Momma's a FLAKE

This past week, I managed to prove to my Heathens (again) that they can't trust me to keep my act together. They know they need to be on alert to watch for my multiple, frequent screw-ups. Thank heavens they are vigilant (and forgiving).

After the month of April and all of the soccer practices and ballet rehearsals, I was so thankful for last Monday. We didn't have ANYTHING on the family calendar for that night. I was ecstatic! I was finally going to get to stay home for the evening. The kids could simply play. We could relax and I could catch up on the laundry pile that was threatening to take over the second floor hallway.

That afternoon, Heathen #1 had called me at work to ask if he had a soccer game that night. And I said that his first game wasn't until Wednesday. And I knew that I was right. I had spent at least an hour combing through the two soccer schedules and dutifully marking each one in my calendar that I carry and in the family calendar that hangs in the kitchen. So I went home and we had a lovely evening of "nothingness" as a family.

Tuesday, Heathen #1 comes home from school and announces that he DID have a soccer game on Monday night - one of the boys in his class in also on his team. And I said that was not possible! And I checked the printed schedule that we were given - and sure enough, there was a game scheduled for Monday night.

I know how and why I made the mistake - which doesn't matter. What matters is that I screwed up and he missed his first soccer game of the season. Which also happened to be team picture day! Talk about feeling crummy as a mother! Heathen #1 was very forgiving about it, bless his heart.

We made it to Wednesday's game without any issue. Friday rolls around, and Heathen #1 calls me at work again. He says that he has a game that night, but that it isn't marked on the kitchen calendar. He knows he has a game because he talked to the kid in his class again.

At this point, I figured it wasn't possible. I'd already screwed up the schedule and made him miss the first game. I couldn't possibly have screwed up twice in the same week - could I? So I checked the printed schedule just to be safe. And sure enough, there was a game that night!

So we made it to the Friday night game, that I had missed on the schedule, and it turned out to be the make-up night for team pictures - so we almost missed that one too!

Heathen #1 hugged me and said it was okay. Thank God for children.

Cow Patties & Gingerbread

This past Saturday was a whirlwind of activity at our zoo. It was the culminating day for all the activities the Heathens did during the entire month (and in some cases, longer).

We started the morning out by being at Roxbury Park at 8am. It was the first-ever Chuckwagon Derby held for the Cub Scouts. The boys had to construct a covered wagon and supply it with a list of things. They then traveled to different stations to complete different activities.

Here's our wagon:

Don't they all look THRILLED to be awake this early on a Saturday! My personal favorite for the stations was the "Cow Pattie Toss." Using spray foam, the leaders created "cow patties" and them spray painted them brown. Even knowing what they were made of, it still looked gross.

Here's Heathen #1 with his cow pattie.

This was an all-morning event. However, we had more activities than just this! At 9:15, I took the younger two Heathens to Heathen #2's first soccer game of the season. He had worn his uniform all morning and managed to stay clean, which was awesome because he had team pictures before the game.

We arrived ON TIME for the photos. As his team was almost to the front of the line, it started to sprinkle ever so slightly. As his team was being positioned for their photo, the rain cut loose and we heard a huge thunder clap - which automatically cancels all games for the day, according to the group by-laws. Everyone ran for their cars. His team photo didn't get taken.

So we headed back over to the Chuckwagon Derby for the rest of the morning. We hung out there until noon. At that point, I took the younger two Heathens home to feed them and have them lay down for a bit. The Asst. Zookeeper and Heathen #1 followed shortly after they had loaded up the wagon.

At 1pm, Heathen #2 and I had to be at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center for his spring performance with the Johnstown Concert Ballet. For the matinee performance, I had volunteered to work backstage as one of the "moms" that keeps the girls under control. Imagine 15 first grade girls, Gavin, two other mothers, and me, stuck in a small dressing room for three hours. It was a long performance.

