Today...

 We took a slow stroll through the autumn beauty...

 We cleared our minds of everything but bright colors, brisk winds, and our little family...

We found time to be together, just us, and it was enough. It was perfect.

Herbstfest '12

Well, it was another successful year at the annual Huntingburg Herbstfest for the Smith family!  We filled our tummies with lovely fest food, tried out most of the rides, and attended more events than ever before.  Indeed, if the smiles on my children's faces are any indicator, it was the best one yet!

 

Highlights:

* queen contest * walking taco * little miss contest * riding motorcycles * buying inflatable toys * lemon shake-ups * junior miss contest * stromboli * playing in the park * picking out pumpkins * carousel * drinking Mondos * parade * duck pond * fruit sundae * seeing friends and family

 

Fireworks Diatribe

Dear Mayor,

I am writing a letter (well, maybe a diatribe disguised as a letter) in regards to the anonymous citizens of our fair town who have suddenly taken an obsessive interest in releasing fireworks every Saturday evening at approximately 8:45 P.M.  Although as an American I can certainly appreciate the inherent fact that fireworks are a means to publicly express one’s celebratory disposition toward (traditionally) our nation’s anniversary, or perhaps a significant lifetime milestone (such as a wedding or the birth of a child), I simply cannot fathom the purpose of firing off these loud and obnoxious tools on such a stringent schedule, especially during a time of night traditionally reserved for the bedtimes of young children.  Mine are aged six and three, respectively, and thus you can imagine the thrust behind this letter’s true purpose.

Indeed, my kids need their sleep, and if they do not sleep, then neither do I.  Furthermore, I cannot stress enough that the weekends are my only time to catch-up on this much-needed sleep, and any citizens (celebratory or otherwise) of my beloved town who would choose to release fireworks every Saturday evening at precisely 8:45 P.M. (and would continue such a flagrant charade until approximately 11:00 P.M.) would not represent (at least in my humble opinion) the highest quality of Huntingburgians.  Are these the individuals we want embodying our municipality? As a lifelong resident, college graduate, and selective firer of fireworks only on the Fourth of July, I THINK NOT.

Now, let me be honest and admit that I’ve tried to simply deal with this initially mild disturbance.  That first weekend when I became aware of these fireworks (and my own mounting frustration at them), I attempted myriad methods to ignore the incessant booms shrieking just outside my window.  I turned the air-conditioner to its highest setting.  I covered my head with a pillow.  I let my kids sleep in the bed with me in an obviously desperate attempt to lull them back to dreamland.   When those frantic attempts failed to assuage the garish auditory onslaught, I tried to watch Iron Man (to clarify, the one with Robert Downey Jr., a distinction I hope you appreciate) with the volume up high to drown out what sounded like malicious cannons from the Revolutionary War.  That, Mr. Mayor, was just the first night.

During the second weekend’s raid, I became so upset that I actually got into my mini-van (still in my pajamas) and literally drove around the neighborhood at about 5 MPH, trying to locate the dimwits citizens who were once again invading my nice, relaxing Saturday evening.  What I intended to do when I found the individuals responsible never entered my mind—which my baffled husband pointed out later had probably been lost at some point during the violent bursts of fireworks.  It is my respectful hope that you can begin to see why ceasing such unnecessary and out-of-season demonstrations is vitally important to my own wellbeing (and that of my family).

Of course, being an educated woman, I conducted a bit of late-night, curse-riddled research on the third weekend, to compile fireworks-related data before transcribing this diatribe letter.  Perhaps, most frustrating of all, was the ultimate realization that the state of Indiana actually has laws to protect these dim-witted citizens of our otherwise perfect hometown.  (Okay, likely not those actual individuals, probably more like the fireworks companies who want to continue to maintain revenue during the off-season—aka anytime other than July Fourth. Whatev.)  Still, in my sleep-deprived psychosis, I hoped to find some sort of ammunition that I might fire back in defense against these transgressors of sleepy-time.  Instead?  Instead, I unwittingly discovered they actually have the right to interrupt my evenings 365 nights a year, as long as they wrap up such debauchery by 11:00 P.M. (9 P.M. on a Sunday night).  WHAT?

In retrospect, I should probably leave my fireworks frustrations where they belong—in my husband’s ear—but for an English teacher, writer, and blogger like me, they had to be captured in words, forever frozen in time like an ancient dinosaur’s DNA in mosquito blood ensconced within amber.  So here they are, Mr. Mayor, written during an angst-ridden fourth weekend of never-ending fireworks, though I now realize there is absolutely nothing you can do about them.  The individuals responsible for decimating my beloved Saturday evenings—four weeks IN A ROW now—can simply continue their ridiculous pattern of fireworks charades for as long as they can afford them.  Unfortunately, there is nothing I, you, or the state of Indiana can do to halt them.  But it is my hope that, if you live anywhere near my neighborhood and share in my brain-shattering frustrations, you might one night ride shotgun with me as I attempt, once again, to locate these people.  Then, since we can’t do anything legally to curtail their rampant stupidity, we can at least be waiting maniacally at their curbs at 4 A.M. the next morning, ready to honk our horns, wish them top of the mornin’ via megaphone, or perhaps play them a lively breakfast melody on the Djembe (African drum that literally vibrates for miles, ironically a bit like fireworks themselves).

If you say yes, then you are officially my favorite citizen of Huntingburg.

