Actually it has been a fantastic two days. Yesterday morning I had to go to Pittsburgh and though the training left me overwhelmed, I got to spend it with Teresa, who is a wonderful teacher, extremely patient, intelligent and driven. I admire her a great deal. I also had her daughter in Sunday school a few years ago and she was the sweetest little thing. I find I love my friends kids as much as I love my friends.
When I got back to work, I found a surprise in my office. My dear friend and blogger Cathy K left me a gift of a beautiful scarf she had been knitting. It is so pretty, the colors match so well and I feel selfish keeping it. Thank you Cathy, not just for the scarf but the gift of your friendship.
We had planned to go to the movies with the tickets Linda gave me but we got a call from friends of ours and they invited us to go snow tubing at their farm. Jack and Kate had a great time, despite the bitter cold and wind. I helped make hot cocoa, staying out of the wind! We were there all afternoon and it took me most of the evening to warm up. It was totally worth it. It was a church gathering and everyone is so friendly. It was nice just to chat about everyday stuff and hear people who are committed to their faith. Our church doesn't have many gatherings beyond cake on the Sunday after graduation and the occasional pot luck.
Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. Though the Giants disappointed us, we will probably watch it though I won't stay up until its over like last year.
We are a truly blessed family!
Everyone that reads this, please pray for my friend Laura's (Cooch) son, Nick. He had surgery this morning to remove a tumor that is at the base of his tongue. They are not sure what type of lymphoma he has and the doctors have not seen a tumor typically located there. He is only 18 and a freshman in college. Pray, Pray, Pray!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
UPDATE
It is so weird how things change in a few days. Jack is now a hero among the older scouts and his peers. They think its great that he hit this kid. So no fear, Annie, Chris...Jack is fine. Kate is a little jealous of all his stories and said, "Why do you keep talking about it?" Before I can answer, Jack says, "Can't a mother be proud of her son?"
We are freezing downstairs in this house! I have some fun things I want to cook tomorrow to keep us warm. Torta with the homemade crust. (per Kate's request)It's a spinach, rice, cheese and egg dish my grandmother used to make. I remember calling her for the recipe when I craved it, when I was pregnant with Jack. "A little bit of onion, handful of cheese." How much rice? "Oh, I don't know, 2 cups maybe." And I want to make beef stew. Now that Jack is in scouts, he really does try new things. He had venison this weekend in a stew they made. I had some in a bread bowl at Cracker Barrell last Friday. It was really good and beef stew is not on my list of favorite foods.
I had a friend at work do the nicest thing for me. I had filled in for her at Reading Competition and she gave me passes to the movies and a monetary gift. It was very generous of her. Money is tight after Christmas and the kids really wanted to go to the movies. I was trying to figure out my budger without using the credit card and I wasn't sure how I would do it. Now I can!! and I might just pick up my own copy of Breaking Dawn. Everyone says its the best one....
The kids are too excited. They are hoping for no school tomorrow too. I will try to enjoy it now instead of being a pessimest and dreading the long weeks in the Spring.
I heard something kind of funny and kind of true on a TV show the other day. I was hating my job and it fit my mood. "If we didn't want to quit all the time, we wouldn't be doing it right." I have to write the Special ed plan and they changed how it is to be completed...AGAIN and I was getting myself worked up and hateful.
I'll let you know how my cooking challenges come out tomorrow!
We are freezing downstairs in this house! I have some fun things I want to cook tomorrow to keep us warm. Torta with the homemade crust. (per Kate's request)It's a spinach, rice, cheese and egg dish my grandmother used to make. I remember calling her for the recipe when I craved it, when I was pregnant with Jack. "A little bit of onion, handful of cheese." How much rice? "Oh, I don't know, 2 cups maybe." And I want to make beef stew. Now that Jack is in scouts, he really does try new things. He had venison this weekend in a stew they made. I had some in a bread bowl at Cracker Barrell last Friday. It was really good and beef stew is not on my list of favorite foods.
