A Little Bit Crazy

There are women in this world that amaze me. Day in and day out, they amaze me.

It isn't because they have a clean house, perfectly mannered children, balanced meals or an ideal wardrobe. It isn't that they have the perfect marriage, awesome house or terrific job. It isn't the sleek hairstyle, manicured nails or fancy car.

It's the lady cleaning the messy house, raising the crazy children, serving the unbalanced meals and wearing the "day two" clothes. Its the woman living the real marriage, in a normal home with any job she's chosen. It's the lady with the "washed three days ago" ponytail, the manicure from her six year old and the van with handprints on the dusty door panels.

It's because they are a little bit crazy!

It's the lady who will open her doors to any number of friends and their children for a lunch playdate. When she's 8 months pregnant. With her fourth child. She will host those people to find out more are coming, bringing the total of children to 20 and the moms to eight. And she'll smile and laugh and welcome each one with a warm hug and a giant smile of love and acceptance and true joy that they have come to her home that day.

It's the nurse who answers phone calls in the middle of the night. Tumbling out of bed to rush to the hospital for hours on end... then comes to Bible study. With brunch in-hand.

It's the mom who accepts your kids into her house at the drop of a hat. And expects nothing for her time and hospitality. Who won't accept lunch as a "thank you" in return.

It's the woman who takes your daughter to school daily. Who can read that little girl's mood from the driveway as she exits the house and treats her with the compassion or silliness she needs.

It's the grandma and the nana that do fun things with the kids. Just because they want to. Just because they know how much those memories will mean to their grandchildren as they grow up.

It's the checkout lady at the store who knows the specials and the price-matches for gallons of milk and offers them to you of her own accord because it's her desire to be sure you get the best deal every time you go through her line. Then she asks about your kids and how your weekend was.

It's the friend who made you feel "at home" in a new, big city. Who is always there for you. Who cares about you and your family.

My list doesn't end there. My list is comprised of the women I know and love. Who are a part of my life in ways that I never could have imagined.

Today I was included in a crazy lunch full of kids and moms and chatter and compliments and love and well-wishes and "until I see you again's". It was Crazy with that C big and bold. But it was amazing. And relaxing.

Call me crazy. I think it was relaxing.

And it reminded me of all the ways that the women in my life are truly amazing.

And a little bit crazy.

Fireflies and Fairy Gardens

From the crack of the bat to the perfect toast of the mallow, summer is here in all of its backyard lightning bug catching glory.

Growing up in the middle (literally) of a cornfield in Nebraska I enjoyed the croak of the bullfrog and the glow of the lightning bugs each summer, but it wasn't until recently that I realized some people don't know of such soothing summer sights and sounds. They consider lightning bugs (fireflies) to be mythical creatures. The stuff of little girls dreams. 

This weekend we spent a beautiful summer evening enjoying food, cold ones and awesome friends. When the sun fell below the horizon and the glow of fireflies lit the yard Ella was as excited as she is every night. I told her I'd get her a container to catch them. "You can catch them? How?" My Cali-girl gal-pal was astonished. A. Ston. Ished. "Seriously? You can keep them in a jar?" 

To me it seemed her daughter was about to learn one of the greatest joys a kid can imagine at dusk of a summer evening. Catching fireflies, giving them shelter in an old Ball jar and letting their soothing twinkle lull her to sleep. 

That night we made do with a clear solo cup and some tin foil, but tonight, in preparation for little Emma's trip back to Cali to see her cousins, we made her a very special lightning bug jar. A full quart size, complete with air-holes in the lid and a pretty fabric swatch to go under the ring. A perfect gift for this little lady.                                                      

Heavenly.

It got me to thinking about the other people in my life that live far from The Good Life. My brother-in-law sheds his shoes and socks, rolls up his jeans and runs through the grass like a kid when he gets back to Nebraska in the summer. Green grass. Soft grass. Grass between the toes.                            

Heavenly.

We are in the planning zone for this summer's greatest week. A week at the big lake in Nebraska. Big Mac. Lake McConaughy. 20 miles of shoreline. 35,700 acres of surface area at full-capacity. Waterskiing, fishing and tubing. Beach camping, campfire pies, and s'mores. Smoky air, crackling logs and waves on the beach.

Heavenly.

