Paper Bridges » Living

Update: end of August, beginning of September

Monica Brand — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:29:10 +0000

On vacation: Drove to Florida to visit Doc’s parents. Lucy learned to love swimming due to their heated pool, googles that fit just right and lots of downtime to swim when she wanted. All of my kids really came into their own as swimmers in that pool.

If you are friends with me on the Facebook, pictures are posted.

This was our fourth time (maybe? can’t remember) driving to Florida. I’d love to say we enjoy every minute of each other’s company, but that would be a lie. It’s a long way to go and the family van is not the best enviroment for finding personal space to take a break from that annoying-to-you sibling.

And all the moms of more than one child know exactly what I’m talking about.

Now this is the part of this blog post in which I want to write about something that happened, but I’m not sure I want to share it publicly. It’s not a huge deal, yet it bothered me, still bothers me, and I know there are readers here who would benefit, but…

Do I really want to stir that pot?

Sorry to be all clandestine. I will share. Eventually, tip toeing through the potential minefield of emotion and over sharing.

Onward with the memory keeping: We did our favorite zoo, went out on the boat, found all sorts of Florida critters we don’t have up here in Jersey. All fun.

On the way home, we took our time with two coffee-related meetups. One in Georgia, one in Virgina, both with coffee geeks Doc met via social media. We promised the kids both times the visits would be quick.

Ha. When we start talking coffee, we can lose track of time. Poor kids!

Now home and this is the first Monday of us getting back into that mode of driving to all the stuff that kids do like AWANA, piano lessons and Wednesday night church.

It’s good to be home.

So that’s my end of August and the first bit of September.

And for those keeping track, all of the Important Bits of my old Dell are now in this old laptop which the kids used to fall in love with Minecraft and Super Tux. Right shift key won’t work. Making me crazy, but what can one do?

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King of Boredom

Monica Brand — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:17:58 +0000

Not a bad shot for using my iPhone, eh?

In case you can’t tell by the picture, this is a polo match. With horses and clubs and a white ball that riders whack with said club while galloping at a pretty good clip.

I want to learn how to play polo.

Of course, I don’t have the polo pony to go along with this desire. That could be a problem with learning to play. Or at least, playing on a team. No matter. I’m not getting a horse anytime soon.

Stupid economy.

So, as you can probably guess, I went to a polo match. Me with my “Horses are wonderful! Isn’t this exciting! Let’s stomp divots!” enthusiasm. I had a great time. Doc seemed to like it too.

The kids? Maybe I shouldn’t talk about them. They were less than thrilled. Which might be good in the long run because if one of my kids got the horse-obsessed bug, I’d be bummed to tell him or her no to horse ownership. Pity it’s so expensive, these glorious animals.

I wish I had a picture of the worst of the four. The chief complainer, the boy child named for a particular Biblical king. He was King of Boredom yesterday.

Poor boy. O, to be nine and away from a computer screen! O, to be subjected to what your mother says is the Sport of Kings.

Don’t make me watch another polo match ever again, Mom! It’s so boring.

Heh.

Doc and I plotting and scheming our next visit with a proper tailgate meal. A picnic worthy of polo – not a favorite sport for one named for a king.

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Did you see the lunar eclipse?

Monica Brand — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 19:23:04 +0000

Wasn’t it interesting? Watching the moon do it’s Pac Man imitation before becoming an orange in the sky. A winter solstice to remember.

I made a last minute decision to stay up, venturing outside at 1:30 am to check on the eclipse. Too many tree branches in the backyard to get a clear view with my binoculars. Later (2:30? Can’t remember. So sleepy), I checked the view from the driveway.

Amazing.

Diane Goodwin, a fellow homeschooling mom and Twitter chat friend, snapped this beauty. It’s exactly what I saw in the sky.

I didn’t really get the orange bit until I actually saw it. I’ve seen other lunar eclipses before, but nothing like this one.

In case you didn’t see the eclipse due to clouds, or the need for sleep, I’m posting this time lapse video. Thanks to Sandra Foyt for sharing the link.

I can’t help but think:

What did folks think years ago when it appeared the moon bled?

How much more interesting it is to jump on social media and share with others watching the same event, yet so far away.

If you are reading this in RSS, you may miss the link up at the bottom of this post.

Click over to add your blog post about the eclipse.

