Once Upon a Time

Okay, so I'm a saver... I have a lot of things from my childhood; dolls, barbies, books, etc... I like nostalgia, and I was really excited to share this stuff with my kiddos. You know, give them a little window into the past, but I realized some of that stuff is better left in the past...like Growing Up Skipper...and this book...

It looks innocent enough. Here are some of the contents: Chicken Little, Cinderella, The Runaway Pancake, The Little Red Hen, Jack and the Beanstalk...just to name a few. Sounds good, huh? There is also a story called The Three Sillies. I didn't remember that one, but one night at bedtime I decided to read it to the girls...because their silly. It goes like this...

Once there lived a peasant whose fields were quite a long way from his house, and every noon his daughter would bring his lunch to him in a little basket. One day the girl grew tired before she had gone half the distance, and so she sat down under a tree to rest. Soon she began to daydream.

I'll summarize here: The girl dreamed that she got married and had a baby, and the baby died. Now I know this is very "Walt Disney", but I just didn't want to keep reading this type of stuff to my little cherub faces right before they went to bed. Thank goodness I stopped there!

The girl cries for most of the day. Her mom starts to worry, and comes looking for her. The girl tells her mom the dream, and they both continue crying together. And then this happens...

By and by the peasant came home, his stomach empty and his temper none too soft. When he found his wife and daughter weeping and wailing and learned the cause of their woes, he was about to beat them black and blue. But instead he said, "You shall never see me again unless I have found three fools who are sillier than you."

...say what? This is a children's story? Part of a collection of the best-loved tales of childhood to be exact, or so says the cover of the book. Um...I think not. Can you believe that just 40 short years ago this was okay with everybody?

So, summarizing again, the peasant went out and found three people doing silly things, acquired a pig, and then headed for home.

Off the peasant went with the pig under his arm and never stopped until he was back in his own house. His wife and daughter met him, trembling in their boots for fear of getting a beating. But the peasant only handed them the pig and told them to cook it at once and be quick about it. So instead of getting a beating, they all got roast pig for supper. And if you stop by their house I'm sure they will give you a bite.

The End. Can you imagine giving your kiddos goodnight kisses, and telling them to have sweet dreams after a story like that? I'm so glad things have changed!

Quote of the day - I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past. - Thomas Jefferson

Virtual Coffee

Today, I'm linking up with Amy over at Lucky Number13 to join her for some Virtual Coffee.

I'll have my usual...just regular ole' coffee, black, with two sugars...nothing fancy. Although, today I may consider throwing in a shot of Bailey's, because today is not a usual day.

Before I get in to all of that, though, I wanted to tell you that I love Amy's blog. I don't remember how I found it, but I'm glad I did. She seems like a really down to earth person, she takes great photographs, and...this! How great is it that she has invited us all to meet for coffee? Thanks, Amy!

...and if we were really meeting for coffee, I would tell you that I'm feeling lost today. I'm sorry, I don't mean to be a downer. It's just that today is my baby boy's first day of "full day" preschool. He has a speech delay, so I am extremely thankful that our school system has an all day program that can help him. I wouldn't consider NOT sending him...even though he is only three...and my baby...sigh.

I prepared for this day, and, in some ways, was secretly looking forward to it...time to clean, get organized...or better yet, watch a movie! I expected I would be sad, and out of sorts. I expected the morning would be rough for my boy too...that he wouldn't want to get dressed, eat his breakfast, or stand for just one second and let me take his picture. I expected all of this.

What I did not expect...when I put him on the bus for the first time, was that the bus driver would not to know how to work a 5 point harness. I watched the guy clumsily fumble with the buckles, and I just wanted to jump over him and do it myself, but I was giving myself the kind of self-talk you do when your kids are trying to learn something new..."just let him figure it out for himself...he's going to have to learn."

Just then, an ambulance came down the road, with sirens blaring. It wouldn't pass the bus, which made the bus driver even more nervous and fumbly. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore, and said, "There. That's good." He got back into his seat...but it wasn't good. As the bus drove away, I was immediately filled with dread. "He's not buckled in right. The straps are too loose. He's just going to pop his arms through and crawl out. How is the bus driver going to handle that?"

So instead of being productive today, I've spent the day pacing and feeling lost. I'm sure my boy is fine. Nobody has called to report a 3 year old jumping out of a bus window...but, I'm just going to hold my breath until he gets home anyway.

