Cub Scouts Pine Wood Derby

The Pinewood Derby is a huge tradition in the world of Cub Scouts. Benjy has memories of working on the derby car with his dad. So he was excited to carry on the tradition with Reece for the first time. They investigated a few ideas on the internet and Reece chose his design and cut it and sanded it and painted it.

A huge thanks goes out to our friend Larry Ellison (who raised his own 3 boys and has a little derby experience under his belt). Larry showed Reece how to use his band saw and helped him assemble the axels (after a bit of a last minute panic at our house the morning of the race when what we wrongly assumed was a quick and simple task turned into the requirement of just a wee bit more precision and tools) Thank you Larry - you saved the day!

Here is our handsome Cub Scout with his hot car on the morning of the race...

And then the visit to the pit stop to check all of the weight and size restrictions. Reece's car was underweight and so Daddy and Reece added a few quarters and pennies to get closer to the ideal weight.

Some of the fierce competition...

And....theeeeyyyyyy'rrrrreeeeeee off!

Here is a quick (no pun intended!!) glance at one of Reece's early heats (listen carefully to Pierce's voice of awe!!)

One of my favorite parts of this day was watching Reece walk back and forth between the starting line and the finish line (each car had 8 races)...almost bursting with joy (but doing a darn good job of not smiling - he was so serious and so adorably humble!) And the other thing I loved was watching Reece's little brothers cheer him on. I seriously think Chase was more thrilled than even Reece was - he was jumping up and down every time Reece's car was on the track. I caught this perfect photo of Chase giving big bro a high 5 as he passed by.

And with complete and total surprise...Reece's car was fast. He won second place and a rather large trophy to declare his efforts!!!! Quite a shock since my personal hope was that it would simply go down the track like it was supposed to :) Shows what little I know about pinewood derby racing!!

Daddy and son - both so happy!

The official race results! (we could sense a few of the other Dad's were a little disappointed that this new kid on the block came in and took their trophy :) )

And the happy brothers who cheered so well!

What fun and unexpectedly surprising success.

Loving Words Are Powerful

 

Valentine's Day was extra special this year because it taught me an important lesson.

As always, the boys filled out little Valentine's cards for their friends.

Pierce got especially into it sitting at the table signing his name to each card. (So cute to see him work so hard)

 

Benjy and I had a special date planned but our babysitting plans fell through. So, instead, we all ate supper together - and we talked to one another...sharing things we love - or at least like - about one another. I had made each of the boys a little valentine from me - and as we spoke, I recorded the words inside of the card so they could always see that through all the craziness of brotherly teasing, pestering, fighting - they love one another.

Little did I know the importantce of that last minute idea. It was powerful and I hadn't really expected them to care that much. We have reread those cards to them - at their request - over and over again.

Chase slept with is card by his pillow that night :)

 

Pierce made a game of it to be silly and act out each of the statements inside the card...so he requests it over and over again.

I think we too easily overlook the power of speaking affirming words to one another - simple compliments that say "I like you because..."

 

Happy Valentine's day boys. You are very much liked and even more loved!

My Day

So, although this post is long overdue, I did celebrate my birthday at the end of January...and I wanna remember it. My boys took good care of me - and even though Benjy was in Texas - he pulled off some great surprises from a distance...

My family and friends were good to me too. I shared lunch and good conversation with one, I received phone calls, texts, and many, many facebook messages, I received a pizza delivery from another so I wouldn't have to cook on my birthday. I had several cakes baked for me to celebrate - one the day before...another the day after.

But the one cake that I ate ON my birthday was the sweetest because it was baked and decorated by none other than my own kids (yes, i did supervise the potentially hazardous events in the kitchen...and talked them slowly through a few things...but they really did do all of the work) I tried to empower them to make decisions and before long realized they weren't ready for all of that seeing it was quite a lengthy battle of which pan combination they should use to pour the batter into :) But then they got to work and it was a special cake, generously covered in raspberries - my fave!

I also received a special delivery at the front door - an edible arrangement - a bouquet of fresh fruit and chocolate sauce (mmmmmm) - sent from Benjy. I seriously had to fight off the kids to get any of it - they were wildly excited!

What a fun day....I am so blessed. Check out the pics!

The Sincerest of Compliments

 

This morning I invited Pierce to sort laundry with me.

With enthusiasm he hopped on over to join in the fun. I explained that all I wanted was for him to put the clothes that looked mostly white on one pile and the ones that had colors on another.

He began to sort, looking often for affirmation on each article of clothing he picked up.

Within moments he looked up at me and in his own simple yet sincere way said, "Mommy, you are really good at this"
(Ha! I guess everyone's gotta be good at something)

It made me smile and elevated this all too common task to almost fun (I said almost!)

 

Normal Days

Lots of my days are just normal. They involve caring for kids, running errands, making meals and folding laundry. At first glance, there is nothing amazing or necessarily noteworthy about most of them. They are just normal days.

But are they?

I am reminded this weekend, as I think about tragedy in the lives of families I knew from high school, or dear friends who have given up on their marriage, or the many, many, many other things going on around the globe - both exciting or full of sadness - I am reminded that there is great comfort in the plain, old, normal. It is where the majority of life is truly lived. Where we spend most of our time.

