Haiku My Heart - Battle of the Books Countdown

Battle of the Books
Close friends since early school years
Staying connected











I'm joining in with Haiku My Heart with recuerda mi corazon.

Battle of the Books. This picture is from last year's fifth grade battle, but now we're getting ready for the middle school battle with a whole new team. I'm tempted to say that I don't feel we're ready, but what is ready, really? My goal as coach was that the team members (all girls this time - the Greek Goddesses of Reading) enjoy themselves. So I tried to let myself off the hook from pressuring everyone to read the books. They all heard the announcement from the principal at least once a week reminding the battle team members to read all seven books. I didn't want their battle memories to be of the coach yelling at them to read. They've had practice battles at school now - they should know where we stand.

I want our battle team members to come out of the battle feeling like they built closer relationships with the other team members. I want them to remember reading as something enjoyable, not a pressure. I want them to hear next year's battle announcement and say, "Yeah! That was fun! I wonder what the other people I teamed up with last year are doing?"

The middle school Battle of the Books is next Friday - wish us luck!

Another Haiku

Children grow so fast

I need more pictures of them

Hold memories close.

Return of Haiku Friday?

I used to participate in a weekly haiku blog post a few years ago, and it made me smile to see one out there now. I don't think it's the same one, but check out more haikus at recuerda mi corazon.

Riding to Put-In-Bay. August 2008.

Summer heat arrives

Refreshing on the water

Time to vacation

Haiku Friday!

A while since I
haiku'd - but the tradition
still continues on.

On It's a Jan's Life
you'll find new haikus Fridays.
How could I resist?

Luckily my girl
finally sleeps for her nap,
I can haiku now.

Haiku Friday

I miss my Mom!
She and Dad in Alaska
over three months now.

Counting the days til
they are back in Michigan
(around fourteen left).

So do they miss me?
On the phone, Mom says they do,
but they miss Mags more!!

Haiku Friday

Up early today
to finish working and then
Strollerstrides class - yay!!

Exercising fun.
I haven't done it before,
But looks like good times!

After that? Clean up
then go to the boat party,
meet Dad and have fun!

Always lots to do.
Hurry up to the next thing.
Next Thursday? SLEEP IN!


Yes, that's legitimately the next time I don't have somewhere to be in the morning. All this weekend is the boat owners' rally (think of it like a mini Camp Jeep - a bunch of people that own the same brand boat are getting together...), then Monday is Strollerstrides again and then Maggie's one-year well-baby visit, Tuesday is my dentist appointment and Wednesday is music class again. Whew! At least it's not any stuff I really don't want to do.

What's planned for your weekend?

Haiku Friday

Wow! My baby girl
nearly walks around the room
Lovey Bear in tow.

One step...another...
nothing to hold onto now!
She lunges at me.

Still doesn't believe
she's ready to walk alone.
Soon she'll realize it.


Yup. My baby, who will be 11-months-old next week, is almost walking. She zips around the room, or down the hall looking for me, with just one hand resting on the furniture or the wall. She's getting used to standing by herself now - last week she would stand for a minute with a toy in both hands, then get this panicked look on her face when she noticed she was standing alone and suddenly sit down. Silly girl! Now standing is 'no big thang.' And I know walking will soon follow...

Another Contest!

Do you like to read?
Check out She Reads Books and win!
Giving away books!

A variety,
each listed with her review -
know which one you'd like?

Enter in comments,
post on your blog - more chances
to win your own book!

Haiku Friday

So I'm a little late. I wrote a bunch of Mothers' Day haikus a few weeks ago for a contest, and intended to post the ones I didn't enter to the contest up here last weekend - in time for Mothers' Day. But then we left town (again!), and I forgot to schedule it to post. But who doesn't want to celebrate mom all the time?!?

No place is safer
than mother's hug - heals all wounds
I love you always.


Always positive,
smileing, wise and now happy
to be a grandma.


Like a good hair day,
Mom always makes me smile -
not an easy task.


Now that I'm a mom,
I can start to understand
the value of naps.


Loving my daughter
helps me to appreciate
my wonderful mom.


Giving, supporting,
teaching love, and right from wrong -
There's no one like mom.

Hope everyone had a great Mothers' Day, and it continues every day :)

Haiku Friday

Ugh - so much to do!
Turn the car seat to face rear -
(should have stayed that way).

