Yesterday was one of those wonderful summer days...it started actually the night before. We had that little rain storm just as it was getting dark outside and of course all my windows are open because I don't care for a stuffy house. I went to bed smelling that smell of rain soaking into the ground after it's been hot for a long time. I love that smell, and some one must have mowed their lawn late that day cause you could still smell that fresh cut grass smell as well. So I slept so good that night. Funny how smells can put you in a good mood or suddenly transport you to a specific moment in your past.
Amanda and I were meeting the rest of my family up at the lake for the day. Sam and Harley spent the night up there with everyone so they were already there. As we drove up the clouds looked pretty threatening but as we came around the last corner everything just kinda broke and there was SUN! We drove through the campground and again more of my favorite summer smells. Campfires of course and from there I think we could tell what everyone was cookin up for breakfast...pancakes, bacon, and we saw all the little ones still in their pj's it was sooo cute. So the kids all had a great day surfing, wake boarding, tubing and just playing in the water. The girls were so cute they of course had their towels layed out in a row and they just giggled and laughed and soaked up the sun all day. It was a great time. I'm sure that everyone will agree that camping and boating have always been the best family times. It's nice to get out on the boat with just us and cruise around the lake or watch the kids trying to out do each other with funny tricks on the surfboard. Just floating out in the middle...the boat rocking back and forth, the music playing , Ken just about asleep and someone yells "last one in's a rotten egg!!!" well you know what happens next...it's mad bail out of the boat. Ken of course always the last one usually started up the boat and jokingly putted away while we were all out in the water. (I love the boat smells too...even the exhuast. I know, a little strange.) It was always the same but we all laughted and joked about it the rest of the day. Great times !
Harley and I drove home together because he had football. The girls stayed a little longer to get all they could out of the day. Harley slept most of the way home. It was a nice quiet drive after a busy but relaxing day. When the girls got home the day ended with unpacking and the oooze and aaaw's of "maybe I got a little burnt today" the linguring smell of wet lake towels, well tanned skin and tropical oil. A perfect ending to a summer day!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
One of those Days...
Today was for sure one of those days when every little thing just didn't settle right. I hope I'm not the only one that has those. I'm sure I'm not....maybe they just happen in different ways. The one thing in my life that I am most proud of is of course my kids. Just like a lot of other people.
I knew that I wanted to be a mom ever since I could remember. In high school, I had pictures of babies up my locker while other girls had pics of Scott Biao, leif Garrett, Micheal Jackson(who knew then?)and whoever their favorite band happen to be at that time.
I have three wonderful children. Samantha is my oldest. A sophomore attending Southern Oregon University. She is studying business and communications. And is a starting outside hitter for the volleyball team. Amanda is next. A senior this year in high school. She is captain of the dance team and trying to decide what she wants to do next year. Maybe join Sam at Southern or OSU to study photography. Harley is my youngest. He'll be a sophomore in high school . His biggest concern right now is his own reflection in the mirror and what his next meal will be. ha ha!
I hope that when my kids start raising their own children they will remember how hard I worked at being mom. I will always admit that I was hard on my kids growing up. I mean they were taught the same things I was. Respect, morals, hard work that kinda stuff and they were held responsible for their mistakes. I fact I remember a friend saying to me once that I was quite the disciplinarian. But I held fast because I knew that was teaching them what needed to be taught. As much as I was tough I was always that loving. The title of my home page " Little things long remembered" is actually from a book someone gave me a long time ago about making your children feel special every day, like putting that weed they picked for you in a glass of water or putting notes in their lunches for that field trip. I love that kind of thing, even if they are too old now for some things I think they still get a kick out of it. We always have lots of hugs and I love yous to go around.
My kids are far from perfect...I am far from perfect. But like I said when mistakes are made I make sure that things are made right. It's not always easy to say sorry or ask for forgivness but it is a lesson learned and something you usually don't forget about.
So my whole "One of those days" things comes down to this. My children, my family, are my life. It's why I was put here and why I work so hard at it. So when someone questions how I raise my kids I get really defensive about it. I put everything I have into them. I don't take it lightly. (Know one should take it lightly!) It's probably the one single thing in this world that you could possibly offend me about. To think that someone would think I would let any of my kids get away with a screw up and not pay the price...it infuriates me. There's no reason for it. I always tell them... you do the crime you pay the time and usually in this house they do over time. No getting off for good behavior. Ugh!!! it just shoots down everything I work for and makes me question myself as a parent and I really dislike that. It probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense to anyone unless you know the whole story but it doesn't need to be re-hashed. I'm using this as my venting tool today. Sorry, but it does feel good to let it all out!
So I'm going to try and move past all this now and am reassuring myself that as long as I do my job as a parent, teach them, listen to them and most important love them that they will always be the great kids they are. They will make mistakes along the way, so will I but, we will all learn from them and move on to be better people.
