What do Playgrounds and Legislative Session have in common?

Today, being the first Tuesday, after the first Monday in March, marks the beginning of Legislative Session for us in Florida. A time when legislators, lobbyists, and citizens invade our capital city for a period of approximately sixty days to set a state budget and make, break, and change our state laws.

For our family, this time means the hubs is going to be even busier than normal for the next sixty days. Before becoming a full-time stay at home mom of two kids, I was also involved in the fun and chaos known as a legislative session.

Feeling a little nostalgic, I felt I should counteract thoughts of wanting to be back in the craziness by having fun with the kids. We took a trip to the playground and I was struck by the similarities of the two activities.

A few ways being at a playground is just like

being a part of legislative session

1. There are a bunch of people running around acting like two- and three-year olds.

2. Someone is always doing things the hard way, like climbing up the slide.

3. At any moment, someone will probably want to pack up their toys and go home.

4. There are plenty of ups and downs, just like the seesaw.

5. One kid (probably a future lobbyist) is trying to get other kids to think playing their game is a good idea.

6. Sometimes you need some help to get your swing to move.

7. You may have to deal with someone throwing a fit.

8. When Mom counts to three, sometimes kids come back, sometimes they run away (ahem, Wisconsin).

9. There could be name-calling and clique formation.

10. Someone’s always trying to climb higher on the monkey bars than everyone else.

11. Someone may start crying.

12. After playtime, the kids gather around a table for juice and goldfish.

Can you add to this list? Comment below.

Cheers to our friends and family who are have begun the count-down to Sine Die! May you all use your powers for good and make it back to your families soon.

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A few little bits of info:

* Florida is the only state in the nation with a legislative session beginning on the first Tuesday, after the first Monday in March. It is in our state constitution (Article III, Section 3(b)).

* The only other state starting session in March is Alabama. For a calendar of legislature dates, check out this site, BallotPedia.

* The majority of states begin their sessions in January.

* Louisiana, a state that is typically the exception to most political commonalities in our nation, is the only state to begin session after Florida.

* Adjournment Sine Die- A motion to adjourn sine die concludes a legislative session. Sine die is the Latin term for "without day."

* Do you want to teach your kid about Florida Legislative Session? Check out Online Sunshine for Kids

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Florida Constitution Language:

Article III, Section 3(b), of the FLorida Constitution provides that

REGULAR SESSIONS. A regular session of the legislature shall convene on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of each odd-numbered year, and on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March, or such other date as may be fixed by law, of each even-numbered year.

Real Language:

From the FAQ on VisitFlorida: How long does legislative session last?

The regular Legislative session runs for 60 consecutive days. Regular session begins on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March in odd numbered years. In even numbered years, regular session can begin earlier at the request of the Legislature. The Legislature will start session early when re-apportionment is needed. Special sessions, which can last up to a maximum of 20 days, occur at the order of the Governor or joint proclamation by the Speaker of the House and Senate President.

Music Therapy

This morning I needed to go into my daughter's preschool to talk to the teacher briefly, which I knew meant that sweet little girl would beg me to stay for Good Morning Time.

At her school, they begin each day on the playground at 9:00 am and then around 9:15 am they get called for Good Morning Time. This is where they sing songs make announcements and just celebrate life, and love, and all things beautiful.

We love her school. Kids get to be kids there and they grow just the right amount. I believe the teachers truly love the kids and they are just as wonderful and always welcoming with us parents.

Regular preschool is only three hours for our kiddo, Monday- Wednesday- Friday. Parents are always welcome. However, staying means you lose part of your time to accomplish other things while you are minus one hip monkey.

When I told C that we would go into school this morning and stay for Good Morning Time (GMT), she was all joy. Immediately, she started teaching me a couple of songs I would need to know. Adorable!

Alas, we were already late for school.

We got there as the kids were filing into the big room for GMT. Picture the Pied Piper and all of these little people following him in anticipation of greatness. It is amazing how they have 100+ kids who all know what they are supposed to do. I considered it a resume builder when I taught both of my children to walk to the car and get directly into their seats.

So, as I went to find C's teacher, another teacher helped both of my kids into GMT (see, I told you they were awesome. Miss B knew I needed to chat with the teacher for half a second, so she took both my monkeys).

