Thankful Thursdays

THURSDAY Thursday THURSDAY Thursday... Thursday! I smile when I think of days like today. It's soothing to know that we get a Thursday every week. What a sweet day it is! Rain, snow, hail, meteor shower, sunshine or clouds... it's a glorious little piece of Heaven.

The teachers all know how spent our children are when this day approaches. Homework is lessened on Thursdays. My students are more relaxed and open for class discussions on Thursdays. It makes teaching the same course 5, yes, 5 times in a row that much more enjoyable. Is it because they know that Friday is on it's way? I don't know. I can only speculate.

Although Thursday is a later teaching day for me I have my Art and Literary club to look forward to after-school.  There's nothing better than spending a late afternoon with a passionate, intelligent, eager group of young adults. Their eagerness to learn, explore...and yell and argue about art in the form of critique is eye opening. Who needs coffee when I have my club?! They keep me young just as my own babies at home do. While at my club meeting I called home to remind Julia, our au pair extraordinaire that I will be late because of the meeting. Who am I kidding? She knew. Julia always knows these things. At the age of 20 she has more brain power than I will ever have again. Granted, I can multi task better than most but I also forget where I put my keys, drink or current project mid-way. I have reached the point where the brain is on overlaod and has been instructed to disregard certain tidbits. The brain doesn't care if it's the name of your child's best friend's mother, the capitol of Spain, that your daughter has a dental appointment or where your wallet is that's being deleted. You may run frantically like a chicken with out a head screaming...

"WHERE ARE MY KEYS!" "THEY WERE ON THE COUNTER A MINUTE AGO?!"

POOF!

The information is gone. Ready for new info. to be uploaded. But, have no fear. Julia is there to point to the keys with a kind smile. Oh silly you... They're in your hand.

THURSDAY is for forgetting about the rat race and remembering to play with your children after work. It's for taking a long stroll around the block after dinner. For raiding the chocolate stash and baking cookies to be shared at your tea party. It doesn't matter that it'll get dark soon or that it's a school night. Look at Luna above and count the stars. Tomorrow is Friday. So go ahead, take advantage. Read your kids 5 or 6 bedtime stories tonight instead of 2. Do what I did the other night and fall asleep on the couch while reading to your brood. One child on my right, one snuggled up against my left and the other darling planted on top of me, book dangling from hand. Be the proud owner of these "fantastical"(this is one of my favorite made up words) moments and relish THURSDAY.

                                                   Happy, Almost Friday!

Baby Names and Feet in My Mouth

Last night I stuck my foot in my mouth. I was amongst all of the other parents in the "waiting and watching area" of the gymnastics facility that all of my kids go to. We parents are always an odd assortment. Some eager to view, others distracted, most on gadgets and gizmos zoning out the world. I tried desperately to become one of the digital "zoners." After multiple failed attempts to Facebook, blog and even comment on blogs one mom noticed my plight and commented..."Horrible reception here for cell phones." I nodded in agreement. GREAT.
I love watching my children flip, balance and tumble. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the proud looks on their little, cherubic faces after they attempt a coached maneuver and wave to me... knowing that I have seen them and return the gesture with a wave and smile. HOWEVER... TONIGHT I NEEDED MY ZONE OUT TIME. Don't I deserve at least that after a long day? APPARENTLY NOT.
Turning in a half circle, I noticed a former colleague of mine. She is another frequent gymnastics "watcher." I can depend on seeing her once a week. It is a pleasure to make a non-mommy connection with someone here. Again, I love being MOM but I value my  individuality and sense of self. -Both of which are diminishing. I guard, protect, and try to nurture them with every over tired breathe I take. I hope that one day this will pay off and maybe time will be on my side. I will finish a painting again! Sorry for the ramble. Back to preggie friend. Yes, this mom is pregnant. Her 2 nd child is on the way in a matter of weeks and she was currently flocked by two other preggies. I didn't fit in the circle for obvious reasons. But damn it I tried! I was interested in the conversation and bored after 1 1/2 hours of being the enthusiastic watcher. Here's where the foot went in the mouth.
TOPIC: BABY NAMES FOR BOYS
All were agreed that it's more difficult to name a male than a female. Girls can have cute names or names that they grow into and if it's too adult a nick name always works. BOY names on the other hand can lead to an array of arguments between couples. Come on Dads, admit it. You are more likely to get involved when naming the future son. Being the mom of three I've heard it all and been there.

