MOTHER BEAR

You know what that means, don't you?

Yesterday the MOTHER BEAR came out. The MOTHER BEAR in me came out.

I , like most sane, relatively well adjusted mothers keep this side of me contained. I am not quick to fly off the handle. I am not upset if my child is corrected or reprimanded by a teacher or other grown up...(especially if it is needed). I don't think my kids are perfect, and I know that kids act up and need to be gently reminded of their manners and what not....
BUT.... DON"T MESS WITH MY CUB ! Not unfairly and not unkindly!

Here is the jest of it.
Emily buys her lunch daily at school. She brought her lunch every day until 7th grade, now she buys every day. Her school allows several choices for lunch...
an a la carte' kind of thing.
ANYWAY. Tuesday was our first day back from Christmas break, at lunch Emily asked what her balance was in her account. The cashier told her she had a few dollars left. ( She only spends about $2.25 a day)
Emily came home, reported the total and I promptly sat down and wrote out a check for $40. Wednesday morning Emily delivered the envelope to the drop off box and proceeded with her day, enjoyed her lunch and that was that.

HOWEVER.... yesterday, as my daughter approached the cashier to give her account number, the lady tells Emily.... you have no money in your account.
"YOU CAN'T EAT TODAY"
Emily tells her she dropped off a check yesterday.... the cashier tells her...
"Nope... I got nothin... You can't eat today"

AAAAAGH. So, my 75 lb skinny, waif-like daughter said she did not understand what happened, but she has cash in her purse in her locker...can she go get it so she can eat?
Lunch lady..." Nope"

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????? This is what I am thinking!!!

SO... Emily did not have lunch..... a friend gave her a few fries, and she got some water from the water fountain.

I know that she will not DIE from not eating lunch....but....

I work in the school district. I understand that an error may have occurred with the account. I am not even upset about that error... it was a check. I can get that worked out.

But - I know that the school district's policy when it comes to lunch accounts...
if we have a student with no balance.... they at least get a cheese sandwich...and a milk. Can you imagine what would happen if we started refusing to feed a child...if say they forgot their lunch on the bus.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I sent ANOTHER check today...one for $20. I will be calling the school first thing this morning.... I will try to be calm, pleasant, and controlled...
BUT.... THEY will be dealing with... MAMA BEAR!!!!

New Year's Eve at the Schmoll Home

Well, anyone who knows us...knows what Party Animals we are.
Ha. That is funny.
If the truth be known, we are a pretty calm crew. It is pretty common to find us home on any given night. Each of us showered, in our pajamas, and tucked in by 9:00.
I know that seems funny to the "night owls' out there. But that is just us.

But boy did we cut loose on New Year's Eve.
Our New Year's Eve Celebration consisted of :
Salad , Delivery pizza and Diet Soda.
The boys worked on a new jigsaw puzzle, and then... IT GOT WILD !
We played games on the new Kinect system .
Lots of jumping around and waving our arms around.
It was fun. Silly, but Fun.

The REAL news is that we stayed up until MIDNIGHT. We went outside and pulled confetti poppers..... wooo hooo.

We were all in bed.... by 12:15.

I know it sounds funny. But it was a PERFECT New Year's Eve in the Schmoll Household.

Hope your New Year's Eve was....as calm OR as exciting as you wished.

Remembering 2010 before it is gone forever.....

Well, it is almost over, 2010 that is. Can't say it has been a particularly good year, but I also can't claim it to be a bad year either. I think as with most things it had a little of both. As I take a few moments to reflect on the year... I guess I realize I am quite the optimist.... or maybe I just take photos of the good stuff (that would make sense wouldn't it?). At any rate.... I reflect on this past year, and choose to share my memories with you....here goes:

Highlight:My beautiful daughter celebrated her 13th birthday. A teenager....where has the time gone???

Highlight: Jake had a great year in baseball. He pitched a little, but he was a superstar at shortstop and 2nd base.

Highlight: Emily had a great vacation with Granny. They visited Bucks and Spurs Dude Ranch for a week. They rode every day, all day. A great time and great memories.

Highlight: We took a great mini-vacation to visit and play in Branson. We hung out with family and visited the local attractions...including Silver Dollar City and Ballknockers. What fun!



Highlight:We welcomed new friends into this world, and got to babysit and play with them.

Baby Camden Parker Weatherby

Baby Emily Marie Vinyard

Highlight; My kids had the opportunity to be part of something much bigger than us. We had the privilege of participating in the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund walk. The walk was held in Forest Park. We were just a very small part of the day, but it felt so good to be a part of something SO important.

BIG HIGHLIGHT:I had the opportunity to do something I REALLY LOVE. I was trusted by these people (and a few more not shown here) to capture their family on "film". I got to PLAY photographer...and I LOVED IT!


Highlight: We spent time with friends and family. We celebrated our birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and we even found reasons to celebrate your average Monday.
We found time in our busy schedules to eat, drink and laugh together.

The only real sadness that stands out to me this year is the passing of my very special grandmother. She is loved and missed every day, but it is because of the things that she taught me ....that I know to COUNT my BLESSINGS and not dwell upon the sadness of my life. CELEBRATE the life you live, and live it to the fullest.

And with that, my friends and family....
I wish you the very happiest of New Years.
I pray that you will be blessed in many ways and that you will embrace all that the new year has to offer you.
With love,
me