Pillow of Hugs

Today was Christopher's last day of kindergarten here.
We took homemade oatmeal cookies to school for lunchtime
snacks, which he proudly served to all his friends.
(we won't mention about his little friend Kaela that also rides his bus was
sitting at the end of the other table blowing him kisses...and getting them back!)
After lunch, he gave cards to his teachers
before the class went outside to play for recess.
He came home this afternoon with a
Pillow of Hugs.

* Life is good *

We are so blessed to have such a beautiful son, inside and out.
Here are some pictures of his artwork from school,
and also the contents from his new pillow.
I just love the artwork and the imagination of the little folks!

* Enjoy! *

Christopher the Police Officer

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Christmas Penguin

reading his card today for teacher Ms. Barrett


* The Pillow of Hugs *

This is from Kaela...

Spring is "almost" here...

"almost" because it keeps getting COLD, then hot, then windy, then cold again

of all the gifts that come with Spring, some of my favorites are all the fresh new wildlife, all the babies that venture out to discover their new world. but, also the beautiful colors of all the trees, shrubs and flowers are just awesome.

perhaps best of all, is being able to make colors with our little guy. wish we could have been with some of his cousins to do it as a team, but there will be other opportunities for that in the future.

Happy Easter & Happy Spring!

contemplating how to color his eggs with the invisible crayon

Very proud boy with all the decorated eggs!

this is the one where he wrote his own name on the egg, and then wanted to crack and eat it, then he didn't, but it had been dropped a few times by now, and then he negotiated to "not" have anyone crack his special egg. it's still in the fridge.

while Chris called most of his eggs "scribble scrabble" he was very excited to see how "Papa" worked out so well. he loves his Papa!

this is a few days after the first half of our move from VA to NJ. everyone was tired, and appreciating a little R&R

"Look, Mommy, the Easter Bunny did come find us!"

"And he hid our eggs we made!"

ahh, our good girl Maya keeps guard on the happenings of the house, supervising the moving and packing. we are slowest of all this time around, going thru ALL the boxes from ALL the previous moves! not one single unnecessary "anything" will survive this move.

the guys take a break to wrestle
good thing the bed was in the living room to break his flip and fall

the little piggies in their temporary housing pen. problem is: Lucky (the tri-colored one) keeps shredding and eating the bedding. and, we just discovered he's blind in at least his left eye, not sure if his right is affected yet. he doesn't care about that, though. he still sings for Miss Lisa, and talks to us all the time.

were able to catch a few minutes at Buckroe Beach in Hampton Roads, VA

the beautiful tree in the front yard in Newport News, VA. not sure what kind it is, but the blossoms are painting my car yellow and brightening up the front yard nicely

dang turtles! if you look closely, you can see Three on the log. 15 seconds before taking this picture, there were about 12 or so on the same log, as well as another 10 or more on the log directly behind it, and another bunch on the log to the left of that one. they hear or think you are coming by, and the slide on into the water. dang turtles! the only way to see them all is to do a drive by in an automobile or to setup a crittercam.

these are a little harder to see, but if you look, you'll see the huge goose standing in front, and a few turtles on the log behind that.
the geese apparently also like to come strolling into the neighborhood and eat up the clover in the front yards, then stroll on out, making traffic come to a halt. even though they can fly, they waddle out instead.

here's to the beauty in Spring
and to the beauty of the world and people around us

for me, I hope that I can keep focused on the natural beauty of life
of what is Really Important in Life

Don't Poke the Bear...

"ever heard the phrase, "don't poke the bear"?

I'm just "saying"....

LOL! LOL! LOL!!!!!!!


and now, back to coloring Easter eggs!

Whoever said Change was Easy?

Let's face it: change is not easy, for most people, for many situations. Factor in how the older you are, the harder it is to "let and let go". Despite our personal journey, Mike and I still feel the effects of a lot of change, and it sure brings up emotional feelings and anxieties, I'll be the first to admit. However, now I can really empathize with military families that are always on the move. We don't intend to be "always" on the move, life has brought us to these crossroads, and we are sure our recent decisions are the right ones.

Having said that, Damn! Change and transition is the one thing that will bring up the ugly or interesting in a situation, every frickin' time! It amazes me the lack of effective communications tools and skills that our society has in place, that we all accept -- and this is everywhere. For me, I most recently felt in the middle of it when my Mother recently passed. "all that I knew"...none of it worked out the way I had ever envisioned it!!!! It forced me to make decisions and shift relationships, some of which are the better for it, some that may still take awhile to adjust. It's okay, but it was a Huge eye opener. But back to the current days and times: It's like an investigative game, when dealing with other people, like you have to figure out what they "really" meant by that comment or tone. It's what I would normally consider a stupid and ridiculous game that I won't participate in, but now, things have changed and I'm forced to play along in order to keep the peace. Keep the Peace. More like, Help Him Grow. An opportunity of empowerment at its finest!

