Posts by Rebecca Simmons

posted on August 25, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Catching up and letting go

Part of me wants to play catch up here, filling in all the blanks of summer days ending and school beginning. Part of me says let it go. Which probably explains why I haven’t posted in SO long.

Obviously, the beach is over and school is back. I DID get first day of school photos this year and didn’t have to fake it the second day. Yeah for me! But my oldest girl doesn’t want hers posted here so I guess I’ll let that go this year.

I will say my oldest is the happiest she has ever been at school. She moved up to the upper elementary building and loves all the extra freedom and perks that come with Montessori education and the philosophy that nurtures the whole child. She has a newfound love for science, microscopes and garden walks looking for interesting objects to study. The Montessori success stories ring true with this and all our girls, at very different ends of the spectrums on how they benefit from a system of no grades, no tests and (thank God) no homework. So school is rocking!

I’m still trying to transfer over 700 beach pictures from my laptop to my big computer at home. So sadly to say, the photos and stories from our beach month that I’ve posted is all you are going to get. I have to let that go and move on. However I know my experiences there will continue to shine thru in other areas of expression and life.

I am trying to still carry on my vacation mode into real life. I would LOVE to have stayed at the beach forever. I even did some house hunting while I was there and downsizing seemed really appealing! Despite people telling me you can’t really live on vacation, I’m trying by taking on a more carefree mentality and only valuing the important stuff. Beach style.

The girls are getting older and seeking out more freedom. And I find myself more so wanting to give it to them. You want cereal for dinner tonight? Go for it. I’ll have a glass of wine on the patio and no dishes to clean up. You want to have dinner next door? Okay! You want to make tacos tonight? Great, lets do it together. You want to dance in the rain in your swimsuit and play in the street runoff water? Go for it. I’ll even join you. Because we should all seize these moments.

My middle girl wants nothing to do with after school activities this year. She said, “I just want to be free. FREE!” I said Okay. I get it. Your wish is granted. Except for piano. Lessons are supposed to start sometime soon (not really sure when) at the neighbor’s house on Saturday mornings. They can walk there, together. Now that’s an extracurricular activity I can love! And I think the free sprit, opera singing, home schooling/Montessori mama is someone the girls will love too.

Trying to carry on some beach mentality into the school year has meant doing things like paddle boarding for a Wednesday date day. Dates during school hours are WAY cheaper than paying for babysitters. And I have to say, it’s pretty fun being THAT mom in the pick up line with two paddleboards strapped to the minivan. I’ve started back to my weekly volunteering at the CSA farm. Because nothing says FREE like driving out to the farm in a sea of endless veggies. Volunteering makes my heart smile – always has – since being an Americore member and being touched by so many giving their time to others. It’s stuck in me. We always think there is never enough time – until we start letting it go. And then we learn we really have a lot of it, it’s just how we choose to use it.

I’ve officially committed myself to doing lots of yoga this school year, by signing up for a series of 12 weekend workshops taught by a visiting Iyengar instructor. I’m really in it for the journey. And to just see where it takes me. I’m always most happy when I’m doing yoga. It grounds me – not to sound cliché. But today I was pushed in high-level class that I have not attended since my second girl was born. Could I do everything? Not even close. But that wasn’t the point. I was there. And I went as far as I could until I literally took child’s pose and was grounded. I was flooded in thoughts, tears and things my body was letting go of that I didn’t even realize I was still holding on to. Then the rest of the day was simple. Because I know, I ‘ll get caught up. Which might just mean letting go of things that are no longer important, while making room for the things that are.

Playing in the rain…will ALWAYS be important.

posted on July 22, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

On island time

The past three weeks I’ve been on island time. In a wonderful place where I can ride my bike to yoga, get a great cup on local coffee next door at one of my favorite places (where awesome thrift/artsy store meets quality food), then head straight over to the beach for a dip. Followed by meeting up with my kids and family, pool time, dinner (literarily) on the beach then jump on my paddle board for an sunset ride. All on pristine, white sandy beaches and in clear water where I’ve spotted sea turtles, sand dollars, starfish and a manatee. Others saw hammerhead sharks but I avoided getting a view of that!

