She Waved!!!

One of the biggest challenges that I have faced leading up to my daughter's camp adventure was not showing the teary-eyed emotional momma in front of her.  I know that if I broke down, even the tiniest bit, it would cause doubt and frustration on her part, and I wanted nothing to do with that!

I am honest when I share that I did not break down today when I hugged her goodbye, waved at her through the bus window, and saw the bus driving away.  Thank you, God, for leading and directing this entire adventure.  I am confident and she is too.

And because I was able to keep my cool and laugh and enjoy the experience, I not only got sweet giggles and laughter and genuine goodbye hug and kiss from my girl ... but she waved!!  She waved from the bus with her friend as it was pulling away and to me, that was huge and just what we both needed.   

Her adventure begins ~ confident, secure, grown up in her 11 year old way.  Praise God!

Packing and learning how to secure a tight sleeping bag roll:

Carrying her luggage to school yesterday ... "I can do this all by myself": 

The hallway buzzing with students and parents stacking luggage, waiting for the Camp Truck to arrive: 

Dressed and ready to go at 7am this morning (Mom, she chose the double braids - Ah!).

Buses left promptly at 7:45am and SHE's WAVING (last two windows a view of my girl's friend, my girl, and a high school counselor sitting by himself wondering what he's gotten himself into: hahaha).  

One of those nights

The rain poured in buckets yesterday with the wind knocking the new growth of leaves and flower buds from trees and wisping limbs to the ground.  Cozy in my piano chair in the warmth of my living room, the students blew in for lessons water logged from their day at school.  Turning off the living room lights at the end of my day was the start of craziness for the next thirty minutes. My husband kissed me goodbye to hit the gym, the kids were headed to bed.

With lights flickering I told my girl to hurry in the shower and maybe we could beat the power outage and get her hair dried with the dryer.  While she's singing her shower tunes and forgetting about the hurry part, my son and I were chatting and getting backpacks unloaded with our dog running crazily under our feet; excited that we were all home.  Meeting up in my bathroom with jammies on and teeth brushed, I started drying my girl's hair.  When all of a sudden my son came screaming at the top of his lungs into my room; shutting off the dryer I hear our house alarm going off.

Sigh.  Knowing it is not a real intruder, I rush down the stairs to turn it off.  My dog is barking, my kids are arguing because they both were set off guard at the panic, and neither enjoy the ear piercing sound of our alarm, nor the computer-lady talking through the speaker, but they are trying to be brave, and the result is both getting mad at the other for being mad.  Make sense?  Not really, but it happens among siblings.

Coming back up the stairs I try to get us back to the happy place, but first have to help orchestrate the lesson learned and apologies from both children to each other; all while carrying on this heavy speech impediment due to my lovely new retainer. As a result of my lack of being able to form words correctly and be understood clearly, respect for my teacher role is just so-not-being-taken-seriously by the children, but at least some laughter ensues, and a few minutes later we seem to be under control.

As I am tucking in my son, I hear what sounds like the outside garage door being opened.  Trying to stay calm and hoping they didn't hear what I hear, I tell the kids that I am going to check the laundry downstairs.  The dog follows and starts barking.  The kids pick up that something isn't right, as the wind is knocking and rain is pelting sideways on their bedroom windows.  I listen to the inside garage door and hear someone in the garage.  Now it was my turn to freak.

I quickly locked the door and set the house alarm.  The noise continues.  My husband could not be home already, he left just 15 minutes ago.  Or was it him?  I knock on the door.  No answer.  The garage is quiet.  I call my husband's cell phone.  No answer.  I hear noise on the side of our house.  Great, did this person exit to my backyard?  Calling my husband again, keeping calm and telling my children every things fine, I begin to doubt ... until ...

My husband is trying to get into the house.  I yell his name to be sure it was him, the kids are panicking, and he answers from the other side of the door.  I unlock the door and he comes in surprised at the look on my face; one of not being too happy.  Trying to describe my last fifteen minutes produces a laugh from him too ... you got it ... I take out my retainer, and then reexplain my last fifteen minutes (I begin to wonder if I've been punk'd by my orthodontist).

My husband didn't have much of an evening either; he doesn't remember even setting the alarm (let alone setting it incorrectly so that any wrong motion inside the house would set it off), while he was driving in the darkened storm he had to swerve in the street for a guy walking on the side, get stopped in energy crew traffic because lights were out, and then get to the gym to find they have closed because of power failure due to the storm.  Coming home with out a work out, a stressed client chatting on his cell phone, while taking out the garbage cans in the pouring rain, to being locked out of his own house, to finding his kids panicked, and his wife speech impaired ... just one of those nights.

We all called it a day and went to bed.

Not my style

I feel trapped between the orthodontist chair and the orthodontist.  I am at the complete mercy of his wisdom and it drives me crazy because when it comes to tooth knowledge I know nothing and he knows everything, I guess, or I hope.

