dancing kid

I am trying to maintain a positive perspective - this video helps.  Life is just overwhelming.  I started the process of advertising for childcare.  Ran 3 miles today with Zues and 3 yesterday.

Sluggish

Bennett's desire is to stay at home with her stuff and take pictures of the neighbors from our window.

B taking pictures out our window

Libby and Di are coexisting well - they went shopping today.  Libby then made a fabulous dinner - it was great to have a break from the cooking.  Libby also played dress up with B, made cupcakes, and washed B's hair!  She will be an amazing mom if and when she chooses to be one.

I rented my lampworking studio to a young woman - it was nice to see her so involved in making beads.  I also made it to the gym for a 3 mile run - but I was feeling sluggish.

Home tomorrow

where we get the Internet

Another beautiful day!  We leave tomorrow at 8 am and will arrive in Holyoke at around 8 pm probably exhausted.

Bennett is sad to leave but also misses our house and desperately needs a day or two of doing nothing.  She was so tired yesterday she just curled up into a little ball on the beach.  We took a three hour nap and I was still yawning today.

I did get up early the past few days and ran 2 - 3 miles (hard to say exactly).  I was also able to join the swim across the lake today - so nice.

We said goodbye to some people yesterday who had to leave early.  I was very sad to see Bill leave.  He was recently diagnosed with cancer and talking with him reminds me so much of what Ruth went through.

New friends and sparklers

new friend

We are having so much fun at the lake!  Bennett went tubing for the first time.  She reported that she wiped out, but was ok.  Some adult provided sparklers at the campfire last night.  Bennett is making new friends and generally running around until she collapses.

I slept in yesterday but got up today and ran about 3 miles.  I finally experienced what Karen T. said most runners have to do on their runs and got bit by the horseflys in the process (I will not go into detail).  Hope to swim across the lake again today!

playhouse next to our cabin

first sparkler!

On Vacation

We are on Vacation with Aunties Liz and Julie!  It is beuatiful here in upper Minnisota.  We are staying on a lake and enjoying swimming, campfires and junk food (at least Bennett is she is currently sharing a pizza with three lovely 20 something kids).

There is limited internet access - just down at the lodge on the dock - which is a great place to hang out.  

Bennett went fishing today and caught her first fish - and about twenty more after that.  She has been having a blast running around with the other kids.

I managed to get up before everyone else two days in a row to jog.  2 miles yesterday and 3 miles today - I have to add that I swam across the lake yesterday.  The lake swim is a Pokela tradition, we actually stopped in the middle and sang some crazy finnish song and I brought back a reed from the other side.

The campfire last night was pretty awsome.  Several of the Pokela's are musical so we had great songs - the kids danced and ate popcorn and smores.

long fun day

It was a long fun day.  I did some work on trimming out the windows I put in the back wall - Bennett helped me.  She climbed the scaffolding, went through the window and then down the ladder.  We went to home depot together to get the trim.

Later we went to the Canoe Club and met up with Sandy and Avy.  Avy and B had a good time running and swimming.  Ruth, Theo and Brad came for dinner -we had a cook out and after more running and swimming had a birthday cake to celebrate Sandy's birthday.  All in all a great day!

mean kids

Here are some pictures Elizabeth sent me.

Ruth loved reading to Bennett.  I have tried to continue reading to her.  We started The Tale of Despereaux at the canoe club this week.  Luckily we have not seen the movie.

B has been a bit clingy this week so I did not go for a run yesterday.  We went to the Canoe club and had a lovely time until the mean kids showed up.  How is it that a five year old can be so mean?

Bennett tries to play with this girl but she repeatedly tells Bennett to go away or excludes her.  At one point the girl would not let B on the play structure.  It breaks my heart to watch.

today

I cannot get beyond today.

Today I cleaned the house - recovery from being out of the house for a day.  I did a visiting artist gig on Saturday at Snow Farm.  It was great - the kids were awesome- all girls and we did wearable objects.  I love the creative and inclusive energy there!

I am sorry I did not bring a camera.  Three girls worked together to make top hats that made all of them the same height.  There was a cat mask, a lion mask and some other great objects made that day.

Bennett and I went to the canoe club today.  We swam and missed Rose but played a bit with Ava and Molly.     Molly was very sweet and shared her toys with B.  She also tried to teach B to dive under to get the toy.  My world has become all about watching B with other kids.  Some of the kids  she just does well with others she has a hard time.

Ran 3 miles today.   I know Zues and I ran 3 miles friday - I need to catch up.  New shoes coming soon!

Hair cut

hair cut

I finally went and got a hair cut.  Bennett went with me and was such a big girl sitting up in the chair to get a trim.  We got to the cheap salon ($12 cuts and they were super nice to B) right before the rush.  I told the salon person to chop my hair off.  She did a good job - I feel lighter.

B went with Tanta in her car without mom to a park today.  Zues and I jogged up to meet them (3 miles).  The water spray was not on the ice cream man told us that the pump was broken.  B wanted to sleep with Tanta she almost did but came to bed with me.  She is still getting used to doing things without Mama - its ok Tanta is very understanding and I love to be with B.

movies

I did not run today - just felt too tired.  Yesterday I did run 3 miles - I think I may need new shoes my feet are fatigued.

We went to the movies today and yesterday.  The art theater yesterday was showing The Neverending Story (a blast from the past).   The main character's Mom died and he finds adventure and hope through a fantasy book.  Today we went to Brave a pixar movie- it is a very good kid movie.  The story and the animation were excellent.  The mom and girl have a huge fight and the mom is turned into a bear by a crazy witch (I sometimes feel like a bear).

B has been taking her new doll Zoe everywhere with her.  It was a present from Aunt Ruth and Theo (extremely well thought out).  She even sleeps with Zoe.  Zoe came with a book that we are reading.  Apparently she lives in NYC with her mom- her dad died from cancer.  The book goes into her memories of her dad -its pretty interesting to us.