Full Snow Moon and Vernal Equinox Oracles

I wrote this last weekend but forgot to post it until now.

It makes me happy that the full moon and the first day of spring are so close together this year.  It seems like maybe this is a better time for celebrating the new year, when the air is full of light, the leaves are unfurling, and tiny blossoms are everywhere. 

This moon's Goddess is Kuan Yin, the Compassionate Rebel.  Kuan Yin, the Chinese version of a male Hindu God, embodies the concept of karuna, the ability to identify so instensely with the plight of another that we are as affected as if it were our own.  Her name means "one who hears the cries of the world".  Contemplating the ideals that she represents means trying to deepen my response to others in a way that is truly empathetic, and giving myself that same kind of tender care.

The spring moons are overshadowed by Mary Magdalene, the oracle for the vernal equinox.  While many think of Mary Magdalene as a negative figure, it is important to remember that she was chosen to witness the crucifixion and was the first recorded witness to the resurrection of Jesus.  Her significance is paramount.  She respresents the divine partnership between deity and humanity, an ideal of caring for others, and the potential for goodness that each of us possess.  Keeping St. Mary Magdalene foremost in my thoughts throughout the spring season of renewal and rebirth encourages me to explore my spirituality and to expand the ways that I can be of service to others in my daily life.

Quote of the Day

We've been in cleaning mode for several weeks around here, an effort that will eventually lead to reorganized kids' rooms, new flooring downstairs, and a clean(er) garage...or at least we hope!  Over the weekend, I discovered a forgotten treasure: a collection of children's books that I inherited from my aunt.  They are called "The Young Folks' Shelf of Books".  They used to live on the top shelf of the bookcase in the front entry at my Granma's house, for years and years. 

I got them out tonight for the kids to look at.  They are story books ("chapter books", as our kids call them) on different topics, nine in all.  Bitty asked to look at them and I pointed out that they don't have many pictures.  He said, "I don't mind if they are chapter books, I have a big flat screen tv in my head and I can see my own pictures!"  Yea for imagination!

Bon Mardi Gras!

In keeping with my goal of celebrating holidays this year, the kids and I enjoyed a late and very rich dinner of eggs scrambled in butter with cheese and King Cake (thanks to Gramma for that). 

Tracy is downtown where the real party is in full swing right now.  Yikes, can't say I miss those crowds!
Teaching the kids about Mardi Gras is important to me, because if Tracy and I had to darken a block for ethnicity on the old Census form, it would be "Cajun"!  We both have a lot of that rich and colorful blood in our veins...what better way to start sharing the culture than with the fete du Mardi Gras?  Enjoy!

Pookie Wins!

ScienceFest, the regional science fair, was today.  As if it weren't bad enough that I had to go buy Beanie her first ever pair of SIZE ONE shoes first thing this morning, in the foggy nastiness, then I had to drop Pookie off at the front door of the Palmer Events Center and watch her walk bravely into the exhibit hall to wait, all alone, for the judges.  I can't believe she is even big enough to be here, much less to be alone and have to explain to total strangers why lizards and their scales piqued her interest in the first place.  On the bright side, Bitty and I have made two wonderful discoveries: there is a lovely stick outside on the lawn between this building and Butler Park, and there is a Starbucks stand in the back of the Hall.  Yippee!

Waiting for Pookie

We waited for about 90 minutes for Pookie to come out of the Hall and walk onto the stage, where she announced her name.  She waited about ten seconds and when she didn't see me as I struggled to the front of the seating area from my seat IN THE BACK ROW, she announced herself again.  Forcefully. :)

We went home to collect Beanie, whose soccer team was soundly beaten, not that anyone really notices the score at these games, and returned to find that Pookie was awarded a 2nd Place ribbon.  Yea Pookie!  She and Beanie are both already planning what their entries will be next year, and counting their ribbons from the years to come.

