Cookies and More

Well, there is another Murphy who is ill. The doctor put him on antibiotic today. I hope he gets better soon. He is such a good patient, he makes things so easy. He sees how hard I try and appreciates everything. A very good soul.

Kate and I baked cookies last evening. After an initial argument, we were good together. At one point before we started, she would not help me set up and was rude. I finally said, "Just give me the middle finger and get it over with." I don't think she got what that meant, she just knew it was hateful. I was wrong for saying it. I try to keep my patience. It seems that the more I try to be patient, the more she attempts to manipulate and then I snap. She cried and sulked for about 15 minutes and rejoined me with a new attitude and we were fine. She just would not comply initially. I don't know if this is better or not, but two of my friends at school are having trouble with their daughters and they are younger than Kate!! Kate was always more challenging (stubborn, tough, single minded) but never this bad, consistently. I feel like it is a battle and if I give in, I'm telling her that her behavior is acceptable and it is not.

I think I said this in an earlier blog, but I am glad I see her with other kids. She is phenomenal like her teachers tell me. She is focused, attentive and serious. She is not rude or demanding or challenging. She does what she is told with a smile on her face.

Well, our cookies came out great. She put them on Steeler platters that she picked up and decorated with ribbons and a bow.

I really appreciate the wonderful people we have in our lives and the connection my kids have made with the sixth grade teachers. Though Jack is older, he talks to them every day and looks up to them. They are wonderful role models for him. and for Kate too. Only for them would I slave three hours baking four different kinds of cookies and buy pretty things from bath and body works.

Two school day left until Christmas vacation. I hope we are all healthy for the trip to see family.

Christmas Concert: Getting us in the Mood for Christmas

WOW, the Christmas Concert at Berlin High School was absolutely incredible. The Middle School students played piano selections before the concert and a bell choir played too. Kate has not played since May and has not played We Three Kings in two years and she was great. The 5th and 6th grade chorus did a beautiful job, as did the 7th and 8th graders. Katie Menhorn is actually teaching them how to harmonize. It will be breathtaking to hear them in a few years when they are juniors and seniors. The high school kids were astounding. Katie had a nice mixture of fun Christmas tunes and religious songs. At the end a brass ensemble came out and the audience was invited to sing Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the Gloria. It brought tears to my eyes as we sang together. I was lucky enough to get a front row seat and jumped up to start a standing ovation but no one joined me. I hope this community appreciates what they have. I was nice to be a part of something so beautiful.

After a day of shopping on Saturday, we watched It's a Wonderful Life last night. Poor, sweet Kate, the first time she saw it about 4 years ago she cried when George gets his ear slapped by the druggist. Last night she wanted me to fast forward when Uncle Billy leaves the money accidentally with Mr. Potter. I recited every line I could remember. It's the first time I did it with the kids, so they just laughed. Give them a few more years and it will just be annoying.

Jack ran a fever today but seems better tonight. Kate wrapped some gifts for me. I was tired after cooking and cleaning and doing laundry all afternoon. I did make a nice Sunday night dinner: Roast pork, mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes and carrots, gravy and corn. Plus I made meatballs for tomorrow's crock pot and I have left overs too.

Can't wait to get on the road Saturday to enjoy the Holidays with my family. We do have some baking to do this week. Jack said he will probably have tests all day Thursday so I hope we have time to do some baking. I have some nasty situations waiting for me tomorrow at school. I just need to grit my teeth and get through it. I'm getting a pit in my stomach thinking about it. Definitely looking forward to the break.

Reading Competition and Journalism

It is no wonder my kids are readers. I started reading to Jack when he was in the womb...Dr. Seuss. Then Kate heard everything I read to him. Sometimes I hate having to sign book logs and agendas because we love to read at our house. I don't read magazines or papers much but 250 Shade Tree Lane has oodles to choose from...NY Daily News, NY Post, Long Island Newsday, Sports Illustrated, History Channel magazine, Catholic Digest, Riverhead News Review, Long Island Catholic.....Also, every Mary Higgins Clark novel and every John Grisham. My dad also has a collection of classics so "the kids have something to read." Clips from Bennington Banner (my brother's Vermont paper), there are books there from when I was a kid. Old battered collections of Tolkien and waterwarped Nancy Drew. (Those are Annie's, I took mine...too precious to leave behind.)

If you "borrow" one of these treasures, they are missed...."Did you see my American Spectator? It was right here." In reference to a pile of newspaper clippings, store flyers, catalogs and crossword puzzles. It is crazy but fun. Piles move from one side of the room to the other, much like my desk at work...put I know it's there..most times.