I had a friend at work do the nicest thing for me. I had filled in for her at Reading Competition and she gave me passes to the movies and a monetary gift. It was very generous of her. Money is tight after Christmas and the kids really wanted to go to the movies. I was trying to figure out my budger without using the credit card and I wasn't sure how I would do it. Now I can!! and I might just pick up my own copy of Breaking Dawn. Everyone says its the best one....
The kids are too excited. They are hoping for no school tomorrow too. I will try to enjoy it now instead of being a pessimest and dreading the long weeks in the Spring.
I heard something kind of funny and kind of true on a TV show the other day. I was hating my job and it fit my mood. "If we didn't want to quit all the time, we wouldn't be doing it right." I have to write the Special ed plan and they changed how it is to be completed...AGAIN and I was getting myself worked up and hateful.
I'll let you know how my cooking challenges come out tomorrow!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
?????
I am not sure what to call today's post.
Good stuff...Kate had a friend over and didn't stop talking for 5 hours. She had fun shopping, chatting and hanging out with her little friend. She got a pair of shoes and pants with her gift cards from American Eagle. I was glad to see her so happy. We watched Rocky II and had a nice evening. I love the scene where all the little kids are running with him through the streets of Philly and up the steps of Independence Hall. The scene brings tears to my eyes. Kate even got choked up with me and she was all hugs and kisses at bedtime.
Tough Stuff...Jack went camping with scouts and when I left him, he seemed happy. Every time I leave him at a scout function and he seems happy, the next day when I see him, something bad happened. This time, he got stuck in a shelter with two troublemakers who were picking on him, pushing him around, etc. and he lost his temper and took his flashlight and whacked one kid over the head a couple of times. The scoutmasters came in and yelled at them both and that was the end of it.
The end of it for them, but Jack isn't used to getting in trouble and no kid likes getting picked on. I am glad he stuck up for himself. I just wish things could be different. I know all the "lessons he is learning" and that "this will make him stronger" and "he's better than them". But knowing all those things doesn't take away the pain I feel for him or the pain he experienced. I came through the door from church and he was already here, showered, unpacked and washing his dishes. I could see the look in his eyes and knew something happened. I was ready to call the other kid's mother until he told me that he whacked the kid in the head a couple of times. I have got to get him boxing lessons! A flashlight (even his head lamp) could really hurt someone.
I think the frustrating thing is that, as a parent, you feel their pain and you (I) have worked so hard to protect both kids and make a happy, safe, comfortable home for them. Then these parents with nasty, rude kids, get their kids involved in activities like scouts and it ruins the experience for the kids who are there for all the right reasons. That is why Kate isn't in Girl Scouts, there it was the parents who screamed at the girls that had us drop out. It is bad enough when you have to sit next to these idiots in class, but when you spend the weekend with someone you don't even like and then they are mean to you...well... it is very frustrating.
On a good note, we all cleaned this weekend and the house is habitable. Annie got me beautiful placemats and table cloth from Peru and they look striking on my kitchen table and nicely polished cherry end tables and coffee table.
I finished Eclipse. I forgot to go to the book store when we were at the mall. I need to read Breaking Dawn. I am not sure that I liked the ending all that much. I don't want to see her become a vampire. It is too wierd and their "love" for each other is so "intense" it doesn't seem real to me. Then to hear her say that she loves Jacob Black too. Too wierd. I am reading some short stories by Damon Runyon. He is the inspiration for Guys and Dolls. We watched the movie last weekend. Some of the songs were good. I love Frank Sinatra. He was great in it. That voice! so clear and incredible. The play itself was OK but I have seen better musicals. It will still be nice to see our students perform it in the fall. I also got my computer to download movies from Netflix. I watched a Rockford Files. I love that old 70's crime shows. As cool as NCIS is, it is fun to watch someone solve a crime with just investigation and limited forensics.
I signed up to be the coach for reading Competition in the High School. We haven't had a team in a few years and it is a shame to see it fall apart. I go to the competition anyway, so I might as well bring a team along.