Full Snow Moon Oracle

The Goddess for the February moon is Artemis, the Virgin Goddess.  Artemis is commonly associated with nature and fertility, along with the principles of risk and reward.  She is the Goddess of the Hunt, protecting wild animals to ensure their propagation and choosing which may be taken by worthy hunters, and known as the Lady of the Moon.  In various places, she is identified with Selene, the Moon Goddess, or with the Mother Earth.  In all cases, Artemis represents and requires purity in thought and action, loyalty, and fulfillment of oaths.  Artemis rewards those who take risks in order to live honestly in accordance with their true selves.  This month, I will be thinking about my values and beliefs, and evaluating whether I am living them as fully as I am capable of.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We have officially recovered from Tracy's deployment, for the most part anyway, and after a year of rediscovering what our new normal is, I decreed that in 2011, we will celebrate all holidays! We anticipate another deployment in 2010, so we are going all out while we can!


For some reason, I thought it would be great if the kids could give homemade cookies as treats to their friends this year. And, since I had already committed to baking seven dozen cookies for them, I offered to bake a few more for a meeting at work. Why not?

The kitchen is covered in flour and sprinkles, but ten dozen sparkly cookies are headed out as Ambassadors of Affection. Happy Valentine's Day!

Clean Pennies, Lizard Scales, and Legos

February is a very exciting month for us.  Soccer starts, which means that life becomes ever so much more complicated, the kinder students celebrate their 100th day of class, and the school holds its science fair.  Pookie was required to participate this year, and getting her to choose something was like pulling teeth.  The information about the event came home in November, and she decided on a topic about five days before it was due.  Beanie, on the other hand, knew in December that she wanted to experiment with what kind of soap is best for cleaning pennies!

Thus, while Pookie and I furiously searched the internet for information that would explain why, in fact, lizards have scales, Beanie scrubbed away at four dirty pennies with her different soaps.  Bitty occupied himself by making a lego sculpture for his 100th Day collection assignment, and in the end, it all came together and everything got done on time. Mostly. :)

Congrats to Pookie for being selected to advance to the Regional ScienceFest!  We are so proud of her!

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Beanie's Clean Pennies

Bitty's Lego "100"

Pookie's Award Winning Lizard Scales

Fun with Food

The snow is mostly gone, but we are still hibernating from the cold! For brunch today, we are making salad people.  Well, for us they are more pasta and fruit people, but you get the picture.  Yummy!





Snow Day!

