Magnificent Mathematics

     I got back into the saddle today and did some teaching.  I am the new math enrichment teacher at a preschool facility. 
      If a school has three age groups and three lessons to be taught in six periods of time from 9-11:30am what time will the teacher get to sigh a breath of relief?  Right after she locks up her manipulatives in a closet and clocks out at the front desk.  If she does this for 12 Fridays in a semester with 10-20 students per class how many names will she know by the summer?  How many times will she be sneezed upon?  We'll just have to wait and see...but for now:

new job + adorable children = one happy girl

Stumble Upon

     Another quiet night of resting up found me snuggled on the couch for some down time.  I caught up on some stuff I have been neglecting like my dvr and pinterest.  I also jumped back to something I almost started a bit ago but never followed through with...Stumble Upon.  You hit a button and are transferred to a whole world of cool stuff.  I found sidewalk chalk art  that blew my mind, photographs that made my mouth open in awe and all sorts of great new things.  I don't play on the internet often in fear of getting lost somewhere out in the cosmos...but I did a little stumbling and it was worth the trip!

Ground Chicken, Spinach & Farfalle Soup

     I had to think back to the days when I was balancing the world and still making every single meal...or people would stare at me with forks in hand and heads turned sideways.  Where is our food? Now in the weary days...when I'm not feeling so hot...there is someone who says, "I got this!".  It's quite the feeling. 
    A big pot of homemade soup from real stock becomes dinner.  This time it was ground chicken and fresh spinach and a pantry half full box of farfalle.  It was soothing and delicious and a hug in a bowl.  Thanks for feeding us yet again, Toots...thanks more than you know.

Mom's Bra Drawer

     Tuesday night is trash night.  2 cans plus one large bag...that's what I pay for.  My goal is to use that to the fullest.  So every week I pick a new thing that needs to be cleaned out.  I pick the harder things because for some reason when I have a true challenge like that I seem to excel.  It might be a cabinet full of old stories.  It could be a box of photographs.  Sometimes it is baby stuff that rips at the mama's heart.  This week I dove into my Mom's bathroom again.  I cleaned for over an hour in a bathroom for a man who does nothing as far as cleaning goes.  I cleaned away more of her stuff.  As I relocated, dumped or decided to put things to good use...I realized we really do just leave all of our stuff when we die.  It just sits there.  Waiting.  Unless...we move it. Find new homes.  Find new uses.  Donate.  Purge.  Share.  He will never be able to do these things.  He is obviously too sad.  She whispers to me...to help.  To put things to good use.  She hated when things were wasted.  Her dresser has sat untouched.  The bra drawer made me giggle.  She had an amazing amount of them in a little drawer as if it were a clown prop like the famous car in which twenty fully grown men exit.  Bra after bra after bra.  They all looked pretty similar and most of them brand new.  Someday she would be better...well enough to get dressed and go out...someday.  It gave her hope at the time.  They will now give someone a lift in a whole new way.  I thought of the jokes we would make together in a project like this.  Her sense of humor is still and will always be right there and I have discovered that I can hear it even if the words aren't coming out of her mouth.  Give the world a lift, Sweetie...

