The Easy Way Out

Recenly, I had a discussion with my oldest son about taking the easy way out. He has this gift since he was a toddler - being able to manipulate and seeing the bar for what it is. He will even say, "I am going to work for a B because I am content with a B.

So, in honor of him, i am taking the easy way out. I am posting my Facebook feeds - I have not visited this blog for a while and as i prepare for a poetry class i am teaching tomorrow, I take a break to fill this blog --- for the 1 - 2 people that read it.

Katie Schuman Avenson if only to aspire to this.....http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2010/02/haul_videosthe_ultimate_pg_gir2.html?sc=fb&cc=fp

9 minutes ago · Comment ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Piano lessons, Dance Brazil at the Ordway Theater, and a touch of writing. Quite the Right Hemispheric kinda day today.

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Katie Schuman Avenson Baseball season is here!! I have been informed to not look for my husband until sometime in October.

12 hours ago · Comment ·

Kellie Cripe

Did they put in the cot?

12 hours ago ·

Katie Schuman Avenson

I have told him they missed the mark when designing that place -- some guys actually have apartments downtown.

11 hours ago ·

Kelly McKenzie Johnson

Have him make sure they sign Joe up for another decade! IT handles that, right?

41 minutes ago ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Game of Earthopoly (monopoly but 'earth eco' version) and then off to Feed My Starving Children to package food for Haiti. However, coffee first!

Yesterday at 8:37am · Comment ·

Anne Kelly likes this.

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Katie Schuman Avenson The boy literally driving our family.

Tue at 12:57pm via Facebook for Android · Comment · · Share

Missy Paul Beck and Kelly McKenzie Johnson like this.

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Katie Schuman Avenson Sitting in corner in son's writing class, correcting his paper that I have not had a chance to preview until now. So fantastically proud of his talents.

Tue at 10:56am via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

Beth Campau Kraus likes this.

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Katie Schuman Avenson Sick child, birthday party, Valentines party, nap time for baby----HA HA HA, I stand tall and laugh in the face of ...whomever I am supposed to be laughing in the face at.

Mon at 8:54am · Comment ·

Jennifer Graves

If you don't laugh, you might cry. Keep laughing, even if it is somewhat maniacal.

Mon at 9:12am ·

Alison Myers Gulden

Great party, Katie! Thanks a million! You ROCK..........who's sick, btw??

Mon at 5:02pm ·

Katie Schuman Avenson

Lucy was up all night...literally up all night in the bathroom. She and I slept together last night

Mon at 6:30pm ·

Missy Paul Beck

The party really was amazing. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Carla Westerberg Burke and Beth Campau Kraus like this.

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Katie Schuman Avenson is finished with creating a Valentine Disco CD. "Get down....boogie oooogie ooogie....get down.."

February 14 at 10:52pm · Comment ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Preparing to host vday party with 30 kids and 13 adults. Looks like my baking is a semi success.

February 14 at 12:11pm via Facebook for Android · Comment · · Share

Kellie Cripe likes this.

Beth Campau Kraus

So festive! Let us know how it tastes!

February 14 at 1:34pm ·

Anita Eng

very impressive!

February 14 at 2:46pm ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson A sign of things to come...stay tuned.

February 14 at 8:48am via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson

February 14 at 8:48am via Facebook for Android · Comment · · Share

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Katie Schuman Avenson is doing something COMPLETELY out of her comfort zone.

February 14 at 7:37am · Comment ·

Kellie Cripe and Anne Kelly like this.

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Katie Schuman Avenson i can listen to her all day long.

K.D. Lang sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

www.youtube.com

K.D. Lang's Juno Awards in Winnipeg in 2005 Performance on Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Thank you Ken!

February 13 at 12:53am · Comment · · Share

Missy Paul Beck

I did not know that about you. :-)

February 13 at 8:33am ·

Katie Schuman Avenson

you're up early. Yep - have her CDs, play her when i can. her voice is like bu-dah (butter)
about 5 years ago, i made john a video of me (pretending to be KD Lang) - singing her songs. Funny.

February 13 at 10:14am ·

Carla Westerberg Burke

love the applause at the end! :)

February 13 at 1:43pm ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson I was so happy to see k.d. lang at the opening ceremonies. One of my favorite female artists.

February 12 at 11:04pm · Comment ·

Katie Schuman Avenson so tired of cleaning up other people's messes. My complaint for day - looking forward to the weekend.

February 12 at 5:36pm · Comment ·

Karri Holman

i feel your pain

February 12 at 6:44pm ·

Katie Schuman Avenson

thanks karri! Really looking forward to lunch.

