Because I don't have anything else to do...

I know. I know. I'm crazy.

Oh and I also did this...... because I'm really crazy.

And the author's purpose is...

I love pumpkin spice coffee.
I love pumpkin bread.
I love Nickel Creek.
I love fall and wearing jackets and sweatshirts.
I love teaching.
I love my husband.
I love my three sons(not the television show).
I love to read.
I love to knit.
I love to sing.
I love making a home for my family.
I love.

Amazing

It was amazing. I had such a great time!

I have been asked back and we play again next weekend!

Totally

worth the wait.

It was even better than I imagined.

I have wanted to do this pretty much my whole life.

I am amazed when I think back just a few years ago how unhappy and unfulfilled I was. My life has changed so much since then. This new opportunity is the flower on the icing of the cake.

I have a career, a job that I love. I have friends that mean the world to me. I have creative outlets that are fulfilling and enrich my life in so many ways. And I have a family that I only prayed and wished and hoped for.

Totally worth the wait.

Good Things Are Worth Waiting For

I am so excited.

It has finally happened.

I got a call Friday night.

Tuesday I get to try it out.

I am so excited!

Friday Night

I had a great time yesterday. I spent some time with some good friends, met some new people and saw some old friends. I had a really good time. I am so grateful for what I have and for where I am.

School is good. I see great things happening and feel useful. I have my work cut out for me but the possibilites are very exciting.

My family is happy and well. What more could one ask for?

11, 6 and 4

The grades my boys are in. My oldest was raring to go this morning. His schedule(after a few tense hours last week) is what he needs with a little of what he wants.

My middle was excited about his new Middle school. He was actually disappointed they didn't do any work today. I told him to wait until tomorrow.

My youngest is in the same grade I teach. He is very pleased we ride to school alone, just the two of us. He said tonight he loves his class and his teacher. Ü Fourth grade rules!

I am one grateful mom. My boys all have teachers I like and respect. All of them were excited this morning to go start the new year. All of them came home this afternoon happy and still excited.

I am one. grateful. mom.

Keeping my mouth shut

It's easier that way and it keeps you out of trouble. Except, when the person that told you something in confidence then tells someone else and the "story" gets out. I have had this happen 2 times in recent history and I know that it wasn't me that repeated the "story". It wasn't me. If there is one thing I am it is loyal and if I tell you I won't repeat it, I won't. End. of. discussion.

I have put a lot of time and careful thought about what it means to keep a confidence. Keeping a confidence is part of my professional job. A big part. It is also a part of my daily life and one that I take seriously. It amazes me to listen to people repeat hurtful things about others. It's amazing because they are often said in such a way that it doesn't really matter if the discussion is hurtful or not it's just exciting/fun/makesmefeelimportant/I don't know why else and it's going to be repeated.

I am again vowing to keep my mouth shut(I know I did and I know it wasn't me that spread the gossip). I am also going to start leaving when people start the whole "did you hear" conversation. That way, ignorance and knowing that I REALLY KEPT MY MOUTH SHUT can be my bliss.

Are you Ready? Are you Ready?

I have been asked this question for the past few days EVERYWHERE I go! And, I am pleased to report .... Why yes, I am! Actually not only do I feel ready, I am excited!

I dreaded the start of last year and this year, I couldn't be more excited. I know that I can do anything after the year I had last year. Any. Thing.

Are you ready?

How Do You Handle Disappointment?

When things don't go your way, how do you cope? If you want something and don't get it, what do you do to push on? Do you drink? Eat? Rage? Sleep? Sigh and go on? Figure out how to get revenge(if possible)? Pray? Pout?

I think that toddlers have the right idea about dealing with disappointment. A toddler can throw back their head and wail and scream and kick their feet and throw themselves down on the ground until they get their way or get tired of being upset.

As adults, we are expected to act like nothing is wrong or "it's all okay" and go on with our business. Well maybe this time, I don't want to. Maybe this time I want to scream and cry and throw myself down on the ground.

The Philmont Express

There were already 150 boys on the train heading west. Another 30 got on at our stop.

I just sent my oldest out west for 2 weeks to hike 82 miles in the mountains. He was excited and hopefully ready to be challenged.

I hope he remembers to look up and see all the stars.

The Book

You know the one I'm talking about. Did you love it? Hate it?

I'm reading it for the 2nd time.

I. Loved. It. Every chapter.

I had made some predictions. I was right on for some and way off for others.

JK Rowling thank you for sharing your gift. Harry and his world were a true delight.

Honey I'm Home!

Phoenix was beautiful. Tempe, was fabulous. We stayed in a resort that was amazing with great facilities and service. One of the many pools was right outside our door. It was open from 6am to 12 am. The boys were in the pool for most of the time we were in Phoenix!

