This was the best weekend .... we were schedule free, thus allowing the *want to's* and leaving the *have to's* behind .... lovely.
simply put - just delicious! :-D
Friday was another day for me to be in the kindergarten class, helping out as the helping mom. I was working on fractions (math section) and we made circle pizzas from english muffins, cut them, and the kids ate the "fractions". The kids were terrific, and really enjoyed themselves ..... I am going to miss kindergarten for sure.
Then K gal and I went to see my mom, had lunch with her, and had a girls night out later with both of my parents, and brother (it was my parents 44th anniversary!) S and C had a guys night out, too, so we spent some one on one with the kids .... it was so nice.
Saturday was C's baseball game and then we spent the day working in the yard, readying the pool, and gearing up for the summer fun (played wiffle ball, kick ball, hide and seek, grilling, sprinkler running - and I mean ALL of us!) Sunday, the same ... and Monday we added a little trip to an arts and crafts festival, and then more of the neighborhood summer fun stuff ....
great times, great laughs, and grrrrrreat weather for it all.
We just finished a gi-hugent wiffle ball game with several neighbors, and showered the kids..... they are up in bed, sleeping peacefully, and I am about to do the same in moments here.
Hope everyone's weekend was a good one, and all the summer time readying was enjoyable!
g'night, see you soon.
Monday, May 29, 2006
Thursday, May 25, 2006
the corner of my world
Some random, disorganized thoughts and things that have been going on.
* We had the first day for the new sitter today ... oh, I love her. I also realized just how difficult it is to run a household of two working parents, and two busy kids without a little extra help - thank goodness we have the help again.
She will be with us for about 10 hours initially just to get K off the bus three days a week at 11:45 and then once school is out, she'll be here about 18 hours or so with the two kids. She is energetic, adorable, athletic, funny, and old enough for my heart to sing with relief that she is responsible. (not that she'd have been hired otherwise, but it's a huge relief still .....) she just graduated from college, and is planning on attending grad school in the fall. She is caddying at a local country club one day a week, and will be with us for 3 days, and then counseling troubled youths on the other day. Really well rounded, and just a solid gal. We are lucky. So very, very lucky. :D
* C had a bit of a bump in the road this week, but it's been ironed out already. One of his friends at school has been telling mom some tall tales, and mom called me quite frantic that her son had been 'harrassed' for quite some time by C, and she had gotten to the boiling point, and *had* to call me. (uhm, tell me again why you wait for even the THIRD incident if this is happening??!!) Of course, I was upset, wondering how on earth I had missed this with the 1st grade teacher being as on top of things as I have ever seen, how would she have not sensed something, or heard something?! So I investigated with C who vouluntarily let me know of one incident that was a minor blip, and "never, not once, have I hurt his feelings, he's my friend, I don't do that mommy .... I like A, I don't do that to people" So I called the principal who in her incredibly calm nature, and phenominally understanding experience told me to "take a step back, breath, and remember, some people blow things out of proportion, and fire off at the wrong people. I will interview the boys, and call you tomorrow, but rest assured, C is by no means a problem, nor has he ever been one. I am certain this is blown out of proportion"
Have a I mentioned that she is an incredible administrator, and her talents are untouchable? ;) (on a side note, she is leaving this year and heading to the central office for the school dept administration board ..... :-( sad for us at the school, but we will have advocate in high places, for sure!)
Fast forward to yesterday, she calls and tells me that in her interviewing, investigations, and uncovering she found out that in fact, A had been telling some tall stories, and implicating some kids with his words. He was, and is, freely telling his mom about these things, and she is taking his word as bond (who can blame her, yes?) So, there was a meeting between the principal, A's mom, and the 1st grade teacher today. I am going to school tomorrow for a kindergarten activity day, and will be checking in with the principal for an update. It appears A has some issues, and they have needed to address them and this is the perfect segway there, apparently.
C has forgotten all about it, and still finds A to be a friend. No harm, no foul, right?
* K gal, my little pea, she appears to be struggling with her ultimate transition to first grade. :o( This time of year, Mrs G, kinder teacher, speaks frequently about the impending move to 1st grade-dom, and all that it will be. She positively chats about it, and asks them to interract with the discussion. She has been absorbing all of it, along with a loss of a really great sitter, and the start of a new one, the upcoming summer where she and her friends will part, albeit briefly until September, but still, a parting, I've had a few more trips this past quarter than normal for work, all the while processing the fact that she is going to be at school ALL DAY next year, riding the bus to and from school, and not having her afternoons with mommy any more {sniff, sniff ....} . So, she appears to be transitioning, and it is a bit of a bump. We talk about it an awful lot, and she is definitely a process oriented girl (oh, the things she has been genetically gifted with .....) so, we're doing it together. I know she'll be fine, it's hard to watch though. :o( My heart aches.
