"Whaaa....?!? It isn't me!" - Domenic feb.2011

This is my youngest boy Domenic. He's a character, if you couldn't tell. He does everything without limit... be it laughter, love, hurt feelings, crying, rambunctious behavior, anger, disappointment, having fun, being crazy and... as it turns out dancing. So last weekend, while I was folding laundry, I turned on a "radio station" on our xbox live where you type in the name of a band and they match your choice with music from other bands/musicians. So, I know my boys usually like the Gorillas and it being a sunny Saturday afternoon... it made sense.

I can't recall which song it was, but it had a friendly beat, the kind that might get one's toe tapping or head bobbing. The bigger boys were in their room and Ms. H was in her swing. Domenic was kind of chillin' with me when all of a sudden his hips start bumping back and forth to the beat. His shoulders remained perfectly still and his arms were kind of at his sides, bent at the elbow with his hands in front. I looked at him and smiled. I thought he would return the smile, but all I got back were surprised eyes with a partially hidden smirk where his smile should have been. He then shrugged and said "Whaaa?!? It isn't me!" Then his body burst into a very animated dance of its own making, or so he would have me believe, followed by an indescribably infectious laughter. The room was immediately filled with movement and sound by a single 5 year old.

My only thought? Man, I need to get this kid into some hip-hop dance lessons.

"People Change." - Liam jan.2011

Or so says my 7 year old son when I asked him why he wasn't playing with one of his friends from his old school at day care. You see, as a result of our purchasing a home this past year, my children had to change schools. They traded in their blue Falcon shirts for a slightly more imposing white Bulldog on their new red shirts.

Again, I bring to mind: "People change" he said with a matter of fact shrug as he walked past me toward the exit. He's 7 and he's already come to terms with one of those profound understandings that most people don't get until they are at least in their mid-twenties... or at least it was something that I didn't get until then. But it does beg the question.... How much can a little boy change between kindergarten and first grade and more importantly, which of the two boys did the changing. I cannot even begin to fathom what it was that polarized their relationship that just last year was conga-lining itself around the cafeteria at their then shared elementary school during the mother-son dance we attended. I suppose it doesn't really matter the why's and the how's, I just have to chuckle at the serious nature of his response and stand in the awe of the fact that I have a child that emerged from MY womb that has some understanding of an essential human truth. People change... that and the word poop is fun to put into nearly any sentence. Yeah, he's got that one down pat.

I guess it's been a while!

Well, for sure I couldn't be a professional blogger! My consistency is not just lacking, it's in the negative. In the past 18 months or so, a bunch has happened. The Harwoods purchased their first home! Yay!










God was definitely good to us in 2010!! Then to top it off, we finally had our baby girl!! After having three, yes THREE, boys, I think we can officially give all credit to God for blessing us with Helena Josephine who was born on October 30, 2010.

She is truly a manifestation of God's grace in my life! The boys are all doing well! Jacob is in 3rd grade, Liam is in 1st and Domenic will be starting Kindergarten in the fall! When did I become a grown up is what I want to know. Can't wait to see what 2011 has to offer!

 

This is us, just a few weeks before Helena changed our world! What an incredible journey this life is! I am so blessed!!

Not As Regular as One Might Expect

In my defense, I've started a blog or two in the past 5 months, I've just not posted them for lack of time or interest. However, after reading about one blog wonders and orphan tweets, I thought I might update my blog just a tad... however, brief.

I celebrated my birthday recently, so I am now the proud owner of the title "in her thirties". 32 makes it quite official. I did finally get a tattoo that I've been wanting. It was back in February, so it's been a while. Yes, it's real!

My middle child is now a graduate... of preschool. Not sure why they have a ceremony, but it was cute. Lots of tears from Moms surprisingly enough. He did the welcome speech. So proud!

My youngest is officially potty trained during the day. Night time is hit and miss. But he's basically done. Yay! As with my other 2 boys, he decided when he was done wearing pullups and we never looked back.

My oldest is now finished with another year of school. Looking forward to a summer filled with trips and lots of fun! He's just a good kid!

Oh... they all got haircuts. However much they were needed, the long hair is missed. I just couldn't bring myself to force long hair on them any more than I could force a crew cut. In homage to the boys long hair, Muffins with Mom and Donuts with Dad photos to follow:

I am greatly looking forward to the rest of 2009, though I hope it doesn't pass too quickly.

What To Do... What To Do...

As a parent, I'm finding that as difficult as it was to struggle through night-time feedings, dirty diapers, hauling around a weekend's worth of items to run simple errands and spit up when you're dressed and ready to leave, the true challenges come with age. I know, I know... My kids are still young and I have many challenges to look forward to when they are pre-teens, teens and, dare I say it, young adults, but to date, these current challenges seem somewhat overwhelming.

I won't go into detail, but I will say that no matter what choices I make on their behalf, it always seems like the wrong one and I often find myself second guessing everything. But I just love these boys, so we'll keep plugging away!

snow, snoW, snOW, sNOW, SNOW!!!

I LOVE the snow! One caveat, however, is that I don't particularly want to live where it snows. So I suppose it's appropos that God placed me in the Central Valley of California. It takes a little more than an hour to reach the snow and a little more than 2 hours to reach the coast. I don't think I would mind living on the coast, but I've not actually lived there, so I don't really know. But since this post is about snow, I digress about the coast.

