ENJOYING LIFE & A BEAUTIFUL SPRING DAY

After Kate's game, I did my usual Saturday thing - food shopping, washing dishes and cooking. I made sloppy jo's for lunch & homemade mac and cheese, and macaroni salad with the noodles I didn't use for the m&C. I marinated a London broil and cut up some red new potatoes and seasoned them for the grill. Of course when I cook, there are more dishes and then laundry but I felt a little guilty as I did not cook 3 nights this past week.

Kate napped after getting up so early for soccer and when she woke up we washed the car together. Then I pulled Jack off the computer (which he was mad about) and we went for 1/2 or longer hour bike ride.

We stopped by his friend David's house and started chatting and the kids jumped on the trampoline. The next thing I knew it was almost 9pm and we had not eaten dinner. I told them all that stuff I had ready to go at home and brought it to their house and we cooked out.

What a great night. It was so fun to chat and hear the kids laughing and playing and getting dirty. They have a chimney/fireplace outside and we sat around it and enjoyed the beautiful night sky. Not a cloud, beautiful stars, 1/2 moon shining. AND best of all, GREAT COMPANY. I still have the wood fire smell in my clothes and hair. I love that smell. I had so much fun, I don't want to go to bed (its 12:35am right now)

Around 11pm, Kate wanted to come home and David got his mom to ask me if Jack could sleep over. It's so funny how they do it. whisper to each other and then ask his mom first and then they wear me down. SO funny.

I tell you, I am so much better about things like this, the first time he slept over a friend's house, I cried. Then he started camping with scouts and I not only cry, I don't sleep. That has not gotten better. Something bad always happens on a camping trip from a fight, to a "friend" ditching him, to up all night with leg cramps and getting dehydrated, Oh let's not forget the first campout when he came home with bruised arms from that stupid shotgun shooting.

Anyway, they go to our church and we will have Jack back with us by 10am tomorrow. Hope for another beautiful, fun-filled, sunny day.

Oh, I need to get to a book store. I finished the first book in the Mitford series. It was wonderful. Such a great escape.

Ceremony

Kate was inducted into our chapter of National Junior Honor Society. It was a beautiful, candle ceremony. Some of the 8th grade girls sang. It was nice to see how far Kate has come over the last 6 years. She is a hardworking, smart little girl and I am very proud of her.

Above, Kate waiting before the ceremony and below, Kate and Jack outside our house before we left and then Kate getting her certificate.

FEELING BLAH

We had an OK weekend and I don't anticipate this week being so great. Lots to do before the kids leave and I am barely treading water. I need to think of my summer plans to get out of this mood...the weather doesn't help!

Plan 1: Plan Jack's birthday party: Swimming at the Somerset Pool

Plan 2: Go to DC and see the Zoo, Air & Space and American History Museums

Plan 3: Get Summer School Off the ground so I can spend the next 4-5 weeks in NY (I may stretch it to 6)... While there we are visiting Annie in CT...yes Annie!!! long over due. Then to Boston, and up to Maine to "camp" at the Tuthill cabin. (hey there is running water!) Also some day trips to NYC.

Plan 4: Get to Hershey Park this summer !!! I keep saying it but never do it.

Plan 5: Get to Fireworks on the 4th AND hopefully at a baseball game.

Plan 6: Maybe a weekend trip to Philly to see Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell

Oh, did I tell you I am making my kids do the Home Latin class this summer too. Our language department is weak and they need that background for High school and college. (I know I am a mean mom)

NEW BIKE!!!!!

Got Jack a new bike today!! It was on sale at...Wal-mart...I know, I know...but what a nice bike and we all went bike riding down the street and then up to the school and back. I may have a shot at losing some weight yet. Next purchase: Bike rack for the top of the car.

It will be fun to take the bikes to NY and then Maine this summer.

I saw our dear friend Cathy while we were getting the bike. As I stood there talking to her, I could not help but think, "How lucky I am that this incredibly nice, sweet, kind, fun, wonderful person is friends with me." Of all the people she knows, she wants to do the bike trail with us!

Dear Cathy,

I know we said we would do DC but I may have to start out slow, my butt (and hips, and knees, and feet) are sore from one hour of riding and I only rode around Berlin. I'd like to try the Meyersdale trail first, then Confluence to Ohiopyle, before I get up the stamina for DC. Will you come with us and show us the different trails? It would be so fun.

