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Getting back to "Normal"

4/15/2019

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As those of you (I'm hoping three by now) who've been reading my recent blog posts know, 2018 did a number on my family. We had many changes, both good & bad, many adjustments & the loss of any semblance of "normal".

Let me start by saying that "normal' is relative. What's normal for me (requiring a decent amount of coffee to function as a human) may not be normal for you (how do some of you human on just regular beverages?). So when I use the term "normal" in this post (yes, going forward I will ditch the quotation marks) I'm referring to a routine that was standard for me & mine.


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Meet the Mewlings!

4/13/2019

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Being a parent is...

9/23/2015

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so much more complicated than I could have ever imagined.  Hands down, the hardest thing I have ever done is be a parent.  Harder than adulting even.

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Yes, the Google even has teenager knowledge.

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Mommies need extra love too

9/1/2015

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Seriously just because we're moms & meant to be superheroes, doesn't mean we don't need some extra love every now & then.

So I forgot to post a pic of the nice surprise the Stork brought home the other day.  To thank me for being second in command (answering only to our Feline Overlord *see chart*), cleaning up after him (including but not limited to bathroom messes, kitchen messes, garage messes, living room messes...) & most importantly, being mom to the two greatest kids a human has ever created. (That's right, I said it & I don't apologize one bit.  I think they're amazing, there's no denying it.)  ***He also may or may not have been trying to butter me up for something.***

So here's the pic. 

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It was 3 am when I remembered that I wanted to snap a picture of these beauties. If you're anything like me, when that kind of thought wakes you out of a sound sleep, you can't rest until you do the thing. Still, I think this came out pretty good.

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Day two....

8/25/2015

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of the first week back to school.  Day two of both my boys being in high school. Day two of having the house to myself (well sans other humans anyway).

So far we're all surviving.  Both boys had "meh" kind of days yesterday. They're both at a new school, so we are all expecting a natural period of adjustment. (The Squab decided to transfer to a school that isn't as overcrowded as the last & the possibility of actually have staff that will care enough to give him extra help is greater.  The Chicken transferred for basically the same reasons, but also because that is where his brother is.)

I did pretty good myself; I can count the number of times I cried from missing them on one hand.  I can't say that I wasn't worried about them, especially the Chicken; freshman year is hard., but when I found out that the Squab took his brother for ice cream after school ("because freshman") I felt reassured that I don't have to worry as much.  As much. 

So day two & both boys made it out the door on time, with little struggle.  I unfortunately woke up with a very bad, very strange headache.  I think I might have been sleep stressing again.  A few hours (read:most of the day so far) of rest (because I could not fall back asleep) & some meds are watching it slowly march out of here.  Unfortunately this means I have not been able to accomplish much of what I wanted for the day.

Still, surviving the first two days so far is a good thing & I'll call it a win for us. I just hope that the week gets better for both boys & that we can all transition back into the school routine as smoothly as possible, because next week the Stork's work schedule changes.  This will mean earlier bed times for him & earlier wake times for both of us.

Hope you are all having a good week.  Oh yeah, if you don't mind, please take a minute to send some strength & positive thoughts to my girl Janelle over at Hands and Harts & her ohana.  They are in the middle of major geographical & lifestyle changes as they move from Michigan to Alaska.  (Send them hug filled bubbles too if you can.)

Well gang, I'm going to go do something domestical (read: I need to get something out for dinner or we'll starve!).  Have a spectacular rest of the day & I'll ramble at you later.  

Aloha,
-Clare

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Being an adult sucks...

8/18/2015

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But most of you already knew that.  

Sometimes it doesn't really, like when the world is cooperating & everything feels right.  Other times, it's all just one big suckfest.

Currently, I am in the midst of a mini suckfest.  Yup, I'm trying to get all the things done that need to be done before all of the parents breathe a collective sigh of relief.  That's right, school starts next week.

This year will be hell for us.  The reason?  The Squab is a senior, the Chicken is a freshman & I am the lucky mommy who gets to coordinate both the entering & the leaving of the high school.  I'm scared.

So, I am just giving you fair warning that I can & most likely will at multiple times during the year, go farther into the crazy than I already, currently reside. 

It will be an adventure.  One that I predict will be quite bittersweet at times. Like when I send them both off to school together for the first time in four years. Or when both my boys attend a homecoming dance for the one & only time together.   Or senior prom, graduation....

Look at me, I'm already a blubbering mess.  And they haven't even started school yet!

Okay, pulling it together.  Getting back on track.  Remember that I still have about a million phone calls to make.  

Hopefully your day will be filled with bubbles.

