Random Dozen

Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee hosts this weekly meme. It's a great way to get to know other bloggers and a bit about yourself too! If you play, let me know.

1. Please share one memory of your high school graduation. Pics would be great!
I am sitting here wishing that I had a picture to scan! They are all at my Mom's I think. I remember my entire family being here for it. I know that I had 648 people in my graduating class. I remember the party afterwards at our house. It was great fun as we celebrated the event.

2. What is one "emergency use" item you keep in your vehicle at all times? Only because my FIL gave it to me...it's a multi-use tool that is designed to break your window and cut the seatbelt if your car is submerged in water.

3. In your region, do you celebrate graduation open houses? Addendum: (If so,) how many open houses/bridal showers/weddings are on your upcoming events calendar? Yes, we DO celebrate open houses. It's weird because ours have been quiet for a few years. I have some I would LOVE to be at in Ohio for cousins and family members. We're going in July and will see them then. I love doing the open houses and am excited to host one for DS 3 in two years.

4. Tell me one truth you believe about motherhood. It's the toughest job you'll ever love.

5. What was the last thing you broke? My toe in Toronto. Hmmm...now I'm wondering if this is like "I broke my favorite dish" vs. "I broke this body part." Oh well...the last thing I remember breaking is that toe...

6. On average, how many pieces of junk mail do you receive daily? About 6 -8. This is NOT true for email where I receive HUNDREDS and they get socked away in a junk mail file...thank goodness.

7. Do you like to shop by catalog? Yes, but I don't really ORDER by catalog. I tend to "shop" and "browse" but never really follow through.

8. Is lawn maintenance at your house a "his job," a "her job" or "his/her job" or "that's why we have teenagers" job? It's the neighbor's job. He does it for a living and we pay gladly for the service! I tend to do the beds though.

9. Which room would you like to redecorate in your home? It might be better if this question asked, "Which room do you NOT want to redecorate in your home?" BUT I am so excited because DH has started the ball rolling to redo our kitchen. That's going to be a great start!

10. Do you read a newspaper regularly, or do you read most of your news on line?
I read the local newspaper online regularly.

11. Do you believe everything happens for a reason? I can't stand it when people say, "everything happens for a reason." Sometimes the reason, in my opinion, is because we live in an imperfect world. BUT I DO believe that all things can work toward the good...and that there are often lessons to be learned in everything: good and bad.

12. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? I am thinking if I had to pick one of these things it would be to "do things right". In fact, I probably fixate on it a bit much!

Happy Mother's Day...

Wow! It's definitely been a Mother's Day Celebration to remember! DS 3, LG and I went to Tampa last night to take my Mom out to celebrate. Here we are at Outback Steakhouse...one of my favorite places:


LG wanted us to take this picture outside....I thought it was sweet!

When I got back home, DS 4 surprised me with this cake he decorated just for me. He and DS 2 worked together to get up to the store where they were decorating them and have it done. I LOVE IT!

Since I forgot to take a picture of DS 4 WITH the cake...here we are at church this morning...


Here is LG giving me her sweet gift...a decorated pen and holder that I will treasure. It came with a beautiful card that she made. So very sweet!

And here's DSs 2 and 3 and I at church together this morning.



It took us a couple of tries to find a restaurant since a couple of our favs were closed...but we met DS 1 at Red Lobster and had a lovely meal together.

DS 3 and I finished the afternoon with a trip to Goodwill (where he picked up some "new" vinyl records and I searched for treasures) and then Target.

I'd say it rounded out pretty well! I love my guys and my gal so much! It's a treasure to be their Mom!

There's Often No Convincing them...

When you're a kid, you don't believe it. Even my adult children don't always understand it. There is nothing like the worry a Mother feels when her chicks are not in the nest...and she's not sure where they are!

DS 4 has hit the lovely middle school ages (for the record, these are not my favorite)...today he's out playing and I cannot find him. So here I sit. Worried sick. Blogging to pass the time while I wait. DSs 2 and 3 are out looking for him again. While they may necessarily understand what it does to me or why...they at least have reached the place where they know it's in the "Mother DNA".

It's always at these times I feel the urge to call my own Mother and ask her forgiveness for all the nights I came home a bit late and didn't call. I know she had her moments of panic.

I think it's how we're wired. And no amount of rewiring is going to change it.



{Edited to add: We found him. Actually, his brothers did. Still he doesn't get it. My only hope is that someday he will.}

Silly Bandz are...

Silly!

I remember seeing these on the office supply store shelves not long ago. I eyed them with my "teacher eye" thinkng I might think of something to do with them in the classroom. BUT I looked at them, thought they were overpriced, and continued my shopping journey.