The great part of being a backstage mom is that I was able to get some photos of the kids in their costumes. I had volunteered at the beginning of March to sew all 16 gingerbread costumes for the grade 1 class. This included 15 pairs of bloomers and 15 dresses for the girls, and a jumpsuit for Gavin. I wanted photographic evidence of the fact that I can sew and that I did it all without asking anyone for help! The photos of Heathen #2 in the white shirt and black vest is his "peasant" costume, before he gets turned into a gingerbread boy.

Here is half of the group. The other half was already into the dressing room before I could catch them.

The show was over around 5pm. We then raced home. Heathens #1 and #3 were quickly cleaned up because they were going with the IN LAWS for the evening. Ballet isn't exactly their thing. I changed clothes and so did the Asst. Zookeeper. We then raced back to PPAC for the evening performance.

Heathen #2 really has a great time performing. It's obvious to watch him. However, neither the Asst. Zookeeper or I felt like sitting through three hours of ballet. We just weren't in the mood. After the Hansel & Gretel piece was over, we slipped out and went out to dinner. It was a nice chance to talk.

We picked up Heathen #2 at the end of the performance, around 10:30pm. He cried the entire way to the car because he was so tired from everything that day. He was asleep before we were out of the parking lot. After picking up Heathens #1 and #3 at the IN LAWS, we all headed home and went straight to bed. It was QUITE a big day at our zoo.

Call to Volunteer... Again

It's happened again - this time, twice in one day. The phrase "Volunteers needed" has crossed my desk twice.

It's not that I mind volunteering. I don't. I enjoy helping. The trouble is, that I volunteer ALL THE TIME. And if anyone uses the phrase "need a volunteer or else..." I'm guaranteed to raise my hand. Here's just some of what I do...

Cub Scouts: outings chair, popcorn kernel, and camp coordinator
Church: Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Christmas pageant, children's Advent workshop
Ballet: backstage mom, grade 1 costume mistress
PTO: Giant Eagle coordinator, plus helping with various other committees

Today, AYSO soccer and WAY football reared their heads using the dreaded "V" word. Soccer used the sentence "This is our last attempt to fill these positions." Football worded it as "volunteering is required." Does it still qualify as volunteering if it is required?

Well, I already know that I'll be volunteering for both of these functions as well. I've already looked into the requirements for the different positions, and I've sent the emails for further clarification. I wonder what it's like to be the parent that drops their kid off and drives away, returning just in time to pick him up... I'll probably never experience it. At least, I hope not.

They Are Just KIDS

This week is the spring performance for the Johnstown Concert Ballet - of which, Heathen #2 is a member. There are two stage rehearsals and one dress rehearsal this week. The first stage rehearsal was last evening - and all I can say is... wow.

This is not a "Wow!" of excitement or of being impressed. This is more of a "wow" said in a half whisper of amazement of how nuts some people can be.

I completely understand that some of the adults in the organization put an enormous effort into these productions and I have the greatest respect for them. Anyone who can organize more than 100 girls into doing ANYTHING deserves great respect.

But last night, I think a few of those people lost sight of the fact that most of those girls are children. Some of them are only 3 or 4 years old. And they were yelling about the fact that the girls were being loud.

Heathen #2's age group was dismissed for the evening in disgust. Some of the girls forgot part of the dance. Instead of taking into consideration that the girls are only 6 or 7 years old, they were berated and told that the director "didn't have time for them" and that if they had missed class on Saturday than they shouldn't even be allowed in the show!

I chose this organization for Heathen #2 because they actually do two shows a year. They do Nutcracker every winter, and then an original piece in the spring. They teach classical ballet - and the girls who leave for college regularly go into dance programs. I didn't want him taking lessons and having recitals in a church basement, so I chose what I thought would be the best. But now I'm having the same doubts that I had in the fall when we had stage rehearsals for Nutcracker.

