Checklist: Day One

CHECKLIST: DAY ONE

Wake-up time - 8am

Exercise - all 5 of us got up and either ran, walked or biked around the track (lasted maybe 20 minutes - it was already soo hot)

TV watched - episode of Peter Rabbit, Arthur & fraction of Good Luck Charlie

Games played - Mii-U, Book Worm, Temple Run, Candy Crush

Songs played - "22" and "Trouble" by Taylor Swift, over and over and over

Swimming - none (neighborhood pool closed)

Errands ran -  3 haircuts, and stop offs at 5 stores. That's a lot of seat belts buckling and unbuckling.

Food eaten out - none (amazing).  I take that back - drinks at Sonic.

Sports activities - Baseball practice

Activities - Create-your-own shirt

Bedtime - after several games of Tenzi (dice game, very fun), a rip-roaring wrestling match I had no part of that destroyed my bed, and half-hour of reading - 10:30pm.  Not great.

Can you tell I was a summer camp counselor and still believe in schedules, or at least a general lay out for the day.  This is also why my oldest, without fail, will ask every night, "So, what are we doing tomorrow?"  As much as I may build up the, "It's summer!  Let's see what happens.  Let's play it by ear.  Let's just relax," he has to know by now I always have a grand plan and checklist ready at will. I"m still learning to live spontaneously.

But, I have to (get to) work tomorrow.  So, I'm handing the summer play book off to Kenny.  Who knows what kind of day they'll have. If he's lucky some incredibly nice friends will borrow our kids awhile so he can get some work done.  If not, I guess I'll find out tomorrow if glitter and glue are on his short list of activities. Or maybe it'll be a Good Luck Charlie and Taylor Swift kind of day.  I hope not - or the kids will dread having mom back and her crazy summer checklist.  

Intro to Summer

       

Last Day of School, Closing Chapel
& the Beginning of Summer

In my first and second year of college, I took a lot of Intro classes.  Intro to Psychology, Intro to Art, Intro to Communications, Intro to Health, etc. etc.  Weren't those fun classes? (I was a bit of  a nerd so I'm actually serious when I say that) But don't you recall those easy intro classes with their foreign concepts and ideas compared to the "this is your major and you have 4 years of classes just like this to look forward to" as being enjoyable since the information wasn't something you'd have to retain for long.  Well, I did.  And I may be alone in that.  I remember taking Psych 101 my very first semester and I came home that December and thought I was hot stuff with my newfound knowledge of the Id, Ego and Super ego, Maslow's Hierachy of Needs, and Pavlov's theory.  I tried analyzing everyone.  It didn't always work out so well. 

          But still, I love those 101 classes.  And that's what I was thinking about this weekend, or at 11:30am on Friday when the kid's summer began.  This weekend has been nothing if not totally entertaining and FULL OF FRIENDS, FRIENDS, FRIENDS, so much so that I'm afraid the rest of the summer may wane in comparison like those 201 and 301 classes toward your major.  BUT, there's still hope. And not to ruin my analogy, but those Advanced classes could also be great and pack a punch as well with the right professor, so enter me -- creator of summer fun. No pressure, right.  Expectations are set now, and I've got a job to do to make the next 86 days something beyond tv shows and video games.  And yes, I know that is a dream summer for some (Elijah) but there just has to be more, right?  I've got to make it more.  Sleeping in, yes.  Hanging out in pjs, yes.  Swimming daily, yes. But something more.  I'm still working on the syllabus (sorry, I dreaded writing that and carrying on the awkward analogy) so check back.  But for now, Summer is underway - this Memorial weekend with its going-out-to-eat, sleep overs, birthday parties, bbq's, and beach houses  - was the introduction.  

@ Floyds  -- friends, food, music & fun drinks

These kids are so tired.  

@ Galveston -- our introduction to the Hergenrader's BEST OF TIMES beach house & its backyard beach

The Ballerina & the Belly Dancer

It was dance recital night and I was determined to get my pictures. Of course determination isn't always enough. Sometimes it just takes waiting.

You'll notice in this picture, and if you counted, there is a Ward missing. 

I figured the best way to explain why Lanie is in cognito, is to walk you through the evening. 

