Who are you?

On June 4, 2008, I will have been blogging for one year. In the last 10 months (I didn't have a counter until 2 months into blogging) my counter has counted over 12,000 hits. (Is hits the right term? It just seems so weird.) Now I am confessing that a good 10,000 is actually me checking to see if anyone has left me a comment, I'm a little obsessed, but that still leaves over 2,000 "hits" not by me. So, I am wondering who are you? I know of a few people who check, family and close personal friends that I have threatened within an inch of their life if they didn't check, but who are the rest of you? Do I know you and you have never felt compelled to comment? Did you just randomly click on my site from someone else's blog? Are you a blog stalker? I am completely OK if you are (as long as your not crazy) because I totally am a blog stalker myself. I check random people's blogs almost daily. Matter of fact, I hate it when one of my kids or husband looks over my shoulder and says, "Who's that a picture of." and I have to confess, "I don't know." It makes me feel like I need some serious therapy. I like to think of reading blogs as my drug of choice. At the end of the day to relax instead of having a drink or getting a bowl of ice cream (which I always want) I will sit down and read blogs. It's reality TV only it's about real life, with real people, going through a lot of the same things I am going through. WOW, how did this post go from 'Who are YOU' to 'Let me talk about MYSELF and totally feel the need to justify why I read blogs.' I tell you what, I DO need therapy!! So back to the topic at hand...Please leave a comment, introduce yourself and tell me if this is your first visit (and only) or if you stop by occasionally. I can't wait to hear from ya.

Branson trip......take 2

Since we had so much fun the first time we took the kids to Brason by ourselves we decided to try it again. Same people (Alissa, Kalista, Isaac, me, Lexi, and Gracie), same hotel (cheap), same schedule (Celebration City evening 1, and Silver Dollar City day 2, and then back home 30 hours later). Once again we all had a great time, and we lost NO children.Inside Celebration City they have an 18 hole mini golf course. My kids had never played before, and it was free so what the heck.

It wasn't crazy at all with 4 kids, 4-years-old and younger, and 2 adults both trying to take pictures--it was ridiculous! We lasted 4 or 5 holes, I can't even remember.

Day 2

Our first stop was the world famous "Fire in the Hole." Lexi, Kalista, and Isaac had said they couldn't wait to ride, however, when the ride finished I-man wasn't as into it as he had remembered. He really did love it last time.

"If there's a place you gotta go, I'm the one you need to know, I'm the MAP!" Thanks Dora for those skills.I knew this was a stupid idea since it was chilly, but when NO one else is in line you must take advantage. When the ride was over the lady asked if we wanted to go again (still no one in line), and Lexi yelled YES, as I was unbuckling her saying NO. I, of course, got the worst of it on the back of my shirt, but it wasn't too bad.
Wait, here is another stupid idea. The big girls loved it so much the first time with Aunt Lissa, I took them again, and again got the worst of it.

Good times had by all!!

Here are just a few of my favorite memories of this trip.

1. Isaac and Gracie playing hide-and-seek while strapped in their car seats right next to each other.

2. Isaac almost getting kicked off the "Happy Frogs" due to his own jumping, and 5 minutes later almost getting kicked off the "Ladybugs" (ran by the same crabby lady) because his and Gracie's seat belt came undone and the lady assumed he did it.

3. Gracie proclaiming "Mommy, I like it!" as loud as she could EVERY time around on any kid ride she actually liked.

4. Taking Lexi on her first roller coaster with height requirement of 42 inches. She LOVED it.

5. Getting off the carousel and hearing Gracie tell the 4 people working, "I didn't like this ride." She rode on the chariot that did nothing-weirdo.

6. Lexi calling the train robbers "ugly" (like she was told to by the conductor) and adding her own "stupid." Apparently she thought the word stupid would be OK in that setting.

7. Gracie handing out conversation "tickets" every time Alissa or I referred to her as a "little kid" (she's big) or referring to the van as a "car" (obviously they are different.)

Grocery prices on the rise.

Water, water, who has the water?Never fear, water-girl is here!

Learning from "The Master." Now my dad has many names he refers to himself as: Rambo during hunting season, Rockey during a workout, and The Machine any other time he feels he deserves it. In the garden I didn't feel any of those really fit, and since we all know he is the best of the best, I thought "The Master" ( a little Yodda-esk). So Dad, add another name to the roster.
Lexi actually did a great job helping.

Um, Grace, I think you got a little somethin', somethin' on your face.

Thanks Mom and Dad!!

