Sliders From Heaven

One of our favorite shows is Diners,Drive-Ins, and Dives. So when we saw this episode here....this one ....our mouths started watering and we knew we had to make the {thankfully, short}drive to White Manna.

The building was so tiny with a line out the door. Greg went into order and the boys and I went

to view the river {pretty filthy river}.

After what seemed like a long time....and what seemed like a long line forming outside the restaurant....Greg came to the car with a big smile and a big bag of sliders {and fries}.

The sliders were delicious. Everything that this little clip shared and more.
 
The only one in our family who doesn't eat burgers is Ross. He loved the fries.

Now, I have to tell you that our visit to this restaurant was more than burgers. Something happened while we were there that touched my boy's hearts deeply. Sometimes I think I share too much....sometimes maybe not enough? I'm going to sum it up by sharing that there was a homeless man behind this restaurant {by the river}.  Lets just say that our hunger felt a little different and our fun adventure ended with heavy hearts and lots of "oh mommy, that man". I'm fairly certain that our first visit to White Manna and thoughts of the red bearded man will go hand in hand in our memories.

One Fine Day { In NYC }

We decided it was time to head into the city. I have to tell you.....the tunnels, bridges, multi line chaotic bus crowded driving.....is not my thing. I just about wear down the carpet in the floor with my fake passenger side brake. The boys would be cheering about all the long and high bridges....and I would close my eyes and pray. Once we are in the city.....that's a whole other driving experience. Thankfully, Greg travels in often for work and navigates the road like a champ.

Central Park was our destination. A little soccer game was about to start. We decided to sit and watch a bit.

We walked around and experienced the fun of the city.

Jamba Juice was one of our destinations. Delicious.

We also had one of the best slices of pizza.....ever {at a tiny pizza joint}. As well as experiencing some

fun conversation with the restaurant employees.

After this photo was taken we were told there was a no picture rule in Jamba Juice. Though

none of the employees knew why. I can't believe that I am only a head taller than the boys. They have always measured high for height {usually 2 yrs older than their age-say what!} and I have always measured short {I was almost always the shortest in my class-I'm now 5'2"}I believe they will soon be taller than their mama {and they are only 8}

We spent 4 hours walking and touring the city. It was such a great day.

Made us wonder why we don't do it more often. It made Ross and Greg wonder why we don't just move

into the city.

 

I'm not sure that I'll ever be a fan of the traffic and fast {honking} drivers.

And The Days Fly By {with pictures}

*I just found out that March is Endometriosis awareness month.

It's been a strange week. My endo. has wreaked havoc on my middle section. Because it's spread through out my abdomen it causes all kinds of burning, squeezing, burping pain. Which results in insomnia and a fog. The fog then causes our days to get off course.....on top of the move having caused our days to get off course. So I ask my self....from what course am I off?

The insomnia allowed me to stay up and watch a reality show that I catch now and then {the one with Betheny Frankel in NYC?} In this episode, she asked Rachel Ray how she keeps her day normal. I loved RR's answer "I don't and I don't try to". I love that.

 Who came up with normal anyway ?

{my fridge w/ organizing ideas}

What is normal? I know what I think is a normal day for a homeschooler. At least, all the perfect orderly days that I read about. We are not normal. I dare say that we have never had a normal day.

{sweet edible bouquet sent unexpectedly from a sweet friend}

Some days, I am fortunate enough to eat unexpected chocolate covered strawberries. Now, that is a good day. I wouldn't mind that being normal.

We are living and learning. Playing and resting. Balance without extremes. Building character and fine motor skills. Growing minds while allowing creativity.

{portion of our Give Thanks board}

I often share that I feel like a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. I'm slowly learning to

find that square hole instead {the one that fits}....I don't need to try and fit into the round one. The square one is just fine, if not better than fine.

*remember: all this is coming from an abdomen-stressed-post-moving-insomniac.

Now it's time to get outside into that spring-like air.

Because Today was a Long Day

Our day started out good.....then got bad......and ended good. When it was bad, it was really bad. I've  reached the stage where my kids will verbalize their angst toward me. I spoke with my mom....she said that we used to do that. My mom always makes me feel better.

My boy {who verbalized his angst toward me} told me that he wished he could turn back time. He wished that he could take back what he said. Me too. We went to the playground later and played basketball with some of the complex kids. Because I am a crazy b-baller...I got hit in the face with the ball{hard}. My boy, that same boy was the first to offer to sit on the bench with me. Melted my heart.

Earlier...things seemed so yucky and frustrating.
Now, as we wait for our pizza {roasted peppers and onions} in our warm and cozy {red ugg free} new rental....things seem nice and calm.

{time flies.....feels like yesterday that they were this little}

Parenting is hard. Pizza is good. Changed attitudes & forgiveness are awesome.

{seriously....double fisted and full of love}

Reading

I'm currently reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It was a sunny day and the boys wanted to play outside all morning. I was able to sit and read. Very thankful for a nearby park bench, for close knit brothers, and sun shining.

This paragraph stood out to me....

Seeing is of course very much a matter of verbalization. Unless I call my attention to what passes before my yes, I simply won't see it. It is, as Ruskin says, 'not merely unnoticed, but in the full, clear sense of the word, unseen."....I have to say the words, describe what I am seeing....But if I want to notice the lesser cataclysms of valley life, I have to maintain in my head a  running description of the present
                                                                                                    -Ann Dillard

I'm one to use lots of words. I like words. I like discussing and chatting and encouraging each other. Sometimes my words are few. Sometimes far plenty. What I need to become more aware of is using my
words to give thanks. To speak of the details. To look for the moments between the moments.

Another part that lit up bold for me......

' " Learning slowly to not be so reactionary while inserting verbal gratitude into stressful situations is almost like being healed of mental blindness. I have begun to 'see' again". '

Honestly, the hurry of the move, the unpacking, the trying to find our groove has led me to fall off the thankful in the details wagon. I need to hop back on. I need to rest, but there is so much to do. I'm tired. Do you notice how when you are tired all sense goes out the window? For me it's that way.

 My maintenance man friend stopped by today. He shared some things that has caused me to worry and wonder. Learning to not be so reactionary{even with worry}......trying to insert verbal gratitude into stressful situations{or worry of..}.

Progressing Slowly

Introducing new colors into our abode. Green and silvery-gray {Ikea}.

Loving these metal containers, too {Target dollar spot}

Slowly unpacking. Purging a ton. It feels good.

Scenes From Our Move

The Internet and phone have been off for days. Crazy chaos. So glad to say goodbye to this floor plan....and those annoying rails (I called them baby gates)

I forgot about this bag of Tansy herb behind the bed. Ummm, the movers thought it was something else. Awkward.

{I think he's checking out my bag of Tansy}

We used my parent's metal cart for everything but the heavy pieces. Our townhouses were about 50 ft apart.

Lots of walking. We are all SO sore. I used muscles I had forgotten about.

Thankfully, the weather was great. That's a smashed pumpkin on the sidewalk....remains from the fall.

{waiting at our new entrance}

We have 2 of these big bears. They had to be carried up and down many stairs and barely made it in. Thank God for removable railings and strong men.

{the door next to us belongs to one of the only people we know in our complex

Our tiny decks are touching}

{so thankful for our new floor plan and our treetop temporary home}