Purple Socks - Not Negotiable

We are having major outfit issues around here. My oldest daughter has always been an outfit-changer. This past year, her big thing has been to wear two long French braids. Every. Single. Day. I sometimes wake to see a big brush in my face and my sweet daughter asking if I can braid her hair yet.

Her other issue, since the weather changed from sunny 70s and 80s to cooler 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s (she checks the temperature every day - not that is matters much, she still wears the same thing), is to wear leggings every day with long designed socks (up to her knees).

None of this so far, has much to do with my impatience. At least, not on violin concert night. My main issue that night was that she had a dress code to follow: white on top, dark on bottom and that she has told me she was playing "first position" violin. I don't really know what that means but I wondered if that meant she would be playing in a position that was more visible.

Last Monday night, my daughter had just finished gymnastics. She had about twenty five minute in which to eat dinner and get ready for violin concert (orchestra - 5th grade group). The dress code wasn't the problem, however, the white shirt she chose was about four sizes too small. I mean, skin tight, tourniquet sleeve-affect in her armpits, and I haven't even gotten to her wild hair.

I didn't have time to fight her but I resolutely told her (she was so excited to have found a white shirt, she had spent ten minutes looking for just the right one), "No, you can't wear that one."

Immediate tears.
Nonstop crying.
She began issuing threats of "I'm not going then".

And, I still haven't even mentioned the hair - which was like a halo of fuzz.

I grabbed the shirt and everyone got in the car (sometimes, I am amazed that the kids actually get in the car, even amidst a war going on between mother/daughter. It just seems like they would be frightened to go anywhere with their beast of a mother. Either that, or why don't they just refuse to go when I obviously have no idea how to parent?).

We were over halfway to the school, when the right shirt was put on (one that I found within a minute of looking in her closet). Oh, and did I mention that I also grabbed a brush and told her we would be re-doing her hair? Well, I did, and she let me know she was not going to be having her hair done again.

Another point to mention, when I did tell her she needed her hair re-done and that the first shirt she'd chosen was way too small, I'd also asked her where she would be sitting in the orchestra. Her answer, "the back".

Well, we got to the concert in time for warm-ups and quickly learned her seat was exactly front and center. She happily skipped up there and it wasn't five minutes before she was back down with me saying, "Mom, will you redo my braids?" We quickly headed over to a more secluded area and I whipped those two braids back into presentable shape. I asked her what made her change her mind, this was her reply:

 "Sadie looked at me and said, "Whoa! What happened to your hair?"

I am grateful for honest friends :-).

Purple socks: non-negotiable

Skelly

Happy Halloween!!

We have had a lot of fun around here with "Skelly". Some people do a tradition around Christmas where they hide an elf each night. In the morning, the family gets to see what kind of trouble the elf got into.

I wasn't trying to copy that tradition, but it kind of became something like that. Skelly has scared me on more than one occasion and I would be lying if I said I wouldn't mind keeping her around year-round :-).

Here are some of the things Skelly has been up to (I think my son christened the skeleton with such an endearing name).

Skelly needs some meat on those bones -- brrr

Found a Friend

I'm surprised she didn't have nightmares

Why not?

Just catching up on the latest Harry Potter

Skelly just seemed like one of the family with that sweatshirt

Taking a Ride

This one scared me the most

One more for you - this one was the first trick Skelly pulled.

Darren's latest sleeping station

To round out our Halloween fun and funny. Let's do some more :-). Last weekend was our ward's trunk or treat, which happened to be right after the girls' violin recital. My oldest daughter changed her mind about three times regarding costumes. Needless to say, what she wore out of the house was not what she wore at the violin recital :-( and that changed again for the trunk or treat.

My neighbor did an amazing job on my little butterfly's eyes. My son thriftily pulled together an outfit from home as he did not want to spend any money.

too legit to quit

Miracle of kids growing up - being able to clean out their own pumpkin guts, yes!!

Can you find the butterfly? What about the braided one in back :-)

Monkey /See/ Monkey Do

The other day I got so into my "Mommy gets things done" mode that I didn't really think about the consequences of my actions. I remembered to write an email to a teacher at my son's middle school (whom I've never met, fortunately). The fact that my computer keyboard had a /c/ malfunction posed no problem to me, I just didn't think it would be a big deal.

It was later in the day that I realized the full scope of my choices. Read on and please still be my friend and say hi ....

