Sunday, June 2, 2013

Wanted: Gumption

Remember those old "School House Rock" segments that used to air between Saturday morning cartoons?
 
One of my favorites, probably because it was catchy and always got stuck in my head, was "When your get up and go has got up and went..."
 
I feel that way now.
 
It's finally the end of the school year; only two inservice days to go! And in that strange paradox that often seems to occur, the year went really slowly until it was suddenly and inexplicably over. Over the last week, I have been scratching my head and wondering where the time went. (Of course, as the mother of a suddenly five-year-old, I find myself doing that more often than not.)
 
While I have about 90% of my loose ends tied up on the school front, I'm finding that I'm walking in a sea of loose ends when it comes to just about everything else. It's like walking beneath a willow tree and each fluttering, viney branch is one more thing that I should do. But there are so many waving about me that I just don't seem to do anything but walk around in circles.
 
Or play Candy Crush Saga. So, you know...
 
What's a girl to do?
 
I think I need a detox, a chance to get away and rejuvenate my creative mojo. Other than iPhoneography (yay for my new 4s!) on Instagram, I just haven't been too creative lately. I did process (well, re-process) an old image from the archives this morning:
 
 
Other than this, though...and some old pics of the little guy...I haven't done anything creative. And quite honestly, I haven't done much by way of the noncreative either!
 
Boy, my get up and go has really got up and went!!
 
I think this will even out soon. Two more days of school, and then I'm giving myself the month of June off before I start even thinking about next years lesson planning. Fingers crossed that my creative mojo will return in some way, shape, or form...
 
 


Sunday, April 28, 2013

True Gifts

Five years. Where the heck does that time go?
 
My little guy turns five on Monday, so we had his fifth birthday party yesterday. When it was time to start planning, I asked him what kind of party he wanted. I figured he would say Toy Story because that was his favorite at that time, but he surprised me with the fact that he wanted a pirate party. A pirate party? Awesome!!
 
So I started planning, and thanks to Pinterest, I got a little silly and theme oriented. I tried not to go too overboard, but I did have some fun!
 
First up, some themed decor. Black tablecloth, pirate banner, and the little guy's Jake and the Neverland Pirates toys as backdrop!
 
Yargh!
 
Then, of course, there has to be pirate food! That's probably where, if I went overboard at all, I went overboard the most. Why? Because everything had a pirate-themed name. And I labeled it. Yes, I did. And I had so much fun figuring out what to call everything! From the "Yo Ho Hoagies" to the "Scurvy Dogs" to the "Quicksand Dip" and "Polly's Crackers"! Tee hee!!
 
Fit for a buccaneer!
 
And then the cake. A cake decorator, I am not. The translation from my brain to the actual cake never quite turns out...But the little guy loved it and helped me decorate it. So in the end, I was thrilled.
 
Captain Hook searches for treasure
 
On your mark...Get set...
 
BLOW! (I hope every one of his wishes is granted.)
 
The most important aspect of the day? Not the theme or the food or the cake.
 
Family.
 
We are so very blessed to have such a strong and loving family. There is no better gift that I can give the little guy. To have that foundation of love, those examples of love and strength. It is all so very important. All that love will carry him through whatever life throws at him. From his family he will learn to love, to care, to support, to lean, to laugh.
 
What more can I give him?
 
A strong foundation: Over fifty years of love
Great-grandparents
 
Grandparents who still hold hands
 
A Gram who isn't afraid to be silly
 
Sibling solidarity
 
Aunts and Uncles who get down on the floor to play
 
A sweet cousin to be his forever friend
 
Seriously goofy parents
 
In the end, more than toys and parties and themed foods, what more can I give him? Family and love are the most important gifts in his life.
 
And he is very blessed with those gifts.