Picnic in the Park and More

Yesterday the boys and I took a picnic down to the park near Main Man's office and treated him to lunch.

The lunch itself was nothing special - Black Forest ham on fresh home-baked bread, raw veggies, melon, cookies and soft drinks - but the time together was wonderful.

I hope Main Man found it as much of a boost to his afternoon as I did.

When we arrived home, the little boys continued work on their BIG PROJECT. They are in the midst of going through the massive amount of toys, books, action figures, and Hot Wheels cars in their room and playing "Love it or Shove it". They're doing a fantabulous job! I'm very proud of them. They're being far more ruthless than I would be. It's probably best that I leave them on their own to do it, or they wouldn't be nearly as efficient. ("Oh, but Sweetie, your Auntie Heather bought you this for your third birthday! You can't possibly throw that out!" There's no stronger sentimentality than that of a mother.)

In the evening, Main Man did something he hasn't done in a very long time - he went for a bike ride. #1 got a new bike this summer, so Main Man asked to borrow it. I sent him off the the grocery store for a few things. #3, who is a bicycle maniac this summer, begged to accompany him. So off they went - my oldest (so to speak) and my youngest - on an excursion farther than #3 had ever ridden away from home before. When they returned - well after dusk, I might add - both of them were pumped beyond words. They had had a ball together out on their quest, and they had even managed to remember to get the groceries I had asked for!

Brotherly Advice

Today is the track and field meet at the boys' school.

#2 is a little worried, as it's his first meet. Last night, he was anxiously thinking aloud, "They haven't even taught us how to do the ball-throw yet."

#1 replied with the air of contemptuous authority that only an older brother could convey, "I believe ... you throw ... the ball."

(Note the pauses for dramatic effect.)

;-)

So, what do you think of...

...this season's "Bachelor"?

The boys and I caught the show for the first time tonight.

The consensus was that he was a bit cheesy.

At one point, he was telling one of the girls how much he admired her spirit, her intelligence, her warmth, her honesty, her generosity, her sincerity...fill in any more cheesy-sounding compliments here.

#2 piped up, "This guy uses more descriptors than a Harry Potter book!"

Out of the mouths of ten-year-olds...

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

... for the safe travel of my dad, his wife, my sister and her husband. They have been in Europe since early April. We received an email last night from Paris, and it sounds as if they are having a spectacular time and that the weather has been perfect. They arrive home on the weekend.

... for the hard work and dedication of #2's Cub leaders and #3's Beaver leaders. I know I've mentioned my gratitude to them before, but it bears repeating. The wind-up night was earlier this week, complete with order-in pizza and potluck salads and desserts for the whole family. It was a veritable smorgasbord of good food and goodwill.

... for soft overnight spring rains that help coax the eruption of green but do not dampen daily life.

... for yesterday's rejuvenating book day.

... for strong early morning coffee.

... for last night's American Idol show, which helped me appreciate my own life so much more. It was more of a telethon than an Idol episode. I hate to admit that, as I watched it, there were times I had tears rolling down my cheeks. I hate when I let shows like that manipulate my emotions. Did any of you watch it?

... for the patience of my church council colleagues. I was elected to church council in February and I attended my third meeting earlier this week. I'm not sure I've said anything out loud at any of the meetings yet. I've sat back though, and tried to pick up the rhythm of the meetings, and hopefully, I'll be able to contribute something soon.

I Am One Proud Mama!

#2 came home from school one day last week very excited.

His class had participated in a city-wide writing assessment. Each Grade Four student in the system wrote on the topic "A Memorable Event" and then the stories were sent into the division office to be graded by committee.

He was the only student in Grade Four in his whole school to achieved a mark of 6 on his assessment, the highest mark available.

Here is the description of a piece of "6" writing:

This piece is full of creative ideas, with lots of interesting details. The lead hooks the reader's attention and the conclusion wraps the piece up neatly. Through the whole piece, the words are powerful and the writer's voice is strong. This piece is a pleasure to read or brings out strong feelings for the reader.

That's my boy!