Copy of email sent to teacher (I must have looked like a bumbling idiot to her):

Ms. Folkman,

 

Please exuse my typing (first off), my /see/ is not working.  My hild is in the 6th grade at Rose Hill. I would love to see him participate in the math lub. His name is arson Moss (imagine a /see/ in front of this name).

 

I am having difficulty arranging pikup for him at 4. I am wondering if you are allowed to give out a list of other kids in the lub so I an possibly arrange a arpool.

 

Sorry again for my keyboard,

 

olette Moss (again, imagine a /see/ in front)

 

 

When my sisters got wind of this email, we all laughed heartily the rest of the evening. Marci had been cleaning out her freezer that had about 5 inches of ice buildup (when she read the email, she claimed to have laughed so hysterically she fell back into the frozen meat). Melissa read the email in Target while shopping for sunglasses (I think) after having cut and organized 2727 box tops for her school. Janie said she was snort-laughing. My mom messaged me very late in the day saying, "Are you for real?" As though maybe she was considering trading me in for a different daughter . . .

 

All in all, laughing is good medicine right? Maybe next time it can be someone else's keyboard malfunction.

The Good Times

Summer is over, not according to the weather, but according to the school calendar. Like most years, I feel like I haven't eaten enough watermelon. It just went by so fast and now the schedule is back and the kids are gone - all gone. I am struck by the trust I have in "school". I've been taking care of these kids night and day, three meals a day, plus entertainment all summer long and now "school" thinks I will just pass the baton?

Clueless about "what lies ahead"

This summer I think we almost went through a container of sunscreen and that really is a first. I lost my sunglasses paddle boarding in Lake Sammamish (when my youngest was riding with me and pulled on me from behind too hard, we toppled over, my sunglasses sunk to the depths of the weedy water). My swimsuit officially wore itself out (swim skirt literally won't stay up - no elasticity, isn't that a pretty sight?). We row boated right up to a group of nudists on Lake Washington. (!!!! yikes !!!) I jumped into Lake Washington, from a dock - with glee :-) (the twelve year old girls nearby wanted to join me for my second jump, see - I really am fun).

My child went on his first overnight camp. He was a changed man when he came back, so grateful for my help in packing and ever grateful for my food. I asked him how the sailing adventure was and his response was as follows: "It was fun, but sleeping was a disaster."

My new nephew was born - that is big news. I had fun helping the kids guess his name. See, we did do some learning (just a little bit).

Aunt Tawna had a baby :-)

One Saturday, a lemonade stand was in order. The girls planned it out and prepared the product. Thanks to Daddy Darren coming along with a handful of kids and some loose change, the lemonade stand was a success.

We had a few birthdays - three in fact.

The layering effect was not intended by the store clerks . .this one cracks me up

a photo of a picture :-) of Professor McGonagol

One of the most fun parts of the summer was the month we read Harry Potter: The Sorcerer's Stone . We did it over about a month and we were all excited each day for reading time. We actually read about Harry Potter's birthday on the actual day - July 31st, isn't that great?



That red skirt goes WAYYYY back

There was lots of acting. Lots. I think this picture was a play called, "The Great Depression" (thanks to American Doll stories, my oldest daughter has taken great interest in history). The kids did an acting camp down at Marymoor Park. Wouldn't you know it, my son was the only boy in the class and he got to be the prince in "Snow White". My daughter was a dwarf called, "Winky". She winked the entire play. It might have been nice for me to remember her character's name instead of wondering what she was doing with her eye during the performance . . .

Love that rope swing

 Seeing the kids just be kids is my favorite part about summer. Watching a child jump gleefully into a pool, going barefoot, sleeping on the trampoline, getting a library card (to quote my child, "This is like Christmas"), and swinging on a rope swing is what summer is all about.


My nephews' feet - this just shouts "joy"

The baton has been handed off, and truly, I feel such gratitude for living in a place where my kids can go and learn and have fun and make friends and be safe. I love teachers - thank you teachers. It seems patriotic to me. God bless America. :-)

Did you think to pray?

For the past two years, my son has had a writing assignment for school titled, "Fortunately, Unfortunately". Today's post is going to be my version of that assignment :-).

Just in case my children, in thirty-five years ever wonder if there was a bad day of their childhood, they can have this post as a reminder.

