Proud day

Today Patrick was confirmed at church. While being confirmed is something that almost all 8th graders do at our church, I pray that his decision to join the church is not one that he takes lightly. He is such an amazing kid and I know his future will be bright. God has blessed him with many talents and that's not something to take for granted.

Then....in his baseball game this afternoon, he hit a home run!

Best intentions

I seriously have the best intentions when it comes to updating my blog. I even think of things I can type about each day. And, then...well, then I don't. Simple as that. I run out of time in the day and updating gets pushed to another day. Then I realize it's been a week or more since I've posted last.

It's a busy weekend for us. Patrick is being confirmed at church on Sunday. My parents are due here any minute now. So, that means I'm stressed. I wish they didn't have that effect on me, but they do. Patrick's baseball team is also playing in a tournament here in town. They play tonight at 8 and it's gonna be COLD! A friend of ours was playing last night at 6 and we went out there for the game. Oh man...it was freezing. Strange weather! Patrick is pitching, but I don't know if my parents will brave the late time and the cold. I'll tell you what, when I have a grandson, wild horses won't keep me away from his activities!

I just got done cleaning the house (you know...to pass inspection by my mother, the perpetual housecleaner). I should've counted all the bobby pins I found lying around. Rachel has to wear her hair in a bun for dance. But, when she gets home, she just takes her hair down wherever she is and bobby pins are everywhere. Going to have to have a talk w/ that child!

I'm going to get tough w/ the kids this summer. They've always had a few chores that they help with, but it's time they do more around the house. We'll be making up a list of jobs that need to be accomplished before they can do anything else this summer.

Wish me luck over the next few days....

The week in review

Well, Patrick's baseball team won their tournament last weekend in Champaign. They won all 5 games they played. It was a beautiful weekend, too...so that was a bonus. It's funny the difference between when these boys were 10 and won a tournament and now. Just 4 short years ago, they wanted their pictures taken and their trophy would be proudly displayed in their room. Now, at 14 years old, it was like pulling teeth to get them to pose for a group picture. Patrick's trophy is still in the car! Not that it's not still exciting to win, but I guess they don't need the "stuff" that goes along w/ it.

Rachel auditions for the Trainee Academy for the Springfield Ballet Company. She's pretty confident she'll make it again this year, but realizes that anything can happen, so she's got to perform her best.

Thornton is taking all 3 kids to the St. Louis Cardinal game tomorrow. A day at home alone will be nice!

Road trip

We'll be heading out this afternoon for our first overnight baseball trip of the season. Patrick has a tournament in Champaign (an hour and a half from here). They play at 8 in the morning, so we'll be staying overnight tonight. They also play tomorrow at 2 and Sunday at 10. We have to come back for Church on Sunday morning, so I think Patrick will stay w/ a teammate Saturday night. Then, if they place first or second in their pool, they'll play Sunday at noon. If they win that, the championship is Sunday at 2. We'll drive back over to see him play on Sunday (if they advance). This is the first tournament with his new team, so we just have no idea how they'll do. He's the starting pitcher tomorrow morning, so he'll have to get to bed early.

She said what??

Last night Rachel and Alison were having a big time blow-up at bed time. They were yelling at each other and slamming doors. First Rachel would come upstairs and tell me what Alison had done to her, then Ali would come up, and so on. Finally, I thought I had gotten them settled, when Alison came up. She was crying and said that Rachel had called her the "C word". Honestly, I couldn't figure out what the heck the C word was (well, I know one C word, but I know Rachel doesn't know that....). Alison didn't want to tell me what it was, because it was a bad word. She finally spelled it for me. C - R - A - P.

I remember when I was in 2nd grade and someone sticking out their tongue at me was the biggest sin ever. Ahh....those were the days.

What do you say?

The kids have caught me tearful the past few days while watching coverage of the shootings at Virginia Tech. How do you explain to a child the fear a parent feels when they have to send their child out into the world every day and trust God that they will return safely to you? I do have great faith in God, but evil exists and my heart hurts to think of the pain others are feeling right now.

This week is busy for us. Rachel is in Sleeping Beauty with the Springfield Ballet Company and this is tech week. So, she and I will be out at the Auditorium every night. I'm working on the costumes, which I really enjoy. Alison was with us last night and was entranced w/ watching the girls dance. Her dance teacher is the Ballet Mistress w/ the company and Alison just walked herself right up on stage and plopped herself down next to Gina. Her ballsy-ness cracks me up (and somewhat unnerves Rachel...who would never do something like that).

Note to self....