Thanks for having coffee with me today, and sorry again for being a sour puss. I'm sure I'll be in a better mood next time. It was great meeting you! You're a terrific listener. :-)

Quote of the day - Actually, this seems to be the basic need of the human heart in nearly every great crisis - a good hot cup of coffee. - Alexander King

The Sleestak & The Spoon

I was looking at the photos I took of our little family vacation in Hocking Hills last week, and noticing that I experienced the Secret of Happiness.

There were 14 of us total, that stayed in this beautiful cabin in the woods; complete with hot tub, pool table, and a huge wrap around porch. It was nice to get together with everyone for something other than a holiday. We roasted marshmallows, played corn hole, and ate lots of yummy food. It was good to see the little ones 'cousining'; catching bugs, laughing, and scheming. But, that's not when I noticed it.

On our last day, we went to Old Man's Cave. It is an amazingly, beautiful place, but the slippery rocks and steep cliffs are enough to give an over-burdened, over-anxious mother a heart attack. Looking at the next photo of the girls going down the steps, I was thinking, "hold on to something, be careful", and all of those other over-anxious mother things...and that's when I noticed. I'm so glad that I wasn't thinking that way then. It reminded me of a story from my favorite book, The Alchemist. Instead of me trying to explain, I'll just have you click here. It's quick and painless.

I think it's a fault of mine that I tend to focus too much on my spoon, so it's good to know there's hope for me. It's good to know that I can trust others. The girls were exploring with their cousins, all under the careful and watchful eyes of their aunts and uncles. Griffin, who I'm sure has the hiking-sense of a lemming, was here...

...on my brother's shoulders most of the time, or wearing his harness and leash for back up. With all of my drops of oil safely on the spoon (or all of my kiddos in good hands), I had the opportunity to look around, and soak up the wonders of the world. I got to see things that I might not have seen otherwise. Like this Sleestak! (a Sleestak is a lizard person from the 1970's TV show, Land of the Lost...yes I'm old!) Well...it was exciting to me anyway...

Life truly is a balancing act...that's no secret, but sometimes I think finding the 'happiness' in it is. I am grateful for my family, and this time spent with them in the woods. I am grateful for all of the beautiful things I got to see, and didn't miss, and I am grateful (sooo very grateful) for my kiddos; the three drops of oil on my spoon.

Quote of the day - The family is one of nature's masterpieces. - George Santayana

Achoo!

I'm just sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing on this beautiful, summer Saturday. I have a cold that has officially kicked my "you-know-what." We are going to a birthday/tea party later on today. I hope they really have tea! That sounds sooo good right now...

I just wanted to share some fun photos from our trip to Kalahari last week...

Petting Zoo!

(I love the look on Macy's face in this one... "Mom, they are soooo cute...")

Then...Popsicle break!

The rest of the time we were in the wave pool, the lazy river, or riding down a crazy slide. Thanks for the great time Kalahari! Oh, and thanks for the cold, too...yes, I blame you.

Quote of the day - A bad cold wouldn't be so annoying if it weren't for the advice of our friends. - Kin Hubbard

Signs

Do you believe in signs? Do you follow them? I definitely believe in signs, but I don't always think they're easy to read.

I'm about to come upon a crossroad in life, and I've been struggling a little about which path to choose. Ironically, my dream to start my own business arose out of necessity. It was the answer that came to me at I time when I was searching for answers. (You can read a little more about it here.)

In just four short days, Griffin will be starting school, and it will be the first time in ten years that I will be kid-free; seven hours a day, four days a week. Starting a business, and working from home will be a choice now, rather than a need. Another road has opened up, leaving me to ask, "Which way do I go?"

I usually add a quote to the end of my posts, but this one has always been one of my favorites..."Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” - Robert Frost

I know (think) that the new road that has opened up...the possibility of being employed outside the home...would be more stable; financially and otherwise. We really kind of need that right now, but what about the future? The road less traveled is scary and uncertain, but holds the most reward, and the signs keep pointing me in that direction, but is it wise? I'm so confused.

Maybe I just need to sit down for awhile with some trail mix, and really listen to what the universe is trying to tell me...TO BE CONTINUED

Hey! Speaking of signs...I had to chase Griffin around the gift shop at Kalahari to take this picture of the water marks on his t-shirt. His bathing suit was still wet, so that explains the bottom, but how the water made it up his back, I don't know. Clearly, a tropical vacation is calling me. No question about that one.

Quote of the day - We all have the ability…we just don't all have the courage to follow our dreams and to follow the signs. - Paulo Coelho