She's A Biker Chic

Another major milestone. 

Another last first. 

Grace has learned to ride her bike. No more training wheels. No more being left in the dust by her big brothers. 

This past weekend Grace picked out a big girl bike, complete with tassels and a basket, and decided she was going to learn to ride.

The first day was iffy. We didn't have much time to practice (rain) and there was definitely a fear of falling and getting hurt, but progress was made.

This morning I ran out and got Grace some elbow and knee pads with matching biking gloves hoping that would give her the extra courage she needed. I picked Grace up from school, she ate her lunch quickly, and we went outside for our second biking lesson. This time it was a breeze. Grace had a brave, positive "can do" attitude and in no time she was riding on her own. I definitely got a good work out following after her. Grace got up a pretty good speed and I was no longer jogging next to her but sprinting. I guess I have a new buddy who can accompany me on my runs.

And she can already push off by herself and turn around in the culdesac without stopping which makes my job a whole lot easier. Success!

Grace was very excited to greet the boys on her bike when they got off the bus. She rode happily down the driveway and watched as their mouths dropped when she passed by them. They were so surprised at how quickly Grace took to her new bike.

As soon as the boys were done with their homework they were out the door to ready to ride with Grace.

The sunny 74 degree weather was an added bonus, of course.

Way to go, Gracie! I am so proud of your hard work, determination, and positive attitude.

Bravo, my little biker chic!

Gee, I'm Good At This

My throat is raw. Raw and sore.

I'm not getting a cold. I just nearly screamed my throat raw, is all.

Yeah. I'm a good mom. Yay me.

I don't know.

I go along so well for so long. Ignoring the eye rolls. Calmly correcting the sass and the backtalk. Listening patiently to the whining and carefully reminding them to speak in a normal speaking voice. I break up the fights. I help pick up the messes. I squash the drama and soothe the meltdowns.

But man, sometimes, sometimes I just can't do it anymore. Sometimes there is a final straw. Sometimes I am just so sick of being "MOM!!!!".

A nice thing to think the day after Mother's Day, isn't it?

Like I said, I'm good at this.

*sigh*

Part of me thinks, well good, they should know that they have crossed a line. Especially with the back talk and the sass.

But then another side of me thinks, well great, I was just a fabulous example of patience and calm and rationale, now wasn't I? Way to go, me!

And then another part, just as disturbing, thinks oh so what. So I yelled at them. Maybe the little turds deserved it. I was yelled at all the time as a kid, spanked a bunch too, and I'm not so bad. I'm not terribly messed up.

Maybe my nonchalance at screaming my throat raw is more disturbing than anything else. I don't know.

Or maybe I'm just too tired to think too much about it anymore. Maybe I'm a veteran mother at this point who knows that I will be a perfect mom never. A good mom most of the time. And a crappy mom once in a while. Hell, no one gets out of childhood (or parenthood) unscathed right? I'm doing the best I can. And that alone makes me a pretty good mom. I'm trying. I'm trying really hard.

Tomorrow there will be hugs in the morning. We will all apologize for our crazy behavior and we'll start anew. The kids will learn (once again) that their mommy has flaws, that she is a work in progress, that she apologizes when she is wrong, and that everyone has room to grow. And maybe in the process they'll also learn not to roll their eyes, talk back, turn their back, cop an attitude, interrupt, or raise their voices at their mom. Maybe.

I can hope.

It's Not A Holiday Until Someone Vomits

Why do all holidays end in vomit?

Oh, yours don't? Just mine?

Hmm...

The day was humming along so well, too.

The day began (far too early, but alas, I couldn't get back to sleep) with happy children piling cards and clever homemade gifts upon me. Todd bought me a beautiful water fountain that I had had my eye on for the back patio. I drank my coffee and had a good long time to sit back and relax into the morning.

We took my mother to an early lunch and had a lovely time laughing and telling stories. After lunch we went over to Todd's mom's house for a cookout. More food and relaxing.

When evening came I went to my brother's tattoo shop to have an addition to my tattoo done. I had been wanting this addition for quite some time and I finally was getting it done. Twelve years ago I got a butterfly tattoo (typical, I know, but I loved it). When I had kids I wanted to add them on as butterflies coming from my main butterfly.

So, off I went to see my brother.

We plotted out the design together and then got to work. Soon, Todd and the kids stopped in to watch too.