We are so excited to have a snow day with snow! Pook, Bean and Bitty were up and outside by 7:30 this morning.  They played in the snow as long as they could stand it, then came in to warm up by the fire and enjoy some hot chocolate.  We spent the day baking cookies, playing games, and watching movies.  What an unexpected treat!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Hard to believe that today is Tracy's 41st birthday...especially after he outperformed the twenty-somethings at GoRuck Austin!  The younglings and I wish he were home with us to celebrate, but we will make up for it on Saturday after the Tough Mudder.  I believe Birthday Soup and chocolate cake with confetti "icening" will be on the menu.  Yum!  We love you, babe!

 ~~~

Today's funny kidism:  I was helping Pookie study for a test over major muscles.  She was repeating them and identifying them on her body.  She pointed to her bottom and said, "booteus maximus".  What?  I thought she was being funny so I asked her to stop being silly and repeat the correct name.  Straight-faced, she said, "Booteus maximus, booteus minimus...right?" 

I can't wait 'til the PE teacher hears that one!

Full Wolf Moon Oracle

I love my iPhone, and one of my favorite apps is "Goddess Oracle".  It's a handy little app that you can use when you're looking for guidance or needing some tough love.  It includes a fairly comprehensive reference catalog of goddesses and explains how each one was significant in her culture and what her appearance in your life might portend.

The feature that I like is the "oracle" function, which randomly (?) generates a Goddess for you.  I prefer to believe that it's not so random, and that there is a reason why I'm reading about a particular Goddess on a given day.  I enjoy "consulting my oracle" on the day of the full moon, and spending time thinking about what she represents through the month.

The Goddess for the January moon is Brigit, "Fiery Arrow", the Celtic Goddess of protection, fire, and hearth, and patron of warriors.  She encourages me to strengthen and heal myself in some way, and to engage life boldly and courageously. Interestingly, Brigit is most celebrated on Imbolc, a holiday which occurs on February 1...during the time when I will be thinking about her.  See?  Not so random after all.

GORUCK Austin Pics

Pook, Bitty and Bean showing off the GORUCK load (30 lbs!) that Daddy carried.



Future GORUCKers :-)

Family Strong

This weekend, the kids and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet the GORUCK team and some of the other challenge takers downtown at Mellow Johnny's (Lance Armstrong's bike shop).  We dropped Tracy and Amy off there for their Saturday night adventure - the first ever GORUCK Austin.  The GORUCK Challenge is not a race or an obstacle course.  It is a six to eight hour "challenge tour" of the location, incorporating sightseeing of things like the State Capitol, Sixth Street, the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Park and the Barton Creek Greenbelt with enjoyable activities like running, log carrying, flutter kicks, pushups, and fireman carries, during rain and 45 degree temps.  Tracy and Amy's group covered about 18 miles, but their adventure was a little longer than it would have been because ten miles or so in, they came across a domestic assault and intervened.  Since they were off-duty, they had to hold the offender and wait for uniformed cops to arrive, which, considering it was Saturday night and downtown, took a while. The other participants got more than they bargained for - all that is the GORUCK plus an up close and personal example of Austin's finest in action! 

The kids and I went back to pick them up about 1 am.  Tracy knocked on the window and woke me up when the group came in around 2 am.  I thoroughly enjoyed watching the team "welcome" them, then turn them around and head them out to do another four miles.  From my perspective inside the warm, dry vancar - funny!  They finally finished up about 3:15 am.  After congratulating everyone and dropping one of the guys off at his hotel, we celebrated with breakfast at Kerbey Lane and then fell into bed about 6 am. 

I am so proud of Tracy and Amy!  Not only did they complete the challenge in the face of adversity, they also helped the entire group succeed.  It is a great thing for our kids to see that kind of camaraderie and dedication in action...and especially for them to have strong female role models.  Before the event, Bitty commented that Amy is pretty tough "for a girl".  After hearing about all the things she did - including helping to tackle the bad guy - he concedes that she is "just pretty tough".  :-)

I am inspired by hearing about their adventure, and I am motivated to embrace a lifestyle of "action, energy, and purpose"!

Mouths of Babes

Lately, Beanie has been experimenting with the different names she might choose when she grows up. 
Tonight, she and Pookie played dress up.  Beanie was a vampire, and first her name was Ivy, then Draculaura, like the doll.  And then she said, "Hmm.  August.  August can be my name when I grow up!  Miss August!"

lololololololol  :-)

Barcodes

Thursday is my "early day" at work.  Last year, I negotiated one early day/week during the school year, instead of taking a pay increase.  I value my early day soooo much...in terms of my sanity it is worth much more than its equivalent dollar value. 

Today, we watched an episode of The Electric Company, which involved detectives and mysteries and barcodes that translated to clues. The kids thought the barcodes were super cool, so just for fun, I made one for the blog (again). 



We are so tech-hip!

A Scarf for Pookie

I learned to crochet the first time when I was a child; my Granma taught me how.  I learned again as an adult during a weekend visit with my Aunt Bet.  I've been working on one project or another for at least ten years.  Last year I made Bitty a stuffed blue elephant and I made Beanie a pastel scarf with flowers, but Pookie couldn't make up her mind about what she wanted.  She finally decided on a ruffled scarf like the one I made for myself in 2009.  She chose a very pretty multicolored yarn and I added some ivory with a metallic thread, and during my time off after Christmas, I made this for her.

This is a very easy pattern, freely available from Lion Brand Yarn.  There are a couple different ruffled scarf patterns on the site; this one is called "Ruffle Colors Scarf" and only uses three different stitches.  So easy!  Best of all, Pookie loves it!

Mouths of Babes

Beanie: "...and there is one really good thing about leaves.  Leaves are free!"

2011: The Year of Blogging

Happy New Year!

As promised, I am starting off 2011 with a return to blogging.  Not only am I blogging, but I also intend to post one picture each week.  I may even set up a second blog for adult topics.  Wish me luck!

As for the kiddos, Pook, Bean and Bitty celebrated the New Year at home with me.  We toasted with sparkling apple cider and double chocolate truffles...and were all promptly sound asleep by 12:30.  :-)

Today, we talked a little about setting goals for ourselves for the coming year.  Bitty's goal is to learn to read (more).  Pook and Bean said they want to learn to swim well enough "to go to to the deep end at Dick Nichols pool", and Pook added that she plans to stop biting her nails (one way or another!).  Then Bitty said, "And my other goal is to teach the sisters how to do flips underwater!" 

These are some serious resolutions!  I'll keep you posted on our progress.