By the time I got into GMT, both of my kids were sitting together, singing, and making all of the necessary gestures. So cute. They were practicing Valentine's Day songs and I think my two kids were in their own world. C was teaching her little brother what he is supposed to be doing and then hugging him and helping him along. This was the first GMT that I wasn't chasing little brother and trying to catch him so we could watch his sister. He was off in the sea of children, not being a toddler who needed my constant attention. My kids were together, being the best friends we hope they will be. They were singing, and so was my heart.

I was smitten. Somewhere between a song about big hugs around the neck, and giving out love and not holding it back, and my daughter's beaming pride when she got called up to lead the school in a song of her choice to sing for her Mommy (today it was Twinkle Twinkle Little Star), I was using all of my might to fight back tears.

There were more songs about how beautiful the world is, being proud of myself, and Skidda-ma-rinkie-dink-dink, and I couldn't help but think, "sometimes, we just need a good round of preschool songs to get us back on track."

Today, I got to sit back and completely enjoy watching my kids enjoy life. Priceless.

No more errands today. I called the hubs to share the story with him and then decided that I needed to write this one down and remind myself: Slow down, don't move so fast.

Happy week before Valentine's Day. Go soak in some love

My New(est) Studio

Sorry, this is not a tour of my sewing studio. I would love to give you one, but alas, I actually create there so it is not picture ready. That is part of why I love my sewing room. If the kids need me, I can walk away from my projects and close the door so that I can come back and pick up where I left off. Maybe I can virtually give you a virtual tour!?! Here is how I want you to picture it: Shelves neatly stacked with fabric (there is a rack of 6 strong shelves); fun containers neatly kept on a shelf (well, you see the picture, the containers are repurposed from jobs they no longer need to do); thread holders hanging from the wall with colors grouped and arranged neatly (the thread holder is there, you can see the top row); ribbon organizers organized (the organizer is there and ribbon abounds, it also exists in a big box unorganized); my three machines with plenty of space around them standing ready for their next task (they are ready and willing at least). Well, I digress...

My newest studio is the kitchen!

We all have them. Ours is the center of the house. For some, the kitchen is the center because they just love food. That's not really us. Ours is convenient to all the places we actually live during the day and it collects everything. Food at our house is characteristically normal and at times just food. The saying "eats to live" most aptly applies to us, we don't "live to eat." (Thanks, Mom for that saying) Meals are generally nutritious, balanced, at least semi-homemade, and occassionally completely frozen or ordered in.

I recently started focusing more on what we cook, how we cook it, and trying to find ways to better utilize our resources, even waste less. (I see saving money as a sport, so if I can be more efficient with our food and money, awesome!) To reduce garbage can waste, we even bought a compost bin. So far, the racoons think it is the best thing ever. Once we figure this contraption out, I will write more about it.

Like many moms I know, I dread dinner-time. It seems like it sneaks up on me EVERY DAY. From the time the kids wake up from naps until they go to bed, my house is organized chaos. The moment my husband walks in the door, the kids attack him, and I seize the moment to sneak into the kitchen to try to steal a few precious moments of thought.

A week ago, with very little time to prepare dinner available, I decided on pasta and meatballs. For us this meal is a magical mix of warming, heating and baking that results in a decent meal in less than thirty minutes. The water was boiling on the stove and the Pillsbury Crescent Rolls (the Reduced Fat kind to avoid Trans Fats) were in the oven. The meatballs had been pulled from the freezer and were patiently waiting in their microwave safe container for their tomato sauce bath.

Open the fridge, no sauce. Pantry, no sauce. A few other likely places, no sauce.

Darn. Think. Think. Alfredo? Nope. Darn.

Kids are hungry. Trying to balance "helpers" a dog that is always in the way and no sauce to be found. Back at the pantry I get new hope, cans of diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes, and tomato paste. Thank you Publix BOGO and the impulse to have some "on hand" just in case something I decided to cook called for these ingredients. It was internet to the rescue for a recipe and moments later I had created something that resembled, and tasted like tomato sauce.

It was this moment that I realized a kitchen, with the help of my trusted computer, can really be a studio. A great place to create.

Time to work on being more awesome in the kitchen.

So, this past week, I have tried to think of cooking more as creating. It has put a new perspective on this daily chore.

Since then, I have tried my hand at homemade soup, and thanks to Sam's Club Warehouse, more than six quarts of pasta sauce and croutons made out of fresh bread that started to go stale too quickly (buying fresh bread in bulk apparently doesn't really work for us)!

I actually thought to take a picture of the sauce ingredients, maybe that will be another post!?!?

On that, its time for me to go practice in my cooking studio. The monkeys will be hungry soon.

Happy creating!