En-night-enment

     I took a night to to try to order up some enlightenment...hence the strange title.  I tuned into OWN and watched another Lifeclass with Oprah.  Her guest was the amazing, Iyanla Vanzant.  She breaks things down in such a way that you blow your mind.  Things so complicated and frustrating become simple and clear.   She reminds us that we are all an integral part of this universe.  Just like each cell in a body is important so are we to the world that we live in.  Each time I hear her speak she says something that revitalizes me.  It is usually a simple concept that has just never been said aloud in quite that manner and it changes everything!
     This time it was all about the story that we tell.  We put it on a loop and hit play.  It stops us from moving forward.  It prevents us from growth.  It holds us prisoner because we don't know what is beyond the story and therefore scared to death to move on.  Brilliant.  She worked this through with a few guests that were stuck in their story.  This whole thing resonated with me...for days.  I am writing this days later.  I let it brew to make sure I was paying attention.  It inspired me to do many brave things this week...even with a body that seems to be falling short lately with one ailment or another.
    The next show featured Tony Robbins getting in the face of of a couple who needed it.  Their story was tragic.  At their wedding reception he decided to jump into the pool and swim over to his new bride.  He broke his neck and is now in a wheelchair.  They have since been having quite a bit of trouble.  He feels he has taken away what was to be their life and she is constantly frustrated with herself as well as him.  Tony made them skydive, taught him to play Murderball, showed her how to take of herself while taking care of him and how strong and brave they could be.  They stopped being victims and started to take control of their life back.
     Needless to say I was inspired by both shows.  Life has sucked this last few years...to put it bluntly.  It has.  I spend days fighting and others crying.  I have many challenges and as my therapist reminds me every so often...she does not wish my life on anyone.  But I have become my story.  I have begn to succumb to the loop that plays that reminds me to stay down.  My body is tired.  My heart is tender.  My mind has lost its clarity and my spirit seems lost.  This isn't working and this night of television has urged me to get off of my story and my ass and start to claim it...once again.
We all have our stories...our burdens...our hurdles.  It is how we maneuver around them that makes the difference.  It all comes down to choice.
    I realize in reading my posts some of you might think they are lame lately.  Sometimes privacy forces me to list something other than the big new thing that has happened.  Finances, health issues, private matters are making things much trickier than last year.  I am proud for continuing in this process of the new and have been humbled by what is afforded to me this year.  One squeeze tighter to making this lump of carbon a shining diamond.  One cycle closer to the butterfly. 
     I almost quit my "do the new".  Almost.  But almost never counts now does it?

Cat's Incredible Dogs in Stroudsburg

     Back in the fall I told you about the cutest little hot dog joint.  It was far away but awesome.  Well much to my surprise while driving down Main Street a while back I noticed a sign of the same place in a vacant store front.  A man came out and in old school Bronx fashion (she shows up every now and again) I yelled, "Are you Mr. Cat's?".  Turns out he was.  They have moved their adorable little shop dedicated to themed and crazy hot dogs right to my very own little Stroudsburg.  We waited for just the right day and a snack before the annual St. Patrick's parade proved perfect!!!

Spring for the Arts Dinner

     Our town has an abundance of talent in the arts and tonight we went to a dinner to celebrate.  The MudWorks crew took a whole table.  We got to honor the great Bob Dorough (of School House Rock fame) and local oil painter, Gary Kresge.  After working at the gallery for so long I am a huge fan of his and was so proud that he was winning an award for his talents.    It was a fun night with terrific friends and a trip down memory lane all in one.

The Hunger Games

     Emily is ten.  I battled with her request to see this movie but she doesn't really ask for stuff like this.  We sold a batch of her old clothes at a consignment shop and made precisely the amount we needed to attend our local theater.  When it lines up then I know it is meant to be.  We have not read the book and I felt like I knew almost nothing.  I was also scared it would be too violent or full of content she wasn't yet ready for. 
     It turned out to be one of the most amazing movies in a long time.  The costumes and settings were brilliant.  The messages and themes were abundant.  Emotions ran high.  From the first moment to the last you were on the edge of your seat...a feeling I have never known in a film.  The violent scenes were done well and the movie left me with so much to think about.  Needless to say, I am starting the book this week and look forward to something we can share together.  I missed the Harry Potter and Twilight rounds and have looked forward to this part of the mother/daughter bonding...now we finally have one to share and look forward to!!!

Natural Food Dyes Lesson Planning

     This once-upon-a-time teacher was feeling a bit rusty.  A lesson plan needed to be devised for part of the interview process.  A lesson of my choice.  To most, this freedom would be a gift...to me it became a burden.  I spent days over analyzing my options.  I woke up from a dream where I seemed to be doing just fine in a classroom.  Turns out I am pretty creative and organized when I am sleeping.  Thank you snoozing self!  So I sat down and typed up my first lesson plan in a very, very, very, very long time.  It all slowly came back to me.  I decided that I would introduce my little 4 year old students to the wonders of natural vegetable dyes.  Sounds boring to you but let me tell you (and since I'm writing this AFTER the lesson) it was a huge hit.  Kids had a blast.  The lesson was full of information, held their interest the entire time and excited them.  There was laughter and light bulbs...my favorite moments.  So with no budget, curriculum or supplies I took a purple cabbage, a beet, a carrot, some spinach and an onion and transformed a room for a half hour.  It felt good.  Really good.  I liked the reminder and look forward to new adventures in the very near future. 

