My Many Coloured Days

Friday, July 12, 2013

The "Hair"

Remember way back when... when Little E started growing out his hair.

It became an obsession for him.

His hair became him.

As his parents, we were happy to let him express himself in such a simple little way. We had no idea if it would be a permanent fixture, a temporary right of passage, or what.

His "golden fleece."

He loved his long hair.
He was gorgeous, even during all the awkward in-between stages.
But...
He didn't like being called a girl by random old men in costco.
Neither did he appreciate the daily detangling that had to take place.

When summer hit, he was hot.

Especially while wearing his favorite "wool" hat. Geesh.

He wanted it buzzed. We compromised with a trim, since we had a wedding to attend and were worried he would miss his hair. But once we returned, he was still ready.

Doesn't he look so grown up? (ignore the chocolate ice cream on the tip of his nose!)

That cute face, adorable eyelashes, splattering of freckles. I love him with or without his long hair.

We'll see what's next with this kid. I can't wait.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Travelling through Time

Returning to this blog is a little like travelling through time.

Where oh where have my babies gone?

Why oh why have I stopped recording my many coloured days and our beautiful daily adventures?

I suppose I've been occupied writing papers, lesson plans, and exams for school. And on top of that, how could I take the time to blog when every minute I have at home (not doing homework) I attempt to spend with my family? I think I am finally getting a handle on how to balance school with the rest of my "lives," and here I am almost done. In fact I have no more classes to take, at all. Ever. Student teaching and graduation are calling my name. I'm so proud of myself. It's a huge goal. A huge accomplishment. And something I almost gave up on too many times to count.

This past year, with all the children in school, I was able to go to school full-time without going any more crazy than I already am. I pushed extra hard last semester to get in all of my reading minor classes in order to shave off a semester next spring. So many times I almost quit. The course requirements were not difficult, in fact often the opposite, but the time away from home for these extra classes (mostly evenings) and internships was demanding. Mr. Man was a saint and often was the before and after-school parent. I truly missed those crazy moments, even though I knew how well taken care of the children would be with him. Some of our traditions have changed. Many of my expectations have altered. And in order to find harmony in our home, we've had to simplify; I've learned to let go of a lot of the guilt that I have often felt put on myself and inadvertently placed on my family.

Silly guilt.

Days and weeks go by where I don't take any pictures. We are so entrenched in living, that it has become almost obscene to pause and capture the moment. I find I am almost afraid of what I will miss if I take the time to do so. I love these people I live with. I am enamored with the place where we live. I am learning so much through the time and experiences that are taking place each day.

I'm going to try to write about them.

Be patient with me.

(guilt-free blogging may be quite sporadic)

Seriously, how is it already June 2013? {Written June 13th, unfinished}

Today is the children's last day of school.

Deep breaths.

I'm ready, as usual.

Though I expect to be overwhelmed, overtired, and over everything soon enough.

I cannot believe that after today I will have a 1st grader, a 4th grader, a 5th grader and a 7th grader. I can totally remember my crushes from both 5th and 7th grade. As I giggle dreamily within, I wonder how on earth I am mature enough to parent kids those ages.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Here and Now

We're at a good place right now with our family. It's busy, constant, and never-ending... but good.

Recently our youngest started taekwondo. After a few tears, some bribery (that included M&Ms for everyone who would make his first experience better), and me pushing my baby to go ahead and try, he has found something that he loves. This kiddo is so focused, fast, and furiously set on catching up to his big brothers in both skill and belt level.

This also means that for one hour, twice a week, all of our children are working hard and being entertained so Mr. Man and I can work out together. After a good workout last week, we hurried back to the taekwondo facility and sat to watch the final bits of their practice. It's a joy to watch our children learning and growing and being physically active.

I turned to Mr. Man and whispered that we must be the smartest, luckiest parents around. While other parents are driving around crazy from one activity to the next, we have all of our kids signed up for the same activity and we get to work out! (I just have to remember those peaceful 2 hours a week while I'm running around crazy many hours of most other days.)

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Behind the Scenes

Love this cute girl.

Love that my sister took these pictures.

