Saturday Soccer

Well, it's only happened twice so far this season....a game played on Saturday! It should have been our second to last, but instead it was only the third game. The rest have been snowed or rained out. Mostly rained out. It's been one wet season! Here's a kazillion shots from the game. Unfortunately, the girls' team lost. We played a good team, but we also had no subs, as it was prom day for some girls, and I know one player (Indy) was only half-alive on the field. It was painful to watch her try to run. Guess that stomach bug took alot out of her. Taryn played well the whole game against girls who, shall we say, towered above her?!

Here's Taryn about to do her "I'm smaller and quicker" stuff

And surprise!

In another play, Indy tries to get back the ball
Taryn and Goliath

Misery At Halftime

I meant to ask them what they were talking about

Poor Indy - she looks about ready to pass out

Taryn and another Goliath

Indy was in the box for a few plays

And then she was right back out

(she hasn't played Goalie in a long time and doesn't want to)

Look at her walking like she's about to pass out

(she probably was)

But she toughed it out

Taryn is at one of the many make up games right now. Last week one of the make up games had to be cancelled because not enough refs were working! This truly is the Season That Never Was. Indy can't play at this game because she and I are headed to the high school for the awards ceremony. She had to get out of work for it too. I hear we're sitting with Joe's family. Cool. I'm hoping the little migraine I'm fighting right now will go away soon. The temp has dropped considerably in the last half hour and it's trying to rain. Wonder if the soccer game will be cancelled - it's pretty windy out there. After soccer, Mike will take Mariah and Gib for their last music lessons of the year. One less thing on the schedule has got to be a good thing, I'm thinking.

Stair Railings

Yup, the moment we've all been waiting for......behold the glory!

Now Grammy won't have to use a shovel as a cane to get down the stairs!

And I just had to throw this one in here too! We're getting all set for a beautiful summer porch. As soon as the daffodils and pansies have bloomed themselves out (anytime now), the pots at the bottom with the orange flowers and Canna's in them (you can't see them yet) will go by the front door, and the little green ones will go on the bottom stair. The daffodils and pansies will go to the Man Cave or the backyard until Fall planting time. Basically, it's a Flower Pot Chinese Fire Drill!

Good News & Bad News

Just a fun way to give an update on our lives:

Today: The Good News is that the Wrought Iron railings are finally getting installed. The Bad News is that the middle one was crooked because the stone stairs aren't perfectly lined up, and we all know how OCD I am. So, now the guys are trying to move one of the posts and then see if they can "trick" the eye a little when they do the welding of the vinery. I hate asking people to undo their work. Now there'll be a little hole in the stairs where the initial holes were drilled. Ugh. I hope Mike can do something cementy to fix it.

Indy: The Good News is she's receiving an award at High School. It's a writing award for English III Honors. 3 awards for English (one each for AP, Honors, and Regular) are given, so basically, out of 166 Juniors, she's one of 3 chosen! Pretty awesome!! Indy's Bad News I don't think is all that bad, but she wasn't thrilled with her first ACT score. She went a little too slow and her best subject, math, turned out to be her worst score. Still, an average of 27 for a first time ACT score isn't shabby! She's taking it again in June and now that she knows what to expect and how to pace herself, I expect her score to go up. Science was her best score and that was a pleasant surprise!

Taryn: The Good News is that she is happily chatting away at all hours with New Scary Nick on the phone. The Bad News is that she is happily chatting away at all hours with New Scary Nick on the phone. Also, she has a learner's permit but apparently no real desire to get in the car. Probably the accident has something to do with it, but it was an issue before too. More good news, something I thought I may never see, T and Mariah are actually starting to get along! T even loaned clothes to Mariah for pictures today at school. Wow, sisterly feelings?! Can it be true?!!!

Gib: The Good News is that on Monday he takes his last drum lesson. We are pulling him out for the summer, and indefinitely unless he shows a renewed interest. He's met his requisite 5 years. He's a good drummer, but lessons are only worthwhile if you practice what you are being taught. He can wing it just fine and play along with his Ipod without them. The BAD news for Gib is that both he and his mother get a big fat F for signing him up and then failing to get him to track - we joined and then pretty much never went. Bad, Bad, Bad People!!!