Sincerely,
Me

P.S. I bet those fireworks farters couldn’t even pronounce half the words in this diatribe.

P.P.S. My husband thinks I may be overreacting a bit to this entire fiasco, but then again, he’s not an over-worked mom, so he doesn’t get an opinion in this matter.  Or any, for that matter.  But I thank him for staying up and finishing Iron Man with me.

P.P.P.S. I didn’t actually mail this letter, but I did post it to my blog! ;)

Back-to-School

Going back to school has always been a Catch-22 for me.  On the one hand, it forces me into a routine, which becomes increasingly necessary the longer I am without constraints of some sort.  I now have a reason to rise from my bed (albeit sluggishly) at a decent hour, dress in appropriate clothing (rather than lounge in pajamas), and eat my meals at socially acceptable times (instead of grazing all the live-long day).  See—so many positive results.

On the other hand?  I love summer.  I love sleeping in as long as my children will allow.  I love filling my un-scheduled days with creative crafts, carefree playtime, and little impromptu adventures.  I love summer.  I love hot days, cool pools, and long lazy afternoons.  I love being with my kids.  I love popsicles, library books, and backyard baseball games.  I love summer.

You see which hand has—well—the upper hand.

Being a teacher has always allowed me the privilege of experiencing two worlds: a hard-working career gal nine months of the year, followed by those three glorious months of SAHM-ish-ness.  For that, I am thankful.

It’s just the darn transitions that get me.  Especially the back-to-school one. 

So here I am, nearly ten years into my chosen profession, with one child in first grade and the other just starting preschool.  We’re currently caught up in the grind of school days, and it’s a bit overwhelming.  Sounds cliché, but where has the time gone?  Ay-ay-ay-ay-ay.

Although I’ve been lazy about blogging, it will always be a priority to me.  Writing is my outlet, always has been, always will be.  Hopefully, once I adjust to this most recent transition, I can return to multiple posts every week.  Fingers crossed!

In the meantime, I’m finding new shades of happiness in sharpened pencils, glossy backpacks, and fresh school clothes.  There’s nothing to boost the spirits like a sweet-smelling kiddo heading off to school with a smiling face and a hopeful attitude.

That, and the weekends. ;)  

Insta-Summer

 

 

Now that our summer is coming to a close (Ava starts school tomorrow! Hudson will start next week!), I thought it might be fun to review our summertime adventures via Instagram.  Here are some of my favorite insta-memories.  Every single image brings a smile to my face...

Zoo Trip

Disclaimer: This adventure occurred before the broken wrists, but since I hadn't gotten around to blogging about it yet, I decided to go ahead and share it today.  Enjoy!

One day earlier this month (on a day when it supposed to be a bit cooler but actually reached nearly 100 degrees) our family ventured once again to Mesker Park Zoo.  We usually go a few times a year, but this particular visit was special because we were able to do some new and exciting things.  Up first?  Feeding the giraffes!  For $2 each, the kids were able to get up close and personal to these beautiful animals and feed them some romaine lettuce leaves.  It was a fun experience all around.

After feeding the giraffes (and gulping down some 7-Up from the nearby watering hole), we opted to spend some time on the lake via paddle boats.  Every time we visit, the kids requested this trip, but we were always hesitant about getting Hudson out on the water.  This time, we decided he was ready.  Little man was my riding partner in the duck boat, and Erik took Ava in the swan boat. 

Right away, Hudson and I skimmed the water and explored the perimeter of the lake, where we found a group of sunning turtles!  He listened so well and really enjoyed himself.  Of course, Erik and Ava weren't quite as lucky.  Either they had a defective boat, or else the weight difference between riders was too much, because they barely made it to the center of the lake before they opted to bob and enjoy right there in the middle.  I wanted to laugh, cause that swan was atippin' sideways in the water and barely moving (ha!), but I felt bad for Ava.  She took it well and said it was fun just to float around awhile, and I tried not to tease E too much about it.  ;)

Still, this was one of our favorite trips to the zoo!

Treasure Hunt

With Ava's broken wrists, it's been both interesting and challenging to find new ways to play.  Other than watching lots of movies and reading many books, we've tried to get creative as well.  Our biggest hit, so far, has been the treasure hunt that I created for both Ava and Hudson.  Since Pirates of the Caribbean was our favorite ride at Disney, we've been pretty pirate-crazy this summer, and the kids are still talking about this hunt.

Here's what I did:

 

(1) Picked eight places around the house to hide clues and wrote accompanying riddles for each one.  Ava can read, and she only needed a little help with the riddles.  Then she and Hudson would go where the riddle instructed to find the next clue.  This was their favorite part.

 

Sample (this clue sent them to the fridge for the next clue):

I am tall, silver, and quite cold.

Do you know the things I hold?

Sips & fruit & Cokes & meat.

All the things you like to eat!

 

(2) The final clue sent them to dig for the treasure, but with a twist.  They had a final task to complete together, using teamwork, before they received their treasure.  In this case, I wrapped a puzzle, and they had to put it together in order to earn their treasure.  (Ava hated this part, but Hudson thought it was cool.)

 

(3) Finally, they earned their treasure and unwrapped more fun play activities: Play-Doh, stickers, and some candy.  This kept them busy longer than the actual treasure hunt!

 

We really enjoyed this activity (I had as much fun making it as they did completing it), and hopefully it might help anyone else who needs some end-of-summer play ideas.