Love that this cute girl is laughing because I'm licking my sister's ear while she tries to take pictures.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Overheard

Always the storyteller, Mr. T was telling us about a ridiculous dream he had the other night. Basically he was a millionaire and had a seven story mansion. However, the elevator in the mansion only went up to the sixth floor, so if you wanted to get up to the seventh floor you would have to take at least one flight of stairs. He claims that in his future house, the kids would have the seventh floor all to themselves. The story went on and on, but soon he and Little E were collaborating on how their future house will be run: what they would eat, what video games they would play, etc. They also insisted that it would just be a house of boys... no girls. I asked about their wives; where would they live, what would they eat and do? Mr. T knew he was pushing it when he said, under his breath and with a silly smile, "They'll be our attendants." One look from me and he quickly changed his story, "Okay. We won't have wives. We'll just adopt our boys." I assured him that one day he may really want to spend time with girls and, as a recent episode of Parenthood indicated, may even find girls to be "new and exciting." His response, "An erector set is new and exciting. Girls are old and boring." I look forward to seeing how this story goes.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Everyone has their "stuff"

Today I listened to a fellow classmate, a young'un, describe the breakdown she had earlier this morning. I watched tears stream down her cheeks as she admitted that she just didn't think she could do it anymore. School was asking too much of her; overwhelming and tearing her apart. This is the start of week two of classes for the semester. I felt for her. I have been there; I have felt similar feelings, and I know how debilitating they can be even as those around you assure that you are capable, competent, and qualified. Another classmate at our table, commented that he would never ever express such feelings in front of me since I was probably thinking, "I do all that AND I have 2 kids!" He's wrong. I actually have four kids. But in all honesty I interjected that he shouldn't ever feel that way. We are all busy, we all have lives to live, and we all have our stuff.

Lots on my mind...

Sometimes our stuff is physical, other times financial, emotional or even spiritual
When our stuff becomes overwhelming
My stuff is your stuff and your stuff is my stuff

However, I need to get jumping on homework and do a costco run before I pick up the kiddos and do piano lessons, taekwondo, dinner... you know, stuff.

Amidst the stuff in life, remember to smile... this should help:

Monday, January 14, 2013

Blessed & Blubbery

Life is never perfect. But it's amazing to look around every once in a while and experience a perfect moment in life. The more of these moments I capture, acknowledge, and appreciate, the more life feels perfect to me. Not perfect in the way you would expect perfection to feel or look like, but perfect in that it's just what I never knew I always wanted.

I had a cousin pass away recently. Unfortunately I didn't know him well, but he was only a few years older than me with young children of his own, and the proximity of that reflection can be profound.

Every day I get to spend with my family is a blessed day indeed.

Dirty dishes, crumbs on the counters, carpools and attitudes included.

Thursday, January 03, 2013

"I really look up to being a gangster"

My printer is bezerk. Seriously. Worst purchase we have ever made. We've had so many "issues" with this stinkin' thing. At any rate, I keep bugging Mr. Man at work to print out little things for me. The internet is wonderful and I don't have a standard "interview" sheet that we do each New Year, but I have a plethora of print-outs to choose from - everyone seems to post all their great ideas, which gives me more time to not think, but do. New Years day I had the kiddos fill in a pretty simple interview sheets. My heart melted when Mr. T suggested that everyone share theirs. I wasn't going to push for it, but loved that he wanted to share and also hear what others had written.

Here are a few of my favourite outtakes:

Little J (5)
I really like to wear PJs
I wish I could be a cat
When I get older I want to do rockets
I really look up to the sky
I would describe myself as coloring
I want to practice coloring

Little E (8)
I really like to wear gangster clothes
When I grow up I want to be a gangster
I love it when I sleep in the closet (FYI - this is by choice and a strange new infatuation over the break!)

I wish I could be Tony Stark
When I get older I want to be a gangster
I really look up to being a gangster

Mr. T (9)
When I grow up I want to be an engineer or scientist
I would describe myself as an engineer
I wish I was an engineer
I love it when daddy helps me build
My favorite memory is my family
When I get older I want to engineer

Miss J (12)
When I grow up I want to be a surgeon
I would describe myself as awesome
My favorite memory is on my 8th birthday we went to a HUGE water slide hotel
The best thing about me is I'm plain awesome
When I grow up I want to drive
I really look up to my parents

Pictures they drew of themselves:

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

2012 in Review

I'm copying my sweet sister-in-law with a photo/short sentence re-cap... it seems like the perfect way to wrap up a year and start fresh for 2013.

January

Little J got his tonsils out and has been happy and healthy ever since (just normal childhood colds - such a relief!)

Pinewood Derby - all four kids participated. We have THE BEST cub master EVER: a hunk of burnin' love a.k.a. Mr. Man!

February

Homemade valentines presents.

Staying warm indoors.

March
Spring Break Trip

Truck and Camper purchases

April
Mr. T turns 9

-takes a special trip with Dad (in his pjs!)

Easter at my sister's (with my parents visiting) and a new baby to hold and cuddle

May
Little E turns 8

Mother's Day BIKE

Oma's 90th Birthday and FUN with FAMILY (I was able to use all of Mr. Man's frequent flyer miles to get an almost free ticket to fly home for the weekend!)