Perfect Weather For A Hike

One of the things I've wanted to do with the kids this summer was to find a new park/playground we haven't been to yet.  There are so many parks in our area but it seems we only ever stick to the same few.  I actually didn't realize just how many parks there were until I signed the kids up for the summer reading club program at the library.  Aside from reading books and logging in the minutes for prizes they also offer a "scavenger hunt" as my son calls it in many different parks around the county.  You follow the directions on the booklet that was given to us with lots of clues that will lead you to the post.

Like this.

 

The walk to find this rubbing post was about .50 miles.  Not so bad, right?  Ha!  Most of the way had us walking up a very narrow hill.  Here I was with a heavy backpack (with diapers, water and lunch) strapped to my back while pushing my 20+ lb daughter in the stroller.  Okay, it really wasn't so bad and I do enjoy the exercise.  My son handled it great.  No complaining at all.  We found the post, my daughter wanted out of the stroller and I posed them for a picture.  Then we put the sheet that was given to us over top of the post and rubbed in the picture.  

Of course, after we completed our mission we took some time to play at the playground  It was a small, but really nice playground on top of a hill that overlooks a baseball field and basketball court.  In the distance you can see so many beautiful mountains.  I guess that's one of the good things about living in Pennsylvania.  The beautiful mountain scenery ... and farms, depending on where you go.  

Aside from adding my watermark I assure you I didn't photoshop the quality of these pictures.  The sky is that blue and the clouds are that white today.  The weather is also low in the 70's.  Perfect!  I can't believe in the middle of July we are not sweating and dying from the heat.  It was an incredibly perfect afternoon.  If only my husband could have joined us on this trip.  He's working.

Hopefully next week the kids and I can venture to another park for more fun, hiking for those rubbing posts and playtime. 

It Won't Be Like This For Long

 Former Hootie And The Blowfish singer Darius Rucker has a song titled It Won't Be Like This For Long, which explains how quickly each phase of our child's life goes by so fast.  I always try to keep this thought in mind.  No matter how wonderful or how frustrating any moment with my children may be I always remind myself that it isn't going to last forever. 

 There seems to be one question I keep hearing over and over again this summer.

"Mommy, can you push us on the swings?"

They only like being pushed by me holding on to the seat part, pulling them as far back and as high as I can reach and then letting them go.  They swing back and forth a few times, still high in the air, when they again ask ...

"Mommy, can you push me again?"

Rarely do I have a chance to respond before they immediately continue to beg, "push me!  Push me!"

As much as I enjoy every moment I spend with my children there are sometimes other things that call for my attention.  Like housework.  Or sometimes I crave some alone time.  Then I keep reminding myself ... the housework WILL get done eventually and yes the housework will always need done anyway.  I can get my alone time at some point.  More importantly than anything, my kids need me.  They need the time with me.  They need to have my full attention when they ask for it.  It may seem like such a tedious thing to constantly push both children on the swings over and over ... and over again but I constantly remind myself that these moments aren't going to last for long.

Like the moment I found out I was pregnant.  Or getting through each stage of pregnancy.  The long nights of trying to get the newborn to go to sleep only for him to wake up two hours later demanding another feeding.  These things don't last long.  In fact, the days seem to quickly turn into months and before we know it another year has passed.  The newborns we once held for the first time in our arms are now running around the yard, jumping on the swings and yelling, "Mommy push me!"  It won't be long before these two find themselves to be too old for swinging or needing my help to push them -- or simply needing my help with much of anything.

So my dear children, would you like me to push you on the swings?  Why, of course!

I know there will come a time when my children will be grown and out of the house.  I will sit on my porch and look at the old empty swings and look back on the days (that are going on right now) when we would spend hours on the swings just swinging and singing songs and I'll say to myself ... wow that didn't last long.  

So when your kids ask you to do something or spend time with them ... DO it and CHERISH it.  Because just as Mr. Rucker says ... It Won't Be Like This For Long. 

Splishing And Splashing

When the sweat starts pouring down my face the minute I step outside I know that it's summer.  Okay, so according to the calendar the summer solstice doesn't start for another five days but let's face it -- summer weather is HERE!  I normally do not complain about the heat.  I've always loved it.  However this morning at the park I thought I was going to pass out.  The humidity here is awful.

So it only makes sense that when it's 90 degrees you should spend some time splashing around in the pool.  I wish we had a bigger pool in our backyard but since we don't we have settle for the plastic baby pool.  Hey, the kids love it.  Just make sure you don't splash B in the face ... she hates that.

 

 

Happy summer y'all!