Don't ever slip and tell your 7 year old that you think her P.E. teacher is cute. And, if you do so, don't let your 11 year old tell your 7 year old that her mommy secretly called Coach Hyde "Coach Hottie". 7 year old will laugh herself silly and threaten to tell Daddy (who already knows, by the way!)

On another note....we got home from Easter Dinner on Sunday and found a pice of paper stuck to our door. It was addressed to Alison and said "I hate you! You are a baby and a poop ball. I really hate you and nobody cares about you". I knew immediately who'd written it. Alison has a "friend" who is a year older than her that lives nearby. We have limited Alison's interaction w/ this girl before. Another friend of Alison's just came over to give Ali a gift card, because Ali gave her her old bike and I asked her if she knew anything about the note. She got teary eyed and said that she was w/ the other girl when she did it and she didn't want to do it. I totally believe her. So, now, obviously Alison will not play at all w/ the older girl. I am debating talking to the girl's mom. I know I should, but somehow I doubt it'll make a difference.

My worlds collide

Last night I was sitting in the sun room working on sewing trim onto a tutu that will be used during the ballet Sleeping Beauty. I was watching Cardinals baseball on TV at the time. It dawned on me that these two activities - baseball and ballet - have become a big part of my life.

Granted, baseball always has been in my life. I grew up a tomboy and could tell you about anything you'd ever want to know about the game of baseball. I will always love the game. The fact that Patrick is a baseball player now means that we spend many, many days at the ball diamond.

Ballet was not something that I was interested in as a kid. It was kind of the opposite of who I was, to be honest. But, Rachel was born dancing. She started dance lessons the day she turned 3 and has been dancing ever since. I now spend time shuttling her to and from dance and ballet company rehearsals. Since we live 20 minutes from town, it doesn't always make sense to go home while she is in rehearsal, so I watch. And, I've fallen in love w/ the beauty of ballet.

So, working on a tutu while watching baseball is a perfect combination to me!

Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards

Alison and I are watching the Kids Choice Awards. These are awards that are voted on by kids. I'm wondering what age kids are voting. The award that was just given was for favorite music group. The nominees were Black Eyed Peas, Nickleback, Red Hot Chile Peppers and someone else. Ummm...my 7 and 11 year olds have no idea who these groups are. Are kids really listening to these groups? I know, it's not like it's gangsta rap or something, but I just don't understand letting kids grow up so fast. Justin Timberlake is hosting the Kids Choice Awards. Heaven help me, if he starts singing "I'm bringing sexy back", we are changing the channel and FAST!

Deadliest Catch

I've recently started watching reruns of this show on Discovery. It's about crab fishing in the Bering Sea. Doesn't sound like anything that'd be all that interesting, but somehow, I've become mesmerized by the show. It's the most dangerous job on earth w/ extensive injuries and death each season of fishing. New shows start on Tuesday (which, of course, I won't be able to watch!), but I hope to catch them in reruns also. What's funny is that I've flipped past this show at least a hundred times, sure that I wouldn't enjoy watching it. Turns out I was wrong!

In a funk today

I have no idea what's going on today, because I'm usually a really cheerful person. But, today, I'm in a funk. I gotta snap out of it, because I don't like it.

Update

Our family had an awesome vacation to Florida. The weather was nice, although not ultra-warm. We did get in 2 days at the beach, which were just perfect. Since we were there earlier than usual, it wasn't Spring Break yet, so the beach wasn't nearly as crowded. Here are some pictures:

What I love

This is what I love about being a mom:

I worked full-time away from the home until about a year and a half ago. I am still reveling in the fact that I am now home when they get off the bus in the afternoon. The other day Alison came in the front door giggling away. I asked her why she was in such a good mood and she said, every excitedly, "I got moved to the back of the bus!!". I asked her why that was so exciting and she said, "Because it's bumpy back there and it feels like you're getting a foot massage the whole way home!" Now really, does it get any better than that??

Yesterday, Rachel wasn't having a good day. She was tired and she was frustrated because she had to finish a school project and it wasn't going as well as she would've liked. They had dissected owl pellets in class and her pellet didn't have enough bones from a rodent to make the skeleton of a whole animal. They need to make posters w/ the bones. She and I had some words on the way home from ballet because she wanted to put off working on it and I didn't think that was a good idea. So, when we got home, she did finish the poster. I was lying down on my bed for a few minutes resting and she came in. I could tell she was still upset. I asked her to lie w/ me for and talk. She just started crying. I told her that I remembered what it felt like to be her age and needing to cry, sometimes for no reason at all. Then she just laid there and cried (well, yeah...we both were crying....). When she got up a few minutes later, she seemed better. And, that made me happy.

