Thoughts of fall

Can you see a change in the air?

Can you see the nights coming a bit sooner?

I've even noticed some leaves starting to change. There is just the hint of autumn beginning to creep into our days. Fall is my favorite season, and it's coming just around the corner.

Living in a climate where winter seems to dominate, fall is a beautiful, though fleeting season. It's the time to get out your favorite soft sweater and comfy pair of jeans. It's the season for enjoying hot apple cider and fresh apples from the orchards. When the smell of leaves burning and leaves bursting with color are a common occurrence.

While the temperatures are climbing back into the 90's here this week, it may seem a bit early to be wishing for fall, but before long the nights and soon the days will be crisp. Autumn is a time for trick or treating and turkey carving. It's for back to school and jumping into piles of leaves. While we soak up the last rays of summers sun, I'm heading into my closet to lay out my sweatshirt and jeans, just in case!

TRI Like a Mother!

I've done it now.

I've gone and committed myself to competing in a triathlon this weekend.

Ok granted, I am not doing all of the swim, bike and run, I'm competing as part of a relay team. I will be the one running, sweating and cursing, across the finish line.

My husband and I are traveling to our dear friends' town this Labor Day to visit and compete in this race.

My husband will be competing in his second tri, and I have been convinced to compete as well. I love the idea of doing any type of exercise, but I also like the idea of adequately preparing for it too!

Oh well, it will certainly be a character builder and I'm sure we will have a blast during the process. At least this is what I keep telling myself. Doing only the running part, I have the least to complain about anyway.

I was also assigned the task of coming up with our team name. Every cool team needs a name! Several options were presented "The Cold Turkeys," "Momshells," "Tri Ineffectas." But the overall winner is "TRI Like a Mother."

And you can bet I will!

Here is some training advice for busy moms.

A new home for our family...

Well, it has been a long time in coming but my husband and I are building a house. Not us personally of course, but we are forging forward to create and build a new home for our family.

I have found that it's one thing to say we want to build, and a totally different animal to actually execute this task. Several people I know would never undertake this challenge. A part of me believes we are a bit crazy, three kids a new dog and now a new house. But I want the satisfaction of trying to create something of our own, and then watching it come to life.

We have tried to involve our kids as much as we can in this process. We have been offering them the promise of picking out colors for their rooms, and dangling the idea of a play gym in front of their little noses.

Now comes the difficult part, the dreaded budget. It's ridiculously easy to get carried away on paper. This beautiful kitchen, complete with top-of-the-line this and that. This master bath with only the best of everything. But that reality is shattered faster than it takes to type this all up. Here comes that word again, budget.

While dreaming and creating is fun and a bit exhilarating, it's also tremendously humbling. One must also enter into the world of compromise. What style cabinet I may have my heart set on, my husband may not agree. What? Really? So you find yourself back to square one and starting over. We have been creating and working on this project for the better part of three years, and we have yet to have a hole in the ground to show for it. But soon, soon that rainbow wall may be a reality in my daughter's room! Soon we may see our dreams of creating a house that is all ours.

Then comes the easy part, making it into a home we all love.

Check out this link to learn about building and remodeling while keeping your sanity and your marriage intact.

Any 'back to school' resolutions?

Well with the approach of school looming large, have any of you created any "back to school" resolutions?

Any projects staring you in the face, daring you to complete?

I have an absolute mountain of clothes to sort through and organize. As one daughter outgrows an outfit, her younger sister inherits a new look. A new look assuming it makes it into a place her mother can find it! A girlfriend is hosting a garage sale, so if I can get my act together some of these outgrown clothes may even earn me a bit of spending money!

I have photos to organize, baby books to update (in one case, start!). Maybe I'll even find a chance to carve out some much-needed me time. I will dust off my gym clothes, and assuming I can still find my way there, resume my exercise regime again! With the start of school comes much-needed routine.

I can see my kids starting to become sassier, a bit more challenging than they were at the start of summer. All of my friends say its time for school to start! This mom thinks so too! So as the mornings begin a bit earlier, and the rush to scramble to get out the door rears its ugly head, I say bring it on. I am waiting with open arms.

Planning for the unthinkable...

I have a very dear friend who lost her husband in a tragic accident a year ago last August.

As the anniversary of his death approaches, I have reflected on what a strong, inspirational woman she has been this past year.

She has begun to lecture individuals about the importance of life insurance and planning in case a tragedy ever occurs. This must take immense courage. Each time she gives a talk she relives her own experience. To be able to share this so that others won't suffer as she did, is truly amazing.

She is now a single mother to two beautiful girls, and she is definitely leading them into a bright future. I have learned a great deal from her example. Because of her, my husband and I have had several discussions on what to do if we ever encountered such a life-changing event. We have reviewed the plans we have in place and are confident knowing that our children will be cared for. As awful as it is to think about, it's a very necessary part of parenting and responsibility.

I hope my friend knows how wonderful she is, and I hope she finds peace in her bright days ahead.

Here is some information on estate planning for parents of young children...

Any frantic last minute school shoppers out there?

Anyone's kids feet grown 3 sizes from spring? I was amazed when measuring my 7-year-old's feet, wow!

So we are off to buy pants that fit, and getting him to try them on is a bit like wrestling an ornery pig. Not that I have ever wrestled any pigs, but I bet all my practice with my kids helps!!

Next we are onto the school supplies. This year I found myself buying for two of my three kids. Up go the number of things needed, up goes the cost. With a cut in many school budgets, parents are having to foot the bill for many extras that the schools cannot afford. My kids are too young for some of the technical equipment but that will only add to the cost as they age.

I've tried talking to my kids about need vs. want. I like to take a favorite pair of pants and turn them into a cool pair of shorts. Backpacks have a long life in our house. While I do make a date to take each child out for a special day to pick a new outfit, we stay within a certain price range and have a great time on our date!