Special class

This year Lexi had the opportunity to spend her afternoons with the Early Childhood Special Education class through the reverse inclusion program. Basically, she was just another student who got to do everything the other children in the class did, but she helped out in her first born (bossy) way. She not only got a double dose of academics, but she learned life lessons that I hope she will never forget. It worked out very nicely since the ECSE class was housed in the same building she attended preschool (I hate calling it daycare even though that is what it is), and while her pre-k class took daily naps, she would just walk down the hallway to her next class. I love that it got her away from her little girlfriends club and she was forced to make friends with other kids that act/look a little different then her. How awesome is that? I wish I could enroll some adults in the same class. Her first week was a little hard on her, she got her hair pulled a couple times, kicked, and was just in general a little freaked out. But, by week three she would cheer on days she got to attend. Yes, we did refer to it as the "special class" but remember to a 4-yr-old special could only mean something positive.

Here is their little end of the year program/graduation. The ones in gowns are the ones moving on to kindergarten next year. Lexi was the flag holder for the pledge, and she was also in charge of telling the audience when to stand up and sit down. They had a few props, the sunglasses were oh so cute.

Here she is receiving her graduation ticket #2 for the year.

After the program we all got to enjoy some pizza, cake, and McDonald's drink.When Gracie woke up from her nap out of her 3-yr-old room she got to enjoy some pizza as well.

Baccalaureate

Last night at Baccalaureate Jon was amazing. Let me set the stage for you....As I have already mentioned in a previous post it has been a pretty rough week for him. Last night when he got home from school he was COMPLETELY exhausted, he was laying on the bed watching Sports Center (his drug of choice) and he looked at me (in between watching TV and snoring) and told me he shouldn't have volunteered to talk, he had too much on his plate, and he just really didn't want to do it. All week he has been dealing with (and much more) detectives, upset parents, out-of-control seniors, preparing/setting up graduation, a late board meeting and normal last day of school issues. I looked at him and asked if he had time to write anything down to talk about (it was to start in 2 hours), and he told me no, and he told me the gist of what he wanted to get across, but he was just gonna wing it.

We sat through the welcome, the band, a song, and the message all before his turn to give the challenge. He got up there and put the Word on em. He was quoting scriptures left and right, told the "If you love me give me your necklace" story, and had stop when he almost started crying reading his closing scripture. Can I just say (we were in a pentecostal church) I have never heard so many "Amens" and "That's right" in all my days, it was awesome, even during Jon's pause to compose himself so he wouldn't cry, I heard someone praying out loud for the Lord to "Give him strength." (Ok that was a bit weird.) God was definitely speaking through Jon last night and giving him strength to even make it through. When it was over I would say more then half of all the people there came and told him what an awesome job he did. I wish I would have kept a running total of all the, "You have a great guy there." and "He's a keeper isn't he?" and "Your husband has been such a blessing to us." that I heard. I just nodded my head and said my standard, "Yeah, I kinda like him too." but in my own head I was thanking God for blessing me with such an amazing man.

Andrea's post

If you grew up at Ne-o-tez, make sure to check out Andrea's post today.

Gracie update

I feel that I have talked about Lexi a lot lately with graduation, gymnastics, and another program today (that post to come), so I thought I should update everyone on how Gracie is doing. Here is a list of what she has been up to:
*5 seconds ago I caught her trying to pee standing up.
*Tonight at our dinner prayer she said, "Please help no one to run away from our house." (We don't know what that means either.)
*Yesterday she had to sit in time-out at school twice. Once for refusing to stop talking during story time (she was warned 4 times), and the second time was for hitting a girl in the head with a rock. She also was at the top of the playground equipment and took her shoes off and chucked them over the side, but no time-out for that.
*Today she had a great day, we have been praising her all night.
*I still think she is a little bi-polar, extreme sweetness, and extreme meanness.
*We still love her. (I included that just in case anyone was wondering.)

So, what I am saying is there is nothing new with Gracie. Maybe I should retitle this post, "Same ol' Grace."

Gymnastics program

Last Saturday Lexi had her gymnastics program. I LOVED it. Of course I loved it because my daughter was wonderful, but I also loved it because it was completely FREE to attend (remember our dance dilemma) and we could have invited anyone to watch and they would have also been free. It was just a very low-key/organized show so parents could see what their child had learned and get some pictures.

Stretching-Lexi is right in the middle-2 students down from boy instructor.

Lexi with her very pregnant instructor doing something on the balance beam that has a special name, "back scale?"
Get ready for her dismount into the donut thing. The fact that she now can walk down the whole beam (the taller one) without touching anyone is a huge thing for her. Apparently, balance doesn't come naturally to her.

Here she is with "strong arms," and then she did a roll. (Sorry about the glow-eyes.)

This doesn't look like much, but it was awesome. Each child had to "create" their own tumbling pass, and Lexi choose to do cartwheels all the way. This was the end to one of her last cartwheels, and notice she landed on her feet--that's huge for her!!! (She has always gotten her feet up high, but normally lands on her knees.)

