Scoops of Hope

This week is the Week of the Young Child at Logan's preschool.   Its something the school celebrates each year in accordance with NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

The kids and teachers have been busy for weeks, preparing the pieces of artwork to turn the entire school into the "Town that Hope Built".  I got to see a little bit of it today when I went in to read Logan's class this, and this.   

Logan's class built an ice cream shop called "Scoops of Hope".   When I saw it I had to take photos.  Adorable, creative and the ice cream looks so realistic!  The kids get to have a surprise ice cream party on Wednesday with real ingredients.  Its hard to believe there's only about a month of preschool left.  Logan's first year has been a huge success - the kids and the teachers have been fantastic.  I'm not sure I want the school year to end!

ronda

I am blessed to have so many great friends.  Truly, there isn't a day that goes by that I don't pause and give thanks for the many incredible, smart, funny and generous people I'm lucky to call my friends.

I met Ronda when we were in middle school.  We had braces back then.  We were just starting to go boy crazy.  We read each other's poetry and we journeyed through high school together, also visiting each other throughout college.  I visited her when she went away to chiropractic college in California. She was in my wedding.  And we get together when we can to visit.   She's been a true friend all of these years, and we share a rich history of friendship, adventures and stories.  I'm lucky to call her my friend.

Last week, Ronda did something so truly selfless and incredible. Something so out of the realm of comfort and safety.  Something that's inspiring and has left me in awe.

Ronda put her medical practice and personal life on hold, and joined 13 other chiropractors, and traveled to Haiti on a humanitarian mission.  They stayed in tents on top of a house at an orphanage amid the post massive earthquake rubble, and gave care to people in tent cities and remote mountain villages.

When I first saw her amazing photos, I didn't even know what to say. Its heartbreaking to see these people, especially the children, living in these conditions.  It makes you count your many blessings in life.  That these children can live with hardly any comfort, no family support, and still smile, play games and laugh..well, it just brings me to tears.

I wish I could share all of her photos, but this is a sample that tells part of the story.

Devastation.

This is the orphanage where they stayed.

They stayed on the roof of this abandoned house at the orphange.  There was less of a chance of having things stolen by staying on the roof, plus the kids pee all over the floor of the orphanage.  Also, they could catch a breeze sleeping on the roof. Ronda's tent is the white one to the right.

They gave chiropractic care to those in pain.

This picture got to me the most.

Angelica, Jay Z and Jessica. They lost their parents in the earthquake. 

Ronda with Angelica and Jessica.  I think she left a piece of her heart with them.

Most people (myself included) talk about helping. Maybe it all seems so far away; maybe we just aren't sure what we can really do to make a difference. But Ronda actually went beyond the $10 Red Cross donations and touched peoples' lives.  I can't imagine doing something like this and it not changing you forever.

I know Ronda says she got much more out of this trip than she gave. I'm so proud to have a friend with such a kind, generous heart.

now ass funny!

I was looking at some old photos this morning and came across this one... it made me laugh out loud.  We were at the Luray Zoo.  My Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bill were visiting from Arizona and Dylan was maybe about 16 months old so it was August 2004.  There was a donkey and  he had been quiet the entire time we let Dylan feed the goats.  But the moment we turned towards the donkey, he started hee-hawing really loud and I just about peed my pants!!!

I remember laughing so hard we were all doubled over.  The only one who wasn't laughing was the donkey.  But then again, I wouldn't be laughing if those were my teeth either!

Logan V.I.P.

This week, Logan is the Notorious V.I.P. (very important preschooler) at school. Except he had to miss a day due to a touch of the dreaded strep throat.  Thankfully he recovered very quickly and I'll head into his class next week for a make-up story reading session.

We had to make a poster illustrating his life this past weekend, once we finished Operation Birthday Party Clean Up.  He's less than three months away from turning four, and his new phrase these days has been a very sarcastic "Mom, are you serious?"  He tends to use it with disbelief when I'm trying to talk him into doing something he doesn't want to do, which usually means running errands or cleaning up.  Or eating something other than a cheese sandwich (the horror!).

alone

I see others out there like me. Others who drop off their kids at preschool and are blissfully kid-free for 2 hours and 45 minutes, two or three times a week.

Have you seen us?

We’re the ones with laminated numbers dangling from our rearview mirrors or stuck to our car windows, numbers that correspond with our preschooler for car line pick up later. We’re the ones peeling through the neighborhoods in our shiny minivans and SUV’s, disobeying speed limits and barely coming to a complete stop… anything so as to not waste a single precious minute of kid-free time. We’re the ones sprinting through the assorted stores, not making eye contact with anyone for fear we’ll see someone we know and have to stop and chat, thus dipping into our precious alone time. We’re the ones hauling a huge stack of clothes to the dressing room, not because we need anything, just because WE CAN… after all, we’re alone, alone, alone!  Buying a pack of gum and not having to share it! We’re the ones rockin' out in our cars, happy to turn off the kids DVDs . Rolling down the windows since there’s no one to complain about it being too windy or too sunny. 

