Letter to my children

Dearest Adrien & Fiona,
I just wanted to take a second and recap somethings about you that make me smile...

#1 Yesterday going on a simple walk is always entertaining to see how you two interact with each other and NEVER stop giggling in your own magical world...it was cold, snowy, & icy, but when Dad asked, "Delay tomorrow...do you wanna go for a walk?"  You both were excited to get out and go on a little walk around the streets of a small town.  You both can be so sweet to eachother...even if Fiona is a little FIESTY at times.  It makes me Happy to know that I have two children who get excited about getting a coke from a 30 year old vending machine in a snow storm.  The way you both squealed with delight when the mystery flavor was, "GRAPE FANTA!"  Priceless!

#2  Making and recreating memories with you Adrien, has been one of the BIGGEST PERKS of parenting to date.  I love hearing you talk about the time the steps at Memorial Park that get turned into a waterfall when the snow/ice conditions are just so...the last time that happened you were about the same age as Fiona is now...so of course last night after the snow, then ICE we decided to go on a late night adventure to the park.

On the way there it was AWESOME to glance at you, Adrien, and see the sparkle in your eyes filled with anticipation and excitement...  I could almost hear the thoughts in your head practically ---Willing the conditions to be JUST right for a snow waterfall.  Of course, it wasn't EXACTLY the same, but PRETTY darn close...close enough to make new memories this time with Fiona in tow!  Fiona you were light enough to just slide & SAIL right down snow covered steps...but seeing you jump on Adrien's back ride down together was the best!  

I don't know what I did to deserve you both, but I do KNOW that for all the times, I'm MEAN MOM~~ Last night was NOT one of them and a memory I will cherish forever!

I LOVE YOU Adrien, I LOVE YOU Fiona!

~Mom

Summer Fun

Travel, Beach,

2012/2013 School Year Recap

BONDING - MOTHERS -STRENGTH - FRIENDS - BALDIES

PLEASE READ ALL ABOUT HOW I ENDED MY MOTHER'S day making A LIFE LONG MEMORY & BONDING with an AMAZING WOMAN ---DEVON!!!  
KEEP CALM & DEV ON!

http://pages.teamintraining.org/cpa/nikesf13/lflickinge#home

Started out my Mother's day with a GORGEOUS run with some REALLY awesome gorgeous MOM's for out Sunday morning Cruiser 5k RUN!!!  I couldn't think of a more perfect way to begin each and every SUNDAY morning--- Love these ladies and SO happy to have girlfriends & new friends who are willing to meet up, SWEAT, LAUGH, and oh YEAH let's not forget to run, "right Ladies?"

Then I came home to a Fabulous BREAKFAST SPREAD!!!! Thanks to my awesome Husband & Birdies!

Hope you had a great weekend, specifically MOTHER'S Day~~~ I also to do my favorite family activity...HIKE with my crazy GOOFBALLS @ Pole Steeple, Pine Grove Furnace State Park!

Then I went to visit my best friend since college, Devon, who is battling Cancer!!! She is the most courageous woman I know and has been so upbeat and positive during her 7 month battle.  She asked me if I would like to shave my head and OF COUSE, I gladly agreed.  But it was not without objections from those around me, most Specifically, from my 5 year old daugher, Fiona.  At the mere mention of a haircut for  her or I in the past two years she would get upset and tell me, "NO!"  

I'm not being overly dramatic, I KNOW it is JUST hair...I tried to explain, reason, understand and at the very least get my daughter to accept that I wasn't going to cut her hair, I was JUST going to cut my hair and NO, it won't make me sick...it is just a way to share the experience with my best friend who is sick.  It got to the point that I actually felt bad bringing it up over and over only for her to get upset and before it was time for it to actually happen.  SO, I told my son and my supportive husband came along for the SHAVING experience!  

I have to admit I was most nervous when she cut the braided ponytail off with medical scissors because I could hear a SAWING noise but the rest of it was actually a rather POSITIVE, freeing and Lightweight feeling!  It made for the most amazing MOTHER'S day/BONDING Best Friend Experience EVER!!! 

Take THAT CANCER!

Devon is determined to beat this and I KNOW SHE WILL!  I signed up to do TEAM IN TRAINING in honor of Devon so if you are able to donate PLEASE do, any amount will HELP!! It's super easy, just click on this link:
http://pages.teamintraining.org/cpa/nikesf13/lflickinge#home

I'm still not sure how to show my daughter without scaring or scarring her?  She has NEVER had a haircut and I don't want her to think I am going to get sick just because I have NO hair...any POSITIVE Suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated & OPENLY received from LOVING FRIENDS& MOTHERS! 

There are no guarantees, enjoy each moment, & live life fully-ALWAYS!!!