She got her little certificate of participation and metal. This year she was in a co-ed preschool class(3-5 yr olds), next August she will start an all kindergarten class with only girls.

Our little gymnast.

They also did a floor routine with hula hoops, no pictures, but it was very cute.

Stressed Out!!!!!

No, not me, my end of the year is wrapping up nicely, Jon is a completely different story. That poor guy just can't catch a break this year. Being the head principal of a high school is not all fun and games. If you think about it, please say a little prayer for him these next few days, he has a lot on his plate right now that goes way beyond graduation, end-of-year reports, hiring new teachers/coaches, and summer school preparation.

(If you have seen any news stories about our area lately please do not discuss it in your comments, thanks.)

Can it be so?

Last night we went to Lexi's preschool graduation from All Aboard Learning Center. Just one step that must happen before she goes to kindergarten next year. Lately, Jon and I just look at her and marvel at how big and grown up she looks and acts. It is so bittersweet. I didn't cry at all. I really think I got all of my crying out last year when I went back to school and dropped them off at preschool without me (I UGLY cried everyday for about a month or two then.) Next year when she goes to kindergarten it actually means I will no longer be dropping her off anywhere, but back to taking her with me.

Here she is with her class before they put hats on.

She was not happy that they had to stand boy, girl, boy, girl.

Here she is receiving the "Music Machine" award from her teacher Ms. Dianna. Every child had an individual award and Ms. Dianna said Lexi was the one in class that knew all of the songs and knew all of the motions.

Here Lexi is receiving her "graduation ticket" (that's what Lexi called it) from Ms. Teresa the director.

She was so happy that Aunt Marion, Matt, and Uncle Jeff were able to come and watch too.

I am titling the next section to this post: Oh No you Did-ent!! (I think I just made that spelling up.)

Yesterday the temperature was unusually cool and rainy. In the morning I thought to myself, "I want to wear something nice today regardless of the weather and the fact that it is the end of the year, but I want to look nice for her graduation tonight and I don't want to have to change." So I picked the skirt and shirt I wore for Easter '07. While I was at school I had to justify my outfit numerous times with people asking if I was cold and didn't I watch the weather. I would them explain to them about the graduation and then they would confirm the fact that I did look cute, just cold. (The things we put up with for our children.) After school I get the girls home, give them a bath, and have them pick out what they wanted to wear to Lexi's graduation. When I was helping brush Lexi's hair she looked at me and said, "Mommy, what are you going to wear to my graduation?" I pause and look at my already well-thought-out outfit and say, "Well, babe, I thought I would just wear this." She then says, "Oh, I wanted you to wear something cute."

I didn't change.

Kids

Over the past few days I have heard kids say some pretty funny things. (Well, they were funny to me at the time.)

Gracie asked, "Who is singing that?" I told her Michael Jackson (It really wasn't but it was his song) and she said, "Wow, just like the hamster!" (Apparently their class hamster has a famous name.)

We have this boy in 8th grade whom I love (he's one of mine). Really every girl loves him because he always says things like, "Good morning beautiful," and "You're lookin nice." He's fabulous, one day he told me I was as pretty as a picture. Last week he told one of our paraprofessionals, "Ms. Meyer, I love you." She gave him a weird look and he said, "Don't freak out, it's a teacher love."

Lexi tonight at dinner said, "What do fingers taste like?" I said well, they taste like whatever you have been touching." She said, "Well, mine taste like something, here taste." I told her gross I would not taste her fingers and I asked what she had been touching. She said, "The counter and the inside of my ears." Why is she so gross?

I saved the best for last....
Today after school I asked this random kindergarten boy who his teacher was, he told me and I said, "Oh she's great, don't you just love her?" He responded with a blank stare and said, "Well, I don't want her to die."

Always makes me laugh.

With a 3-year-old and a 4-year-old I think I have visited EVERY single public restroom in my, and the surrounding, county. In this day in age most bathrooms have automatic everything: auto flusher, auto water, auto soap, and auto hand dryer. (The McDonald's right by my house has a hole in the wall that you stick your hands in and water turns on, a measured amount of soap shoots out, and after a minute the water turns off and the dryer turns on all from the same little hole.) To my kids this isn't "new technology" it's just the norm, all they know. Occasionally we will enter a restroom that is not so up-to-date, and I just watch to see what happens. It never happens with the toilets because, like most kids, they love flushing public toilets (especially with their foot like I taught them), and it doesn't happen with the sinks because it is pretty obvious when a sink isn't automatic, it happens with the soap and hand dryer. They first just put their little hands under the soap dispenser and when nothing happens the waving starts, not just waving under it, but beside it and around it, until I hear, "It's broken, this one is broken." That's when I step in and magically fix it by pushing the button and soap falls into their hand. It really makes me laugh when it's an old hand dryer (the ones that were normal when I was growing up) and it has a big silver button just screaming "push me" and yet still I wait till I am informed that is broken before I step in and save the day.

