be here now

trying to stick to a new mantra- basically zen I guess. In order to be here now, I am supposed to eat when I am eating, sleep when I am sleeping, etc., so basically I need to focus on one thing at a time and be mindful, approaching each task and activity of the day as a moving meditation. Um, I just typed mediation. significance? Anyway, had a lovely evening tonight, playing out back in the garden with the kid lets until daddy came home, then taking bikes out front and after dinner taking Owen to Target and JoAnn's for cat food and jewels. We started the jewel jar (or gem jar) for Owen this afternoon. Each time he is a first time listener he gets to earn a jewel for the jar and chooses a reward when it is half and all the way full. So far it's working great and he already has 11 gems. He asked for a "sewer" (sew-er) for Christmas so he could make clothes, which is really interesting because he commented on it at JoAnn's and I have actually been thinking of a few sewing projects I would like to take on, such as tool belts, eye pillows and pillow covers. So that and a composter top my list right now. I have also made a list of blog posts I need to catch up on since Christmas. There are 27. Taking bets on when that might happen. ha! Open house is Thursday night, I will be working nonstop for the next 48 hours (after a good night's sleep tonight of course) to get through that. Then we have a furlough day Friday and Memorial Day weekend to look forward to. I am really stoked about summer with the kids. Lots of visions of a summer wedding celebration for my side of the family in New Hampshire and a family Fourth of July with Derek's side of the family in Rhode Island plus finally catching up with my East Coast college buddies and their 4 sons who I've NEVER MET YET!!! Then long days of library visits, swimming lessons, craft projects, napping in the heat of the afternoon, and summer outdoor suppers loll in the back of my mind, beckoning me beyond the sea of school projects, end of the year assessments, report card comments, and incoming Kinder testing that lie between me and summer vacation. Of course Owen's birthday is "coming up" as he says, and he will be three! This is the year where he is really anticipating. As of tonight, he would like sausage pizza, ice cream, meatballs, spaghetti and ice cream cones for his birthday. He is hoping for a fire truck, a garbage truck, Home Depot tools, and a microphone for his birthday.