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My top ten reasons to see a live Nutcracker performance

Monica Brand — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 03:44:46 +0000

Today we attended a performance of The Nutcracker by the American Repertory Ballet Company at the State Theatre in New Brunswick. To my New Jersey readers: there is still time to catch the show; performances are 1 and 4:30 p.m. tomorrow.

Top Ten Reasons to See The Nutcracker Performed Live

10. You can see your friends

I’ve known Emily since our New Jersey Mom Blog days, so to see her again at the ballet with her family only added to the special day.

9. The costumes

Who doesn’t love the beautiful costumes of the dancing Sugar Plum Fairy, naughty mice and brave soldiers?

8. The set design

Each production of The Nutcracker is different. Much of that has to do with set design.

7. The music

My five-year-old Lucy just danced into the room.

“Mommy, the music is still in my head!”

Me too, little girl. Just where it should be.

6. It’s part of the American culture of Christmas

Next year, I want to see a Random Act of Culture flash mob with ballet. Booyah.

5. The dancing

Is not ballet oh- so-lovely?

4. It’s lovely

Yes, it’s worth repeating. Lovely.

3. It’s live theatre

Where the costumes, sets, music and dancing merge together to create a magical world with only a thin wall between dancers and audience. You know what? I even love that thrill of anticipation as the house lights go down and the curtain rises.

2. You can blog about it.

Support the arts! Goodness knows, there is little attention paid to live theatre, especially for a family-friendly performance like The Nutcracker.

I do love my technology, games and plug-ins, but there is nothing like live theatre, sitting in the dark with loved ones and hundreds of strangers all watching the stage for the dancer’s next move. Sorry, Facebook. You just can’t compete.

And my Number One reason to attend a live performance of The Nutcracker:

1. It makes you want to dance about in your kitchen when you get home

Even if you were a ballet class drop out because you were too much of a tomboy.

Don’t worry if your kids make fun of your fake ballet, dance away. I’ll be dancing with you.

Have you been to a live, holiday performance this year? Tell me about it.

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30 Day Giving Challenge: Operation Christmas Child

Monica Brand — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:43:05 +0000

This is my meager attempt to participate with everyone else in the 30 Day Giving Challenge.

I need a 30 Day get-off-your-lazy-butt-and-write-a-blog-post challenge.

Can someone make me a button for that?

Kidding.

Seriously, I’ve been thinking of giving, finding ways for the kids to give, even if I haven’t been chatty on the subject. Thankfully, AWANA gave us a great photo op when the kids made boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

Here are our boxes:

As you can see, I’m all about the privacy, no kids faces on the blog. That may change next week because that’s how undecided I am. Today – cropped, next week, who knows.

If I don’t post again until after Thursday (bwahahahaha) have a great Thanksgiving holiday. Don’t eat too much

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Beauty downstream

Monica Brand — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:01:05 +0000

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Update on my friend

Monica Brand — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:57:14 +0000

All is well. I think.

Last night I had a chance to talk with my lovely friend. No, I didn’t’ have to drive up to her place to track her down like I thought I would have to do. Found her at our Wednesday church night.

I can’t remember the last time I was so excited to see anyone. It’s been ages since she’s been out to church during the week.

We talked. The first words out of my mouth: I love you. And I didn’t have to say any of the things I rehearsed in my head because she beat me to it. So no heated conversation, no denial, no anger. All tears happy ones.

This whole situation could have gotten ugly fast so I feel like I dodged a relationship-killing bullet with such a good outcome. But keep praying if you think of her. I know I will be. She knows she can’t drink, wants to stop this mistake before it turns into a mountain, yet the stresses remain in her life. I told her to call me or just show up at my house anytime, for whatever reason. She’s a grown up and I can’t put her in a time out, right?

She’s okay, but needs more healing and strength.

Thanks to everyone who offered advice.

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I have a friend

Monica Brand — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:22:12 +0000

She’s drinking.

Again.

And she shouldn’t be. She can’t.

Alcohol is her Kyptonite and she’s going to self destruct. Her marriage, her kids, homeschooling. Her faith. It can’t stand up to this burden. Already she is slipping away from me. Won’t call. Won’t message back on Facebook. Church attendance? Near zilch.

I’m part mad, part crushed. I love her. I want her to walk in victory, florish in her mothering, walk with Him, enjoying all the gifts she has to offer our community.