I am having a final procedure completed this Thursday. Let me see if I can explain this with my understanding, and I am probably off a whole bit, but once again my tooth knowledge does not match any person whose been through orthodontic training.  The top of each person's tooth has a grid and for the last 30-something years my grid has fit together a certain way.  Now that my bite has been transferred to a new form, my grid no long fits in the same puzzle formation.  I have high points that are causing the teeth not to sit correctly.  This is not uncommon and it makes sense why the puzzle no longer fits.

But now in order to fix the puzzle for life, I have to have the tops of certain teeth ground down to fit and lock in place with each other.  Apparently this is very intense work for the doctor, one that takes skill and mastery, because if he grinds too much in one area, whammooo, a crown will need to be put in place because I can't grow back enamel to fix the error of too much being filed away.

In order to reach the ortho chair for appointment day on Thursday, I had to go in bright and early this morning to get new molds taken so he can do a "run through" before I show up at Noon.  Well, that is a good thing.  But also, apparently, my jaw needs a new alignment too.  This is where I have gone blank in understanding, but the assistant put some additional silicone on my upper retainer so that only my front teeth touch.  Only my front teeth touching means my bite does not close at all between now and Thursday.

See (with out lipstick, but the extra color wouldn't add beauty, unfortunately):

Looks like bubble gum between my teeth.  This is so not my style.  I will be cheating.  I have to, I can barely talk with that lump of hard pink between my back teeth and my tongue.  It doesn't show much in the camera phone photo, but it is very apparent in real life and not speaking well is my biggest issue.

A small little plastic knob was also added to my bottom retainer to push a tooth back in place (it slightly moved).  Apparently my retainer has been too loose, even though I honestly wear the bottom piece 24/7.  If it doesn't pop back, then he'll do a permanent fix to the retainer soon.

Orthodontics is NOT MY STYLE!!!

HOA Spruce Up Day!

One of the favorite neighborhood traditions is getting homeowners out on the block to help spruce up the street to kick off Spring and Easter.  The Homeowner's Association orders a bunch of bark for the common areas, and individual houses chip in if they want bark in their own yards, and we go to work.  Complete with kids this year (Yay! Old enough to help!) and warm drinks with doughnuts, the party started yesterday promptly at 9:00 in the morning and we were done in two hours.  The street looks great!

Friday Night Fun

These two fifth grade girls were born the same month, the same year, went to the same preschool, go to the same school district, will go to the same junior high and high school, and next week will be going to the same fifth grade camp.  Dressed a like, but not planned, the two girls (cousins) and their mothers (sister-in-laws) went shopping and out to dinner last night.

We all know that Target is a fun place to shop, but it is more fun when a buddy is along and you can bounce ideas off each other and laugh.  The purpose was to gather supplies for camp.  I know, what supplies could possibly be needed that we didn't already have?  But when the luggage needs to be shipped off a day ahead of the campers, one still needs a toothbrush and toothpaste.

The weather too is supposed to be gray and rainy, and the adventure is taking them along the shores of water so the temps will be even cooler.  Rain gear was needed and thermal type layering of long sleeve shirts were on our list.

And one can not go to camp with out a few goodies packed, and extra socks that actually make camp life better were a must (none-of-these tiny anklet socks that hardly do any good, but my girl loves).

I'm not worried about what clothes to pack (now that the warm shirts have been purchased), as rumor has it the fifth graders wear their camp sweatshirts, which they already received, every day during Camp. I have every reason to believe this is true, as these two were wearing them yesterday, and even a few times prior to that.  It's just the thing to do.

Starving after our adventure, we took the girls out to eat and we found ourselves down memory lane, taking turns sharing about when the girls were little and hearing their perspective was very fun and funny.  We chatted Middle School and Camp and current Fifth Grade "stuff".  Dropping them back at their house, the girls went from laughter and a casual good time together, to hyper-mode jumping up and down with hugs because it was just one step closer to boarding that camp bus!  They are set and ready to roll.

Thanks, M and M for Friday Night Fun!!
xoxox

F-I-N-A-L-L-Y

I like the line in the movie Father of the Bride when the daughter comes home from her European Study Abroad program and her fiancé, whom she met while studying, is coming over to meet the parents.  The young twenty-ish daughter is bounding out the door for a date with her fiancé when her father says, "You might want a coat, it is cold outside."  To which the daughter shrugs and says that she'll be fine.  The fiancé chimes in, "You might want a coat, it is cold outside."  The daughter in a surprised tone, as if she'd never heard the advice before, says, "Oh, okay" and grabs her coat. 

Sprinkled throughout my adult life my mom has been encouraging me with little sayings about getting in the water and learning how to swim. As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, with a surprised reaction from many, my parents enrolled me in swim lessons under my duress as a child and as a result, I never truly have felt confident nor grasped the necessary level of swim proficiency. 

My good friend has been to Hawaii twice this year with her family; a perk that comes through her husband's employer.  Both sets of travel pictures showed an amazing water adventure with dolphins, sea turtles, fish, surf boards, and relaxing swim fun with her family.  I made the mistake of commenting to her about my lack of swim skills and thought nothing of my confession. 