* C man was part of a pitch hit and run contest last weekend. He loved it! They had 3 age groups - 7&8, 9&10, 11&12. He was one of 3 7 year olds there, and most of the 8 year olds were almost 9. In each age category they gave out winners for each activity (pitching, hitting and running) and then they did an overall score top 3. Out of all the 7&8 year old (about 25 or so) he came in third place overall! I was so proud, and so excited for him ... he loved it! Many of the kids were friends from school, baseball, and hockey. They were all towering over him, and some almost two full years older, and he was THIRD! :O) That was some good stuff .... and daddy was just thrilled too, as baseball is *his* first choice for sports.
* K is gearig up for her final gym show for this season, two weeks away, and she is just so excited! They are really working hard with the skills, and the fun parts of the show. She is really looking forward to summer gymnastics too, as it will be a camp for a full week with her girlfriends!
* she will have some really great news on or about June 14th. Can't give it away, but hear me now, this will be BIG. HUGE news! :O)
* our grass, er, the patch of grass that was missing since the pool drain issue last year has finally been seeded. It will be a dream to have the grass fully grown in, and NOT look at the large area of dirt. Pray that the birds don't eat the seed, and that the kids don't trample the new grass .....
* the pool is open, the pump broke two days after that was open. {sigh} Waiting on the fix it man. Please tell me this will NOT be our destiny with this pool. {sigh}
* tomorrow night is "guys night" for school. They are going to Mulligan's Island for batting cages, mini-golf, and pizza. All the boys and their significant other male mentors (dads, grandads, uncles, etc .....) K and I are having our own ad-hoc girls night. Looking forward to that deliciousness.
* it's 9:25 PM and I think my eyes are closing on their own. I must go lay down .....
until again.
smiles .....
* We had the first day for the new sitter today ... oh, I love her. I also realized just how difficult it is to run a household of two working parents, and two busy kids without a little extra help - thank goodness we have the help again.
She will be with us for about 10 hours initially just to get K off the bus three days a week at 11:45 and then once school is out, she'll be here about 18 hours or so with the two kids. She is energetic, adorable, athletic, funny, and old enough for my heart to sing with relief that she is responsible. (not that she'd have been hired otherwise, but it's a huge relief still .....) she just graduated from college, and is planning on attending grad school in the fall. She is caddying at a local country club one day a week, and will be with us for 3 days, and then counseling troubled youths on the other day. Really well rounded, and just a solid gal. We are lucky. So very, very lucky. :D
* C had a bit of a bump in the road this week, but it's been ironed out already. One of his friends at school has been telling mom some tall tales, and mom called me quite frantic that her son had been 'harrassed' for quite some time by C, and she had gotten to the boiling point, and *had* to call me. (uhm, tell me again why you wait for even the THIRD incident if this is happening??!!) Of course, I was upset, wondering how on earth I had missed this with the 1st grade teacher being as on top of things as I have ever seen, how would she have not sensed something, or heard something?! So I investigated with C who vouluntarily let me know of one incident that was a minor blip, and "never, not once, have I hurt his feelings, he's my friend, I don't do that mommy .... I like A, I don't do that to people" So I called the principal who in her incredibly calm nature, and phenominally understanding experience told me to "take a step back, breath, and remember, some people blow things out of proportion, and fire off at the wrong people. I will interview the boys, and call you tomorrow, but rest assured, C is by no means a problem, nor has he ever been one. I am certain this is blown out of proportion"
Have a I mentioned that she is an incredible administrator, and her talents are untouchable? ;) (on a side note, she is leaving this year and heading to the central office for the school dept administration board ..... :-( sad for us at the school, but we will have advocate in high places, for sure!)
Fast forward to yesterday, she calls and tells me that in her interviewing, investigations, and uncovering she found out that in fact, A had been telling some tall stories, and implicating some kids with his words. He was, and is, freely telling his mom about these things, and she is taking his word as bond (who can blame her, yes?) So, there was a meeting between the principal, A's mom, and the 1st grade teacher today. I am going to school tomorrow for a kindergarten activity day, and will be checking in with the principal for an update. It appears A has some issues, and they have needed to address them and this is the perfect segway there, apparently.
C has forgotten all about it, and still finds A to be a friend. No harm, no foul, right?
* K gal, my little pea, she appears to be struggling with her ultimate transition to first grade. :o( This time of year, Mrs G, kinder teacher, speaks frequently about the impending move to 1st grade-dom, and all that it will be. She positively chats about it, and asks them to interract with the discussion. She has been absorbing all of it, along with a loss of a really great sitter, and the start of a new one, the upcoming summer where she and her friends will part, albeit briefly until September, but still, a parting, I've had a few more trips this past quarter than normal for work, all the while processing the fact that she is going to be at school ALL DAY next year, riding the bus to and from school, and not having her afternoons with mommy any more {sniff, sniff ....} . So, she appears to be transitioning, and it is a bit of a bump. We talk about it an awful lot, and she is definitely a process oriented girl (oh, the things she has been genetically gifted with .....) so, we're doing it together. I know she'll be fine, it's hard to watch though. :o( My heart aches.