Before I knew it the tattoo was done.

I love it. The kids love it. Job well done.

Then we all went home, the kids took showers, Todd made a fire, and we all sat down to relax for a little while before bed. The kids went to bed with minimal hassle and I went downstairs to sit in front of the fire.

Suddenly I hear Grace screaming my name. Back upstairs I go and find that she has vomited all over her bed. ALL. OVER. HER. BED. It was quite a bit. Did I mention we ate a TON of food today? Cuz, yeah, we did.

I'm not sure why every holiday in our house has to end up with someone vomiting. I'm not sure why I'm even surprised when it happens anymore.

I went about cleaning up Grace, remaking her bed, and cleaning up the dirty bedsheets.

Now I sit and listen. And wait. It is the waiting game now. Will it happen again? Was it a fluke? Is she really sick? I don't know. And I imagine I will spend most of the night waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I suppose it is rather fitting that Mother's Day ends with me cleaning up my child's vomit, right? It makes sense. That's what I do. That's what I'm here for.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

All Is Well

I sit on the back patio contemplating more flowers, new cushions, and perhaps a small water fountain. I picture where I'll place the plants, what I'll use for the fairy house this year, perhaps new tiki torches. I plan out my eden. I dream and plot and soak in the warm sun.

I finally swapped cotton sheets for the flannel sheets that have been on the beds since fall. There are few chores I loathe as much as changing sheets on bunk beds, but I still couldn't be too upset since this was the spring swap and yet another sign of warmer temperatures. Each night as I slip into the crisp coolness of the sheets visions of summertime fun dance in my head.

Today, I washed all the screens and put them in the windows. Every single window in the house is open and the smell of freshly cut grass wafts throughout.

It is May and a sunny 74 degrees. I will not take that for granted. I sit outside as often as I can, which is not as often as I'd like.

I grab my book, sit on the back patio, and read and dream away my free time. The 20 minutes go quickly and soon the boys are bounding through the door home from school.

Though our extreme busyness has abated, somewhat, we are still in the midst of the end of school year mania. The kids all had their spring concert at school last night. It was funny and fun and high spirited. I truly enjoyed the evening.

This morning Grace's class had a little preMother's Day celebration. Muffins with Mom, they call it. Grace gave me her sweetly and tenderly made gifts and we enjoyed our muffins and juice together. Afterwards the whole school walked over to church to say the rosary together for the May Crowning celebration.

When that was done Grace got up in front of church and read two paragraphs about Mary. Quite a feat for my little kindegartener (especially with phrases like "Mary arranged some roses in Juan's tilma on Tepeyac Hill" in the reading). Last week when Grace's teacher sent the reading home Grace had a mini meltdown worrying about how she would be able to read so much in front of so many people. She practiced day and night and her hard work paid off. She did a wonderful job. She was so proud of herself. I was proud too.

Yes, the kids are barreling towards the end of the school year. Large last minute projects are being finished up and field trips are being taken. It is a lot to keep up with but at least I am not feeling as desperate as in years past. At least this year I am not the "world's worst end of school year mom" again. Yes, I am doing much better this year.

This weekend I have one last concert of the season. We've had three rehearsals this week, another tonight, and the concert is tomorrow. Then, and only then, will life begin to slowly slow down.

Or maybe not.

I have to chaperon a trip to the zoo on Monday. And there are projects due. And meetings. And helping out at school.

Perhaps in a month when school is out life will finally slow down.

Not that I'm complaining.

Life is good.

Life is as it should be.

All is well.

Recovering

Our house looks like a funeral parlor. We received so many flowers this past week that we are literally running out of room for them. 

My body is rebelling. My muscles are all tensed up, stiff neck, sore back, and no matter what time I get to bed I still feel exhausted. Four out of the six of us have sore throats, and I really just think our bodies are trying to come down from being busy for so long. We are in recovery.

We are recovering from our crazy, busy, fantastic, and amazing weekend. Not only did we have the musical on Thursday and Friday, complete with a surprise visit from my best friend from Oklahoma and subsequent staying up 

(and out) 

far too late, we also had some other pretty special events happen as well.

This weekend Ben received his very First Holy Communion.