We are blessed. Richly and in many ways. We have a lake house we can visit anytime complete with fishing, kayaking and relaxing. Ella and I enjoy a nice kayaking excursion on a calm clear morning. She takes her sketch paper and artist supplies, I take my thoughts, and together we relax and enjoy nature. By the time we get back to grammy and grampy's lakehouse she has created a book of God's creatures we've seen. All the way from the birds in the sky down to the family of fish under the logs where the turtles live. I have a clearer mind and calmer heart.

Heavenly.

New life abounds all around us here in the heartland. Young calves and colts litter the pastures and sometimes the littlest of friends need a helping hand. One single, solitary set of 12 hours offered us two occasions to engage in Rescue Missions last week. Ella's affection for all critters brought us to the rescue of a family of ducks at the park. Their wayward travels took them away from the pond, through the playground and into the street. Momma seemed confused and the downy little ducklings hadn't a care in the world. But my little Ella cared enough for all of them, so we ushered them gently back to the grass and safety.




Kittens? Did someone see kittens?

"Meow meow" (Yes.) "Meow-meow-meow" (Can we keep them?)
(If you know us well, you know that Ella spent a portion of a preschool-age year communicating primarily in kitten. I am now fluent.)

"No. We live in town, cats belong outside and your dad is allergic to cats." (Solid argument, no?)

Lord help us, there were kittens by the side of the driveway to the lake house early on Wednesday morning.

Lord help us even more that they were still there, seemingly abandoned, that evening.

Commence Operation Kitten Rescue. After a long day of summer day-camp, swimming and running around, we agreed to come to the rescue of the kittens. Right after supper. The kids and I loaded up on the four-wheeler and went to check on the kitties. A container of milk and milk-soaked bread in-hand we coaxed those curious but scared little kitties out of the brush and up to the buffet we offered. My defenses weakened by the pure innocence and adorable nature of kittens and my Ella, I agreed that we should find a large box and give the kittens shelter for the overnight. As we departed in search of a box a momma cat came across the road, but gave little notice to the kittens. We watched, assuming we would find out one way or another if this was their momma. Her lack of interest made me wonder still, so we fetched the box and extra milk. Upon our return, momma was licking the bowl clean and heading off down the road. Ella quickly realized these kitties did indeed have a momma and the dam broke...

W-I-D-E open. Gushing tears of heartbreak. Never has a child been so heartbroken by the existence of a live-and-well animal. Ever.

Mission... over.

Ella's take on the whole thing?
Kittens are heavenly.
Not getting to keep them is heart-wrenching and painful. So painful only grammy can make it better.

As we rounded the bend at grammy and grampy's farm that night (a quick drive from the lake house) lightning bugs grasped Ella's attention and tugged her focus away from the kittens (briefly). After capturing four to keep in her bedside jar she snuggled in for the comfort and compassion that only grammy can give.

As the snuggling soothed the kitten-induced drama, talk turned to the fairy camp she was attending that week. Fairy wings on day one. Wands on day two. Flower crowns on day three. Fairy houses on day four. Tea and cupcakes and fairy butterfly feeders on day five.

If she didn't get enough at camp, she's filling her bucket at home this week! Seeing how infatuated and enamored she was with all the fairy-goodness of that week's camp I made a quick stop at Hobby Lobby to gather fairy-approved supplies and arranged a fairy house-making afternoon with her best girlfriend from school.

My garage looks like Pixie Hollow exploded, but these girls had a blast!

For me, this is the season.

Baseball games & s'mores.

Green grass & croakin' bullfrogs.

Downy ducklings & cute-cute kittens.

Campfires & lake life.

Fireflies and Fairy Gardens.


Heavenly.

Kindergarten Besties

Oh those silly kids. For almost the entire school year I've been bringing home a spare kid each day and dropping him in his driveway on our way home. The conversations from the cheap seats never cease to entertain. Topics range from school-related activities to weekend plans and toilets (always toilets) to horrid knock-knock jokes.

For weeks I've been hearing "Next time guys, we have to be way funnier. Way, waaaaaay funnier."
And I've heard it all.
"Knock knock"
"Who's there?"
"Interrupting cow"
"Interrupting co...
"Moo"

"What did the momma tomato say to the kid tomato?"
"ketchup"
(Because they were going for a walk and the kid was falling behind...)
That one took Ella about a month to finally "get" when she saw it on her own milk carton at lunch. Finally.