And we're the ones, taking a deep cleansing breath as we get into car line for pick up, feeling fresh and rejuvenated again, at least for a little while.

Indiana Jones Birthday

Yesterday, the place to be for a true Indiana Jones adventure was right here in our own backyard.   Dylan invited 18 kids friends from class and our neighborhood and soccer, and his cousins, and we all embarked on the Search for the Golden Monkey Treasure...

Andrew created invitations inviting the 'freshmen class' to assist Indiana Dylan in the Search for the Golden Monkey...

We turned our yard into an adventure obstacle course, with a snake pit, bone ring toss, toss boulder in the basket, walking across a bridge avoiding hot lava while being blown by 'poison darts' (Q-tips thru straws)....  Then the kids mummied each other with toilet paper, and we had Indy cake..  Here are some photos of the day.

Andrew placed clues around the backyard for the kids to find.  All the clues together pointed kids in the direction of the hidden treasure. 

When the kids arrived, they each made a necklace to help them obtain the special powers needed to find the treasure..

Next, the kids had to navigate a foot bridge across hot lava while the 'native's blew poison darts at them... (you can see the snake pit trampoline in the background).

Dylan and his friend Alec..

The kids made each other into mummies with TP..

Finally, they found the treasure with the Golden Monkey and jewels, and everyone got to take some home. It was fun really seeing the kids use their imaginations and buying into the whole theme...they loved it!

Finally, it was time for cake.

The kids had a blast, and the mess in our backyard proved it!  It was a true adventure cleaning it all up last night and today.  But the kids were all great, and I think their favorite part was wrapping each other in toilet paper and jumping like wild monkeys in the trampoline!

Dylan said it was the 'best birthday party ever' and he collapsed into bed last night and slept for 13 straight hours.

This is the totally awesome birthday card my Mom made for Dylan... our own little Indiana Jones!

Here's to a great year ahead, Dylan!

surprise!

We kicked off the birthday week celebration early with the new bicycle, and kept the momentum going all week.  On Wednesday, Dylan's actual birthday, Daddy made a special breakfast before Dylan had to catch the bus.  Then Grandma Lynn came out for a surprise visit.

We met Dylan at the bus stop with balloons....

Surprise cupcakes at home for an after school treat...

And a special birthday gift from Grandma.... Tony Hawk's Wii Skateboard game!

7

Dear Dylan,

Every year on your birthday, I like to take a journey in my mind about how much you've grown, and the boy you've become.  I've been writing this blog since you turned five and then six.  You're turning seven tomorrow.  Seven years old, and I can hardly believe it.  You're growing up so fast, and changing all of the time.

I can no longer pick you up, or hold you in my arms.  You've turned into a boy, independent and full of ideas and opinions about the world around you.

This has been a big year for you.  You graduated from kindergarten and confidently started first grade, head held high ready to take on the world.  You've learned the basics of reading. Everytime I visit you in school, your friends are all fighting for who will get to sit next to you.  I know you will always have a lot of friends, because you're kind to other kids and you're very, very silly.

On Sunday, we were at the park.   You went off, on your own, because you had seen some wildflowers.  You picked a flower for every adult that was in our group and gave one to each person, making sure everyone was included.  You have such a sweet nature.  Sometimes you'll be working on homework, or eating your dinner, and you'll just reach over and touch my hand and give me a little smile.  You take your time walking to the bus stop each morning, stopping to help a worm make it to the grass, or making sure you don't step on an ant.

You're such a good big brother. The other weekend, I walked past your bedroom and saw you reading a book to Logan, who was listening intently.  You are the light of Logan's life.  He idolizes you in every way possible and even though I know he can annoy you as only a little brother can, he worships the ground you walk on and wants to be just like you.  I hope you will always be close to each other, and help each other.  Sometimes when you're both watching TV together, you lay so close together its hard to tell where one of you ends and the other begins.

Other than your family and friends, your three favorite things are playing Wii, swimming, and riding your bicycle.  You can do any of these for hours, and you've quite good at them all.  I hope we can get you as interested in books... we're still working on that.  You're also getting into skateboarding, and we're surprising you for your birthday by signing you up for a skateboarding camp this summer.

This year, you've also expanded your food horizons. Cheese quesadillas have given way to cheeseburgers, casseroles, black beans, and even carrots. Your favorite fruit is fresh pineapple, and your favorite ice cream flavor of late is party cake. You love to watch shows about 'how things work' and nature. This has been the year you've become obsessed with all things Indiana Jones, and you bust out your Indiana Jones costume so often its starting to get holes in it.

This Saturday, we're going to have a party to celebrate your birthday.   You've taken quite an interest in your birthday party this year... creating your own guest list (friends from school and soccer), coming up with the theme (Indiana Jones), and even telling Daddy what you want your cake to look like.  I know it will be a memorable day filled with laughter.  I know my favorite part of the day will be just watching you, when don't know I'm watching.

I'm so proud of you buddy.   You amaze me everyday, in everything that you do.  I love you all the way to the moon and back and back again. Happy 7th Birthday Dylan.

Love,
Mom