Mariah: The Good News is that Mariah also gets a relief from her electric guitar lessons. The Bad news is that she has not met her required 5 years of lessons and boy will we be hearing about that from the other children who put in their hard time. She's only into it for 2. I think we'll take the summer off, and re-evaluate the possibility of switching to keyboard. She's good with the guitar but really doesn't want to play it. Mike probably won't let us get away with being BAD people on this one too...allowing even minor reneging makes his eye twitch.

Chrissie: The Good News is that the migraine preventative seems to be working. Besides the bad one earlier this month, there haven't been any others. The Bad News is that even though I was cleared from Physical Therapy, and Green Lighted for Yoga and Weights, I've been too busy planting to get to the gym. And after the initial 3 lbs, I haven't experienced any more of the highly anticipated "excessive weight loss". I guess I'll have to try harder to get back to my walking, yoga, and gym. My other shoulder surgery is scheduled for June 9th, so I only have a few weeks to get really strong before I go through all this again.

Mike: The Good News for Mike - and I'm sure he's really excited about this - He has a daddy-daughter Hawaiian Luau dance with the Girls Scouts tomorrow night. The Bad News for Mike is his Honey Do list is getting really, really long.

Uh, oh, I was just reminded of the Ward Talent Show tonight and I promised Mariah a friend could come over for pizza and watch the school Talent Show that I'm recording off the TV right now. Ugh, double committed and both Talent Shows - how weird is that?! I've been trying to get someone to sing a goofy song for the Ward Talent Show (years ago I rewrote the words from Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar" to "I Love This Ward" because it was in my head and for no other good reason.) I doubt if anyone will do it though, but I'll let you know if I go and if they do. How would it look if I bring Little Ceasars pizza as my potluck?

Fish Kisses & Other Hidden Talents

When I was a younger mother to younger children, I wish I had more of what I seem to have now to give to the kids at preschool. I think my mom sees those years differently, from her viewpoint, but I always felt frazzled and out of patience. She says I played alot with our kids and seems to think I did a fairly decent job of getting them through the early years. I hope she's right, because while I thoroughly enjoy my time playing with the kids at the preschool, in the back of my mind I feel a little guilty that I didn't give as much to my own. It makes me a little sad. And I think that perhaps for alot of moms currently going through that phase in their life, maybe it is hard for them to always be in that moment of time. So I try extra hard to be fun and patient and creative with their kids, so that while they're in preschool they are getting something a little different than the usual Mom-Stuff (because we all know she's a busy, busy lady).

So, to answer the question about Fish Kisses - you know how you make that fish face by sucking your lips in and making them go up and down while you cross your eyes and make a kissy face?! That really sends kids running. Mine always took off. C'mon, everyone makes that face, don't they?!

So, I got involved in this Methodist preschool ironically enough through a recommendation of my friend and counselor in YW's at church who taught there for many years. I wasn't looking for a job, but she mentioned they were hiring a teacher's assistant/music teacher. I don't sing especially well, don't read music, can't play an instrument, never taught kids....thoroughly unqualified, unless Ballet counts?! But something kept niggling at me to go for it. I even interviewed against someone else I passed on the job info to! One of the nicest things is that the hours allow me to be home when the kids are home, and all their holidays are my holidays, summers off, etc. Mike's comment when I got the job was, "are they aware you are completely unqualified for this?!" and we just laughed and laughed that I got the job. The first few times were rough, but I quickly found my groove, and discovered several hidden talents. I can make stuff up on the fly, I don't have a problem acting goofy, it doesn't take a great voice to sing preschool songs, and the kids are just happy you're letting them bounce around and laugh at you because you look silly dancing. Now the 1 year olds aren't as easy to please as the 5 year olds, but really, it isn't all that difficult.

Throughout the years, there have been a few LDS ladies teaching at this Methodist preschool. That just makes me giggle. Subsequently, there are several Mormon preschoolers in attendance - yesterday 4 out of the 10 in my class. (A little side note: They love the Prayer Request circle time before we pray...a little different than what they are used to, but ah, what better time to get the scabs on your knees blessed and announce your mommy had to go to the dr because it hurt to pee.) When we decided to sell the house and mom moved out here, I took a personal leave of absence and have been their substitute teacher several times this year. They just offered me the position to come back next year as a 2 day a week Pre-K teacher's assistant. I think I will be rotating between 3 classes doing whatever needs to be done whenever a teacher needs an extra set of hands. This works out well for us for the next couple of years. Once we have Indy and Taryn in college, things may have to change, but in the meantime, while the pay isn't much, it's a good place to work and the hours are perfect. And when a child sees me and goes, "Yay!!! It's Miss Chrissie!!!!" and I get a big hug, boy is that a great moment.