And you know what? I’m tired of watching people I care about – those believers I count on being there – fade away, overcome by the trappings of the world, falling prey to the wolves seeking to devour.

What should I do?

Does anyone have any advice for me? Should I confront her? Let her family handle it. Just let her go it alone.

Please don’t tell me to pray. I am praying. Like I said, I’m tired of watching friends self destruct.

Anyone?

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On this fall day

Monica Brand — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:48:49 +0000

Organizing bookshelves. Out with the old, in with the new.

Reading The Kids are Alright by Welch, Welch, Welch and (care to guess?) Welch. Thanks to the publisher for my free copy.

Searching the vast empire of the Internet for the good, pretty and lovely by which my kids can learn; avoiding the vile, nasty and obnoxious which will teach them . . . nothing.

Nursing a sick boy, currently asleep on the couch while the other three continue on with their day. Boo on fall colds.

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Daydreaming of the future

Monica Brand — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:45:28 +0000

Susan is off on another adventure.

She’s at my parents’ house. It’s not as far away as camp, but it’s still away from all of us here at home. I know at 12 years, that is the point. Being apart from your siblings and mom and dad. It’s quite the big deal.

I miss her.

Last summer, she came home from Grandma’s declaring she only wanted to do one night away from home. She couldn’t wait to get back home, to her own room, her special things. I know she missed her little sister terribly. Yesterday, she called to ask if she could stay an extra night, making it three nights total. Looks like being away from home for a week at camp has made all the difference.

No homesickness for Susan as a 12 year old.

I’m glad. She having fun with my parents taking her out to her choice of restaurant, a splurge shopping trip at the dollar store, and I think my brother is treating her at the bookstore tonight. She packed three books in her overnight bag. Lots of quiet for reading at my mom’s.

Susan is growing up.

I will miss her.

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Vacation Bible School 2010 pictures

Monica Brand — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:46:09 +0000

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Saturday Snapshot: She knows how to work it

Monica Brand — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 20:33:54 +0000

Yup. She knows she’s a cutie.

Oh, to be that confident in yourself again!

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They’re back!

Monica Brand — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:16:29 +0000

My bigger kids are home safe from camp, filled with tales of the awesomeness of their week.Thumbs up on the cabins, lack of bunk beds for the girls, the breakfast cereal available, huge in-ground pool and making new friends. We are already talking about next year’s camp week.

Birthday tween found her card in her duffel. She didn’t need the extra “If homesick, open this” letter. Good for her. Her brother never found his letter from home – I guess he never noticed it as he pulled items out for use. Not surprised, really. We read it together as we unpacked. Silly me, I keep thinking he’s like I am, wanting to save every scrap of paper that holds emotional value. When I asked him if he wanted to keep the letter as a memory from camp, he could not have been more uninterested (I should have kept it for myself.)

It’s raining here finally and all are flopped in front of the electronic box. Doc is on a coffee roasting frenzy. God bless him!

I have two books on hold at the library, one in transit and I just now requested another. Plotting and scheming when to do the pick up and wondering who is coming with. I’m sure Susan is in, as long as her swimmer’s ear is abated. Poor girl was in tears yesterday from the pain.

That’s all for now. It’s Saturday. Housework, reading, goofing off. Enjoy your weekend. Perhaps I’ll chat with you over on Twitter.

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Wild berry harvest

Monica Brand — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:44:42 +0000

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All I want to say that won’t fit into Twitter

Monica Brand — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:57:56 +0000

My two biguns left this morning for their first sleep-away Bible camp, into the wilds of Pennsylvania. I loved camp as a girl. The crafts, canoeing on the lake, the awesomeness of being away from home. I know my two young people (the word children feels too young) were excited to not only be with their church friends for the week, but to be away from home (read: me and Daddy). Isn’t independence one of the greatest allures of sleep-away camp, if only for a week?

We are still in birthday party mode. Friends of the newly minted eight-year-old are due here any minute for a sleep over. Another first around here. We’ve had a cousin once spend the night a long time back, but this is the first time for friends. The plan is to put up the tent in the backyard, but we will see if that happens in this heat. Our official Tent Man is currently flopped on the sofa after changing the oil in my van.

Tomorrow we are set to go to my parents for the day. I’ll be leaving my boy behind to spend the night and my mom can take him shopping for a birthday present. We’re calling it Grandma Camp.