Last night Patrick came home from his Confirmation class at church and was really excited about what he had learned. He was asking me my opinion on some things and we just had a nice conversation. In the middle of our talk, his cell phone rang. He could tell by the caller i.d. that it
was his girlfriend. He said, "I'll just call her back later. I want to finish talking with you." How sweet it that? Of course, I told him to go ahead and talk with his girlfriend and I'd be waiting for him when he was done. He's growing into such a cool young man.

Old and Crumbly

Yesterday was my 39th birthday. Several years ago an online friend of mine dubbed me "old and crumbly", as I was the oldest person in a mom and friends group. So, I shudder to think what she thinks of me now that I'm a year away from 40! Comments, Jamie??

I'm probably one of the strange ones, though. I like getting older. Granted, I don't see myself as an almost 40 year old. I still think of myself as being about 26. I don't even feel like an adult some days. It's not that I'm immature...it's just that I don't feel my age, I guess.

Patrick has had a very busy weekend. I knew the day was coming when my children would have better social lives than I, and it appears that those days are here. Saturday, he had lunch out w/ my father in law. Then he went on a group date w/ his girl friend (first one EVER). Sunday, he went out to another movie and dinner w/ a family friend. Today, he's in St. Louis w/ another friend. Meanwhile, I'm sitting at home and working! Something's wrong...very wrong w/ this picture!

This is my morning

We always have trouble getting the kids out the door in a timely manner. It doesn't matter what time we get them up, they seem to fill the time and we end up rushing them out the door. So, this morning, I come into the dining room where the girls are eating their cereal. I notice they are playing Yahtzee while eating. Here's the conversation:

Me: Are you guys playing Yahtzee while eating? Alison, you don't even have your shoes on. Rachel, you need to brush your hair.

Rachel: We're not playing Yahtzee.

Alison: Nope, we're not.

Me: Good, because we have to leave in 5 minutes to get you to school in time

Alison: Rachel, your turn...roll the dice!

When exactly did I lose control?? I know...Dec. 2, 1992, the day Patrick was born, right?

The post office lies

Perhaps it's just a myth, but I thought that the post office was supposed to deliver through rain or snow, sleet or hail...something like that. Ummm...so not true! Sure, we had 14 inches of snow. Sure the wind was blowing so hard yesterday that it was coming down sideways. And, no, the post office did not deliver. Yesterday or today. So, I thought that I'd be nice to my mailman...he does a lot for me, and I brought all my packages to be mailed into the post office here in town. Huh?? They were closed too! Now, it's true that I live in a tiny podunk town that probably only employs 3 people, but come on! So, sorry to those people who are expecting orders that should've been mailed Tuesday...they won't go out 'til tomorrow. At least I hope they go out tomorrow! If not...they'll have a very angry small businesswoman on their hands.

Finding Nemo

The kids are home from school today because of the blizzard (yes, snow blowing sideways...it's a blizzard!). The girls are watching Finding Nemo and I had forgotten what an hysterical movie this is. I have literally been laughing out loud throughout the whole movie. There is no better character than Dory anywhere in the movies...seriously!

She's at it again!

Last year Rachel raised money for the American Heart Association in the Jump-rope-athon. This year she has decided to take part by shooting hoops to raise money for them. In case you're interested in helping her out, here's the link to her donation page:

https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=201512&lis=0&kntae201512=95E11CCB3D2E4E57A2E4399469A7C6A8&supId=164301585

Baptism

Thornton and I decided when the kids were born that we would wait to have them baptized when they felt they were ready and they understood what it really meant to be baptized into the Christian church. We belong to a Presbyterian church and they typically baptize infants, and Thornton and I were both baptized as infants. But, we just didn't feel like that was what we wanted for our children. Yesterday, Patrick and Rachel were both baptized. It was so emotional for us to see our children profess their faith in front of the congregation. They each wrote Statement of Faith and read them before their baptisms. I saw many teary eyes in the congregation (through my own tear brimmed eyes, of course). These kids have been brought up in the church and so many people have contributed to their faith journeys. It was a proud day for our family.

Baby, it's cold outside!

I've always liked winter.....love snow and love wrapping up in a warm blanket. But, this cold snap we've been having..well, it's just too much! I can't seem to get warm. The air temperature this morning was 2, with wind chills at -18. That's crazy. The pond across the street from us is completely frozen. I feel really sorry for the ducks that live in it. I don't know what they're doing to stay warm. I'm glad we have our gas bill on level pay, because I wouldn't want to see how sky-high the heating bills would've been otherwise!