"How do you make a witch itch?...Take away the w!!!"
**Chirp. Chirp.**
(Again, I had to explain that one for a few weeks)

So yesterday they chatted about being the teacher and the teachers being the students.

Hilarity, my friends. Hilarity.

What really gave me a bit of the giggles was when they decided they would not let them have class everyday but make them take a field trip every. single. day.
Like a field trip is a punishment?
"So their legs would get tired too."
Oh yes, walking the zoo for a day is horrid.

So as I reflect on this year of Kindergarten convo-induced giggles I wonder how things will be now that they are headed on to 1st grade. They've discussed the matter at length, with deep-seeded concerns over the three of them losing each other. Or two of them being together and one being left out. Because, you see, next year they may not all be in the same class.

Ella-Barrett-Emma - Last week of Kindergarten - May 2015

The Three Amigos. B-E-E. Triple Threat. Barrett-Emma-Ella. Whatever you call them, call them tight. This trio seems to have clicked and it didn't take long. So now after a full school year of being a great group of friends they want to plan summer get-togethers. Sleepovers. Backyard parties and to be friends for all of life. To never forget each other.

So during their whole 70 days off from school for the summer I see playgrounds and backyards and tents and firepits and sleepovers in their future. Because each day, at the end of the day, I see hugs and loves and "goodbye's" and "see you tomorrow's" that are genuine and true. I see friends that want to be forever friends. And I want to help foster those relationships and help them grow. Because these kids are good kids. Their parents are good people. They are the kinds of kids I want my baby girl hanging with. Learning from. Being herself with. Because they are accepting of each other just the way they are.

I grew up in a town where you were always in the same class with the same people unless someone moved away or was new to town. My choices for friends were pretty limited. My husband grew up in Omaha and has had the same core group of friends since middle school. Middle school, ya'll. In a town this size??? I'm amazed.

Then I realized why. Do you know who my mother-in-law celebrates her birthdays with? The moms of those friends. Those relationships thrived not only because those kids enjoyed each other, but their parents did as well. They spent time together, they helped cultivate and then tended to those relationships. Our kids, at this age, don't have ample opportunity to get together with their friends until a parent organizes and transports. I've been slacking in this department for the last year. I was tired. I was tired of calling and asking and planning and transporting and scheduling and cleaning up and refereeing and doing. I was tired.

Now they've reached an age where there is a lot less action needed on my part. Ask, plan, transport. Pretty simple. Maybe feed a kid or two here and there. Easy-peasy. So this summer that's what I'll do. I'll ask and plan and transport. I'll supervise. And referee when necessary. I'll love and hug and feed and entertain. I'll do what needs to be done to keep these kids together this summer.

I want Ella and her friends to remember this as the greatest summer ever... until the next summer. The summer when they could get together with friends and continue to feed those friendships, hoping they will continue to bloom in the fall and winter when new friends enter and another school year might separate them. And if during the course of time she decides those relationships aren't the best for her it will be her decision, not mine. It won't be my fault that B-E-E doesn't exist anymore. I will have done what I could to foster and nurture those relationships she has found so easy and fulfilling and enduring this year.

Kindergarten is just the start and I know that next year there will be new friends. Next year there will be more discoveries and better jokes and deeper backseat conversations during carpool. Next year there will be 1st graders in my van. Next year they'll learn more about who they are and who their friends are. They'll grow into bigger kids and stronger individuals. They'll move forward and I'll be there to help maintain the friendships they value and cherish.

So here's to a wildly successful Kindergarten year full of backseat conversations that fill the entertainment quota for my afternoons. Here's to next year's 1st grade backseat conversations.

Knock, Knock
Who's there?
Boo!
Boo hoo?
Don't cry... it's just a knock-knock joke!

Giving Kids Creative License

I have a couple of creative types in my house.

Big Sister E is a true creative spirit turning anything into something. Tonight she interrupted my workout to let me know she could make water change color just by saying a magic word. What she'd done was paint the outside of a can, then gave her brother the job of turning on the water and plugging the drain while she ran the painted can under water. Voila! Purple water. Creative. Capital C.