So happy to have the opportunity to hang out with Devon & her partner, Brenton!  What an awesome partnership you two have~~~ 

Glad my husband, Justin was there to help shave out my ears and help as well!~~ 

http://pages.teamintraining.org/cpa/nikesf13/lflickinge#home

EASY DIY ~COZY~~~ OLD sweater project

SO, how often do you see cool projects on websites like, Pinterest or Facebook, and think I could do that?  Followed almost immediately by if only I had an entire weekend to myself and NO interruptions!  Oh wait, then you realize that is NEVER GOING to happen, even if you don't have any kids, right? Let's face it....most of the time that stuff is waaaaay more complicated than you think it is and you end up spending way too much money in the end.  Well, I challenge you.... here is a cool weekend project that you CAN DO and it cost little, to NO money at all! 

Sorry to be a TEASE...here's the DEMO!

No Sewing required---UNLESS you want to! 

This fabulous idea was born out of my own desire for a "cozy," scarf like the one I spotted my big sister stylin'!

*My sister got her scarf at Target! Before you "GO ON THE HUNT!" or attempt to knit one, right? As if, that's EVER going to happen, let alone get finished.

You probably have ALL the materials already at least to make a "demo," project to get your creative juices flowing and then the next time your hubs walks by and sees all the ridiculous things you've, "Liked," or "Pinned," you can show him a project actually you DID!

Find an old sweater....any size should work.  I found my sweaters for $1 at a local thrift store.  But you could use a kids sweater that no longer fits them...you are just using the wait part for the scarf.

Step #1 Cut below Arm Pit horizontally 

Step #2 continue Cutting Entire Width of Sweater

Step #3 Try on scarf around neck!

*Optional -Stretch sweater LOOP/Scarf if needed you could sew it or use a Seam glue if the scarf starts to fray*


 

You decide what to do with the left over, My daugher, Fiona made a road for her DOLLS!
*you could always keep the creative energy flowing and turn the arms into fingerless hand warmer/gloves, or leg warmers, or cut them into "fake" boot warmers socks?!  The possibilities are ENDLESS, right?

BEFORE                    AFTER                     

UGLY SWEATER ------->COZY INFINITY SCARF


*Now it's your turn...what projects have inspired you?

Let's Pretend 5 Years of FUN Celebration!

Cheers to the New Year & A 5 year OLD- wise beyond her years!

I am still trying to convince myself that starting of 2013 without any expectations is the WAY to go!  However, that is usually not that way I roll, I'm one of those people who tend to try to make everything play out EXACTLY that way I've already imagined it in my head.  Which usually just ends up making me frustrated or trying to control way too many outcomes.

That is why today on the 5th birthday of my little LADY, I need to remember what I have learned since she was born, to just focus on the positive---THIS one specific focus will lead you to HAPPINESS!  My little sweet birdie, really did send me for quite the tailspin from the day she was born... nothing with her is what I expect it to be.  We really do butt heads and she has to do things in her own way on her own time, which has worked out well and FINE!  She really has bloomed ALL by herself when SHE was good and ready!  I on the other hand am still trying to find the rhythm of her drum.  Looking for the positive has allowed me to surrender; somewhat, to see the beauty in her I never knew could actually be born from me.  That daughter of mine has such a pure & simple spirit, always kind hearted and soft spoken.  I'm still amazed that she is so honestly pure and sensitive, but at the same time knows right from wrong.  She was late to vocalize her spirit and I truly believe she gained some powerful observations skills during those extra months of just observing those around her.  Now as she enters her fifth year she has certainly found her voice and is learning how to assert herself in the world in a way that is more effective and compassionate than I could have ever hoped to witness.

I tend to be very pushy/controlling/aggressive by nature and my daughter is the complete opposite in the most beautiful combination beyond what I ever could have imagined.  The Truth of it is she really takes after my husband and it is because of the TWO of them I am constantly reminded how special the parental bond is and should be nurtured in ALL ways.  Whenever I feel overwhelmed or LOST in crazy frustration I just repeat to myself, "How would her dad handle this?"  Then I try to meet in the middle and if I'm doing half as good of a job as he does with her...We are ALL winning!  Just trying to be present in the moment and giving focused LOVE without EXPECTATIONS is when LOVE comes full STRENGTH back to you--- To both my husband & my daughter--- Thank YOU for allowing me to accompany you and at times PROUDLY watch from the sidelines as we NURTURE our beautiful Daughter-- Happy Birthday Fiona!

We had planned on spending our New Year's Eve celebrating at a local Casino in a ADULTS-only atmosphere but my mother-in-law got sick and in embracing my new philosophy of NO EXPECTATIONS, I was ready to change my plans for an "KID-friendly" evening....and it just so happened that we got a last minute invite to a friends NYE house party--- WE OBVIOUSLY had WAY TOO MUCH FUN!  Just look at the FUNNY Snapshots~  Thanks Debbie & Travis King~  Sorry About the "BUSTED BANANA!!! I really did TRY to help clean it UP!

Then the next morning, I was WAY too tired to wake up and run I decided to sleep in and then my husband woke us ALL up to go walk around City Island and to watch the CRAZY people jump in the river for the Polar Bear Plunge!  Brrrrrr- it was chilly!

Cheers to ANYTHING GOES in 2013 FLICKIGNER FAMILY!