First, a good day from this fabulous summer :-)

Clifton Park

And now dear reader, my story.

Fortunately, my youngest has been potty trained for about 3 years.
Unfortunately, she had an accident last night around 1 AM.

Fortunately, we have friends with access to a pool and had scheduled a swimplaydate first thing this morning.
Unfortunately, this morning was pretty chilly.

Fortunately, I was able to jog this morning.
Unfortunately, I arrived home late to take them swimming for the (above-mentioned) swimplaydate resulting in disappointed kids (friend's daughter was throwing a fit - not because she wanted to swim, but because she didn't want to swim, this type of comment fits in right here).

Fortunately, Darren made our bed this morning.
Unfortunately, making the bed is my automatic reminder to say my morning prayers - uh oh. (play foreboding music here)

Fortunately, Darren gets to fly to California.
Unfortunately, he changed his mind about riding the bus and "could you be ready at noon to take me to the airport?"

Fortunately, Mother isn't afraid to call for aid in transporting our only son to junior high orientation, beginning at 1:00.
Unfortunately, (after airport run), I arrive at junior high orientation only a few minutes late, only to run over a very large bolt near the entrance to junior high. (cue the air-leaking-from-tire-sound)

Fortunately, Costco is nearby.
Unfortunately, I will miss orientation.

Fortunately, I made it to Costco (hazard lights on) to find no waiting for other cars so mine was taken right in.
Unfortunately, I still missed the orientation and we were 20 minutes late for our 30-minute violin lesson (pre-paid lessons).

Fortunately, I have two daughters in violin so second lesson can be more of a "combined sister" lesson.
Unfortunately, we left violin books at the studio after second daughter's lesson, to be retrieved by Mother tomorrow.

Fortunately, I didn't have to drive daughter to soccer practice today -- (cue the heavenly angels singing) CARPOOL!
Unfortunately, daughter numero uno won't wear dirty soccer socks and how in the world could mother ever think they would be clean by now . . .

Fortunately, my son offers to share his clean socks.
Unfortunately, she refused and was still yelling when the carpool arrived.

Fortunately, carpool waited for my daughter to both grab a snack and wear long socks that had previously been deemed "unfit" for soccer.
Unfortunately, soccer practice was canceled and neither of us in carpool were on the coach's email list (yet).

Fortunately, I have five sisters. Two of which in the past few days, have had their own series of fortunate and unfortunate events (key words: fire, rain, quitter, sugar). Misery loves company. Now, if I can just remember to pray tomorrow. . .

do NOT contact me

Chariot Double Jogger - $150 (Redmond)

 

 

       

My babies have grown out of this stroller :-(

If you are a jogger and have small children, look no further. This stroller was purchased new in 2006, and used by a nonsmoking, nonpet-owning family. This stroller is in excellent condition, clean and ready to go. Features include: rain cover, large back storage, net-mesh storage in back, plus a small zipper-ed enclosure near handlebars.

Sale includes safety flag and bicycle attachment. (one flaw can be seen in picture - right handlebar grip is worn)

• do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers

Well, the deal is done. in fact, I received three potential buyers the first day I posted this sad news. A man named Twon bought the stroller, even after I vetted him, making sure he actually is a jogger (he is mostly going to use this stroller for biking - I just know it).

I am sad to bid farewell to this part of my life. I used this stroller SO much. This stroller was my sanity. Maybe with this grand exit, I will focus on the joy. So, here we go:

My beautiful daughter in the beautiful stroller

Sappy? I know, I am milking this for all its worth. Even as I go through files of pictures from the past 8 (!!) years of stroller ownership, I see so many places where I can say, "Oh, I took the stroller there." Few possessions in my life have held such a grip . . .

See, other kids love the stroller too

Despite the melancholy tone of this post, there is joy. Joy in a medium which allowed me to get fresh air every day.

Miracle -isn't it?

These pictures speak a thousand parenting words.

My third caller of the day listened to my sob story after I told her the jogger was already sold. She thanked me for giving such a good review of the Chariot (she had asked about the Burley).

Phew - with all of this emotion off my chest I can look confidently at these sweet pictures and just think, "I am a survivor." I made it through challenging days of little-child-dom. I wonder what my next tangible, vain, get-me-through-adolescence, love will be; my Toyota Highlander perhaps?