February 12 at 8:19pm ·

Annie McCarthy

I'm with you on that Katie, looking forward to a lonnnngggg weekend

February 12 at 9:17pm ·

Beth Campau Kraus

It does get old, hang in there!

February 13 at 8:48am ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson

February 10 at 6:08pm via Facebook for Android · Comment · · Share

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Katie Schuman Avenson

Harry Potter chess game with Perry at coffee shop before confirmation class

February 10 at 6:09pm ·

Kellie Cripe

Very nice. I played Lord of the Rings chess with Cael and then Kaity tonight as well ;-)

February 10 at 9:19pm ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Library...quiet and relaxing. Nice beginning to the week.

February 8 at 12:58pm via Facebook Mobile · Comment · · Share

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Katie Schuman Avenson

February 8 at 11:07am via Facebook Mobile · Share

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Katie Schuman Avenson Wondering why new right boot felt tighter than the left. Cardboard was still in right boot. Only two days of wearing to figure this out.

February 7 at 11:08am via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

Jennifer Graves

I just bought new shoes online for Mike, and he complained the first day (yesterday) that they were too tight. While walking past the shoes in the hall, I noticed a piece of loose cardboard in one of them. Ha! He says they feel much better today without the cardboard. ;-) Funny that he did the same thing you did just a couple of days after you!

February 11 at 8:20am ·

Katie Schuman Avenson

brought a smile to my face.

February 14 at 10:55pm ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Social Experiment: How long will family members step over small bathroom trashcan - in pathway of boys' bedroom before emptying it? So far, 3 days.

February 6 at 3:59pm · Comment ·

Missy Paul Beck likes this.

Katie Schuman Avenson

Trashcan was emptied as per fathers instruction....but put back right where it was found....in the middle of the hallway.

February 7 at 2:04pm ·

Karen Eng

Baby steps...

February 7 at 4:31pm ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson My son is off to school dance. No friends in his small group will make it tonight, but he is going anyway. I am envious of his strong character.

February 5 at 6:31pm via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

Beth Campau Kraus and Anita Eng like this.

Staci Riley Caillé

I'm sure he's having a great time! Romain wanted to go....next time!

February 5 at 9:22pm ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Teaching a poetry class tomorrow. I am very excited. Maybe I will even have time to write....smile

February 4 at 3:19pm via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

Missy Paul Beck and Kellie Cripe like this.

Karen Eng

Cool! What's on the agenda? Can I join in? :)

February 4 at 5:18pm ·

Missy Paul Beck

Have to tell you.....Greta LOVED LOVED LOVED this class!!! Thank you so much for teaching it!

February 5 at 2:37pm ·

Katie Schuman Avenson

one of the things that i like about you is whenever you say the word love, you always triple it.

February 5 at 3:44pm ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Mall of America is a good place for baby to mess through entire wardrobe. Lots of stores to buy new supplement outfit.

February 4 at 11:02am via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

Kristy Miklas

LOL...it's always nice to have a good excuse to shop and spend money. Have fun!

February 4 at 11:35am ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson Field trip to rainforest cafe

February 4 at 10:44am via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

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Katie Schuman Avenson

February 4 at 10:43am via Facebook Mobile · Comment · · Share

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Katie Schuman Avenson building an electroscope in science today. Oh yes, the 'ol electroscope experiment. Smile.

February 3 at 10:27am via Facebook for Android · Comment ·

So, that is about it. The easy way out for the moment.

Fun Can't be Scheduled

Last year, on the daily schedule, was something called, "Snuggle Time." This was a 20 minute time period that i spent with 'assigned' child. One day, Lucy had 20 minutes of uninterrupted Snuggle time and so on for subsequent children. I posted that this was my least favorite time. It was scheduled; and instead of enjoying the opportunity, I watched the clock and heard the ticks only grow louder as we neared the end. It did not sit well with me, and ironically, it was my children's favorite part of their school schedule. I toiled with 'scheduled' intimate time.

Our family dynamic is made of an array of building blocks, balancing upon the other, dependent upon the next for strength and stability. Our best moments are the 'unscheduled, the nebulous , the unbalanced, and the times that warrant strength of mind and character.

I was encouraged to make this past school Friday a spontaneous, fun, snugglie day. It worked out just fine; but i was not complete. I put forth a schedule and that was my mistake. My children taught me otherwise.

In hindsight, the schedule is at best, laughable. Even more humorous, I had the typed page decorated in festive decor - as an attempt to convince that we were about to embark on a "crazy - kooky brain kinda day."

