The holidays are a time for sharing, and some of the greatest sharers on the planet are mothers!

We all have special little nuggets of mom-wisdom that our own moms shared with us.  Some bring us warm smiles as we lovingly pass them along to our own children, while others are accompanied with the unexpectedly surprising realization, “OMG, I’ve become my mother!”

While I was perusing a huge stack of Holiday catalogs with my own mom over the Thanksgiving weekend, we both got a chuckle as I read from the list below, as it appeared on a plaque in a catalog called What On Earth.  I’m guessing you will recognize a few of the tidbits (or some variations thereof) of mom-genius it provides!

Things Our Mothers Taught Us

1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside.  I just finished cleaning.”

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”

3. My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

4. My mother taught me LOGIC.“Because I said so, that’s why.”

5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”

7. My mother taught me IRONY.“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”

9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.“Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”

10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”

11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”

12. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.“Just wait till we get home.”

13. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.“You are going to get it when you get home!”

14. My mother taught me about MEDICAL SCIENCE.“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to stick that way.”

15. My mother taught me about ESP.“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”

16. My mother taught me HUMOR.“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”

17. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”

18. My mother taught me GENETICS.“You’re just like your father.”

19. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.“Shut that door behind you.  Do you think you were born in a barn?”

20. My mother taught me WISDOM.“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”

21. And my favorite: my mother taught me about JUSTICE.“One day you’ll have kids and I hope they turn out just like you!”

Remember to tell them, every day…

You’re amazing, just the way you are!!

(And remember to tell yourself too, while you’re at it!)

Let Your Shine!

We had a howlin’ good time with Halloween this year at the Ely house!

We kicked off the freaky-fun festivities by inviting another family of friends over for this Boo-tiful Boo-fet of eerie appetizers and entrees:

Big Sis presented the Monster Menu

And Lil’ Sis created these ghoulishly-great Boo-fet place cards.

Unfortunately, in all of our Halloween excitement, I forgot to take pictures of the actual spooky spread, so I’m recreating it as best as I can for you:

Missing from these pictures are the Eyeball Mash (which was hummus with “eyeballs” made of sour cream dollops, olive slices, and baby carrots scattered all over the top of the dip), and the Finger Sandwiches (a.k.a. marinated chicken sliders on finger rolls). We came up with these two freaky food ideas all on our own, and they were so tasty that our hungry little goblins gobbled them all up, leaving none for a next-day photo-op!

After we filled our fiendish appetites, we all left for a night of terrifyingly-terrific Trick-or-Treating together!

Our “Scary Nurse” & “Funky Frankenstein’s Bride” on their way to making

Tremendous 2010 Trick-or-Treat Memories!

Yesterday, my older daughter Gracelyn’s school celebrated “Crazy Hat Day”.  She picked out a little selection of chapeaus (Thank you, Cat in the Hat!) from the dress-up cabinet, including: a floppy, furry purple fedora, a leopard print visor, and a pink bunny ear headband, which may not technically be hat, but we’re pushing the envelope here – walking on the wild side of CRAZY, huh?

Speaking of the wild side, I realize, in rereading this last sentence that the above-mentioned head décor may sound like an assortment of accessories from a closet at the Playboy mansion, but I assure you that it is all of the G-Rated glamour-girly-girl variety, not the Pimp-Daddy-O Collection!

Any one of those hats she selected would have been great, but she decided to pile on the fun by stacking all three together on her head. “H-m-m,” I thought as she rounded the corner into the kitchen. I guess she thought that if one is fun, then a triple-decker is ultra-fabulous, so I just smiled and said, “Wow!” I was able to make my happy exclamation without even a hint of sarcasm, allowing me my own “Seriously, Sweetie?” secret thought while honoring her excitement over her own creative expression. Pretty on my mom-game for 6:20 AM, if I do say so myself! ; )

Honestly though, that’s what I love about days like Crazy Hat Day – it’s a harmless way to add a little excitement to the day that provides an opportunity to creatively express yourself.

As it turned out, she decided to go with a last-minute contender – a bright orange witch’s hat with purple pumpkins on it. A few minutes later, my 6 year-old daughter, Sheldyn, entered the kitchen with the discarded furry purple fedora and asked if she could wear that hat to school, promising that she would only wear it on the bus and then put it in her backpack when she arrived at her school, since it wasn’t Crazy Hat Day there. I said yes, and she literally skipped off, brimming with joy from under the brim of her crazy hat.