Boys Will be Boys

Last night oodles of giggles suddenly emanated from the room that #2 and #3 share. Knowing that could mean trouble, of course I opened the door to check on the situation.

It appears that they were testing the new protective gear we had just purchased for #2, as he will begin sparring in Tae Kwon Do this week.

He was decked out in his new cup, and #3 was trying to kick him as hard as he could in order to determine just how effective it was.

I'm glad I caught them before they began to test the new mouthguard.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

...for the new minister at our church. Her induction ceremony was on Sunday evening. #1 was a server for the ceremony. I was very proud of him. I digress, though: our new minister is fabulous. She seems to be really interested in youth, which suits our family perfectly. This Sunday, she's going to join the youth group in a rousing game of lazer tag!

...for #1's curling season, which wrapped up yesterday. He had a great time, and it would appear that he is hooked. He's already talking about gathering together a team for next year.

...that I've managed to shake most of this terrible cold I've had for the last week. My energy level is beginning to pick up, and I no longer go into full-out panic mode if there isn't a box of tissues in my line of sight, so I guess I must be getting better.

...for #2's dedication to his Tae Kwon Do. He tested on Tuesday, and we find out tonight if he passed onto his first official belt. He was pretty nervous before his test, but he did a great job.

...that #3 brought home the right rubber boots after Beavers on Tuesday. We got an email this morning that one of the little guys went home with someone else's boots (a common occurrence at this time of year when just about every 4 - 11 year old wears standard issue Wal-Mart $8 wellies), so I quickly checked, and we're in the clear.

...for my Mp3 player, which I dug up and re-juiced on the weekend. I hadn't used it much through the winter, and I'm so glad to be using it again. I love the feeling of being totally immersed in my music. I've taken to wearing it when I mark books and papers in the evening. Now, that sure cuts down on distractions!

...that daylight once again shines through the kitchen window while we eat supper. I love when the days begin to get longer. I always look forward to that first morning of work after the Easter break, when my alarm is greeted by daylight.

...that April Fool's Day falls on a weekend this year. As a teacher, I consider this occurrence a special gift from God!

Have a great week, everyone!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

...for my job. At this crazy, hectic report card time, I often forget how much I truly love it. There isn't a day goes by that these students of mine don't make me smile.

...for my husband. Again, he often bears the brunt of my busy-ness at this time, but I do truly appreciate how he takes up the slack with things around home, even though it's often a busy time for him, as well.

...for #1. Last night I was telling him that I was getting too much attitude from him, but, all things considered, we probably get a lot less than the average family.

...for #2. Somehow, without our realizing it, he has grown into the most responsible of the three. He is meticulous about getting his homework done, he is usually patient and guiding with #3, and he actually cleans his room when he is asked to. Who'd 'a' thunk it?

...for #3, who can make me smile through anything. Last night I was at the kitchen table, books spread all around, red pen in hand, when he came in and asked me for a snack. I snapped, "Please get your father to get you a snack. I'm too busy." Seconds later, he was by my side, asking in his wee voice,"Are you too busy for a hug?" Priorities, priorities...

...for my dog. I often have trouble sleeping at report card time. You know, you've all done it - you wake up and you stew about unfinished things, will you have enough time, will you find that paper you lost, blah, blah, blah... Anyway, I have found that if I can touch the warm fur of my dog, it relaxes me and helps me settle back into sleep. And luckily, he's a bit of a cuddle-pup, so it works well for him, too.

Have a great week, everyone, and take some time to ponder what you are thankful for.

Thankful Thursday

This week, I am thankful...

... that our Oscar party is over for another year. After 17 years of putting on a certain type of party, you would think that it would be just a mere hiccup in your week, but it's always a major cough, almost a gag, no matter how successful. It's so much work.

... that Main Man is making more of an effort to turn lights off when he walks out of a room.

... that #1's braces are more manageable for him now. I was getting a little worried about the number of Advils he was popping.

... that #2 had a fabulous time on his Cub Scout ski trip, and that, unlike his father on his first foray onto a ski hill at age 10, he did not break his leg!

