Sigh of relief

I can breathe a sig of relief tonight. The baked goods I promised to make are done. But that isn't the real reason. All but one of the kids are in bed...but that isn't the real reason. I picked up the shoes that will be worn to the middle school dance...but that isn't the reason. The kids got to soccer practice and home and fed...but that isn't the reason. The reason is that my oldest auditioned for the high school drum line today. We prayed and hope and worried all day. When I picked her up from school to take her to the audition, she looked like she was going to throw up all over the car. Two and a half hours, and several Tums later, my child emerged from the building and walked to the car with a big grin on her face. She had made the drumline with the job of first bass. I am relieved and thrilled for her. This is a big boost for her and the start of lots of hard work and fun. Maybe I can sleep tonight. Maybe.


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Worn out mama

I was a field trip mama today for the boy at Safety CIty. It is a miniature replica of our fair city. The children learn about traffic safety and fire safety over the course of the day. They get to ride in little motorized cars and on bikes through the streets, stopping at lights and railroad crossings and following traffic signs. They also get to go through a little house designed to show fire and safety hazards. The house is also equipped with basically a fog machine that simulates smoke for teaching them how to escape from a house on fire. It is a fun place to go, but those ladies in charge mean business. They are serious and no shenanigans are allowed. When the children were driving, I was stationed near the KPD headquarters:



The boy did properly crab walk out of the window onto the safe parch outside, escaping the dangerous smoke:


His teacher, who has been on this field trip numerous times, knew how to prepare himself in the fire house when the kids were taught the proper way to scream for help if they did not have a safety ladder:



The man was right to cover his ears. Fire and rescue from the next county will be able to hear those children.

After all of that, I am ready for bed. Say a prayer for my oldest tomorrow. She will be auditioning for the high school drum line and is scared to death. Send calming thoughts and prayers her way. Night all.
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Grass nose

I'm going to get a little gross for a minute, so sorry. Just finished mowing the lawn before the rain starts sometime tomorrow. I started sneezing uncontrollably and sneezed out a half blade of grass. Wow and, uh, gross. The weird thing is that I didn't even feel it when it entered the premesis. Sorry. That was gross, but I had to say it out loud.

I have very little other than that to say. I am not "Vagubooking" or "vagueblogging" when I say what I am about to say, but I need to say it and anyone who has children in school will understand what I am saying. We have all felt this way at one time or another. My mom heart is broken in two for one of my children. Life is full of tough lessons about lots of things and moms are here to help soften the blow and dust them off and give them a kiss and tell them it will be okay. Sometimes that just isn't enough. So tonight will be a restless one as I work through every possible scenario to restore kindness and love to the world that has been marred. I covet your prayers. Night all.

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TCAP Eve

Tis the eve of state standardized testing and all the children ar now in their beds. We are trying to make sure they have the proper amount of sleep, the most perfectly balanced nutritional breakfast and the most calm stress free morning to make them super ready to take tests. Tests that basically are designed, in my opinion, to crush their souls and confidence. To crush and exhaust the poor educators. All I can tell my children is to do their best and not let it stress them at all. The craziness starts tomorrow. Let's go!

I'm watching a documentary about a supposed accused serial killer in South Central Los Angeles. Great pre-bedtime viewing. Night all.


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Proud of my singing girl

Today we went to see the county elementary school honors choir performance. I, along with lots of other moms and dads, have been driving G to the western part of the county to rehearse every non holiday or snow day Monday from 6:30-8. It has been quite a commitment, but she has enjoyed herself and has made some good friends. Their songs represented many places around the world and they sang in several different languages. It was wonderful!! They looked like they were having a great time up there on their risers. Such beautiful and pure sounds coming out of those voices...I was amazed. I am so grateful that our music teacher, Mrs. L, had faith in G and chose her for this opportunity. It has been one she will never forget. That voice of hers is so fun to hear.

I'm hitting the hay now. It's been a big day and I am tired. Here is a pic of G and her music teacher after the program today.






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I need a sedative

It was another full day of soccer in our houseold. G had three games, one win and two losses. It is hard as a keeper to not take every loss as your fault. The ball got by you, but I am glad she kept perspective for most of the day today. It ended on a sour note, but nothing a little visit with loved ones can't fix. Three games in a day is a lot to ask of anyone, so I am proud of them regardless of what their coach decided to say. The boy played a game as well, peppered in between two of his sister's games. It was in an indoor facility that I hate, but they were protected from potential weather. The boy did an okay job defending...nothing great. He got moved to forward and did better. There are a lot of strong personalities on his team, so it takes a little while to find his way sometimes. Second half started and here comes my baby, in the keeper jersey. I just about threw up on the turf. While he has no real regard for the safety of his body, he is not schooled on all the rules of being a keeper. We were kind of yelling certain things to him, praying that he would be okay and not make a major flub. He saved one goal and landed on the ball, only to be kicked in the neck long after the fact by a raggedy jerk on the other team. The ref made the offending kid come over and pat my son on the back. Okay. My son was gracious as always. Later, the same kid took a dive and started writhing in pain in a performance worthy of an academy award. The "offense" happened in the box, so a PK was given to the other team. We all kind of swallowed hard and braced for the worst. Coaches were yelling advice, the boy looked pale and scared to death. "SETTLE FINLEY!!" we yelled in hopes he would just concentrate on his fate and do his best. The shot was taken and my boy punched it away. DENIED!!! It was so exciting and then I wanted to lay down. Everybody was so proud and they came so close to winning. The final score was 5-4. It was a proud moment for all of us.

Now I need to pass out. Night all.


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It is going to be interesting

It has been a busy day for the hub and me. We went to pick up the oldest's glasses prescription and wound up getting our eyes examed while we were there. I love Dr. Hopper and he gets me and all of my eye issues and still keeps me as a patient. I now have a snazzy $9 pair of glasses on order and have my new one hour glasses on as I type. I'm still getting used to a stronger prescription and have been taking weird steps as I feel like I am wearing magnifying lenses on my head. They really aren't that much stronger, but I have had the same prescription for quite a while. There is a learning curve involved. We also got S some glasses, but will go back to get those at a later time. The men in the family got there hair cut and I made some baked beans for tomorrow. The one hour glasses places are quite the people watching venue. I found a pair of glasses that would certainly be the conversation piece, but I was given an emphatic two thumbs down:



Every girl's dream is to have that Where's Waldo? look, right? Maybe not.

I am currently lounging in my pj's with my new glasses on, preparing to watch the Bruce Jenner interview. As a young child, I was desperately in love with the man on TV and the Wheaties box:



I don't know what we will find out about him tonight, well, I guess we are all pretty sure what we will find out tonight. I wish him well regardless of what is going on. It is just a shame that if he hadn't been on the stupid show on E with the Kardashians, he could have quietly retired into private life, transitioned into whatever he wanted to be and lived under the radar. I don't understand what he is going through, but I have no right to judge...there is no perfection in my body.

Night all...the Sharks are almost through negotiating and I am getting kids to bed. They need some sleep for sure.
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