Tip Toe

This weekend we went to the Tulip fields on a spur of the moment...ok there was some mild planning but not much.

 

However the weather was slightly permitting for us to do this.  We dodged some serious sheets of rain and managed to fall in the mud a few times.  Well I didn't but some kids did. We laughed up until we had to take them home...sorta wasn't that funny then.  Oh well!!

 

It wasn't too bad really and I'm glad we went, really glad. I needed to see my friend and see some color and beauty.  My soul needed it.

 

 

Dru wanted me to take his picture by these flowers. I think they were his favorites and they were orange!

 I'm missing one because he didn't want his picture taken...again.  Outside of that, aren't these some handsome boys?

 

 I asked for this picture behind the purple tulips...purple is my favorite color.

 

 I let Lee pick where the next picture would be, he picked the pink ones.  He's been into the color pink lately. I haven't figured out that particular bit but never fear I will!

 

We had a good time and I look forward to ordering some Tulip bulbs...I was seriously bummed I couldn't buy a bag of them there...you apparently have to buy them because they were already blooming.  Details people!!

I was however able to buy some other kinds of bulbs..Glads and Lili's.  I let the boys pick 6 Gladiolus bulbs to plant...MAYBE they will leave mine ALONE!!!

 

....and if you see 2 dogs strung up by their toe nails it's because they won't stay out of my big flower pots and are laying on TOP of my Asiatic Lili's!!! Those two are working together...Mighty is taking the obstruction down and then Charlie gets to lay in the pot while Mighty chews on plastic or metal.  AHHHH these dogs!

Blossoming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a favorite I took recently.  Taking pictures sometimes is right up there with gardening. I find peace and it takes my mind off things.

Soil

 

 

People it's bad! I am getting the gardening bug B-A-D!

 

My hands are literally itching right now thinking of planting and getting my hands in the soil!

 

I have a need to see some Tulip fields and I might just make that happen with a girlfriend and some boys.

 

I will be buying tulip bulbs tomorrow somewhere along the line and they will be planted to enjoy next year. So help me if the dogs or kids ruin them I will be ruined...mentally I think it will break me.

 I'm really serious and I hope that my other half realizes that. No subtle hints here!

 

 

 

The Cherry Blossoms just breath summer to me, even though they aren't around during the summer. 

I think I am my grandmother's granddaughter...the dirt and flowers really do speak to me and my soul and give me peace for awhile.  So much turmoil going on in my life that it's out of control and I'm feeling overwhelmed.  I need these things, to stop and smell and look. To really look at the beauty all around... the small details.

 

May Peace Be With You...

GOAL!

 

 

 

 

 

Reason?

 

 

For no other reason other than I love this photo.

My nephew and Lee on the boat last summer salmon fishing.  They had such a rough first time, the weather was horrid! Poor kids! Frank took this picture with his camera and I think he captured it quite well.  He also took one like this of my niece and Ian when they went on the boat 4 years ago.

 

 

 

 

Priceless

 

Cousins are where it's at right? I'm so glad I have a few cousins that this was my life with them.  I miss them dearly and I miss those bits of my childhood with them.  But man did we fight like cats and dogs though! We have spent years apart and missed a lot of growing up years...I wish they lived closer or I to them.

I'm glad my boys have what they have and can see their cousins a lot because life happens and you just don't know what's going to come your way!

Baseball!!!

 

It's that time of year again for the Paulson household!  Baseball fever has begun...OK well it might not be fever but it could be close?  Either way, we are getting out of the house and doing stuff...maybe we may be cold right down to the bone, but doggone it 2 of my boys are getting tired out by practice and games!

 

Thank the Lord!

 

This year Lee and Dru are in baseball, while Eli and Ian are waiting for swimming (or dancing) lessons.  Even though we only put 2 kids in baseball it cost a small fortune, as will putting 2 kids in swim lessons.  So those two wait until the season is done and money can be used.

 

Some adoring fans of Lee...(Eli really looks like Dru here...WOW!)

 

 

 Ian

 Lee was going to start pitching, but due to an accident at his first game (he got hit in the back right on the spine with an errant baseball...the kid was lobbing baseballs all over the place...that particular one made contact with Lee...we've since been to the chiropractor and had an adjustment with another one on Monday...he is feeling better!) Since his back hurt he chose to not pitch, I was very sad. This is something he wants to do badly, so I hope the adjustments helped. We will find out at the next game...if they don't get rained out.  Rain is our nemesis at this point.