It all started with a one hour prep.  Ignore the shirtless child.  Please don't call child protective services.  I didn't want her messing up her dress quite yet, if you know what I mean.  The movie worked wonders to keep them still while I braided and curled hair. 

A quick stop in the front yard before rushing to the theatre for call time.

The rest of us waiting in the theatre.  I tell everyone that sitting through recital is payback to Elijah for all the many, many hours the girls sit through his sports, but really, if he were honest, he'd tell you that he enjoys it.  Especially the crazy hip hop dances.
And my mom -- she'll tell you that this is the 24th year she's sat through a dance recital.

And probably my dad too.

Because pictures with a flash during the show were a no-no, I opted to just watch and enjoy.  I'm glad I did.  I was on the edge of my seat watching dance #2 Jai Ho (Lydia) and dance #4 - A Dream is a Wish (Lanie) and was giddy along with a few tears.  I was such a proud mama.

I did grab my camera at the end of the finale when the students with perfect attendance were called. We Wards really, really like perfect attendance. :-)
Lydia looks fine.
But, Lanie - she won't look up.

Still won't look up.
I whisper to Kenny, "She's crying."
I don't think he believed me.

I get Lydia's attention and mouth the words -- "Get Lanie - make her look up!"  I really wanted my PERFECT ATTENDANCE picture.

It wasn't going to happen.  Lanie wanted no part in looking out into the sea of faces. I knew for sure she was crying.

And I was right.  I got this small glimpse and she's got black mascara running down her cheek.  I found out later that she, "Just wanted mama."
ah.

When the show is finally over, we go out to meet them.  Of course we are excited, inspired and still tapping to the beat of the music. We forget that the girls have been sitting backstage for over an hour - way past the recital high.  Lydia was okay with the attention.

But Lanie, not so much.   

She would not. WOULD NOT pose for a picture. 

But Kenny worked really hard to get her back to good. He's always a pro at that. 

And Elijah did his best. 

But get Elijah involved and someone is bound to get hurt. 

But it didn't last long.  Eventually, and I knew, if we stayed out there long enough, and quit trying to MAKE Lanie pose on my command - she'd come around.
And she did.

Take away the stage lights, the people, and the pressure and I had my ballerina and belly dancer back to good. 

And best friends. 

If I Wasn't Just a Lurker on Facebook . . .

I would have posted this picture -

Lanie's love language - blueberry muffins and fruit

And then this picture -

@ Hobby Lobby - I didn't rush this favorite activity - lining up families of stuffed animals

And then later, this picture -

Ice cream at Jason's Deli

Today was the last Lanie and mom day (sniff, sniff) - just me and her - before the summer of 3 kids and the Kindergarten year of all day, every day.  I wanted to eat it up - so we did - by literally eating all day, and shopping for umpteenth teacher gifts at Michael's, and Hobby Lobby and Mardel's and snacking on popcorn at the mall (a place mostly unfamiliar to my children).  We had all day so we took it slowly, no rushing, and that makes all the difference in the world.  A day where I don't repeat, "Come on, let's go, let's go, let's go, we're going to be late, let's go" is a day to relish.  I also caved and bought a lot of things for Lanie which I would have usually, and easily said no.  It's just so easy with the attention of one kid to treat them special.  And it was a special day.  So I did.  

Amazing Grace

Grace.
Definition - an undeserved gift from God.

You can say it's coincidence, but I'll call it providential how God's GRACE peaked in every aspect of my Saturday.

The morning began with a Women's Prayer Breakfast - bright, spring, fun colors, women of all ages, from grandmothers to granddaughters, dressed in their fashionable best, and fellowship and prayer on the itinerary.  I picked up the bulletin and was met with the verse of the hour from Ephesians 2:8 - "For it is be GRACE you have been saved through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift from God. . . . "  My good friends Kendra and Tomika opened the breakfast with an Amazing Grace medley, and it was lovely and perfect for the cheery occasion.