Now I am last LDS left standing on Methodist ground. I guess it falls on me to recruit more. So, that was a long blog to answer a couple questions, but there you go....

My Days At Preschool

I worked twice at preschool this week. Here's a photo of the church where it's held. Part of the school is in the back at the left corner, and some of the classrooms are in the old part of the main building. The location is really beautiful and one of the things I like best about it. It's about 20 minutes from the house, but I get to drive up and over a "mountain" which makes it kind of fun to get there.

Yesterday was camp-out day. We held it back in the trees and had tents up, a canoe to sit in, a fire pit (with fake tissue paper fire) and in honor of Earth Day, did some nature stuff and recycling. I was an extra body to run kids back and forth to the bathroom, untangle a snake from a key chain carbiner attached to a teachers belt loop (that was funny and a little scary when the snake got stuck), help catch an escaped frog, lecture kids incessantly on looking over their shoulder before casting their fishing pole (onto the grass btw), keep steering them away from the poison ivy, sing campfire songs and wipe off s'mores from those cute little faces. After 4 hours in the sun, we were all exhausted.

Today, we were in the Rain Forest. The weather was too nice to be indoors, so I decided yesterday that we'd be going outside to create a rain forest with sidewalk chalk. We went to an empty parking lot at the church and made each square a layer of the rain forest. We drew monkeys, butterflies, tigers, flowers, snakes, lizards, gorillas, trees, clouds, rain, and for some reason one girl spent over half an hour drawing what I failed to guess was the world's largest diamond in the Emergent Layer. Do diamonds even come from the rain forest?! (I am a failure both as a woman and a preschool teacher not to know!)

Oh, and the stinkiest ever beast of a black lab came to visit us while we were outside, along with two of his four legged homies, sending two girls screaming and running one way, while another boy took off in the other way, and the boy whose family owns the stinky dog, goes dashing up to it. I'm yelling to everyone to stop everything and trying to put myself between 10 moving kids and 3 dogs (who I've seen around before and have always seemed friendly, but with all that screaming and tasty morsels just begging to be chased, you never know what might happen). It only lasted a couple seconds, but geez, for a second there, I was quite worried for the boy that ran up to the dogs. I had no idea he lived right next to the church. And peeeeyyeeeeww! Everyone had to hold their nose until I could shoo them away. I don't know what they rolled in, but I'm guessing it was the chicken coop nearby. It was enough to make breathing difficult. We took the teaching moment to learn what to do and more importantly what NOT to do when a dog comes by.

After we finished our rain forest we played Monkeys & Birds and Jaguars & Butterflies. Basically team relay races where you have to run and sound like the animal while racing thru the 4 layers of our rain forest on the parking lot. It was cute. Then we went inside to wash up, snarf down snacks, and played Monkey, Monkey, Frog (aka duck, duck, goose) until it was Chapel time. After Chapel, which is held on Wednesdays, while Music takes its place on Tues/Thurs; it's playground time for an hr, then lunch and indoor stuff.

Throughout the day, I held friendship counselling, anti-whining seminars, warnings on the dangers of sassing back the teacher, the benefits of sitting, eating, drinking, breathing, coloring, lining up and walking in boy/girl/boy/girl order; along with stern lectures about potty language and treating others with kindness. A couple kids got on my last good nerve, but the rest of it was par for the course, and I find a sense of humor seems to work best for me with the kids. I already know all of them from when I was their music teacher the past 2 years and they get my style, which I'd call "strict but nice". For example, to the boys who said they hate girls, I told them if it happened again, they'd each get a fish kiss from Ms. Chrissie. They laugh and run away, but for, half an hour or so if I was lucky, they'd play with the girls. This will be my life two days a week next year.

Stock Market

Bought WFT @ 79.34

Why do I post stock trades?

Oh No!

