Birthday Season

We are in the thick of it - the Harris Birthday Season.   It all starts in May with Rob's birthday which usually falls right on or very close to Memorial Day.  I think this may have been the day before his actual birthday but hey - close enough.  He spent it in Arkansas at Hillary's track meet and I understand they had a great breakfast together.

Next we have Emily - her birthday also falls very near a holiday - 4th of July. There is always lots of fun around celebrating this day.  Here she is this year opening gift this year ( beautiful girl don't you think?)

Exactly one month later we have Chloe's birthday.  Funny thing about these two - they have the same day of the month and time of day they were born.  Here is a snapshot of this beautiful birthday girl celebrating on the waterfront in downtown Portland.

Here you have it, three down and two to go so you know what that means - more to come!

Creativity

Let me just say my mind is exhausted.  I took a risk and signed up for a two day workshop on art journaling taught by a local artist.  I learned so many techniques that I overloaded the creativity center of my brain - if in fact it was still there.  The journal you see here is not the journal I made - this one is expertly created by my ever so talented instructor Valerie Sjodin.  Mine is still a work in progress and hopefully there will be a day I can show it to you.  Between the Golden paints (beautiful by the way), Gesso (didn't even know what that was until this weekend), acrylic mat medium (again a new product), brushes, sponges, stencils, pens, spray, and water I was overwhelmed with the potential.  I will definitely be continuing to practice these techniques.  While you are waiting to see mine why don't you check out Valerie's blog and then go get creative.

Lean In

Hillary - first trip to NCAA Western Regional Championship

Lean In!  It has so many meanings, most importantly that you deserve to be where you are, you are worthy of that spot you are at, you've earned that spot, you are talented and most of all you confident.  Sure that sounds easy, and for some folks it is easy.  For my family not so much.  I have been wondering why that is.  Was it something in our parenting? Is it an innate characteristic?  Is it because I'm still trying to believe that myself?  Whatever the answer is - and I'll probably never know - I have just one wish and that is to believe in yourself.  You are worthy, talented, beautiful, smart.  Oh my I could go on all day with adjectives.  Bottom line - you earned this so enjoy it!  

(well ok - that gal next to you might be a bit intimidating but I know you can chase her down)

Sisters

I always wanted a sister, more so now than in my younger years.  I think what great conversations we could have about our family, how much fun it would be to raise children together, someone who could listen, celebrate and stay up all night talking.

Then I had 3 girls!  How lucky are my 3 girls to have each other, grow old together and be best friends - well ok maybe that will come later!  And I have heard rumblings that they wonder what it would be like to have a brother - I've tried to tell them but....more later on that one.

Then I was looking through pictures and came across this one - and you know what?  I HAVE SISTERS!  These women and I have become so close that when we are together we can just be.  I have know them for most of my adult life - cough cough 30 years now. We all live in different places but will be there for each other at the drop of a hat if needed.  We have been through dating, marriages, babies, divorces, death of parents, moves, raising children, illnesses, not having children, careers, travels, etc....  We have committed to seeing each other 4 times a year for a "book club".  There is always a book mentioned but truth be told we just enjoy being together book or no book.

Lesson - thankfully sisters don't have to be related - how lucky I am!

Growing

Looking around this weekend all I could see was growth.  Now I am talking primarily about the yard and the growth I was seeing most were in the form of weeds.  

As I continued working in the same spot I worked in when I was a toddler, growth took a whole new perspective. 

Looking around and my adult nephew who was a great help of strength while running the rototiller and racking the weeks - when did he grow up?

My baby who was driving off to take her ACT exam - is it possible she could be planning for college already?

My husband working hard at one of his prides - the swimming pool and getting it ready for summer fun ( I hope the grown children come home to enjoy this!) He insisted he has earned the privilege of supervisor now days.

Watching changes that new neighbors are making to their yards - yards that have remained unchanged for the past few decades.

My mom who has seems to be able to grow anything in her yard.

And oh how my dad would have enjoyed watching and directing us all during the day - instead of living in his assisted living home (I do believe we did everything just fine if he is reading this).

New new crop of berries and plants I put in today - which if truth be told feels more like a small pasture I planted rather than 5 berries and 3 evergreens! Looking forward to watching this new growth over the next few years.
 
And today I am feeling a little stiff, sore and realizing perhaps I am growing older!

Sunshine

Amazing what a little sunshine can do to your sole.  I was indeed missing the warmth of the sun along with two of my family members so imagine what fun we had on a recent long weekend getaway south.  In addition to exploring new restaurants, farmers markets and breweries there was time to sit in a lounge chair with our toes in the sand just watching the blue sky reflect on the water.  I also got to watch these two in action - reading each others minds and conversations about topics I could not even contribute to.
I rejuvenated with long walks along the water pretending that if I lived there I could indeed run a marathon with all the opportunity to train! Hopefully this was enough to get me through until May when we may seen the warm sun here at home.

Competition

Why is everything today a competition - who is smartest, who makes the most money, who is fastest, who has the best ____ (fill in the blank)?

I am a victim of competition.  There I said it.  In fact I have found myself loosing perspective because of competition. A parent wants the best for their kids - myself included, so I thought if I make a list of what I treasure most about each of my children and their uniqueness it would help me with this little flaw I have...

E~
Calmness
Sense of humor
Creativity
Kindness
Beautiful sole

H~
Independence
Passion
Enthusiasm
Teachable

C~
Confidence
Calmness
Conversationalist
Funny
Perceptive

Lies

Is it ever ok to lie?  This question has crossed my mind as I parent my children.  Is it ok to tell them there is no candy in the house when if they were a foot taller they would see it in the pantry?  Are white lies really any different than full blown lies?  Is it a "character flaw" as my husband describes?  And more important if you get caught in a lie do you lie again to get out of it?  And if so, when does that end?