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Stress Case

15 Jun

Want to load the dishwasher? He’ll be there, blocking your way like a bouncer checking IDs at a bar.

Need to use the bathroom? You are going to have an audience as he will succeed in sneaking his 90 pounds of fur in the room with you.

Playing a board game on the floor? He’ll quickly end that as he turns circles and then plops down on top of half the game.

Trying to say goodnight to your kiddos? He wants to also. In fact, he doesn’t want to leave their rooms, ducking out in Nia’s over-flowing closet and not listening to you as you try to call him out of her room. (Because he will want out, likely waking up Nia/Nate to set him free.)

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Joey is a major stress case when it storms. That’s just a few obstacles we encounter when it rains. I’ve heard some people will give their dogs anti-anxiety meds to help ease their nerves. I worry about that because of side effects but I think it’s time we ask our vet about it. For everyone’s sake.

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Second Recital Reflections

15 Jun

Three sparkly costumes, a gazillion hair/bobby pins hidden in strands of hair, several applications of impossible to apply red lipstick and eight stage visits later, our Dancing Bean has her second recital all wrapped up in our memories.

I’m so proud of her for remembering all those moves! I am amazed by how much they have to learn. And – don’t forget to smile! She just had three dances to know too – some girls her age had four or more. Wowza. I think that’s so impressive and shows such discipline. These girls all love it too. The costume changes, the makeup, the dressing room fun and, of course, the performing. They even know some of the other dancers’ routines. Dancing backstage as they wait for their chance to shine. I especially love how they all quietly sang along to the songs before theirs.

It was a night to cherish and now it’s time to rest up because she’ll soon begin preparing for next year’s show.

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Ready for the Show!

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Passing Time Between Performances

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Bean and Honey

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Bean and Her Special Guests (Yay for Paul and Honey!)

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Proud of Our Dancing Bean

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Dancing Rainbows

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Our Sleepy Star

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Dear Super 8,

12 Jun

One Arm Paparazzi

You made me laugh, you made me cry, you made me gasp, stop eating my nachos, point at the screen and whisper to my mom who was sitting next to me in the theater. But it wasn’t all just due to the writing, performing and action. It was because of the city you named Lillian, Ohio. The city where I grew up.

I wrote about my excitement for your creation before but now that I’ve seen it all completed on the big screen – you made me remember and appreciate so many parts of my history – places I don’t get to see anymore. Where I used to play softball, where I used to take walks, where I used to sit and wait for friends, where I would drive by on any given day, where family is laid to rest, and where I lived and still call “home.”

Our house gets a few minutes of your time. It doesn’t do much – just exists in the background – but it’s there. Holding its own in your summer blockbuster. My second story bedroom window hovers above the scene. A window I would’ve been peeking out to watch it all happen. I used to sit and look out over Weirton Heights, watching the cars drive by on Pennsylvania Avenue while the smell from the metal screen filled my senses. Now, that window is a super star.

Hearing the stories from my mom/neighbors/friends, it was quite a spectacle to see your production in our town. (Pictures that my mom took are in the slideshow below.) It was a town that used to thrive around the steel mill and have an energy about it that I’m sure I romanticize now but you made me feel it again. You ignited a renewed spirit around the city – with your movie magic and interest in a place that so many don’t even know about. (Although we were a Jeopardy question once.)

Thank you for your attention and for thinking that Weirton, West Virginia had something special to offer in your Hollywood cinematic masterpiece. Also, thank you for allowing me to leave the theater and excitedly (and obnoxiously) tell a stranger, “That was my hometown! Our house was in the movie!” I think you would agree, it’s a worthy brag.

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Summer Camp – Week Three

11 Jun

Week three of summer camp featured all the usual fun like swimming, new songs and games, but it also offered lessons on staying safe (Safety was this week’s theme) and baseball-packed mornings for Nate.

Nate loved crashing the ages 6 and up baseball camp. From what he tells us, he held his own with the older boys and by the look of his uniform at the end of each day, it seemed that way. Sweaty, dirty and STINK-y. He learned how to bunt and met new friends who taught him how to not “respect the pouch.” He still giggles about it.

During summer camp, the kids met with police officers, firefighters, a member of SWAT and the American Red Cross. They told me they learned about everything from tornadoes to fires and “not to pick up guns if you find some.” The fire lesson really bothered Nate. He told me before bed one night that he wished our house was smaller and that our roof was “down there,” pointing to the second story’s floor. He said that way he wouldn’t have to worry about jumping out of a window, he just could.

I suppose with knowledge often comes fear – and a mommy and daddy to comfort them.

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Police Swag

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Pretty cool caption, Nia.

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Escape Plan!

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Nate's Baseball Camp Certificate

 

 

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Summer Camp – Week Two

6 Jun

The second week of summer camp was a shortened one with Memorial Day off, Nate at baseball camp for part of one day and a Daddy’s Day Off on Friday – but the kids still brought home some art for us to admire. The theme for the week was “Things Outside.” When I asked Nia what she learned about, her response was, “I don’t know.” How fascinating. I did get a few nuggets of wisdom from her involving her art:

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"Stick bugs look weird but I already knew that."