Back to reading competition. They competed and didn't do horribly even though they didn't win as a team there were some personal victories. Kate answered two questions to books she hadn't read because of common sense and a memory like a steel trap. (Mrs. D..... actually taught us something last year about what Jim Crow laws are) Jack got two more boys to join and had fun. Last year he was the only boy in the fall competition. He also answered some common sense questions...of course.

Journalism...these kids are great. The 6th and 8th grade boys love writing about sports...get a hook, right?? The 8th grade girls are sweet and smart. Always with a variety to write about. Kate writes what ever I ask and I can see why her teachers like her. She is focused, hard working and not silly. Some new girls joined and they are silly, annoying and rude to each other. They got the Murphy lecture today about "snipping at each other." "I can't and won't take it, if it continues, you are off. " They can't even write a Hiaku poem without being rude to each other. It's draining. My 7th graders are great. Focused and smart. They like writing about different stuff. Adds variety to the paper. Except for those new girls, everyone is respectful to each other and will read other people's stories. This is my only break in the day from craziness, so I try to enjoy it.

As I write this Kate is asking Jack questions for his History test tomorrow and they are being nice to each other!!! Such a blessing. Also, Kate is going to play the piano for the Christmas concert. She has not played since May and I nver signed her up to take them again this fall. Why she signed up to play before the concert is beyond me but I am thrilled. Looking forward to Friday night.

Thankful for So Much

OK...sorry I haven't blogged in a while...I actually had two in November that I deleted because they were crazy...Kate had been sick and I wasn't haven't my best parenting moments.

She is all better and sweet again...oh don't get me wrong...we have our moments...like last week when I was worried about her hives (again) and then accidentally woke her up in the middle of the night to check on them.....to say she was perturbed at the disturbance is an understatement.

Thanksgiving...it was wonderful....Chris and Krissy were there and Annie! Krissy feels like a sister, so easy to get along with and fun and relaxing to be with. Chris (my dear brother and her husband) continues to be sensitive but sarcastic. I love his blog! His buddy Scott stopped by... a fellow Eagle Scout...which was great for Jack to see and hear their stories.My kids love those two.... and Annie...my sweet sister. So giving of her time at the church and trying to get me into reading Twilight, which I am honestly trying to do in between reading the latest Mary Higgins Clark....predictable but always fun.

We played some fun family games. Jack, my cousin Shawn and I came from behind to ALMOST win Cranium... Kate, Annie and Krissy were our noble opponents....the fun ones are the drawings, puppets and watchng Kate figure out the song beign hummed. She gets so intense. Two nights we played Apples to Apples and Kate and Chris split. I like that because even my mom and aunt will play too.

Thanksgiving day itself was fun....Annie and I actually did most of the cooking of veggies, Kate made two apple and one pumpkin pie and Jack made homemade cranberry sauce and acorn squash.


As a family we made homemade ravioli as a tribute to my Grandmother who has been in heaven since 2000. They were...I have to admit...delicious!!!!! we are going to make more over Christmas and if I get time, this weekend.

I completed tons of shopping and hit all my favorites, Target, Best Buy, Borders, Coldwater Creek and more...even the grocery stores in NY are bigger and better....I could never afford to live there...it is so expensive.

We did not get into the city because Kate was getting over pnuemonia and I didn't want to have a set back. We will definitely go in over Christmas. I want to see the tree and go to the Top of the Rock.

Oh and now that they can both swallow pills, I gave them dramamine. I had to keep looking to see if they were breathing they were so knocked out. But no car sickness which was a blessing.

Iron Chef Murphy

The kids and I had a great weekend. We made homemade personalized pizzas Friday night and watched Get Smart that we got through Netflix. Saturday was some cleaning...OK I paid Jack to clean the bathroom, Kate made a banana bread and helped with laundry while I did dishes and made a baked ziti for a friend who lost her dad a few weeks ago. Kate also made tiny meatballs for Italian wedding soup. The soup came out great and I have enough for lunch this week. The kids liked it except for the endive. I made a veggie/fruit tray for them and we got into the holiday season and watched Elf....OK I slept and they watched.

When we delivered our meal to my friend the kids got to play with hers. They are about 5-6 years younger than mine but Kate and Jack had great time. They showed us their stories, arts and crafts and played with their puppy. I remember when my kids were that young and we would spend the evening making a craft. Don't get me wrong, we have a great time now, but I still fondly remember and grieve a little for that time.

Tonight they both made their own dinner. Chicken cutlets with as many spices as they could load on it. They are both becoming quite the chefs...and independant. I am very proud of them and the young adults they are becoming.