Two weeks later she wrote a lengthy email to me about how much my comment about my lack of swim skills was bothering her.  By the end of the email, she was the fiancé in the Father of the Bride movie and I was listening to her. She challenged me to call our local community pool and get registered for private swim lessons. 

Given a timeline, the push I needed, I called with ten hours to spare and got my date, time, and swim instructor on my calendar. Within the month of April, I will have had my first swim lesson and will be in the water swimming for the first time in thirty years.  

In time if I cross the swimming pool with out panic, cross a lake with out drowning, swim in the safe zone of an ocean, and enjoy it ... then I will have her to thank for the final push, the blog friends who recently added their encouragement the last time I blogged about this to make it jump to the forefront in my mind, and ... my mom who started the nudge way-back-when. 

I might just treat our family to a Hawaiian vacation!

An excuse for cake

Yesterday was our dog's birthday and yes, we celebrated the occasion.  We all know that Cora does not understand nor care that it was her birthday, but it was an excuse to have cake!!  Next year, however, we will be giving her gift first, because once our four legged buddy had a taste of ice cream, she wanted nothing else to do with anything or anybody.

Birthday Pose, son 9, dog 5, daughter 11:

Regardless of what the frosting tub advertised, it really did not cover a two-layer 9" round cake, but it was for a dog's celebration and I was not about to go to the store to buy another just to cover the missing spots. I love my dog, but that would be going over the edge. Funfetti cake was the cake of choice.

Cora did not get cake, but she did get two small scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Cora with a final birthday pose, not wanting to get off the chair to see her toy, or go outside for fresh air, or go lay down, or go in her kennel.  She was steadfast in ... staying!right!there!because!that!ice!cream!was!awesome!

We are so grateful for our dog who truly is, with out a doubt, the best buddy a kid or adult could ask for in a pet.  She is calm, obedient, silly, cuddly, curious, and just sticking cute!  We love you, Girl!

Rocket Power

In one week, seven days from this moment, my daughter will be away at Fifth Grade Camp, eating a picnic lunch, perhaps in the pouring rain.  She might be soaked, but I just pray that she thoroughly loves the adventure.

If you would have asked me five years ago, all the way up to just a few months ago, if my girl was attending, you would have received a very firm No response. So the fact that I am even typing this blog post with a hint of excitement about her big adventure is a work of God's hand.  I know people always say, "You're kids will be ready when it's their time." when discussing growing up, natural processes of life.  Whether it is camp, or driving, or dating, or going off to college.  At current age, parents can't see that child being that age to be ready.  But now that my daughter has reached that age, they were right.  She's ready.

Our district sends all fifth graders to the same camp in shifts during one week.  It is always the week before Spring Break.  Brilliant really.  Get them wild, sleep deprived, unshowered-mess and send them home for a week.  A group of students attend Monday through Wednesday, the remaining group attends Wednesday through Friday. The chartered buses will literally pass each other on the freeway next Wednesday; one going to, and one going back home from camp.

Once arrived, the students will be broken into squads of 6-8 students per High School Counselor.  That's right, no parents allowed, teacher and nurse staff only, along with about 70 High School Counselors selected from a core group of "good" students.  Each fifth grade student will know at least one fellow squad member, the rest will be made up from students at the differing elementary schools in our district. Kept in tight reign and never left unattended, the squad eats together, sleeps together, exercises together, and do all the academic projects together.

The students will group back into their regular classrooms with their regular teacher only one time during Camp.  And that is during Rocket time.  Building a rocket is an option for each student.  If you build one, you get to launch it and see how far it goes up (hopefully).  If you do not build one, then you get to be behind the line (hopefully) and cheer on your classmate.

My daughter and my husband built this rocket over the last couple of days. They finished it up after dance class last night, just in time for it to be securely boxed up to be turned in today in preparation for the trip up to Camp.  I hope it flies straight, and up, and far.  Either way, it was a great project for daddy and daughter.

This weekend we will be getting the essentials needed for camp, and labeling everything, and packing everything for the truck to depart a day prior.  The district loads every one's luggage and hauls it up to camp a day prior, so the students are only bringing their sack lunches the following day when they board the charter bus.  It's been five years of watching other parents drop their student's luggage off outside the gym, getting butterflies in my stomach just watching them, and next week it will be my turn.

I am churning now, with excitement and nerves, so I better stop posting before the welling of the tears comes next. I just gotta think: Rocket Power!!

Signs of Spring

A few summers ago we had a bird build a nest in a flower pot that hangs from the side of our front porch pillar.  Yesterday while I was teaching piano, I noticed a bird flying back and forth under my porch eaves by my window.  I knew what it was doing and it was so fun to see from the corner of my eye it flutter by while my student's played.