"He'll get beat up!"
"He'll never be called Jackson. It'll be Jax or some other abbreviated form."
"Why Richard? So people call him Dick?!"
"That one's too feminine."
"He'll never be taken seriously with a name like Tristan."
"Ok...I can deal with that...wait no, I can't."
"Let's just call him JR. He can be the 5th of a long line of Johns."

This commentary goes on. They had some good ones. they complained about their husband's p.o.v.'s. I chimed in. I mentioned that for my first 2 pregnancies we were in agreement over choices for both sexes. When baby number 3 came around things changed. The pressure was on. Suddenly my husband got formal on me. Where were the great names like Elijah, Gavin, Rowan, Ethan? Ya' know the ones that we had liked in the past? After the birth of two beautiful daughters my husband decided that it was ok to let our then, 4 yr. old daughter name the baby if it was a girl....because according to him, "It was never going to happen. What are the chances?" I was looking at names like James John, James William and wait...John William. Are we pilgrims??? Where's Plymouth Rock? I was constantly reminding him that this child should be an individual and not take on an older relatives name. You have your own personality therefore you should begin life with your own name. No offense to all the JUNIOR CREATORS out there or the juniors. Luckily, Chloe Ryan was born. We had a third, healthy, happy daughter - that was not a Pilgrim. There I said my peace.
Heads nodded in agreement with all but one Mommy. She exchanged a knowing glance in the direction of my former colleague. They smiled at one another and all was quiet. I had done it! There's the foot! Her son's name was William Butch. He was named after her father-in-law. I tried to repair the damage. I wanted to have a social circle here. They are all really nice women. Friends are good...REPEAT...friends are good.  My response,"Ahhh, a pilgrim name. Well at least he's only 1/2 pilgrim." Off we went onto the next topic and waving to our children again. The girls' classes ended. We waved "bye" and smiled at one another. Next week we'll see if I still have gymnastics friends.

The pink blurr over our dog and behind me, (as I attempt yoga ) is my middle child wildly demonstrating a cartwheel. 

Pajama Drama and Brain Dead Tuesday

I was recently scolded by a close friend for not blogging the other night. I'm sorry. I was really exhausted.  Apparently coffee isn't the same unless you know what's going on in NY. To my "friend," you know who you are and this is for you. I write this out of love...and because, more impotantly I never want to mess up anyone's morning coffee again!

Saturday the girls, Jim, Marnee (my sister) and I all journeyed to Wal-Mart. This is the cheapest place on the planet to buy a bike. Now that Gracie can see she had decided that she wanted a bike just like her older and younger sisters. Chloe is now a pro after only 4 days two wheeling. This is typical. Chloe is daring and picks up on anything involving action at rapid speed. If it has wheels Chloe will master it. Addi has always  been a head of the curve with milestones. She was tying her shoelaces and riding a two wheeler at age 4. Unfortunately, she's not the safest kid on the block. For years neighbors and her friends have been casually approaching me out of love and concern for my oldest daughter's safety. I can't keep her in a plastic bubble but it would be nice. It would also be great is she'd stick to the side of the street rather than slowly find her way into the center while daydreaming. Daydreaming and biking don't mix on our street. They leave me visions of my kid SPLAT on the side of the road. Sorry if that was too graphic.

Grace is our common ground. Slow and steady wins the race as far as she's concerned. She'll always beat the turtle in the end...fair and square. That Saturday afternoon our Grace picked out the most hideous bright pink and purple unicorn clad bike that I have ever seen. -Complete with matching bell and helmet. Good 'ole Aunt Marnee dubbed her the Graciecorn! Have you ever imagined a sound track for someone before? Hers was definitely..." Do do dooo doooOOO...Gracie Corn!!!" We went to the park with all three bikes. The day was spent watching the kids ride in circles. Grace rode cautiously, ringing her bell to alert others that she was coming around the bend. Every now and then she'd get nervous and call out for help. She isn't used to being on a bicycle yet, even one with training wheels. Like everything else she'll learn how easily and she'll do it well...no doubt. Chloe sped through the park like a demon...well, a demon in a blue helmet with cat ears! Cutest one I've ever seen. After five minutes on the bike she took out another kid. CRASH! NO tears...and thank God we were friends with her Dad. He and Jim used to crash into each other as kids too. Addi's time on her bike was spent role playing and making short films with Julia and Marnee. She is at a funny age. Relationships between men and women fascinate her. Her bike was transformed into a motorcycle and she became a pick up artist. We thoroughly enjoyed witnessing her version of a " Rico-Suave" tough guy. She really does act well. It was great! ...and caught on film. Future boyfriends beware. Jim and I played on the playground with our girls when they weren't on their bikes. Lets face it, being a parent allows us to  play as hard as our kids with the right to use our kids as the excuse...I mean, reason for our actions. Did I say excuse?! At one point "the safety patrol" slowed and waved a cautious hand our way. Were we naughty parents? Uhh..ohhh. Could it be that standing on the teeter totter, rocking really fast and testing your kids balance is a bad idea? or that spinning the "spinny thing" so fast that kids cling to the side of the red bowl-like structure isn't cool? No Way!!? No harm done...but the kids weren't as happy when Mom and Dad toned it down.