... that #3 had such fun on his first sleepover Saturday night. I think the family might be vegetarian. He said they had peanut butter soup for supper. He wasn't all that impressed with that, but had a great time otherwise.

... for movie nights with the girls. Even if the movie isn't all that great, it's nice to get out.

... for supper out with the girls. (Yes, I've had a big week!) Last night a group of us teacher-librarians got together and attended a fundraising dinner for the Willow Awards. It was an evening of delicious food, delightful conversation, and divine literature.

... that March has arrived, which must mean that spring is just around the corner. We did, however, have a major snowfall last night, so that corner may still be a little far away yet.

... that, even with report cards less than two weeks away, panic hasn't set in yet. I'm sure it will soon, though.

Have a great week, everyone!

A Glimpse into the Empty Nest

Main Man and I had the house to ourselves for five hours on Saturday evening. It felt like an out-of-body experience, almost as surreal as our Saturday evening out two weeks ago.

#1 was out babysitting for friends of ours.

#2 was on a weekend ski trip with his Cub Scout troop.

#3 was on his first sleepover.

I know what you're wondering - probably exactly what a girlfriend of mine asked last evening when I was relating this story to her - if we had the house to ourselves for five hours, what did we do for the other four hours and 45 minutes? ;-)

Anyway, as I'm sure you'll consider going down that particular road to be just ever-so-slightly TMI, I will turn the corner...

Main Man and I cannot complain in the least about our social life. Now that #1 can so capably babysit, we get out once every week or two - more than we have in years. Still, being alone together in the house is extremely rare - so rare that I can't remember the last time it happened.

Unfortunately, this rarity fell at a time when it was difficult to take full advantage. Our family was in the middle of preparations for probably our biggest night of the year - the Academy Awards.

Every year since we've been married, Main Man and I have hosted an Oscar party. We pride ourselves on certain traditions peculiar to this particular gathering. Every guest goes home with at least one doorprize. When an acceptance speech goes on too long or someone undeserving wins a statuette or a production number is just too bizarre (Remember Rob Lowe and Snow White?), guests delight in throwing marshmallows at the television. Every guest fills out a ballot indicating who will win each category - yes, every category, right down to best documentary short and best sound mixing - and throws two bucks in the pot. Whoever gets the most picks correct wins the pot. For second and third prizes, we provide donated restaurant gift certificates. We just don't consider it a successful party unless at least five or six guests are sitting on the floor. We simply don't have seating for everyone. And food! Well, basically, I don't sit down at all, as I'm kept busy keeping the kitchen smoking (so to speak) as the snacks and appetizers make their way guest-ward.

Anyway - I digress. Back to our evening alone together...

As I was saying, Main Man and I were busily cleaning house for our big night. I often say - if it weren't for the Oscars, my house would never be thoroughly cleaned!

We did take some time for ourselves, though. We ordered in from our favourite East Indian place and enjoyed a delicious meal of Samosas, Channa Masala, Butter Chicken, Basmati Rice, Naan, and Raita with a fine red wine. Our boys aren't big on East Indian, so it seemed like the perfect thing to do with them gone.

Still, as wonderful as our romantic meal was, it didn't take long for my heart to feel the stabs of hunger pangs. I really started to miss the boys. Finally, about 9:00, I gave in and phoned #1 to see how his babysitting job was going. He was doing just fine; he had tucked in the little girl he was looking after and had settled down to watch some tv. Main Man wouldn't let me call to see how #3 was making out at his sleepover. As it was his first, Main Man was worried I would make him homesick. But I missed him! Maybe I wanted him to be homesick!

Oh, not really... I know that isn't healthy.

Still, I've never really considered before then just how empty that empty nest can be.

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

...that yet again, after our furnace shut down in the middle of the night, I managed to get it started again yesterday morning. I'm especially thankful for this because the temperature was -28 degrees Celsius outside.

...that I survived having my teaching observed by my principal on Monday. I know I'm a fairly good teacher. I've never really had complaints - at least nothing serious - from students, parents, colleagues, or administrators in all of my eighteen years of teaching. Still, I experience nervous shakes whenever I'm observed. One more lesson to have observed, and I'm done for four years or so.