This morning my son took a picture of the new nest that was built in a day.  I am so excited to see the momma bird nesting soon with her eggs.  And then the little ones hatching before first flight.  As far as we know, the last time a bird nested here, everything turned out fine.  Hoping the same this time around too.

My son did not want me to post a bird story with a cat story; since cats eat birds.  But since these cute kitties do not live at our house, I consider it safe.  Here is a sweet picture that my son took of his cousins' cat  on Sunday.  We went to my brother's house for a birthday celebration and their cats kept all of the guests company.  Fluffy, cuddly cats that like to lounge on the sofa and under covers, and has been witnessed walking the top banister of their open staircase (enough to give me the shivers and sweaty palms) with the ease as if they were walking on green grass.  The girls love their furry friends.

My 12 year old niece owns Miss Pilot:

My 10 year old niece owns Iffy:

Misc Monday

Funny what you learn in blogland.  I was reading a blog over the weekend and she mentioned a frustration about blogger; how her uploaded pictures were not able to be moved through her text.  I had been having the same problem, until I realized that the problem was only occurring when I was using my Google Chrome browser.  So I made a comment.  I went back to that same blog to see if my suggestion worked, and another person made a comment to upgrade the blogger editor with in Blogger.  No more dragging photos around to make them just-so in the text; and many other quick upload enhancements.  I followed her suggestion and it works so much better!  Amazing what you find in blogland. 

I hurt.  I am in a dull zone at the gym and decided that I would switch my exercise routine up.  Now I remember why I was in a dull zone, I really like cardio so much better than weights.  I hurt because I did the majority of my workout yesterday on weights.  Since I have not stuck with the weights on a routine basis, I keep getting stuck on the hurt part.  I am curious if I stick with the weights more consistently, will the pain eventually go away?  Because if not, I am so going back to majority cardio.  What's the fun of this?  I hurt. 

I sat in the school library this morning listening to my daughter's classroom present their CBA projects.  Luckily the time did not interfere with my scheduled piano lessons today, so I was able to attend.  Unfortunately, out of 30 students, only five were represented with parents. Those five students got to go first, and it took one hour. The teacher was kind and dismissed us for the day, the other 25 students would just present to the classroom. The history subject matter was all the same, but it was interesting to see how the students went about presenting their work.  And bravo for the student's parents ... you could tell on all of those presented thus far, that the students really did write their summaries.  Yes!  Having the kids take ownership for their academics is so important; glad we all let them sail. 

My daughter is building a rocket in my kitchen.  She started yesterday before we left to another March Birthday gathering for my extended, loving family.  With the help of her dad, they were able to get part of the rocket put together.  They will be painting tonight, adding decals tomorrow, and turning it in on Wednesday.  The project is stacked at the end of my counter.  Thankfully, the engine and rocket boosters were kept in the safe hands of a school employee, and not sent home.  At least it won't be exploding in my kitchen.  The rocket is for next week's fifth grade camp.  I hope my daughter has good duck and cover skills as I am not too confident that all rockets will be headed up.  Some may find themselves sideways.  Should be a lot of fun and very interesting. 

Happy Misc. Monday!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

I will admit, I like funny movies, quirky movies on occasion, but I wasn't so sure what our family was in store for when my son was dying to see the new Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie. He had read the books, his sister had borrowed them, I had borrowed them. While my son can read above grade level, saying he enjoys reading would be a stretch. However, author Jeff Kinney knew how to draw my son in quick for the entire series, as he loved reading those and now wants more. But seeing the movie with live characters, no cartoons to brush off the squeamish parts, not so sure how this was going to go over.

But as my friend put it, my son is a very good kid and will not be ruined by one movie ~ take him and have fun! Okay, we'll take him. I can say that I am glad that we did. It is a much-needed movie for boys. No guns, no swear words, no destruction ... just real life Middle School. Yep, that would be enough not to take him, right? The Middle School part? But honestly, it was just good humor for boys (and girls? My daughter was on a date with my parents and wasn't interested in going, but now after hearing our reviews, would like to go).

My children tease me for finding the good meaning to all the movies we see, and this movie was no exception. I wanted to find the take-away learning experience between the goofiness and stomach turning parts. I'm a mom, that's what I do! Gotta find the positiveness. I asked my son in the car, "So, what was the take-away from this movie?" And he got it!! My friend was right, my son is a good kid and won't get ruined by one movie. The take-away was be yourself and you'll fit in. Bravo.

The main character's best friend is a nerd, and the main character is forever trying to change his friend. The main character is also trying to change himself, as he wants so badly to be recognized and be popular at his school. But the friend sticks up for himself and tells him some advice; be yourself and you'll fit in. By the time the movie was ending, the lesson had been learned, as that nerd-friend actually became one of the well-liked kids in school.

For our family, we give Diary of a Wimpy Kid a thumbs up. Don't let the churning stomach moments take-away from the message of this movie; it is all done for fun and for a purpose. It wasn't that bad!

Zoo-Wee-Mama!