Your friend,

Maria

PS. Fr. Tim invited Cynthia over for dinner!

Good Friends

I have the greatest friends at work. Today was a rough day for one of us and it was nice to be able to talk openly about things and be supportive. Sometimes I feel like the needy one. As tough as it was to see her upset, I was glad I could be there for her.


Jack cleaned his room today and set aside a stack of Curious George books for her son. Some one should be enjoying them! The kids and I stopped by her house tonight on a bike/walk with the books and they all had fun playing in her back yard. As I chatted with her and her husband, we talked about bike riding and one thing led to another and I left the owner of her old bike!!! Now I just need to get Jack one, then a rack for the car and we are good to go on the bike trail this summer. Everyone says how great it is and flat! Also, it would be nice to take our bikes to LI when I visit my mom and dad.

I felt terrible taking the bike and she wouldn't take any money. I found a set of musical instruments (tamborine, cymbals, maracas, triangle, bells) that I had from Creative Playthings and gave it to her husband for their boys when he dropped off the bike.

Hey, not only should someone be enjoying them, but let's face it. I am never going to open up that Pre-school/Day Care.

Looking forward to Soccer Saturday and bike buying on Sunday.

Soccer Season

Cold weather. cloudy skies. muddy, rutted field...it is soccer season in Berlin. The coach didn't show and the assistant knows nothing about soccer. An 8th grade girl took over, assigned positions and I have to say, they played quite well for only having one practice that most kids didn't go to because it was raining.

Jack really hustled. I was very proud of him. He learned a lot in Junior High Soccer about playing his position and teamwork. All the kids played well, though they lost 2-1. It is nice to see them maturing and playing as a team and respecting each other on the field.

Saturday I have to get him to Casselman, which I don't even know where it is. Kate has a game at the same time in Berlin, so it starts...Getting rides, trying to be two places at once, crazy but fun.

Pray for no rain.

The Great Things About J and K

Kate:

1) Cleaned the deck this weekend without being asked.
2) Apologized and hugged me when she said something mean, without being asked.
3)loves riding her bike
4) gave me a foot massage
5) let me give her a facial
6) watches chick flicks with me
7)has great friends, who have great parents
8) is sweet and beautiful
9)smart and hardworking
10) she is responsible

Jack:

1) vacuumed without complaining after I asked
2) remembers how to ride his bike
3) hates math but does it anyway
4) loves every other subject
5) always comes up with good comebacks- a real smart a**. (kids made comments at his recent camping trip..as the only Catholic in his troop kids made remarks about the long mass - protestant service was 10 minutes- Jack responded with "I just love God more" and "Well, we get dinner and a movie)
6)Has great friends with great parents
7) still tells me everything, like he did at age 4
8) patient with his sister
9) loves that toad (Skippy McHopster) and turtle (Van Gogh:the 5th ninja turtle Jan 09- March 09) and Van Gogh Doppleganger (May 09-?) I hope I am taking care of them when he is in college.
10) still is sticking with scouts-has the finest character of any 7th grader I know.

Friendship and Good Decisions

It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.

~Roy Disney

Jack got to spend the evening with some friends. It's nice because most of the boys there he has been friends with since Kindergarten. They are from good families and I know their parents and I am friends with them too. It's nice to see boys go to a boys party, roast hot dogs, make smores and enjoy football, trampoline and other boy stuff. (Some kids in Jack's grade are already going to boy/girl parties and movie nights) What are these parents thinking?? It's going to happen soon enough on its own, why invite it into your house????

I wish our school had an after-prom. Many schools do it with a lockdown in a gym and games all night long. We have many teachers at our school that care enough for the kids, that I think we could get chaperones. We talk about it but no one seems to what to carry the ball. No instead, we have parents hosting co-ed camping at their homes. Too much temptation and parents are foolishly trusting.

On the other hand I have some great examples of smart parenting and good decision making:

Trista has to be the best mom ever! She does not give into society's pressures and her kids appreciate the decisions she makes as a parent. Her daughter has a curfew for prom and is able to openly talk to her about things going on with her classmates. I am working to be that kind of mom to my soon to be teenagers.

Katrina: Her daughter held a non-drinking party after graduation last year. Only about a 1/2 dozen kids went. Trista's son was one of them. Way to go!!!

Roni Sue: her daughter was the only other girl at that non-drinking party.

There are probably more of us out there. I keep hoping and praying I stay on the right track with my kids and that they make good decisions like these kids have.