Ben was beyond excited. He kept saying, "I have been waiting my whole life for this day!" It truly was a special occasion. It was a little different from our past experiences where the children process down the aisle with a partner and meet up with the parents in the pew. This year the priest wanted the parents to follow behind the child as they walked down the aisle. At first I was a little disappointed I would be able to get a nice pic of Ben walking down the aisle but it turned out I liked it better. It made it more special to escort Ben down the aisle on his holy day. And Joey managed to get a picture of the three of us (although a little blurry).

Ben couldn't stop smiling all day. He said he felt so much different after receiving his First Communion. And now he can't wait to receive his 2nd, and 3rd, and 4th, and 400th! And that is what it's all about.

After the ceremony we went back to our house for a little party and some pizza and cake.

Ben received some very beautiful gifts and gorged himself on cake and ice cream. Before we knew it we had to kick everyone out so that we could get to our next special event. Grace's first ballet recital.

Grace was in tap and ballet this year so she was in a couple of different dances. The tap was a little iffy but the girl is a natural at ballet. It was pretty fun to watch. The way she holds her frame and moves through the positions is pretty impressive. 

 Grace is definitely aptly named. She is full of grace.

By Sunday evening we were all pretty wiped out. The exhaustion had definitely set it. It was a majorly hectic weekend. Hectic but wonderful. And one not soon forgotten.

High

Magic. Pure magic.

(practice, practice!)

After two months of rehearsing and memorizing and singing we were finally ready for opening night on Thursday. To say it went well would be an understatement. 

Before the show began I gathered my boys and told them how proud their theater loving grandpa is of them and how much fun he was probably having watch them. Right after I said that Tommy pointed out my dad's name (John R.) printed mysteriously beside us on a piece of masking tape. Magic. I couldn't stop the tears.

The show was magic, pure and simple. These kids had worked so hard and were so focused that everything went pretty well as planned. 

Everyone was on their A game.

Tommy was a fantastic munchkin and Joey was an amazing Tinman. I was such a proud mama. And so grateful to be able to have the once in a lifetime opportunity to share the stage with my talented kids and all the other wonderfully talented kids at this small school.

The comments from the audience afterward confirmed the performance. No one could believe that THIS MUCH talent could all come from such a small school.

It wasn't easy. The long, late nights of rehearsal. The lack of time. Joey's very difficult costume constantly cutting into his shoulders, my two sizes too small costume, the lion and the scarecrow sweating to bits in their costumes. But it was all worth it.

The kids were TROOPERS. They had to exit singing through the back of the auditorium, and then run up a back secret staircase, through the gym, and back down another staircase next to the stage in time to make their next entrance. And they did this multiple times. It was not easy for Joey, who could not bend his legs up and down the stairs, or for the other characters who were roasting, but they didn't complain.

The kids who weren't on stage waited patiently upstairs in the gym for their parts to come up and I helped keep everyone ready and prepped. There was a lot going on. As a matter of fact I started to get a migraine right after intermission BOTH NIGHTS. I quick took some Excedrin and pleaded with my father to help me through the show. I asked for Jesus to take my migraine away so that I wouldn't ruin the show (I usually get nauseous, can't speak, or see properly) and miracle of all miracles, I was fine. It never turned into a full blown migraine. I just had the auras and that was it. That NEVER happens. More magic. I was so grateful. 

The audience laughed and cried and gave us a standing ovation at the end. The kids were so thoroughly proud of themselves and gained so much confidence. I know this will be something they NEVER forget.

I was honored to be able to be a part of it.

I was able to get a bunch of really great pics with some of the cast as we waited backstage (in the gym, actually) before the show and at intermission.

(Glinda and Ms. Gulch)

(Munchkin #1, Glinda, Hickory)

(Dorothy and Glinda)

(Lion, Scarecrow, Dorothy, Tinman)

(Tinman, Glinda, Emerald City Chorus)

And just when I didn't think things could get any better, we came home from the play to find that my best friend (since 1st grade- that I've done a million plays/musicals with) drove 12 hours from Oklahoma to see us in the show. I was so shocked and moved that I nearly couldn't see through my tears. I was blown away. My BFF came all this way to see our school play. AH-mazing. 

(BFF and Me)

Friday night went just as good (if not better) than the first night. The audience was on fire hooting and laughing at every line and sniffing at the end when Dorothy had to say goodbye to her friends.
We were definitely riding a high after that performance.

(Joey and Wally-director)

And the night wasn't over yet. As if the fabulous directors (a husband and wife team) hadn't done enough for us already they also had planned a cast party after the show (families too). We stayed up far too late soaking in the last of the musical magic.

