Weekend Warrior!

It was supposed to be a relaxing weekend, preferably spent in a tent in the woods...but obligations caused my long weekend to be otherwise engaged. Though I guess I can't complain, I did get a lot done.

Friday I sent the lovely children to their various schools and got myself to work. I started by cleaning the house. (It has been sorely neglected of late) I was mopping the kitchen and trying to get to the edge of grime under the fridge, you know the stuff you see - just barely? Well, this caused me to move the fridge - yucky. I then embarked on the behind the fridge and ceiling fan cleaning. But I was rewarded with a clean house...and no excuse to cut-out on yard work.

Now, a domestic goddess I am not. I want my home clean and my yard pretty, but I am almost illiterate when it comes to plants. So, I muddle through, doing the best I can. In FL if you do not want it to grow, it takes over your yard and if you plant it, it will die. It is the jungle. So, while hubby cut the grass, I spent hours Saturday digging out dirt to fill-in a particular trouble spot with rocks. I love this kind of work. It is simple and produces an area that I can look on in days or weeks and still see my results. Unlike the piles of laundry that are forever reproducing!

So, 5 wagon loads of dirt and 10 bags of stones later I am having a snack and I look out to see the puppy has decided it is his mission to pull all traces of the black matting out - from under the rocks! I am so annoyed, I open the slider and yell. He - in all innocence - cocks his head to the side, still holding the black matting and gives me the "but I am helping you" look. A toddler in dog's clothing!

Thursday's Odd Thoughts

Spring fever is in the air. It can be seen in the faces and the clothing of the kids (both in school and at home). While dropping youngest at pre-k this week it dawned on me that we have been wearing shorts for over a week. This makes no difference in the routine of 2 of my children, but in youngest the weather is seen on her daily. No more dirty kneed pants are stripped off upon entering the house. No, now we are washing filthy knees and faces and elbows. Yesterday I had her wash when we arrived at the door - she was a mess. Then 30 minutes later she pops in from the yard, and I see she is filthy up to her elbows - yet again. As I go for the baby wipes (a staple in my home) she looks at me and says, "Just weave it! I wike it that way." Apparently it is pre-k war paint that allows her to chase the dogs, play with the boys, and generally be wild - all while wearing a pink dress!

Speaking of dresses, I have a teen that needs to buy a dress for confirmation and 8th grade graduation. In many homes this seems a mundane chore, or maybe an exciting excuse to shop together and bond. In my home, it is war. When we were all told of the dress requirement (which I knew was coming - but I guess she didn't) her arms crossed and her face soured. As we left the meeting she proclaimed, "I am not weraing a dress." Daring me to cross her.

My daughter has been a tomboy since birth. While she owned a kitchenette set as a toddler it was for storing dinosaurs or feeding animals and got the most use from weaselmomma's eldest. That is not to say she didn't wear dresses then - she did. But, she hasn't worn one in 5 years. And only sporadic dresses come to mind before then (1st Communion, Nanna's funeral).

Knowing this about her I simply said, "It is the rule. There are many styles, I'm sure we can find something you like."

"Not unless it looks like jeans and a T-shirt," she replied. And I haven't even told her that the Converse won't be going to the altar. HELP!

Date Night

Did you ever just want to go out and do something? Long day at work and you think, "Hey, I'll just get out for a few hours this evening and have some fun"? Well, that was me on Wednesday.

So, I did what any completely boring person would do - I called my mom. My aunt is visiting and I thought, "I'll run out and visit." No cash outlay, no huge commitment, a perfect outing. No one was home. Great, I get to head home and make dinner - whoopee!

Then I thought, "Wait a minute - it's Wednesday! Date night." I made a resolution this year to spend more alone time with my hubby. (yes, I dragged him into my resolution) And date night Weds. was born. I envisioned fishing and hiking and all kinds of activities - forgetting that it is dark at 6:30. So, we have gone on only a few dates - averaging every-other week or so. (he told me that I need to have a plan, or we wind up driving around like lost teens looking for something to do)

Well, I called him at work, remembering that he needed new shoes. I was hyped (probably residual adrenaline from our fund raising) and informed him it was date night. We made plans to meet at the mall. Yes, I was going on a date... to the mall. I don't think I have done this since freshman year! But, you wouldn't have know it from my excitement. I was bouncy and chatty - just downright glad to be going out.

I called home, made arrangements for dinner, blissfully left boy and youngest in the care of teen, and headed to THE MALL. We met and proceeded to shop. He was trying on shoes to buy, and I was trying them on for fun. We spent time hunting for the perfect shoe...and finally he found a pair of shoes he liked - after 3 stores.

Then, we went for a grown-up meal, at a real restaurant - with cloth napkins! I didn't have to order for anyone or referee any arguments. We were able to have an entire conversation without someone needing something. And - this is key - we wanted to stay until after bedtime. Forcing me to order a fresh cannoli for dessert - such hardship.

Of course, upon returning home both smallish children came out to say goodnight, but they were tired and needed little care. (Teen was paid off with the half a cannoli I couldn't eat.) Teen is easy-going and doesn't mind watching her sibs. The kids have a night of pseudo-independence. We have fun and conversation. Even if our dates sound lame, this "date night resolution" is probably the best thing I have come up with so far!

Cut-Throat Giving

At our school we are raising money for a very good cause, Lymphoma & Leukemia Research. The program is called "Pennies for Pasta" - and no I am not about to plead for money. I am going to tell you how cut-throat we (teachers) are behind closed doors!