As we were heading out the front door to catch the bus, Big Sis asked if it was Crazy Hat Day at Lil’ Sis’s school, and I replied, “No.” Then she asked, with a look of pre-teen OMG fashion-shock on her face, “Is she wearing that on the bus to school?” (as if she hadn’t remotely considered choosing that same hat for herself just a little while earlier) to which I replied, “Why yes, yes she is, aren’t you Honey?” Lil’ Sis shook her head yes and just kept on beaming up the driveway, onto the bus, and as the bus pulled away!

Fast-forward to this morning, as we headed out the front door to the bus… Gracelyn packed some crazy socks in her bag, unsure if it was Crazy Sock Day today, and Lil’ Sis was gleefully donning her bright purple fedora for the bus ride again. Big Sis just looked at her, grinned a little, and raised her eyebrows. Obviously, she has not yet mastered the “Seriously, Sweetie?” secret thought/smile combo like her dear old Mom.

When we got to the end of the drive, a classmate of Gracelyn’s was waiting for us, and Gracelyn asked her if it was Crazy Sock Day. Her friend replied that it was not, as they climbed on the bus, and I caught a glimpse of always happy-go-lucky Lil’Sis’s light blue sox, which clashed slightly with her bright red shirt and had a sparkly princess crown-wearing kitty peaking out between her Converse and her capris.

While I waved at the bus and thought about Gracelyn’s Crazy Sock Day inquiry, my heart and face smiled together as I celebrated Lil Sis’s daily expressive sock choices and I said, “Yes, yes it is!”

Ever-AMAZING what they can teach us without even trying!

On my way home from the gym this morning, a delicately graceful butter-yellow butterfly crossed my path, just slightly ahead of me in the road.  I was alone in the car and on the road, so I didn’t hesitate to slow down and let her pass safely by, as she danced care-free ahead of me.

She was in no hurry to get to her destination, and I smiled at how her refined beauty had commanded me and my big vehicle to stop for her tiny little self.

In fact, I smiled the rest of the way home, as I drove slowly (which my being alone on the neighborhood road allowed me to do, without impeding anyone else’s mad-rush), and I took in all of the rich green palms, bursting fuchsia crepe myrtles, and majestic evergreens that touched the seamless blue sky.

Not only did I take in all of those living, vibrant colors – I felt true appreciation and awe for them!  As I did, I could feel my own energy and happiness rising, as Nature shared hers with me.  And I thought to myself how this natural energy boost was way better than the Grande Non-Fat Mocha caffeine-charge I had almost talked myself into picking up on the way home.

I am so grateful to that little butterfly-messenger today, who said with its dance, “Hey Lynn, take a “brake” for a moment, and look at this!  It’s pretty amazing, huh!”

I have recently been more consciously focused than ever on doing more of just that – finding peace and fulfillment through slowing down and really tuning into, observing, embracing, and honoring all of the evolving aspects of my Self and this blessing-filled life that I live.

How fitting that this little perfect symbol of evolution – a dancing yellow butterfly – so effortlessly reminded me that the easiest and most elegant path to contentment and flow is through daily appreciation and gratitude, and that inspirational reminders of this simple guidance surround us.  We just need to slow down enough every now and then to let their magic feed our souls!

When I picked my daughters up from an afternoon summer camp recently, they told me about a girl there who had suggested that my younger daughter should ignore her Big Sis and not be her friend.

Big Sis: “Like anyone could really come between us – we’re sisters!”

Little Sis: “Yeah, nothing can come between sisters.” (just as conversational and matter of fact as if she’d said, “The sky is blue, you know.”)

I have always told my girls how blessed they each are to have a sister because they will always have a built-in playmate and “bestest” forever-friend.

It is so amazing and rewarding as their mom to see that unique sisterly bond growing and strengthening between them. That closeness is even more gratifying for me, as a girl who grew up without my own big sister to share sweet secrets with and have there to help guide me along my way. My own Big Sis passed away as a toddler 3 ½ years before I was born, and it is a space I have always held in my heart. I remember my heart literally aching while I missed her so much growing up.