I have family in the area with cousins and a total for five kids. I had a Georgia aunt and uncle visit for a week, bringing another kid cousin. My brother/sister-in-law and niece visited from Colorado for a week, my husband’s parents came and my parents were here for nearly two weeks staying at my grandmother’s house. So when I say meeting up with family – I really mean meeting up with family.

I grew up visiting the beaches in this area. I’ve always loved the beach and have been spoiled by the Gulf of Mexico’s white sandy beaches and clear water.

It’s easy for me to say I’m the most happy around water, in the ocean and in places where time passes freely. Not bound by my car, schedules, or anything other than meeting the basic needs of my girls and finding peace in where we are at right now in life.

When I say peace, I mean in a deep found way where everyone can be happy, in simple ways, and be okay with where we are right now. Which is something difficult to do in our fast paced lives where we expect so much, so soon, so perfectly. And where we try to handcraft our desires, mapping our family’s destination when we indeed are not the map makers of our own destiny. Instead, I’m trying to settle into today and accept things around us that we can not change. It’s not easy and it doesn’t always make me happy.

Being on island time is perfect for me right now. Full of whimsy to discover, ponder and store away for later. Like…this little garden I stumbled upon riding my bike, the “internet cafe” at the local coffee shop (because who does that anymore?) and bike hanging all the wall that gave me ALL kinds of ideas.

There’s time to ponder and to find places like this beach access accessible only by bike or by foot, with narrow tree covered path barely visible from the road.

The part of Anna Maria Island where we are is so stuck in the time, there is no mail service here. The city is against commercialization so you won’t find a Starbucks or any familiar names. Everything is local. There is not even a cell tower. So cell reception is very spotty. I have to stand in one place in the driveway to use my phone. I love this! It makes “working from vacation” a little hard for my husband but he IS making it work.

The “closed” sign means he is working and we can’t disturb him.

Morning working for him has meant yoga classes for me. It’s a great little space above a street side shop. So much about it reminds me to look at things from new angles.

Evenings mean wine on the beach watching the sunset, sometimes wearing my t-shirt that says “out of service.” Because honestly, I have felt myself out of service for quite some time. As I float through the sea of emotions surrounding moving on from baby days, toddlers, miscarriages, debilting illnesses with family members, tricky relationships and so much more. Really, when did life get so messy?

When I got this dreamy idea in February of spending a month at the beach, on an island, I wasn’t sure if my husband would be along for the ride. But he has made it work – quite literally. We’ll be going home soon and I REALLY do not want to leave this place. I’d love to come up with a way to live, work and play here all the time.

But the girls are ready to return to normal life, with good friends and their pets. I already received the first back to school prep email, and our baby chicks should be arriving via the mail next week – yes, the mail!

So for now, I’m soaking up every chance to pop down the street to the beach, hope on my bike and go to yoga and just be free. Because this is how I feel totally content. And with all that life throws at us, I have not felt this content in a very long time.

On island time…Where a jewelry maker’s store hours are posted on a hand made sign listed as 10ish to 5ish (depending on the weather I suppose), another shop doesn’t allow any cell phones in the store (if you can get any service), the marina keeps a laminated sign handy to post when the owner decides to take the afternoon off for fishing, and the school bus stops are located on beach access walkways. Not to mention the great art galleries, the bakery, and children’s theater show we attended at the island’s historic theater around the corner from our home away from home.

Being on island time means we play go fish with margaritas and locally written mermaid books, walk home on the beach after dinner, play endless games of Life, take night swims in the pool, play in the sand in big ways (I love how as the girls get bigger so do the sand buckets), change clothes and swim suits A LOT of times in a day, and make surprise trips to the General Store for ice cream. All while there has been nary a request to watch TV.

