Memorial Day

Memorial Day has special meaning for many different people. It's a day set aside to honor those that have fought for freedom in the military, or served their country in some way. For some, it signifies the beginning of summer. For others it is simply a day to remember those that have gone on to the Father before us. For my husband, it is also the weekend that his father passed away, many years ago, just as we started our relationship. I had not known Mark for long when his dad passed away. I have only met his dad one time, while he and Dorothy came to Elmer's Doghouse for dinner while Mark and I were working (only friends at the time). This year, the first Memorial Day without his mom, felt quite different. We have always attended the service held at the cemetery where his dad is buried. A short, simple ceremony; always scorching hot under the sun, or cold and rainy. Never quite in between. The ceremony always ends with the gun salute and Taps being played....children running to collect the empty shells from the ground afterward. This year we all went as usual, everything about the day was routine and same as it has always been, but it felt much different. Emptier, and missing the mother that is always there making sure we all showed up. It was sad for each person there, but no one quite voiced it out loud. For me, I have always felt sorry that I didn't know the man that raised my husband. But today, I felt sad that my kids will not grow up with either one of Mark's parents. I think today was hard for him and his siblings. But as we spend Memorial Day as the beginning of summer or as honoring to military personnel, this year we definitely have those who are now with the Father first and foremost in our mind.

Crazy Hair Day

This is the last full week of school for students. For Adam, it's his last week of kindergarten! His teacher is celebrating this last week with something silly each day. Monday was Wear Your Favorite Sport Day; he wore his Blackhawks t-shirt. Later in the week is Silly Slipper Day, Crazy Hat Day, Kindergarten T-Shirt Day (they were all given one when school started to wear each Friday). Today however....was Crazy Hair Day!!! Let me start by saying that Adam was in desperate need of a haircut. So...it was going to go anyway....sooooo....Mark took him in the garage and gave him a MOHAWK!! Yep. And I, the mom, let him!! The agreement was that Adam would have the mohawk for today, then Mark would finish buzzing it tonight. Agreed. Out came the clippers, off came the hair, in went the gel. And you couldn't have found a sillier boy with a great laugh. My only regret right now is not taping him getting his haircut and getting the gel put in this morning so everyone could hear him laughing. It is definitely contagious! Here's to Crazy Hair Day! And yes, the mohawk is gone tonight. :)

New Toes, New Attitude

It's amazing the difference a pedicure can make! I've been in my end of the school year funk: data, reports, parents, kids, weather, paperwork, deadlines, grading, report cards, teaching still!, and that's all in addition to the stuff at home, and what my own children are doing at their schools for the end of the year. (see next blog) But when my good friend Jez says "Hey! I'm dying for a pedicure and my feet are too ugly to wear sandles. When can we go?" I jumped up quickly and agreed to go with her. Tonight we drove to our place of choice, and immediately walking in we felt weight lifting from our shoulders. It was empty except for us. It was quiet. There were no students. We chose our colors and headed for the comfy massage chairs and were handed a bottle of water. We chatted and caught up and as our feet soaked and tired muscles were relieved, we relaxed and started to feel human again. Our feet are pretty, our skin is soft and we have a new attitude. Ready for dinner and more chatting we headed out, feeling much different people than when we came in. What a difference an hour made! :) Thanks Jez!

That's-What- It's - All- A-bout!

12 Days Left

Another Friday over and done with where I am left exhausted and reflecting on the time that is left in this school year. I have lots left to teach and do with my students. So many books that I never got to read to them this year!! I know I am at the very, very end because I've caught myself over a dozen times this week saying..."well, NEXT year I can..." Adam came home Friday excited because he was chosen to be a player in the school's end of year assembly game show "The Wheel of Wisdom" , our school had also had that assembly Friday and I know the excitement of it! All of a sudden it hit me smack in the face that he was also in his last 12 days...of kindergarten! My little guy is almost a 1st grader! He started talking about recess and bringing his lunch to school in a lunchbox (I started thinking about all the lunches I was going to have to start making -ha!) and being in school all day! So now, in our last 12 days before summer vacation I'm thinking about what we want to spend our summer on...here's the list in partial form:
go in a pool
go camping
go fishing...(Adam says "that's all my plans")
("and I want to go outside and that's all my plans!" says Lucy)
eat ice cream on a stick
carnivals and fairs
hit the fleamarket
see PopPop and Gramma T
drink iced tea with my neighbors
see a certain vampire movie with my girlfriends and break it down afterward over margaritas
sit outside on a patio restaurant with my husband
find some new beaches/playgrounds/zoos
meet my friends with new little ones for a mom & kids day out
read some great books
play in the sandbox
lose some unwanted pounds riding my new bike, walking with my kids, running with my kids, eating fresh veggies and fruits from farmer's markets and my garden
grow that garden with Adam!

Things I Really Really Really Don't Like To Do

clean toilets
pick up cat's hairballs
put away laundry
take out splinters
go to the dentist
grade papers
tell parents their child isn't progressing
disappoint my kids
hurt someone's feelings
empty the dishwasher
say goodbye
try on swimsuits

Cupcake Obsession

New obsession/hobby: decorating cupcakes. I have entered the world of cucake decorating and it has completely sucked me in. I had no idea that there were entire aisles at Michael's and Hobby Lobby dedicated to cupcakes and cake decorating! I am sticking to special occasions....but honestly...I am seriously considering doing this each time we need sweets! :) A few samples...
Everybody needs a creative outlet right? Well, I guess this is mine...for now...until the next one comes along!