Sibling Love

 I am the youngest of four children.  My siblings and I get along great when we're together.  The only thing that has kept us from being close is the distance between me and them.  They live in another state and it's been that way since I was 14.  We don't keep in touch on the phone or see each other in person as much as we probably could but when we get together we're able to laugh and hold a conversation as if we hadn't been apart at all.  At this point in our lives it's easy to say we all have so much in common with each other.  That wasn't always the case though.  My sister and I are seven years apart, then the other sister and I are fourteen years apart and my brother and I are sixteen years apart.  That's a big difference, isn't it?  When I was a baby they were teenagers and when I was a teenager they were all adults married and with children.  Now all four of us are in the same level of owning homes and raising families.  My brother, the oldest, has grandchildren now which is something none of us girls can relate to.  

Living in a different state hasn't always been easy for me.  I can't express how many times I wish I could have called one of my sisters and said, "hey, you want to come over and hang out?" or, "let's hang out at the mall together today."  I've missed out on so much being far away.  I not only miss out on the opportunity to hang out with them any time we want but I've also missed out on watching my nieces and nephews grow up.  I've missed so many birthdays and holidays with them.  It wasn't fair.  

I love my siblings very much but I wish we were closer.  Closer with distance and closer with age.  This is why seeing my two children get along with each other and remain close throughout their lives is so important to me.  My wish is that they continue to love each other, need each other, help each other and be each others best friend throughout their entire lives. 

 After having our first child we new our family wasn't complete.  We loved him so much and enjoyed every moment with him.  In my heart I felt the desire to give him a sibling.  We wanted two children but we didn't want them to be too close in age but also didn't want them too far apart either.  I wanted a few years with just us and Matthew.  

When Matthew was about two he kept saying, "I want a baby sissa!"  I want a baby sissa!"  I knew he was only saying this because his new friend across the street had a baby sister.  He didn't quite understand what he was asking for but something in my heart clicked and I knew it was time to give him what he wanted (although it could have been a brother).  No, no, he didn't want a brother.  He wanted a sister and kept letting me know that.  Well, after many talks with my husband and a lot of nights spent praying I did get pregnant and yes ... with a little sister for Matthew.  I made sure our son knew that he was included in this pregnancy and this child was not just mine or his daddy's but his as well.  He went with me to every doctor appointment and had the chance to hear the baby's heartbeat.  We took him to every ultrasound so he could see the baby that was growing inside of me. 

I knew he was going to be an incredible big brother.  I made sure I never left him out of anything and that he always understood that even with another little one in the house he was still going to be loved and a main priority in our lives.  

Then she came into the world and I got to witness first hand what kind of big brother Matthew was going to be.  

At only three and a half he had to be reminded not to be so rough with the baby.  He still needs that reminder every now and then.  Yet, he loves her.  I know he does. 

The moment we brought her home from the hospital we presented Matthew with a few gifts that were from her.  I had heard of people doing this before and thought it was a great idea.  He had something for her as well. 

I have enjoyed watching the two of them and the bond they have.  I've put together a collection of some of my favorite pictures of the both of them together. 

Trust me, they aren't always all over each other, hugging and kissing.  When Brianna was a baby I sounded like a broken record always telling Matthew to be gentle with her.  I still say that.  Although now that she is bigger the tables have turned.  I have to tell her to be gentle as well.  She finds it funny to hit, pinch and bite.  She also likes to take Matthew's things and then he gets mad at her and takes it out of her hand.  Then she cries and throws a fit.  Then I intervene and remind him that he shouldn't be rough with her and she's too little to understand.  It's a daily challenge, but we get through. 

For the most part these two have already developed a special bond.  They truly are best friends and I hope as the years go by they will remain that way.  Being one is a boy and the other is a girl they do have different interests and likes but they still find common ground.  There is still many things those two can do together.  Now that Brianna is older Matthew enjoys her more.  He has a buddy to play with all the time.  He likes that. 

I love seeing these two together.  I'm trying so hard to do the best I can in teaching them to have a love for each other.  I'm always telling them and will always remind them how lucky they are to have each other.  The bond between siblings is one no one else can understand.  It's an amazing thing.  Of course, they will fight and they will want to separate from each other now and again -- but the bond will always be there.  As they grow up they will see how friends come and go in their lives but the two of them will always have each other.  Even if they don't agree on things. 

So what do I want for my children when it comes to the relationship they have as siblings?  Love each other, give hugs often, fight for each other not with each other, stay friends, protect each other, put the other first and never give up on each other. 

These two are my world.  I'm so proud of them both!