My insightful daughter asked me tonight how I can take things away from the beach that I love and have them at home. It’s a question I have asked myself too…maybe throwing my paddle board on the van more and discovering new places. Maybe finally making the three mile bike trek to our own down town (it’s different when you have hills). I’m not sure…But none of it can be this beautiful.

Oh and….the 50 year-old surf shop building and apartments above it is for sale. And a girl can keep dreaming…..Can you tell I really don’t want to leave?

posted on July 7, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Fourth of July

Here’s a few pictures from our Fourth of July at the beach. It was filled with family, laughs, a big parade, an old school lemonade stand, dogs dressed in holiday wear, beads flying off floats, wave jumping and fireworks on the beach.

We missed our old gang at home and our neighborhood traditions. But our neighbors sent photos of them guarding our house with loads of fireworks (and the pet sitters too).

In Florida, we also visited my grandmother in her memory care home the day before the Fourth. Doesn’t she look cute? My aunt and cousin got her all dolled up for our visit

posted on July 7, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Road tripping

There comes a time in summer when you just have to hit the road – and travel. There is a part of me that can only go so long without traveling, playing the part of a wondering soul. Putting my toes in the sand and seeking out new things.

With the girls getting older, we are stretching a little further and little longer.

Our Eruorail days of wondering our way over to Budapest with no schedules or reservations are long gone. And even though we did make our first European trip to Norway with kids last spring, this summer’s traveling is road trip style – 726 miles to white sandy beaches on Florida’s Gulfcoast.

We haven’t made it down this far south since our middle girl was a baby – because it’s SO long to drive with young kids. For an old post on road trip travel tips, click here.

But this summer, we did it! And there were a few things we did differently on this L-O-N-G road trip. And a few new realizations I made along the road.

This time we made the trip in a new van and the newness made it a bit more fun, including extra room we didn’t have before.

Second, the girls sat three across in the back seat for a record time ever in their lives. (Lollypops always help!)

We are going to be gone for a couple weeks and we traveled with a lot of comforts from home (like my Vitamix and coffee frothier, good kitchen knives, rainy day games, books, and our on sheets to make the place feel more like home). Therefore we needed more packing space in the back.

The new van has TONS more space in the backseat which meant no one had to sit in the far back where it’s harder to pass snacks and talk to the parents in the front seats. And no one complained about being in the back getting carsick, which has never happened in reality, unless you count the dog (yuck!).

Having them sit three across for 726 miles was a real gamble, and it could have been a disaster resulting in grumpiness and ultimately rearanging the car to pull up a third row seat. However, much to my surprise it worked beautifully, with very minimal complaining. They even shared pillows and napped on each other for a brief time!

Third, I let them watch as many movies in the car as they wanted. And eventually – they got tired of watching movies and asked for books, games and coloring supplies.

Fourth, I knew there would be a lot of stops and we just decided to take our time. We stopped for a night at my parent’s house three hours into the trip. The next day, three hours later we stopped to see a friend of mine from college. Then we stopped to see the town where my husband grew up (a South Georgia boy) and went to the grocery store to stock up on health(ier) car snacks/lunch. All of which were dolled out with free will to help keep everyone happy – sitting three across.

Then I got serious about getting to our destination before dark. Until we were one hour way and someone had to pee AGAIN so we stopped at McDonald’s. It was dinnertime. For the first time (possibly the second, in my faint memory) the girls ordered Happy Meals. But my two hamburger eating girls wanted nothing to do with a “fast food” hamburger. Maybe my food education and healthy cooking is actually working, because they realized fast food was not so yummy, or happy.

Fifth, I really didn’t sweat the trip, the time, the distance, or how to pass the time in the car. I just knew eventually we would get there. And that was a very good thing.

