My how they grow!

It's chicken time again.

Let's do a little throw back 2009.  Our first chicken year

Here are the darling children choosing chicks in 2014.

That's how we do

Without sounding long winded let's just say I haven't had many relaxed days at home lately.  I could probably count the # on 1 hand for the last 6 months.  That doesn't mean I haven't had good days, just not relaxed days at home.  In an attempt to fit everything into my weekend off, I did something my momma would do.  I drove 6 hours 1 way for a baby shower, turned around and came home!

We didn't even have to wake up that early to make it all happen!  We left a little after 7am, fueled up the car, fueled up Momma--Grande Cafe Americano, no room--, and stopped by Whole Foods Market Mason for breakfast.  Paul, our friendly sushi maker, rolled up 3 quinoa brown rice veggie rolls for our breakfast.  2 fine customer service team members assisted us in our purchases, wished us safe travels and off we went.

Then is went a little like this: I had a road trip dance party listening to my favorite motivating tunes on spotify.  Have I mentioned how much I like spotify?  Music at my fingertips.  Seriously? What's better?

Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Gin Wigmore, Queen, Karmin, B-52s, Lady GaGa, and most definitely the Black Eyed Peas! I easily burned off the calories from the baby shower food.

Ezra was sound asleep for hours.  He is growing and there were legs everywhere!  Legs scrunched up, legs on the headrest, legs kicking me in the back...you get the picture.

Terje is a little more sutble in his music.  I'm waving my arms, singing out loud, and generally making an ass of myself while he is cool, calm, and collected looking fly in the backseat.

It's hard for my kids because they will never be as awesome as their Mom. Oh, how I make myself laugh.

What trip to Michigan is complete without a stop at Whole Foods Cranbrook? None. That's right. It's mandatory.  I am also required to spend at least $35 on lunch for 3 people.  I am at a whole foods almost everyday of my life but I get in that darn store and I forget that the hot bar is heavy and I pay for it by the pound!  And I always insist on buying fresh juice and kombucha beer.  Oh wait, now my bill is closer to $60.
 And today I saw the CUTEST onsie, so of course I had to buy it for baby Emmet/Easton Charles Sherman.  It screamed stylish but not pretentious baby.  Just like Amanda. So let's fast forward to the best baby shower moments!

Amanda crying over the sweetest gifts, including a sweater hand knit by Grandma.  The love and appreciation filled the room. I had tears.  I know, no shocker, I'm a crier but really it was touching.  So touching I won't post the picture because Momma to be was overcome, read Oprah's ugly cry.  Come on, we've all been there and it was super sweet.

At some point we were all in the basement painting nursery decorations and a storm was brewing.  Wind, hail, POWER OUTAGE! Shingles and limbs in the road and traffic lights out means it was time to head home.  One would think we'd stay put and settle in but no.

And just like this blog my trip rambled on and on. Until it was over.    

Traveling

10:25 eastern standard time
I'm sitting in seat 23c on delta flight 902 somewhere over Central America wondering when, where, and how I'll take my next adventure. I'm not even home yet but I know I'll go everywhere else. I always do.

I'm sad leaving Costa Rica today. It was a fun and knowledge filled trip. I realized my Spanish is lousy at best. And even though mother nature can be harsh and turbulent she is also beautiful and calming.

The family next to me is flying to Disney world! They've never flown before, never visited the states, and never paid $7 for a tiny shot of whiskey on a plane. I'm so excited for them to experience a place I love.

I want my next trip to be international. I want to take the boys. I want them to experience the world. With that being said, I'd be happy to travel state side. Our country is beautiful and diverse. As far as out of the country, E would like to visit England or the Caribbean to snorkel. James-Thailand or Spain.  T- won't admit to wanting to go anywhere. Me-well everywhere. I mean I don't know. I'd love to visit Thailand, England, Spain, the Caribbean but I think I'd like to go to Sweden and Norway. Heck, I'd be happy to go back to Maine :) oh I do want to visit some Canadian national parks like Banff.

Life and travel involve planning. Guess I need a plan. And patience. Good thing I've been practicing/learning patience. Anyhow. That's another day. Today I relive trips through photos while flying home to the states.  And feed off the excitement of the family next to me as they look out the window in amazement. I'm always in awe looking down on the Earth. P.S. I'm over Belize, another place I'd like to visit!

Reality

I'm sitting in a bookstore, drinking espresso, starring out the window, contemplating my world. My world is so different now compared to 3 yrs ago. My boys are teens/preteens. I've got a full time job, career even. My husband is working jobs that don't require a tie. I have little free time, yet I still carve it out. My house is a wreck, like I said, I'm carving out free time. I'm back to running. I'm less afraid of the workout gym. Still have climbing gym apprehensions. Homeschooling is something I so value, but man, planning can be overwhelming. Good thing life is a giant lesson with a million unit studies to build off.  Fitting everything into 24 hrs is impossible. 1 day at a time. Forgive me if my kids don't know every math fact we've long forgotten. They are busy learning Japanese, computer coding, how to navigate this media filled technology based world, and of course geography. One must know about the land, people, cultures, and wonders of this world. I'm sure other parents feel the same about math as I do social studies. Maybe I should have been a social studies teacher. I want them to have knowledge but I want more than anything for them to know how to look up; appreciate the stars, the sky, the trees, the possibilities. I want them to be critical thinkers, self motivated, and intrinsically rewarded. Of course monetary compensation is how our world works, so they need to be able to translate their love and passion into a career. Which brings me back to the espresso, bookstore, and that overwhelming need to plan lessons.

Yes, we learn at home

Dropping off our notification letters today. This year is filled with possibilities. My focus will be on world geography and social studies. Ezra is focusing on coding and Terje on learning Japanese. The biggest challenge will be be managing the house, my job, and school. Good thing learning is always happening.