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving. Two weeks from today we will be packing for a trip to NY. If Chris and Krissy can't come out, we decided we would go in on Saturday for the day and visit them...maybe go to the Empire State Building...we'll see what the weekend brings. I am also looking forward to being 10 minutes from every store you could imagine! Best Buy, Target, Panera, you name the franchise and its on the Riverhead strip..Route 58. Nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there, I think.

Also, 24:Redemption is on in two weeks. Every time I see a preview, my anticipation rises and I get so excited!!!

I signed on to do Secret Santa at work. It is something positive I try to do for myself. It is fun to buy little gifts for people and to get them in return. The kids love trying to guess who has me.

Until next week!

Total Drama Island: Final Four

Jack posts:

The famous cartoon show Total Drama Island is down to the final four campers. The fat kid, Owen, the kid from juvy, Duncan, the evil girl, Heather and the goth girl Gwen. First it started off with 22 campers with a different personality on an island competing for a large amount of cash. Now only four remain. I hope the fat kid wins. He can prove to kids everywhere that no matter how fat you are, no matter how much you smell that you have the power to beat out 22 punks on an island.

November

Report cards, election day and the oncoming Holidays.... I do love this month, almost as much as I love the change of leaves in October.

Kids got their report cards today and they both made high honors. Not to belittle my children, but sometimes I think our grading scale is inflated ....who gets a 4.1 in 7th grade?!?!? It's kind of ridiculous and while I'm proud of my kids I don't want them to get too high of an opinion of their abilities....keep them grounded. Does that sound too negative?? I hope not. They are smart kids.

Thank goodness the election will be over tomorrow. I just hope it isn't like 2000 and we still don't know who won 3 weeks later!

Most of all I love that this month is Thanksgiving. I have so very much to be thankful for. While I may wonder about our grading scale, my kids are in excellent hands. The teachers they have are dedicated, creative, caring, enthusiast people who push them to do their best, not just to be "good enough". There are many special people at Berlin that I am thankful are in our lives.

I do love seeing my family and seeing how happy my kids are around my wonderful siblings and parents. I am lucky that we all do get along pretty well. We enjoy spending time together and have fun family game nights. I hope my kids always enjoy getting together like this in the future.

The other great thing about this November is Nov 23...the 24 movie Redemption...It's been over a year! You can only re-watch season one and season 4..(my 2 favorites) so many times!!!

Trick or Treat

OK, I have been fighting strep since Tuesday and missed two days of school. When I lay down, I cough so badly I can't sleep.

Yet always the optimist, you should see how my kids stepped up. I gave them 20 bucks to pick up soup, soda, milk etc at the store and they have made their own dinner the last three nights. Jack doesn't like the school lunch and made his own all week. Kate baked cookies all by herself for a Halloween party at the church last night and tonight they are Trick or Treating with a friend of mine and her kids.

In 13 years I always took them trick or treating...this is the first I am missing it! I even left the camera at school so I couldn't get a picture of John McCain and Sarah Palin (that's how they dressed this year)

I know they will be safe and have fun...I just hate missing all of it and I wish I would stop coughing!!!

The following is an article my son wrote for our Middle School paper. After that is an article by my daughter. You can read other articles by our kids at www.bbsd.com and click on Middle School!

Jack wrote:

IS JK Rowling a Fraud?

Many people have read the Harry Potter series and enjoyed them. The same goes for the Lord of the Rings books too. After reading all the books in each series I couldn’t help but notice the similarities with Rowling’s writing and Tolkien’s. Avid readers know that Tolkien could not be copying J.K. Rowling because his books were written between 1937-1939 and Rowling’s books are more recent. One of the biggest similarities that a reader would discover was the ring in The Lord of the Rings and horcruxes in the Harry Potter series. The ring is made by the evil Lord Sauron. The ring is very powerful and evil. In the Tolkien series the main character Frodo is wearing the ring around his neck and it makes him incredibly weak. It also makes him lash out at his friends when they try to touch the ring. In the Harry Potter books the evil wizard Lord Voldemort splits up his soul and hides them in hidden objects. These objects are called horcruxes. They come in handy if someone kills Voldemort, as he will still be alive because parts of his soul are in the horcruxes. When Harry wears a locket around his neck that is a horcrux, he also becomes incredibly weak and cannot use magic. He also lashes out at his friends who journey with him just as Sam journeyed with Frodo.

Another similarity deals with some characters in both books. In the Lord of the Rings there is a giant spider called Shelob. In the Harry Potter books there is a giant spider called Aragon. Then there are Ring Wraiths from Lord of the Rings and Dementors from Harry Potter that are almost the same. They both wear black hooded cloaks and a person cannot see their faces. Also when they are nearby everything feels cold and eerie. There is the evil character Wormtail for the Harry Potter books and Wormtongue from the Lord of the Rings. Both characters follow their evil masters around and do their bidding.

