Memorial Day

Today I found myself thinking about this letter that Abraham Lincoln wrote to Ms. Bixby during the Civil War.  I always love the end of it: "...and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom."  Thank you to all who have served the cause of freedom for our country!


Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.
Dear Madam,--
I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.
I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.
I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.
Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,A. Lincoln

We had a great Memorial Day weekend.  For my kids, it can be summed up in one word, their favorite word...swimming!  I'm pretty sure that their feet only touched dry land once or twice all day for the last three days.  Emily is quite literally a fish, while Noah prefers to float his way along the edge of the pool, being a little less sure of himself.  This weekend was Addison's first time in the pool, and she....LOVED it.

    She was very disappointed that I wouldn't let her go explore the water on her own.  

We kicked off the festivities with a bbq at Mike's cousin's house.  As you can see from the pics a good number of his family attended.  Emily and Noah had fun running back and forth from the pool to the hot tub with all of their cousins. 

The rest of the weekend was spent going back and forth from our new neighbors. They have a boy who is Emily's age, and it. is. the. best. thing. ever.  Some days they play so hard they don't even want to come in for lunch.  And, now that their pool is open, we will probably see even less of them.  There is nothing better than two kids who are so tired that they actually want to go to bed by 7:30. I love love love summer!

On Sunday morning Mike decided to take the kids around to various spots and get some photographs highlighting the American flag.  One of the places that we stopped was his father's grave site.  It was nice to share that with our kids for the first time.  

He made this amazing video with some of the pictures.

Pinewood Derby

"Thank you...or should I say NO thank you."  Just one of my son's favorite lines from the movie, Cars that he repeats back to me when he doesn't want to clean his room, eat his green beans or run errands with me.  It's almost so funny that I have a hard time rebuffing his sarcasm.  Lightning McQueen sayings get a lot of air time around here which isn't surprising considering how often he's seen the movie.  So, when a couple of months ago he learned that his Awana Club was having a pinewood derby he immediately requested that Mike make him a replica of his favorite car.  And, to complicate things more, Mike decided that Emily should have a Mr. The King car to round out the theme. Below is just the beginning stages.

Now, as many of you know, Mike is pretty handy and mechanical so I knew this would be no problem for him.  What I didn't know, but should have foreseen, was just how many hours he was willing to put into making the perfect Lightning derby car.  Derby cars are small and typically don't take too long to build, but somehow we were able to stretch this project out over at least two months.

Race day came, and we definitely had two near perfect look alikes.  Mike had mentioned that he didn't know how fast they would be, so he had two "no-frills" cars ready to race just in case.  Noah had talked about nothing else for weeks, and Emily was very set on taking home the biggest trophy.  During weigh in, she even decided that she wanted to race her plain jane car instead of Mr. The King, because it was probably faster.
The heats start...with Noah's age group first.  I can tell right away that his car is going nowhere fast...actually nowhere slow....very slow.   But, when it was all over, and he didn't make the finals he seemed pretty unphased.   His bigger concern was when they were cutting the cake, and if he was going to get the end piece that he wanted.
Emily is a different story...all of my competitive drive in a six year old body. Her car ran pretty fast coming in 1st or 2nd in her heats, but not fast enough for the finals. Cue the breakdown.  As soon as she realized that the shiny first place trophy was going to be going home with someone else the tears started and didn't stop till we got home. As if this didn't make Mike feel bad enough, I decided (in what is admittedly not my proudest moment) to scold him for not making the cars faster.  $100,000 dollars worth of tools in that garage, and we can't pull out a pinewood derby win?  Come on!!!!  We want to win...who cares what the car looks like??!!!  Like I said...not my proudest moment.

So, in the end, we left with nothing but two really cool looking cars, and two "everyone's a winner!" participation ribbons. But, look out...next year we are going for speed, and I am sure that Emily has already picked out a spot for that trophy.  (And if she hasn't...I have.)

March AND April Madness

I have been a very very bad blogger the last couple of months, so I'm going to try to sum everything up in one short and sweet entry.
1.  Went to one of Governor Christie's town hall meetings, and, yes...I am a public school teacher who LIKES Chris Christie.  I'd like to blog more about this, but I'd also like to keep all of my teacher friends.  Stay tuned, I guess.
2.  Mike took Emily and Noah fishing and they caught a gazillion fish all by themselves!  We are definitely raising some little outdoorsmen over here.                                                        

                                             

3. I ran a race.  Back a million years ago before I had kids I once told a friend of mine that I hated exercising so much that I would be 500 lbs before I ever set foot on a treadmill!  Well, times and waistlines have changed, and I am not only on a treadmill, but hitting the roads three or four times a week and running up to six miles some days.  My trusty running partner, Casey, who's been mentioned in several other blogs, agreed to a four mile trail run a couple of weeks ago.  We had a great time, despite an appearance by my out of control nerves which drove Casey crazy the whole morning.  Why do they have to use a gun at the starting line????  As if the word go isn't good enough.  As if my heart isn't already pounding out of my chest while my stomach is in my throat. Anyway, we made it to the finish line in one piece, and I was pretty happy with my time.  AND contrary to my heartfelt pleas to Casey to never let me enter another one, I've already been eyeing up some 10 K races for the summer.  We'll see.