* C man was part of a pitch hit and run contest last weekend. He loved it! They had 3 age groups - 7&8, 9&10, 11&12. He was one of 3 7 year olds there, and most of the 8 year olds were almost 9. In each age category they gave out winners for each activity (pitching, hitting and running) and then they did an overall score top 3. Out of all the 7&8 year old (about 25 or so) he came in third place overall! I was so proud, and so excited for him ... he loved it! Many of the kids were friends from school, baseball, and hockey. They were all towering over him, and some almost two full years older, and he was THIRD! :O) That was some good stuff .... and daddy was just thrilled too, as baseball is *his* first choice for sports.
* K is gearig up for her final gym show for this season, two weeks away, and she is just so excited! They are really working hard with the skills, and the fun parts of the show. She is really looking forward to summer gymnastics too, as it will be a camp for a full week with her girlfriends!
* she will have some really great news on or about June 14th. Can't give it away, but hear me now, this will be BIG. HUGE news! :O)
* our grass, er, the patch of grass that was missing since the pool drain issue last year has finally been seeded. It will be a dream to have the grass fully grown in, and NOT look at the large area of dirt. Pray that the birds don't eat the seed, and that the kids don't trample the new grass .....
* the pool is open, the pump broke two days after that was open. {sigh} Waiting on the fix it man. Please tell me this will NOT be our destiny with this pool. {sigh}
* tomorrow night is "guys night" for school. They are going to Mulligan's Island for batting cages, mini-golf, and pizza. All the boys and their significant other male mentors (dads, grandads, uncles, etc .....) K and I are having our own ad-hoc girls night. Looking forward to that deliciousness.
* it's 9:25 PM and I think my eyes are closing on their own. I must go lay down .....
until again.
smiles .....
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Spring Fever
yep. he's got it.
just like his mother.
{sigh}
of all the things that you pass on to your kid, blue eyes, sense of humor, short legs, pudgy nose .... the intense need to break away from all forms of responsible rules; forego any and all previously laid out boundary lines (that, of course, do not break the law, that is) purposely ignore the intuitive side of your brain, and listen *deeply* to that raging amount of energy inside your core and break out to the freedom the time of year allows ...
that, yeah, THAT thing I passed on is absolutely in him. My son, that utterly enjoyable, magnificently packaged, tremendously entertaining boy has spring fever.
bad.
:o
In the big picture, is this a terrible thing? no.
Is it going to affect his future detrimentally? likely, no.
Is it treatable? no.
However, it might be something we need to temper. Because, well, because we have had our first parent teacher conference of the year, well actually ever. And the culprit, in the teacher's words, and mine - spring fever - silly, not-so-smart decisions, goofball antics with his posse.
{sigh}
I am very involved at school. I am the room mom for Kindergarten, and have been in school at least 2 times per week all year, helping in classrooms, and just being actively involved with them academically, and socially. I am on committees, and stay relatively close to the administration. I am familiar with most of the teachers throughout the school, and especially the kids two teachers. We communicate via notes, conversations in the classrooms, and on campus. She could have easily just chatted with us about this as an aside ... but she had an alterior motive, for sure.
There was a message being sent to my squirt. WHEN MOM AND DAD COME TO MEET THE TEACHER, THERE'S BEEN SOME S*^T HITTING THE FAN.
:-D
So, we go, and she prefaces the meeting with this, in a nutshell:
"I want you to know, this is so not a bad thing. My feelings are that with C knowing you are here, this will touch him deeply. I bet you he will turn right around, and the minor behavior that he and 'his buddies' are exhibiting will disappear. So rest assured, this is more of a formality than anything else. {phewf} In addition, I want you to both know academically, I have no worries whatsoever. He has taken off like a rocket ship and just loves school, it shows. (she then gave us his NECAPP testing scores, and she was right, he is doing fantastic academically, reading, spelling, math and science) {second phewf} I also want to let you know that his homework is wonderful, I am so impressed he does extra work with spelling, and math."
So, there we are, proud as peaches, listening to her gloat about his academics. Then, the other shoe drops, and we remembered why we were there ....
"C is making some poor choices just recently, with his behavior regarding disrupting the class at times, and also acting silly. He often is not the one who *thinks* of the silly thing, but when he sees they (the friends) are doing something silly, and 'just breaking the rules' he follows easily. He sure seems like he has even extra energy than he has had before." dagnabbit.
Yeah, we know.
"C can be a leader as well, and I often ask him to be the leader with mentoring some of the kids - he loves that. He can also do beautiful work, but is in a hurry to be done, and therefore can have messy work, and it can be illegible. We work on that, and I remind him that if the teacher can't read it, it'll be wrong, even when it's right - which it usually is correct. And I will add, but I know you know this, he is a pleasure to have in class"
smile. shake head. close eyes. chuckle. look at husband, repeat above - together this time.
yep. our kid: smart, leading, following, laughing, learning, acting silly, and full of life.
nailed it, Mrs. LC.
