Patriachy

The Beaver Clan
My boys have an awesome father.  I married a man that really give 100% of himself to his kids.  He is the TRI in the Beaver Trifecta. He's opened a world of hobbies to my boys. They fish, golf and garden together.  There's a lot that goes into these hobbies.  More than the act of say fishing is the conversations that go on during the 2.5 + hour event.  Matt's a quiet guy, so when you get them in a setting where they are relaxed, some of the greatest father/ son conversations take place. For example, "Dad, did you just see that kangaroo?"  "Dad, would you rather be a tiny hamster or a giant rhino?" "Dad, how did god die?" OK that last one was a stumper, but you get it.

He's also taught my sins the value of an education.  He's wading through the experience right in front of them.  Spending 3-4 hours a day studying, reading, taking notes, etc.  Showing them how hard you have to work to be successful.  That success doesn't come easy, that it comes at a cost and much of that cost is less time with them.

He's shared his love of the Cubbies.  Friday morning James woke Matt up to tell him he needed to get dressed because they were headed to Chicago to watch the team take down the Red Sox.  Matt told James it was to early to go back to bad. Ha!  After 3 minutes of convincing, these two were skipping out the door and on their way to a day they wont forget.

The Phelan Clan

My dad is am amazing father. He always listens and gives great advice. Like, "This too shall pass." "The play never changes, just the actors."   He also got me through some tough times when I was a teenager.  Having been over weight, I was made fun of daily.  I remember there were nights I'd be crying, hating myself- who I was- letting the aholes define me.  There would be the tap, tap, tapping noise on my door and in my dad would come. "I've been there," he would tell me.  He'd share his story, feelings, never judged me by agreeing with the others.  Opening a window, a possibility that I didn't have to stay that way.

My dad is an amazing grandfather.  Both of my boys crackle with excitement when they hear his voice.  There is this brightness that overcomes them just knowing he is coming near. The countless hours he has spent playing with them, teaching them how and what an imagination is, raising baby cows for all the grand kids- these are things I can never do.  

Recently, I overheard a few conversations with him and James.  Familiar conversations- conversations that are a little more serious than he has had to have with him in the past. James listened and responded.  As the boys get older, I now that their circle of influence needs to expand.  I also know that in the next 2 years their circle will need to move further north so that it can have a bigger influence on their daily lives.  

So on this day, may all the fathers in my life and yours take the day to celebrate what becoming a father has done to them.  How has this role changed them? I know without a doubt that becoming a father has changed Matt- he still cries at commercials and never sleeps past 7am.  Happy Father's Day to all the fabulous dads out there.       

OUCH- What just bit me?

SO I've been dabbling in a few CrossFit activitiies lately.  Not going to lie- I was a tad skiddish about the whole thing.  But since I already knew about the Paleo diet and owned a pair of 5 finger shoes, I figured it was inevitable.  

So I tried it.  The first WOD (wad) workout of the day seemed simple enough, let me just say I was not prepared for the intense mental and physical demand that took place 2.2 minutes in.
Here is the list:
WARM UP 100 Jumping Jacks


3 Rounds

10 Burpees

20 Squat Jumps

10 Burpess

20 Spiderman Push Ups (left knee right knee= 1 set)

10 Burpees

20 Mountain Climbers

10 Burpees

20 One leg tricep dip

10 Burpees

If you do the math that's 150 burpees.  I have never completed more than 15 on a given day let alone 100 and frick'n 50.  But when it was over and done, laying on the grass, heart racing, covered in sweat, legs screaming, "What have you just done to us?" I actually feel like I accomplished something.  I think the CrossFit bug has bitten me.

I completed the whole workout in less than 16 minutes.  The first 10 minutes the trainer modeled proper form also showed how to modify a burpee/ Up Down.  The last 5 was a cool down. Here I am, 2 days later, still a little sore.  I found a few muscles that I didn't know I had and realized that a long run lasting an hour and a half had nothing on this guy. If you have a chance to take a class, try it.  You might get bitten too.

shouty UNcapitals

In 4 days Im shipping out to Boston to give a hip hip hooray to my bro SmartyPants. He's worked so hard to juggle his life and stay on that roller coaster of life that only goes up. I cannot begin to explain the fortunatelygleefuldiscountdoublecheckexcitement I'm feeling on the inside right now.