My sister made gorgeous cupcakes with the girls that night. I love it when my little sister visits. She is the best aunt ever. She takes pure delight in spending time with her nieces and baking with them. They love their Aunt Marnee time too. They love their Jerry time even more. He's her 7 lb. Chihuahua. They are usually a package deal. I love him...but small animals that climb on table tops, laps and couches freak me out. Sorry Marn. This is why we have a lab. I can handle weekends with the little rat dog. He's super cute, thankfully pees outside (90% of the time), allows my kids to put doll dresses on him and has become our dog's best friend (Lightning needs a friend). This weekend was Jerry free. That was ok. It was full of kids with cello injuries, new bikes, kids who just learned to ride bikes, baking and Beauty and the Beast. We also had a killer turkey dinner that the hubby cooked. Did I mention that he timed our Sunday movie to coincide with the cooking of the turkey? PERFECT timing too! Chloe now insists that Sundays are special for family time and Daddy dinners where we eat good food. What does that make my food?

Before I knew it the weekend was over and it was back to the grind. Monday morning the girls awoke to the smell of bacon and eggs. They were smiling! PARENTS OF THE WORLD I KNOW THE SECRET OF SUCCESSFUL WAKE UP RITUALS... Get up a half hour early and cook! Something about the smell of breakfast or  cookies baking makes 'em wake with a smile. Then there's something yummy to eat or stuff into the lunch box. PERFECT!! Double whammy. (speaking of it's close to midnight and I have to make lunches!!) Yesterday my girls were up, dressed and ready to go by 7:20. -a minor miracle in our house. We had to talk Chloe out of leaving for the bus stop. She was way too early. Again,...she wasn't happy about this. You know all she was thinking about was the fact that a kid from down the road would beat her there. Chlo - Chlo must be first in line every day. She has taken Grace's spot at the bus stop and is proud. Grace took the time to brush her hair again and again. As Grace checked her self out in the middle I saw a glimmer of satisfaction sneak across her face. The brush went in a low drawer to await it's next mission. I was in the middle of congratulating the kids when Julia looked at the calendar..."Wait, isn't it pajama day?" "No. they wouldn't do that to us on a Monday," I replied. BUT THEY HAD!!!!

Loudly I shouted...."QUICK KIDS, TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF FAST. GET NAKIE! PUT YOUR P.J.'S BACK ON!!!

Addi didn't believe me and insisted on calling her best friend to confirm. Even with the confirmation her motto is...TRUST NO ONE. I am the first to fall into the NO ONE category with my daughter. She was on the verge of panic attack. Her sisters were thrilled and 1/2 re-pajama'ed. She was close to tears and fearing that like the horrible "nude alone dream" she'd have her own "pajama alone" version. I stayed calm and tried to soothe and reassure her. I looked at the clock...7:35 already. The gloves came off. I felt terrible as I hustled my nervous child out the door, throwing her favorite shirt into her back pack...just in case she wanted to change out of the p.j.'s. I kept giving her pep talks as we walked down the driveway...' Yes. Everyone else will be in pajamas...almost everyone." "Don't worry...of course________ was right. She always knows about this stuff." If you've ever had a panic attack you know that thinking about the issue or even subtly linking it into conversation makes it worse. I knew that nothing that I said would make it better. Addi just had to "ride through it." She'd be ok in the end.

I made it to school on time. The girls got on the bus, went to school and came home happily. We had survived Pajama Drama. Monday is over. Thank goodness for Gymnastic Tuesdays....a mildly hectic, brain dead day.