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"These are sail-man hats." She made hers at camp but then came home and made me a special one. Extra awesome.

Nate brought home one of his drawings and he asked me to, “Find the wasp, Mommy.” I felt so bad as I pointed at just about everything on the paper, never once hitting the wasp. He laughed at my silliness because he just couldn’t understand why I couldn’t see that wasp.

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Betcha can't find the wasp in Nate's drawing. Nope. That's not it.

They may not be retaining everything they learn while at summer camp but it seems this fish’s face sums up the time they are having there.

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Love Nia's Happy Face Hand Fish

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Commutertainment

3 Jun

I’m learning to make the most of my often 90 minute (one-way) commute to and from work. Some of my entertainment includes:

  • Challenging myself to drive with my left foot instead of my right one. I made it half-way and then forgot and resorted back. It’s harder than it sounds.
  • Double-daring myself to drive without AC when the thermometer said 100. I did it but was sweat-y.
  • Successfully retrieving my water cup from the passenger floor after it fell. I’m proud of my wheel action to convince my cup to come closer…closer…
  • Singing, torso dancing and pointing at other cars. I really love people’s reactions.
  • Actually trying to win radio station contests. I got through a few times but was never the winning caller. Still felt victory though – I’ve experienced a ton of “try your call again” messages.
  • Creating stories in my head about the people I see in other cars. I’ve married some, beat up others and felt really bad for many more.
  • Taking off my pantyhose. It. Was. Necessary. They were control top.

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Summer Reading – When Do We Start?

2 Jun

I am loving Nia’s suggested summer reading list. Harry Potter, Judy Blume, Nancy Drew and Chronicles of Narnia? What a great list! I’ve been waiting for the day to introduce her to Harry. I can only hope she enjoys the Harry Potter series half as much as I do. (That way I can at least talk about them with her after I re-read them for the I-lost-count time.)

Along with the books of her choice, Nia will add the dictionary to her reads, just because she’s been wanting to learn more vocabulary words. (Awesome.)

I wonder which book she’ll want to explore first?

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Home Run for Kindness

31 May

Spilled Corn

The Gwinnett Braves may have lost on Monday night but Nia won in acts of kindness while we were there.

When her little brother spilled a good bit of his bag of popcorn on the ground, she didn’t even hesitate with her selfless actions. She scooped several handfuls of her popcorn into his bag. It. Was. Beautiful. For all their picking on each other, it’s so wonderful to witness such a unprompted display of sharing. She didn’t stop there either. She continued to share her snack long after Nate had eaten his last kernel.

Sure. The G-Braves got crushed 12-2 but we got to see some great plays, exciting foul balls that flew above and near our section (Nate was ready to catch them), incredible fireworks and a whole lotta big sister sweetness. Great night at the ballpark.

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Winning Spirits

28 May

Fact: They really wanted to play baseball.

Fact: They had the tiniest, youngest players on their team – quite a few experiencing t-ball for the first time.

Fact: They looked ADORABLE in their uniforms.

Fact: They loved the snacks at the end of the games.

Fact: They played a whole season and never won a game once. That tie felt really good to our boys.

Fact: They learned a lot about baseball and showed fans some great plays.

Fact: They all said, “Whoa!” when the player from the other team hit the ball over the fence.

Fact: They all yelled “yes” in unison in the huddle after each game when Andrew asked them, “Did you have fun today?!”

Fact: We are proud of our boys.


Must Disregard Proper Social Behavior to Enter

27 May

I mean, the carnival wasn’t all that bad. It’s just, ew. When did I become such a proper adult? I really am not all that proper. In fact, sometimes, my manners are lost behind my belches, holy jeans and loud talking. But:

Why aren’t you wearing a shirt, sir? We are not at the pool, lake or beach. And what ever happened to hygiene? The whiffs of body odor mixed with cigarette smoke made my stomach turn more than the spinning rides. And what about just a little decency for other people? Crowding and foul language are pretty much typical at any event like this but we saw one woman move her child to another seat because she didn’t like her daughter sitting in the same car as another child. (Andrew and I believe it involved a race issue. So disgustingly sad.)

Whee!

I suppose these are all adult things to witness and let influence our experience. Nia and Nate didn’t have a clue about any of it. All they knew was that the rides were AWESOME (especially the pirate ship one that Nia wanted to ride over and over again and the spinning tea cups that cracked us up watching them get dizzier than they’ve ever dizzied themselves before) and that the $5 cotton candy and the $5 funnel cake were AWESOME.

I often try to look at situations through their eyes, so I won’t be such a proper adult. It’s hard though when our children act more proper than so many adults. Even when they are out-of-their minds with excitement because they are having, “the best night ever,” as Nia described it. I’m so glad they did. That makes it all worth it for me.

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