Another Change

A slight change entered our lives.  In hindsight, it maybe seemed small but it grew into something much more.

Noah's piano teacher decided that he was moving to Minneapolis and getting "a real job that gives me insurance"---his exact words.  I certainly understand his reasoning.  Living out here in the sticks does not give people many opportunities career wise.  The kicker was, he was moving now.  Only giving a weeks notice. 

So, we had to regroup and frantically find a new piano teacher.  This task, out here in the sticks, is easier said than done.  Two weeks later, the piano teacher is found.  Julia is her name.

I new I was going to like her right away.  Well, because my favorite name in the entire world is Julia.  Kinda silly, I know.  I talked to her on the phone a couple of times and then off we went to meet her. 

Now this lady is not the typical conservative/ Midwestern/ modest lady.  Oh, no...she is definitely unique.  And I love it. 

She is the daughter of a kind of famous local artist.  And lessons are held at her mothers art studio. 

Noah and I hopelessly drove around our rinky-dink little town, searching for this "art studio" and silently praying that we weren't late.  Then my eyes caught it.  An old white shack, for lack of a better term, with a simple hand painted art studio sign hung outside.  And again, I am in love. 

We were greeted outside by Julia's radiating smile and then we entered into another dimension.  Please remember, we left our tidy, traditional, every-thing-is-in-its-place home, and walked into a porch where the grass was literally growing through the floor boards.  Strung beads graced the doorways within the shack.  Piles and piles and piles of beautiful (that seems like an understatement) artwork were everywhere.  There were paint brushes, paints, and countless different types of art media---- everywhere.  Did I mention the parakeets?  Oh, yeah.  There are parakeets, freely flying.  I looked around for bird poop and found none.  They must only poop on the designated newspaper. 

My heart sped up a little (no SVT---its ok girls.)  This is what I love.  I love art.  All kinds of art.  I always have.  It is something that I had to set aside when Aaron and I became parents.  Don't get me wrong, I don't have any regrets.  But I miss painting and sketching.  And sometimes, I secretly still do (but for whatever reason it makes me feel so guilty---there are aways so many chores to complete.) 

Noah and I relayed 'The Shack' story to my hubby.  I added that someday, when the boys are grown and out on their own, I want a shack/ art studio.  That has alway been a dream of mine. 

I thought Aaron would instantly shoot my idea down, telling me how it would not be energy efficient or something.  But, instead he surprises me.  "The neighbors are going to tear down their old grainery, I'll look into maybe moving it to our house," he says.

What?  Did my ears deceive me?  He really just said that.  That is one thing that I love about him.  He is a dreamer, just like me.

Happy Birthday Big Guy!

{I haven't been here in a while... which is somewhere that I want to be.  I will have to strive to come here more.  I wrote this shortly after Abram's birthday (ahem---at the end of March---cough cough) and never got around to pressing publish post button.}

Saturday morning I awoke with a pair of chocolate eyes gazing intently at me.

"MOM!  Get up, get up get up get up... It's my birthday!  I am six!  I grew in my sleep last night!  Do I look taller!"  and on and on and on.  Little brother was exploding with excitement over his birthday.

I reluctantly dragged myself out of bed, and Abram's birthday- day began. 

Aaron had to head to work.  "Abram, you want to go to work with me?" he asked.

"No! I am not working on my birthday!"--- it was a statement that we were surprised to hear from our little work-a-holic in the making. 

Overall the day went well.  Aaron's oldest brother, Ryan, and his family came to celebrate Abram's birthday (and lay some tile--Thank you Ryan!)  And we ended the day with some serious bowling action. 

It is crazy that my little- big guy is six.  Sometimes I lay awake at night and think about the future of my children---  what will they be when they grow up?  Will they be family men or career driven?  Will they move across country?  What ifs and whens and hows enter my mind... it's enough to drive a mom insane!  Ahhh... what an adventure it will be.

Knee Deep

Spring is in full swing here in the midwest.  Warm temperatures have allowed us to wear sweatshirts instead of winter coats.  The windows that I washed in January (yes----January) look dirty...again... and need to be re-washed.  And spring showers have brought us lots of mud puddles to play in and rivers to make. 

Because spring makes the natives restless, today after school went something like this....

"Why don't you boys put on your mud boots and go outside to play in the mud?"  I couldn't believe the words escaped my mouth until they were out (because I had just washed the floor.)

"Mom... did you actually just tell us to go outside and play in the mud?"  Asked Noah.

"Yep."  They jumped at the chance.

Besides mudslinging, to celebrate spring we planted seeds... in our dining room.  Where else would a country girl start seeds? 


My seed saving efforts from last year were foiled by over watering and lack of effort on my part... I will have to make a greater effort this year. 








The seeds have sprouted and have been crushed by our crazy cat several times, while she as in pursuit of flies.  For being a cat, she sure is not graceful.  But, they are still alive and are seeming to recover.

