Pomp and Circumstance

Pre-School Graduation. It reminds me of one of my favorite quotes...

Helen: I can't believe you don't want to go to your own son's graduation.
Bob: It's not a graduation. He is moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade.
Helen: It's a ceremony!
Bob: It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity, but if someone is genuinely exceptional...
Courtesy of "The Incredibles"

As much as it really isn't a momentous occasion we still treat it as such because of the big step to the BIG school. :) We had camera and video camera in hand. Programs at the ready and primo seats.. well for a bit at least then I had to be the annoying person running all around trying to get the best shot.

It was a great little ceremony. The kids performed "Upside Down " by Jack Johnson as their *act* and then while the younger kids performed their acts the graduates got ready for the dispersal of diplomas. They came back in cap and gown to pomp and circumstance. Parading in with huge grins. I was very proud. :)

I cried during their singing number but not during the actual graduation. I was sad for him because his BEST friends will no longer be with him everyday. He'll get to see them on school holidays but other than that we'll be lucky if they get together twice a year for a playdate.

Next year he'll make new best friends that he will hopefully have for a very long time but we will always remember his first REAL friends. :)

Congratulations my Graduate !! Watch Out Kindergarten !!

Cutting the apron strings

Today was kindergarten orientation day. I was nervous. Not sure exactly why. It's not like I'm the one starting kindergarten at a new school with a bunch of people I didn't know. Although the thought is enough to give me hives. So I wondered how my 5 year old will do. If today is any indicator, he will be just fine. When called to line up for the bus ride he let go of me and got right in line. I didn't see him for about an hour after that. He went to the classroom and did some activities to test their skills. He came back with a big smile on his face. I'm still hoping for the afternoon placement since we only have 1/2 day kindergarten so we will see how that goes. We also got an idea about the Outdoor Classroom they are constructing in the courtyard. The school is built in a huge circle so the courtyard in the middle is currently green. It will have a pond with water fall with fish and turtles etc. and another section where each grade will plant things and watch it's progress throughout the year. There is so much being put in it's hard to get it all in here but when it's done it will be spectacular. Now I just hope I can make it through the 1st day of school, August 31, 2009 without falling apart because I know Aedan is ready and he will be the one I lean on. :)

My own explorer

I somehow managed to forget how fun the babies are at this age. Alexa is discovering so many new things lately. She is the captain of her own ship, she marches to her own beat.. etc. etc.

She has discovered her tongue and she makes the funniest noises while babbling and talking. She has discovered the joy and yummy goodness of chocolate milk. She has discovered that if she screams loud and long enough she'll eventually get what she wants. And if that doesn't work she throws herself on the floor and slams her head into the floor. She must have learned that cute little move from her older sister. Chloe was famous for her tantrums. She can still flip out with the best of the psychotics. She has discovered that walking is a much faster mode of transportation with less injury to her little knees. She has also discovered the joy of sleep and how much happier Mommy is in the morning when she gets a good night's rest.

As much as I hate to see her grow up so quickly I am really enjoying all her new discoveries.

3..2..1.. Lift Off !!!!

I officially have a walker. :) Alexa started walking a bit last week and now is all over creation on 2 feet instead of beat up knees. :)

She is 13 months old so of the 3 kiddies she is my slacker.. waiting 3 months past the other 2 to start walking. Oh well.. at least she's up on 2 feet now..

The Honesty of Children.

Walking into Daycare to pick up the kiddies on Friday afternoon I was happy to see Aedan's class outside playing Red Rover. His little buddy Ryan ran up to me and said, and I quote.. "Aedan's Mom.... You look good!" It caught me off guard. But then I smiled and thanked him. Kids are honest to a fault sometimes. Apparently Aedan's teacher has been asked why she's getting fat again. (She had gastric bypass 2 years ago). Kids don't know any better. We have a rule in my house that weight and size don't matter. It's rude to discuss someone's weight and to comment on it. While driving down I-76 towards the zoo yesterday Aedan was discussing the guy in front of us on a motor cycle. He thought the guy was a kid. I said "No Aedan.. he is just smaller and really skinny so he looks younger" I was quickly chastised .. "Mom! it's rude to talk about weight" Jim immediately started laughing and I apologized.