This will be my first solo trip in 4 years-where I went to meet my new beautiful niece Maggie. The hubs however- not so filled with glee. I don't blame him though. I've felt that way a time or two when I was left to man the fort.

But I need time. Time to bounce several problems through my mind without the weight of the larger than life 4 legged, beaver tailed super duo that hit the ground running at 5am. Time to just be. Time to just breathe. To take several of the 10 hats I wear off for a few days and just be Julie- or figure out who she is anymore without all the highs and lows of the " just keeping my nose above water" daily grind.

They need time, too. Time to bond as the Beaver Trifecta. Time to dance around the living room with underpants on their head while singing Happy Birthday Ring Worm. Time to appreciate what's not around for 4 days that keeps this well oiled machine moving smoothly. I'm not a fool, I know the chances of that are the same as me stumbling upon a wish granting factory while I trek out to Cambridge. But a girl can hope, right?

So if you happen to be in the Boston area and you see a lunatic running like Phoebe with a Mr. Poatato Head smile on her face feel free to YouTube it, look the other way or join me!

Sometimes it's the little things

James has been begging me to do the TCBY quart challenge for a year now.  "Pah-leaze mom, I will not barf.  It will be so cool to have my photo on the wall." I told him to try the banana split, get a malt, anything buck a big bucket of ice cream.  For some reason, I caved yesterday.  I offered it up to the fact he has jus gotten over the stomach flu and has been in a better mood the past day- what better time, right?

 

Well, he finished and declared yesterday, "The best day of my life."  The look of pure glee on his face as the bottom of the cup was cleared was boggling. He erupted with giggles and skipped down the block hugging me every few steps- sugar high be damned this kid was on cloud nine and it was infectious.  We spent a lot of one on one time together at the table on the patio- cheersing each other and taking photos.  Many people came and went, wishing him luck in his endeavor- Jams- always the politician- made sure everyone in ear shot knew he was tackling this monster of headache inducing, stomach gurgling feat. A 7 year-old "live and in color" advertisement for TCBY.  But then part if me realized that I had not seen James that happy in a very long time. Part of me wondered when the last time I had been that happy was. Maybe it is part of reaching a goal- at 7 our goals look different than they do at 30-ish.  But goals are goals and that feeling James was experiencing should be felt more often.   

I have an obsession and it's name is Starbucks.  Yes, I know I am a late arrival on this train. Below you will see that I have recently come into some new paraphernalia declaring my love.  Many of my students know it has become a stomping ground, so I get gift cards and reusable cups like my favorites below.  It was through a student that you can register your cards, collect stars and get free drinks.  I've added the ap to my phone and can keep photos of past cards.  Imagine my surprise when I found that I can make this overpriced deliciousness at home.  Walmart has started carrying my favorite- Passion tea and Chi tea ingredients. My countertop has absorbed 2 of their syrup liters- Sugar Free Cinnamon Dolce and Vanilla. 

I'm wondering if I can get a Starbucks Bike Kit- nah that may be taking this too far! 

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You've Been Flocked

The Beavers like to flamingo- Relatives, friends, classrooms, students' lockers, unsuspecting random people having a bad day!

The act of flamingoing involves the use of several blow up, plastic, paper flamingoes followed by all of the pink streamers and balloons that we can get our mits on.

We flamingo for many reasons:
To say thank you
As a really pinkalicious was of saying hip hip-HORAY
For shits n giggles
Because we are bored
Because sometimes kindness matters and goes a long way

Sure Beavering people would be the obvious choice, but really people! Imagine several blow up beavers and a sign stating- you've been Beavered. Not so innocent.
Flamingoing isn't knew. Many groups use it as a fundraiser to cover yards with flocks of plastic flamingoes which in turn are removed for a small donation. The flamingo has a bad rap. Sure some may look at that gawky pink bird and think- trailer park, but not us. In fact, take a look below at a few of our targets. You can't help but smile.