Kids, Life and Beauty and the Beast

I bought into the multi billion dollar machine that we call Disney this past weekend. My three girls wanted to see  Beauty and the beast in 3D. How could I say no. Please, mind you...this is coming from a woman that was known as "the femi-nazi" in art school.

 I desperately wanted to play with my male cousins' Star Wars figures during childhood but was raised by a mother and aunt who adored Barbie. This of course led to a collection of dolls in my youth, a yearning for other toys and a collection of Star Wars figures in adulthood. ----My, oh my, how things have changed.

 Barbie and Princesses didn't enter our home until our second daughter, Grace was born. Our oldest, Addi is an animal lover. We have been inundated with stuffed animals for the last 9 1/2 years. I love them, but come on...enough is enough. They are huge! Not to mention they get smelly and dirty. I don't have space for a family of five, a German, an 80 lb. yellow lab and collections of oversized teddies and doggies. -but we do it. The walls are shrinking. Barbie was welcomed. The fact that her proportions are grotesquely inaccurate and she is an idealized male fantasy became minimal. She is small. Her accessories although many, are tiny. She fits within the confines of our three bedroom ranch and she has made our two youngest very happy. This is enough for me to melt. I never liked pink until my Gracie came our way. Now look at me...I am Girlie momma and proud. 

So this past Sunday we were off to the movies. It was quite the memorable moment. The kids were psyched because they really wanted to see the film short of the "Tangled Wedding." I was thrilled because this was the first time that Gracie girl was going to a movie with her glasses (...and my little sister was arriving there with coffee! ahhh, caramel macchiato.) Jim and I recently found out that our Grace has been close to blind in her left eye since birth. She is an incredibly clever girl and has a phonographic memory. She has also overcompensated beautifully with her close to perfect right eye her entire life. This doesn't mean that she has been able to see clearly. It means that she has never realized that her way of seeing the world wasn't "the normal way." When I asked Grace why she enjoyed watching tv or going to the movies her response was," Mommy, I listen to the words and I use my imagination." As you can imagine I come close to tears every time I think of this and I came close while we were at Beauty and the Beast. My little girl looked up at the screen with her glasses and 3D pair on top and said, "Wow! It's all so clear and so close!" My husband I sat with our girls and my sister in a row. Every so often we'd turn and pass a loving grin in one another's direction. Disney has a new meaning for me. 

Tonight I sit and although exhausted after a hectic Monday I can think of nothing but how lucky I am. Lucky to have my family, blessed to have my husband, grateful that we have such strong and wonderful girls. Remember, in life it's the little things that count the most. I don't want to sound "preachie." I'm simply grateful and happy. Time to take a deep breath, stretch and head to bed. Hopefully I'll still feel this way tomorrow....-Fingers crossed!

Cellos, Anxiety and Missing Movies.

Yesterday's cello adventure with my 9 year old led us to the pediatrician today. Addi woke up super soar and hopping all over our little house on her "good" leg. My husband and I decided that it would be insane to force her to bunny hop all over school today. She was embarrassed enough because she had been pushed out of the building in a wheelchair the day before. Any self respecting nurse would surely think us nuts and send the kid home asap. So our  fantabulous au pair, whom Jim has lovingly nicknamed Julio was stuck with a not so sick 4th grader. I felt sorry for her, meaning Julia, before I even told her the news. She was going to be working hard for her money. Addi isn't the type of kid to sit still long and typically hurts herself while attempting anything remotely athletic. The "cello incident" is the perfect example of my oldest daughter's uncontrollable limbs. I keep reminding myself that she'll someday grow into her long legs. Until that happens I'm left crossing my fingers and praying. Oh...Have I told you that my house is slowly being converted in a gym?! Feel free to register for classes at the bottom of my blog site!! We have a treadmill and elliptical, with a full range of free weights downstairs. But even better...our facilities have recently expanded. Jim has added a chin up bar to enhance the ambiance of the living room. It belongs to him 10 percent of the time and to the 3 monkeys that we call girls the other 90! Again, fingers crossed  for Addi!