First day of Spring

We have reached the high 60's, possibly 70 depending on who was sitting in the sun today to report how good it felt on the skin and bones. It is gorgeous outside and I am only inside because I have a headache and need some Tylenol. I guess I am not used to this amazing weather with all the flowers and trees blooming. I wouldn't say that I have allergies, but headaches are common for me at the opening of Spring.

My girl is having a blast with my parents today ~ a switcharoo from yesterday when my son was treated to a day with my parents. They took him to an Arcade, which he claims was the "best day of my life!" The extent of video gaming at our house is xbox, and even that is extremely limited compared to kids his age. So getting a few hours in an arcade was the "best day of his life." I am glad he had so much fun. My girl is getting cultured today too with a Play in the big city. She'll be home sometime before dinner.

We took my son on a bike ride this morning. We really do live in a beautiful area. We are so close to a beautiful lake with mountain views, uh!, I just love it! It was a beautiful ride. We couldn't get enough of the sun, so as soon as we were home with lunch in our bellies, we went to the front yard to play and enjoy the weather. (blackberry camera phones are not so good in my opinion).LOVE spring days just like today.

Oh Yea!

Today was the big day; my daughter's Ballet Exams for 2009/2010. The day when all the year's hard work and dedication paid off for an exam that when it was over, my daughter was smiling and giggling. Regardless of her score (which we don't have yet), she is thrilled with her performance, and to us that's the reward.

I was talking with a friend of mine this week; a fellow dance-mom whose daughter and my daughter have hooked up in class and have been through this together. Her daughter's exam was earlier this week. We were laughing during our phone conversation because the "outside world" doesn't really get the exam pressure, or should I say, the exam expectations. As one of her friends questioned, "So, what does your daughter get for getting a great score? What is the big deal and pressure that you are speaking about." And my friend was kinda taken back ... get? She doesn't get anything but internal happiness.

And that's just it. This studio have the parents and students believing in the intrinsic reward; you work hard, study hard, perform well ... for yourself because that is what you want out of life and that is how it is supposed to be. For the inner self that says, "Yes, I did it!". Yes, there are passing and non passing levels, but to date every girl has passed. To fail, you pretty much have to really, really mess up, or just stand there and do absolutely nothing.

Is it demanding and difficult to get the higher scores; the best of the best? Absolutely. Do the top girls get a trophy or name on a plaque at the studio? Verbal recognition in front of a crowd? A banquet in their honor? Anything? No, nothing like any of these. They get a certain colored ribbon showing the score level with a medal attached that each student is petrified to share with any fellow dancer for the negative tone and threat the studio puts on students for show casing. So once again, your medal, your reward, your score is kept private in the dancing world.

No, each girl dances her heart out for the year and studies hard for this exam just for herself. And that is exactly why we dance at this studio. I like that part the best.

Congratulations to my girl. What a fun morning ...

Parents are kicked out of the lobby until your student enters the exam room. During the hour prep, the girls are pampered by the teachers and have warm up time in a separate room. When I came back to the lobby to wait for her return, I decided to take some memory photos.

The hair station where the teachers prep every student's hair:

The check-in table to make sure your name is spelled correctly for your certificate:

The Exam schedule for each student:
The photo of the Studio Staff hung in the lobby:

My girl (tag #1) emerging from the big, pink, exam room. YAY!!!

Picture of her exam group with their amazing teacher.

Last photo of my girl with her teacher ... Miss P* has been my girls teacher for the last four years and this fall my girl will graduate to a new teacher. Sigh. This woman is fantastic for my daughter. I am hopeful that the next teacher will hit all the marks for my girl's next ballet phase.

March Madness

My version of March Madness is the tradition of celebrating five birthdays of extended family members, final school projects marking the end of the quarter, final prep of my daughter's coaching classes for Ballet Exams, and this year, count down to 5th grade sleep away camp. Add a head cold here and there and that marks March Madness in my house.

Here is a photo of the Classroom Based Achievement project in the subject of history that my daughter turned in yesterday. My girl completed this writing on her own, as the assignment specifically stated no parent involvement in regards to research and writing. However, format layout could involve parent help as the choices were to make a scrapbook, a newspaper, a brochure, or power point slide show of the project. With the help of her dad, she chose the layout of her tri-fold brochure.

Ballet Exams for my girl are tomorrow morning. Thankfully the school district is closed for the end of the quarter break tomorrow so she will not miss any academic time. It is tradition that after the exams, the two of us take a celebratory lunch together and a fun trip into Justice for Girls for a special Congratulations gift. She has worked so hard this year, not just this season, to prepare for her exams. A head cold crept up on her this week, but thankfully nothing like pneumonia, double ear infection, and a roaring nine day fever like she had to overcome last March before exams. After a day home from school this week to catch up on rest and lots of liquids, she is feeling good for tomorrow.

Sleep-away-camp is two weeks away. I helped at the parent volunteer gathering yesterday; writing messages on the boats that the students will build and sail away. Surprisingly my nerves did not get the best of me and I felt confident talking "camp" with the other parents and staff. I feel good that my girl will be participating. She is very excited, so that is more than half the good feeling that keeps me going in supporting this adventure.