Then I will be down to one kiddo on Wednesday. O, the places we can go for on the cheap, right? That’s how one starts to think when all the kids normally in tow are suddenly scattered hither and yon. Where can I go with this last girlie left behind? She’s easy to please so it might be the park to wade and the lunch of her choice with ice cream.

That’s our July so far. We’re off and running, coming and going. It already feels like the summer is moving too fast. Vacation Bible School starts next week, but more about that later.

What are you doing this week?

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Happy Birthday to my firecracker boy

Monica Brand — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 17:38:33 +0000

Eight. A time to be missing your front teeth. What a great age!

Happy Birthday, young master.

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Thanks! More thoughts on chores

Monica Brand — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 23:56:56 +0000

Thanks to everyone who chimed in to my chore question here or over at Facebook. The consensus is that I’m not asking too much and that I could be asking her to do more than just clean the bathroom once a week. I see the wisdom in that. All of my children need to learn how to clean, but more importantly, they need to learn the value in pitching in to the benefit of all.

So, she has more chores coming her way. In fact, the younger three have more coming their way too.

I’m thinking this is not going to be an overnight transformation with kids begging me for work or volunteering to do a new job. In fact, this might take years in the physical sense and lots of maturity in their spiritual life. I know I need all the patience, gentleness and self control to tackle those jobs I’d rather not do. Sure I can scrub with the best of them, but my attitude. . .yes, sometimes the moms attitude isn’t so pure or lovely. And I’m grumbling under my breath the whole time.

Teaching children the value of a job well done, to work without complaining, and to do their best work: these are my goals for having the kids do chores. I know how much more I enjoy my house when it’s clean or how much more I can relax if I’m not thinking about a job left undone. Part of me enjoys cleaning - I told you about that recently – and let’s be honest, as a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom, housework is a big part of my day.

So because I’m already blogging about chores (thanks, Susan for the idea), I might as well give you updates along the way. Who is doing what chore, how long it takes him or her to master and the general attitude of all of us.

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Chores for girls: What do your daughters do? My 11 year old daughter, you know her as Susan...

Chores for girls: What do your daughters do?

Monica Brand — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:53:58 +0000

My 11 year old daughter, you know her as Susan here on the blog, challenged me to post this question to Facebook, but I decided to cast the info-gathering net wider. So I ask you, blog readers:

Do you have your 11 year old girl clean the bathroom once a week like I do? Clean as in: scrub and wipe down toilet. Wipe down counter and sink. Clean mirror if necessary.

When I was Susan’s age, my sister and I had to dust the dining room furniture every Saturday. With polish. Even if we weren’t having fancy company that required use of the table. Friends, I HATED dusting that table. So many nooks in the woodwork. I truly believe I’ve been scared for life as a result. My husband can attest to my great aversion to dusting the house today. At least Susan is cleaning something that is much more worthy of a good cleaning.

Come on, let me have it. Am I an old meanie or is Susan getting off easy? I’m open to all criticism and advice.

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Large rock climbing and a memory

Monica Brand — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:41:33 +0000

Yesterday we met up with other homeschoolers to tramp about at Ringing Rocks. We climbed on rocks, hiked to a waterfall, admired beauty. The peanut butter granola bars back at the car were a big hit. None of my kids got outrageously wet. Proof all are growing up, or maybe just really good at not slipping on mossy rocks? I’m going with a bit of both.

Ringing Rocks is one of those places I have tucked away in my heart as extra special. Doc popped the question there 13 Junes ago as I sat on one of the large rocks near the waterfall. He was nervous. Silly man, I thought at the time. Why is he nervous? Doesn’t he know how crazy in love with him I am?

All these years of living later and I’m having a hard time remembering exactly which rock I rested upon. The romantic in me wants to remember the spot. Why didn’t I mark it somehow? Because it never occurred to me the memories would fade over time.

Here are a few pictures:

Climbing on the rocks in the wrong type of shoe:

The waterfall:

I’m not 100% sure, but I think this is The Rock of Romance (aka Where I sat to say “Yes, of course.” ) :

I don’t have much else to add other than it was a pleasant, cool-ish day. A good day for a day hike and to revisit a memory with my kids. My friend Jill has more pictures and video of why it’s called ringing rocks and screaming girls catching a frog. Very fun.

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Self portrait by Lucy, 5

Monica Brand — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 15:06:50 +0000

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