First day of Summer

First day of summer and already my two big ideas for summer projects are well on there way to completion. Now what to do with the rest of the 89 days of summer? In the forty minutes that both Dean and Miles were asleep Max and Mia sketched several designs for their own ugly dolls, together we drew a pattern on tracing paper and we painstakingly cut our patterns with scissors dull from family use. My good scissors were used to cut wood for a model rocket. Now dull, very dull. We muscled our way through the fabric and have what just may be an “ugly doll.” I appreciate by virtue of the name of the project we set our sights on a very manageable goal. Since when we moved into our home, five years ago this Halloween, I lost the cord to my sewing machine and is still MIA. Maybe buried in that one rogue box somewhere in the shed. Who knows?

Clearly I am not a sewer. I am not even a sewer on a long vacation. Hemming drapes is a bit beyond my sewing ability. Ugly dolls will be perfect. I am assuming they will be a success no matter what they look like! Sketches, patterns, and cutting complete in 25 minutes. Now the second project comes out: the kids make their own scrapbooks with Costa Rica pictures. This went even faster. 8 minutes, two glue sticks down, 30 pictures each filed away, and done. I suggested some decorations and writing both to personalize the project and to elongate the process. Looks like brainstorming and creativity will be in fast order for nap- time entertainment.

Mother of Boys

Mother of Boys
As the beginning of summer dawns with sun, cut up knees, and filthy feet I realized that I am most certainly a mother of boys. When Max came in the house after moments outside with a 4 inch scrape up his thigh and a 1 inch gnarly splinter in his palm I realized that I am a mother of boys. When mud, the hose, climbing, and running are the only things my kids want to do I sat down with the knowledge that I have a long life of blows to the head, mud tracked onto the carpeting, slipping on cars left on the floor, and cleaning up gushing blood from falls, punctures, and tricks.

Since I now have three boys I realized that I need to hone and practice some invaluable skills: Making and flying airplanes, using vehicle appropriate sounds, bandaging wounds, running, chasing,
throwing, wrestling, kicking and building. I should add to my list flying kites, making forts, and enjoying sports.

Toys such as planes, trains, and automobiles are not going anywhere anytime soon. Other toys such as dress up, dolls, and house may be under utilized.

How far you jump, how fast you run (for example Max can run so fast that he is convinced that he is invisible while he dashes across the room), how precise the upper cut and how many steps you can jump/fall from on the stairs are the new tests of house supremacy (Max 9, Mia 8, and Miles 2.)

The trade offs--from Sugar and spice and everything nice with Amelia to Snips and snails and puppy dog tails with my three boys. I cant wait to see what is dragged into the house!

Oasis interrupted—the Shower

I turn on the almost scalding water of the shower and simultaneously open the door to an other world-a world of peace, quiet and tranquility. While the warm steam calms and covers my shoulders, face and back relaxation is almost palpable. The soothing repetition of water drowns out other noises, the noises outside the bathroom door and beyond my peaceful shower paradise. Then, after only moments the door opens, screams erupt, “Mom he hit me.” “I’m hungry.” “I don’t know what to ware?” “I need help.” The peace and quiet was fleeting. In warp speed I travel back to reality. The (shower) curtain removed and the veil between the worlds irrevocably violated. Wet and toweled I quickly and adeptly get the band-aid, feed the child, dress the pajamaed, and solve a need. I am mother.