Before continuing with Addi's story I need tell more about my day. You see, I woke up this morning knowing that at 11 am I would be in a place that I barely knew, allowing someone that I barely knew to cut a chunk of flesh away from my body. Of course that someone happened to be a trained physician but none the less this whole idea seemed outrageous. Thoughts ran through my head all night:

"Will it hurt?" "Does this guy really know what he's doing?" "My body is my temple...WTF?!" "I've seen his work before...hmmm...need to let him know that I'll be watching him!" "This doctor had better take his time with me." "Am I crazy?!" "Remember Billie...having scars is far better than having Cancer." "I'm a wimp!!!" "Snap out of it woman. You've had 3 kids without drugs. This should be a walk in the park.""Crap. I'm going to have a panic attack in his office."

I went through the usual morning routine. Quick, run around the house like a fool. Lunches Packed:check. Coffee Brewing:ALMOST.  Eggs cooking?: CRAP..no eggs. FIND KID HAPPY SUBSTITUTE Toaster Strudels!!... in toaster. Coffee?!: check. Clean Underwear/Clothes: ON BED....on body? check. Wearing Black? (don't ask...work thing): check. UHH-OH almost 7! Almost Kiddie wake up. CRAP. CRAP. CRAP. Once the kids get up I get nothing done for myself.

 In the next 2 min. Applied make up, packed my salad and poured a cup of coffee to go w/an extra thermos of coffee to take the edge off at 10 am. DONE...7:01 Wake up kids. Yay! 2 of 3 are up and moving on their own. No prompting. Very rare. Like seeing pigs fly.

Addison was on the couch. Happy as could be knowing that she had a day of leisure ahead. No t.v. of course. What kind of Mom would I be if staying home from school was fun? Chloe was ready 10 min before Grace and tried to run out of the house. She must beat the other neighborhood kids to the bus stop every day. It is her morning mission. But wait, Mom didn't get a kiss! Chloe is a sweet soul. She came back in to give her Mama love. These are the moments to cherish. Once Gracie knows that Chloe is close to being out the door her "can't let little sister out do me" instincts kick in and she hustles. Today Grace spent 5 extra minutes in front of her vanity brushing her hair and she still beat Chloe to the bus stop. It was all my fault today. Chlo Chlo was pissed! I heard her utter a loud"Oh no!!" as I ran down the driveway to my car shouting out last minute "To Do's" in Julia's direction. Did she understand me? Who knows? All that matters is that everyone is close to healthy and where they should be...minus Addi.

I made it to school only to find that the film that I was intending to show to my students was nothing but an empty case! Foiled again!! - At that moment Pete walks in...I show him the box and being the great  friend and colleague that he is he offers to lend me his copy. I thank him profusely and we make plans to get 9 am sushi. (early lunch? whatever. It's healthy.)  Pete's back with the film. It's mine!!! It has my name all over it. He gives it to me as we both wonder what the hell happened to HIS copy! Now Pete has an empty case. I check my sub plans for the day and make sure that there is a substitute in place for my afternoon classes. I have a hot date with a surgeon to remove highly abnormal cells. I would much rather be teaching. I'm so scared. Child birth no problem. Walking over hot coals. I'll try it. My feet will heal. Cutting part of me out...Why< Why< Why? Remind me again...that it's good for me. I'm not a lizard. My parts don't grow back. I teach a section of photo, then a section of film crit. My chairperson walks in to take over and I hustle out the door. I yell a quick "Goodbye/ pay attention to the details!" to my students.

I made it to the dermo's on time. They injected me. I asked the doctor over 20 questions. He answered them all. This is why I like him! You see, I've never broken a bone. I've never even had a single stitch before. This is all new to me. I am medically boring. Or at least I was. Now I have a history. It really wasn't that bad. Jim laughed at me and warned me that it wouldn't be that bad. He was right. He usually is. Yes, honey. You were right again. By 12:30 I was out the door and on the phone with Julia to see how Addi's leg was. It was still sore so I called our pediatrician. I called Julia again. "Quick. Tell Addi to get dressed! The doctor wants to see her by 1:45." - and I'm off and running again.

Chloe desperately wanted to come for a ride with us. The three of us were off to see the doctor. I piggy backed Addison a block when her leg began to hurt from constant hopping. This is no small fete. I am 5 foot 4 and 124 lbs. My child is up to my chin and weighs 75 lbs. We must have been quite the suburban sight. Addi was amazing though. She's never cooperative at the doctor's office. He has had to follow her out  his front door and onto his lawn in order to lure her back into the office before. Maybe my fears are rubbing off on her? Great I screwed up one of my daughters again! Anyway, Addi has a sprain and will be hopping for a few days. However, she was suddenly cured by the doc's healing hands. Addison was trying her best to prove that she was fine so that I'd let her have a friend sleepover. She was dancing and even attempted to jump up and grab the pull up bar. "NO." was the answer and I was the "worst Mom" for the next 10 minutes. -I'm so glad that hard feelings don't last long when you're nine.

