These boots are made for walking

This morning the boys were getting ready for school and Dill asked how many inches of snow fell last night. Well, the news had said we were going to get 1, however from the view out our back porch it looked like we had more like 2 or 3. Pepper said, "probably 1-3 inches, why?" Dill replied that he was trying to decide if he should wear his shoes or if it was enough snow for him to wear his boots. I said it looked like quite a bit of snow and why couldn't he wear his boots and put his shoes in his backpack. Dill explained that his teacher would make him wear his boots outside for recess if he brought them even if he didn't need them. Pete asked Dill why that mattered. Dill replied that he didn't want to be the only one wearing boots because they'd all think he was weird. I thought I had a good response when I said, "Honey, its January. If you lived in Hawaii you would look funny. But you live in Michigan.... boots any day here would look just fine." He wore the boots... and came home from school saying he didn't need to.... indoor recess. 

Our walking group almost doubled in size today! We looked like quite the little club speed walking around the school. Lots of people were impressed by how fast we cruised around the building... but it was nice that a few of them actually joined us. Our times around increased to 25 (we usually due 10 to 20 laps)  Pepper and Skip (AKA... the long legged walkers) thought adding the extra laps would be fun and rewarding... but I couldn't tell you why. All I could hear was Megamom complaining about her shin splints!! We all survived the extra laps... but boy am I grateful for advil and a hot shower!!

Thanks for reading. :)

Hump day

I'm not in a great mood tonight, so this will probably be short. It was a long day at work since I stayed at school until my meeting at church.... well, I zipped out of my building to join Megamom and Skip for a walk, then had to run over to the "Clothes Closet" to help Sal (short for "shops a lot") sort through clothes for families in our school district in need. It is amazing how many people donated clothing items over the holidays, so there were tons of bags to go through! 

My meeting at church started at 7... and gratefully was over by 8 or so. I called to check on the kids before it started. Dori said they had all been getting along... until I called. OK... I knew Pepper had ordered pizza and the TV show was selected by majority vote, all was well at home. The meeting was draining. Our church is suffering from declining pledges and increasing expenses. A universal problem but still frustrating. The discussions were lots about what we can't do, don't have funds to get or that we need volunteers for. Maybe it is hearing that there is no money at our church and also no money in our schools and then looking at our empty checking account that is frustrating me right now... but I could really use some rich friends/family.... or maybe just one lucky lottery ticket! 

After the meeting, the priest stopped me to talk about Macy. Macy is being difficult in youth group. Its not that I am surprised... Macy is our 'extra faith' child and can be difficult in many situations. I just did not want to deal with it tonight. I was tired and ready to go home. Priest B wants to meet to talk about how to make Macy's group time be more successful. Sure, I'll just add that to my to do list.... 

like I said, I'm grumpy. I'm going to go see what we have in the kitchen that is chocolate.

Not MEGA mom!!

Hurray!!! Megamom joined us for our daily walk after school today. She said it was because she was worried that her secret id meant that I thought she was a "Mega" (as in super-sized) Mom. That is not what I meant at all!! I am just so happy to know someone with more kids than me! Actually, now that I think about it, the first time I ever saw megamom she really was huge!! It was at our school district's opening day "pep" rally for teachers one year.... she was called down onto the stage.... I think it was to answer a question or win a prize, she was quite pregnant and actually was super-sized!! :) But she is not now.... big that is, I have no idea if she's pregnant again!! ;)

Yesterday, swim club started for the boys. The pool water was very cold because they turned the heater off during the winter break. The water temperature was 72 degrees. All the kids complained. Their skin turned a little blue but no pain, no gain right?!! The way this swim club works is the slowest swimmers (and those that can barely not sink) are in lane 1 and the kids move up the lanes as they become better swimmers. Pete has been in lane 5 or 6 for the last year or so, and Dill has been very content in Lane 1 since he joined the team a couple years ago. At breakfast this morning, Pepper asked Dill if he was still in lane 1. His response was, "No, I was the last survivor in lane 3." 

BTW... my suggestion for raising the water temperature was for the kids to pee in the pool. Pete was shocked and said, "Mom, sometimes I swallow a gulp of that water. That is so gross!!" Yeah, right... like I believe my boys have never peed in the pool. Dill answered that question quickly by responding with, "I peed in it. It was still too cold!!" Both boys laughed guiltily. I know my boys!!!

School's In!!

We all made it through the day! The kids all got up in time and made their school bus. Pepper even got up early to walk (I slept in until I HAD to get up to be on time for work!) No one was even grumpy! I think that even though everyone here had a very nice break, it was good to get back into our normal routine.

At school, one of my students missed the bus, but he came in only about 10 minutes late. (Teaching special ed means NO ONE is ever absent!!) I think I have the best attendence in our whole building!! The school secretary said that the entire staff was present today. The first time all year that there were no subs in the building. Today, was not a difficult day at school for me. The OT was in for about an hour (an extra adult in the room helps) plus my students had Music, Gym and Art. They don't stay very long in any of the specials classes, but tomorrow we have no specials.... that makes for a very long day!

After school, Pepper zipped out of school to watch Kiwi's bowling tournament, I walked quickly with Skip (we usually walk 20 times around the building.... today we only walked 10) because I had to get the boys to swim club. Megamom, another friend and teacher at school was supposed to join us, but she wimped out!! I haven't been keeping up with our walking routine at all through the break... so even 10 laps wore me out. I can't believe how sore I feel tonight.... I only took two weeks off! I do not get how walking can make my butt so sore... I must be walking wrong!! :) Hopefully, if I keep it up the walking my pain will lessen (I only like to be a pain THERE for other people!!) :)

Happy Monday all!!