Fast forward a few months and they started showing up on DS 3's wrist after school. It seems the high schoolers started wearing them and trading them at lunch each day. Now they've trickled into the elementary school and kids are wearing them by the armfulls!

Today as I bought a set for DS 4 and LG, I thought "I can't believe I'm doing this...giving in to the fad." While in the store, another Mother saw me and said, "You aren't by chance here for shape bracelets?" I told her we were and she said, "Let me guess, they're out TOO." I said, "No, they have them right there." And she sighed a huge sigh of relief as she told me that they'd been to multiple drug stores looking. I couldn't believe it!

But then I remembered all the fads I've seen come and go...jelly bracelets, beanie babies, and trading cards of all sorts.

Although I think they are silly, they will be fond memories for these kids someday when they recall trading them. Now if we could just find a different set or two to trade!

What Scrolling Does for Me...

When I scroll through my bloglist, I am touched in so many ways. There are stories upon stories upon stories that share the joy of life in so many places. I am touched to know there is such a community out there. And then I get sad because I just don't have (or is it "make") time to get out and read each person's blogposts like I want to.

Over the years blogging has brought me more joy than I can begin to explain to the "non-blogger". (Most people who blog get it.) And the fact that I've actually met some of you IRL is an even bigger blessing to me. With Summer fast approaching, I am hoping to get back out and really dig into blogs again. I want to get to know you better and actually let you know that I am more than a lurker.

Yep that's what scrolling does for me!

The chair will be empty

DH walked her, with 8yo head hung low, out to the room where I was working . He warned me, "You're not going to be happy with what she is about to tell you." Then, he tapped LG on the shoulder and said, "Go show her what you did." She walked slowly to where I was and revealed to me her toes. Then she said, "I colored my toes with permanent marker."


Now, I have to tell you I may not have bellowed all three of her names if I had not JUST taken her three days prior for a pedicure. I probably wouldn't have said, "WHAT were you thinking!?!" with quite the same fervor either. I definitely wouldn't have been as miffed if we hadn't JUST had the conversation about not coloring your fingernails and toes with marker four days prior to the offense.


But, I said it, "First. Middle. Last. WHAT were you thinking!?!"


She stood there staring at me. Unable to answer. Remorseful. Tears began to well up in her eyes. Then I reminded her what I paid for the pedicure that she chose to color over. I told her I was disappointed. I told her that her pedicure days have ended for now and that we would have to get nail polish remover and remove all color from her toes.

Admittedly as we hunted down the nail polish remover and cotton balls, I grilled a little bit more. I asked, "While coloring TEN toes with marker...over the cute little decoration that the nail tech painted on there...it never occurred to you that Dad or I "might" be upset that you did this??" She answered quietly, "No." I could feel another rant coming on. "No!?!?!? You have GOT to be kidding me!" Followed by, "If I gave you $25 in cash, would you just color all over it with marker?" Another quiet "No" was her reply. I'm sure I asked at least 25 times, "WHY would you color your toes with markers?" And all 25 times she told me she didn't know.

I know it wasn't the end of the world. Heck she hasn't even really done much "wrong" since she moved in last October! Still, she had to know that when we draw a line (like no nail coloring with markers), we are serious. She also needed to know that we were disappointed and that her actions have a consequence.

After removing the marker AND the underlying nail polish, I told her she needed to go apologize to DH because he, after all, is the one who TOLD her last week not to do it. She did. They snuggled. It was tender. Then, she and I started the bedtime routine where we snuggle together and pray. The prayer we prayed was one of thanks and forgiveness. It was one that reminded her that even when we mess up...there is love.

I'll be honest. As I left her room I thought, "This IS something I know we'll tell in years to come when we are doing the "Remember when..." stories." And we'll ALL laugh together. Until then, I took a moment and laughed on my own.

Then I wondered just how lonely I'd be the next time I'm sitting in the pedicure chair without her by my side! And I realized there was more than one remorseful female in our house that evening.

Random Dozen

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated? Well, there is NO question that BLOGGING has to be at the top of my procrastination list.

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night? Most nights, about 20 - 30 minutes to fall asleep. As for sleeping through the night, it depends. Sometimes I sleep solid through the night. Most nights, though, I'm up at least once if not more. If DH is gone, I'm up every hour!

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles? I really don't know for sure. I like the full flowing skirts of the 50's. I also like the pedal pushers people wore then.

