My view of New Years Eve

Let me say the following. I have never liked New Years Eve. As in, ever. I don't know what it is about it that makes me feel so sad but it just does. Auld Lang Syne kills me. Did you know auld lang syne means times long past? Or that the song itself is a poem that originated in Scotland? There it is sung as a goodbye or farewell at gatherings, including funerals. That makes sense. It makes me cry. Perhaps the saying goodbye of one year is sad because it takes you further away from other things. Memories of childhood you try and hold on to. Or of loved ones that you have lost. It's a sad thought that in your memory they remain the same age while you get older and further away. For parents I think it's tough to realize that as time marches on, your children will never be this age, this way again. Better things may be on the horizon but the past has a rosy, old time color to it that makes me feel warm. No matter how many times I reexamine the past, it is always the same. I can count on certain memories never changing and that makes it a comfort to hang out there once in a while.


Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne?

Should we forget those that have been in our lives but are no longer? What about times long past? I don't believe so, no. The English translation of the song shows how beautiful the song really is because most of us don't speak Scottish!


Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine^† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give me a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.



I think it means that when you look at the past, be kind to yourself. Be kind to what has happened. Don't judge to harshly. A lot has happened between now and those old time days but think about them with grace. That may not be what the song means, but to me it makes sense. Decisions made, events that happened, they are all easy to regret, wish away, and ponder. But what it all comes down to is people normally do the best they can at the moment. If you are upset with a choice someone made, realize that they probably did the best they could. If you are still ruminating about an insult from 10 years ago, chances are that person has changed since then and so have you. These pictures are of me and my daughters as toddlers. Wow has time flown by for all 3 of us.

Me as a toddler

Kayla as a Toddler

Emily as a toddler

I guess for now I will look at New Years Eve as a nod to the past. A chance to say goodbye to the person you were this year because chances are next year at this time you won't be the same person. If you are the same person you aren't growing as a person. I don't intend on being the same person year in and year out. I also don't want to be on my front porch in a rocking chair in 40 years and regret what life I have led. So goodbye 2011, you have been good to my family. May our blessings continue and may we be able to see those blessings for the good that they are. May we stay healthy and safe and be more prosperous than ever before. May we find comfort in one another and have the grace to accept whatever may come our way. Have a safe and wonderful New Years Eve and may 2012 bring you everything you have hoped for.

Love Always

Kira

Speak your mind-About Disney Channel

I just wrote an email to both the Head of the Disney Channel, and to the CEO of Disney. I had to express my disgust at the programming on Disney Channel these days. So here is the context of that email. Feel free to write your own and send it to :
Disney Contact Information

Write the Head of Disney Channel!
Rich Ross,
President and Director of The Disney Channel.
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Email: rich.ross@disney.com

Write Disney CEO, Robert Iger!
Robert A. Iger,
President and CEO of the Walt Disney Company
500 S. Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521
Email: robert.a.iger@disney.com

 I have a 5 year old and an 11 year old. Both are girls who are very smart, kind, and interested in a multitude of subjects from music, to space, to science, math, social studies, books, art etc. I am deeply disturbed by the shows you are currently airing on your channel for the above preschool age groups. You seem to take so much time developing shows for younger children that will help their minds grow and help them grow up to be good world citizens and care about others. I am so confused as to why all of a sudden when a child becomes to old for Disney Junior they are immediately ready for shows about teens. Where are the middle school shows, or the elementary shows for that matter? The only show that both my 5 and 10 year old can watch is Phineas and Ferb(why not more shows like this? ) My 5 year old is getting to old for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse but not old enough for shows like Good Luck Charlie, and Wizards of Waverly Place, Suite Life on Deck, Shake It Up, That's So Random etc. Furthermore, the characters in these shows are almost all the same. There are always a bunch of kids that act like they are completely ignorant, or their parents do(which is even worse in my opinion). Do you have children? Think about it. Would you like your children to talk about and treat you the way these characters do about their parents and teachers? I think probably not.The attitudes displayed in these shows are enough to make any parent sick. How can we expect children to respect adults that they come across if what they are being exposed to is the opposite? You above all people should know that what children are exposed to when they are young is what they will exhibit as they get older. ShouId they treat an employer the way teachers are treated in your shows? Would you appreciate that if they were your employee? I know so many parents who have blocked your channel because of your programming or who have limited viewing down to just Phineas and Ferb. Have you examined what kind of role models these characters are for children? Have you even paid attention? Where are the shows for preteens that have any intellectual value? Or shows about kids and nature? Or being world citizens? What about shows that teach kids about different places around the world? They need to know about their global community. It's no wonder kids don't care.  Kids are not stupid. They are not all the same. Please put some diversity into your programming so that my daughter, who is a straight A student, trumpet player, artist, crafter, poem writer, story creator, animal lover, and my 5 year old can enjoy and grow with Disney for many years to come. I appreciate you reading this and hope you will consider this.