Even now, I wonder what our relationship would be like and what adventures we would reminisce about today if we had been able to share our lives with each other. I love my three brothers dearly, but I will always miss my sister that I never personally got to meet and laugh with.

Nothing could make me happier than to see my daughters share the kind of sisterhood that I always wished for.

(Me: “Nothing can come between them – they’re sisters!” And that special journey has only just begun!)

Feelin’ Hot, Hot, Hot!

Summertime heat can make even the best moms wilt at the thought of cooking. Don’t let summertime meals get you hot under the collar! Check-out these no-sweat summer recipes!

http://busycooks.about.com/od/summerrecipesandmenus/a/toohotcook.htm

Keep your cool & Enjoy!

A few absolute “givens” of life as a mom during the Summer: Lots of outdoor fun; a freezer well-stocked with yogurt squeezables, ice cream, and/or popsicles; extra kids running in and out; bottles and bottles of sunscreen; added “beach towel” laundry loads; and the always-dreaded yet completely anticipated “Mom, I’m bored!” exclamations.

The inevitable whine of the “I’m b-o-o-o-r-e-d…” complaint occurred unusually early at our house this summer. It came from my older daughter (of course, under the ever-watchful eye of my younger daughter, taking it all in) before school was even formally over, on a final half-day.

Normally, this behavior would have taken about a millisecond to get under my skin, but not this time.

This summer, I was prepared.

Upon the submission of the first “There’s nothing to do” grievance, I calmly replied that our first “official” rule of summer was that any “I’m boreds” would be my signal that someone needed something to do right away, to end their suffering. () I would have a full list of chores on-hand, and be ready and willing to dole out whatever chore I chose, since an “I’m bored” would immediately eliminate the complainer’s option of choosing, bartering, or otherwise discussing the available chore options. I told my daughter, whose eyebrows were raised as she tried to completely take in my quick yet casual reply, that since this was her first time hearing of the new rule, she could choose to go find something else to do as a one-time freebie, or I’d be happy to let her know her To-Do item.

Needless to say, off she went, with an “I’ll take the freebie” and “My Mom’s a little crazy” half-grin on her face, while her little sis wasn’t far behind (probably thinking that she best avoid any potential residual chore-delegating)! And that was that – not a single “I’m bored” whine has echoed through our halls since.

Did I actually have a pre-made To-Do list especially for “I’m bored” delegation? No. But, I am 1000% confident that I’ll be able to whip something up on the fly should the need arise over the course of the coming summer weeks! I know my kids share that same confidence in my abilities, so I am expecting a pretty “I’m bored”-less summer! Sometimes its extra-fun being Mom!!

Pretty much the entire day on Saturday, my younger daughter was by Daddy’s side, working together on project Ely Girl Clubhouse. Without complaint, she made ice water runs, held beams, and even helped tighten a few screws. They were blessed with morning shade for most of the first half of the day, which made the upper 90 degree heat and 2000% humidity a little more tolerable!

A little girl taking pride in hers and Daddy’s work!  Priceless! (Big Sis made a few “checking on the progress” and water-run visits as well, but unfortunately missed the photo opps.)

A little pre-lunch break, admiring their work, and imagining all of the fun that awaits her, Big Sis, and their friends once the Ely Girl Clubhouse is complete! (That’s Daddy’s elbow in the bottom left corner – still sawing boards and continuing to work the entire rest of the afternoon in the crazy-hot sun and humidity.)

That’s one dedicated Daddy! We’re so lucky to have him!!

Building Dreams & Memories

My husband Bill loves to build things.  Planning and building things for his family serves as a creative outlet for him – one that he doesn’t get to enjoy very often any more, with all of his global travel and busy-family weekends.

Except for this Summer – this Summer has been a backyard building Summer so far, and my husband has literally been pouring his “all” into building his little girls a backyard swing set and tree house play land.

We hired some help to assist with the swing set, which came with a set of hired-help issues all its own.  But, as we’ve learned to do with so many things in our life in recent years, we let go of sweating the small stuff and let a “good enough” amazing swing set be good enough.

Already, the new swingin’ addition to the Ely family has served as the stage for many special talks with our girls – sharing that comes easily and naturally with the beautiful Lowcountry marsh-view and breezes, just as the sun sets and the early evening peacefulness settles in.

The deck railing, house walls, and must-have porch rocking chairs will be added in coming weeks.