 So instead of pitching he went to an outfield position.  He really needs to work on staying focused especially when he's in outfield where for the better part of a game there isn't much action.  So much room for growth for him!

 Stay focused Lee! You got this bud!

Lee does so well at baseball, he's one of those kids that sports is easy for him...like school if he would just apply himself and slow down! I see the challenges in front of me for the rest of my life with this kid! The kid that doesn't crack a book in school but sails through...get that kid to open his book and apply himself!!   However, as a mother I LOVE watching him play a sport and the ease with which he plays. Coming from someone who is terribly uncoordinated it is beautiful to see.  I'm slightly jealous of him though.

But man do I like watching Lee and Dru play ball...so coordinated and in my eyes good...just remember the source I'm saying that from.  A mother and someone who has decided it's just safer to not play a sport...I always get hurt somehow.  Just safer!

Dance Recital

 

So today was a really big day at our house!  Outside of this year being a really big year, 5th grade and all here.  You go to Jr. High which is 5th, 6th, &7th grade...which means Ian will be in Jr. High next year!

I can hear what you are saying and I'm in total agreement...how did it happen...I have no idea!

 

Today was his dance recital and I just loved the whole event, it was really a great time and I loved seeing the joy in Ian's face.

 

His school has the opportunity to participate in a dancing  program called ,Dancing Classrooms, the last 3 years, where the instructor comes and teaches them and I love their motto: is to build social awareness, confidence and self-esteem in children through the practice of social dance .This is also from their site: Dancing Classrooms is not about teaching ballroom dancing.  Dance is a tool for getting the children to break down social barriers, learn about honor and respect, treat others carefully, improve self-confidence, communicate and cooperate, and accept others even if they are different.  So for the last 10 weeks (not sure how many days a week of those weeks) for an hour they worked on learning different styles of dancing.  The learned the Fox Trot, Swing, Waltz, Merengue, Rumba, Polka, Tango, and Stomp...I wish I had rhythm for that!

You can check this program out here:

http://dancingclassroomsseattle.com/

 

Very awesome program!

 

This program culminates from a true story...they even made a movie of it with Antonio Banderas, called Take The Lead.  This program was started in New York and has made it's way all the way here!  How cool is that!?! If you've never seen the movie it's well worth your time!

 

Well back to where I was headed with this!

 

Ian had to get dressed up for this and thank goodness for friends who help cloth my children! With out them I don't know where we'd be...jeans and a polo shirt at this point.  Trying to keep clothes for this kid is impossible!

 

He was so excited to wear a tie from his dad and a REAL one at that...that was a big deal!

 

 

 

I love this picture! Charlie totally put himself there with out us telling him to.  He just had to be by his boy!

 

 

 

I think Ian knew this was a big thing, up until he walked in and realized this wasn't just big, this was HUGE! You can see it on his face...shades of his mother right there!

 I have no idea what is up with the lip thing other than he's nervous, however what I think is funny is the lady all the way to the left is doing the same thing! Ian got up and read a piece about what his first thoughts were about dancing and then another piece about what he thought of dancing after doing 3 classes.  I really hope we get those back because it was hard to hear him!!

 This young lady is the gal Ian escorted onto the dance floor!  When did these girls get to be so tall...and well...GIRLS!?! I remember when these 2 started Kindergarten together!!

 Ian and a friend from class...he wanted to photo bomb our picture but settled for this...goofy kid!

 Ian and some little brothers...Lee had to go with his class so he wasn't able to be in this.  As you can tell Eli didn't want to either. Sigh...

 Ian and his friend Kinlee...many years at the bus stop together these two!  My how they have grown into lovely young ladies and gentlemen!  Love that they met at the bus stop because I gained a really good friend that first year! This year they aren't in the same class but at least they are familiar faces to each other!

 Ian and his buddy Jackson!  These guys went to preschool together and this is the second time they have had class together!  They get a long really well and are good friends! I think they are good for each other...and it doesn't hurt we know the family and they are great friends too! 

I loved going to this function and seeing Ian have so much fun and having his brothers there to support him! We all even got up, the whole audience and participated in the Cha Cha Slide!  I think it tickled Ian I got up and did it and flake out on him.  He'll remember that and so will I!

 

  I can't believe how much these kids have grown up and when you see them all together at once it really hits you! It's kinda been an emotional day if I'm honest.  I'm so glad Ian has these good people and friends in his life right now and that along the way we've made some good friends with the parents.  It's important I think.

 

 

 

I'd like to say I'm looking forward to seeing all my boys do this but then again it will be too soon!