Welcome to our world.
In all honesty, we think that this surge in academic prowess perhaps may have him slightly bored, as well. He is working at a higher grade level, reading and spelling way up there, especially, and that is the focus for this school, so likely the time spent on that is lengthy daily in the classroom. In addition, he is seemingly in the smack dab middle of a growth spurt, and suffering from aforementioned spring fever like there is no tomorrow, his regular hockey schedule ended a month ago, and spring hockey is by far a lesser commitment time-wise (read: only 1-2 times a week on ice versus 4-5 during year) ..... add this all up with a normally bundle-of-energy-red-headed 7 year old, and you get enough electricity to run a small city - all sitting in a classroom. For 6 hours. And there are 16 boys in that class, and only 7 girls.
Dear, dear me. And that angel from heaven - his teacher - that woman is amazing. She moves them every 15-45 minutes inside that room. Stations, projects, recess, snack, fun papers, spelling quizes...you name it, she thought of it. She has a wonderful curriculum. The room is just wonderful too.
I really have to believe that he is just like me when it comes to this.
And something inside of me is really, really proud. I.cannot.help.it. I smile thinking about it. ;) This will serve him so well later in life. Heck, it's serving him well, now.
He has woo'd the teacher. She no doubt adores he, and his posse. She revels in their spirit.
She should. She has channeled that energy all year. She has grown their wings, they're just figuring out how to use them for the first time.
I love, love, love this age.
What a treasure. What a delight.
:o)
just like his mother.
{sigh}
of all the things that you pass on to your kid, blue eyes, sense of humor, short legs, pudgy nose .... the intense need to break away from all forms of responsible rules; forego any and all previously laid out boundary lines (that, of course, do not break the law, that is) purposely ignore the intuitive side of your brain, and listen *deeply* to that raging amount of energy inside your core and break out to the freedom the time of year allows ...
that, yeah, THAT thing I passed on is absolutely in him. My son, that utterly enjoyable, magnificently packaged, tremendously entertaining boy has spring fever.
bad.
:o
In the big picture, is this a terrible thing? no.
Is it going to affect his future detrimentally? likely, no.
Is it treatable? no.
However, it might be something we need to temper. Because, well, because we have had our first parent teacher conference of the year, well actually ever. And the culprit, in the teacher's words, and mine - spring fever - silly, not-so-smart decisions, goofball antics with his posse.
{sigh}
I am very involved at school. I am the room mom for Kindergarten, and have been in school at least 2 times per week all year, helping in classrooms, and just being actively involved with them academically, and socially. I am on committees, and stay relatively close to the administration. I am familiar with most of the teachers throughout the school, and especially the kids two teachers. We communicate via notes, conversations in the classrooms, and on campus. She could have easily just chatted with us about this as an aside ... but she had an alterior motive, for sure.
There was a message being sent to my squirt. WHEN MOM AND DAD COME TO MEET THE TEACHER, THERE'S BEEN SOME S*^T HITTING THE FAN.
:-D
So, we go, and she prefaces the meeting with this, in a nutshell:
"I want you to know, this is so not a bad thing. My feelings are that with C knowing you are here, this will touch him deeply. I bet you he will turn right around, and the minor behavior that he and 'his buddies' are exhibiting will disappear. So rest assured, this is more of a formality than anything else. {phewf} In addition, I want you to both know academically, I have no worries whatsoever. He has taken off like a rocket ship and just loves school, it shows. (she then gave us his NECAPP testing scores, and she was right, he is doing fantastic academically, reading, spelling, math and science) {second phewf} I also want to let you know that his homework is wonderful, I am so impressed he does extra work with spelling, and math."
So, there we are, proud as peaches, listening to her gloat about his academics. Then, the other shoe drops, and we remembered why we were there ....
"C is making some poor choices just recently, with his behavior regarding disrupting the class at times, and also acting silly. He often is not the one who *thinks* of the silly thing, but when he sees they (the friends) are doing something silly, and 'just breaking the rules' he follows easily. He sure seems like he has even extra energy than he has had before." dagnabbit.
Yeah, we know.
"C can be a leader as well, and I often ask him to be the leader with mentoring some of the kids - he loves that. He can also do beautiful work, but is in a hurry to be done, and therefore can have messy work, and it can be illegible. We work on that, and I remind him that if the teacher can't read it, it'll be wrong, even when it's right - which it usually is correct. And I will add, but I know you know this, he is a pleasure to have in class"
smile. shake head. close eyes. chuckle. look at husband, repeat above - together this time.
yep. our kid: smart, leading, following, laughing, learning, acting silly, and full of life.
nailed it, Mrs. LC.
Welcome to our world.