So... I LOVE the snow! If you read my last post, you'll know that I have a tendency to set my kids up for failure when it comes to staying dry. Therefore, this most recent New Years day (and the following day) we went up to Yosemite to play in the snow. Now you might wonder, why we would travel to one of this country's national treasures to simply play in the snow, and rightly so. The long and short of it is, that 4 miles into the park there is this great snow play area across the street from the historic Wawona Hotel. There is ample parking and lots of room for everyone to spread out. Additionally, if one is willing to shell out the $20 for a 7 day pass, you can drive right past the over-crowded, free snow play areas on Highway 41 on your drive up and KNOW that there is a quaint, serene, uncrowded slope just waiting for you. Not only that, you don't have to avoid near death trying to get parking on the side of the highway and keep your kids from getting run over while you're loading and unloading.



Anyways, in addition to loving the snow, we LOVE the MacIntosh Family! They are the kind of people that you hope to grow old and gray with and you pray that your collective children will remain friends until such time as they too are old and gray. So the fact that we now have an actual tradition (we've done it 2x's now) that involves going to the snow with the MacIntosh Family is simply wonderful!


We stay in Oakhurst and drive the 20 minutes into the park, hike into our secret and private area and hang out for a few hours. There's always hot cocoa, except this year we forgot cups, lot's of snacks, a place to rest, and a buddy to share your sled with. We made our snow man and this year it was even better than last year. Last year, it was later in the year so the snow was very hard. Good for a fast slope, bad for a snow man. Our man last year was very short and had crazy hair! This year, he was about as big as a kid, and he was asian (don't ask)!

The 2008 Snow Man

The 2009 Snow Man

We ate dinner at our FAVORITE barbeque place, Todd's, and ate until we could only waddle out to the car. Since we stayed at the Best Western this year, we topped off the night with a nice swim and dip in the hot tub at the indoor pool area. It was a bit tricky getting the kids back to the rooms, since we had to go outside to do it. But, it's awesome to play in the snow and swim on the same day! I always think, that our families will hang out in the rooms in the evening, but by the time we get back we are all so tired, we just crash out. I guess that means we had fun!



My favorite memory of our trip was the trip itself! I love the drive up and back. Rob and I get an hour to chat and remember last year and look forward to our day ahead. There're always those fun caravan stops, where one car has to find a facility and the other an ATM. The old "you'll do this, we'll do that and we'll meet back here, one, two, three, BREAK!" moments are always fun! Eating out with friends, especially at a place that has peanuts in the shell on the table and doesn't mind sweeping up after your kids that have already gone through one basket and dinner's not even here yet. I love sitting at one table and looking over at our kids, who have their own table, and watch them as THEY chat and goof off with THEIR friends. They may be small, but they're people too, apparently. I love laying down after a full day, knowing that my kids have made a memory that they won't soon forget. That these memories will be discussed with their friends in High School, their girlfriends in College and their own kids when they are parents. That this very tradition, might inspire them to make their own traditions with their families and that my grandchildren will, in turn, do the same. I love letting my kids play in the snow when it is raining, because there were no plans to stay dry. I love driving in the snow, because we stayed a little too long and pushed the clock back a bit because there was still fun to be had. I love driving through Fishcamp (yes, it's a town) and seeing three or four feet of snow on all of the rooftops (another reason I like to visit and not live in the snow, pretty to look at, pain to live in). I especially love the drive home. Kids are quietly watching a movie, or sleeping as the case may be. Everyone, even the adults, are tired and content. The drive is slow but steady, because you're not in a hurry to get home.


I LOVE the snow! It engenders in us a whimsical childishness! It creates a wonderland of beguiling beauty, where we can doff the garbs of parenthood, employment and spouse-dom once we cross the street and step foot onto the snow. We can cut the cords of hand holding and let the kids just run and become kids ourselves.

I LOVE the snow!

It always seems like a good idea...

The Holidays have once again flown by, today we are officially 8 days into 2009. Before you know it, we'll be 8 days into 2010. It seems that the speed with which the years race by increases as I grow older. A sentiment that is merely an echo of so many conversations I've had with those older than I, over the years.

In mulling over the past 8 weeks, I find myself thinking back to the Saturday after Thanksgiving. In Clements, where my parents and grandparents live, it was a cold day, but sunny. The skies were blue and it seemed a perfect day to take a drive to the river to throw rocks. When we first moved out to Clements from the Bay Area, the Mokelumne River was a pretty popular place to go to and just hang. It's quiet, beautiful, serene, fun, rock covered, muddy and wet. A combination of adjectives that pleases both parents and kids alike. Kind of like Kix. "Kid Tested. Mother Approved." The intent was that the kids would stand at the shore and throw rocks and sticks. Maybe wander around a bit and see some wild life. DEFINITELY NOT GET WET!

As you can see by the picture, that didn't happen. It's funny how, a perfectly dry child can get wet slowly. Quick step to retrieve that stone, shoe... just a little wet. Another, slightly slower, step out into the water to get that one pretty rock that you just have to have, bottom of jeans... just a tad damp. Ten minutes later, their sneakers have become water socks and their pants look tie-dyed, as the color saturation deepens toward the bottom. As a Mom, I easily traverse between "grown child" and "no-fun mommy". Fortunately, for my boys that day, I hovered over my inner child for a while and figured, since they were already wet, "Why not wade out to that cool looking rock!"

So there I am convincing my children to roll up their already wet pant legs and wade out to a rock in icy cold water. Hey, it seemed like a good idea at the time and maybe icy is a bit of an exaggeration... let's say the exhilaratingly cold water! And yet, the aftermath of muddy, sandy, soaking wet feet being crammed into already wet sneakers walking back to the van and climbing into my car, wasn't the vision of joy that I had originally. See, when I find myself operating as the "fun mom", I tend not to follow the logic through. OF COURSE, this is how it would end.

But while we were on the rock, it was nothing but laughter and splashing and fun, so I'll say it... it was worth every bit of whining back to car.

Plus, had we not taken this little river detour, I would never know that my Bubba was actually a Jedi Knight... though I had my suspicions!