4. Baseball season is here!  Last weekend we went to our first game of the year...all three kids in tow. It was the Phanatic's birthday, so all of the kids were treated to a great pre-game show and Phanatic T-shirts. Addison wasn't too thrilled with the crazy twenty-somethings behind us who thought it was a brilliant idea to yell, "GET SOME!!!" every five minutes.  So, she promptly tuned them out and went to sleep.  Noah and Emily were, of course, on the look out for the Phanatic the whole game.  Emily is surprisingly interested in the players and the whole game, and probably knows more about baseball than I did until recently.   She's got tricks for remembering all of the players names...for example, she knows Ibanez by his trademark "chipmunk" cheeks full of chew.  The highlight had to be Mike catching a foul ball (Ben Francisco).  Noah keeps taking it down off the shelf and saying, "I just want to hold it one more time. "  Too cute!

So, as you can read, we've had a couple of busy weeks, and things don't seem to slow down until June...yikes! I'm off to get my half price ride tickets in O.C. already this weekend.  Yep, beach season is almost here, people.  Less than five months until I go back to work, and I plan on spending as much of it as I can chasing Addison around making sure she doesn't put sand in her mouth.

Valentines, Messes and Resolutions

During my mom's last visit she gave Emily and Noah a Valentine's box filled with all sorts of supplies for making their cards this year.  What a fun idea...we couldn't wait to try it out!
Every craft project that I undertake with my kids seems to play out the same way.  The scenario is something like this....I have a great idea for some crafty goodness, spend forever setting up the perfect work station, kids work diligently for about ten minutes, get tired, start to whine, make a mess, I start to yell, and everyone goes to their room for a little cool down (including mom).
I'm hoping that this sounds familiar to someone, otherwise I literally AM the worst mom ever.  I used to think that flawless preparation was the key to success, but I have come to realize that neat little piles of construction paper, bowls with glitter and a scissors and glue for everyone will not necessarily guarantee that an art project will go off without a hitch.  As you can see from the pictures there is now a disastrous mess in my house that I am dreading having to clean later tonight.

So, that's the beginning, the middle, and here's the end.  Every time I decide to turn my house upside down for one of my projects I always resolve that next time I will do better.  Hopefully my kids will remember only the good parts and block out the crazed version of mom trying to rock a crying baby to sleep while yelling, "Get that glue away from your sister's hair!"  I try to console myself by thinking that I almost can't remember a time that my mom lost her temper with us, but then I become equally worried that maybe my memory's not that bad...maybe she just never lost her temper.  Oh boy.  Next time will be better.

The After Christmas Cookie

This past December we had big plans.  We were going to go shopping together, eat out with friends, eat in with friends, watch Christmas movies and make lots and lots of Christmas cookies. Most of our plans were foyled, however, by our annual bout with the stomach bug.  Luckily it hit early in December so that everyone was well for the week of Christmas.  But, after dealing with sickness for almost two weeks, no one was really feeling the holiday spirit.  

So, almost a month after the big day, we finally got around to making our gingerbread cookies.  Although I'm typically a "from scratch" kind of girl, when decorating cookies with three kids it's probably best to conserve as much energy as possible.  Enter the premade TUB of cookie dough.  Yep, it's not authentic, but it cuts down on the mess and dishes...which is especially good when afterwards you are cleaning up sprinkles, icing and sugar from every corner of the kitchen.  Taste doesn't really matter with this kind of thing either.  Once my kids are done mounding up the icing and sanding sugar, the only thing you can taste is the sensation of your teeth rotting with every bite. 

