Father & Sons

Tanner at the Alaska Sea Life Center. Eric said he just LOVED watching the seals. This was definitely the highlight of his trip.

A quick trip to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Eric and Tanner at Exit Glacier

No. . .the Fathers & Sons campout isn't until this weekend (and how lucky am I to be the mother of FIVE sons?). . . but LAST weekend Eric had a teacher inservice meeting and afterwards a couple of the men planned a quick camping trip to Seward.

Tanner has beyond excellent the past month. He's our happiest helper and is so wonderful with Warner. As a reward, I packed up a backpack of goodies, prizes, a new hoodie (he's been begging me for one for months) and dropped him off in Anchorage so he could join up with his Dad and go camping for the weekend.

Playing in Plaid

Summer Goals

2009 Summer Goals



1. Back by popular demand. . . NO T.V. (includes no xbox too). We had a phenomenal summer last year with this as goal. Always a little adjusting at the beginning but incredible results.



2. Stay up too late, never get up too early, and savor the simple moments.



3. Read outloud atleast THREE books with the boys (the new Fablehaven, the new Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and The Giver & Number the Stars (done))



4. Explore something new in every direction (North: Byers Lake, South: Exit Glacier, East:? and West:Aleknagik)



5. Stick with Traditions: Midnight Fireworks, Bear Paw Festival, Family Bike Rides, Cubscout Daycamp, Winner Creek Gorge, Library Reading Program, Family Cul-de-sac games of kickball and baseball, Music in the Park, Free Movies, Slip & Slide, Park Days, Picking Blueberries, and Biking the Coastal Trail.

The Present of Presence

I've never had the luxury of being the model School Volunteer. Why? Lack of Devotion? Lack of Desire? Lack of Dedication? No. No. No. It has something to do with my three-year-old pulling all the teacher's books off the bookshelf or the baby in the stroller that the Kindergarten Girls insist on swarming and touching. Yup, I'm a Mom. And most of the time when I volunteer it is a family affair.

But with my boys I've realized that it isn't the Quality of Volunteering or even the Quantity, it is the mere effort of presence. They love seeing me at their school. They love the little hand symbol of "I Love You" or the extra special smile or wink in their direction. It isn't that I'm an amazing reading specialist or can grade papers extra fast. It is that I am there. . . just there.

I've been a Monday regular for Reading (in my more ambitious days), the Flouride Swish Lady, the BookOrder Orderer, and Field Trip Driver. I try to eat lunch with them a couple times a year and attend their special in-school openhouses showcasing projects, and their quarterly awards assemblies. It doesn't matter what Volunteer Hat I'm wearing the sparkle in that little boy's eyes when I walk through the classroom door melts my heart every time making me realize that sometimes the greatest present is presence.