80"s Day at School

Jake's school had spirit week this week. Yesterday was "Decade Day". Jake decided to go with the decade of the 80's. When he asked his Dad and I what "screamed"
the 80's...we told him.... 80's hair bands.....

You remember.... Twisted Sister, Def Leopard, White Snake, Quiet Riot....etc.
Jake liked that idea.... and this is what we ended up with.....

I'm Done

Do you recognize this photo? Yes. It is a doormat... IT is ME!
I am a Doormat!..... and I AM DONE!!!!!!

Yesterday I had an epiphany. Not my first, and probably not my last.
I am a Doormat!....BUT....I am DONE!

I am DONE tip-toeing around the "unbalanced" person/people at work, trying to be invisible as to not make myself the "target" of the day for their hatefullness.

I am DONE stocking my office with diet soda,candy and snacks, only for others to gorge themselves as if it is a buffet....never showing any appreciation, and acting miffed when the cupboard runs low or heaven forbid...bare.

I am DONE agreeing to "babysit" the kids that are annoying their teacher.... allowing the "busy, talkative" little angel to hang out in my office....so the teacher can have a few minutes of "peace"....

I am DONE saying "Sure, I don't mind"...when in fact, I DO MIND ! I don't want to spend my entire weekend painting the backdrop or making costumes for your play...
especially when you don't offer to help...and are never happy with what I make.

I am Done allowing you to make me feel inferior. I am so sorry if it upsets you that I am "averagely overweight" and imperfect......not everyone can or would get their stomach banded, teeth straightened with invisible braces, and facial peels....
I am pretty happy with myself. Yes there are things I would like to, and should change. But I should change them for me...NOT YOU. SO stop giving diet advice (you did not diet to lose the weight...you did not work it off), advice on how to dress, and how to style/cut my hair. I really don't value your opinion. And I did not ask for it!
And while we are on the subject. I am not going to apologize for the fact that I am not a "career woman". I know you think I am a low-life and sub-par. But I am DONE caring what you think. I am proud of the decisions I have made. I believe many would have chosen to be a stay-at-home mom ...if they could have...so stop being jealous.

I AM DONE! No longer will I be guilted into "IT". Whatever "it" may be. I am DONE!

For my true friends and family, none of this will effect you. You will NOT see any change in my attitude or behavior. Because you are not the ones who have treated me like a doormat. BUT to all the rest of you. Take note.

I AM DONE!

BASEBALL- Gotta Love It !

I LOVE to watch baseball. I have recently been accused by my dear friend,Sara, as being a closet Cardinal Fanatic. I think that is funny. I didn't know I was so secretive about it. Especially since half the photos on my bulletin board in my office are of the family at various Cardinal games. But , none-the-less, I Love Baseball.

I Love to watch Jake play baseball. I HATE to miss a practice , and especially Hate to miss a game. I am sort of obsessed with his baseball season. I LOVE it. I am so happy he has found something he loves to do, and that he is so good at. He is having a great season. He is primarily playing short-stop. His coach says he is GREAT at that position. I agree. He has made so many amazing plays this season. Pop fly, low grounders, line drives.... nothing gets past him. He has been a machine. He is also doing great at the plate. Jake's batting average is .777.



I Love the crack of the bat (ok it is an aluminum bat, so it is more of a ping").
I love the roar of the fans, I love the celebration at the plate when he makes it there safely. I love the "thumbs-up" that Jake shoots to me after stealing a base.

I love baseball season.!
I would blog more...but the Cards are on in a little while...

Emily's Academic Competition

Most of you know that Emily and I left town on Friday morning to travel to Blue Springs Missouri.
Emily's C.A.T.s class were required to travel for an academic competition called "Extempore' ". It is a competition in which the judges challenge the students by giving them scenarios and situations to "solve". The students are judged on their creativity, the probability of the solution, use of all props, time of solution...etc. These competitions are referred to as "AAHAAAs" The parents were not permitted to watch these competitions. The students were also expected to create and perform a skit about a Marble that is lost in a pinball machine. The students come prepared with a skit, scenery and costumes...but 15 minutes before they are to perform their skit-the judges throw them a curve-ball and gives them a NEW prop, phrase,character,and situation that must be included in their skit.
The parents are allowed to watch the skits..... although.... I am not sure I would encourage it.

The skits reminded me of the "plays and talent shows" that my kids put on when their cousin come over to spend the night. You know the kind.... the ones they beg you to come and watch....where you are not sure what the play is about...or when you are supposed to laugh.... you know the kind.

It was a really long day, as we arrived at 7:45 am and left for home at 5:30pm.
Emily had a good time. I spent 98% of the day in a gymnasium...trying to read a book and squirming in my seat. It was so loud and crowded- I read the introduction to my book a hundred times....and never got past it.

The best part of the day for me....was the drive home. Sure we were both tired, wishing we did not have 4 hours of road ahead of us.... but it was just the two of us. We listened to a book on CD...we laughed, snacked on pretzels and ate too much licorice. We held hands and she curled up and we just enjoyed being together.

I can't say I want to sit through another day of extempore'... but I would...if I knew that I would get to hang out with Emily ...and spend more time like that.

Thanks Emily for the great time. I love you...and I am proud of you. I know that you worked hard on the competitions. I wish I could have watched you compete...but I know you did your best....You always do....

Love, Mom

Busy, Busy, Busy.

No, I have not fallen off the face of the planet. I know it has been OVER a week since my last post. The only explanation is.... life is BUSY!
Spring has sprung, I have spring fever...the kids at school have spring fever, the teachers at school REALLY have spring fever.... I think a side effect of spring fever... is a busy life.

Spring brings household chores. I have so many things on my "to do" list. There are so many household/yard projects. That makes me busy.

Spring brings field trips and special projects, MAP testing and academic competitions...this all makes me busy.

Spring brings Baseball. Cardinal's baseball (watching the games on TV)....
makes me busy---- I can't miss the game to do silly things like housework.
Jake's baseball team is also now in full swing. With 2 games a week plus practices... that makes me busy.

SO -- in short... I am sorry that the posts have been sparse lately....
life is....BUSY.

The Egg Hunt

Click on photos to enlarge.....

Easter is about many things.

Without question....the true meaning and importance of the day should NEVER be lost.

We as Christians ...know that HE IS RISEN to save us ALL.

And we CELEBRATE!

That being said.... we also know that the day is also a day of gathering.

We gather as followers.... of Christ.

We gather as families... to celebrate.

We gather around the table and sample all the traditional foods of the season

AND

WE GATHER..... EASTER EGGS !!!!

Everyone loves Easter Egg hunts ! It is part of the fun.

This year we went to Granny's and had a GREAT BIG Easter Egg Hunt.

The cousins came for the fun (not all of the cousins...and the others were missed).

Rowdy and I helped out the bunny by hiding 250+ eggs.

That is a lot of eggs for 5 kids to find.

AND it was fun.

I don't think we found all the eggs....

so Granny may find some when she mows the grass.

But... it was FUN.

Eggs,Eggs,Eggs

No matter how old you are...you always enjoy coloring Easter Eggs.

This year we tried tye-dying the eggs. The kids wrapped the egg up in a wet cloth and used an eye dropper to drop the dye onto the cloth covered eggs. It was fun and made some cool effects. They loved it....

which is good...cause that is why we do it.

Happy coloring everyone!!!