Warning: Proud Mom Post!

For all the grumbling I do, I really do enjoy motherhood (well, most of the time). Despite wanting to sell my kids to the gypsies half the time (two-thirds?), there are moments that are truly rewarding. Today I opened a sealed envelope that had arrived in the mail last week but had gone overlooked. Julianne took a bunch of end-of-the-year standardized tests in June, given to Kindergarteners across the United States. Well according to the contents of that envelope, it turns out she tested in the 99th percentile. Our little Beantown Binxie is quite a smart cookie. I already knew that, but now it's officially on paper. I'm smiling.

And today, we signed up for the summer reading program at the library. The big kids went in, armed with a book each to report on. Only one, because it's a one-book-per-day program. I stood and watched from a distance with a wriggling toddler as Thomas animatedly described his book to the children's librarian. And I also watched as she smiled and shook her head in disbelief, that this type of detailed report and congenial conversation was coming out of a just-turned-five-year-old's mouth. There he is, reading the story to her. Afterwards she pulled me aside and though most of my attention was spent on keeping James from running away from me, my ears heard "amazing", "very special", "unbelievable" and so on. Yup, that's my Thomas. Personally I think he's off the chart with his intelligence, but I'm in no rush to have him skip grades or anything like that. He has a lot of maturing yet to do and is probably behind the curve in some of those developmental areas. Childhood is fleeting enough as it is. All in good time, I think. But today, I am so proud of my two "big" kids. And James, I'm proud of you too, for playing quietly on the big wooden train and not having a meltdown upon departure from the library. Baby steps, right? Ole!

A newer, greener me...one plant at a time!

A former classmate of mine, going back many (30, to be exact) years has started her own business, planting container and box gardens with edibles for her clients. I love the idea of this as much as I love supporting fellow mom entrepreneurs, so enter Elizabeth. We worked within my budget and set up several pots along my front walkway. It's been a couple of weeks since the plants went in, and so far to my utter amazement, the plants are still thriving! I say this with surprise because quite frankly, I don't have the best track record with plants and flowers. Either I forget to water, or I water too frequently, or I go away and forget to ask someone to look after the plants, or I forget to do a little pruning...well, you get the idea. Fortunately children require different care than plants to grow, otherwise.....I shudder at the thought!

So what am I growing, you might be wondering? Right now I've got a potted heirloom eggplant, a potted tomato plant, a pot of cilantro, a pot of basil and parsley, and of course, because it's summer, a pot of mint for fresh cocktails. And I've tested the mint and muddled it myself with fresh lime and mixed up quite a phenomenal mojito.

~Here are a few pics of my container garden~
MINT

CILANTRO


and a few pics of what I've made with these fabulous herbs:

Tomato Mozzarella Caprese with Fresh Basil



And a fresh mojito!


To learn more about Elizabeth's fantastic Long Island business named Earl's Kitchen Gardens, please visit her Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Earls-Kitchen-Gardens/150548691683046

Time to put myself back into focus.

Okay. So I'm turning 35 next month, and I've just lately had a rude awakening: it's not as easy to lose weight now as it was at age 21. I know, I know--common sense, right? Whatever. I'm too immersed in the lives of three little people to even get to the doctor for a physical. When I called, they told me it had been three years. Years...I was way overdue. But, here I am, 30 pounds (30? really?) overweight since having my third child. Too many batches of cookies baked, too many takeout orders placed, too many late night dinners eaten with my husband, and not enough exercise, apparently. So, I'm turning over a new leaf--because there's no limit to how many leaves one can turn over--and I'm taking advantage of that. I've been at the elliptical for almost 2 weeks now, and I'm hoping to see some results soon. If nothing else, I'm setting a healthier example for my very observant and curious children. But let's face it...finding time is tough. Making time is harder. Especially when there are so many other craft- or shopping-related ways I'd love to use the few minutes of time I have each day.

Anyone else out there in the same boat? Anyone have any words of encouragement or advice that has worked? I'd love to hear from you!

Lawnmowers

It's been a very long time since I've checked in with my blog. Life happens and diapers happen and taxi driving to and from school happens...and so on. But the nagging feeling of having something to write, having something to say, also happens. So, here I am again, hoping to get this little blog going again. It's kind of like pulling at the cord of an old lawn mower. Will it start? And, if it starts, will it keep going?

School has just wrapped up for the year, and in the past 6 days, we've celebrated Tommy's 5th birthday with his friends at Chuck E. Cheese, Father's Day, Julianne's Kindergarten graduation, Thomas' Pre-K graduation, my 8th wedding anniversary, Thomas' 5th birthday and my parents' 38th wedding anniversary. Whew. The last two days, we've laid low--literally. Luckily the kids have been up at 7:45am; a nice change from our usual 6:45 am wake-ups (okay, fine--when I oversleep on a school day, it's more like 7:30!).

The kids have grown so much since my last post! Some updated pictures of my crazy bunch:

Thomas, now age 5 (five!!)


Julianne, 6 and missing her two front teeth now


and James, who will be 2 this summer


and for good measure, here's one of me with the mister. We both look tired, but hey, maybe you would too with 3 kids age 6 and under.


So now, on with the posts! :)