Thankfully we arrived all in-tack, with paddle boards and bikes. My aunt and cousin were riding around in a golf cart serving as the welcome crew. They took this photo. It took the girls five minutes before they made their first splash in the pool!

posted on July 2, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Pool days

Pool days are truly simple now, at ages 4,7 and 9. With lifeguards on duty, a 4-year-old who swims like a fish, an open snack bar and some flippers – this is what summer is about.

Coming up next is phase two of summer – beach times, road tripping and settling in for a good long stay in the Florida sun.

See you then!

posted on July 2, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Summer silliness

I just uploaded my camera-s (there seems to be too many to keep up with these days with the multiple devices that get rotated and clicked about) and found so many silly things my girls have been doing without me “looking” so to speak.

It’s like they were sneaking up on themselves, in an independent way of having a little fun with a camera – where I get to see all that happened. They took sweet selfies all together wearing their pajamas (which my oldest would not approve of me sharing), a slide show display of dog toys, secret attempts to get the little sister on top of the dog for a piggy back ride, games of hide and seek where they find the little girl hiding and just a whole bunch of silliness that I get to replay through the eyes of my children.

The photos are certainly not blog worthy, but something I will treasure and love. They are lovely reminders that popped into my screen of simple moments of silly sister fun, with old party hats, a dog that is just a quirky as they are and the realization that kids can do a perfectly good job of creating their own fun when we just step out of their way.

Some of the games I’m told, involved “the endangered purple bear” and finding the “endangered girl hiding.”

As the for silliness I was involved in – there is local plant and outdoor furniture store with sign out front that says, “stop and take a picture in our huge adoradndic chair.” The big girls read the sign and asked to take turns taking pictures in the chair. And I said yes.

posted on June 26, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Carrots, rain dancing and ballet

I can barely keep up with summer this year. It’s four weeks gone and it’s going fast.

To say ballet camp was a hit is an understatement.

I’m certain we have a dancer on our hands. Which makes me really, really happy. To see a child have something that becomes so important to them is a really wonderful thing. It makes after school activities WELL worth it when they love it.

I grew up doing ballet outside Atlanta at a satellite location for Atlanta School of Ballet. But eventually dropped it for a schedule full of more important things (ahem, cheerleading). I’ve never pushed dancing with my girls. And out of the blue last year she said she wanted to take ballet. OKAY! Soccer definitely didn’t go over too great. Piano is ok, but JUST ok. Girls Scouts was not for her. Sewing is always fun. And ballet is a perfect fit.

Next school year she’ll join the older girls rank, who spend several hours a week at the studio taking ballet, tap and modern. Dance – oh my!!

When I asked my middle girl what she wants to do next year after school her responce was, “Freeeeeeee. I just want to be free!!!” And I have to respect that. Full of carefree joy, and always reminding me to be joyful.

The littles are still happy as can be picking carrots from the garden. And gardening continues to be summertime fun.

They pick them, wash them with the hose and eat them. The best way, really?

“Easy peasy lemon squeezy,” is the new saying my little might use for it. And I just love that hearing that from her! The other night I almost didn’t have the heart to correct her when she said, “Look at my yellow bings,” referring to new hair growth – not bangs. We all awed over it that evening and asked her to keep saying it. She obliged, much willing the play the baby of the family role.

That hair IS getting lighter and lighter this summer. Even with all the rainy afternoon – which are great for puddle jumping.

And just like summer goes, so fast, they are on to something else, leaving empty rain boots on the sidewalk.

posted on June 19, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Summer Days

This summer has been our busiest ever. I’m used to more lazy days of summer but I suppose as these girls get bigger the basic days of blocks and books and friends coming and going, still leaves a desire to be do more.

So for the first summer there have been camps! And they REALLY, actually want to go. It’s all been impromptu because I don’t like to plan. Going by the minute of knowing what everyones needs seems to be my follow-my-gut parenting style.

When I dropped of the two bigs, the little was SO sad that she wasn’t going to camp that I drove down the street where her friend was going to bible camp, where I knew the director (love a small town!) and dropped her off with a small snack bag. She was happy as could be. It was a total third kid moment – because who would do that with a first kid? No one! And she’s been going back three days a week ever since. Camp braids included! Because they are the best.