            I left the breakfast to head over to the sanctuary because there, opposite the women filled with light-hearted joy at the gift of God's grace, was a family in a completely different circumstance.  This family was mourning the loss of their infant daughter Emma who they were given 48 days to love before she left them to be with her heavenly father.  When I opened the funeral bulletin, I wasn't surprised that the first song was Amazing Grace.  How extraordinary that in joy or sorrow, we can sing about God's Grace and its "sweet sound that saves a wretch like me." This message that "His Grace will lead me home" is a comfort not only for us who are preparing for that day, but to the young mother who only through amazing grace, let her little girl be led home, even though she wanted her on earth with her.  When I gave this young mother a hug after the funeral, she said something to me that I don't think I will ever forget.  As I fumbled for words, she looked at me with her exhausted eyes, eyes that have seen too much in the past 48 days and said, "You don't have to say anything.  It's okay.  I'm at peace.  I really am.  I feel a calm.  She was a gift to us." And I can hardly stop crying to type her words, but I wanted them down.  I want every reader to know this faithful family, this family who has every right (in our opinion) to scream at God, understands God's amazing grace in the gift of their little Emma and in ways that her life and death will forever change them.

But my Saturday of Grace didn't stop there.  We prepared for the rest of the afternoon - retirement party, birthday party, baseball game and then the big dance recital we had been waiting for.  I hope to sneak in more pictures about the fantastic dance recital that I sat through twice (and would have sat through again because it was so good).  But I'll save that for another day.  

What I love about life is how is comes full circle - I sat down to look at my bulletin, and there on the cover was all I needed to bookend my day.

Full Of Grace.
Full - "my cup runneth over."
With Grace.
A Gift.
For you and for me.

The Office

I can't believe I stayed up til 1am but I had to see the 2 hour Office finale. We've invested a lot of time in this show, nine years so it seems only right to give the show its due and watch it in one sitting.

I won't lie, I'm a little teary-eyed (and also really tired). But I Loved it! I'll even put it up there near the Cheers farewell. Not above it because nothing can beat the Sam and Diane finale, but Pam and Jim were a pretty close second.

Thank you Dunder Mifflin for all the laughs.

Cel-e-brate Good Times, Come on!

I noticed throughout the week that every single Ward had something to celebrate, some bigger than others, but still something to share. So, before I miss an entire week, here's to accomplishments.

Kenny -- proud member of the Law-School-Loan-paid-off-club.  What?  It's a thing. But, yes, we are incredibly happy that his 30-year loan was taken care of in 13-years.  Now maybe, we can start saving for at least one kid to go to college. Or  not. Elijah has expressed a lot of interest in being a Dairy Queen employee.



Elijah - after two hits, scoring a run and getting a RBI,  he was given the Game Ball.  We still didn't win the game, but that's kind of the way of things lately.  But it's fun to watch him and all the boys when they do something well.

I have been wondering though, after watching last night's game, and some questionable ump decisions,  if it would be a good idea for Elijah to try an individual sport - like tennis, golf, karate, or his father's wish - cross country.  And maybe it wouldn't stress me out as much.

Another accomplishment - just today, Elijah passed his 100 multiplication fact test.  I'm not sure what this means in the world of school, but this 3rd grader felt like hot stuff.





Lydia - passed her Level 3 test during swim lessons last night.  I only mention this because we've never done "real" swim lessons that weren't in someone's backyard, so actually passing a swim test and getting a RED CROSS card was a big deal to this Red-Cross card-carrying member. Secondly, Lydia spent all her birthday money and bought her first and most likely only, American Girl doll.  If you have girls then you know that there is a little bit of crazy that surrounds these dolls.  We took her to the store on Sunday - and we were all overwhelmed with not only the depth of dolls but the amount of the price tag.  That was one smart lady (I trust it was a woman and not a man) who took a doll, a historical background, and made it into the commercialized world that it is.

Lanie - these are going to seem like celebrations I'm really reaching for, but truly they are not.  Lanie learned how to blow bubbles through her nose underwater.  This doesn't sound major, but think about it, once a kid learns how to do that, the whole world of water opens up to them.  Now they can go longer underwater and they can flip somersaults without getting water up their nose.  It is a big accomplishment.
And another thing ---- Lanie is really proud of this one -- she always has to ask me if she's got her shoes on the right feet.  She's been correct quite a lot lately and when I told her the other day that yes, she was right, in her little excited voice she said, "Mommy, I know my feet now.  I keep knowing them!"  This coming from the girl who regularly wears left on right and right on left and when told to change it, her usual response is, "I'm okay with that."  See now -- getting it right more than wrong is a big deal to this 4-year-old.