In all honesty, we think that this surge in academic prowess perhaps may have him slightly bored, as well. He is working at a higher grade level, reading and spelling way up there, especially, and that is the focus for this school, so likely the time spent on that is lengthy daily in the classroom. In addition, he is seemingly in the smack dab middle of a growth spurt, and suffering from aforementioned spring fever like there is no tomorrow, his regular hockey schedule ended a month ago, and spring hockey is by far a lesser commitment time-wise (read: only 1-2 times a week on ice versus 4-5 during year) ..... add this all up with a normally bundle-of-energy-red-headed 7 year old, and you get enough electricity to run a small city - all sitting in a classroom. For 6 hours. And there are 16 boys in that class, and only 7 girls.
Dear, dear me. And that angel from heaven - his teacher - that woman is amazing. She moves them every 15-45 minutes inside that room. Stations, projects, recess, snack, fun papers, spelling quizes...you name it, she thought of it. She has a wonderful curriculum. The room is just wonderful too.
I really have to believe that he is just like me when it comes to this.
And something inside of me is really, really proud. I.cannot.help.it. I smile thinking about it. ;) This will serve him so well later in life. Heck, it's serving him well, now.
He has woo'd the teacher. She no doubt adores he, and his posse. She revels in their spirit.
She should. She has channeled that energy all year. She has grown their wings, they're just figuring out how to use them for the first time.
I love, love, love this age.
What a treasure. What a delight.
:o)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Mother's Day
I always felt like that was such an odd thing to do .... single out a day, one day, out of 365 to call Mother's Day. Maybe it's because I always feel like, well, for the last seven years and 4 months anyway, that every day is a day for a mom. :)
To have the beauty, the clear fortune of healthy , happy, exciting, full of life little people completing the circle of my life, is enough daily to call each day a day for mom. I am so lucky, as I have said here before, to have all that I have. On a daily basis I recognize this, relish in this, and believe that this is as good as it gets.
It is a nice tradition, this Mother's Day thing, and a nice way to stop, breathe in deeply, drink in the love, oh the extra love, be appreciated a wee bit, and then resume life. At least that's what we do here, anyway.
I was greeted with breakfast in bed (that included an English muffin, a plate of fresh cut fruit, and a ham cheese, and tomato {newly named} 'sublet' otherwise known as an omelet ;o) a cup of hot homemade coffee, beautiful cards, homemade gifts of pictures, a "plant" of C's hand cutouts with little notes on them, some nice gifts from the hubby, and loads of hugs and kisses. Ahhhhhhh .... the blissful moments. I was then kept company, and politely asked to share, of course, with two yummy little freckled faces, and a big adorable freckled face. Once finished, the dirty dishes were whisked away along with all the freckles, and I was told to "relax, watch a show ... read a book .... we'll be fine ..." :O)
So I did.
Not for long, but long enough to know in my mind that I was alone in a room, full belly (and heart), content, and totally not responsible for anything that was happening in the house outside of my little space. A feeling that could only happen once a year, I think. ;)
Ah, the bliss.
So, to all the mommies I have in my life - Happiest of Days to you -- may the beauty of the day, and the meaning behind the word *mommy* be what we all experience daily.
:o)
To have the beauty, the clear fortune of healthy , happy, exciting, full of life little people completing the circle of my life, is enough daily to call each day a day for mom. I am so lucky, as I have said here before, to have all that I have. On a daily basis I recognize this, relish in this, and believe that this is as good as it gets.
It is a nice tradition, this Mother's Day thing, and a nice way to stop, breathe in deeply, drink in the love, oh the extra love, be appreciated a wee bit, and then resume life. At least that's what we do here, anyway.
I was greeted with breakfast in bed (that included an English muffin, a plate of fresh cut fruit, and a ham cheese, and tomato {newly named} 'sublet' otherwise known as an omelet ;o) a cup of hot homemade coffee, beautiful cards, homemade gifts of pictures, a "plant" of C's hand cutouts with little notes on them, some nice gifts from the hubby, and loads of hugs and kisses. Ahhhhhhh .... the blissful moments. I was then kept company, and politely asked to share, of course, with two yummy little freckled faces, and a big adorable freckled face. Once finished, the dirty dishes were whisked away along with all the freckles, and I was told to "relax, watch a show ... read a book .... we'll be fine ..." :O)
So I did.
Not for long, but long enough to know in my mind that I was alone in a room, full belly (and heart), content, and totally not responsible for anything that was happening in the house outside of my little space. A feeling that could only happen once a year, I think. ;)
Ah, the bliss.
So, to all the mommies I have in my life - Happiest of Days to you -- may the beauty of the day, and the meaning behind the word *mommy* be what we all experience daily.
:o)
Thursday, May 11, 2006
a few little things to make you smile, I hope.
ah, the days of a five year old. :o)
Kelly, with K in the first one. This is the angel that had to leave us, the sitter that had an opportunity she couldn't refuse .... boy, we miss her!
This is K and the best friends at a gymnastics meet this year.... like peas in a pod.
