Update

So here is an update.  I abruptly decided to slow down my life.  If you know me in real life, you can just stop your laughing now.  It’s true.  I think should have tried this in February, but how challenging would that have been?  I always liked the idea of the book “Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much”.  I never read it though. If you do too much, are you really going to sit down and read a book about meditation? 

Slowing down takes a lot of effort, surprisingly.  It seems like it would take more effort to move quickly and be busy, but when that is what you are used to, the change is the hard part.  Thinking about how I am spending my time is a new thing for me – I usually have it all written down on the calendar.

I am not Twittering.  My Facebook account is all but left for dead.  I kind of thought I was back on track blogging, but I sat down last week, like I always do, and checked LL Bean’s Thursday Morning Markdowns.  Then, instead of writing, I just got up and went on with my day.

I am reading (19 Minutes was the last book I finished, but I also ploughed through The Hundred Secret Senses – both wonderful), and watching movies, and talking to my husband.  We went on a date this past Friday at Scooter’s Bistro.  It was the weirdest place ever, an amazing menu, with the ambience of a sports bar, and a punk rock waitress. I had the Adriatic Platter, and it was a delicious mountain of meat that would have made Homer Simpson proud. From there we strolled down to a Czechoslovakian grocery store and chatted with the owner for a while.  Did you know there were 4000 Czechoslovakians in Grand Rapids? Neither did we.  Then we went to see Step Brotherswhich is not for everyone – but I thought it was hilarious.  As a warning, I also thought “Dude, Where’s My Car” was really funny so that should provide an orientation for what I look for in a movie.

Saturday we went to a Whitecaps game.  This is one thing I think you should do, if you haven’t already.  We didn’t go to the fireworks over the Fourth of July because we live 10 minutes from downtown but it would have taken us 2 hours to get home with the traffic.  Saturday night games have fireworks and the kids LOVED them.  It’s no Griffins game, but they do have a lot of music and entertainment.  If you have yet to see your friends dance to “Walk the Dinosaur” with their 4 year old on their back, you’re going to want to make sure you do.  It’s the best.

I am playing with my kids, and getting ready for a visit from our friends which I am RIDICULOUSLY excited about.  I am also trying to be better about returning phone calls (a notoriously bad habit of mine) but we can’t change everything at once now, can we? 🙂

Tune In At 10:00

You may know that I am a member of the Great Start Parent Coalition.  As such, Maybelle and I were happy to attend the first public event of First Steps.  I am so excited to have been part of its launch today; although a bigger part than I intended.  More on that later.

What is First Steps? It is the early childhood system in Kent County.  It is comprised of parents, business leaders, healthcare providers, educators, faith leaders, community agencies, and other individuals who want to see  that Kent County’s youngest citizens get the best start possible in life.  First Steps focuses on community investment in early childhood with the knowledge that children learn more before their third birthday than during any other time of their life. Here is the website if you’d like to learn more; and there is an newsletter available too so you can watch this amazing effort come to fruition.

The Parent Coalition’s role in First Steps is frankly to keep it real.  We give feedback from a real, day-in-the-life perspective.  I love being part of this group.  Think you might too? Head over here for the Kent County Great Start Parent Coalition, and if you are in another area look at the Early Childhood Investment Corporation’s website to see if one exists near you.

Back to the launch.  We somehow managed to keep our flock of children relatively (not completely) quite while the Important People spoke.  Afterward, we let them run off some steam in the playground nearby.  Fox 17 asked for someone willing to ‘say a few words’ and before I knew it, I was standing there with a camera and microphone in my face.  I’d just like to go ahead and publicly thank Danialle and Leslie for assuring the nice Fox 17 people that I would love to do this.  I’ll get you back ladies.

It is on tonight at 10.  I don’t know how much they will use, or even what I said.  I do know that last time I was on TV, I was also on a playground with a bunch of moms.  I was being interviewed about my Mom’s Club.  Charwas there, she remembers – we both tried our best not to sound like idiots.  She did great.  However, thinking I was hillarious, I muttered under my breath (but not ‘under’ enough…) “keep it clean ladies,  I’m miked up” to a group of my friends.  Naturally, this is what made the evening news.  There is no telling what display of eloquoence will be on Fox 17 at 10:00, but I’m sure it will be witty brilliance at it its best.

It’s Been A Week Already?

I am about to get thrown in Blogger Jail for Abuse, Neglect, and Abandonment of an Innocent Blog.  I have been living on the edge.  Cooking without a menu plan – or even a recipe.  Showing up at a potluck with two bags of store-bought Chex Mix where there was not one, but two absolutely delicious and home-made (by very pregnant women mind you) veggie pizzas. 

Popping in at Book Club with a pre-cut vegetable tray from Meijer (look here to see what I’m up against). Buying my kids an absurd amount of tickets for the Kiddie Rides at the National Baby Food Festival. Going to see Mamma Mia and it wasn’t even a matinee (unfortunately I couldn’t find the friend I was meeting, so we both sat alone and when the movie was over realized we were in the same row all along). 

There is more. Eating two donuts, in one single day. And today;  having a spontaneous picnic at Reeds Lake with full priced, pre-made deli sanwiches and bakery cookies. I know what you’re saying! Slow down, crazy!

Evidently, the part of my brain that is interested in planning and organizing has gone on summer vacation.  It was not kind enough to give me notice or ask for the time off.  Left to my own devices I am barely able to keep the laundry done, let alone keep a blog updated.  Hopefully, those neurons will start firing again soon after a nice week’s rest.  We’ll see what tomorrow brings 🙂

Wordless Wednesday

This week, the little boy that was once this baby:

 rode his bike without training wheels.  He will start Young Fives on his fifth birthday.  I am proud/in awe/amazed/overwhelmed by all of this!

Here is more Wordless Wednesday.