The family reunion was great fun. It was nice seeing people in person and putting names with faces. The grandparents were in better health than they sounded on the phone so that was a relief.

It was so weird being in Tempe as an adult with family as opposed to my time there as a college student. The downtown has been redesigned and most people would say the changes are for the better. I, myself miss Hippy Town. This new and "improved" Tempe does not fit with the Tempe of my childhood or college years.

The boys loved the town. My oldest would move tomorrow if he could find a way. Middle and youngest loved swimming and the cousins but I don't think they're quite so ready to move. DH and I loved visiting but, much to our amazement, we were relieved when we pulled into town last night.

Phoenix... the Order and the Reunion

I just saw the new Harry Potter movie. I loved it. There are parts that I would have done differently, parts I would have included from the book.

We are counting down the days for our trip to Phoenix. There is a brother-in-law I've never met. Not to mention my father-in-law.

Tan lines and broken chairs...

What I did on my summer vacation.

And I couldn't be happier. Ü

I don't think I'm very good at this parenting gig...

*sigh* Remember growing up and all those times when a "friend" would say or do something that would cut you to the quick? I'm not sure what is worse... going through that or watching your children go through it.

Now that I think about it, it's way worse watching your child get their feelings hurt. Much worse.

We're at T minus 1 and counting

Summer school is over tomorrow. It's been a good experience and went by quickly.

Now, the real summer begins! We've got plans to travel to Phoenix to see family. Lake Geneva to see family. And more baseball and soccer tournaments are on the calendar.

People always told me to enjoy my kids when they were little because as they got older, time seems to pass more quickly. They weren't kidding.

I am determined to live in the moment this summer and soak in all the minutes and seconds of each day. I have books I want to read, projects to complete at home and always time being with my family.

Sweet Sweet Air

Air conditioning that is! After worrying myself sick, it was a simple quick fix! Thankfully this weekend wasn't hot and we all survived comfortably.

Summer school is set to begin tomorrow morning. I am looking forward to meeting my new students and getting to know them.

I really want to work on meeting people where they are at this summer. Just accepting them for who they are and not worrying about pleasing everyone. I still struggle with being ok with myself. I thought as I got older, this would be easier but it's still not. Although today, for one of the first times, I really didn't care what others were doing and what they needed. I tried something new today and worried and took care of myself.

It felt pretty darn good.

Ü

14 hours

That's all that's left. 14 hours. My sons will all be one school year older in 14 hours. I will have behind me one of the most, to date, stressful years of my life.

14 hours - took me longer than that to give birth to each of my boys.

My oldest is son is adrift. At least I feel he's adrift. His grades are terrible. Not any F's but a few D's and C's. This is the son that taught himself to read. At the age of 4. The son that could recite entire Dr. Seuss books. At the age of 3. My beautiful first born son.

What has happened? Why is he struggling so? He has always been ... out there. Always struggled to find his group. His "thing".

This year more than any other, he's been happy. He has a great group of friends. He has a girlfriend that is nice and kind. He plays guitar and ukulele everyday and sings. He is passionate about ending the war and human rights. He is able to hold his own in an argument using facts and well thought ideas. And for all of this, I am grateful. I force myself to look at the big picture... grades aren't everything. Not everything for the rest of his life is about grades. But, but, but... grades are important when you are 16. They are important for keeping your cell phone in your possession (and not your father's). They are important when working your schedule for next year and your grades are too low to let you advance in math, etc... They are important when colleges start looking at who you are(on paper).

I have yelled, cried, begged, punished, praised, celebrated, nagged, worried, ignored ... all because of his grades.

I am at a loss.

Life is so

unpredictable. So very unpredictable. There was a movie that Steve Martin did in the early 90's called Parenthood. Anyone see/remember this movie? His character likes things just so. He likes to know what is going to happen next and he realizes during this movie that life just doesn't work that way. His wife or maybe his grandmother(can't remember I need to watch the movie again) says that the fun and the joy in life is in the unpredictable. Just being and doing and going along for the ride.

I'm not sure where on that continuum I fall. Do I like things just so, or do I enjoy the ride? Honestly, for me the ride has been really great and really not so great. The thrill of getting on different rides and knowing that there are different rides to chose from is often what keeps me going.

I have always thought the movie wanted us to agree with the wife and not Steve Martin. He's worried about his son who likes to wear a bucket on his head and run into things. He's also worried about his wife being pregnant and how he's going to support his growing family. The wife is living in the moment enjoying the creativity and uniqueness of the bucket-wearing son and basking in the glow of her pregnancy. She seems so stress free and he seems so up-tight.

Do you think about enjoying the ride? Do you worry about the curve in the road and what's around the corner?