I even found story lines that were the same in both series. Dumbledore tells Harry not to hate Wormtail and that someday Wormtail will save Harry, which happens in the last novel. In Lord of the Rings, Gollum is a twisted character like Wormtail and Gandolf tells Frodo that some day Gollum will help save him, which also happens at the end of the series. “Everyone will play is his part.” is the line in Tolkien’s book.

If this doesn’t convince you, read both series and see for yourself.


Kate wrote:

Michael Phelps and his Battle with ADHD.

Many of you know Michael Phelps as a eight time gold medal winner in the 2008 Olympics. But what you might not know is that as a child he struggled with ADHD. As a student he was always full of energy and his teachers were constantly telling him and his mother that he could not learn. Because of his unusual size he was picked on a lot by other kids. They say that Michael Phelps is the perfect swimming machine because his arms are long and strong and give him lots of power. His legs are smaller compared to his arms and this reduces the drag in the water and makes him faster. His ADHD actually gives him an advantage too. With ADHD it’s not that you can’t focus on anything its that you are focusing on something so much more that you can’t focus on anything else. With this he can put all his energy and focus on swimming.

As a little kid, his mother, Debbie, signed him up for swimming lessons but he was reluctant even to put his face in the water. His coach taught him the backstroke first and soon he was swimming all the time.

But the reason that he says his mother inspired him so much was not just because she got him into swimming, she also helped him in school. She is a middle school teacher and she got his teachers to sit him at a table by himself because he didn’t pay attention and bothered other kids sitting by him. He didn’t like to read but she got him to read the sports section of the newspaper. He hated math so she got him a tutor that gave him math problems on swimming so he would pay attention and work hard at solving them. He learned about being a good sport from his mom too and that when he doesn’t win that he should still be a good sport.

Debbie Phelps is a principal in Maryland now and uses what she did with Michael with all her students.

“All kids can fail us at times,” she says. “But if you work with them, nine times out of 10, they’ll make you proud.”

I think that Michael Phelps’ story is truly amazing and anyone can accomplish whatever they set their mind to do.

www.additudemag.com/adhd

INDIAN SUMMER

I know that term may not be politically correct but I LOVE this weather. Today was the best day and it's not even over yet.

OK..it's my 45th birthday...I said it and while I should be depressed...I can't because I have the two most awesome children and my family is great. I work with some really wonderful individuals who I count among my friends. Jack and Kate's teachers are incredible, caring people who are bringing out the best in my kids. Really I am such a lucky person.

My mom and dad sent me a card. One of the musical ones. This one played YMCA...which my dad and I danced to in 1979 at Mercy High School's Father Daughter dance. He remembered that and sent the card. I know... I'm lucky!
What a fantastic man he is!

My kids always feel they have to buy me something but last year and this year I said I just wanted a homemade card and to go out to dinner. This year I got homemade cards and I bought them Lego Batman for PS2 and some itunes. (Guess who asked for each item.)

Kate's card had a poem:

OCTOBER
In October the tree's leaves turn red, yellow and orange.
Then they just brate (break) away and never come back
So when I grow up and fly away
I'll make sure aways (always) to come back on your birthday

She is awesome....that's all I can say....I'm lucky (I added her misspellings because it adds to the uniqueness of all that is Kate.)

Kate went with her friend to the movies for a few hours this afternoon and Jack and I went for a long walk in the afternoon sun. It was very invigorating, rejuvenating and enjoyable. Nice breeze, warm sun and wonderful company. He is a great son and is finishing his card up for me...I'll post that one too.

The night isn't over. We are going to do a family game night. I look forward to that.

Though I called this Indian Summer, I guess I should have called it...I'm lucky.

Penguins Poem

Jack likes his English teacher and class. Thank goodness!! She is teaching them about the lovely prepositional phase. Here is a poem in a template that she gave them to fill in. They had to supply the animal and the prepositional phrases. How many can you find????

Last Night I dreamed of Penguins

Last Night I dreamed of Penguins

There were Penguins everywhere,

They were sliding on my roof,

They were pecking at my nose

They were paddling in the toilet,

They were tap dancing on my stomach.

They were swimming in the Olympics

They were playing in my yard

They were playing hockey in my living room

They were having a tea party under my bed

There were penguins, penguins, penguins

As far as I could see……

When I woke today, I noticed

There were eggs jammed in my Play Station 3.

