Escape and Imagination

I am phasing out a bit from blogging and attempting to sit down and write in, yes how Great Gatsby of me, a novel each day. Am I succeeding? Well, no not really but the thought is there and bits are forming. I want to figure out how to print the blogs I have done and make a book (shoot me a note if you have done this!) and take time to get a romance novel written before Lucy is out of elementary school.

Once when I had a baby and 3 toddlers I remember standing at our kitchen counter back when we lived in Saint Paul and reading a biography on Nora Roberts. She wrote when she had two young boys in order to escape. I still can feel the tug of small chubby hand on my leg, the crusted over lasagna pan in the sink and baby I was juggling on my hip. As much as I adore my job 87% of the time escaping into a book is pure bliss.

What housewife does not want to ride off to Saudi Arabia or sail the emerald isle? I have always had a stack of books by by bed, in my purse, dog eared next to the potty chair where I am teaching someone that developmental phase. When I read in Freakenomics that the number of books in a home was more indicative of children's future career potential that being read to I was thrilled. Yes, I read to the kids, but just as often you will find a pile of us each reading our own book, or kindle!

I have started many novels and books over the years, and I have a chest full of books I wrote in junior high and high school. For someone who is not overly sentimental I cant seem to recycle these notebooks. They hold the memory of pure unfiltered hope that I would someday be a writer.

Now, as a mother and a family of ten executive assistant, the time to write is fleeting at best. I also struggle with the demons of believing I am not smart enough to write or succeed. Honors at graduation both high school and college and IQ tests don't hold a candle to how hard it is to be dyslexic in a fast typing world.

That said, as I restart writing after 5 years of personal literary dormancy (aside from the blog) I am reminded of my love for fantasy. Of what a JOY it is to research areas of the world I want to visit again or explore for the first time. I am amazed at how easily I write about places I have not been for over twenty years. Buying fresh figs in Italy, climbing into abandoned villas in France, a wooden fun park in Ireland and learning to read in London. Even how peacful it was running along the fields in college and helping on farms in rural Minnesota.

I may be approaching the reality of a middle aged housewife but I can't help my love for pushing limits ever so slightly even if it means creating imaginary landscapes in stolen moments.

Wishing everyone a moment of escape and imagination as we enter into the sweet summer months.

My first priority is being the best mother and wife I can be, but I want to make sure a close second is bit of time for my own writing. Imagination is not practical but it sure is wonderful.

New Rhythms, Promise of Sunshine.

I have been away from my post a bit this spring. In part, how could anyone call this spring! And in part, it has been a more intense few months than we have had in a while. I am feeling the stress lift  bit after trying some new ideas around our abode.

Sometimes treats are OK to brake up the winter blues!
 We have gone back to the great goal of weekly dates with mom or dad, hot cocoa ,
a meal or the fav Freestyle Frozen Yogurt:)

Sheff and I both love goals, life goals, family goals and fitness goals. We have goals to read books that teach us something new once a month, goals to try a new ethnic dish, goals to read a section of prayer together and discuss and of course goals to be better and more balanced parents each day. The cool thing for both of us is we very often reach these goals with the other person cheering us on.

M & M in Florida, such a family bonding vacation for our family

The early part of this year we both stunk at setting goals, a few pounds crept on, the books were trade magazines and fashion rags and we felt hopeless with the idea of new parenting ideas having been around the some of the issues so many times already. Like for many people when they are sitting in the potty training day of family education for the....third time. For us when it comes to a toddler wanting a sippy cup at night or another learning to read it can be hard to find new energy and excitement about these milestones. But that sentence makes me sad! Of course we can find new excitement that is the privilege of being parents in a big family and we simply buck up and dive in.

Going out and having Mom & Dad time once a week (ideally) is good for us and good for the kids.

The tides have turned, spring is on the way, or maybe we will roll from winter to summer this year! We have prioritized getting some date nights back on the books, we are reading family devotions together after meals, purchasing new early readers and including big kids in finding excitement to potty train Lucy. The kids are helping me plan meals and fun snacks. We promise to devote a blog soon to Otis recipes.  I am including the kids in some workouts such as a yoga DVD and dance parties in the basement.

Things called Beeny Boos have entered our house, but the kids play for hours with them.
Thanks Easter Bunny, great choice!

John-Luke has really stepped up to help with the baby, it is a gift to watch new alliances
and friendships form within the family. It is constantly changing in a great way!

Sisters! Working out with the girls has been a little comical, Yogis falling on other Yogis , but teaching great life habits  for how to manage stress and find a peaceful moment in our days of rushing around.

Long hard days (and months!) can give way to new breath, new patterns. Giving thanks for the ability to create change and the young budding family we have that is open and excited to be on this journey!

Come Spring!

OK spring we are ready and waiting! As a mom who has about 20 million boots to put away and hats in every direction it is time for some sunshine and fresh air. I have been filling my kindle with books about the south and pacific, we have a coconut candle on the counter and mango smoothies for a snack today after school. We are calling for the sunshine to come out and play!