I hope this week is a good one. I already had a call from a parent this evening and she wanted to bitch and I totally turned it around on her. It was great and when she started getting hysterical, I told her I had my sister on hold on the other line, long distance and had to go. "I'll call you tomorrow." I can be tough when I need to be!!!
24 tomorrow night!
Good stuff...Kate had a friend over and didn't stop talking for 5 hours. She had fun shopping, chatting and hanging out with her little friend. She got a pair of shoes and pants with her gift cards from American Eagle. I was glad to see her so happy. We watched Rocky II and had a nice evening. I love the scene where all the little kids are running with him through the streets of Philly and up the steps of Independence Hall. The scene brings tears to my eyes. Kate even got choked up with me and she was all hugs and kisses at bedtime.
Tough Stuff...Jack went camping with scouts and when I left him, he seemed happy. Every time I leave him at a scout function and he seems happy, the next day when I see him, something bad happened. This time, he got stuck in a shelter with two troublemakers who were picking on him, pushing him around, etc. and he lost his temper and took his flashlight and whacked one kid over the head a couple of times. The scoutmasters came in and yelled at them both and that was the end of it.
The end of it for them, but Jack isn't used to getting in trouble and no kid likes getting picked on. I am glad he stuck up for himself. I just wish things could be different. I know all the "lessons he is learning" and that "this will make him stronger" and "he's better than them". But knowing all those things doesn't take away the pain I feel for him or the pain he experienced. I came through the door from church and he was already here, showered, unpacked and washing his dishes. I could see the look in his eyes and knew something happened. I was ready to call the other kid's mother until he told me that he whacked the kid in the head a couple of times. I have got to get him boxing lessons! A flashlight (even his head lamp) could really hurt someone.
I think the frustrating thing is that, as a parent, you feel their pain and you (I) have worked so hard to protect both kids and make a happy, safe, comfortable home for them. Then these parents with nasty, rude kids, get their kids involved in activities like scouts and it ruins the experience for the kids who are there for all the right reasons. That is why Kate isn't in Girl Scouts, there it was the parents who screamed at the girls that had us drop out. It is bad enough when you have to sit next to these idiots in class, but when you spend the weekend with someone you don't even like and then they are mean to you...well... it is very frustrating.
On a good note, we all cleaned this weekend and the house is habitable. Annie got me beautiful placemats and table cloth from Peru and they look striking on my kitchen table and nicely polished cherry end tables and coffee table.
I finished Eclipse. I forgot to go to the book store when we were at the mall. I need to read Breaking Dawn. I am not sure that I liked the ending all that much. I don't want to see her become a vampire. It is too wierd and their "love" for each other is so "intense" it doesn't seem real to me. Then to hear her say that she loves Jacob Black too. Too wierd. I am reading some short stories by Damon Runyon. He is the inspiration for Guys and Dolls. We watched the movie last weekend. Some of the songs were good. I love Frank Sinatra. He was great in it. That voice! so clear and incredible. The play itself was OK but I have seen better musicals. It will still be nice to see our students perform it in the fall. I also got my computer to download movies from Netflix. I watched a Rockford Files. I love that old 70's crime shows. As cool as NCIS is, it is fun to watch someone solve a crime with just investigation and limited forensics.
I signed up to be the coach for reading Competition in the High School. We haven't had a team in a few years and it is a shame to see it fall apart. I go to the competition anyway, so I might as well bring a team along.
I hope this week is a good one. I already had a call from a parent this evening and she wanted to bitch and I totally turned it around on her. It was great and when she started getting hysterical, I told her I had my sister on hold on the other line, long distance and had to go. "I'll call you tomorrow." I can be tough when I need to be!!!
24 tomorrow night!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
"Bitter Cold Day"
We had no school yesterday...too cold to run the buses. Diesel can gel up in this bitter cold.
