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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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In Memory

30 May

Capt. Mike MacKinnon - Photo courtesy: USMA

I met him as we were checking out at the Target near our home in Savannah. He had his children with him and Andrew was really happy to see him. Andrew had served in Iraq with him in 2003 and they were members of The Long Gray Line (they both shared the experience of attending and graduating from West Point – he graduated in 1997, Andrew in 1998).

His name is Mike MacKinnon. Andrew told me how Mike would always watch “The Simpsons” with his children. That it was a special thing. Now, it’s hard for Andrew to watch the show and not think about Mike – and how he can no longer watch it with his kids.

Captain Mike MacKinnon was 30 years old when he was killed during his second tour of duty in Iraq. He died due to an IED. He died the year after I met him in that Target aisle. He left a legacy behind him with the people he met, led and served with – Andrew was just one of them. He took the picture below of Andrew. So very true to Andrew and I’m sure they all had a good laugh about it.

It is captioned: "Andy asleep"

Andrew doesn’t like to talk about Mike’s death – or the deaths of his other friends from the Army. But there are days – like Memorial Day – when he will share a memory with me or share that he’s thinking about them with others. I didn’t know them well at all – but I know that they – and those who miss them the most – will always be remembered.

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They Died for Our Freedom

29 May

Right? And the freedom of others? Protection? Safety? Honor. Country. NOT store savings.

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Makes me sad.

I have a huge amount of respect for stores that do not advertise Memorial Day sales. I’m interested to know when it all began. I’d like to think it started as a tribute to our troops. Good intentions, maybe? It still seems wrong to me though. I suppose we as a society fuel the discount days. We take advantage of it. I suppose some troops do too?

As long as we remember why we are getting those great deals.

Because so many died for our freedom.

I am forever grateful and broken-hearted for our military families and hope that Nia and Nate will always remember the true meaning of our “day off.”

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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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Summer Camp – First Week

27 May

Happy Campers

The first week of summer camp held a lot of emotions for us. I was nervous about having Nate in a new place and in a place that I knew he wouldn’t be able to get that mood-changing nap that he still needs. The first day brought tears from Nate – and me. He cried because he learned he wouldn’t be in Nia’s group. I cried because he was so sad and I was worried about him. By the end of the day, as it usually is, smiles replaced his tears and he couldn’t wait to go back. Nia was fine through it all. She’s pretty adaptable which is awesome. Now, they are both enjoying all that camp has to offer.

Each day they have Bible time, sing camp songs, play sports and swim. Each week offers a different theme to teach them about new things. Their first week was “Western Week.” I love the crafts/art they brought home:

Cowgirl Vest and Bandana Crafts

Cactus Art

I love her captions on her "western" picture.

I think I may be as excited as they are to learn what theme is next and hear some new camp songs. “Hermie the Worm” is cute but I’m ready to have another one sung to me on repeat.

See ya next week!

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Grosser than gross …

26 May

but real and kind of humorous.

That’s how I would describe the accidental discovery I recently spotted in a ladies’ room stall.

I walked in and saw that the can labeled “not a trash receptacle” was open. In this particular ladies’ room, this receptacle (such a smart word) is meant to hold clean bags to allow for proper disposal of, you know, girl stuff. I went to close it (because things such as this tend to bother me) and upon doing so, noticed the contents. Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the unsightly details but this is what struck me as appropriately funny.

There, obviously, was trash in the non-trash can. That trash included:

  • A used girl thing that shall not be named
  • A piece of chewed gum
  • An empty pain pill packet
  • And – an empty Heath chocolate bar wrapper

Yes, I was grossed out. But also entertained. I mean, it all makes sense. All of those things are often necessary during that time. Even flipping off the not-a-trash-can sign. “You’re not gonna tell me what to do!”

I actually think the grossest part of it all is that it’s likely that candy bar was eaten in that stall.

Whoa. Must have been a BAD day.

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Board Gamers

21 May

Wanna play checkers? How ’bout Apples to Apples? Monopoly? Life? Any trivia game? No?

That’s ok, when I was little, I would play them by myself because I loved them so much and wanted to play all the time. Now though, it seems I have produced spawns who love them as much as I do. There wasn’t even any DNA altering to ensure we would create a board game lovers. They just want to play (a lot) and as long as I’m around them, they will never have to be the only player for a multi-player game.

Even if they beat me like Nia did – over and over again – during a recent Connect Four challenge. Good games, Bean. Until we meet again…

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Nate – The Grad

19 May

A school year’s worth of art, including self-portraits of himself as Spiderman and marker-colored baseball fields depicting him and his daddy playing ball.

A school year’s worth of milestones like his first “girlfriend” and learning to write his full name, and many of his classmates’ names as well.

A school year’s worth of field trips to cool places, friends he cherishes, lessons about caring, sharing, ABCs and 123s, playground woodchips in shoes, stories, show-n-share fun and memories like playing catch with one of his wonderful teachers, Ms. Amanda.

Nate’s year of Pre-Kindergarten. We are thankful for all that it held and offered for him and we are hopeful his first year at “big kid school” ends with smiles and moments like these:

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