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day, I did. We have a busy week ahead of us: yard work, gymnastics, dinner with football candidate and wife, Lexi's preschool graduation, and gymnastics program. Jon has all that plus: NHS induction, the HS play, and Senior scholarship/awards. Then next week is the last week of school--YA!

This is for you, Vic

So, let's just remember how stinkin dark my hair was just three weeks ago. Here I am with Lexi and Kalista at Lambert's Cafe.Jon and I before prom, two weeks ago. The lighting wasn't very good, so you can't get the full effect of how light my hair is now. (I made him take this before we left. Who goes to prom without your picture taken?)Here is Fonda and I outside prom. You still can't get the full effect, but you can see how "all over" the "highlights" are. I am totally fine with it even though I was going for something a little less. It pretty much looks like last year, but a little more.

Lastly, I would just like to take this time to tell you all what a great time I had at prom this year. Did I sing loudly? YES. Did I dance? A little, but I tried to keep that on the DL. Did I run and pretend to jump like Baby in Dirty Dancing during "Time of My Life?" Of Course. Did Jon try to act like he was embarrassed of all this? Definitely! Do you know my husband? (I like to pretend that deep down he was thinking "My wife is awesome!") Seriously, they played more 90's music then newer stuff and not only did Fonda and I love it, but all of the kids seemed to have a good time too. Jon was just happy that no one showed up drunk, he's such a principal sometimes.

On a side note...I am so glad that teacher appreciation week is almost over, I swear I have gained 3 pounds this week from all the "appreciation."

On the other side note...I felt like crap yesterday (head cold) so I stayed home, ya know what I did? I stayed on the couch and watched the ENTIRE season of The Real Housewives of New York on BRAVO. It was like a eating a whole bag of chips (which I did), I couldn't stop myself, but then felt sick about it later.

New Name

Yesterday in the car (don't you just love car conversations?), the topic of names came up. We were discussing how Gracie's name is actually Grace just like Lexi's name was actually Alexis, and then on to middle names. I told them that I had the same middle name as Grace, Ann, and then Lexi said, "Oh yeah, and before that your name was Angela Flamingo Earnhart." I was cracking up, she was so sure of herself, I felt bad to correct her. I then had them practice saying "Lingua" several times. Now that I write it, Flamingo, it has a nice ring to it, if anyone would like to start calling me that I wouldn't mind. :-)

Oh, BTW, Lexi is still apparently obsessed with that stupid aqu glode. Just tonight when I fixing dinner she was again (completely out of no where) explaining to me how it all works and how I should start saving my money to buy one. She's crazy.

Where to put it?

Last month at the Ne-o-tez rally dinner that you can read about here, Jon and I decided to bid on something in the silent auction. No, not Cardinal tickets. No, not the chocolate basket. No, not even one of the autographed sports items. We were lucky enough (by lucky I mean no one else had a chance since I was ready to pounce on anyone who out bid us in the last five minutes) to bid on and win this beauty........

Sure to the "untrained" eye this might look like a beat up, moldy, rotten, sorry, piece of crap, fire wood bound, old sign, but to the "trained" eye we know better. Yes, my fellow Ne-o-tez friends, this summer at camp you will find new signs pointing you to all of the various destinations in the valley. But as they say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure", so they auctioned off all of the signs at the rally dinner. They all went for pretty respectable prices, Crystal Falls being the most wanted (suckers)!

So, here is the dilemma, where do we hang it? It would be awesome in a finished basement decorated like a cabin, or, well, an actual cabin, but my friends I have neither, so what do I do? Do we put it back outside where it has been since 350 BC? Do we hang it close to our five beautiful, limited edition, hand drawn pictures of Camp? Do we hang it in my chocolate brown bathroom directly over the toilet? Decisions are the worst (quick what movie is that from?). Well, let me know your thoughts, we need some suggestions.

Prayers needed

This morning, before church, Jon got a call from his band teacher who informed him that one of his student's mom passed away yesterday. There are three kids in the family, a senior, a middle schooler, and a kindergartner. I have no idea what it feels like to lose a parent, thank goodness, but to lose a mom, out of the blue, three weeks before your high school graduation, man, that is going to be tough. Plus, the middle schooler is in my program at school and his disability makes it hard for him to tell the difference between make believe and real life, I can not imagine how he is dealing with this. Then lastly the kindergartner, old enough to understand some, but not all of what has just happened to his little world.

Please keep them all in your prayers.