We hunkered down and watched some movies under blankets, cooked some fun food, played some board games, some Dance, Dance Revolution (Kate..not me or Jack) and after lunch time I had the neatest surprise....the UPS man came and I thought it was with Jack's winter camping gear. Instead my dear sister Annie, knowing that I had finished New Moon, ordered and had Eclipse delivered to my door! How fun. No question that no future cleaning was going to happen on North Street in Berlin. I am happy to say that I am 1/2 way through and enjoying every bit of the suspense. I have to say the love story part holds very little interest to me. I just love the suspense.
I want to thank the 3 people that read my blog for your advice and moral support. Your encouragement and kind words about my kids....well it helps greatly.
I will still panic when Jack goes next weekend, but Kate and I will keep busy. She has some gift cards at the mall to spend. And I'll be ready for Breaking Dawn by then!
We hunkered down and watched some movies under blankets, cooked some fun food, played some board games, some Dance, Dance Revolution (Kate..not me or Jack) and after lunch time I had the neatest surprise....the UPS man came and I thought it was with Jack's winter camping gear. Instead my dear sister Annie, knowing that I had finished New Moon, ordered and had Eclipse delivered to my door! How fun. No question that no future cleaning was going to happen on North Street in Berlin. I am happy to say that I am 1/2 way through and enjoying every bit of the suspense. I have to say the love story part holds very little interest to me. I just love the suspense.
I want to thank the 3 people that read my blog for your advice and moral support. Your encouragement and kind words about my kids....well it helps greatly.
I will still panic when Jack goes next weekend, but Kate and I will keep busy. She has some gift cards at the mall to spend. And I'll be ready for Breaking Dawn by then!
Monday, January 12, 2009
Scouts and Piano
I am about to send my son to scouts and on a winter campout this weekend....Does the pit in your stomach ever go away as a mother?? He used to love scouts so much and now he is barely hanging in there. He is not that fond of the leaders, some of the most obnoxious kids from school are in the troop, and some kids got their merit badges this summer and copied most of their stuff from other people....need I go on. I know he stays because I want him to and because of my awesome brothers, who became Eagle Scouts.
He just said he is looking forward to the campout because he wants to try venison. I, on the other hand, would not care if it was cancelled. I never sleep when he goes away, and the winter ones are worse. I worry about frostbite, wild animals, getting lost. You name it, I worry. Yet I have to keep it to myself, because I can't let HIM know I am worried.
Kate started back to piano lessons. She played before the Christmas concert and did very well. It sounds so pretty when she plays and she never practices! We fought already tonight. I hate when I fall into the trap with her. I need to let more things go. It was over stupid spelling words. She asks me how to spell something, I tell her, then she snaps, "I know, I know" I retort, "No you don't! If you knew, you wouldn't have asked." Her homeroom teacher today was teasing her when I walked into the room and she went stoic!!!! She was really mad.
She is writing a biography about Joan of Arc for English, which is a great topic. I was pleased she picked it. (I was leaning toward Louisa May Alcott or Beverly Cleary) but dear Joan tops them.
What I really need is two hours of Jack Bauer, kicking some terrorist ass!!!
He just said he is looking forward to the campout because he wants to try venison. I, on the other hand, would not care if it was cancelled. I never sleep when he goes away, and the winter ones are worse. I worry about frostbite, wild animals, getting lost. You name it, I worry. Yet I have to keep it to myself, because I can't let HIM know I am worried.
Kate started back to piano lessons. She played before the Christmas concert and did very well. It sounds so pretty when she plays and she never practices! We fought already tonight. I hate when I fall into the trap with her. I need to let more things go. It was over stupid spelling words. She asks me how to spell something, I tell her, then she snaps, "I know, I know" I retort, "No you don't! If you knew, you wouldn't have asked." Her homeroom teacher today was teasing her when I walked into the room and she went stoic!!!! She was really mad.
She is writing a biography about Joan of Arc for English, which is a great topic. I was pleased she picked it. (I was leaning toward Louisa May Alcott or Beverly Cleary) but dear Joan tops them.