And there are noteworthy things in the normal and everyday if you have the right perspective. Because a lot of normal days eventually turn into a lifetime. I am working on appreciating the everyday. The little things can be full of gratitude and magic. We can stop looking for the rare and glamorous spotlight moments in life and start finding thankfulness and joy in the regular, everyday stuff (largely inspired by the reading of the terrific book I am in the middle of called One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp - you really, really should pick up a copy)

So today, celebrate the normal that you are living...and appreciate it. Find joy and thankfulness in it.

After all - today is what you have.

"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day, I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return."

*** the above quote came from a blog reader, Sadie, who shared that her 83 year old mother has the above quotation written on a yellowed, curled clipping stuck to her bathroom mirror - inspiring and wise, don't you think???

Allergies...

Don't ask me where my kids get their ideas.

The newest game around the table tonight was invented by Reece. And since he invented it, he makes the rules. One of those rules is: you have to answer one of the options to this question: what would you rather be allergic to: ______ or _______???

Pretty fun. A little difficult to explain the backwards logic to Pierce, but hey.

Reece knows that I love raspberries and that I love chocolate. So he sets me up with this: what would you rather be allergic to: raspberries or chocolate??

I put good logic to use and decide that raspberries would have to be my choice because chocolate is just too commonplace.

And so it goes.

Around and around the table we go. Each child getting their turn to ask the all important question.

There are some tough ones thrown out there such as:
dinosaurs or dragons?
hockey or soccer?
waking up early or going to bed late?
hot dogs or corn dogs?
coloring or school?
smelly toots or smelly burps? (hey, they are boys remember!!)

Then Reece launches this totally unfair question right at me.

What would you rather be allergic to?? Me, Chase, Pierce or Hudson??

So unfair!!

I didn't answer because I actually don't have any allergies :)

The Truth Behind Trying to Break Old Habits...

I am really really trying to go against my natural tendency to not keep a clean and organized house. (I know friends, gasp, right?)

Honestly, I want to have this conquered.

I have a few assistants (4 boys and a husband) in this department (just being honest guys). But I do take full responsibility. It is hard for me because there are other things I would rather do. And it is hard work because I am not clean by nature. But at the end of the day, the mess drives me crazy. The unorganization makes me feel guilty. Always feeling behind is stealing my peace of mind.

I have read books and blogs and made lists and plans....but what it really comes down to is just doing it....and training myself (most importantly) and then them - to do things differently and habitually. It takes action, motivated by a new attitude.

I am slowly shifting my perspective and making baby steps, I think. I hope.

It starts with me first - being the example and expecting a higher standard for my kids.

But, although I have some "on target" days...it sure doesn't take much for me to slip back to agreeing with this deeply honest response from one of my boys:

Me: okay, before you go play, I need you to pick up after yourself please. Hang up your coat and put that where it needs to go.

Son: grumble, mutter, hiss...under his breath.

Me: it will just take a second. remember, we are forming new habits. and after all - don't we deserve a clean house? doesn't our family deserve the house to look nice rather than just cleaning up because company is coming over??

long pause

Son: no, i think it's fine to just clean up for company.

Me: a sigh mixed with a smile (because unfortunately I have understood all too well and for far too long this style of thinking)

Come on old habits. Just die already.

We Have a Walker (and other cute Hudson details)

My little boy took his first steps on Tuesday. I guess he is in tune to what I say, and already has a healthy dose of brotherly competition because just that morning I told Benjy that he had now surpassed the age of Pierce when he started walking...and that my prediction was it would be another month. Well, forget that! That afternoon he just stood up and took 2 or 3 steps away from me when I wasn't paying attention. Then, he kept working at it all afternoon.

I am reminded again that it is a big milestone for any child to reach - those first wobbly adorable steps. BUT - when you are the firstborn, you walk in a peaceful environment with mommy/daddy quietly cheering you on. When you are the FOURTH, you have to be pretty determined to by pass the overexcited brothers who are making a whole bunch of rapid motion and wild noises of well intentioned celebrations for you...but they stand so close and throw off your balance, or they zip hot wheels cars between your legs and laugh hysterically - all while you are doing your very best just to lift that one foot and carefully put it front of the other. So, Hudson - you are brave and strong and get a huge pat on the back for your accomplishment today. I am proud of you my sweet boy.

Here is a video of him by the late afternoon that first day.



While on the topic of Hudson - my favorite 1 year old around - let me share some of his other cute accomplishments as of late...

Following the example of his older brothers, Hudson has learned to communicate his "I love you's" even before he can say words... We all sing our traditional song of "raise your hand if you love your Mommy" (or brother, etc..) and he raises his hand. We all cheer and celebrate as though that simple gesture has filled our deep need to know we are loved. It seriously is one of my simple pleasures and makes me swell with joy every time :)

 

Here he is showing his first self initiated interest in books. He is so so sweet in his footie jammies laying around getting smart :)

 

 

 

 

Speaking of smart...here he is learning how to read...(ha, just kidding...I will wait a few months for that!) We are having a morning self-esteem tutorial... just in case he ever wonders how uniquely special he is!

 

 

 

And cute he is! So thankful for my Hudson. What a joy and a blessing.