 No I didn't send it in red ink. It is a little snippy, as I am very irritated about this whole thing. But I think people are to nice in these cases. I will also be printing this out and sending it via real mail as a friend of mine told me that because real mail is so uncommon, companies are more apt to read the real mail than the email. I hope that this prompts you to take action on something that is bothering you lately. Unless it is my blog. In that case, tough crap:)

Boredom Buster!

My girls and I wanted something fun to do a couple Sundays ago. So we went down to the craft store and bought an ornament making kit. My older daughter was especially interested in it which I thought was awesome because they are really actually vintage inspired ornaments. You use straight pins, sequins, and beads and push them into a foam ball. Even my 4 year old enjoyed it and was very careful. They didn't fill in the whole ball, do you know how long it takes to do that??? FOREVER! But they were cute and had lots of fun.

To Disney...and beyond!

I haven't posted in a million years and I am sure all my readers...hello...are you out there? hang on let me clear the cobwebs away...oh sorry....there you are....hi! Anyway, so at the beginning of the month we went on a big fun old fashioned family vacation with my side of the family. I was nervous to a degree, dragging around 12 people through airports, and parks, and Orlando and everything could be worth being nervous about, especially with family. You never know if people are going to argue or fight or whatever. But seriously?? By mid week I thought we should be gathered around a campfire singing Kumbyah and holding hands. It was an amazing trip. We got along, we had fun, we laughed, we were constantly on the go, and it was tiring and lovely.

Did I mention Kayla and I trained dolphins at Sea World? Oh I didn't?

Grandma, Bunka and Em and Kayla at Sea World....Em is hard to photograph when tired out!!!

Kayla now more than ever wants to be a marine biologist and Dolphin trainer

Kayla scatter feeding the dolphins in the dolphin nursery

Me and my coffee at the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot

I love coffee

Dress from Bunka and ears from Aunt Shellie

Me and Husband at end of our big kids day at Epcot

Waxing poetic about beers

Kayla moments before be made a Princess by the King at Medieval Times

One of my favorite pics from vacation. So much going on!

Our knight in shining armor. We refer to him as Emily's boyfriend because he gave her his favor and she hated it!

We went to Sea World, Magic Kingdon, Epcot (the kids went with Grandma and Bunka to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios) and we went to the beach and Medieval Times and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and everything was AWESOME! Oh did I mention it was my birthday while down there and I turned 31? I didn't?? OH. it was and I did! I got crowned Birthday Wench at Medieval Times. It was way hilarious. I close out this blog with a picture of the bag I bought to tote on the plane and then at the parks to store all the crap I knew we would end up buying there....

Or I would. However, Blogger's photo uploading capabilities is really sub par and cannot handle the awesomeness that is my bag. Anyway I was teased endlessly about this bag by the guys in my family, mainly my husband and it came in handy a MILLION times. I also wanted to post a bunch of other pictures but suffice it to say, it's not happening. Anyway, that's what I did in the beginning of October. Now that I am 31 I am moving on to some big girl pursuits....like making Steampunk stuff.....for myself. I know I said big girl stuff but well honestly, let's be honest.....that will never happen!!

A catch up post

I haven't posted anything interesting in a while. I know this. It's not my fault. Why it's not my fault I don't know. But whatever. So this will be a long post and it will go in no particular order.
1. I watched the first episode of New Girl with Zooey Deschanel. I love her. Love the show and feel like maybe there is part of me in that show.

2. I miss NYC desperately. Started watching the show Rescue Me and combine that with the 10 year anniversary of September 11, I am desperate to get back there.

3. Kayla turned 10 August 16th. We went mini golfing and I thought I was going to die of heat.

 The guys...aren't they awesome?!?

 The long legged Kayla bird

 Mom trying to help Em.

 My older sister Shawna

 My brothers beautiful girlfriend Bethani

 And well....you just can't take him anywhere.