Looking forward to a fun weekend with family and sunshine!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Thank you for always keeping in step with my life and for embracing the joy of living, learning, and sharing. I love you so very much and today I am thinking about how thankful I am to have YOU as my mom and friend.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

My Newest Find

I tend to toss out the Oriental Trading Company catalogs before opening when they come in the mail, but somehow my son has a radar that grabs hold and he fishes for them to be saved. He never asks me to purchase anything from the catalog; I guess he just likes browsing. I am glad that he saved this last one because he found this neat Resurrection Set and I purchased it!

And what a surprise when I found it marked $10 less online! Couldn't pass it up! I haven't decided on it's final resting place, but the photo gives the idea of the find.

Partly because of my children, partly because it was the way I was raised, and partly because I like to make my house welcoming to my weekly piano students, I decorate for all the different seasons and holidays in my house. I have received more compliments and comments for the seasonal decorating from others, than I do on my normal decor. Ha!

For me it is difficult to find Christian decorations for Christian holidays. Why is that? Even our bible bookstore does not carry enough for my liking; so when I found this I had to purchase! I have enough cute eggs, bunnies, chicks, and flowers to know it is Spring and Easter around here. Therefore, I especially enjoy my newest find.

the break is over

My much needed break has been helpful and what a great weekend our family experienced. While there is nothing earth shattering to report, it was a productive weekend that seemed to pack a lot of fun amongst the responsibilities of life.

I am happy to report that my daughter's huge history project that is due this Wednesday was completed yesterday by lunchtime. What a relief! What started as tears and frustration on Friday night after hours of working, came to a fresh start on Saturday with great writing and organization on her part. She set her mind to the challenge and it worked successfully for her. I am very proud of her weekend motivation.

While my daughter was busy working solo, I attended an all day seminar our church was sponsoring on Raising Teens in today's world on Saturday. I was on the fence about attending, but got the nudge I needed when a fun-loving church member did an announcement at Service last week about the upcoming event. Amazing what energy of another will do for others. It was the best day spent in a long while.

I will admit that my mind was not fully accepting that I was at this chapter in my life; facing the teen years so quickly. My oldest is only 11, but will be turning 12 this fall, and starting Middle School. I think it is the start of Middle School that has me thinking she's closer to the teen years than her actual age. The seminar was an eye opener, and I am so glad I did not miss the information. Too much I am still processing, but I am sure I will sprinkle in what I learned through future blog posts. The speaker was Bill MacPhee from www.pareteen.com. My review is nothing short of two thumbs up if any are seeking on getting a similar seminar organized in their area.

Sunday brought us a fun afternoon with my husband's side of the family; we celebrated the 13th birthday of my niece and my nephew's 10th birthday at a family gathering. Complete with two sets of Grandparents, eight cousins, six combos of Aunts and Uncles, air hog helicopters flying through the house, an electric scooter outside, footballs, and guinea pigs, yummy pulled pork sandwiches, cupcakes and gifts, the party was planned and a success.

A nice way to end a motivating, mind-bending, intense weekend ... now the break is over.

Taking a Break

I will be taking a break from writing for a few days. I so enjoy my daily writing time, but I need to surrender my computer to my daughter in the evenings so she can complete a major Fifth Grade History Project. Thankfully, she is jazzed about this project, and research and writing are just up her alley. I am glad that she is embracing this project. I really don't have the big picture yet, as she has really taken control (I'm grateful), but I will post the final product before she turns it in next week.

Also, while I will be taking advantage of no computer time after 3pm, I will add no computer time during school hours either. In short, my eye spasm has not disappeared, the eye drops did not work, and as of yesterday was put on a medicated prescription eye drop that makes my eyes feel... different. I have never had Botox Injections, but it feels as though I had that done to my eyebrows and eyes too. Too much detail to bore too many people, so I will just skip to the chase that I will be resting my eyes and my head in hopes of getting back to normal.

Outside of resting, I will be supporting my girl in academics, volunteering at school, attending our church's sponsored seminar on the topic of Raising A Teenager (only 2 years away, it will come too soon), attending a niece and nephew Birthday Party, and enjoying my family.

Have a great weekend!

Orange never looked so good!

My son passed the Taekwondo belt testing last week and the belt ceremony was yesterday during class time. He is now an official Orange Belt!

Way to go, Son!! I am so proud of your accomplishment because this is a sport that you truly handle all on your own. While we help get you to and from class, and plant the tiniest little seed to remind you to practice, YOU are the one doing all the work and discipline to make your belt testing successful. You have grown in strength inside and out. What a fun adventure it has been; keep doing what you are doing.

Love you gobs!

Mom

Bringing the world closer to home

Every year I have to remind myself not to worry or think too hard about the student placement for the upcoming school year. I fill out the parent input form, but really I have no control over which classroom my children will be placed come September. I am thankful that every year has been a positive placement and I do not take that fact for granted.