All of this and it was barely 3pm. We still had to pick my sister up at the train station and host a sleepover! How did Calgon take women away? Did they drink it? Must try. Just kidding.

When Cellos Attack!

I thought that things would be back on track today. Once again...I was wrong. There is never a dull moment when you are a working mom with three school aged kids. Every morning "Daddy" rides the train and all of "the girls," me included are off and running to school. They have to catch a yellow bus and I catch traffic from all of the buses headed exactly where I need to go. I am now the Queen of the Back Roads. Who am I kidding...I've been that Queen since before teaching and before kids. People in a rush to get to their destinations scare me. Back roads feel safer. This morning those roads were too safe. I spent 2/3 of my commute ...the whole whopping 2 miles...stuck behind, u guessed it..a student driver! And I thought that this morning had been smooth. HaHaha! - It took every strong bone in my body to fight the urge to go around this car full of kids. In my head I kept repeating," I have to set a good example. I could be their teacher. I'm in no rush...really. Lalalalalalalala...lalalalalalalala." The 7 minutes of torture didn't end until I pulled into my parking space. Lucky #13.

At 11 am a saw a text. As a mom I check my phone during every free moment... hallway... bathroom... closet.... check! There was a text. Wait. 2 texts and 3 missed calls!This could only mean one of three things. Red lights and sirens...Holy Emergency Batman! One of my kids is in trouble or pain. Damn it...Work gets in the way again! How dare I attempt to teach film analysis with a cranked up sound system. Sorting through the messages was like using a broken decoding toy. It didn't make sense at first and like the ride to work took way too long.

#1- School Nurse: Addison slipped during music class on a violin and is pretty uncomfortable. Please call me. ON A VIOLIN?????-9am
#2- Husband: Au Pair is trying to get in touch "w/me". She has to pick up Addi and needs a car. MAKES SENSE. AU PAIR DOESN'T HAVE CAR TODAY. IT'S IN THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED FROM THE OTHER NIGHT.- 9:06am
#3- School Nurse: Just wanted to make sure that I got her message earlier. YES I DID...HERE'S THE     PART THAT THREW ME OFF... "Addison is home"...WHAT?HUH?HOW?..."She's with your au pair." END OF MESSAGE...-9:54am
#4- Text from Julia: School called and had to pick Addi up. She fell on violin and got hurt on knee. We are home now. -10:10am
#5- Text from Neighbor - Wanted to let you know that saw Julia riding bike down road toward school. Offered her a ride to get Addi. Brought them home. Addi is in pain.

Ok...now my neighbor was involved and Julia attempted to pick our hurt kid up on a bike. This is why we love her. She get"s the job done no matter what. Thank goodness for nice neighbors. But what's up with our school letting my kid leave without speaking to Jim or I first?! Grrrrrrr.

Stressed out. Worried about my oldest. Pissed off. Could use a good run around the track! DING DING DING...no time to be Mommy. No time to eat LUNCH. Need to be HS educator. Costume change. Done.

Back to Mommy 42 minutes later. Discussed matter w/music teacher that also works with the little guys in my kiddos school. Questioned him about state of the hallways and asked if musical instruments are left in them. Have any kids ever fallen over them? Is there instrument storage? Is this safe..etc...etc. I'm a jackass. I let my Mommy emotional state cloud my better judgement. I had a conversation with out knowing all of the facts. Called school. Reamed out nurse in the most polite way possible.
Was told the sad tale of Addi .VS. the Violin. MUST HAVE 2ND CONVERSATION W/FRIENDLY MUSIC TEACHER!!

My goofy 4th grader and her cohorts were done with orchestra 5 minutes early. They decided to try and  "ballerina jump over the instrument cases." YES...You read correctly. My child was one of many. However she was the only uncoordinated goon that tripped and fell hard over a viola. Maybe it was another instrument? Are those big? I don't know my instruments. It was large and she fell and she cracked her knee and arm on the tile floor. Where was the teacher? Minutes later she was whisked away in a wheelchair. That was my afternoon. This is why I'm glad that I teach HS. Addi spent the night on the couch iced and motrin'ed up. Hopefully the swelling will go down and we won't need x-rays. Hmmm...Want to know about the rest of the day? Long story short...

