About once a year I feel compelled to post ANOTHER pet peeve. I think it is a sign of aging.
This one has itched me like sand inbetween my toes for awhile but irritated me even more given the Fourth of July holiday.
During our trip to the Madison Regatta (gotta Regatta!), I took the opportunity to run the annual 10K from the hilltop to the picturesque downtown. It was a great run. It is worth doing just for the scenery.
Like most sporting events, it began with “The Star Spangled Banner.” Herein lies my pet peeve.
When did we stop signing along? And more importantly, when did we stop putting our hands over our hearts?
I know my Aunt Caroline would belt out a tune anytime the opportunity arose but shouldn’t this be a requirement for all Americans? Are we so lazy or self-conscious that we no longer sing along to the tune that symbolizes our freedom?
For goodness sakes, place your hand over your heart and sing boldly…especially today.
I think I am fairly easy to please. Tim may think otherwise. But I definitely wouldn’t categorize myself as high maintenance.
(I KNOW I AM SO FAR BEHIND IN POSTS WITH THE FOLLOWING. I AM DETERMINED TO CATCH UP THIS WEEK!)
On Mother’s Day, the only thing I really wanted to do was rent a six-seater bike downtown along the musuem campus. It is one of my favorite things to do. Since Tim’s motorcycle accident, I have ploying to replace the Harley with a bike we can all enjoy! Can’t you just see us tooling around town with a Fred-Flintstone like bike with a cool Stoner Six sign hanging off the back. We could use it for years…bike ride at night, bike ride to dinner in the village…
Anyway, the monstronsity-of-a-bike is pure fun but hard work considering it weighs a ton and we only have three ‘good’ pedalers. But on Mother’s Day, we had a great day cruising around UNTIL…
Tim and I were thrown into shock when our sons hold up the syringe they have just picked up behind a boulder. We had taken a break near the zoo at a boulder park for the kids to play. Clearly the syringe was hidden for no reason other than drug use! As typical…Tim never panics. I, on the other hand, immediately have visions of Ryan White in my head shortly after his twenty-year anniversary death.
Thankfully, the cap was still on. Thankfully, they threw it down as quickly as they picked it up.
But like all life experiences, there was good conversation to follow that included safety, drug use, and the story of Ryan White. It never fails…there is always drama with four curious children.
The holidays proved that we like to dance, especially after downloading two new songs to my iPod…Black Eyed Peas’ Boom, Boom, Pow and Lady Gaga’s Just Dance.
Briggs suggested that we hold a ’Dancing with the Stars’ competition. He also threatened me NOT to post this video to Facebook to which I agreed. He mentioned nothing about the blog. Shhh…
Briggs and Emerson paired up, even rehearsed some moves. That left Gage and Campbell who really didn’t synch up.
A long video…probably boring for most except this mother who wants to retain the memory visually.
Instead of exchanging adult Christmas gifts, we decided to take a weekend trip to Wasatch Lake with the family. Despite the cold, we had a great time and hope we can do it again in the future. It was nice just to get away for a few days…away from the phone, computer and household duties. The kids especially loved spending time with their cousins.
One of my dreams, goals, and aspirations has always been to make a tradition of Christmas Caroling around the neighborhood while pulling a wagon of warm cider. I think the neighbors have always been in fear I might drag them out with me. Well, luckily I am not the only one in the family with some crazy ideas. Suzy, my cousin, happens to be a bigger day dreamer than I. And, Nate and Helena are up for anything festive!
So with song sheets in hand. YES…I have had them ready for years, we made our rounds. We didn’t sound good. Most people weren’t even home but we had a lot of fun. My dad had purchased the best wagon and trailer that was perfect for the occasion dragging the girls around.
Here is to knocking one more thing off my list of ’50 Things To Do’ and hopefully starting a tradition.
I queried Briggs on his New Year’s Resolutions last night. He said he needed time to sit on it. I agreed. It always takes me awhile to figure out what I can truly commit to in the coming year.
I would love to commit to not yelling at my children (at least not in the morning) but I would be setting myself up for failure almost immediately. Mornings don’t always go well, as many mothers can relate. I would love to give up sweets but why…life is to short not to enjoy what you put in your mouth. I would like to get more rest, spend more quality time with each child, but I figure I should make my goals attainable. Here they are:
- Drink one glass of milk a day and take a multi-vitamin.
- Try to do 1-2 loads of laundry per day instead of ten at the end of the week!
- Establish a chores and allowance system for Briggs.
- Mail birthday cards only with a handwritten note enclosed. No email cards.
- Eat all food in the freezer before replinishing it.
- Get children into bed by 9pm.
- Make church a priority on Sundays.
- Keep up on weeds…I think some weeds in my landscape grew to look more like shrubs.
I will keep myself honest by checking in next January.
I think each house takes on its own identity over the years. In fact, sometimes even its own scent. If I were to blindly walk back into The Sedita’s home today, a place where I spent a good portion of my childhood, I would know it instantly by its scent.
I believe our home is known for its ‘revolving door’. The walls of our home always contain someone…it isn’t a lonely or quiet home. Our doorbell sounds often and our guest room gets a significant amount of use (I promise I launder the linens after each visitor).
Our revolving door was in constant motion this holiday season. Lots of family. Lots of friends. Lots of food. Lots of cleanup. Lots of noise. However, we enjoyed every visit.
On another note…what is it about Christmas decorations that make them so exciting to dig out and place around the house but so equally exciting to remove and store until next year? I will admit…I get a bit of anxiety with the ‘extra decor’ around the house. I am not particularly fond of clutter. So, the last of the decorations were stored and all four inflatables deflated yesterday. The only trace the holidays have come and gone is the additional plastic we have acquired (aka toys) and the memories of our loved visitors.
Yet the revolving door still spins…Suzy visits Friday!