One teacher on our team (of 4) is in charge of collecting the donations for the team. We were agog when our students (96) brought in close to $250 the first week. Our school qualifies for title 1, meaning more than 1/2 our population qualifies for free or reduced lunch. Other attempts at fundraising have not been a huge hit - so we, as their teachers, were psyched! Wow! Such caring and philanthropy - we knew that we had the best team and were sure to win the prize.

The prize? Yes, a prize - incentive if you will. Lunch catered by the Olive Garden. Apparently food is a good motivator. Well, (and this is when we start down the slippery cut-throat path) we decided we didn't want to submit our change to the lead teacher for counting over the weekend. We decided to keep it to ourselves. Why? Because we want to win! So, Monday rolls around and we discover that we are not the lead, but we are close....

Sliding down the slope: We tell our students the other class standings - reminding them that they are to keep our totals to themselves. (see we are bringing the innocent 7th graders into it) Soon, with the competitive spirit kicking-in we are up to the mid 300's. Now we are making the big push - we have student-counters who are able to count in the store room when they are done with their work and we know we are climbing. We (as teachers) complain that another team is offering homework passes and other goodies for giving (they want lunch too!). The students feed off the cloak and dagger feel of the giving and love to talk about it - among the team. We now have nearly $500 - the students are hyped-up and strongly motivated. The scouts were sent out today and came back with the report that there is a team nearing $450 (we perceive them as the largest threat). But, it occurs to me that there could easily be another team as devious as us - and what then??? EEEK! Only 1 day to go - maybe we could do free time for a buck? Ugghhhh - who knew giving could skate the thin ice of morality?

Monday's Madness

A cold front came when we were not looking. It creeped in Sun. am and the temps were dropping all day! Now we are forcasted to only hit a high of 62 today - brrrrr! (My sweaters are getting quite a bit of use lately.) I will be using the cold weather as an excuse for the disjointed tidbits that I will be assembling today as my post.

Youngest was patiently explaining to me why she had taken a bad fall at pre-k last week. It was bike day, and she chose to bring her scooter.
"When the little hill in the circle came it was really fast. I fell and my bum went on the wheel. I was crying in the grass."
me: "Then what happened?"
youngest: "Miss Angela came and I felt better. I tried again, but mom, (with her hand holding the handle bar of her princess scooter) this baby's hard to handle!"

Boy, upon returning from the bathroom where mom logistically placed the Boy's Body Book.
"What's that book in the bathroom?"
me: "It's to help you understand puberty. Why you'll wake up one day with a mustache and an uncontrollable need to kiss a random girl."
boy: "UGHHHH! No way." As he pulls his blankets over his head.
my thoughts *phew, at least not for quite a while yet!*

Oldest bought herself some racketballs (to drive me crazy by bouncing them in the house). As we were leaving my mom's last night, I asked if anyone was driving home with dad. (we had 2 cars because he and boy went to a spring training game earlier) Oldest looked at me and in a deadpan voice replied, "Me. I am taking my balls and going home."

Fairness Friday

Progress reports came home last week. That time in the quarter when students get to show their parents (while there is still something that can be done about it) how they are doing in school. My students have access to their grades daily, but somehow, when those papers are handed to them, moans, cries of joy, or low sighs of relief (depending on the student) are heard around the room.

It always hits me, again and again, that they are largely clueless about their grades. How can this be? I hand out grade sheets periodically, they have all of their work returned to them, and they can visit my web page and access their grades from there. So, why are they surprised?? Ahhh - it is not surprise, it is reality that has just hit them in the face.

Much the same as the reality my daughter faced after bringing home all B's on her progress report. It is not that we are unreasonable parents, it is simply, that we know she is not bringing anything home, and that she is quite honestly slacking. So, we talked (and took away the computer & friends on weekdays) about effort, commitment, & potential. She, being the concerned teen that she is, wanted to know why her brother doesn't have to live up to these standards. "Doesn't he have potential?" she called across the van. To which we replied, "Yes, he's been grounded for weeks!" See, it is all fair.

Giving it Up.

Lent begins today. A day I have been anticipating and dreading simultaneously. As it happens, a few weeks ago I was thinking how important it is to me to be around to watch my children grow. In layman's terms, this means I was thinking about quitting smoking. The key is, motivation and substitution. So, I put it off. Saying to myself that I would quit for Lent and use the rosary when the need struck. This would kill 2 birds with 1 stone so to speak. I would give something up, that I honestly enjoy, and add more reflection to my life at the same time. Perfect. It worked when I quit drinking Pepsi a few years ago because too much sugar is a bad thing. But, there was diet Coke, which I grew to accept and now to love. What is there to fill the void of smoking?

This morning hubby greeted me, wanting to know why I was grumbling at the dog. I informed him that it is Ash Wednesday. The look of sincere joy on his face (heathen nonsmoker that he is), was almost comical enough to make me laugh. He offered to do anything he could to help. I know that he is was trying to be helpful. But I couldn't help responding, unless you have cancerless cigarettes, there is nothing.

Why, oh, why can't they invent a cancerless cigarette? We put men in space and transplant organs. We can make houses out of recycled material and splice plant DNA, but we can't make cigarettes without a bazillion killer chemicals. It seems so unfair.

Ok, enough moaning. I feel much better. Well, a smidge better, but I am trying to be optimistic!