However you decide to tackle the back to school lists, hang in there! You have my sympathies!

Learn more about sending your kids back to school...

Going...and coming home!

When going on a vacation with young children, it's best to set all expectations on the low side, so you find yourself pleasantly surprised when things go well.

We have just returned from a ten day trip up north. After packing as much as humanely possible into our vehicle, we were off.

I have dreams of watching my children frolic by the beach, catching fish, roasting marshmallows and singing songs by the fire. Well, we did get swimming roasting and catching but not without crying, screaming and cursing, and this was all from the parents!

I don't want to say that we didn't have nice quality family time. We created some fun memories that we will cherish. But I think there is a vision of how you want a vacation to be, and that vision does not include needing a vacation from your vacation! We are home, basically unpacked, and somewhat settled back into our routines.

It's at this time that I realize how much I cherish my own surroundings, my bed, my access to amenities, running water! I think the focus should be on relishing your every day and not putting so much stock in making the vacation be the memory.

Reading...from sparks to a flame?

I am an avid reader and have been my entire life.

I can remember learning to read in kindergarten and the words just making sense. My husband and I have always read to our kids, from newborn on up, every night, without many exceptions.

So I now find myself frustrated that our oldest is a very reluctant reader. I know that reading is not yet automatic or easy for him and he struggles with this. He loves to be read to, however. We take turns reading different chapter books to him and he's a fantastic, eager listener. But so far this has not translated to reading on his own.

We have just begun the first book in the Harry Potter series and he's totally hooked! I love seeing his face light up when we get to an exciting part! Someday, hopefully soon, I hope he will do the reading to me. I'm trying to keep the subject matter interesting and constantly try to show him just how wonderful books are. Maybe Mr. Potter will be the spark that finally lights the reading flame!

Here's a link with ideas about ways to inspire kids to love reading.

Go team USA!

Anybody been glued to the Olympics these past couple of weeks? Any favorite events?

I happen to be in awe of the gymnasts, my palms get sweaty just watching them! I absolutely love watching beach volleyball, although part of me is envious of their 6' plus muscular bodies! Who can resist swimming and diving? If you have ever swam competively you know how phenomenal these athletes truly are! Maybe track, rowing, or cycling catches your eye?

Even if you are not an athlete or have never competed, it seems the Olympics has something for just about anyone. But I did just read from several friends on Facebook, that they have zero interest in watching and have never enjoyed the games! What? I guess I stand corrected, but really?

Oh well, I'll just cheer my for my fellow Americans a bit harder to make up for those who aren't!

Go team USA!

Heaven got a great angel on Monday

On Monday I learned that a fellow high school classmate had lost his five year battle with brain cancer. He left behind a wife and three young kids.

This is a guy I will always remember for his huge smile and positive outlook. We went all the way through grade school, junior high and high school together. He also happens to be the first boy I kissed. Although I haven't seen him in almost twenty years, his passing still makes me sad.

I know that I hugged my family a bit closer, and realized just how precious and sweet life can be. Two things I know for sure, heaven got a great angel on Monday, and cancer sucks.

Mommy says 'Ouch!'

I have tried to find evidence to see how many injuries parents suffer at the hands of their young children. I haven't been able to locate anything, but I might just be able to write my own paper.

While out playing with the dog, my son took the Chuck It, a tennis ball throwing apparatus, and threw it directly into my forehead. This all occurred from less than a foot away.

"Ouch!" and maybe a bit more than that came out of my mouth!!

Then, while rocking our youngest to sleep, she starting singing and gesturing with her hands. I caught one of her swinging little fists directly to the nose.

I don't tend to see myself as very accident prone, but I may have to change my line of thinking. I've helped my kids tie their shoes and have taken a head to my unsuspecting nose. I have had toes stepped on and hair pulled. All of it hurts. And this all comes from people under 50 pounds. I'm a bit leery to see the damage they may cause as they grow! The dog didn't care that his tennis ball came rebounding off my head. He's happy to retrieve anything!

I'm glad to say I used my head for something useful today!

Magical massage

I know I am getting old.

I don't fear it or dread it, but I can feel the effects of it on my "slightly-older-than-21" body.

We returned from our long weekend and my nagging back injury returned. I cannot even say it was from something exciting, but rather, from floating around a lazy river and sleeping in a new bed.

How humbling! To fight off the effects of my aching back I sought comfort with a massage therapist. I shall now refer to her as "magic hands." I have honestly never felt such a release. She worked for the entire hour on my shoulders and back. I could literally feel the lactic acid and for lack of a better term, icky stuff, leave my body. While I did not spend the hour in a relaxed state, it was very therapeutic. I felt like a limp noodle when I left. Magic hands has truly worked her magic!

For anyone who has never experienced a massage, I cannot recommend it enough. Seek out someone who listens and will work with your needs. It has many wonderful health benefits, and for this mom of three, it's a great break from reality. To learn more about the benefits of massage, check out this link:
http://soc.li/y7H0kJh

Parental control?

We had a new experience in our house this week. While packing for our trip last weekend we turned on the television for some cartoon "babysitting" for our 4-year-old. I was in the bedroom packing and came out to ask my husband a question. With remote in hand, our daughter had turned off her cartoons and turned on an adult movie. Let's just say it wasn't anything close to Dora or Tom and Jerry. And she had charged us $9.99!

I asked my husband, whose back was turned to the television, what she was watching. "Cartoons" was the response. Really? I have to say I haven't seen any cartoons like that. Needless to say no harm was done, and we are still getting a good laugh out of our excellent parenting skills and our newly acquired purchase!

It does raise the question of parental control, which we had to address a bit sooner than expected.