Nine-month old pictures,
Prepare for dedication -
a fruit bowl, perhaps?

Work seven hours
today - that's til four o'clock.
Woke too late today!


Yeah - that's my crazy day in haiku - more or less. We're already more than a week after Maggie's nine-month birthday, but I haven't dragged us both in for pictures yet. I was going to do it today, but I planned on waking up earlier til...I forgot, I guess :) Maggie was all sleepy and snuggled against me and I couldn't bear to move! Then I found out she's supposed to be rear-facing in her car seat til she's one-year old! Oops! So I've got the car seat manual out, and I need to try and flip that around before we can go ANYWHERE!

Sunday is her dedication at church, and then we're having a little brunch for family back at our house afterwards. She'll be wearing the same christening gown I wore 30-some years ago. Definitely pictures to follow on that.

Haiku Friday

Floating butterfly,
Ready for summer to come.
Sweetly singing bird.

Grass is turning green,
Spring quickly turns to summer.
Trees are budding now.

Counting the days til
"Too hot" replaces "Too cold."
Summer comes to Michigan.


Personally, I'd rather have too hot than too cold, but there's a lot of people (like hubby) who are the opposite. I guess too hot would bother me, but nearly everywhere has air conditioning, and I'm usually a bit colder than everyone else, so my too hot is seldom reached, if that makes any sense...

Haiku Friday

Maggie loves sunshine!
As the wind blows through her hair.
I love this picture!!!

Summer is coming.
The air will warm, sun will shine,
eventually.

What will you do then?
Run and play outside with kids?
Tag or Hide n Seek?

When she is napping,
I'll lay out, read, take a tan,
Relax in the warmth.

That is, once summer
settles here for a brief spell,
eventually.

Haiku Friday

Oh no! It's Friday!
I almost forgot to do
my Haiku - close call!

We went out for lunch.
A short trip to see Daddy,
coney dog and fries.

Home, tired baby.
Back to work time for Mommy.
Break time is over.

I kept expecting to be off work for longer than this, so we promised to go out for lunch with Daddy today. I keep my promises, especially when I'm looking forward to them too ;)

And a picture of Maggie...just cuz ;)

Haiku Friday

Just another day.
More snow means cold and ugly.
Home for me and babe.

No kisses goodbye.
Dealing with snow and friends' stuff?
Drive extra safe now.

Dinner out tonight?
Maybe if I deserve it.
But probably not.

A busy weekend
for hubby - friend to help, and
a basketball game.

Next week? Probably
time off - out of work for me.
Free time = no money :(

Self Portrait with My Baby

I love seeing her wittle dimple in this one :)

And just to multi-task:

Hubby has day free
Off we go to run errands
Then a night away.

Home away from home -
Relaxing, cottage style.
Play with baby there.

But don't you worry -
We'll be back to the rat race
in time for bunny.

Haiku Friday

Good thing I posted
17 times yesterday.
(Okay, only three.)

Work is done early.
Limited hours help that.
Play all day instead!

On the floor with Mags.
I'm a human jungle-gym.
Tough job - I love it!

Then she gets a bath,
and a banana snack - yum!
Then out for a walk.

Haiku Friday - Maggie Standing!

Standing up alone -
Maggie is proud of new skills.
We're having fun now!

So proud of our girl,
Getting where she wants -
Learning about life.

Haiku Friday

Second time's a charm
Crunchy cocoa fudge for me!
Hard to make, but done :)

For breakfast, you ask?
Crunchy cocoa fudge for me!
Oops! Maybe not...ugh.

Haiku Friday

Is she average?
Weight, length, head circumfrence? hmmmm...
Doctor says, "All good!"

Co-pay? I don't know.
Blue Cross buys his new Rolex -
Better them than me!


Yay - a healthy well-baby checkup. We were able to go back to the doctor we liked better the first time around now that hubby got new insurance this year at work. He (the doctor, not hubby..haha) said she's just above the 50th percentile for everything. Head circumfrence - 17, Length - 27 inches, Weight - 17 lbs 4 oz.

Haiku Friday

Friday comes again.
Hubby is working from home,
just like a weekend.

One Jeep running well.
Oil line on Subaru
is the next job left.

One hour work left.
Baby in her jumperoo,
then free time for all :)