And then there's me.
4. Kayla wanted cookies instead of cake...bummer for me

 So I improvised....

5. I taught myself to knit, although I did mention that in a previous post I thought I would share a couple of cruddy pictures of my awesomeness

The blue one is the first I did. the purple is Emily's. She forced me to knit as fast as possible. I mean, that when I would rest my hands for a few minutes, she would come over and place the needles back in my hands. Serious Slave Driver.

6. Kayla started 5th grade. I think had i been feeling better I would have cried. Next year I will have a middle school and a kindergartner!! YIKES!! I will bawl at drop of next year!

Emily and Kayla on Kayla's first day of school. Note the Safety Patrol Badge. She is an important kid!!

7. I was really sick for about a week. Glad that's over!

8. Finally something that makes me really happy. Rob Thomas was voted the #5 best songwriter of the decade. And I love him. And know every song. So in tribute to him check out their Youtube channel. It's awesome!!

http://youtu.be/RJ3JG1pltPo

Anyway, that's all for now, more to come!! 

Knit for a bit

So 2 weekends ago I decided that I was going to learn how to knit. Like everything else with me, once I've decided to do it, I want to do it right that red hot minute. So I watched a video on www.knittinghelp.com that taught me how to cast on. Talk about easy!! I thought, well holy cow I can do this! So then I watched another video on how to dfo the knit stitch, and well a knitter was born. I started knitting with a yarn that was a 4 and sz. 10 needles. I started and took it out and started and took it out. After about 15 times I started working on a scarf in stockinette stitch. Well it was taking a lifetime. I know that if it takes a long time to do something, especially something I am new at, chances are, I will quit! So I switched to a bulky dark blue, very soft yarn, and a sz. 13 needle.It took me about a week because I made a few major mistakes that took me like an hour each time to figure out what I had done, but the scarf is finished!! So I have already started the next one, for my 4 year old, and she is a slave drive I might add. Then I have a list of people that want one!! I love knitting.

It is soothing, and wonderful and I feel connected to women throughout time. I feel like I am doing something that a woman on the prairie would have done in the winter out of necessity. Or any other woman through time. I mean yeah I could go buy a scarf for about the same amount of money as the yarn, but the calm it brings me is amazing. LOVE IT. You should try it. You might like it.

My friends

Wednesday I had the privilege of spending the day with a good friend of mine. She works with me in my classroom and is very funny! She is also an artist and is quirky and is very creative, not just in her art, but in life in general. She came over with beads and these pieces of wood printed with dolls for the girls to color. The girls have been using the beads since she left and Kayla especially and her friend have made more jewelry than I know what they will do with it! She took me and my girls to lunch and baked us treats! Aside from that, this girl makes me laugh and we can talk for a long time and not run out of stuff to talk about. I look forward to fall days with coffee and maybe the yarn shop and art stuff and cookie making and I'm really glad she came into my life!!


I have another friend. She is a dancer. I have known her for going on 4 years now and she makes me smile. Most of the time our moods are the same...which probably isn't good! But I know if I am having a bad day, chances are...so is she!! She can be quiet but she is very funny and fun, and we think along the same lines and sometimes I wonder if we were sisters in a past life. She is super fun to talk to and I love dancing with her at dance class!

I have another friend. She is sweet and funny and sarcastic. We took dance classes together and we had so much fun on the ride to and from dance. She is having a baby on Tuesday, I am so excited and happy for her. After that, once she gets cleared by the Dr. we can start dancing together again!!! I can't wait. She knows a lot about me, and I hope I make her laugh as much as she makes me laugh!

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you about my friends, because they make me smile and laugh and I am so grateful that I have met people that make me smile so much!!

my website

Dear self:
Since you can't keep feeling this way and not letting it out I have created a website for you to let it out and feel better.


http://lettersformysister.weebly.com/index.html

Picture Post

This is what we have been up to lately. The light changed yesterday, it has that hard shadowed look of Fall around here and it is my absolute favorite time of year for photography.

Museum of Play in Rochester Butterfly Garden with my Awesome Parents!!

Boating with my Aunt and Cousin on Keuka Lake
And finally: visual proof the light is changing and plus also that no matter how cute girls are dressed, mud will still be fun!

Anyway, I am going away to my sis's for the weekend, to help her at her craft show and to hang. I'm hoping to have some great new pics to post when I get back. Have an awesome weekend.
Love
Kira