Parked on the Other Side

     When I head into the parking lot at work I pull into the same spot.  It's on the right.   Every day.  Same thing.  This particular day another employee wasn't coming to work AND I didn't want to block the cool new window displays so I parked on the other side.  It felt weird.  We are creatures of habit.  It put a shift in the whole day it seems.  We did a major spring cleaning and had the biggest spurt of shoppers ever.  Sometimes you just have to step out of the easiest norms to create a little bit of special. 

Bereavement Survey

     When hospice comes they explain a million things to you.  As the details keep flying you can only think of one thing...you are losing a beloved part of your life.  You try to retain the information.  You hope to remember what you are told.  Hospice offers meetings and support groups.  They also send out newsletters.  I would read some of them but other times I simply couldn't face the words anymore.  It is hard enough in the day to day without rubbing salt in the wound.  This envelope was thicker than usual.  It contained a survey for the past year.  I realized I hadn't taken advantage of a single group meeting or counseling session.  I might have read through a few notes here and there about "how to cope" but words on a page just brought me more frustration.  The year was the quickest and slowest year ever if you can understand the complexity of it all.  I regretted missing out on the offerings.  I filled in my survey as best I could and added a note asking if it was not too late for some help. 

Hugo

     One last quiet day of illness and a trip to the doctor called for a peaceful night.  We watched Hugo.  It was a magical movie full of heart and creativity.  I now see what all of the hullabaloo was about! It was also a lovely reminder that we all have a part in this great big universe...each one of us vital to the whole that we are.  I think we forget sometimes how connected we truly are with one another.

Corned Beef Hash

     Never had it.  Never made it.  Chopped up corned beef, potatoes, onions...what is not to love?  Little bits of crunchy goodness here and there.  It was a new thing and it will be repeated!

Green Shamrock Pancakes

     This morning we were treated to green shamrock shaped pancakes to celebrate St. Patrick's Day made by our very own half-Irish Mr. O'Brien.  This was followed by a dinner of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes...but this non Irish girl has eaten THAT forever so it was nice to kick off the day right!

Quench

     I've been cooped up in my house for days.  I thought maybe a shower, some fresh air and a little bowl of soup would help.  I headed to Quench.  It's a cute little place right off of Main Street and though I wouldn't pay what they are asking for a juice smoothie the soup was quite tasty and the music was all of my faves. 

Not my Mama's Meals

     If you are wondering if it's tricky to do a new thing each day for a year and a quarter...the answer is yes! To do a new thing when you are sick is even harder.  Sorry but it usually means a show I have never watched.  I watched "Not my Mama's Meals" featuring the son of Paula Dean.  He takes her 9 million calorie dishes and makes them healthy.  In this episode he knocked almost 700 calories off of a burger recipe.  Cute show without all of the butter.

Cleaned THE Cabinet

     All houses have them...the dreaded "throw it in there" cabinet or drawer.  Since we moved in years ago things have been stuffed.  Almost daily I look in there because I need to find something...and then grow frustrated that it's like that.  There's never time.  Plus, it's just one more tricky space full of challenging items.  I did it.  I cleaned it out.  Emptied the guts and did surgery to the remaining space.  I can now find my address book easily.  Need a calculator?  There are three.  Envelopes..yep.  My label maker is ready for more work.  My accordion files have a proper home.  We needed thank you cards this week and it was a refreshing feeling to know exactly where to get them.  I open it now and smile.  I also found a bunch of stuff that was "missing".  Getting past the first few things is tough but it is always rewarding afterwards.  Here's to keeping it that way...wish me luck!

Phone Interview

     I was checking out Craigslist because you just never know...and came across a classified that interested me.  It was for a science/math teacher for an enrichment program geared toward preschool.  Math?  Science? Enrichment? Preschool?  It already had my attention but as I read further I saw that it was for one morning a week and they paid for travel!  Perfect since usually I am working 4 days a week in the morning/early afternoon before getting the kiddies and starting my other job of MOM.  I sent my resume and very quickly received a message back.  After some phone tag we were finally able to connect...for a 40 minute phone interview.  I rocked it I must say.  Next up is a demo lesson in Jersey and one more new thing under my belt!  Wish me luck!!!