Too young....

I remember being 16. Maybe that is why having a daughter that age is so scary! I'm not saying I was a horrible teenager.... but I definitely wasn't perfect. Dori is actually a very good kid... mostly. She has enough attitude for 10 people and is NEVER wrong! Our biggest problem is she is too courageous and smart.... great qualities for an adult, not so for an "its all about me" teen. In the last day or so lots of things have happened that make me realize that she really is growing up fast.

Yesterday in her facebook profile she wrote that she really loves her boyfriend Ned. I have told her since her first boyfriend (in fifth grade) that I did not want any thoughts of sex until she was dating the same person for over a year. Now I am wondering how long she has considered herself dating Ned. She has known him for a couple years now because our families go to the same church. I don't think they've actually been dating more than a few months. I am torn between staying quiet and wondering how long they've been dating and risking reminding her how close to the 'year mark' she may be! 

This morning she asked about going to the movies with friends... including Ned. Pepper asked how she would get home. (We will be near the theater when she needs to get there, so I had already told her I'd take her) She made a few calls and said one of her friends (also 16) said he would give her a ride home. Hmmm... I just don't trust any 16 year old driver, but I really do trust Dori and we did tell her to problem solve... and she did. I do need to cut the apron string at some point, don't I? I was just harassing Skip this morning for still helping her son (also 16) make his bed. This age is so hard!! They are little kids one day and grown ups the next!! Now she just said that the rest of the group are going ice skating but she and Ned still just want to go to the movies. Two lovebirds alone in the dark theater... no wonder I am going grey so fast!

Work is going to be a big issue soon too. She wants a car. She wants more independence. We want that for her too... but planning for summer this year will be hard. I want her to go camping with the family. Its hard to plan our trips knowing Dori may have a demanding work schedule to deal with. Plus there is the whole Ned issue. Do we let him come with us? How close will we be to that damn year mark then?!

There is a glimmer of hope for our maturing Dori. Yesterday she asked if she could stay after school on Monday and just hang with friends until she had to work at the pool (she teaches swim lessons 4 hours per week). I told her we needed her home to meet the boys bus because Kiwi and Macy both had meets after school and someone needed to be at the house. She said ok. No crying, pouting, arguing, or stomping out of the room saying life is unfair. Just ok. She is thinking about the bigger picture, outside of the Dori bubble. Maybe Pepper and I are doing ok on this parenting stuff after all.

:)

Paint Job

The boys came downstairs with a plan. They decided it was time to repaint their bedroom. It was just painted two years ago. My sister "S" came to visit and let all the kids pick out paint. At the time they agreed on a "Blue's Clues" theme... which definitely had a limited life span. The room is actually very cute. It has green grass along the bottom and blue sky with a big sun. Originally it also had real kites attached which gave it a sort of 3D affect. 

So down Dill comes this morning with a sheet of paper from a spiral notebook. He hands it to me without a word. I look at it. It says: "black, brown, white, purple, gold" all spelled correctly, but in definite kid scrawl.  I say, "Good morning! Ok, what is this?" Dill says, "Pete and I want to repaint our room. Those are the colors we want it. Come upstairs we will tell you how." I say, "How about you make a picture of what you are thinking and I will take a look." That sends the messenger upstairs to discuss the issue with his brother. Within minutes both brothers come back. Pete is now in charge of the situation. "Mom, we don't need a picture we know what we want." With great sweeping arm gestures, Pete explains, "We want the whole ceiling purple. The wall behind the bed white on my side and brown on Dill's. Then the other wall by Dill gold and the magnetic wall black..." Dill chimes in here that black attracts the sun and will warm the room. Pepper takes over and suggests that they narrow the color choices to two. They head back upstairs to discuss. Back down several minutes later they tell us they have decided on purple and gold... guess we'll have to think about how we're gonna make that work!

Our vacation is winding down. The girls aren't even downstairs yet... they are gonna have a hard time when we need to get back on our school schedule! Guess we'll deal with that throughout the weekend.

Welcome 2009!!

I'm really having a great school break. I am feeling tired and did not get all the things I wanted to get done but I did get to do a lot of things I didn't plan on too. The visit with my sister, LM and her family went great... I am so glad they came to stay with us. All of our traveling to Dad B and Dad D's family was nice. Visiting Pepper's family was enjoyable and Jay coming down to visit also went well. I am so glad we have started planning our summer camping trips. The weather was weird during this break... we had snow on Christmas, but also had rain, sunshine, sleet and hail since the break started. The temperature varied from 5- 60 degrees in just two weeks. Last night the kids went to Dad D's family and I have heard from most of them.... they all had a great time (and are probably still sleeping!) Pepper and I went to Skip and her family's for a fondue dinner that was very tasty. Since we have now done it two years in a row, I think it is a 'tradition' from Skip's point of view so I am happy to be a tradition in their family's life.  Got great gifts there too.... almost everything I wanted!! ;)  Again, I did not guess correctly, I think I need more practice since I used to be so good at guessing what I would get!  They gave our family  a monthly dinner from January until June.... second year for this gift too! (perhaps another tradition in the making!! :) LOL!!)  I can't wait to tell the kids, they were so disappointed last year when our "coupons" wore out. They really loved getting to go over for a special dinner, plus Skip's son has a Wii!!

Today has been very relaxing... slept in, woke up when we wanted, lots of cuddles, Pepper and I made breakfast together and have just been doing what we wanted all morning. Its almost 1... I guess I should think about taking a shower and getting dressed... or maybe I'll see if Pepper wants to take a nap.... such a nice way to start a new year!

Thanks for reading.... Happy 2009!