Jen - after deliberating a few days, I gave my principal the commitment to take this part-time gig of teacher/librarian and work full-time starting in August.
We shall see where this leads me.
One benefit:  I  have my own parking spot.  I feel very important. :-)

Lovin' on Lydie

Before the clock strikes midnight, I needed to give my 7-year-old Birthday Girl some wishes from me.

Wish #1: untangled, long hair
Wish #2: a closet full of clothes that your sister won't steal
Wish #3: time alone so you can get get lost in your own world
Wish #4: no fears, no anxiety
Wish $5: a treehouse to climb
Wish #6: good friends who will see your kind heart
Wish #7:  for Jesus to live in all you do

Love to you, Lydie Lou.
Happy Birthday!

Braggin' on E

I tend to talk about the girls a lot (and since Lydia's birthday is tomorrow - even more) because I spend more time with them sitting at dance practices and swim lessons, and hanging out while the boys go to baseball practices. But this post is all about E, and since I'm cramming in a week, quite long.

LSA had their elementary Spring Program on Tuesday night. I am such a sucker for programs.  I don't care if my kid is hidden in the back row and never makes it to the microphone, I will be there will bells on, and camera ready.  Actually, that's a lie, it seems every time we have a must-have-camera experience, I forget it or the battery dies.   We give thanks for cell phones with mediocre camera settings.

Lucky for Elijah's shorter height, we usually don't have to crane our necks to see him.  Oh, but he can't stand that he was put in the front this year.  One day out of the blue, totally out of the blue, like he was having a conversation in his head, he blurts out, "I just don't know why I'm in the front.  I'm taller than Madison and Mina and they aren't in the front."  I'm pretty good at conversation whip-lash, so I figured it out, but it became so apparent that this really bothered him.  The same thing happened earlier in the year when he starting complaining about where he has to stand in alphabetical order (between two girls) and he never gets to stand by his friends.  He blamed Kenny for not taking my "B" last name.  He's just funny; the things that get him out of sorts.

But back to the program.  It had a patriotic theme which is always a sure thing.  If I wasn't emotional before, I was emotional then. And now my kid knows the star-spangled banner and the history behind the Liberty Bell and Statue of Liberty.  I applaud any music teacher who can teach 8,9, and 10-year-olds a 3-part-harmony.  The best part though is catching the eye of another parent.  We all share in the same desires - to see what our kids know. To see what they learn in those hours we are not with them. To see them looking sharp.  To see them be apart of something.  For some parents, to see their kids in the spotlight, if for only a second.  I took great pride in watching Elijah stand in the front row, belting out songs, and doing yee-haw motions with appropriate vigor.  I'm so glad he was in the front row, because then he couldn't see anyone behind him to know that not every 3rd grader was as involved as he was.  And I know singing and doing hand motions are not for every kid, but as long as he's up for it, I'll take pride in my patriot.

On Wednesday, I took off work for another field trip.  I figure as long as I just have substitute status, I can get away with it.  Elijah's 3rd grade class went to the Houston Heritage Society.  At first E didn't want me to go but he said it so delicately.  One night when I asked about it, he said, "Uh, well, I don't want to be mean, but, um, you don't have to go."  Of course, I was a little hurt but figured I'd wait a day and ask again.  Sure enough, this time, his response:  "I don't care.  You can come if you want."  Nice, right?  But, I wasn't going to miss it.  For those of you in Houston, take a trip to the Heritage Society. It's a park right downtown. It's great history of Houston's pioneer days.  I think we all learned a lot.
And I learned that Elijah likes to be cool with his friends.  He wasn't rude, but for the first time, I could see the kid who prefers mom to be near, but not in the mix.  Gone are the days of hand-holding and crossing streets.

Last Elijah-centric thing.  He had an 8pm baseball game.  Short story - tough loss. They have all been tough losses and hard to sit through at times.  But my take-away from it, for him, is that he's going to be okay win or lose.  I was a bit skeptical last year when his team would lose and how poorly he took it.  And I've written countless times how competitive he is.  That hasn't changed, but after awhile, loss after loss, you start to see it for what it is - a game, and a record that no one will ever be concerned about after the season is over.  A win would be nice.  But, to sound completely cliche, I want him to love the game.