This spring gives way to change... big changes are coming to our life.  Things that I have prayed about and fretted and stewed over.  And, no, I for one am NOT having a baby. Decisions have been made.  Paper work is being completed.  An important deadline was completely missed... so there has been a slight delay that seems to be for the better.  But, all of that is a completely different blog. 

For today, I am just enjoying spring.

A Snow Day

This post is from one of the only snow days we have had this year (which is completely unusual here in the sticks)...


This week I had planned on having today by myself.  I had counted on it.  The boys would be at school and I would get some much needed cleaning, scrap booking, and organizing done. 

But Mother Nature intervened with a blizzard... school was cancelled... and I was accompanied at home by the boys.

Don't get me wrong, I love having them home.  But, I had my life (for this week) plotted out meticulously... step by step... the goals and tasks that needed to be completed day by day... planning that I would have a day alone.  The tasks that I wanted to accomplish---I have a hard time doing when my boys need constant attention. 

So, instead of doing paper work and washing floors and preparing for a much put off tax appointment...

We built snowmen (actually snow boys)....

The 'Mother of All Snowball Fights' was had (and subsequent injuries were treated)...

Cut out cookies were made and frosted...

Heart to hearts were given....

Snow forts were formed and then destroyed and then reformed...

Cold hands were kissed...

Pictures were sketched and painted...

Dad came home early and helped with snow forts...  which, by the way, were much cooler than moms snow fort effort...

The chicken coop was worked on...


I did not get a stitch of cleaning or organizing done.  Instead, we had spent the day doing things the boys wanted to do.  And it was much more special than any amount cleaning/ organizing that I could have completed.

Happy Snow Day my boys!

We are back from a quick weekend get-a-way.  Just in time too... as a blizzard is heading our way.

We eased back into our groove and routines.  But, for whatever reason, our groove is a little sweeter... a little smoother... and everyone is a little happier.

We spent the weekend at a hotel/waterpark on Lake Superior.  It was a blast (after a 5 hour drive.)  It is also the first time we have taken a friend of Noah's over a long distance.  But, all of the boys behaved really well.  Initially I had thought taking a friend with would just be another stress.  Another child to keep track of... another body to keep safe... another mouth to feed.  But, it was just the opposite.  Emmanuel and Noah stuck together, looked out for each other, and had a ton of fun.

Finally---big exhale--- we are the point in our lives where actually taking the boys places is not such a chore.

 I did not spend the entire time exhausted and stressed to the max. 

Here comes the huge bucket of water!  Abram's favorite part of the waterpark.

Little brother wanted nothing to do with momma.  At one point, Aaron had to make a run to the gas station and I was going to play with Abram in the pool---- but much to my disappointment----- he would not go into the pool without dad.  So, he silently waited and waited and waited on a bench for dad to return.

We all were together... away from everyday stresses... and that is all that mattered.  We left Abram's back brace at home and brought a few pieces of homework with, but other than homework, we had no agenda.  Our only plan was to have fun.  And it was just that... fun.

We hit the aquarium one afternoon, much to the boys disappointment--- they wanted to stay in the waterpark and the arcade.  But this momma could only take so much chlorine and obnoxious games and needed a break.

This stingray had affection for Abram.  He was trying to swim right out of the pool!

My favorite part of the trip was our quick stop at The Chocolate Factory.  Yum!  The food was delicious and beautiful. 

A vacation frequently means that the family goes away for a rest, accompanied by a mother who sees that the others get it. - Marcelene Cox



Hello Mr. Frost

This morning (and the last several days) Mr. Frost has graced us with his presence.  Touching everything outside of our cozy home... making everything within eye sight hazy and beautiful.

There is something about frost kissed rose leaves...



Frost settling on sleeping lilacs...


The haze that has separated our little place in the country with our neighbors farm has relentlessly stood for days...



Mr. Frost nipped at the berries that the birds missed...

Then, the sun peeked out.  And within a hurried hour, all of the haze and frost were gone.  The sunlight is nice ("nice" is an understatement) but I will admit that the frost was beautiful.

Secret

Here is a well known secret... big brother does not like/enjoy/allow his photo taken unless there is heavy bribery involved.

As we sit in the piano practice rooms at a university, I am dying to take his photo.  Like the heart wrenching, nauseating... 'if I do not take this photo right now I may die instantly' kind of need. 

Maybe it was because we were waiting for Noah to take part in his first real piano competition.  And I needed something to remind myself him of all of the hard work I he has put into this competition.  All of the months of preparation.  Drilling his songs over and over...

Maybe it was because the first time he played his competition song, I cried.  Silently sobbed while he caressed the notes out of our out-of-tune-hand-me-down piano.  The song was beautiful.

And now as we go through a final run through of his songs, I need to quickly figure out a way to get his photo without him knowing.  Not a chance with the DSLR.  But maybe if I pretend to mess around with the iphone...

Yep.  I was sneaky and I got it!

Congrats Noah!  You did an awesome job.  We are so proud of you!