Goin to Jackson

I love that Johnny Cash song/duet with June. The lyrics go something like, "I'm goin to Jackson . . . .goin to Jackson town".

The end of the school year was definitely stressful and adding travel plans immediately after the last day of school didn't help things any. I was able to pack and prepare for the most part, but once I sat in the car, I couldn't make it ten minutes without falling asleep. Poor Darren, he pulled over once to trade off driving (heading to family reunion in Wyoming). I happily got going with many snacks in hand. . . . only to make it about twenty miles. Seriously, Darren said he had seen the mile marker where we exchanged seats. I couldn't go another mile before I needed another rest. Pathetic.

Oversharing these details helps set the stage for this post, I promise :-).

Needless to say, we did make it to the family reunion in Star Valley, which was Awesome. Seeing my dad for the first time since he'd had one major health crisis after another in January, February and March was definitely high priority for me.

I was also excited to see my niece McKenzie since she came home from her mission to Kansas. I was happy to be with family again. It all felt surreal - I was in a beautiful mountain-ish area with my family. Heaven.

Cousin Fun

Cute Girls

We had a room with a view :-)

Cottonwood Canyon - I think :-)

Moss Posse

The reunion was over in a snap. It was all so fun and happy and simply great. After we said our goodbyes, my little family headed northward to Jackson Hole. I had already made reservations for a hotel and we just planned to stay a night before heading over to see Darren's family in Idaho Falls.

The drive from Star Valley to Jackson is gorgeous, by the way :-). Once we got into town, we couldn't find the hotel I had reserved. It turns out, I had reserved a hotel in Jackson Missisissippi. I'll blame it on the internet age. I have no idea why my phone thought I wanted a hotel in Missisissippi, but when I did the search, that was what came up I guess (couldn't possibly have been oversight by the user, right?). This is another example of pushing too hard at the end of the school year :-).

Jackson was loads of fun. We went down the Alpine Slide that first evening. My kids were each so funny. My oldest was extremely cautious,

 my middle child extremely happy to be sliding along, and my youngest, well, I will let you interpret her reaction.


Reports were that she screamed the entire way down

Olympic Runner

I like to run.

For fun.

I live by the Olympic Mountain Range, and by "by" I mean like within a five hour drive (including ferry ride).

We might have run exactly over this creek
<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/port%20angeles" target="_blank"><img src="http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu264/sherryleal/Port%20Angeles/twilight-creek.jpg" border="0" alt="port angeles photo: Port Angeles twilight-creek.jpg"/></a>

So, a few weeks ago, three of my running buddies went over to Port Angeles (gorgeous) and ran a race in the mountains. It was awesome. Truly. The race was all trail running. I did the 10k (aka - wimpy) and my friends did the half marathon (She-Ra).



http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll308/bjizzle6968/shera.jpg
 

Needless to say, with all of this kind of breath-taking scenery,

I was down in these mountains - cool huh?

 paired with my breath-taking lungs :-), I tripped on the trail, skinning my knee (even tore a whole in my pants). Don't worry though, I'm OK. (I'm very glad I didn't slip down the mountainside - these were not flat trails).

Sort of like this

After we got home (Saturday night), and I was able to relax a little (Sunday afternoon), I nursed my poor little knee (c'mon people, sympathy here) by pulling up one of my capri legs to give it air. I may or may not have looked a bit strange.

Anyway, some very nice friends came to the door to deliver some very delicious cookies (I love cookies). I didn't answer the door initially. My 8-yr old, who's terrified of dogs, did and she promptly slammed the door in their faces (b/c their dog tried to come in our house, their dog's name is Max and is very little and playful). Hearing this rude behavior :-) (I wasn't aware of the dog part), I ran to see what was going on (forgetting to pull my pant leg down over my "owie").

I opened the door and went outside to talk with these kind friends. They immediately asked what was wrong with my knee to which I enthusiastically answered, "I ran a race in the Olympics". They looked at me really strangely, almost as though they were confused. So, to help them out, I repeated myself giving just a bit more energy to my already spastic personality. "I ran a race in the Olympics, it was just gorgeous. I fell and skinned my knee."  By this time, my friends must have thought I was having some kind of delusions. They were probably thinking, "OK, how do we slowly disappear - this lady is crazy." They, again said, "What?" which was about the time I figured out that, oh yeah - I am not an Olympic runner but a runner who ran in the Olympics -- ha ha ha.