Little Brother C is creative in the "I'm going to find a way to tinker with this to get it to do what I want" kind of way. Last week he was up on the playset with a jump rope and laundry basket. He came in asking for carrots. His plan? A bunny trap. Set the carrots on the ground, hide in the playset, attach the basket to the jump rope and lower it (silently) onto the unsuspecting rabbit as it noshed on the carrot buffet.

When these to minds get together, watch out world, something special is coming.

Recently I've been thinking about how much time I spend entertaining my kids. And the verdict? Well, not so much. Some may say I'm a lazy parent for not engaging in a multitude of activities with my kids. My response? I don't think they need it! Sure, they ask me to play tag, draw a picture, play a game, read a book, and the usual gamut of kid-type requests, and most often I am good with that. But sometimes, "I am disinclined to acquiesce to your request". (Thank you, Pirates of the Caribbean.) And they usually deal with it just fine. Most often, they don't ask for much in the Requires Entertainment department. They like to just make things up and accessorize with all of their stuff. Common activities include "Fluffy Fluff" (he's a puppy, she's the owner), picture-making and building bird-watching huts.

A few days ago they asked to play on the front steps. Not my first choice for a play location, but since I was in the general vicinity and could offer sufficient supervision I gave them the go-ahead. When I went outside to check on them this is what I found...

 Yup, you guessed it. That's a roly-poly house, ya'll! Complete with a play area and dandelion accents!

Dad gets in on the creativity action much more often than I do. He seems to have that extra store of energy specifically for entertaining kids that I just don't have in the evening. Barbies were the activity of choice this night and boy did those boys have fun!

Let me assure you, it was very manly fun. Full of battles and motorcycles and stunts!

He even made them an authentic pirate treasure chest, complete with false bottom for hiding treasure. Last summer they decided on their pirate names. This year Captain One Sock and Captain Butterfly are even more authentic.


Rainy days? They wanted to go play on a rainy Saturday a week or so ago. "Why not?" became my philosophy for the moment and I let them go...




And they had a great time! I didn't ever ask the thought-process behind taking the toy box lid, Hotwheels storage box, bandana and straw hat outside, but this is what they came up with...

a ship?
a pirate ship?
a pirate ship with bad guys and the cracken ready to attack?

Your guess is as good as mine, my friend. As good as mine.

This one. She gets all sorts of silly sometimes. Rain, bubbles and alone time and she's golden, let me tell you! She was singing and dancing and blowing bubbles and having a grand old time! 

What's the point of all this rambling? Well, I've noticed that sometimes kids don't need constant entertainment. No TV, no electronic games, no planned activities. Just time to play. Be creative. It seems that many of my friends that fall into my decade for age had similar experiences as children. We were allowed to make our own fun. Play in the dirt, splash in the puddles, imagine new worlds and pretend we were anything we wanted to be. Swings were rocket ships. Laundry baskets were bunny traps.

This last New Year's Eve we celebrated with a few other couples and all the accompanying offspring. Instead of planning out their evening's activities down to the minute, we let them enjoy each others company. There was a school full of students and teachers. Games of basketball and tag. Screaming, giggling, fighting and fun. Random, spontaneous, creative and imaginative fun. And they loved every second.

With the decline of importance being placed on the arts in our school systems I find it to be more necessary than ever to encourage authentic creativity at home. I'm so thankful E goes to a school where art and music are valued. Where theater club starts at grade four. Where creative licenses are issued to students on a daily basis. 

Last month I decided to undertake a major project in our storage room. I'm creating an art room for E to feel free to create as she pleases. While progress has been slow recently I know that once summer arrives I'll have the time to dedicate and the help I need from her to get it completed to her liking. A place for her. A room of her own with paints and crayons and markers and glue. Glitter and paper and stickers. Music and floors to spill on guilt-free. Walls to display her work and be proud of her accomplishments. 

I want to encourage the kids to put their creative licenses to full use. To realize their full potential and not be afraid of judgement by the outside world. To create and share and be authentic. To know that their original ideas are valued. 

My challenge to you is to turn off the tv, the electronics, the planned activities and encourage your kids to make their own fun for a week. I know that when summer break arrives my kids won't be able to get the back door open fast enough each morning to launch themselves straight into their own world. A world of endless possibilities limited only by their boundless imaginations. 

How will you encourage your child's use of his or her creative license?