Part of the good placements have to do with the fact that we have a lot of good, caring, supportive, organized teachers in our building. One of them is my daughter's current fifth grade teacher. She is balanced. Strong in academics, but also strong in social awareness. She is involved at the school as the Student Leadership Coordinator, which both of my kids are participants.

Through her efforts and encouragement of the students, she helps them to become involved with their community and their world. Helping the students collect food for the local food bank is a Fall tradition, and sponsoring a Cause is a Spring event.

With the earthquake in Haiti, she grew awareness at the school of this Global Cause and the students raised $1188.75 for UNISEF; which uses 100% of donations to support the children in Haiti. After the money was raised, it just so happened that a refugee from Haiti joined a second grade classroom at our school. It brought the world a little closer to our school and I think that is awesome.

My daughter and son are both on the Student Leadership Team (SLT) and they were responsible for getting their classrooms pumped up and excited about raising the money. My daughter's highlight was twofold: decorating fundraiser boxes for each classroom, and then retrieving every-single-box-in-the-school when the fundraiser was at a close. She was all smiles and giggles telling her stories about how much fun it was to "skip out of math, science, and music" in order to collect the money with a fellow SLT-mate. She literally got blisters from her journey through school, only because she wore flats with no socks, but she found the correlation about serving others with every ouchie-step.

I am so proud of our teachers that do more than teach the basics in their classrooms, for students who understand and find ways to participate, for my kiddos who were actively involved for this great Cause. Bringing the world closer to home ... nothing greater.

Imagine

There has been something on my heart lately. And I am not asking you to join me if you are not feeling the urge, the nudge, the calling. I will never know if you do or do not unless you tell me, so this is totally safe. But just give me a few seconds first and jump to here so you know where I am coming from.

My good friend lost her husband to cancer two and a half years ago. She was left to raise three children on her own under the age of seven. She was unemployed because she had stopped working outside of the home when she first started her family with the man of her dreams. As she was nearing the final days of her husband's life, as she was going through the motions of writing his Memorial Service, as she left the church reception with her three small children holding hands to start the next chapter in their lives with out him, she was left with a decision; to reenter the workforce, or try to live off of life insurance money and whatever additional funds she had depositing in the bank.

I remember sitting in the coffee shop with her a week after the Memorial Service. She was a mess. Through tears she kept saying that she could not stress enough how important it is to talk to your spouse about finances, to prepare for the worst, regardless how tough a conversation it would be. At that moment, she was scared and hoping it would work; raising three children who were emotionally broken by a woman who was equally broken in Hope. She wanted and felt she needed to be the stay at home mommy for her children, but she also needed to be sure they were clothed, fed, with a roof over their head.

Thankfully, my friend lives in America. There are resources here that make it possible for her to live and keep her children. In other parts of the world, it is much different. Widows in many Third World Countries do not have the resources to care for their children when their spouse has died. Facing a decision to sign papers to adopt out their children is a reality that happens. I can not imagine my friend having to make that decision; that it would even be an option for her, that it might even be common place. Not all Orphans are orphaned because both parents have died. Some have a living parent that can no longer care for them.

With Wiphan Care Ministries, they are helping the Widow's of Zambia to keep her children in her care. Healing of mother and child. Educating, clothing, feeding ... the Orphan and Widow. I can't turn my back; women like my friend who are trying their best to keep their family together one day at a time. These women are like my friend. My friend.

If you can not turn your back on this awareness, please at minimum keep them in your thoughts and prayers. It will change a life ... theirs and yours. Monetary sponsorships are also available through Wiphan. Details are clear on their webpage.

Imagine.

Words in color?

My daughter and I had been talking one day about the way in which we organize our minds. For example, the days of the week. Do you see them in a straight line, or in an oval, or stacked on top of each other, or some other combo? What about the months of the year; same way or different? Numbers? The list went on and on and we kept laughing about how different we processed and organized these common thoughts in our brain.

But what got me the most frazzled was when my daughter asked, "Mom, what color is Monday in your head?" Color? I had to have her explain because I don't see colors at all. She was shocked because she saw everything in color. If I asked her to move the cereal to the pantry, she would see the word cereal in orange, and the word pantry in pink.

First of all, I don't even see words in my head. I just hear the word. Second of all, if I were to concentrate on seeing that word in my head, it would just be in the hues of gray and white and black. Absolutely no color.

Surprised this even existed in my daughter's highly functioning brain, we went to see my husband (her dad) and asked him if he saw words in color. He looked at me steadfast and said Yes, as if that was the most bizarre question ever because shouldn't we all? Moving on I asked my son, "Yeah, of course." So I quizzed them both; with out missing a step my son said the word pantry is light blue, my husband said it is brown.

My three family members are highly artistic. I am musical, but not creative in an artistic way. Could it be this is just for those who are artistic, or highly visual people?