Aside from going to camps with friends we have been drawn to the water. I love being around water. My girls are true water babies (even all born in bathtubs) and my youngest is swimming like a fish this year – keeping up with her older sisters just fine.

We bought an underwater camera to keep up with the action and I put a waterproof case on my iPhone -partly in preparation for our beach trip that begins soon. So yeah, it’s the summer of water. With two SUPs and two kid kayaks in tow.

If you look closely you can see the little one catching a ride with my husband. She flip flops between that and swimming next to us, or behind and “pushing” the boards.And when the girls took over my board, I took a float on the kid kayak, with a nice view.

The girls wanted to try thier new snorkel gear, and the camera. I love these silly girls!!!

I’m also loving our garden. Here’s one of our three potato harvests. And the prep work for dinner – potatoes, beets and carrots from our garden. In the crock pot is black beans. It’s my only crockpot success as a vegetarian. I quick boil beans for 10 minutes, with added salt. Then put them in the crockpot on medium for 4-6 hours. It’s the best taco night secret ever! Oh and…lastly I got a new car! Normally that would not make a blog and I’ll spare you the photos. However I will say that I never liked my old minivan for one single day of the five years I drove it. It was a 2009 Honda Odyssey – AKA Betty the Bus. And after a long saga with stupid run flat tires I went shopping to never drive a minivan again. And guess what? I got a new Honda Odyssey. Everything I hated about the last one, that I wished I could have designed differently to make it truly a perfect family car – they did for me in the 2014 models. And now, I can officially say I am part of the I love my minivan club.

I’m have always put carseat safety top and the new one has FIVE latch systems so I can latch in all our booster seats, plus extras for friends. And all three kids (with a carseat and two boosters) can sit three across in the middle row! And it has a built in cooler for road trip snacks. And it has a built in trash can! And a built in vacuum cleaner, for pete’s sake. AND NO RUN FLAT TIRES. Road trips here we come. Because these water girls like to travel. And now this mom loves her minivan.

posted on June 9, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

Summer is here!

For the first summer in many years, I have not planned new ways to keep everyone busy for our MANY hours we will spend together during summer break. In the past I have recreated new play spaces, prepared Montessori inspired shelves of activities to keep toddler hands engaged, armed myself with new art supplies and timelines to keep our days rolling along smoothy.

This summer I’ve decide to just wing it. There are no Pinterest inspired projects and nothing major to report in terms of new play structures, or outdoor games or anything. It’s just simple open-the-door-and-go-outside fun happening here.

A friend posted this blog Top 1o Ways to Give Your Kid a 1970’s Summer and I love it. I’m more of an 80’s child (born in 1976) but so many of the classic things ring true of the summers I want my girls to remember. We have a rule at our house where all kids have to play outside. The trek from the patio to the fridge needs moping constantly! And there is always someone else’s kid in my yard. Love live the classic summer!

We have a bin full of “backyard swimsuits” in the basement that are available for play that results in grass stains and paint messes – with enough for sharing with lots of friends. In the pantry is a large mason jar full of popcorn for snacks and always a watermelon for sharing. The kids who frequent our house know where things are. They know the rules and most of them are now big enough to nearly fend for themselves (with a little help from older sisters around sometimes).

Here’s a few snapshots of what we’ve gotten into so far….

And if a giant slip and slide isn’t enough? A faux beach for fun and a big baby pool is still a people pleaser here.

When that water fun is done, there is the pool. All of them can actually swim this year so the real pool (where the shallowest end is 4 ft.) is actually relaxing for me this year. They all put on their own sunscreen and get ready independently. Therefore, getting out the door into the real pool is a finally a simple, fun task.

