A unique bargain was struck between sisters. Taryn had a rather large scale cleaning project on her hands in her bedroom and thought Mariah might want to help. In the past, she has been a generous employer in garnering assistance for these all day events. Taryn was flat broke until yesterday when the neighbors had her babysit and they paid her very well since their toddler didn't nap and was quite the little terror (we call that hazard pay); but I think Taryn wasn't willing to part with her pay so soon. So, this must be where the sisters haggled and came up with......Mariah gets to choose Taryn's outfits for a week! Taryn came down in a cute little pair of capri's, a green shirt and hoodie and asked me if I liked it and that Mariah choose it for her for today - Day One of the bargain. This should be interesting. I think I will photo journal this!
We must have been on the same wavelength, because while the sisters were making their deal, I read in the paper about a Project Runway style fashion competition at a local college of fashion & design and immediately thought Mariah would love it. I have seen her sketches of outfits and they are pretty good considering she is 11 yrs old! So we will get all dressed up and go out to TPAC to watch a fashion show in person and see Johnathan Kayne, Project Runway contestant, and Miss USA 2000 Lynnette Cole choose the winner of the student's designs in evening, bridal, men's wear, daytime, urban and 'tween clothing. Maybe I'll even let Mariah choose my outfit for the evening!
2023
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Move Over Popcorn!
Before the infamous game of spoons, before the midnight run to the airport, way before the Memphis Music Festival, Indy & Trevor & Matt went to the glow-in-the-dark mini golf. Trevor & Matt even brought their own glow-in-the-dark putters, purchased at Walmart. During the entertaining evening, the guys remembered some comment I had made about Taco Bell sauces. It was kind of fun to see who could get the most in one grab and I liked having them on hand for our own tacos. Well, they came home with a sack full!!! They said they took turns going in. I poured out the popcorn in this container and put the taco sauces in - 110 of them! Gib used a couple today, so my guess is the three of them grabbed close to 115! Since they took so many, I'll overlook the yucky hot and fire sauces. We like the original mild Taco Bell Sauce. I sure hope they also ordered a taco or three to offset the 100+ sauces now missing. LOL!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Kid Free Zone - For Now
It sure is quiet around here. Compared to last night it's like a library or something. It won't last for long. Any minute now I expect to see Taryn and Mariah return, and Mike is leaving in a few to pick up Gib.
Indy is in Memphis enjoying a music festival with Trevor, friends & family (he's one of the guys she went to EFY's with). Most recently you'll remember the blog about his 18th b-day at BYU Idaho with HD dropping off cookies and saying "They wanted me to sing but that ain't gonna happen"). Trevor and a friend (of a friend) from BYU Idaho drove up from Memphis to pick up his sister and husband at our airport at midnight, everyone stayed overnight, and then they all took off this morning to head back to Memphis. In the pouring rain. All the way there going 35-50 mph it was raining so bad. But it's dry in Memphis which is good because it's an outdoor concert from 5 pm to well, probably after midnight.
We had a wild game of spoons and broke in our dining room table which I specifically chose because of it's Spoon game potential. Luckily, the table didn't actually break! It might have a few new dents and scratches, but I chose it because it can sustain Spoons damage and not show it. I did find out though, that had I thrown myself more vigorously across it, I would have discovered that the very heavy base isn't quite heavy enough to prevent tipping over, which only adds to the excitement of the game; and that I can't quite reach the person opposite of me to wrench the spoon out of his greedy little grasp. I was bitterly disappointed because I thought for sure I could. It seemed to work when I tested it at the showroom.
Indy will receive likewise hospitality from their family and return home to us tomorrow. I'm sure she is having a blast - because, like I said, it isn't raining in Memphis!
It is raining buckets here however. All day. I don't think it's projected to stop until next week. Ugh. The rain run off from the hill behind us creates a very nice water feature out back. It sounds like a running river. I love to open the windows and listen to the sound of rain and rushing water. I went out and took a couple photos. I should have gone earlier when it was really rushing, it is easing up some now and getting dark, but oh well. Here you have it:
A little rushing rapids a few feet away
Indy is in Memphis enjoying a music festival with Trevor, friends & family (he's one of the guys she went to EFY's with). Most recently you'll remember the blog about his 18th b-day at BYU Idaho with HD dropping off cookies and saying "They wanted me to sing but that ain't gonna happen"). Trevor and a friend (of a friend) from BYU Idaho drove up from Memphis to pick up his sister and husband at our airport at midnight, everyone stayed overnight, and then they all took off this morning to head back to Memphis. In the pouring rain. All the way there going 35-50 mph it was raining so bad. But it's dry in Memphis which is good because it's an outdoor concert from 5 pm to well, probably after midnight.