Emily's 10th Birthday

     I hate to get all sappy on you but c'mon it's a big one.  I can still remember the first moments of life when she looked right at me with some wise old soul.  She has made motherhood something to truly cherish.  She has taught me things.  I am a better person because of her.  I couldn't be more proud so I'll brag a bit.  She rocks school in more ways than just grades.  She plays a couple of instruments good enough to win awards and play in the band with the older kids.  She rocked a green belt in just a few months.  She designs little outfits for her Barbies in proper Project Runway style.  Ethan is lucky to have her as a sister (most of the time).  She is extremely funny and we get each others crazy sense of humor.  She will rescue bugs, get lost chasing butterflies and sneak time with her anatomy coloring book when she should be sleeping.  She will also write silly songs and likes a challenge.  I guess what I am trying to say is she is a little bit of everything.  A buffet of wonderful.  A smorgasbord of joy. 
   ....and all she wanted for her birthday was Mile High Mud Pie from Red Robin...so that's what she got.  To my little Peach Pit, Pooh Bear, Emily Boo...thank you for a decade of enchantment.  Can't wait to see what we conquer in the next ten. 

10th Birthday Skating Party

     Ethan gets elaborate home parties with extensive themes.  Emily usually gets an adventure.  This year she picked a skating party.  I have been to this rink.  I have skated.  I fell on my ass as usual...twice.  Heck, we even had a party a few years ago for her 8th birthday.  So what was new you ask?  Well...

1.  Skated with Sandi and the kids.  Mani and Amadu were adorable in their little Bambi-esque moves.  We learned how much Michael Jackson makes a round even better.  Gotta love a girl who will meet me for a party with about 45 minutes warning.  Thanks for sharing our special day!

2.  Got to see Mary skate.  For about ten seconds...but it counts.

3. Took off my skates to join the kids in the center for some dancing.  We did the Cha Cha slide and the Hokey Pokey.  What was absolutely terrifying was the fact that when the Electric Slide came on the floor cleared.  The girls in our party looked at me and asked, "What's THIS?!?".  Oh, the horror.  Guess who showed them precisely WHAT the electric slide looked like?  Yep, me and 2 other adults brave enough to not care about how we were dating ourselves. 

4.  Paid a buck to hear previously mentioned Michael Jackson song.  It's a "donation".  Not to the decor that's for sure.  It is stuck in the 80's in that rink...just the way we like it.  No skate is complete without a little MJ. 

5.  Finally skated with JOB.  We went to school skating parties as wee little elementary kids but he never got to skate with me.  Boy can skate even after 25 years or so.  Me...I'm the usual choppy chop chop while Jenne pulls me around.  I gave her a break here and there to hold onto John.  Don't worry by the end I was doing better...

6.  Skated with my kid in the double digits.  I try not to think about that part because I can't believe my little girl has blessed my life for a decade.  We laughed.  Danced.  Skated.  She whizzed right by with her girly girls.  It was a wonderful day and my legs were sore for enough days after to keep the songs playing in my head for just a little bit longer...

Fish Tacos w Lime-Cilantro Crema

         We were very privileged to have Gramary spend her birthday with us.  She is in high demand when it comes to friends and family so it was quite an honor.  When she visits I like to spoil her as much as I can.  It means she gets to request meals...lots of them.  She hints almost every time about loving fish tacos.  I thought the birthday girl deserved her pick.  Mind you...I've never HAD...nor cooked fish tacos...so I'm pretty sure it counts twice as much!  I threw in a Pinto Bean Salad and some Spanish rice because a birthday girl deserves it all!

And because I know y'all will bug me if I don't share...

Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Crema:
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 T sour cream (reduced fat...lol...I use the real deal)
3T mayonnaise (ditto)
1 teaspoon grated lime rind
1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
1/4 t salt
1 garlic clove, minced 

Tacos:
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 pounds red snapper fillets (I used tilapia and it was delicious)
8 (6") corn tortillas
cooking spray
2 cups shredded cabbage (I used red leaf lettuce)

Preheat oven to 425º.
To prepare crema, combine the first 8 ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
To prepare tacos, combine cumin and next 5 ingredients in a small bowl; sprinkle mixture evenly over both sides of fish.  Place fish on baking sheet coated in cooking spray.  Bake at 425º for 9 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.  Place fish in a bowl; break into pieces with a fork.  heat tortillas according to package.  Divide fish evenly among tortillas; top each with cabbage and crema.

Pinto Salad
Combine 1 cup diced plum tomato, 1/2 cup diced yellow bell pepper, 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro, 1/4 minced seeded jalapeno pepper, 2T lime juice, 2 tsp olive oil, 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper, and 1 (15oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed, stir well.