Had to buy 3 blue football shirts for 3 girls who don't care about football so that they can be worn once on Football Friday then tossed in the back of a drawer forever.

Had issue w/register while buying football tees. Spent an hour at my bank. Found out my account is screwed up and my cash is there. Just not available for 2-3 days. Yay! I'm broke...but not really!! Went to pick up Chloe from a playdate to find that her favorite toy is somewhere buried in her friend's toys. Crying Chloe. Carry Chloe to car. Went home to hurt Addi. Fed kids leftovers because had no time to cook. Plan on doing the same to Jim. Did homework with the kids. They told me I was grumpy and mean. Grace had a tantrum. Grace was given time out. Grace had another tantrum. Grace apologized for tantrum. Addi complained about homework. I complained about Addi. Addi called me mean. Addi did her HW! Chloe is amazing. Chloe gets the coolest kid award for the night. Read kids story. Kids fell asleep. Time to blog! Jim walks in. Jim asks for dinner and comments on my choice of bright green eyeshadow. -Hey...I'm impessed. He noticed after a long work day. :) Keep blogging. Hubby asks if there is dinner for him?? My response.."Ummm. Yeah." His-"You're ignoring me and blogging. I'm going to blog that you don't love me enough to make me food."

Leftover Menu: tuna casserole and white wine.   Tomorrow's agenda: Mommy in early AM. Teacher for 1/2 day.  Minor Surgery to remove abnormal cells in the PM. This should be interesting. Wish me luck. ----IT WAS A CELLO!!!!

Hump Day

Hello all. Hump Day is here!! If you don't know that expression...I'm referencing the mid week hump of Wednesday. Tomorrow we'll be so much closer to the weekend and Summer. That Ground Hog had better not run away! Welcome to post 2 of the Girlie Mom Adventures. Today is day 2 without my husband. He is on yet another work related journey. The lucky guy has the luxury of freshly washed, silky hotel sheets, nicely laid on the plush mattress of a bed that he has completely to himself. I, on the other hand spent last night sleepless. This was due, in part to the three lovely little ladies that decided to sneak into my room and under my covers in the middle of the night. The other "part" was all my fault. My twisted and deranged mind can't sleep without one more person added to the cramped mix! I missed being smooshed with Jim. Yes, I'm a dork.  After being with my guy for close to two decades I am still hopelessly in love with him. Does he drive me nuts at times...of course! Do I envy his frequent trips to the sunny city of Miami? Ummm...yeah! What kind of summer loving, beach bum would I be if I said "No?!" Do I miss him when he's gone and our girls repeatedly ask me to point to our dry erase calendar in the kitchen to show them when Daddy will be home...with all of my heart. So here I sit, with magenta hair dye burning into the edges of my cropped blonde hair, blogging away and hoping that my kids will stay asleep tonight and that Jim will be home soon. - and yes, you read correctly...magenta dye. One more ditty about me...when I'm bored I tend to do things to my head. So tonight I will have hot pink tips.

Today's adventures included my five year old learning how to ride a two wheeler while I was teaching a group of kids the basics of photography. Just as I bellowed out the function of the ISO my cell phone chimed. My students know that I always keep my phone on and with me at all times and will only acknowledge 3 numbers during class time. Those are my girls' elementary school, my husband and our au pair. All of these numbers put me on HIGH KIDDIE ALERT. I looked...freaked out and excused myself.   After a moment with my back turned to the the class I saw a message from Julia, our au pair extraordinaire. I quickly hit a button, and viewed my Tiny (Chloe) riding her bike for the first time without any help and frantically yelling,"Hi!" and waving. I teared up, wiped 'em away and went back to teaching. I love Julia for always thinking of Jim and I during those tender moments but it chokes me up knowing that I have to watch them from my cell phone. Summer can't come fast enough for me. Maybe I'll catch Chloe's older sister Grace as she learns to ride her bike. Yes, Chloe beat Gracie. This might cause some problems later. Grace is just a wee bit competitive. This should be interesting! Time to go. My magenta is 10 minutes overdo!!!!!! Wish me luck.