What I really need is two hours of Jack Bauer, kicking some terrorist ass!!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Cartoon Dinner
Early Dismissal today....it was a crazy 4.5 hours while I was there! Our principal is nuts and announced the 11:30 dismissal at 9:13...
I finally got home at 12:30 and we just relaxed and I made a nice dinner, as there was time...I even made homemade mashed potatoes...(usually Hungry Jack helps me out like Aunt Jemima does with Weekend pancakes!) Our cartoon dinner requires 1 portion brown meat, 1 green vegetable (peas) and 1 white food-mashed potatoes.
You would have thought I slaved all day...I quote, "Is this your new year's resolution to make our favorite foods all the time?" They were too cute...it's funny how making their favorite foods gives me joy as much as they have joy eating it. I am no gourmet but I am not bad, and the clean plates, no leftovers tells me I did well. I also made some homemade bread, it just made the house smell great.
We read some and watched some TV. I finished three books over break, Twilight, Cross (Patterson) and Dashing Through the Snow (Mary Higgins Clarke..I should be embarrassed to say. I got a book for myself over Christmas, a collection of Short stories by Damon Runyon. He wrote the stories about the various characters he invented that appear in the play, Guys and Dolls. (Our school is doing it this spring)
Kate should be a librarian. She found a beautiful book at Borders over Christmas called the Doll House people, (she still loves playing with hers) and its the 3rd in a series. When I mentioned it to our wonderful librarian, Linda, she had just gotten a new batch of books and has the first two of the series in that batch! Jack spent his Borders gift card on two Agatha Christie novels. He is in the middle of a Brian Jacques novel...I wish I could get into those but its hard to keep track of all those little creatures.
If there is a delay tomorrow, I may start taking down the tree....or just sleep late and get in a short story!
I finally got home at 12:30 and we just relaxed and I made a nice dinner, as there was time...I even made homemade mashed potatoes...(usually Hungry Jack helps me out like Aunt Jemima does with Weekend pancakes!) Our cartoon dinner requires 1 portion brown meat, 1 green vegetable (peas) and 1 white food-mashed potatoes.
You would have thought I slaved all day...I quote, "Is this your new year's resolution to make our favorite foods all the time?" They were too cute...it's funny how making their favorite foods gives me joy as much as they have joy eating it. I am no gourmet but I am not bad, and the clean plates, no leftovers tells me I did well. I also made some homemade bread, it just made the house smell great.
We read some and watched some TV. I finished three books over break, Twilight, Cross (Patterson) and Dashing Through the Snow (Mary Higgins Clarke..I should be embarrassed to say. I got a book for myself over Christmas, a collection of Short stories by Damon Runyon. He wrote the stories about the various characters he invented that appear in the play, Guys and Dolls. (Our school is doing it this spring)
Kate should be a librarian. She found a beautiful book at Borders over Christmas called the Doll House people, (she still loves playing with hers) and its the 3rd in a series. When I mentioned it to our wonderful librarian, Linda, she had just gotten a new batch of books and has the first two of the series in that batch! Jack spent his Borders gift card on two Agatha Christie novels. He is in the middle of a Brian Jacques novel...I wish I could get into those but its hard to keep track of all those little creatures.
If there is a delay tomorrow, I may start taking down the tree....or just sleep late and get in a short story!
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Funny and Creative Stuff ??
OK...everyone has either great quotes and photos to start their blog (Cathy!) or is so sarcastic and funny that there is no way I can compete (Chris!) or Annie, who has all these insites into life. Then there is me... I write about my kids who are my life. Thank God you all love me, so you don't find it boring.
We had a great Christmas and New Year's, everyone made it home (Eastern Long Island) to visit at some point over the two weeks. My kids got almost everything they asked for except the Wii. I put the money toward their college tuition accounts. Trying to be practical and rub the edges off the nagging fear in the back of my mind that there won't be any money to send them off in...5 1/2 years???? Is it possible it's that close!!!!
