Hey Hey Hey Goodbye

It's that time of year again.  The time that I have dreaded from early in November.  The time when I am not sure how I will go on.  

Tiny silver, red-caned drop

delicious with silvery shine

Why are you only on this earth 

Around Christmas time?

I think that about sums it up.

Until next year (when I am irritated that the Christmas stuff is put on the shelves right after Halloween without even a NOD to Thanksgiving) when we meet (or rather EAT) again.

A Day on the Town

Ethan was at a birthday sleepover and Kevin had a lot of school work to do, so Ben, Will and I hit the interstate and headed south to Morgantown.  We ended up at Barnes and Noble, one of our favorite haunts.  After browsing the books and selecting a few, we sauntered over to the cafe' for a snack.

Here we are enjoying the lovely view of the gray....gray clouds, gray concrete, gray sky....ahhhhh, winter. 

After our first round of snacks, Ben decided he was still hungry and perused the bakery counter.  When asked if he could get something else, the thrifty mother inside me said, "No." remembering that we had used our 20% coupon on the first purchases.  He implored, "But they have stacks, Mom.  You know stacks?"  

I didn't know stacks.  I had never heard of stacks.  I inquired for further details.  "They are really healthy for you.  Everyone should eat them."  He went on and on about stacks and how great they are.  I begrudgingly left my hot chai tea latte on the table and walked over to check out the stacks that somehow I have not encountered for the first few decades of my life.  

This is what I discovered: 

That, my friends, is some insight into the quirky, sensitive, loving little jokster, known as my second born.  Needless to say, the stack stayed in its case. 

Signs of the Times

Driving home from the school drop off this morning, I took note of the sign under the local martial arts place. It typically reads the specials, "Special 3 months for $99.00" or "Families that Kick together....stay together" or the ever popular, "Self-Defense against Bullies" which seems to be their calling card.  Today, however, it contained a new message.

It read, and I am not making this up in any way:

Be Yourself.
Become an Individual.
Learn how.

Say what?  Being the visual person that I am, all I can picture is me, hair up in a pony tail, wearing my pristine thick cloth white pants and wrap jacket with whatever the first step color belt is, removing my shoes, showing up for class and having my Sensei yell at me for an hour, "What kind of eggs do you like?"  "What's your favorite color?"  or "What are your valid reasons for not liking Steely Dan?"   etc.

The martial arts program is now creating individuals?

My mind flashes back to one of the Monty Python movies, not sure which one, where the giant crowd is chanting "We are all individual!  We are all individuals!" when one lone man jumps up and asserts, "No no not me.  I'm not an individual."

I, individually, am amazed by this claim, and look forward to encountering the harvest of this new crop.

Holidays 2014/2015

The holidays have come and gone.  I should've asked Santa to bring me something interesting happening in my life to blog about.  Har har.  Actually I welcomed and embraced the laid back holiday that we had.  It was a pretty busy this Fall with me working more often.  It was easy to let the house go to pot as we all became a bit overwhelmed by the lack of organization and I became dissappointed with the lack of time to accomplish anything. 

We were at home this Christmas.  Of course I didn't get everything completed that I had hoped.  I am not sure if I baked even ONE Christmas cookie.  Pitiful.  Even so there seemed to be plenty for me to consume.  Gracious Aunt Dianne baked and decorated cookies with the boys on Christmas Eve.  Ben made 40 or 50 small Christmas trees which he called his "forest".  Ethan created the Gingerbread Apocalypse whose membership incuded the likes of "Too Many Sprinkles Steve".

The boys decorated the tree by themselves this year, as I was feeling a little under the weather at that point.   It's nice to get to the point where you are happy to have everyone involved in the process and you don't care so much that the decorations are a bit lopsided or that the star is catty wompis (one of my favorite words).

We weren't able to attend Ethan's holiday program as he was sick (sad!) but we all sad so proudly in the audience as Will "Up on the House Top"-ped with the best of them.  