Instead of planning art activities, I discreetly put a new craft book on the art to able to be discover. My four-year-old took the bait and created a mask all by herself! Older sister helped her find some of the supplies and I only witnessed the very end of the creative process. Then I got the treat of seeing this mask girl sneak up behind me. Maybe it’s a little pay off after 9 years of intensive craft training with my oldest girl. (Yes I love arts and crafts.)

Books fill in all the gaps here for summer. I arm our home with books and limit the TV. Somedays I feel like a mean mom because I have not allowed my children to have any personal electronic devises of any kind. Then I see my oldest girl reading, literately, in every nook and corner in every second she can….and I think they are doing JUST fine this way. My computer is available to them if want to look something up or use it – but they rarely ask to do so.

We keep blocks and baskets of games and puzzles for easy access in our living room. Sometimes the littles need this down time and at my house they know where to find it. And they know I’ll probably ask them to clean it up when they are done. It’s part of the summertime fun and part of the deal when kids are around everyday, and including sleepovers.

The biggest news of summer is…Chickens are on the way! Yep backward chickens are really happening. The littles discovered the mobile chicken house recently delivered via mail, and pretended to be chickens.Building the real coop has been a long process but is so going to be amazing. The girls have asked to use it as a playhouse until we get the chickens closer to the end of summer after vacation time if over. They have been pre-orderd and will be delivered via mail. Strange – I know! But SO exciting.

The coop is getting close to being finished, after many weekends of work and two visits by my expert builder dad to who was essential in teaching us how to get our plan off the ground. But here’s a sneak peak. Any further summer projects are going to involve beautifying and planting yummy things for chickens in and around it.

Yes summer is here. And I DO love summertime.

posted on June 9, 2014 by Rebecca Simmons

In the garden, with or without kids

In spring I have great ideas of what to plant in our small garden. And a plan that involves my girls helping, harvesting, learning and eventually getting them to eat more vegetables out of the experience.

I’ve slacked off this year on all of these expectations and adopted the garden as my place. Of course little feet wonder in and out and squeal at the joy of pulling beets and carrots out of the ground. But ultimately, it’s been my place to enjoy morning times watering the garden or the afternoon times outside pulling those pesky weeds. I’m always thankful for the time outside. With my hands in the dirt, pulling me way from chores and things I think have to get done when really….they can wait.

I started planting in early spring, with hearty greens and root vegetables. Since then I’ve moved in a succession method (learning from our CSA farmer) onto summer vegetables as the colder hearty things bolted as temperatures quickly warmed up.

The girls still claim a raised bed each for their own, with their favorite things planted in them. Basil for the pesto eater, tomatoes for one, snap peas for another and classic potato standbys for all – as well as carrots! The one vegetable they will all eat raw, a miraculous site for a vegetarian mom who strives everyday to create veggie loving kids (nearly an impossible goal I know).

My laid back view of getting the girls involved this year is partly due to them getting older and gardening is really the most fun for the pre-school ages. Once they discover it’s work, it’s harder to get them involved. But when it happens voluntarily, it’s fun, and the reward is so much greater. When they truly enjoy something they value the experience and the end result. Just like we do, naturally.

Gardening this year has been about the process, getting to it when we can, and me always being grateful when I do. Even if it was pulling greens out too late and feeding them to the school’s chickens because they turned too bitter before we ate them all. My little girl and I loved feeding those leftover stalks of arugula and mustard greens to the chickens while we waited for the big girls to be dismissed.

We are going from one season of vegetables to the next, one vegetable at a time. Along the way I did take a few pictures. And I do love garden pictures…

Like this one, of little hands harvesting spinach in early May. They gained a new understanding of how much spinach cooks down! That big bowl full doesn’t really make much. But it was great in our Spinach Frisbees.

These are few of the sites outside my kitchen door, greeting us home every time. Flowers are always wonderful, but it’s even better when I can eat what’s in the garden. The beets were harvested today – a lovely treat sitting on my doorstep, and seeing my older girls involved. Maybe they’ll eat those beats for dinner soon. With a side of herbs from the herb garden..