I knew that I wanted to be a mom ever since I could remember. In high school, I had pictures of babies up my locker while other girls had pics of Scott Biao, leif Garrett, Micheal Jackson(who knew then?)and whoever their favorite band happen to be at that time.
I have three wonderful children. Samantha is my oldest. A sophomore attending Southern Oregon University. She is studying business and communications. And is a starting outside hitter for the volleyball team. Amanda is next. A senior this year in high school. She is captain of the dance team and trying to decide what she wants to do next year. Maybe join Sam at Southern or OSU to study photography. Harley is my youngest. He'll be a sophomore in high school . His biggest concern right now is his own reflection in the mirror and what his next meal will be. ha ha!
I hope that when my kids start raising their own children they will remember how hard I worked at being mom. I will always admit that I was hard on my kids growing up. I mean they were taught the same things I was. Respect, morals, hard work that kinda stuff and they were held responsible for their mistakes. I fact I remember a friend saying to me once that I was quite the disciplinarian. But I held fast because I knew that was teaching them what needed to be taught. As much as I was tough I was always that loving. The title of my home page " Little things long remembered" is actually from a book someone gave me a long time ago about making your children feel special every day, like putting that weed they picked for you in a glass of water or putting notes in their lunches for that field trip. I love that kind of thing, even if they are too old now for some things I think they still get a kick out of it. We always have lots of hugs and I love yous to go around.
My kids are far from perfect...I am far from perfect. But like I said when mistakes are made I make sure that things are made right. It's not always easy to say sorry or ask for forgivness but it is a lesson learned and something you usually don't forget about.
So my whole "One of those days" things comes down to this. My children, my family, are my life. It's why I was put here and why I work so hard at it. So when someone questions how I raise my kids I get really defensive about it. I put everything I have into them. I don't take it lightly. (Know one should take it lightly!) It's probably the one single thing in this world that you could possibly offend me about. To think that someone would think I would let any of my kids get away with a screw up and not pay the price...it infuriates me. There's no reason for it. I always tell them... you do the crime you pay the time and usually in this house they do over time. No getting off for good behavior. Ugh!!! it just shoots down everything I work for and makes me question myself as a parent and I really dislike that. It probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense to anyone unless you know the whole story but it doesn't need to be re-hashed. I'm using this as my venting tool today. Sorry, but it does feel good to let it all out!
So I'm going to try and move past all this now and am reassuring myself that as long as I do my job as a parent, teach them, listen to them and most important love them that they will always be the great kids they are. They will make mistakes along the way, so will I but, we will all learn from them and move on to be better people.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Firsts and lasts...
So I decided today that as my three children grow-up and start becoming more independent that I need to take up some hobbies. This just might be it. This is kind of like meeting a new friend except you get to do as much talking as you like. ha ha! So as my title says this is my first. I'm gonna start slow and just see how addicting it really is. As for my last...I attended my middle daughter's last dance camp of her high school career. Her name is Amanda, she is 17, a senior and captian of the Stayton highlights dance team. 6 time state champs I should add with great pride!
As I sat in the audience today I tried my best to hold back the old flood gates but a few tears managed to slide down my cheeks despite my effort. It just took me back so many years and how all of my kids are growing up so fast. I don't really like my children growning up. I wish I had more control of time and could slow it down just a bit. I have loved every stage of my children growing up until now. I just think they should still need me, and miss that feeling of being the only one that could fix the world for them. Maybe thats a little selfish and if it is I guess I can live with it cause I just plain miss them.
Last night we were actually all home at one time, no ball games, no work, not even a friend over. My oldest daughter put in a movie...don't laugh it was the chipmunks! I just sat and watched my kids laughing, singing, dancing and of course reciting the movie word for word. It was the best. One of those moments you wish you could catch in a jar, screw the lid on real tight, and save forever. I'm just in love with my family. I know they have to grow up and move on with their lives but I just haven't had enough of those silly little moments yet.
As I sat in the audience today I tried my best to hold back the old flood gates but a few tears managed to slide down my cheeks despite my effort. It just took me back so many years and how all of my kids are growing up so fast. I don't really like my children growning up. I wish I had more control of time and could slow it down just a bit. I have loved every stage of my children growing up until now. I just think they should still need me, and miss that feeling of being the only one that could fix the world for them. Maybe thats a little selfish and if it is I guess I can live with it cause I just plain miss them.
Last night we were actually all home at one time, no ball games, no work, not even a friend over. My oldest daughter put in a movie...don't laugh it was the chipmunks! I just sat and watched my kids laughing, singing, dancing and of course reciting the movie word for word. It was the best. One of those moments you wish you could catch in a jar, screw the lid on real tight, and save forever. I'm just in love with my family. I know they have to grow up and move on with their lives but I just haven't had enough of those silly little moments yet.
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