We had a wild game of spoons and broke in our dining room table which I specifically chose because of it's Spoon game potential. Luckily, the table didn't actually break! It might have a few new dents and scratches, but I chose it because it can sustain Spoons damage and not show it. I did find out though, that had I thrown myself more vigorously across it, I would have discovered that the very heavy base isn't quite heavy enough to prevent tipping over, which only adds to the excitement of the game; and that I can't quite reach the person opposite of me to wrench the spoon out of his greedy little grasp. I was bitterly disappointed because I thought for sure I could. It seemed to work when I tested it at the showroom.
Indy will receive likewise hospitality from their family and return home to us tomorrow. I'm sure she is having a blast - because, like I said, it isn't raining in Memphis!
It is raining buckets here however. All day. I don't think it's projected to stop until next week. Ugh. The rain run off from the hill behind us creates a very nice water feature out back. It sounds like a running river. I love to open the windows and listen to the sound of rain and rushing water. I went out and took a couple photos. I should have gone earlier when it was really rushing, it is easing up some now and getting dark, but oh well. Here you have it:
Lazy River behind
the Crane
A little rushing rapids a few feet away
Taryn is doing my job for me with Mariah right now at a Girl Scout dinner. It's a end of the year dinner, but I had a big lunch at TGIF's and I can't possibly eat, and since everyone else is gone, Mike just fended for himself and Taryn chose to go so she could enjoy a yummy buffet at Guido's. Yeah, yeah, it's a Mother-Daughter and I'm not winning any Mommy of the Year points today by shuffing my duties on this one, but I can't even look at food I am that full. Besides, I am justifying it in my mind that they are having important sisterhood bonding time. After the closet fiasco a couple days ago, there are some fences that need mending.
Gib is volunteering at an Elementary school fund raiser with some other Scouts from his troop. Last I saw him, he was standing next to one of those giant inflatible 30' high jumpy house slide thingy's. 3 hours of FUN, FUN,FUN with wild children age 5 to 11!!! He just got a hair cut before we went there and it looks very nice. It's a little bit of a standing joke that almost every time he goes in, he's off to a Scout thing immediately after, and she has to rewash his hair after cutting it so he's not itchy all evening! We even have his Class B t-shirt in the car for him to change into we are so accustomed to the hair cut/Scout schedule of events. He's keeping his hair a little longer now. But he is talking about buzzing it before going to Philmont provided he will have close to a decent amount of hair before school starts again in August.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Much Too Early
It was much too early for me to blog accurately after a long night with poor sick Indy. As soon as I got to school and somebody said "Deputy Grissom" I snapped my fingers and said "Oh Man! I messed up my blog!" I knew I liked his name for some reason and Officer Gilman has a ring but it really isn't anything like Deputy Grissom to us CSI fans now is it?!?!
So after hearing Deputy Grissom's bike safey presentation and watching the video we headed out for water fun and played in the sprinkling rain. We were going to have bike fun first but since the weather wasn't quite cooperating we flipped the schedule. Thankfully, Ms. Jane is a dynamo and came early with her hubbie and we set up way ahead of time and we able to rock & roll right away. It didn't matter that the skies were getting us a tad wet when the games included water balloons, squirt bottles, and such.
After lunch, the skies had cleared up the sun was out and the parking lot was deemed dry enough that we wouldn't have multiple wipe outs on the bikes from slippery conditions. We had a few wipe outs but only a couple kids needed band-aids. We had tons of fun with more water games, bike riding, and bubbles. At one point I sauntered over to the bubble area and made a big production out of not wanting to get any bubbles on me. Of course it was then Open Season on Ms. Chrissie. I was promptly splattered with bubble solution with over exuberant bubble blowers pretty much just spitting through their little wands. How special. Some of those suckers were frisbee sized and they just hurled their soapy goo in my face. Yeah, I asked for it though so it was all good. I screamed and complained and they rose to the challenge and increased the attack. One industrious child thought of a grand idea to just give up on the wands and dunk both hands into the bucket of soap and then slather my arms. Soon I was mobbed by soapy child-sized hands all over my arms, my legs, even my toes. Ewwwww. Before someone got even smarter and picked up the entire bucket to throw at me, I departed as fast as I could get away. Think greased pig escaping a mob of delighted children, one with a squirt gun aimed chest high. Nice visual huh?! I found a hose and washed off asap.
Right about then I looked up and saw very black skies. We quickly took those on bikes down to the covered walkway to park their bikes and got everyone else into their shoes and on their bikes to ride down to join us. No sooner than we got 28 bikes parked and helmets off and kids counted and inside did it start raining like crazy. Tennessee crazy. Like an inch an minute crazy. Instant river, rain blowing north, then 5 minutes later the rain starts blowing south. Alot of the bikes got wet even though they were under the covered walkway. But at least we got every minute of fun out of Bike & Water Day and got the kids inside before the thunderstorm hit.