Drunk Met Fan

At the Daily News website they had a link to a youtube video of a drunken met fan who passed out in his seat. People were having their pictures taken with him too. It was pretty funny
It was obviously more entertaining that watching the bull pen!

Hope you like it. I thought it was funny.

OPEN HOUSE

It was Open House tonight at our school. While I see my kids' teachers every day, my middle schooler wanted me to visit her classroom and see where she sits and play a strategy game. She still enjoys seeing her teachers and showing me around....for now.

Both kids helped out one of their favorite teachers with her little ones, so she could visit with parents. Jack dusted off his Thomas the Tank Trains for them and Kate had one of them giving her a hug and kiss by the end of the night.

Its weird to think of my kids as the "sitters" and/or mother's helper but they are growing so fast...while I grieve for the time when they were little and loved Thomas and Teletubbies and Sesame....I love the fine young people they are growing up to be.

WOOD FROGS and CRICKETS

I love the fact that my kids enjoy being kids and that I know 13 and 14 year olds that still enjoy collecting frogs in the grass and feeding them tepid water and crickets.

Recently my son found a wood frog on the soccer practice field. He was so excited and brought it home in his empty water bottle. He came home and fixed a home for it in his sister's hermit crab's cage (OK the crab died months ago...but hey, no one's perfect) He found moss and a plant for it to "nest" in.

What makes this story even better was watching him google the frog and find out what it would eat, and how it hibernates etc. His 7th grade science teacher is also willing to let junior high kids play "show and tell" and Jack brings it into school and all these kids are excited to see a 4cm wood frog in the classroom. The best was when Jack brought in crickets for the frogs...yes frogs, everyone who found one during the week added it to the little habitat. Nothing like gore for them to ooh and ahh over as the frogs bit the head off a cricket before devouring the whole thing.

In the age of xBox 360 and Nintendo Wii and Rock Band technology, it was just enjoyable seeing kids being kids and getting excited over a simple little frog..

It was also refreshing that my son was so excited about learning that he researched the wood frog and developed a power point to present to his teacher and peers, for the joy of learning....not for a grade.

Fork in the Outlet

Well we picked a picture and a blog description. Ralph for president and Fork in the Outlet.Ralph needs no explanation but fork in the outlet??? Well, we think it does!

Jack's History teacher read the rules from the student handbook for 3 days this week...here is a segment of that speech..

"If you bring tobacco to school....$300 dollar fine. Cause and effect. Fork in the Outlet."

Let's just hope none of those kids try to stick a fork in the outlet to see what will happen.

Not exactly the inspiration saying from last year, "We are a Fist" and "Strive for excellence" but it does add some humor to our day.

School is Back

WOW, The summer went by so fast. The kids are back to school and got through their first day. We survived. I can't believe Jack is in 7th grade. All that moving around every 42 minutes. It can be quite overwhelming. I am looking forward to seeing Jack play soccer for the school. I am looking forward to a successful school year! Kate has the two most awesome men teachers that anyone could imagine. She is going to have a fantastic year. I had to write an essay about Kate for her English teacher. I enjoy that. It is sad that some parents refuse to do that. I hope I am not bragging too much when I write mine about Kate. I will post it when I am done. Not that anyone is reading my little blog here. The kids get a kick out of it though! We took the test together that Chris had on his blog and Jack came out as a Dwarf from Middle Earth. It was a fun quiz.

Summer's End

I just got done reading my sister's blog from earlier this summer and while I knew she was a great sister, I realize what an insightful person she is. Everything she wrote spoke to me and while I am grieving the end of summer for me....I start back to work tomorrow...I realize how lucky I am I get the time I do have with my children.....They are two fantastic individuals and without them in my life I feel everything would be meaningless. We were able to do so much wonderful things this summer....the beach on Long Island, Statue of Liberty, Monticello, college reunion, Met game and most of all....QUALITY time with my cherished siblings, their spouses and children and my parents.... getting connected with everyone was ? life affirming?? is that the word I am looking for? If I didn't get time with them, I don't think I could survive in this small western PA town.

Thank you God for my family, my children and my friends.....I MISS YOU ALL....

Total Drama Island

Can you believe Cartoon Network has their own version of Survivor for the 'tween group???? Every Thursday another stereotypical cartoon character is voted off the island by the other cartoon characters. My "tween kids are watching it!!! I am too shocked to turn it off. What started out with 22 teenage characters at the beginning of the summer is down to about a dozen with the goth girl, snotty girl, dumb blond, hot guy, super geek, nerd, jock and punk rocker just some of the characters left. They even complete stupid challenges and "talk" to the camera! What happened to Saturday morning cartoon with Hanna Barbera and Looney Tunes!!!