I won't go into the specifics, for that would be a betrayal of personal conversations, emotional conversations, and ones that represent many years of anxiety and emotional build-up. The shift of a long-term and long distance familial relationship that has now shifted to up close and personal. What I will say is that Mike and I are getting REALLY GOOD at downsizing and clearing out the clutter in a house and and our lives. It's such an emotional release, I just can't stress it enough! Everyone should give it a whirl, you'd be surprised at all that you just Don't Need in your lives. All the Baggage we collect and carry around....

But when someone else says they want your help to clear out their clutter...don't believe they really know what they are asking! They "say" the words, they may "want" help to do this overwhelming job....in this case, clearing 30+ years of collections that also include the residuals of the estate from Nana, who passed in 2005 (bless her heart, Hi, Nana!). Now, "that", I REALLY understand, going thru the possessions of loved ones. Another story for another day...

Technology has made some of this transition a lot more intersting. For, what do you DO with all those albums that no one listens to anymore, because CDs are so much easier to handle? And now there's a new IPod Nano added to the mix...well, let's get rid of the CDs AND the albums! Takes some time, but a project on the cleanup list, and a fun one, at that!

All those photos and cards...the scanning project gets bigger, but Way Fun! And timely!

But to get to the part about clearing stuff, you gotta make a Bigger Mess to get the clutter and collections cleaned up! Shoes, clothes, paperwork, photographs, linens, books (lots of books), video tapes, sewing and craft items, household small items, mementos from life, and lots more. This is what most households have saved up. The days of usefulness are long gone for many of these things, but the multi-layered and invisible tethers remain, sometimes even strengthening! You gotta shift things around and make piles where you can put like to like, and Then make the decisions to toss or keep or repair. And then put your money where you mouth is!

We have the truck loaded up with donation stuff that will be delivered today! One great step...

I had already agreed and planned to come up and help this week of Spring break back in the fall, when first asked. However, since our (and their) situation has changed, and we agreed to combine households for a time, for what is really a whole list of valid reasons that I also can't print for now, but all are good...well, add that to cleaning and organizing and the process gets a little trickier.

Where can you put a twin mattress and bags of toys, when you are working on clearing the space where they are to go? In my house, I'd put them in the way for a few days, then work on the other spaces, then it goes faster, and then the job is more effective. When working with people not so tuned into the reality of effecting change--even when that change was Requested!--well, that is one volitile volcano building up steam and ready to explode!! It's called managing the unwilling and resistant one. A good skill that can be used in any place of employment, as well.

In all of this, my mother-in-law has been fantastic! Energetic and excited to get the projects done that she has been requesting help with for so long. It has been a fun opportunity to work along side her for more than a day here and a day there, which is unfortunately the only way we've known it for 18 years now. Christopher is enjoying some quality time with the grandparents, even as he also has to deal with the major changes in his young life, such as changing kindergartens at the end of a school year. My hubby: wonderful partner and the primary reason I am able to keep my head on straight and not go to bed crying. I'm what they call empathic, and I feel what you feel. Right now, it's all I can do to keep focused on the goals and let the Little Stuff (that's trying SO Hard to be Big Stuff) slide right off. The rest of those around us right now....well, let's just say I can feel for all the changes we represent, even though we are here at request, and now as a mutually beneficial arrangement. I feel for those feeling the changes we represent, knowing full well that change is not easy. When you run your own house they way you like, you develop certain habits and comfort zones, and "any" shift to that routine is major. Let's just say: that boat has been rocked, there's no going back. This will either work itself out in a pleasant manner, or end horribly. I'm confident, and voting on the better of the two.

I can deal with someone else thinking they are doing me a favor, whiile at the same time are also unable to see any other benefit(s) offered in return. Truth be told, we could have very easily stayed in our other place and gotten new jobs. All these projects here would be put on hold indefinitely or on the slow track -- let's face it, distance is a showstopper for most things. From my experience and life observations: All of these projects would have been put off until "it's too late"...and then there comes the Sibling factor into how to handle an estate and all that is in it. And that is a most stressful time of life, believe me. However, that's not how it's supposed to be at this time, so here we are, for as long as it takes or feels right.

If you have any jokes or fun stories, or want to chat....my ears and heart are open. LOL!