Actually, one more thing to brag about - I got my hair trimmed yesterday and added some bangs. All day it was trimmed.  Not a single person noticed until after dinner when Elijah, of all people, said, "Your hair looks shorter mom; what'd you do?"
Love him.

Kite Days

It was a kite day.  You know those kind.  Where there's a breeze, but not a harsh wind.  There's sun but without humidity.  There are three happy kids who forget to argue.  There are three kids content with bike-riding, ball-throwing & eating outside to the point that their sunscreen-less bodies now sport a little pink hue.  

It was that kind of weekend.  When the yard work was done, for now.  When the house was cleaned up, as good as it gets.  When the calendar was empty for a few hours.  

It also helped that Kenny's birthday is today (May 6th)  so everything we did this weekend was prefaced with, "Well it's dad's birthday so he gets to choose" or "it's Kenny's birthday so whatever he decides."  One of the kids finally said, "But his birthday isn't until Monday!" I told them that as you age, you get more days to celebrate and in Kenny's case, the whole weekend.  Dinner with friends, sleeping in on Saturday, a day in the sun, Iron Man III, and golfing during a lunch break.  It wasn't an exotic locale, or a super duper surprise party, but not too shabby for 3-9. 

But if I was to get mushy, and I will for just a sec, my dear hubby deserves a great deal for all the crazy he puts up with at our house.  He's the calm to our otherwise stormy sea and the anchor to our little boat.  I really don't know why I got all nautical. But I give all thanks to God for knowing exactly what He was doing when he matched me up with this kid from Nebraska. 

 Happy Birthday my dear - enjoy 39 and hold on.  I'm predicting a little crazy mixed with some kite days.  And I can't wait. 

Collected treasures

Lydia riding her new bike - and starting by herself

Lanie, determined to keep the kite in the air

National College Decision Day -- & Jeans

   I've been working for almost two months now, that means I've walked into Jackson Intermediate for about 8 Fridays.  And of those 8 Fridays, at least 7 of them I was terribly over-dressed.  You see, on Thursdays (the day I don't work) the principal makes an announcement at the end of the day that goes something like this:  TEACHERS AND STAFF -  Tomorrow let's make it a Fun Friday and wear out Wildcat t-shirts and jeans, or something like this:  TEACHERS AND STAFF - because of STARR testing,  let's be comfy and wear our sweatpants, tennis shoes and blue and gold Wildcat t-shirts.  Great, right? Especially for those teachers who tire of wearing uncomfortable pants and heels.  But the problem is, in all those weeks, I never got an email forward of that announcement and even if I did, I've never received a WILDCAT blue t-shirt.  Another reason it's tough walking in new.
    So, every Friday I diligently show up in my best flowy skirt only to meet teacher after teacher decked out in denim.  This has finally become very comical to me.

I was already preparing for my wardrobe tomorrow and when I say prepare, I mean I spent a little time staring at my closet from rack to rack contemplating shirts and skirts and pants and sweaters (because it's crazy cold down here right now -- what?? in May??).  But luckily, I checked my school email and I'm giddy to copy this forward:

Faculty and Staff,

Let’s all wear our college shirts and jeans tomorrow in support of National College Decision Day.

Yea!  I made the email chain.  And I get to wear jeans. And I get to search my closet for some Concordia University gear which I have very little.  I considered going all Husker because my closet is not lacking when it comes to red and black.  But I changed my mind.  What a great chance to be missional, and tell someone about my favorite Christian college in small town Nebraska, and how much I learned about faith, how much I loved the people, how much it shaped me.  I just can't pass it up.  And I need to give a big thanks to my in-laws who bought me my only Concordia-Seward sweatshirt which will come in handy tomorrow morning with our frigid winds.  Thank you.

I don't know anything about National College Decision Day, but I'm so glad it prompted Jeans day.  So go ahead, pull out that old alumnus shirt, I know I am, and wear it proud.

(I dearly wanted to find old pics of me in front of this building (Weller Hall), but with all the searching for jeans and Concordia clothes to wear, I didn't have time. :-))