What about you ... do you see words in color?

Ten Things About Me

Tina in Connecticut tagged me in a recent blog post; challenging me to do this post. The rules are that you are to share 10 things about yourself that no one or only a few people know about. So, why not on this gorgeous sunny Saturday spend a few minutes talking about ME? I hope the 10 things are supposed to be random, because mine are certainly just that!

1). Not because my parents didn't try, or were neglectful, but I am a lousy swimmer. I wouldn't go so far as to say I can't swim, but I am not good. OH, okay, I can't swim! I might be able to save my life with a back float but I would not want to be plunged into the middle of a lake to find out. I will only go in certain pool depths, always wear a life jacket while on a boat or raft, and never venture far if beached by a lake or ocean. My children, thankfully, really do know how to swim. I've been challenged by my mom in the last few years to take private swim lessons ... I took Tina in Connecticut's challenge ... I might take my moms.

2). I played the song Faithfully by Journey during a wedding ceremony when I was a junior in high school. I had to accompany the Groom's Uncle who sang the solo. He had a little country twang to his words and voice tone, it just wasn't the same, but I will always remember that song with that wedding.

3). Famous Elle J quote circa 1984: "Their not home right now, but they said they didn't want any." Spoken when my mom made me answer the front door for practice after a solicitor rang the doorbell; while my mom was safely around the corner at home. Could you tell my mom was onto something? My quote didn't make sense! Not only that, I gave away the number one error, never admitting that you are home alone (even though I wasn't). Needless to say, I had to answer a few more solicitor door bell rings that summer. Now, I don't even answer.

4). The first time I got my hair bleached, it was my mom's idea and she took me to the beauty salon in ninth grade. I went from dusty brown to bleach blonde over Spring Break as my birthday gift. I kept the blonde color from that moment forward until about six years ago when I turned to reddish brown.

5). I went to one sleep away camp one time in my life; just two nights for Campfire Girls Club and I could not stand a single minute of it. I was homesick and it rained and the musty smell and dirt of the cabin creeped me out. However, I went away to college and stayed in a dorm room with zero people that I knew on campus, and enjoyed every.single.minute of my college years.

6). I always wanted to be a Surgical Nurse for an Opthamologist; but the intense science background and wearing a mask "all day" turned me off. Why did I zero in on such a specialized field so young and not switch my dream until the bitter end? Because I wanted to work in the medical field, but did not want to see any person unrobed. I figured that only left me with either the teeth, or the eyes. The eyes seemed more mysterious and interesting.

7). My biggest pet peeve is gum smacking. I was a participant of this habit up until two years ago when I got orthodontic braces put on and then stopped chewing gum. Funny what you tune into when you no longer participate in something. I can hear a gum smacker from a long distance away and it is like finger nails on a chalkboard to me. Even though my braces are off, I have not gone back to chewing gum.

8). I should take over Oprah's job when she retires at the end of this season. I could sit and listen to someone share their life stories and interests all day long. I love to interview people and get the scoop about their life. I am truly that interested in others and I firmly believe that every one has a story to share. College days brought me to a Communications Major because I had my sights set on working for a newspaper or television to be the likes of Barbara Walters; who was the woman in that profession when I was growing up.

9). I got my best Grade Point Average-ever during my Spring Semester, Sophomore year, at college. The extra sweet spot was that I accomplished it while being away from school for 4 weeks nursing myself back to health after being diagnosed with Mono and Strep. I did not attend classes, but would get myself to the Professor to pick up my work (pre-internet) and get myself back to my parent's house to complete the assignments between sleeping. Two years later, I graduated with Honors. Boo-Ya!

10). I have always dreamed of living in the country ...

Grandma's Birthday

Yesterday was my Grandma's 98th Birthday! Even though she does not live close to us, we thought about her all day. And because I had kept thinking about her all day, by the time I had to go get the kids from school, I had gone to the store and purchased a pie for dessert.

Growing up my Grandma would always have a dessert ready for after dinner time. Shortly after arriving she would ask my brother or I to guess what she had made for dessert. More times than not, it was some variety of pie.

She would serve it on her flowered pink plates (which she has generously given to me) and it was always a grand affair. Her pies were the delicious kind with good crust and stuffed with goodness inside. I loved her pies.

I found myself in the bakery section scanning the pies until I found just the right one. And there it was, right on top, and the last one of its kind ... a peach pie. So perfect! My Grandma had a thing for peaches because a good portion of her life was spent in an area that were known for their peaches. Even after she left that area, she would travel back to pick up her boxes of canned peaches to last her for the year. We would even receive canned peaches as gifts for holidays. It was her thing.

When I pulled the pie out of the carton I noticed the initial "P" on the pie. I know this is meant to represent Peach, but I immediately thought, "Of Course!" You see, my Grandma's last name starts with a P and we call her Grandma P(insert last name). It was perfect.

Cheers and Happiness to Grandma Pxxxxx for 98 solid, amazing years!
We LOVE YOU!