Fill a Bucket!

One of our most favorite family books to read is,  "Have You Filled a Bucket Today?" It talks about being kind to others, offering a visual way of understanding the concept of how your actions affect others.  In the story, everyone carries around an invisible bucket that is constantly filled, or emptied, by themselves and/or people who surround them. The kids love it and we love the lessons taught.

Sometimes life's busyness allows us to forget the simple pleasures of being present and filling those buckets who are closest to us.  Life certainly isn't just lined with cherry trees with fresh fruit waiting to be picked, but life is still good but it sometimes just takes a few moments to sit back and realize how good it is.

This past weekend we did just that ---we filled each other's buckets by the handfuls. We picked up our kids and saddled them with a weekend of fun with a mom and dad who were 100% attentive and living in the moment.  It felt great.. So Really Good.  After a lazy Saturday morning, we drove to the city Children's Museum and had a blast. Wanting to continue our day into the evening, we found the most kid centric restaurant we can think of..The Rainforest Cafe ..where the Rylan was amazed we were eating in the rainforest with active storms without getting wet :).  Makenna actively led a safari hunt to find every animal on her search list, crossing them off eagerly one by one. And to end the evening, Daddy decided to high tail it to a surprise dessert stop, illegally parking the car and leading the two littles inside to pick out their freshly made doughnut at Firecakes. As they eagerly buckled back in their car seats with their larger than life doughnut, we drove home with a relatively and quite noticeable, quiet backseat. The beginning of the end to a wonderful day together.

With the sun shining brightly and the fall colors displaying their beautiful show, we woke up Sunday morning knowing that our to do lists can wait another day because nature was calling.  We drove a half hour to Cantigny where we were certain the colors would be prime..and it certainly didn't let us down.  Walking the grounds, climbing the military tanks and the trees, and enjoying the vibrant colors made for a nice afternoon.  There were so many moments when Scott and I looked at each other and thought, "man, our kids are cute" reminding ourselves how fortunate we are at hitting our own jackpot.   "Daddy I love hanging out with you," said Rylan.  And MC's just as cute statement, "mom, why does my shirt just say LOVE, it should say I LOVE MOM."  Filling our buckets for sure...thanks kids.

And since you know photographs are the key to this momma's heart, here's a *few* from our day. :)

Thankful Tuesday

As we have entered the fall season with the initiation of school starting, I find myself feeling so very thankful and grateful and so in love with life, in love with us, and in love with the direction our paths are winding.  Sure there is plenty I wish I could change, but I am choosing to focus on the good things in our lives. The love, the happiness, the joy, the loudness and the craziness being the family that we are right now.  We are so fortunate.

 I have always loved routines; schedules that are filled with obligations but still leaving time for spontaneous opportunities. Activities keeping everyone busy but also having adequate time just to be. Special time for each of us, to be alone and to be together alike.  I think we have started to establish just that.

The kids are loving their school time. After each of the three days I have picked up Rylan from preschool, his teacher comments on how well he has adjusted.  Today she remarked on how well he knows all the school songs, stating Makenna must have taught him.  "The other kids are still looking at me a bit lost but Rylan sings right along with me."  My heart swells.  He is happy. He is learning to be without his momma.  He is continually growing as the little being he is meant to be and that makes me so proud and so happy.

At home he wants to do everything independently.  "mommy I need to go potty."  "I'm ok. I don't need help." Ok Rylan, just make sure you put your pants on afterwards( a common issue lately). "mommy i need help though."  Smile.

If you ask Makenna what her favorite part of school is she will undoubtedly tell you recess, followed by rest time and lunch.  She loves going to gym class, going to the school library and having a reading buddy from the second grade come read her a story.  As far as what happens between those hours, I'm not really sure,  but she is happy.  She looks forward to school and is enjoying the days.  She comes home content and gives her little brother a hug and her puppy a strong snuggle.  We look through her bag, read through any of the paperwork and talk about her day.  Life is good.

And with changes we stretch our wings a bit further and reach out to the world to say I am here and I am going to fly.  We adapt, we grow, we discover a new way and in turn we embrace the life of today.  And that makes me so thankful. Here's to that...slainte'!

a celebratory day

A few weeks ago I celebrated my birthday.  We didn't really make any concrete plans and awoke up to possibility of thunderstorms questioning whether we should go anywhere outside.  And then we thought..why should that stop us?  So we packed up the kids and headed downtown Chicago with an initial stop at our favorite Native Foods for lunch.  YUM!

Although rain showers did indeed fall, immediately after lunch the clouds passed and the sun shined brightly on a glorious warm, but not too hot, beautiful afternoon.  After a walk to the bakery we headed to the Chicago River and boarded the Wedella Boat for a two hour cruise along the rive and Lake Michigan. And it was wonderful.  Great to be a tourist in your own town.

Our afternoon in photographs.

Chicago River

Sears  Willis Tower

Barge, going from the river to the lake height

Navy Pier

 Such a fantastic day.  Thank you to all of you who reached out to me to wish me a happy day-I felt the love. And here's a quick collage I did for our books.  Have a great weekend and try and stay cool.