...for books on CD. I've been borrowing them from the library and listening to them as I drive to and from work. It's so great! There are only 2 downfalls: my car CD player skips when it's really cold, so I miss the occasional word and phrase - at least until the car warms up. And I have to choose my audio-books carefully or I could make a fool of myself. I was listening to Mitch Albom's For One More Day, a story in which the main character is contemplating suicide and is taken on this spiritual journey to spend one more day with his mother, who had died years before. Well, as I mentioned in my comment on the previous post, I tend to be a weeper, so there I was, bawling my eyes out on the highway to work. Luckily I had a touch of a cold at the time, so when people at work asked, I chalked up the red eyes to that. Not sure what that trucker who passed me on the road was thinking, though.

...for#1's band teacher, who has encouraged him to join the jazz band. He couldn't play earlier in the year because the practices were the same time as his volleyball games. She needled him and needled him until he finally joined last week and he loves it! I told him it was an honour to be so persistently recruited by a teacher. He said, "Well, she kept telling me that she was sure I would like it, that jazz is in my bones, whatever that means." I think it means that she knows him very well.

...that #1 still gives me a hug and a kiss and tells me he loves me before he goes to bed. He's 12 now, and I expect that may stop soon, but I sure hope it doesn't.

...that when #2 asks what's for supper and I reply, his response is almost always,"Yes!" He is by far the least picky of the three.

...that, on cold mornings like we've had for the last week or more, my little car still starts. It's an amazing little vehicle.

...that when my blogposts are few and far between, as they have been lately, people still drop by to see what I have to say. I'm especially thankful that some see fit to drop off a little comment. Thanks, folks!

Have a great week.

Streams of Consciousness II: The Return

Sunday...#2's first guitar recital. He's taken lessons for two and a half years, but his previous teachers didn't "do" recitals. I was so proud! He played a song he wrote himself. It sounded bouncy and Spanish, so he called it "Bouncing Ball", only he used the Spanish translation that he painstakingly researched on the internet.

Monday...Teachers' work day. It's what they call "Turnaround Day", the day between the first and second semester in the high schools. Students across the division get the day off, and teachers get to use it for catch-up or prep for the future. I call it "Breathing Day", and I worked hard. Still not caught up, but not quite as far behind now.

Tuesday...Went to see Babel. Wasn't nearly the profound film I was led to believe it would be. Left me depressed and sad. Didn't really make me think, just left me empty. Some have compared it to Crash from last year. Now that was a movie! It made me think and reflect. Although it had its moments full of sadness and despair, it ended with a resounding note of hope. If you are vexed in the future about just which DVD to pick up at the rental place, and Babel and Crash are in your hands, please go for Crash!

There's so much more to write, but so little time. Stay tuned for Streams of Consciousness III, coming soon to a blog near you.

Streams of Consciousness

So...far...behind...

Been trying to get around to visit all of the kind people who have visited my way before I post again. Futile. Must get new post up, or people will think I've given up on the Nook.

Booktalk. Huge distributor treats roomful of teacher-librarians to lunch. Then inundates them with talk of newly published children's books. Woman drones on and on. Is it possible to be intensely boring? How much of a challenge is it to excite teacher-librarians with talk of books? Apparently too much of a challenge. Lunch was good.

Also good that booktalk finished early. (Good for several reasons.) Am in the kitchen waiting with snacks when the boys return from school. Feel like a stay-at-home mom. Nice feeling. Warm and fuzzy. Coincidentally, Oprah's show that day is working moms versus stay-at-home moms. Shouldn't have watched.

In middle of busy week, get email from principal that I am one of the lucky ones who is on the cycle to be observed and evaluated this year. I see the point, but I'm still not happy.

Furnace cuts out in middle of the night. No rhyme or reason. Luckily starts up on its own in the afternoon. What gives? When will it happen again? Hard to be thankful on Thursday.