So after hearing Deputy Grissom's bike safey presentation and watching the video we headed out for water fun and played in the sprinkling rain. We were going to have bike fun first but since the weather wasn't quite cooperating we flipped the schedule. Thankfully, Ms. Jane is a dynamo and came early with her hubbie and we set up way ahead of time and we able to rock & roll right away. It didn't matter that the skies were getting us a tad wet when the games included water balloons, squirt bottles, and such.
After lunch, the skies had cleared up the sun was out and the parking lot was deemed dry enough that we wouldn't have multiple wipe outs on the bikes from slippery conditions. We had a few wipe outs but only a couple kids needed band-aids. We had tons of fun with more water games, bike riding, and bubbles. At one point I sauntered over to the bubble area and made a big production out of not wanting to get any bubbles on me. Of course it was then Open Season on Ms. Chrissie. I was promptly splattered with bubble solution with over exuberant bubble blowers pretty much just spitting through their little wands. How special. Some of those suckers were frisbee sized and they just hurled their soapy goo in my face. Yeah, I asked for it though so it was all good. I screamed and complained and they rose to the challenge and increased the attack. One industrious child thought of a grand idea to just give up on the wands and dunk both hands into the bucket of soap and then slather my arms. Soon I was mobbed by soapy child-sized hands all over my arms, my legs, even my toes. Ewwwww. Before someone got even smarter and picked up the entire bucket to throw at me, I departed as fast as I could get away. Think greased pig escaping a mob of delighted children, one with a squirt gun aimed chest high. Nice visual huh?! I found a hose and washed off asap.
Right about then I looked up and saw very black skies. We quickly took those on bikes down to the covered walkway to park their bikes and got everyone else into their shoes and on their bikes to ride down to join us. No sooner than we got 28 bikes parked and helmets off and kids counted and inside did it start raining like crazy. Tennessee crazy. Like an inch an minute crazy. Instant river, rain blowing north, then 5 minutes later the rain starts blowing south. Alot of the bikes got wet even though they were under the covered walkway. But at least we got every minute of fun out of Bike & Water Day and got the kids inside before the thunderstorm hit.
So As Not To Lose You
There's not much to write home about, but I will update the few readers we've got before they become bored and run away.
My mom is heading to San Diego today for a visit and to work at the annual Sage & Songbirds Festival. They hardly know she moved away since she works it every year. She gets to see my brother's new puppy too - a smooth coat collie that is too big to be a Grand Champion, so he & Mikel will make him the center of their universe instead. Photos are in! Here's his cousin - but pup will be much larger. Take a look at pup's legs! I hope they name him Goliath so I can refer to them as David & Goliath.
David's Goliath
Poor Indy is home sick today. She has a stomach flu. So far no fever or other flu symptoms, but we are keeping a watch. She also has not been getting enough hours at work to earn enough to plunk away for college. What good is Mike's spreadsheet if she can't make enough to deposit the right percentage of pay that will net her the money she needs to get by her Freshman year?!
Taryn is awaiting the results of the 2nd ACT test but she doesn't think it went all that great. I've got a bunch of paperwork to fill out and a shopping list of items she needs for Explosives Camp: steel toed boots - do you think I can find them in a size 5? Some special kind of ear plugs and gloves. Looks like they want her to come home with all her fingers & toes and her hearing! I'm all for that!!
Gib went backpacking and did 16 miles in 2 days. He's added a couple items to his shopping list of what he'll need for Philmont too. Something called a Platypus. You drink out of it. I think you wear it and there's a straw thingy so you can just sip away whilst hiking. But Mike says it's not the one I was thinking of that I've seen backpackers wearing on their backs. Who knows what that one is called!
Mariah is officially registered for 6th grade. I am officially signed up to chaperone the U.S. Space & Rocket Center field trip (aka the NASA trip) to Huntsville, Alabama. 12 hours of fun, fun, fun starting at 6 AM.....read that however you like. She is very excited.
Today is bike & water day at preschool. The weather may add more water to our parade. I hope we can have fun before the rain hits. Officer Gilman (I don't know why but I love saying his name) is coming to discuss bike safety and Ms. Jane is returning to be in charge of Fun! Only 5 more days of preschool. I'll sure miss my Pre-K cuties who are graduating to Kindergarten.
Mike is heading to Utah soon. Wish we could join him and have a big ol' visit, but we have final exams. Bad timing!
My mom is heading to San Diego today for a visit and to work at the annual Sage & Songbirds Festival. They hardly know she moved away since she works it every year. She gets to see my brother's new puppy too - a smooth coat collie that is too big to be a Grand Champion, so he & Mikel will make him the center of their universe instead. Photos are in! Here's his cousin - but pup will be much larger. Take a look at pup's legs! I hope they name him Goliath so I can refer to them as David & Goliath.