Stomach Flu Strikes. Poor Indy! I had just made lunches for tomorrow and laid my weary self down when she called me. She's got a fever and everything. She is a puddle of misery. I hope she gets better soon - she has AP Calculus exams coming up that are requiring alot of time and mental stamina. Please be praying for her! Oh, and Joe was sick today too. He has an ear infection. Wonder what horrible germs were all over Prom?! Ewwwwww.

I always shudder to think of a nasty stomach flu going thru the whole house. Usually we are fairly fortunate and it only hits one or two of us. A time or two though there wasn't a soul left standing. Ugh. My mom leaves for San Diego day after tomorrow. There's just something about being exposed to a contagious illness just before you go on a trip that makes it seem more likely you'll get it. Makes me think of Bobbie being sick at Katy's - it's so awful to be sick at somebody else's house!

Well, it's going to be a long night and I'm working the next two days at the preschool. Timing and Murphy's Law being what they are, what do you think the odds of that happening are?! I can't tell you how many times I was scheduled to go in (crash day for one) and had to cancel. I just accepted a two day a week job there next year too...they'll understand, but I hate doing that nonetheless (wow, it's been a long time since I've used that word).

SMS or Text Messaging

From Text messaging affects student relationships

...Like many things in life, what's extremely convenient is often less effective than what is real. It's like fast food: we all eat it, but we know it's not good for us, it's just there and convenient.

When our children turn 14, they get a cell phone. I do this for our benefit as parents. I want my children to be able to keep us informed of where they are, who they are with, plan changes etc. Also, I want to be able to contact them should I need to. They in turn receive the benefits of using the cell phone for their social purposes.

However, I have never had SMS as a part of our cell phone plan. My original thinking at the time Indy got her phone was that the cost was too high and I did not want my children to be "available" on a 24 hour basis. We originally set a window of 6am to 10pm for cell phone use if they were at home, but have since relaxed that as they have gotten older.

Since that time, I have read several news articles that have reinforced my belief that SMS opens up a can of worms that I would clearly like to remain shut:

From For teen daters, a cellphone can be an abusive leash

...for a substantial number of teens who are dating, communications on cellphones and computers are taking a turn toward obsession and abuse.

...When you add the technological piece, there are more ways to track someone, to keep someone on an 'electronic leash,' if you will.

...parents have an obligation to limit cellphone and computer use to something reasonable. She advises blocking the computer and taking away cellphones overnight.

From Tech a tool in teen dating abuse, survey finds

...About one in three teens surveyed who have been in a relationship said their partner had text messaged them 10, 20 and up to 30 times per hour to find out where they are, what they're doing, or who they're with.

From R Teens Txt Msg Addicts?

...Indeed, 31 percent of 18- to 28-year olds -- more than any other age group -- feel the need to answer their phone, even when it interrupts what they are doing, according to the Pew report.

From Teen Driver Menace: Text-Messaging

...Nearly 50 percent of teens admit to text messaging while driving -- an alarming statistic that now rivals driving and drinking in terms of danger and prevalence.

And the newest one Trading Nude Photos Via Mobile Phone Now Part of Teen Dating, Experts Say

...said he's received such unsolicited messages, including one from a classmate while he was sitting with his girlfriend.

...This happens a lot, it crosses every racial socio-economic group. Christian kids are doing it. Jewish kids are doing it.

...Adolescents are not known for thinking things through — that's a generational constant. Now, with the technology that is out there, instead of taking a picture and passing it around the classroom, it's online, which is a whole different ball game. (Teens) don't see it that way.

Most if not all cell phone companies allow you to disable the IP address on individual cellphones so that it cannot be used for internet access or text messaging. While I can see the convenience provided by text messaging, for me the potential risks outweigh the convenience factor. And though our children do not necessarily agree with the lockdown, it has not proven to be a social inhibitor, only an "inconvenience".

Just my thoughts on Text Messaging...

Stock Market

Bought CLF @ 160.65

Why do I post stock trades?

There's a New Volvo in Town

Yay! Our new to us Volvo arrived Saturday! We had a real smooth drive to church today. The car's nice performance unfortunately didn't improve the backseat shenanigans, but I guess there's only so much you can expect from a Volvo.

Prom Photos

Taryn and Mike were working the photography set up and enlisted Gib and Mariah's help. They were glad to stop what they were doing and have their pictures taken so our Prom photos would turn out well. Can't you tell? (OK this is funny, Mariah just walked in as I was doing this and yells, OH NO! They're putting it on their blog! That's exactly what I didn't want to happen!! This is positively torture!!!)