FRIDAY - DAY 'O SNUGGLIE

Schedule:

Math (always must do math): Daily Math and Assessment Drill

Read - book of choice or library box

Movie in mom's bed

Game with mom

Baking of Viking Bread

Order Pizza for lunch

Viking Jewelry Making

Simon class @ 2pm. Mom and Lucy hang out together.

Pictorial representation of day

Chess Club 8:00 am every Friday

9:00 - arrive home. Simon settles right in.

While he is reading, Lucy is asking if we can make some Viking Jewelry. Absolutely, fun mom replies. I get down my "Craft Box." It takes a while for it is on the very top closet shelf underneath three additional boxes, some open plane models, and some gloves. Things tumble down from the top shelf, but alas, my "Craft Box" is retrieved. Not much to it...I DON'T DO this kind of stuff. One single, solitary box with an odd mix of acrylic paints, brushes, stencils, and for some reason, a few unwanted stuffed animals. Yes, the box actually says, "Crafty Stuff." I did not put the sign on there for the purpose of this post.

Simon making a Viking Long Boat

Lucy making a Viking style pendant

and....Simon back to reading

Movie in bed. Of course, Viking theme. Cartoon - but what else would one expect out of a day o fun?

Our 'Pizza for lunch' time was cut short and we actually ate it in the car; as we were running late to our next event -- a movie critique class that Simon is taking.

While Simon was at a friends house, Lucy and I got something for sidney to eat, got her hair cut and went to Starbucks for a treat.

Lucy and I playing,our own version of "Would You Rather?" Would you rather swim with dolphins or be on an African Safari with elephants and zebras? Her answer was to swim with dolphins.

Sidney taking it in

Hot cider and granola bar

The day ended - actually around midnight. I had some friends over, my kids then, had friends over and we all called it an evening at 12 midnight, when my husband walked through the door after his long day at work.

Oh, who says you can't have fun? Just don't schedule it.

Birthdays are for Kids

Happy Birthday Gift from john. He said he told the camera sales man - "She has a creative eye, she now needs a creative camera."

Remembering back on birthdays, rarely do i recall my 22nd or my 33rd or my 38th for that matter. If anything on those birthdays were significant, it was because my husband put his best foot forward to make it memorable and beautiful and I am most certain that given time, I could write about inspired ways my birthday was celebrated. But, when i think of birthdays past, my brain overflows with visuals: hallways decorated, special breakfast, Spaghetti Factory ("How many in your pawty---she always meant to say party, but as a collective family we laughed, mimicking her and saying potty, instead), birthday parties, slumber parties, grandma and grandpa coming to the house for dinner, early morning calls from my aunt dennie. The days leading up were always teeming with anticipation...counting down on calendars, requesting cakes and dinner ideas, knowing that on the school intercom, my birthday would be announced on that special of all special days, birthday treats were brought to class. It belonged to me and all involved circled around within that energy.

Today, as much as i would like to hold on to those treasured days, i simply can't. My birthday no longer belongs to me. The excitement and celebration has trickled down to where it should.....down to my kids; because they are the intended audience. The all inclusive birthday includes the same countdown (not by me, the kids) and the same eagerness to wake up in the morning for participation in celebration.

Our tradition - set in motion many years ago: wake up on bday morning and have daddy make us breakfast. The collective favorite is Eggs Benedict and french toast. Because of his schedule, we have held our bday breakfast at 6am on some occasions; but we did it!! After, we open gifts. The excitement in this, again, transfers to the kids. I would be amiss if i did not meet the gleam of anticipation in their eyes as i tore open the paper and package.

My birthday was wonderful - but aside from breakfast and gifts, the day waned and it was now the kids day. "What are WE going to do today, Mom?" "Mom, do you want to play Wii on your birthday? You can pick out any game you want." "Mom, do you want to go out to lunch today on your birthday....maybe Subway?" "Mom, can we play legos all day? It IS your birthday, after all." "Mom, what are we going to have for your birthday dinner? Can we have tortellini soup? Hey, wait, you can't have that because of the cheese....maybe you and dad can have something special instead" (and that is exactly what happened).

As much as I would have liked to scream and shout (okay, i did scream and shout a bit...but it was my birthday) that it is MY day and in honesty, a day that i can SELFISHLY call my own, it just doesn't happen anymore.

The gifts of what have you - spa, day alone, coffee date, new clothes, etc, doesn't begin to compare to what a mom (well, THIS mom) would truly desire....a DAY. a simple DAY to frolic in the bountifulness that is Katie. Not mom....I was born, Katie. I understand this is the life God intended for me before I even filled my lungs with the first gulp of air, and a live fully within all his gifts - but i am me.

My birthday was memorable and i was surrounded by people who love me. i am lucky. it's just nice to celebrate katie from time to time. I miss her.