, that smell, and that look. <br />
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Luke 2:19 this summer.<br />
It's my new verb. </div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-48931880401395842282015-06-06T09:11:00.000-04:002015-06-06T09:11:03.242-04:00This & That, That & This. It's the weekend!<a href="http://www.artifactuprising.com/frame-by-frame">This is a hauntingly beautiful story </a>and the photographer in me is so moved by this. Make sure to watch the clip at the end.<br />
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<a href="http://www.themid.com/family/we-cant-just-send-our-kids-outside-anymore?u=qtDv2a2sSE">COULD NOT LOVE THIS ARTICLE MORE</a>. I'm so sick of the "Raise Kids Like the 70's" posts, and "If only it were 1892," parenting mantras. I'll just be over here continuing to hover and being just fine with it thank you very much. <br />
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Thinking about getting <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZM9R4O/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B009ZM9R4O&linkCode=as2&tag=enjothesmalth-20&linkId=QBNXY4UQP56SEWFV">one of these</a> for Georgia to make her own summer scrap-book…through her eyes. If you have one--do you love it?<br />
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<a href="http://kellehampton.com/2015/05/three-years-apart-two-hearts-together-a-report-card-of-siblings-with-special-needs.html">This</a> made me cry this week. </div>
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<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/lmaccarthy/if-anna-kendricks-tweets-were-motivational-poster-a4cp#.lkd9zNyzG">Boom. The first one about walnuts is spot on</a>. I know, I know….language. But Anna Kendrick is hilarious. Keep reading. </div>
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Because I know you need another way to print your IG photos. But seriously--<a href="http://www.socialprintstudio.com/giant-photostrips/">these are rad</a>. </div>
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Some of <a href="http://brickyardbuffalo.com/babylit-books-june.html#.VXLxC0tnxSU">my favorite baby board books</a> are on BB this week--super great addition to a baby shower gift. We have the Huck Finn & Alice in Wonderland Version. <br />
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<a href="http://www.zara.com/us/en/trf/dresses/long-striped-dress-c358031p2689048.html">This is $22 and it's striped.</a> So, there's that. </div>
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<a href="http://www.zara.com/us/en/kids/baby-boy-%283-months---3-years%29/shorts/shorts-with-suspenders-c383501p2554522.html">Crosby's shorts with suspenders</a> from our family photos that I've had some people ask me about. </div>
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What's that? I should post some more family pics? Oooooookay. <br />
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Happy Weekend to you!!! I have some DIY posts I'm working on--but gold leaf--it's kind of a butt kicker so it's taking me a while. </div>
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Georgia has three more days of school and then it's officially summer for us!!</div>
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maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8661996260329351614.post-66728024630881689322015-05-29T10:02:00.004-04:002015-05-29T10:02:55.020-04:00Summer Idea {Kiwi Crate}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO45GFxZsHI0oVJ9Y-opQcGZxZtHXU0dSVkgrl1GfCSnSwX8dJlnQ3vnQvhdOQwnLSBJjX8lMe7ZuUh-JpY8RMLN_KsxiZeVUaCVLEFTF45WRd2dp9r5dGfKf7pNfBGj-dTXFf0r1XLQ/s1600/IMG_6717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO45GFxZsHI0oVJ9Y-opQcGZxZtHXU0dSVkgrl1GfCSnSwX8dJlnQ3vnQvhdOQwnLSBJjX8lMe7ZuUh-JpY8RMLN_KsxiZeVUaCVLEFTF45WRd2dp9r5dGfKf7pNfBGj-dTXFf0r1XLQ/s640/IMG_6717.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. </span></i></div>
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Summer's coming and we can't wait over here. I want both of my kids home with me at the same time. I want breakfast on our deck and movies during the day with G and walks to the park and grocery shopping trips all together (I know--call me a masochist) and afternoons at the pool and projects at Georgia's art table. <br />
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I'm always on the lookout for innovative products to fill summer days, that while incredible, can get a little long on occasion. And while we can dream up things to make and do all day long it's nice to have a pre-put-together project at times that reinforces academic concepts as well. Enter <a href="http://www.kiwicrate.com/?gclid=CMOj8ZqN58UCFYNDaQodtYoAAA">Kiwi Crate</a>.<br />
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My sister got Georgia a six month subscription to Kiwi Crate for her birthday this year and we just got our first one this week. It's rainbow themed with at least four different projects to do that teach kids about the color spectrum with some science thrown in. <br />
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If you haven't looked into this subscription service for kids you should! It's gorgeous and the projects are so varied and fun to do together. They ask some fantastic high level questions of kids in regards to why the results of each project are what they are and the projects scaffold nicely from one to the next so kids get a well rounded picture of the months concept.<br />
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One of the projects this month asked Georgia to construct her own top for a spin art rainbow craft. <br />
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Another one asked her to put little colored tablets in plastic cups (all provided for you!) and watch how the colored water travelled from cup to cup via paper towel--it was called "Walking Water." </div>
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We've still got a few more projects to go to complete this months box. If you're looking for something engaging and educational to add to your summer line-up I'd definitely include Kiwi Crate. Everything you need for a handful of projects comes beautifully packaged in a box, the instructions are easy to follow, they each take about 15 minutes to complete (perfect for little attention spans) and it's something fun and different that you can do with your kids. Georgia is six and seems to be a great age for everything in this months box--but I know she would have loved these projects as early as three too--she just would've needed some more hands-on mommy help. </div>
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Summer's almost here! We can't wait!</div>
maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00671635849994739359noreply@blogger.com0