Anyway, I was shopping at the outlets after New Years to try to pick up some bargains. My sister wanted to exchange the Coach bag she got and when we walked into the only crowded store in the outlet mall, (the economy is bad??) the lady at the door hands my sister a 10% off coupon, "Today only!! On any item in the store!" She says so cheerily and so fake!!! She looks at me, then skips me and goes to the next customer. At this point I am so sick of sales people and nasty customers in line, I just laughed and said, "Do I give out the aura that you know there is no way in God's earth I am buying a bag here today?" She gets all apologetic and whispers, "It's just so crowded, I'm sorry, here's one." I turned it down and said, Thanks anyway, "I am the only mother here that refused to indulge her kids and didn't buy a Wii this Christmas and put the money in their college fund."
She raised her eyebrows at me but said "good for you, I would have caved." We chatted a little and she was very nice over all.
I don't know why I related this story. I guess I really did want to get them that game system and I am justifying my decision by worrying about their future. Also, I guess I am "committing the sin of pride" because I am proud of myself that I did it! I think they were a little dissappointed, (they won't be when there is money there for school)especially after they played their cousins' Wii. But they got a lot of good stuff, we got to see everyone and even though we didn't get into the city, next time we visit Matt and Chris will be living in Brooklyn so we will get to see them both...together!! and that is so very much to be thankful for...Kate will get to Little Italy and Jack will go along for the ride because he is just awesome that way.
I made everyone a calander with the Mac Book from school and they were all pleased and it came out very nice. I just forgot to order one for us! So I changed it to more Murphy pics and sent it in again for our own copy.
I have a lot to do when I get back to work on Monday and have a long drive ahead on Saturday, so I will enjoy tomorrow, the last full day with everyone here before our long trip back to reality!
Merry Christmas Everyone! and have a Happy and Blessed New Year!
We had a great Christmas and New Year's, everyone made it home (Eastern Long Island) to visit at some point over the two weeks. My kids got almost everything they asked for except the Wii. I put the money toward their college tuition accounts. Trying to be practical and rub the edges off the nagging fear in the back of my mind that there won't be any money to send them off in...5 1/2 years???? Is it possible it's that close!!!!
Anyway, I was shopping at the outlets after New Years to try to pick up some bargains. My sister wanted to exchange the Coach bag she got and when we walked into the only crowded store in the outlet mall, (the economy is bad??) the lady at the door hands my sister a 10% off coupon, "Today only!! On any item in the store!" She says so cheerily and so fake!!! She looks at me, then skips me and goes to the next customer. At this point I am so sick of sales people and nasty customers in line, I just laughed and said, "Do I give out the aura that you know there is no way in God's earth I am buying a bag here today?" She gets all apologetic and whispers, "It's just so crowded, I'm sorry, here's one." I turned it down and said, Thanks anyway, "I am the only mother here that refused to indulge her kids and didn't buy a Wii this Christmas and put the money in their college fund."
She raised her eyebrows at me but said "good for you, I would have caved." We chatted a little and she was very nice over all.
I don't know why I related this story. I guess I really did want to get them that game system and I am justifying my decision by worrying about their future. Also, I guess I am "committing the sin of pride" because I am proud of myself that I did it! I think they were a little dissappointed, (they won't be when there is money there for school)especially after they played their cousins' Wii. But they got a lot of good stuff, we got to see everyone and even though we didn't get into the city, next time we visit Matt and Chris will be living in Brooklyn so we will get to see them both...together!! and that is so very much to be thankful for...Kate will get to Little Italy and Jack will go along for the ride because he is just awesome that way.
I made everyone a calander with the Mac Book from school and they were all pleased and it came out very nice. I just forgot to order one for us! So I changed it to more Murphy pics and sent it in again for our own copy.
I have a lot to do when I get back to work on Monday and have a long drive ahead on Saturday, so I will enjoy tomorrow, the last full day with everyone here before our long trip back to reality!
Merry Christmas Everyone! and have a Happy and Blessed New Year!
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