See the little man there in his holiday tie??  He was all business, barely lifting a finger or making eye contact with his adoring fans (his familly).  On Christmas morning the anticipation of the day was evident and marked by all boys laying on the floor to peek under the door at the gifts beneath the tree. We only shut and lock these two ridiculously small half doors once a year.  On Christmas morning we are thrilled they are there because we are able to sit and eat breakfast without wondering who was shaking gifts and peeking at things under the tree.

Finally we opened gifts and enjoyed our time together.  Note the new pajamas the boys are wearing.  They always open one gift on Christmas Eve containing new pajamas.  Of course every year I think I will make them some, and every year I am scouring Target the day before Christmas Eve looking for the right sizes.   This year most of the time was spent with the boys pulling up their PJs because they were a bit too big.  

My sister sewed them all pajamas that they got on Christmas day.   A day late and a dollar short Dianne.  (ha ha) 

 My sister-in-law in Philadelphia sent hats that she knitted for every member of the family.  Yet again another goal of mine.  

One of these days I will accomplish what I set out to do....right?  But for now I will enjoy the gifts from those who love us and are more productive that I am.  Thanks!!

No News is No News

Not much to report around these parts as of late.  Time has been spent shooting hoops as all three fellas are playing basketball this year.  Ethan has had two games, and hasn't had much practice at actual "game-playing".  He looked up at us in the stands and mouthed, "I don't know what to do!"  Our advice, "Get the ball and take it down the court!"  Last game he made three shots on the basket.  Next goal: Have one go in!

Also on Thursdays we are double booked with two practices and swimming lessons in Washington.  Silly us.  We hadn't planned on the boys agreeing to play basketball, so we planned another physical activity and the result is running back and forth like crazy people on Thursdays.  There is only one more week of lessons though, so hopefully things will slow down a bit that night. 

Subbing is improving.  I am feeling a little more comfortable in my role.  It is very challenging to remember all the different variations on name pronunciation and jumping in mid lesson on a whim.  It is buys, busy, busy.  There is not a lot of down time in an elementary school classroom. 

In Will's classroom, his little friend calls me Mrs. Will or the more formal, Mrs. Will Maxwell.  After my stint in fifth grade, a friend of Ethan's wanted to call me Ethan Maxwell's Mom.  Silly kids.

Unwrapped holiday packages are piling up as is the laundry.  All the men in my life have been under the weather since Thanksgiving with E and W especially hard hit with the dreaded cough.  Will was up so much in the night, that he has already fallen asleep.  (Hence my 15 minutes of free time to post)

I have no cute pictures to post, but can refer you to Jenrsworldofphotography.com to see some shots of the boys that my dear friend Tami's sister took last summer on a whim. 

That's all she wrote.

Oopsie Doughsie

While shopping at the grocery last week I contemplated suppers "Would I have the energy to make homemade rolls one day this week?"   Since the magic eight ball in my head indicated "All signs point to no" I discreetly threw a bag of frozen bread dough into my cart.   I unpacked the groceries and went to bed.  The next day I went downstairs to find one lone bag of groceries that I forgot.  Of course, it contained the frozen dough.  This is what I found: 

Even though the dinner rolls had meshed into one giant roll, I formed two loaves instead and they came out just fine.  

SUB Stories

We had two days off this week for In-service and Veteran's Day.  I spent Wednesday at the high school floating from room to room as a 7:30 am phone call from an actual person indicated they were 5 teachers short that day.  So I quickly showered and showed up to report to my Dad's old stomping ground.....the wood shop. 

I suppose it looks a bit different now than it did in the 70's but still, it was fun to be in his space again.  I have memories of washing my hands in the sinks for fun.   Later that day I sat through a couple of Vo-Ag classes.  I could almost sense Old Ern breathing on my neck.  

At the end of the week I spent some time in Second Grade.  This is a little momento that I took home with me.

I mean, seriously Joe, you can already charm women at age 8.  Skills that will indeed come in handy.  However, I hope I taught you a little double digit addition as well.