I know I need to lose a few.. OK.. a bunch rather then buying all new clothing.. but I will revel in my compliment for a little while longer..

Operation Restoration

As was expected the damage from the fridge leak was worse than we first thought. Besides soaking the ceiling and carpeting in the basement rec room it also damaged the flooring in the hall closet in my dining room and in the powder room. So the kitchen floor, powder room floor and basement are definitely getting replaced. I'm not sure about the carpeting in the dining room which encompasses the whole 1st floor.

I called and scheduled the fridge repair service on Monday night. They were SUPPOSED to come out on Wednesday from 1-5. I arranged to have my father drive an hour and take off work to be there to meet the repair guy. He got there by 12:30 and I called home to check my messages to make sure Sears hadn't called... well they had.. even though I gave them my cell to cal with any changes etc. the message relayed that they would not be there on Wednesday. I WAS LIVID. I was so pissed I could feel my face go red and feel the steam coming out my ears. I called them to rant and truthfully I didn't even recognize myself. I have never been so angry and taken it out on a complete stranger as I did on Wednesday. I was so offensive the service rep asked me to control my language and calm down or else he'd have to end the call. I think my personality split that day due to stress and the evil twin called Sears. Anyway.. they refused to send anyone out so I canceled it and canceled the warranty I had set up. I have appliance Dr. coming tomorrow.

We still have the loud fans blowing in our basement drying things out. They came and got the one from the kitchen and bathroom yesterday. We had a quiet night which was nice not having to yell at each other over those things. So now they will come today to get the ones from downstairs. Then we wait. They took all the measurements and will submit everything to Nationwide. Then they tell us what they will cover as far as replacing stuff. I'm not sure they think we should live like this. My one year old is crawling and walking all over and the exposed sub-floor that is full of shredded wood. There are wood chips everywhere.. even after vacuuming they seem to reappear... ugh..

I just want a clean new floor.

Soccer Mom Status

I have officially become a soccer Mom. It didn't happen when Aedan started soccer 2 years ago. It didn't happen when I got a minivan and toted him to soccer in it.

It happened last night when I uttered the word "Bullshit" during his game. Not loud enough for anyone to hear but even I was surprised to hear myself spewing profanities at a 5 years old's soccer game.

Aedan is always on the *aggressive* game field with a couple other kids from this team. So they were playing the aggressives from the other team. Right off the bat we could tell that this team might give us a run for our money. A far cry from the past 5 games where we went in and massacred the opposing team. Not sure why but the kids play well with each other and feed off each other's energy. So they have dominated every time out. So they start playing and about 5 minutes in I realize the other coach is pretty much letting the kids do what they want and have fun. Which is code for NOT PLAY BY THE RULES. OK.. I understand at this level it's for fun and that's why there is no ref or goalie. But they are supposed to be learning the basics and the rules. To me that means follow the rules because when you move up in the fall the rules are the same except there are goalies and refs and you get penalized for not following said rules.

We don't have goalies. Period. So don't let your kid stand in goal for 90% of the game. We missed out on a couple goals because of this kid literally standing IN the goal. And when we score you take the ball back to center you line up in your positions and start over from there.. you don't get on the ball and run it down field before anyone can catch up. And when the ball goes of of bounds you don't dribble down field while still out of bounds and try to score that way.

Allowing the kids to play how they want will only cause big disappointment in the future when they are penalized along with the rest of their team. If you are in charge of teaching the basics then you had better teach them the right way.

We ended up winning 12 -3 simply because they were only aggressive to a point. They couldn't follow through with the goal once they got down field. Maybe the coach should concentrate on the rules during their next practice and maybe they'll pull it together for their next game..

Next week is our last spring game and it will be sad because Aedan has made some good friends. I hope he has a couple on his fall team and possibly in his kindergarten class come September.

Soccer Mom out..