The Couch Tomato

     Today (March 9) was a day to celebrate Emily.  She is about to turn 10.  I took her to the Franklin Institute in Philly.  We walked through the very same beating heart that I did at right about her age.  Though the day was full of wonder...there was nothing NEW enough to count...until we hit the streets of Manayunk.  Sure, I have been there before but I have never dined at an awesome little place called, The Couch Tomato.  Upstairs is a fancier version with proper table service and a full menu but downstairs was all we needed.  It had a smaller but just as delicious menu and plastic ware and a table for four.  We beat the Friday night crowd of cool people that flood the streets come sundown. 
     I have never had such an amazing salad...let alone two different ones!   "The Little Fig" is arugula, dried figs, walnuts and goat cheese with a sesame vinaigrette.  Every aspect of each ingredient was just perfect.  The half salad was under $6 and I couldn't figure out how it could be that full of love and THAT inexpensive but I wasn't going to argue.  The other half salad was the "Mango Tango".  Spinach, mango, avocado, cilantro, toasted coconut and toasted almond slivers with a honey lime vinaigrette.  Once again I marveled at the oh so perfect stage of ripeness for the tricky team of mango and avocado...but they did it.  And the dressing...I would drink it if I could.  I have to admit I've been dreaming of these salads ever since and it's over a week.  I plan on returning to this wonderful little gem and might even spring for the whole salad this time!!!

Angry Birds

    I have avoided this game.  It's everywhere.  It's a new time thief and I don't have time to spare.  But when it's late at night and you are in need of a new thing (and fb has added it to their line up for free) it's an easy target.  Pun intended.  I played three rounds and decided I'm not sure what the draw is.  No judgement...I have my own time wasters...but I think I am safe from adding this to the mix.  I'll stick to the happy birds tweeting in my yard. 

Fried Egg Whites

     Yes, I am almost 40 and I have had a strange relationship with eggs for most of my life.  There were periods of complete avoidance as they disgusted me at all turns.  This changed throughout my life in different phases.  I know which restaurants are safe for ordering certain styles of eggs and which are to be avoided at all costs.  I have also grown up a bit and am venturing into egg cooking methods I wouldn't have bothered with as a kid.  As a kid I would envy the enthusiasm in which people would dunk their toast in the golden flowing river of yolk...but not enough to get past the white.  Eeewww.  My nephew was visiting once and we realized that we were simpatico with eggs...he liked only the white while I preferred the dipping.  We would share.  All of the years later I become friends with the egg.  I make all sorts of things with them.  Our house is no stranger to the quiche or frittata.  I have embraced deviled eggs as well as egg salad.  I still can't get past a hard boiled egg on its own but I will sneak it into a salad if the dressing is good. 
     The fried egg white has always been on "ban" mode...until now.  I threw a little salt and pepper on it and scooped it up onto my rye toast and sure enough it wasn't that bad.  I know it holds less fat and lots of protein compared to its yellow partner so I thought I should go for it.  Now, I'm not promising anything about my future and the devouring of the whites but though this might sound simple enough as a new thing it is actually quite momentous.  It's another one of those moments when you realize you can be different if you just decide to be.  I don't like being held back by what "always was" a certain way.  I have the power to change things.  It's just an egg white on a plate but it's an even bigger shift in the paradigm in my life.  I guess that leaves the poached egg. Let's not get crazy, people!

New Timeline on FB

     I'm not thrilled with the new format.  I know change is good and all but I've had my fill these days.  Today was a day with many new things and my checks on my big fat TO DO list are a-plenty.  Tomorrow the timeline goes live without my say so...so I chose to do it myself today.  Maybe it is part of the new wave of making things happen myself as opposed to allowing them to happen to me.   So though it may seem like a weak new thing it is actually quite symbolic.  Here is to creating more than just a new timeline but a new way to spend my time!!!