It was an absolutely fabulous experience. And one that I will always treasure.




(Hopefully I will have video soon to follow)

Just Another Manic Monday

And now is about the time when I start to freak out.

The past few weeks have been so busy and it all culminates this week.

Our kids' school had their big fundraising gala this past weekend. It is a major event which requires many hours of volunteer time in selling raffle tickets, getting donations, making class baskets to be auctioned off, selling admission tickets, securing food/entertainment/sponsors, securing more volunteers for the gala itself, and of course, decorations. I spent all of Friday morning helping to set up and decorate for the event and then I volunteered to work at the gala as well. Funny side note- the gala is always a costume-type party. Last year the theme was roaring 20s and Todd and I gussied ourselves all up and looked the part. This year is was Alice in Wonderland. I am not an Alice fan, and I didn't feel like trying to get my hands on some kind of elaborate costume, so Todd and I went as Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dum. It was pretty funny because all of the ladies looked so fantastic in their dresses and fancy hats and I was in a yellow t-shirt, red suspenders, a blue bow tie, a spinny hat, and jeans. Ha! I'm such a dork.

Anyway...

Along with the preparation for that big event we are also preparing for Grandparents' Day at the school which is also a big deal and will occur on Friday the 24th. More volunteering as well.

Then, of course, we have Ben who will be receiving his First Communion on Sunday the 26th. I have yet to start making his banner with him or to even check and see if the suit that Tommy and Joe both wore for First Communion fits Ben. I suppose I should do that sooner than later.

Also on Sunday the 26th is Grace's ballet recital. So after church, and a party for Ben, we will all be heading back out to watch Grace in her first recital. Both the recital and the First Communion also have scheduled rehearsals on Saturday the 25th as well.

I also just found out that on Saturday Joey also has a major football meeting for the upcoming fall football season and he needs to be fitted for a uniform. So we have to get to that somehow as well.

None of this would be that big of a deal if we didn't ALSO have the musical going on. I don't know if you remember, but Joey and Tommy and I are all in the musical The Wizard of Oz. Rehearsals are from 6:30 until about 9:30 every night. This coming week rehearsals will begin at 5:30 because we are adding in costumes and makeup because the play will ALSO be this weekend on Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th.

Do you see what I'm saying here people?

Rehearsals every night until almost 10.
The play opens on Thursday the 23rd at 7. Cast needs to report at 5.
Grandparents Day at school (volunteer) Friday the 24th.
The play runs again on Friday the 24th at 7. Cast needs to report at 5. Cast party to follow performance.
Saturday the 25th Ben has practice at 10 in the morning for First Communion.
Saturday the 25th Joey has a meeting for football from 11-2
Saturday the 25th Grace has dress rehearsal for her ballet recital at 2 in the afternoon.
Sunday the 26th Ben has his First Communion at 10:30 and then a party.
Sunday the 26th Grace has her first ballet recital at 3.

Did you notice I didn't even mention homework in there? Because, yeah, there is a bunch of homework every day too. It is homework, quick eat, and then off to rehearsal. I am also a little panicked that the kids are going to get sick this week because Tommy had a nasty stomach bug last week that took him out for three days. We CAN NOT afford to be sick this week!

I have also been trying to destress by getting back into running and yet at the same time trying to find time for a run is just one more thing to add my schedule. And, I also will be turning another year older this week, so we can throw that in there too. And, to make me feel older, the pinched nerve in my back (although MUCH better thanks to my chiropractor) is not helping me at this busy time and is also making it very difficult to get any sleep at night.

So. Yes. It is a manic Monday today. I am working on deep breaths. And I keep reminding myself that at least all this madness is all FUN stuff. The musical is turning out to be pretty freaking fantastic. If I can get my hands on a video (it is supposed to be video taped at dress rehearsal on Wednesday) perhaps I will post a bit of it here for you all. For now, I'll tease you with a few photos.

Dorothy, the Tinman (my Joe), and Scarecrow

 Advertising (before Joey had the whole Tinman costume)

The Tinman costume. Not the easiest thing to move around in but it looks GREAT!

 See? Doesn't he look great? Once the makeup goes on it will really be fantastic.

No hair or makeup yet, but we're getting there!

Now if you'll excuse me I just remembered a few more things to add to my week's checklist. 

Hope your Monday isn't too manic!