Saying Goodbye to Three of my Favorites

I've had a very strange couple of days trying to digest some information I received over the past weekend.  As most of you know I teach fourth grade at a public school just minutes from my house.  What you probably don't know is that I work with some of the kindest, smartest and most wonderful people that you will ever meet.  Nine years ago I was unbelievably fortunate to find myself with a teaching position in the fourth grade hallway...the best hallway.  As an outsider to a small town and small district I was made to feel at home immediately.  I was considered family to women who had been teaching together their whole lives...never made to feel out of place or out of the loop.  These women.  Women who help me get my feet on the ground when I didn't know what I was doing.  Women who cheered me on during my successes and shook their heads with me when nothing was making sense.  Women who laughed together about all of the crazy things that our husbands did and said. Women who celebrated the birth of my three children...being just as excited with me about each one.  These women.
I've known for some time now that one of us was leaving at the end of this year.  Nancy, whom I would describe as everyone's favorite aunt, had made it no secret that this year would probably be her last.  With the way the state is changing pension and everything else we started to hear talk here and there from anyone who was in a position to retire, but nothing was ever definite.  This weekend I got a phone call that I had hoped wouldn't come.  Our dear friends Agie and Barb announced that they would also be leaving at the end of this year...leaving a huge whole in our once tight knit fourth grade group.
So, instead of crying about this (which is what I did initially until my husband made fun of me) I've decided to blog about it.  One word.  None of these women can be reduced to a single word, but If I had to say just one word about each I know exactly what I would say.
Generous.  My friend, Barb is without question one of the most generous people that I have ever met.  If someone is going through a rough patch, Barb is the first to step up and find a way to help.  No occasion is too small for her notice.  The front desk of our main office is constantly posted with birth announcements, funeral arrangements or notices of illness, and there has never been a time when Barb has not stopped to copy down an address to send a card of congratulations or condolence.  She is unfailing in her support of her friends, family and community.  There is no doubt that if she were to read this she would be saying in her head, " Well, that's just what you do.  That's what's right. "  But not everyone is like this.  Not just anyone has her generosity of spirit, and that is why Barb will be missed so much.
Wise.  When I was trying to think of the perfect word for Nancy the word smart kept popping into my head, but that just didn't seem good enough.  The word I really wanted was wise, because Nancy is unbelievably smart in so many ways, but what makes her wise is how she applies everything she knows to every situation and every person perfectly.  She has an unbelievable knack for knowing when to talk and when it's best not to say anything.  She seems to have a way of forming the perfect thing to say in every circumstance...so much so that when she says it you find yourself thinking, why couldn't I say it just like that?, or that was exactly what I was thinking but couldn't find the words.  If you need Monday morning advice Nancy's door is the first you walk through, and she's the one that you run your weekend plans by on the way out the door Friday afternoon.  She is the perfect coworker, confidante and friend.   And although Macy's will be very lucky to have her  ;),  she will be greatly missed around here.
Mom.  This was a no brainer.  To me and to many Agie is our mom away from mom. (Long pause to choke back some tears.)  I know that I owe so many of my successes as a teacher to her guidance, support and encouragement.  As my first year mentor she went above and beyond the required hours to go over plans, lessons and whatever else I needed just to keep my head above water.  At the end of the year she returned the $500 dollar mentor fee to me and said, "Now, don't tell Mike, but you take this money back and go buy yourself something. "   This still makes me laugh and always reminds me of the kind of person that she is.  The kind of person that cried with me when I thought I was going to lose my job that first year....the person who jumped up and down with me when I found out I was pregnant (all three times)...the one who takes my 7am phone calls to say I have to call out sick, and please go make sure my desk isn't a mess.  I hope that I have conveyed how deeply grateful I am over the years for everything she has done to make my life better and easier.  But, even if I haven't, Agie is the kind of person who would just keep doing it all anyway.  That's what moms do.
So, when I return to school next year, and my Year of Summer comes to a close there will be three great ladies who won't be returning with me.  Although I am incredibly thankful to have this year at home with my three children there is a part of me that is terribly missing the last year that our fourth grade group will be together.  I have been priveledged to share in their lives and so happy to have them be a part of mine.  Nancy, I look forward to having a personal shopper now!  Agie, you are my on call babysitter...ha!  Barb...if you are ever sitting around on a Sunday night, and you get the urge to grade some papers ~ you know who to call!  I love you all!  xoxo

The Quarter Marathoners

Those of you who read my blog may remember my Special K Challenged post back in October when I mentioned my friend, Casey.  Although our diet did not prove extremely successful (not a lot of weight lost, but we're both in a smaller size) it did manage to drive us a little crazy for two weeks.   I think that Casey has sworn off cereal for a very very long time.  We have, however, continued something else that we started during those two weeks...running.  I had been jogging on the treadmill for the last several months, but it was getting painfully boring pretty fast.  At first we decided to get together to jog twice a week for about two miles each time.  Then, per Casey's suggestion and much to my chagrin, we upped it to three miles.  She mentioned that her friend had recently run a half marathon which is 13 miles. Being fairly confident that I was not up for anything that required that much in-shapeness (probably not a word), I suggested that maybe we could just work our way to finishing a 10 K, or 6.2 miles.   So, we diligently researched some training schedules like the one found here, and modified them a little.  We now run together Mon, Wed and Fri and train some on our own too.  Last week we made it past the four mile mark, which I felt was a huge accomplisment!
If only my highschool volleyball coach could see me now.  He was big on the running thing once telling us that you can run up to four miles during a match, which I highly suspect was a severe overexaggeration meant to inspire us.  Nonetheless we would spend the first part of practice warming up with a mile run followed by sprints or running stairs (the worst!).  Undoubtedly I was the most vocal opponent to his training techniques and could often be found walking the part of the route that couldn't be seen from his vantage point.
So, here we are...a million miles, so to speak, from where I was in highschool.  I wouldn't say that I actually enjoy the whole heart beating out of my chest, lungs burning and legs feeling like jello by the end type of running that we are doing.  But, it does give me a great sense of accomplishment when I am done.  Hopefully my deeply rooted competitive instincts will prove useful as we try to push eachother a little further every week.

Props to my friend, Casey, who is so hard core that she yakked enroute the other day and just kept running.