Cheez Doodles at the Welcome Center

     We have no water at our house.  The well pump is busted...again.  So one must get creative as a parent.  Mommy Macgyver  if you will.  Luckily, we live close to a welcome center.  Through many a power outage we have ran there for a safe place to brush our teeth or take a bathroom break.  Today, I picked up the kids from school and headed right there for a little "rest".  Ethan remembered my daily announcement of the National Food of the Day....Cheez Doodles.  He walked over to the vending machine and said, "Hey, let's get those to celebrate the day!".  I have to give him credit for listening.  So I did.  We sat on a bench in a sunny window and passed the tiny bag back and forth to one another.  We talked about school and our week.  We laughed as our fingers grew orange.  Clever mama knew to stay right there where there was running water to take away the cheezy hue. 
     In these quiet and sweet little moments with my children I realize that I am teaching them so much more than the basic skills.  I am teaching them adaptation.  Strength.  Creativity.  I am teaching them that a positive attitude can take a challenging situation and make it an adventure.  I am making the mundane something special.  I hope that when they grow up that this is a normal thing for them.  Maybe they will learn to cherish the simple and see the importance in the truly valuable things.   These days I sometimes feel badly that I can't offer them more.  But most of the time I know that what  I am offering is really the stuff that matters.  Hugs are more important than toys.  Time is more valuable than junk.  Love is all we really need.  It is the stuff that will make them whole and strong when things are tough.  They can't all be days at Disney but sometimes they can feel even more special. 

Morning Chat with Shelley

     I was checking out some blogs early on this Sunday morning when all of a sudden a little bubble popped up.  It was my pal, Shelley, saying hello.   We talked about the state of our lives and caught up a tad on the everyday.  It was nice.  We are all super busy all of the time with life.  It is hard to schedule time and events together.  I don't think any of us fault one another for the lack of time we have...but it is always nice when we find the time.  Dig for it.  Carve it out.  Some of us do that.  Some of us have tricky priorities.  So a little spontaneous shout out can be a real treat.  A text takes a moment.  A chat can be quick and still wonderful.  A little card in the mail can send a hug from anywhere.  We all need to know we are loved and supported.  I passed this sentiment on to someone else later on in the morning.  I am no longer shy about butting in and being heard.  I have learned that I am always open for support.  Advice.  A hug.  I also want others to know that I am genuinely concerned when they need a little boost themselves.  We should all be there for one another.  There is nothing like the realization that others are feeling what we are.  There is nothing more validating than someone understanding.  There is nothing like the push that we get when someone holds up up when we have a moment of weakness.  Let me take this time to say thank you again to those of you who have held me up.  I hope I have done the same for you. 

The Lorax

     We had reason to celebrate today and we stretched it as long as we could.  The morning included a trip to the movies to see the long awaited Suess story, The Lorax.  A bold and beautiful cartoon held the usual Suess magic and lessons of life.  I believe it even poked at politics and religion.  Gave us all something to think about. 
Twas a great story. 
A great movie to see.
About all that is precious...
Especially a tree.

Ride the Library Elevator with Greta

     My kids are getting older.  It pains me to pack up clothes that are too small.  It hurts me to know that my daughter is hitting double digits in about a week.  But before the panic of "mommyhood lost" kicks in...I look to friends and family with their own little ones.  I look to their milestones as a field trip back to the moments that I cherished so long ago.  I tag along sometimes.  It is a celebration of them as well as a little hug for my soul.  Today, I spent some time with my girls at the coffee shop.  Jenne and I talked about grown up stuff one minute only for Greta and I to giggle over silly stuff a moment later.  It was all leading up to a special moment in a childhood...
     We headed to the library where a certain little someone got her first library card.  We then looked for some books.  Little Greta used her new card already and we celebrated with a ride on the elevator...up one whole floor...and back down again...without even stepping out of the doors.  A simple enough ride but somewhere around floor 1.5 I took a mental photograph of this sweet little moment.  I snapped it and thought about how someday when she was older I would dig it out of my memory bank and think of the little blond pigtails and our giggly little ride up and down one floor.  Everyday can be magical if you just learn how to give life a ride...even if it's only one trip on an elevator. 

Sparring at Karate

     The kids have loved karate since they started it.  LOVED it.   They have picked up the forms quickly.  Ethan was told he had a little body but a big mind.  Then there was sparring.  Emily seemed to jump in.  Ethan was brought to tears at the thought.  I have put an extra special effort into encouraging him to try.  I also understand the feeling of being pushed when you aren't ready so I was careful not to do that.  His instructor is a brilliant man who was clever enough to offer him the choice of "champion of forms or champion of sparring".  All of this ease and a stripe on his belt to boost his confidence and Little Man has been brewing the excitement for the battle.  Tonight, I got to watch both of them as they warmed up, took punches and kicks with eyes closed and then sparred with an opponent.  When they were finished they were full of sweat and smiles.  Tonight I said the words that I thought were impossible just a few weeks ago..."Your sparring was awesome...I am so proud!".