As a fun activity we looked through albums last night and here are some great spring pictures from years past. It is fun to play "Do you know that Otis?" Now that they are getting bigger some of the photos are getting harder to identify (not for mom...yet:)

Hope to get out there and snap some for this years album SOON! Melt ice, melt snow lets go out and play!

Parenting Choices

We are trying to make some big choices for our kids and it is not an easy task! It is always hard with the oldest because that is the only real roadmap you have as a parent. I always say if I was propelled back in time I would be the luckiest mama around, all these strong hardworking kids. But in our century, the measurement of personal success being in part activities and clubs, it is very difficult to support achievement.

If I could say, "Go build a cabin, find food to eat and make sure those other people don't die on your watch" my oldest son would thrive. Now same child say, "Keep your papers in order, keep your locker clean, dot your I's cross your T's and research this abstract subject" and you'll find him outside shoveling. He really loves to work hands on and he is very smart at the engineering side of any problem. He makes truly amazing origami, is technical and a natural athlete. But he is struggling and it breaks my heart. It really does.

Decisions for him, and for the other kids are difficult. Where will he and they be supported, challenged and guided? How many travel sports should kids participate in? How much should parents help with homework? Is a B student who did not receive any guidance really an A student in today's helicopter world? How can I use my energy to best serve my kids needs?

If anyone can answer those questions feel free to let me know I will buy you a glass of wine, or a beer or a cup of tea. See? I am willing to go down different paths to support friends, and to support my children. If only each path was clearly labeled.

Praying for a clear mind and time for conversation with my always level headed parenting partner.

Looking forward to the light and levity of spring.

May I always be a mother that supports the beauty &
difference each of  our children brings on this journey of parenthood.

Good Books, Margaritas & Kids in the Sun

Posing with a skeleton, the story is a sailor who waited FORVER for some big shrimp the kids got a kick out of acting bored, because they never are of course:)

Getting around cart style & very fun Mexican
place where you eat under a canapy of banana trees!

Suitcases to unpack, cream to rub on red noses and photos to upload. We are home and sleepy and missing the sunshine. This trip for our gang was especially wonderful. We had so much pure, messy FUN in the sand, in the water and even charades in the hotel room. Back to the basics of enjoying ourselves as a family and bonding with Grandma and Grandpa (Deirdre's parents). Also, visiting Uncle Steve and Aunt Marian further down Captiva Island The kids thought it was pretty cool we could only reach them by boat!








We had amazing weather, even on the blustery days we were able to jump waves and collect shells on the beach. The kids loved the Bubble Room a famous restaurant with kitsch galore. They thrived on the positive feedback and did really well moving efficiently as a big group in busy situations!


All the kids helped with Lucy in the water, she seems a day away from swimming already. Daisy and Mark were like fish this year so we could soak our toes in the pool while they played. Not being a big swimming it was nice to have such self sufficient kiddos. One downside we used sun block that was not water proof the first day on some noses (Mark & James!) and yowzers did they burn. Who makes non waterproof sunblock? Not helpful for a busy mom. But all in all we had a healthy and happy vacation!

Here is proof mom actually read, and finished two books in 5 days. Maine was a wonderful family drama reminding me of summers on Bailey Island and feeling grateful for a kind mother! 

The children were gems and happy to fight :) and play in the pool and ocean waves all day long. Remembering and appreciating every moment!

Hoping this vacation's heat and happiness can roll us into spring.

Flying cups, potty training toddlers & POOLSIDE soon!

This is one of those mornings where juice cups have been flying at siblings heads, coffee spilled on my favorite clean socks (the cushy ones from Costco) and someone managed to pour sand on the kitchen floor. Sand in March in Minnesota. It is like they find ways to be creative with mess. Lucy is potty training which adds another level of minor disaster to the everyday.

Spring break is upon us and this year we are excitedly leaving our house to a competent house sitter and hitting the balmy island breezes. I am guessing the house sitter will create less chaos than eight kids, so the house will be in good shape. What an adventure to pack for 10 and embark on a holiday mid winter.

James reminds readers this was when he was 11 and thus his pipes are simply not what they are now:)

Right now Nate is lining up pieces of paper with everyones names in the living room. Each person is putting their proposed travel items by their paper and then we will discuss the yeses and nos. We pulled out the summer bin and tried on flip flops and crocks. This may be where the sand originated, still not quite sure. Next we plan color days, yes dorky but an Otis tradition they all expect.

I am feeling a mix of overwhelmed and grateful. Praying for God to bless this vacation with fun, connection and perhaps a moment to read a magazine poolside. If this happens to be your spring break as well, wishing you and yours blissful R &R free from flying cups and potty training toddlers.

Happy 10th Mick!

Baby Mickey and new mama

Mickey & James

Daddy in the 3 months we had 3 two year olds

Brothers

The Nija phase, Mickey age 5

Our thoughtful athlete

The M boys

A wonderful brother