Just enjoying the spring weather, making wishes on dandilions, visiting the horse farm, drinking in the sunshine!
And of course, to close the days, tea for two .... or is that tea for four?
ah, to be five, just yummy!
shamlessly bragging .... ;-)
This .... this is what the faces of the little man look like throughout the season this year playing hockey. The sweet taste of goals, the sweet feeling of winning tournaments, and the grit that makes it all come together .....
ahh, hockey. Love it!
I've discovered how to post a picture well. Be afraid, be very afraid! :o)
This dude just *oozes* athletics. Baseball has begun!
Seriously, is this face delicious or what?!
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
The Soldier
A visitor came to spend some time with my family.
This weekend was especially sweet. My dear, and most talented brother in law, the Sgt in the Marines, stationed in DC, was here this weekend with the Silent Drill Platoon (SDP). He is the Sgt for that squad, and they are, in a word, AMAZING. They were taking part in a National Police Support Parade, and they were the hit of the show.
Hands down. No question.
If you ever, ever get the chance to see them in DC, or anywhere, do it. They are just precise, disciplined, and incredible at their skills. They are a select group of boys/men (average age is 22 of 28 soldiers) that had to go through rigorous testing, and decision processes to get here. He was candid with the selection process with us, but it is not an easy task to be on that team, and staying is even harder. B said they started with 72 soldiers, and have 28 right now.
So, Friday I was running clean-up with work related things here at the house, K-gal and I (more on the challenges later ....) found some time in the later afternoon to run some errands, and then we went to S's baseball game. B, dear bil, was in town Saturday and S and the kids went to meet up with him (I had a pre-planned work conference for a few hours Sat) and they got to see a special performance of the SDP, for a select crowd in Newport that afternoon.
C was in awe, the uniforms, the weapons, the gold medals, the precision, the details. And K was in awe of the handsome faces of kids that were actually closer to her age than her mother's ... {sigh} Then we got to have B all to ourselves that night at our house. A real treat, as typically, the Sgt needs to stay with the platoon, but his captain gave him the go-ahead to enjoy some R&R with us during a duty weekend. *special smiles* We had some really good laughs, as always.
Sunday was another show, the actual Parade, and my dad and I were able to go together, as the kids had two separate birthday parties and S had another baseball game. Again, great show the SDP puts on. :-) They were last in this parade of law enforcement, and the build up was wonderful. He worked the crowd, and befriended a little boy next to us who was about C's age, and really drank it all in with B's medals, and uniform, and overall stature. They took a nice picture, and he gave him a poster of the SDP, and after B had some of the soldiers autograph the poster next to their names. Reallllllly cool stuff.
I went to S's game, and then we hooked up with B for a few cocktails after S's game, and had to say our goodbyes that evening, as he headed back to my sil in DC, and more work, of course.
The birth order for their family is this: he is the next one in line in S's family, S being the oldest, he is the next, there are two more after him. I have to say in the 20 years I have known him (holy moley ....) he has grown up so much, but he is still the same "kid". He is a fine man, and an amazing soldier, and from all accounts, appears to be one heck of a husband, and son in law.
I am proud to call him part of my family.
And I am scared to death that when his deployment is up in DC in November, he will be only months away from front line activity in the war.
It is what he has wanted for years. It is what he, and so many other Marines, yearn for after they taste a little of it in training. He feels this is his duty.
I am so grateful.
It is beyond words the gratitude I feel. I tell him all the time. And yet, it still feels like it isn't nearly enough.
I feel so honored to be part of his life. I feel so honored that he is a part of ours.
I have a moment-in-time memory from Saturday. At the Parade, he was standing aside so that the SDP could perform, he was standing at ease, but yet, he was aware, and sharp. I snapped a picture (getting developed as we speak .... I promise, I will post.) and heard my own drawn breath. A thought passed my mind, and I closed my eyes. I wanted the thought to go away.
As if it didn't happen.
His wife is struggling with this. She is strong, and smart. But, who wouldn't be terrified? She is also amazing. They have been married 5 years, and together under the same roof only 20 months of the 60 possible. Weird to comprehend. She is now in DC with him for the summer, and that is a great thing.
I cannot wait to see him again.
I cannot wait to say thanks again.
This weekend was especially sweet. My dear, and most talented brother in law, the Sgt in the Marines, stationed in DC, was here this weekend with the Silent Drill Platoon (SDP). He is the Sgt for that squad, and they are, in a word, AMAZING. They were taking part in a National Police Support Parade, and they were the hit of the show.
Hands down. No question.
If you ever, ever get the chance to see them in DC, or anywhere, do it. They are just precise, disciplined, and incredible at their skills. They are a select group of boys/men (average age is 22 of 28 soldiers) that had to go through rigorous testing, and decision processes to get here. He was candid with the selection process with us, but it is not an easy task to be on that team, and staying is even harder. B said they started with 72 soldiers, and have 28 right now.