4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd? This is an interesting question. I make pretty good enchiladas and can make them for a lot of people. I also make a fiesta chicken in the crock pot that is pretty good and makes a lot.

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse?
Sometimes I am. See my previous post about shopping at the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale...here's a picture of what I picked up on impulse. I did "sift" and whittle, though!

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral? That it is celebratory in nature.

7. If it's true that joy is in found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today? It's definitely in simple moments. Last night, all five of my kids and my husband were at home. We just sat and watched TV together and it was comfy. I love those moments.

8. What is your favorite type of bread? Anything fresh and hot!

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.) I have to work on selfishness on a regular basis. I fear that it could grow if I don't keep it in check.

10. What trait would you like most to develop? Hmmm...I wish I were more corageous. I found a great list of traits at this site.

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why? Wow, probably my family room. It's laid back...like I'd LIKE to be...and filled with pillows and blankets to just relax. I dream of having a home where people can kick their shoes off and relax...so while it doesn't necessarily mean that I'M relaxed...it's what I strive for and wish for others who visit.

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging? Can I just say my first instinct was to say two words: "I don't!" Things get out of balance for me. Seriously. I work hard to balance and some days I succeed...most days though I'm on a serious growth curve!

A Nudge...

There he sat, one leg folded across the other, computer balancing in his lap. He whispered, "Mom," as he turned the computer gently around to reveal the screen to me. And there, blazing across his screen, is my blog. He tapped it gently several times. No words needed. Message received. It is my DS 3's way of nudging his Mother back to the world of blogging.

All it takes is a tapping finger and those dark brown eyes looking at me in request. I'm glad for him. In our family, he is often the voice of reason. The methodical amidst the chaos. And in so many ways, this 15 yo can ground you when you think things are flying out of control.

There are no excuses for why my blogging is not more regular. I've been busy! But that is nothing new.

For the last week, I have been in my FAVORITE city of all....CHICAGO! It was our annual Reading Association Convention. I am blessed most years to be able to attend with some of my favorite colleagues. This year was no different. We work during the day...attending sessions...meeting authors...browing what's "new" in the world of Reading instruction. And, at night, we get to relax and enjoy each other's company.

While in Chicago, my FAVORITE flowers were in full bloom...TULIPS...

I am not going to lie and say this trip wasn't without disappointment, however. My FAVORITE store in Chicago was the Marshall Fields on State St. When we arrived there, I found out that it had been purchased by Macy's a few years back. At least they still sell Frango Mints there...which are decadent little mints that were sold in Marshall Fields. And for the most part, the inside still looks the same.
The other "change" that has taken place in my favorite city since my last trip is the movement of the American Girl Store. This is the first time I've been to the city when I actually HAVE an "American Girl" at home! Before I just admired it and had fun looking at all the dolls and accessories, but I was excited to be there thinking about LG. It used to be in an old brick building with a basement. I thought it had "character"...now it's in the Watertower Place Mall...which is a very cool mall...but not the same, in my opinion.

I have to say, though, once we visited, I could see just how much more space this new store has. You're not so cramped anymore walking through it. So, all in all, I'd say it was a good change.

Chicago is STILL one of my favorite places to visit. It's full of life, things to do, places to go, and people to see.

On our way home, we did another thing I've always wanted to do...we visited the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. This is an annual event that takes place in Vera Bradley's hometown of Ft. Wayne Indiana. I could explain it, but the pictures do a better job...here ya go:

When you walk into the huge convention center, here is what you see:

There are literally HUNDREDS of tables with Vera laid out on them. People receive this huge pink garbage bag to hold their choices. Then...they sit on the floor and sort their choices...like I am modeling here:

I will tell you, I shopped more on the floor than I did walking around! As workers would go by with armloads of new product, you'd say, "Can I see that?" And they would leave it for you to decide if you wanted or not! I made several texts to colleagues, friends, and family to see what they all wanted...so rest assured I'm shopping for about 6 people here!

Anyway, once you make up your mind...you get in THIS line to pay:

Never fear, though, people are sorting and dumping all the way through THIS line too! You might just see the one bag or item that you searched the entire hall for...laying on the side of the payment line. There is ONE more chance to change your mind at the register where they have boxes ready for this purpose. Then they lay your items on the counter like this....

After you have heart failure, remind yourself just how MUCH you are saving and how many people you are helping out, you check out and return to your car... tired, but happy at the bargains you've found and the fun you've had with great friends! (Note: We shopped this sale for FOUR hours!)

Sooo..that kind of fills you in on my last week or so. It was busy...fun...and refreshing. I'm ready for the end of another school year and looking forward to an exciting summer.