"Changes in attitudes, changes in latitudes..."

isn't that a song or something? it is funny how things get new meanings when we stumble upon different life experiences.

for those who do come here, I want to apologize for being so boring. there are fun and interesting things that cross my mind occasionally, but I have to "be in the mood" for just about anything I do.

like my sewing, there are 9.5 inch squares sitting in a pile, waiting for their conversion into functional but unique potholders. itching to get made, but, alas, no time lately. a box of glass beads that are practically calling me by my nick names, and no time. these sorts of things are like free therapy for me. alone time with my thoughts in a creative mode. I can't remember the last time....

Christopher has been a great trouper! he's a wonderful traveling companion, and can usually be satisfied with his selection of activities, or will willingly engage in car and travel games. now that he's learning to read and write, it's even more fun. we took some fun pictures of him in the past couple of weeks, but all the pics are on the memory chip that is overfull, and will have to wait until we have some "free" time to play.

other than that, school has been an added factor in all the move preparation, and even in today. never enough time to fully concentrate and when I do, it ends up being late at night, when I'm too tired. at least, after this final paper is turned in on Mon, a day late, it will be the last one for about 4 weeks.

the moves have been created by opportunities that came knocking, and looked interesting enough at the time, and were really stepping stones to our next stage. for instance, the move last summer would get us closer to family, where we really felt drawn to go for some time now, so it's a good thing. events that changed our nation and plummeting economy, affecting the sale of our house, so we watched as our house sat vacant for 8 expensive months, maybe not such a good thing, but we survived and are looking forward to easier days in the near future.

people say, "don't stress" and I say, we really try not to, but sometimes it just happens. like, "what is next for us?" we have been independent adults for many, many years. we still are, but we just agreed to combine households with the in-laws for a whole list of reasons. in my heart, I know it will be okay.

but then, the stress creeps up anyway. wondering, worrying, planning, trying to figure out where our place is in life, knowing we have all the tools we need in order to continue to succeed, and the courage to see all the changes that led up to this move as opportunities that also came knocking, and maintain a positive attitude all along the way.

did anyone ever say that family dynamics are easy? surely not. I think that I am a magnet for the oddities and extremes in life, which makes the surprises in relationships seem like puzzles to figure out in order to get to the next level.

so, this rambling is why there have been less postings, because this is just a taste of what's running thru my mind as we are now not just contemplating a major household move, but actually in the middle of it. uninteresting and repetitive, there's a lot to do when you move. more to do when you are downsizing and splitting the move into 2 phases. the beauty of it all is that after this move, we will only own that which we can fit on a single trailer, and that which we can move ourselves. we will be scaled down to ONLY that which we want and need, all extra fluff will have found a new home by next weekend.

we unloaded the trailer that my brother loaned us, pulled by the trailer hitch that my brothers made last weekend (thanks guys!), and we unloaded it almost all by ourselves, as in Mike and I. we "had" help that had promised to be there on Sat. when we got in. long story short, Mike and I unloaded the trailer today, Sunday, without any of the promised help. yes, today when I had planned to spend the entire day writing a 3K paper for my class, that was due tonight. even though I had started on it earlier in the week, now it will be a day late as we had to shift our plans last minute. because we were able to sleep in after being so exhausted, got a late start, and then got everything put away except for the long leather sofa. neighbor kids were finally recruited and helped do that one, thankfully. it's supposed to rain like crazy on Monday, so the option of leaving the trailer for another day was not an option. thanks, no-show guys. may you never find yourselves in a bind. it's really a crying shame for adults to be so irresponsible!!! that's all I can say about that, because anything else would be rude and make me want to slap someone!

so, if you've read to this part, then I want to apologize again. life is stressful when you move. on top of the stress, sometimes people's "true colors" come flopping all about for all to see, including my own. I can't remember the last time I cried myself to sleep. I have already taken a ding in my grade for this class, and it's not like I "have" to get an A in every class, but the ONLY reason I'm probably going to get a B in this one is for two late papers, and specifically for THIS lasts paper that I had to push out because the guys didn't show up as they promised. emotions are surely at an all-time high. combining households also brings its own interesting dynamics, which I won't go into at the moment. sure, we'll figure it all out, and hopefully with little to no fallout, but it's just one more thing in the phase of this move that carries more unknowns than most other changes.

in my heart, all of this direction feels like it's the right thing and right place for us to be.

so, on that note, signing out

one more thing: have a Happy Easter in case we are not back in time for that. we do plan to make some Easter break on Fri. or Sat, and we also brought all the easter basket stuffin's so Chris can write his letter to make sure he knows where to find us. I love the holidays anyway, but there's something special to re-live it through the eyes and hands of a little one.