So, Friday I was running clean-up with work related things here at the house, K-gal and I (more on the challenges later ....) found some time in the later afternoon to run some errands, and then we went to S's baseball game. B, dear bil, was in town Saturday and S and the kids went to meet up with him (I had a pre-planned work conference for a few hours Sat) and they got to see a special performance of the SDP, for a select crowd in Newport that afternoon.
C was in awe, the uniforms, the weapons, the gold medals, the precision, the details. And K was in awe of the handsome faces of kids that were actually closer to her age than her mother's ... {sigh} Then we got to have B all to ourselves that night at our house. A real treat, as typically, the Sgt needs to stay with the platoon, but his captain gave him the go-ahead to enjoy some R&R with us during a duty weekend. *special smiles* We had some really good laughs, as always.
Sunday was another show, the actual Parade, and my dad and I were able to go together, as the kids had two separate birthday parties and S had another baseball game. Again, great show the SDP puts on. :-) They were last in this parade of law enforcement, and the build up was wonderful. He worked the crowd, and befriended a little boy next to us who was about C's age, and really drank it all in with B's medals, and uniform, and overall stature. They took a nice picture, and he gave him a poster of the SDP, and after B had some of the soldiers autograph the poster next to their names. Reallllllly cool stuff.
I went to S's game, and then we hooked up with B for a few cocktails after S's game, and had to say our goodbyes that evening, as he headed back to my sil in DC, and more work, of course.
The birth order for their family is this: he is the next one in line in S's family, S being the oldest, he is the next, there are two more after him. I have to say in the 20 years I have known him (holy moley ....) he has grown up so much, but he is still the same "kid". He is a fine man, and an amazing soldier, and from all accounts, appears to be one heck of a husband, and son in law.
I am proud to call him part of my family.
And I am scared to death that when his deployment is up in DC in November, he will be only months away from front line activity in the war.
It is what he has wanted for years. It is what he, and so many other Marines, yearn for after they taste a little of it in training. He feels this is his duty.
I am so grateful.
It is beyond words the gratitude I feel. I tell him all the time. And yet, it still feels like it isn't nearly enough.
I feel so honored to be part of his life. I feel so honored that he is a part of ours.
I have a moment-in-time memory from Saturday. At the Parade, he was standing aside so that the SDP could perform, he was standing at ease, but yet, he was aware, and sharp. I snapped a picture (getting developed as we speak .... I promise, I will post.) and heard my own drawn breath. A thought passed my mind, and I closed my eyes. I wanted the thought to go away.
As if it didn't happen.
His wife is struggling with this. She is strong, and smart. But, who wouldn't be terrified? She is also amazing. They have been married 5 years, and together under the same roof only 20 months of the 60 possible. Weird to comprehend. She is now in DC with him for the summer, and that is a great thing.
I cannot wait to see him again.
I cannot wait to say thanks again.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Spinning
It's what I feel like my head is doing right now.
Spinning with so much in it! I have been truly trying to land from that training/meeting that I went to last week in Chicago. It was a great trip, and definitely a mentally challenging week. We've been taught some really great things with which I can be very successful with my job ... I think. The increased challenge is to try the things, and get more comfortable with them. I have been, and this week has been a really good week to touch the wheels to the ground so to speak .... lots of OR time, and lots of opportunity to talk about the newest evolution to the products. I just feel so overhwelmed with the information. I feel like I am battling to get it straight in my head. It's been all week, too. Ironically, I feel like I am on my game with this new ammunition I was taught. Isn't that a juxtaposition?
So, with that, I am making a change to my thinking .... I need to just separate the issues / concerns / things and deal with them one at a time. (an old friend told me this trick) inevitably, you'll feel less overwhlemed with the details if you single them out. So, I am going to do that. I am starting tonight. I will clear the brain, set the details for the action "dots" and set the details for the detail "dots" in my head. I will then re-write the goals, and focus on clearly defined agendas for the goals.
Sheesh, that sounds easy. (read: oiy. That might take a while .... {sigh} )
On another note, K-gal has been drawing that line in the sand like a true champion, folks. (uhm, yeah, perhaps she could be adding to the overwhelming feeling?) Who said that a 5 year old could do this? I need a book on this ... any suggestions? Mental note: google the topic - school-age girls who like to be the boss; Kindergarteners that will run the country - next week; 5 year olds that are determined, defiant, and delicious all at the same time......
Positive thing, though - it is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be a mom to a self-directed, strong, independent, charismatic, warm, loving and full-of life, beautiful girl. She is all that I want her to be - and some of what I don't.
It is a delicate balance this female connection. I will get through it. I know. She will too. We're just figuring each other out. ;)
C-dude on the other hand is suffering (mildly at the worst of it, to be honest, thank goodness) from an inner ear infection. Haven't had one of those in 5 years maybe. Had a visit to the ped, and got the oral anbx. Hard to imagine how he got it, but likely the shower, not drying well in the ear. Hoping this is the only one with the summer rapidly approaching and the ear infections abounding. Had a great baseball game tonight, and hockey clinic after. (with luck, it'll be the ONLY conflict we have this spring with the two)
Busy weekend planned, but very UN-busy Friday .... I bet I'll be back here to bang away at the keyboard a bit before the weekend. :O)
g'night.