Aloha hugs,
-Clare



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Twenty years ago...

8/17/2015

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The Stork & I got married. 

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Better late than never....

8/11/2015

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Today I finally got the birthday dessert that I didn't get last week.  My favorite yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  

The Squab & his friend wanted to cook something, but didn't know what.  So I handed them the box mix & can of frosting that I bought for myself but never had a chance to make & said "have at it."  I informed them that I had intended to make cupcakes, but if they wanted to go full cake it was fine with me.

The following pics (are terribly blurry) are the "cake" that they made me.  The Squab decorated it himself & the Chicken joined him in singing to me.  

***I asked them to sing one of our favorite songs that I used to sing to them all the time.  It's a non-traditional standard that some of you may not be familiar with.  It starts like this..."Comet, will make your mouth turn green..."  It tickled me so that they did it willingly, without hesitation or protest.  I love them so.***


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When the Squab said he'd make cupcakes & little cakes, this is not what I pictured.
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When they finished singing, I was told to blow the candle out quickly as it was melting the cake.
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I insisted that the Squab cut a piece for everyone. He was happy to oblige.

I have to say, this was one of the best birthday cakes I've ever had.  Not just because there were no leftovers (because you can't count the cupcakes), but because I know it was made with lots of love & laughter.  Sorry I couldn't share it with you, I know you would have loved it.

Aloha hugs until next time,
-Clare
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My greatest Achievements....

8/2/2015

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Lessons from A Fire, Part One

7/24/2015

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****Warning this post is about an extremely personal & emotional subject for me, that may be too upsetting to some people.  I'm not kidding, it took so much out of me to write it & I may have short circuited my keyboard with tears.  Read at your own discretion.****

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waiting for the squab...

6/25/2015

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It's 12:30 AM & I am still awake.  Why (you didn't ask)?  Well, because I am "Maum" (pronounced 'Mm-ow-mm') & my Squab is not home from work yet. Damned labor laws & seventeen year olds.  (Funny how they can pretty much work 'em like adults, but they still have a midnight curfew.)

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It's Almost That time...

6/1/2015

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Dear The Google, I love this because, home.

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I shall title this post 3,465 because I can

1/31/2015

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Just wanted to pop in & post something.  My brain however is fried from a challenging week, so I did what I love to do, which is ask 'The Google'.

Except I couldn't think of what to ask 'The Google' for.  The Squab is at work, the Stork is cooking & the Chicken is in his room, so I decided to open Pinterest & see what grabbed me first.  

Well, as you can imagine (as I'm sure you know I'm very easily...oooh smells...) I did not make it to Pinterest before it came to me.  Yes, folks, I actually had a thought,  Don't look so shocked, it happens.

Anyway, I recently saw a piece of art that just mesmerized me.  And as we all know my brain works how it works, I actually started thinking that the style of the piece that I loved (see it here) would look absolutely killer as a/in a tree.

Which led me to ask 'The Google' for trees.  Which gave me results that included this pic.
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I do so love how accommodating 'The Google' is.
You're welcome.


You may now return to your regularly scheduled programming.


Aloha hugs,
~Clare
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A few years ago...

11/2/2014

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...in a land called California, the mother of me was born! Yes folks that's right, November 4th is not just election day in the good ol' U S of A.  It is a milestone in history, because one of the creators of one of the creators of the Squab & Chicken entered the world.
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Mum on her wedding day, June 1969

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Anniversaries & things...

10/15/2014

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It was one year ago today that my father-in-law passed away.  It was a devastating time for my ohana, but we got through it.  And one year later, as difficult as it has been at times, we're still here, moving forward, living, growing & smiling.

So much has changed in a year.  My mother-in-law & almost all of the rest of the Stork's side of the ohana have moved to Texas.  The Squab is driving. The Chicken is in his last year of middle school.  My dad has moved here...
A lot of changes.  

For some reason, this song has been running through my mind all day, so I'll see if I can get this to work.  Not sure I can embed the video, so if anything I'll post a YouTube link.  Cross your fingers.
Well, if that doesn't work, I apologize.  The ability to embed video is a premium feature I don't have right now.  ;)


Anyway, just wanted to pop in & say...Hi, I'm still here.


Aloha hugs until later,
~Clare
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    More about "ME"

    Aloha my name is Clare! My main job title is Mom, but I'm also an artist, crafter, avid experimental cook & occasional rabid baker. I live in Idaho with my husband & two sons (the "we" or "us" part of this website), but was raised in Hawaii. Feel free to explore our pages as we grow & change.  Mahalo! (Thank you)


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