Heathen #2 was not upset in the least by the tone of voice or words used with his group last night. Maybe I'm just being overly sensitive for no reason. And I know that I have high expectations for my own kids. If I had a quarter for every time the Asst. Zookeeper reminded me that one of the Heathens is "only 10" or "only 6" or "he's only 2" - I'd have ALOT of quarters.

It will all come together for the two shows on Saturday - it did with Nutcracker. And Heathen #2 is so excited about his roles in Hansel & Gretel.

If it didn't bother Heathen #2, then I shouldn't let it bother me. The Heathens teach me something new all the time.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

That's the day that BIL#1 gets a new kidney from BIL#3. They leave for Pittsburgh tomorrow and will be in Pittsburgh for several weeks. Hurray!

So, now I'm on "Kid Duty" and could inherit children at any time (day or night) depending on how the cards play out. Good thing I didn't do any cleaning this weekend! They are going to wreck the place!

Almost a Dozen

It's just shy of a dozen years that I've spent with the Asst. Zookeeper. Next month, it will be a full dozen - unbelievable.

We're both still living and still love to spend time together. Neither of us have any scars. Which, at times, is truly amazing.

He's still the same guy that took me out that first time. He's still laid back and easy going. He still loves to have a good time. And he's still sweet.

Several weeks ago, I commented on a Sunday afternoon that the van was in need of having its brakes changed. It was around 4 pm. He leaves for work at 6pm on Sundays. He spent most of his last two hours before work changing the brakes on my car. I remember thinking he was crazy. It didn't need done that day. And that wasn't what I intended when I made the comment. But I was strangely touched by his willingness to do that for me. I think that's proof that I'm married. :)

Today, he has the night off. It's his week to only work 5 nights instead of 6. He picked me up at work and took me to the bulk mail drop off and then we went and had lunch. Just us.

He picked me up in the Fiat - that I named Charlotte as soon as we bought her. I let him drive. I know he would have let me if I wanted too, but I enjoyed watching him drive. He loves that car as much as I do, possibly more. But he bought her for me in October so that I would have a toy.

How many guys are worried about their wives having fun? He said that he had his motorcycle and that he knew I wouldn't be able to have one for several years yet - at least until Heathen #3 was a few years older. And he wanted me to have a toy of my own. And he bought Charlotte for me. I remember being surprised that he was so worried about me having a toy of my own.

Here's to the Asst. Zookeeper - I'm a lucky gal.

Missing the Past

Today, just before lunch, I had a field trip of second and third graders here at the Heritage Discovery Center. And I really enjoyed talking with them about immigration before they took their tour of our exhibit America: Through Immigrant Eyes.

I work with student groups on a very random schedule. Sometimes I'll have a few in one week. Other times, I go months without seeing any. It depends on what our tour schedule looks like.

Right now, if someone offered me a third grade classroom, I would go back to teaching in a heartbeat. The kids today were bright, they were engaged, and they were eager to learn. Everything that I loved about teaching. And I loved seeing the look of pride on one of their faces when they answered a question correctly and were praised for it.

Some days, I don't know that I made the right choice in leaving my classroom. There are days when I think that dealing with kids is so much easier than dealing with adults. Even dealing with teenagers in high school was fun. I always knew what was walking through my door in the mornings.

I miss building a relationship over the course of a year or over several years. I miss knowing their stories and seeing them change and grow. When I was teaching, I had so many "kids" that I considered my own. I loved seeing them out and about in the town. Some days, this office is smothering and isolating. Even a bad day in a classroom is still an experience.

I was loured away by the promise of opening a children's museum. And I do love my job here. I love the fact that I'm more connected to the community. I know what is happening about the town. I've met some wonderful (and some not-so-wonderful) people. I've made some fantastic friends that I never would have made otherwise. I've done things that I never could have accomplished in a classroom.

Some days, I think I'll never return to a classroom. Other days, I wish I had never left. Most days, I don't know what the future holds for me. All I know is that today, I miss my classroom.