Spinning with so much in it! I have been truly trying to land from that training/meeting that I went to last week in Chicago. It was a great trip, and definitely a mentally challenging week. We've been taught some really great things with which I can be very successful with my job ... I think. The increased challenge is to try the things, and get more comfortable with them. I have been, and this week has been a really good week to touch the wheels to the ground so to speak .... lots of OR time, and lots of opportunity to talk about the newest evolution to the products. I just feel so overhwelmed with the information. I feel like I am battling to get it straight in my head. It's been all week, too. Ironically, I feel like I am on my game with this new ammunition I was taught. Isn't that a juxtaposition?
So, with that, I am making a change to my thinking .... I need to just separate the issues / concerns / things and deal with them one at a time. (an old friend told me this trick) inevitably, you'll feel less overwhlemed with the details if you single them out. So, I am going to do that. I am starting tonight. I will clear the brain, set the details for the action "dots" and set the details for the detail "dots" in my head. I will then re-write the goals, and focus on clearly defined agendas for the goals.
Sheesh, that sounds easy. (read: oiy. That might take a while .... {sigh} )
On another note, K-gal has been drawing that line in the sand like a true champion, folks. (uhm, yeah, perhaps she could be adding to the overwhelming feeling?) Who said that a 5 year old could do this? I need a book on this ... any suggestions? Mental note: google the topic - school-age girls who like to be the boss; Kindergarteners that will run the country - next week; 5 year olds that are determined, defiant, and delicious all at the same time......
Positive thing, though - it is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be a mom to a self-directed, strong, independent, charismatic, warm, loving and full-of life, beautiful girl. She is all that I want her to be - and some of what I don't.
It is a delicate balance this female connection. I will get through it. I know. She will too. We're just figuring each other out. ;)
C-dude on the other hand is suffering (mildly at the worst of it, to be honest, thank goodness) from an inner ear infection. Haven't had one of those in 5 years maybe. Had a visit to the ped, and got the oral anbx. Hard to imagine how he got it, but likely the shower, not drying well in the ear. Hoping this is the only one with the summer rapidly approaching and the ear infections abounding. Had a great baseball game tonight, and hockey clinic after. (with luck, it'll be the ONLY conflict we have this spring with the two)
Busy weekend planned, but very UN-busy Friday .... I bet I'll be back here to bang away at the keyboard a bit before the weekend. :O)
g'night.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Timing is everything .....
Ever received something via email that hits you at the most poignant time? I did today .....
I've been feeling at odds with my K-star gal ... (see below post) and this little do-dad came to email today. I guess it all happens for a reason, yes? ;o) Always believed that, always will. so, here it is. I sat, and read it, and actually allowed it to sink in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Mean Mother . . .Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough . .. . to ask where you were going, with whom,and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to make you go pay for the Cadbury Easter Eggs you had taken and tell the clerk, "I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it."
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger,disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.But most of all, I loved you enough . . . to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them. Was your Mom mean? I know mine was.
We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal,eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.
Because of our mother, we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault!
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.
I think that is what's wrong with the world today.It just doesn't have enough mean moms!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
so, there it is ... I am a mean mom. That's what I need to remember, and not let the head-butting continue. It is what it is..... mean mom or not. :o)
I've been feeling at odds with my K-star gal ... (see below post) and this little do-dad came to email today. I guess it all happens for a reason, yes? ;o) Always believed that, always will. so, here it is. I sat, and read it, and actually allowed it to sink in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Mean Mother . . .Someday when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent, I will tell them, as my Mean Mom told me:
I loved you enough . .. . to ask where you were going, with whom,and what time you would be home.
I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.
I loved you enough to make you go pay for the Cadbury Easter Eggs you had taken and tell the clerk, "I stole this yesterday and want to pay for it."
I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15 minutes.
I loved you enough to let you see anger,disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their parents aren't perfect.
I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.But most of all, I loved you enough . . . to say NO when I knew you would hate me for it. Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too.
And someday when your children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them. Was your Mom mean? I know mine was.
We had the meanest mother in the whole world! While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal,eggs, and toast. When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches. And you can guess our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.
Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison. She had to know who our friends were, and what we were doing with them. She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.
We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work. We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs. I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.
She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head. Then, life was really tough!
Mother wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them. While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 16.
Because of our mother, we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced. None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime. It was all her fault!
Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults. We are doing our best to be mean parents just like Mom was.
I think that is what's wrong with the world today.It just doesn't have enough mean moms!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
so, there it is ... I am a mean mom. That's what I need to remember, and not let the head-butting continue. It is what it is..... mean mom or not. :o)
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