My Favorite Smirk

Gib showing Taryn how Indy will descend the stairs

And now for Prom Night!

Here goes the REAL photo blogumentary:

Indy's Grand Entrance

Indy & Joe

(It is hard to get Joe to smile for a photo)

Another pose, still no smile.

But look at Indy, she's a natural

I couldn't take it anymore, cracked a joke,

and Taryn captured it! A smile!

Of course his eyes closed, but look at the smile!!!!

A few shots later, we even got a laugh
They had a fun time at Prom and Joe returned Indy home right on time...at 2 a.m.

Prom Dinner

The dinner turned out great. Mike did an awesome job on his new BBQ - couldn't have been better at a restaurant! I did well too, if I don't say so myself. We're a great team! We used my grandmothers wedding set china from Japan. It looked really nice. We served Ribeye Steaks, Tangerine Chicken, Salmon, Baked Potatoes, Steak Fries, Green Beans, Corn, Rolls, Ceasar Salad and had hot brownies with ice cream and topping for dessert.

Back in the kitchen: I got kinda get distracted when I was setting the table and never did get back to put out the silverware, but Taryn and I flew around the table and got it set before anyone got back from the kitchen with salad on their *chilled* salad plates. When everything was coming down to the wire, everyone in the kitchen getting their salad, Taryn & I returning from our mad dash to put out salad and dinner forks, steak knives and butter knives, it was time to start taking several things out of the oven before they burned. The kitchen was full of people and I'm looking all over for my pot holders. I wondered if Mike took them, because I could have sworn I left them next to the oven. Tayrn looks outside and says he did. So I grab two dish towels from under the sink and say "alternate pot holders!" and whisk the Sister Shubert rolls out of the oven. One of the boys goes, "you're my hero" and for a second there I couldn't decide if it was because of the pot holder thing or the food, then I saw him and a couple other boys eyes glaze over at the rolls! Everyone was salivating over the bread, not my amazing adaptability in the kitchen! Oh well, I was impressed with myself.

Crazy for Catnip

Mariah went to a garden nursery with Grammy last week and came home with catnip. I knew trouble when I saw it, shook my head, and planted it in a spot where we'd have front row seats. Chino follows me wherever I go and has been with me helping me plant everything all week, so he was first to experience real live catnip in the plant form vs stuffed in the mouse toy he's enjoyed in the past. Well, now that Mariah's hooked 'em up with the Good Stuff, I'm sure those toys will be beneath them. I will be back at the nursery later this week to buy more catnip. As you can see from Gib's photo blog we need one per cat: (I may be prejudiced, but I think you need to full screen these works of feline photographic art!)

1. Chino helped me plant the catnip and got first sniff

2. Zoom-Out so you can see what a little catnip

can do to a BIG cat

3. Rolling in it

4. Licking it, Loving it

5. OD'd on it

6. After a short drug induced nap,

Chino awakens with a renewed sense of his own importance as

The King of the Catnip

7. What's This?! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!

8. Diego follows his nose, takes one sniff, and flops down

"Can't we share?"

9. He tries to be cute to get a little more than

the measly paw Chino was sharing.

10. Cute definitely didn't work

11. Several swipes later, Diego leaves in a huff

12. And goes under the deck to sulk
13. Gib felt bad for him, so I yelled "Kitty Meat!" and Diego came running out

That's how he got his nickname Kitty Cow

14. Mariah came home from school and wanted Pixie to have a turn. Boy next door was helping Gib take pictures, and Pixie was not happy with the extra noise. She needed a hand to be introduced to the catnip...what a dirty hand it was too

(remember I WAS gardening during all this!)

15. Pixie was starting to jump away, then got a whiff

16. Ooooooh yeah......

17. Look at her eyes, she's starting to.....

18. GO WILD!!!!!

19. Gotta go, BUT.....I'll be back!

20. MY CHINO - Isn't he beautiful?!

Note: Artistic license was taken in the order in which the catnip-documentary photos were presented to you, our faithful blogging audience, to enhance the actual events of the story line. Those of you who nitpick these things apart, will notice that the Chino fluff, did in fact, appear much sooner than the actual fight scene.