#2's birthday party. Heaps of Harry Potter. Men's XL black t-shirts cut up the middle for Hogwarts robes. Sorting hat complete with hidden walkie-talkie so #1 can provide voice effects. Make-your-own chocolate frogs. Potions: coloured vinegar and baking soda, Kool-Aid and club soda. #1 acting as a Dementor. One guest so scared he's in tears. Quidditch complete with pool noodle brooms and a golden snitch as big as your head. All go home with a goblet, two "test tubes" (that look mysteriously like bud vases), and their chocolate frogs. Exhaustion! Main Man has outdone himself yet again in the party department.

Yesterday marked half-time for the school year. Where has the time gone?

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful...

...that we are out of the deep freeze we were in this time last week. It's 25 degrees warmer today than it was last Thursday. Now this is manageable.

...that my dad and his wife made it to Hawaii safely. They had to leave a day later than expected due to a huge blizzard that shut down the airport, but Dad phoned last night, and they are safe and sound in their sunny spot now.

...that #3 has recovered. He had a terrible cold on Sunday and Monday. We kept him home from school on Monday, and Main Man (who stayed home with him) said that he slept pretty much all day. Keeping him home was obviously the right decision, as he is almost completely recovered now.

...for Chuck E. Cheese's. Although it may not be my idea of a good time, my boys (all four of them!) love it. It is almost always their choice when they are allowed to choose where to have supper on their birthday. As they bounce around entertaining themselves, I sit at our table and get homework done, so I guess everyone is happy.

...for Wal-Mart pizza. Last night, Main Man and I were fortunate enough to go out for supper - a fundraiser banquet thingy. The boys begged me to pick up a Wal-Mart frozen pizza for them on my way home from work. For $3.98, I can feed them something they love to eat. And you know, it isn't that bad, as frozen pizzas go.

...that my dryer, although it sounds as if it's on its last legs, is still working. Main Man tells me that, with the noises it's making, the motor will probably seize up soon, but it's been making those noises since before Christmas, so I figure every load I get done now is pretty much gravy at this point. We bought the poor old thing second-hand when we got married 17 and a half years ago, so I think it's probably time to let it die with dignity.

...that #2 has shown interest in another activity. Tuesday, he signed up for Tae Kwon Do, and he's very excited. His first lesson is tonight, and I hope he enjoys it as much as he thinks he will. (Aside: I have to tell you that I just don't quite understand these martial arts classes. There was a class in session when we signed him up, and it looked like these people were just doing the same motions over and over again. They were intent on their work and seemed to be getting something out of it, but it wouldn't be for me.)

Well, time to finish getting ready for work, I guess, speaking of doing the same thing over and over again. Have a great week everyone!

I Hate This Commercial!

I can't believe McDonald's is airing this commercial. How are parents supposed to teach their children how to treat others with respect and kindness when this is the sort of garbage they watch on television?

I can monitor my kids' shows, but this commercial comes on during programs I sanction.

What do you think? Am I overreacting? Or do you think these women (and their male friend) are witches?




BTW - Today is #2's tenth birthday. I can't believe it's been ten whole years! Happy birthday to you, Sweetie!

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

... a car that will start even when the windchill is -47 degrees Celsius. Toyota Corollas rule!

... a cozy house where I can sit and drink hot cocoa with my family when the weather outside is crrrappy!

... my dad and stepmom having the opportunity to fly to Hawaii for a holiday. They've both worked so hard all their lives, and they deserve to enjoy their golden years.

... the opportunity to stand in front of a roomful of ten-year-olds and feel the excitement as they learn something new. It's palpable!

... how much my boys love tuna casserole. (That makes what-do-we-have-for-supper nights much easier!)

... my library assistant, who is not only one of the most efficient, hard-working women I know, but is also an incredible sounding-board and confidante.

... those times when I keep students in at recess so I can help them with their corrections, and they actually thank me when we're done.

... students who say thank you when I check a book out of the library for them. (Heck - for that matter, I'm thankful for kids who check books out of the library at all!)

... #2's teacher, who called yesterday to let us know that he had left his backpack at school. Unfortunately, we didn't get the message in time to get the backpack, but I really appreciate her efforts.

Have a great week, everyone!