David's GoliathPoor Indy is home sick today. She has a stomach flu. So far no fever or other flu symptoms, but we are keeping a watch. She also has not been getting enough hours at work to earn enough to plunk away for college. What good is Mike's spreadsheet if she can't make enough to deposit the right percentage of pay that will net her the money she needs to get by her Freshman year?!
Taryn is awaiting the results of the 2nd ACT test but she doesn't think it went all that great. I've got a bunch of paperwork to fill out and a shopping list of items she needs for Explosives Camp: steel toed boots - do you think I can find them in a size 5? Some special kind of ear plugs and gloves. Looks like they want her to come home with all her fingers & toes and her hearing! I'm all for that!!
Gib went backpacking and did 16 miles in 2 days. He's added a couple items to his shopping list of what he'll need for Philmont too. Something called a Platypus. You drink out of it. I think you wear it and there's a straw thingy so you can just sip away whilst hiking. But Mike says it's not the one I was thinking of that I've seen backpackers wearing on their backs. Who knows what that one is called!
Mariah is officially registered for 6th grade. I am officially signed up to chaperone the U.S. Space & Rocket Center field trip (aka the NASA trip) to Huntsville, Alabama. 12 hours of fun, fun, fun starting at 6 AM.....read that however you like. She is very excited.
Today is bike & water day at preschool. The weather may add more water to our parade. I hope we can have fun before the rain hits. Officer Gilman (I don't know why but I love saying his name) is coming to discuss bike safety and Ms. Jane is returning to be in charge of Fun! Only 5 more days of preschool. I'll sure miss my Pre-K cuties who are graduating to Kindergarten.
Mike is heading to Utah soon. Wish we could join him and have a big ol' visit, but we have final exams. Bad timing!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Mercer Service Scholar
This was just too cool not to share...
You cannot apply to this program without being invited to do so.
From Mercer Service Scholars:
Becoming a Mercer Service Scholar
The Mercer Service Scholars is a highly-selective program for exceptional undergraduate students with a passion for service and a talent for leadership. The program selects 10 to 15 highly motivated incoming freshman or rising sophomores each year to participate. MSS is a four-year program that focuses these selected students on making a difference on campus, in the Macon community, and in the world.
And the email Indy received yesterday...
Dear Indy:
Congratulations! We are very pleased to be able to inform you that you have been selected for acceptance as a Mercer Service Scholar. The selection committee was very impressed with your academic record and your record of leadership and service in your school and community. Through your interview, we learned that you have the personal qualities of compassion, energy, creativity, leadership, and intellect that will contribute to creating a team of future leaders here at Mercer. We would love to have you join our cadre of Mercer Service Scholars as we embark upon several new and important initiatives this year including:
A conference on environmental warming and a “greening” campaign for Mercer and Macon in which we will learn about reducing the carbon footprint of the University, help “green” downtown, and offer energy saving assistance to those in underprivileged neighborhoods.
Tackling the problem of poverty among the most vulnerable of Macon--our children and youth. How do we help youngsters crawl out of the disadvantages of generational poverty and achieve their potential? We will be working with several agencies to develop a coordinated campaign.
Sending representatives to such conferences as the Clinton Global Foundation University, where college students from all over the nation gather to share strategies for creating action around the areas of poverty alleviation, health and medical care, human rights and justice, and the environment.
We hope you will accept this offer. Mercer Service Scholars is one of Mercer’s most prestigious programs and one of its most meaningful and fun programs. Please join us!
Sincerely,
Mary Alice Morgan, Ph.D.
Senior Vice-Provost for Service-Learning
Mercer University
We are certainly very proud parents and are excited about her opportunities at Mercer.
You cannot apply to this program without being invited to do so.
From Mercer Service Scholars:
Becoming a Mercer Service Scholar
The Mercer Service Scholars is a highly-selective program for exceptional undergraduate students with a passion for service and a talent for leadership. The program selects 10 to 15 highly motivated incoming freshman or rising sophomores each year to participate. MSS is a four-year program that focuses these selected students on making a difference on campus, in the Macon community, and in the world.
And the email Indy received yesterday...
Dear Indy:
Congratulations! We are very pleased to be able to inform you that you have been selected for acceptance as a Mercer Service Scholar. The selection committee was very impressed with your academic record and your record of leadership and service in your school and community. Through your interview, we learned that you have the personal qualities of compassion, energy, creativity, leadership, and intellect that will contribute to creating a team of future leaders here at Mercer. We would love to have you join our cadre of Mercer Service Scholars as we embark upon several new and important initiatives this year including:
A conference on environmental warming and a “greening” campaign for Mercer and Macon in which we will learn about reducing the carbon footprint of the University, help “green” downtown, and offer energy saving assistance to those in underprivileged neighborhoods.
Tackling the problem of poverty among the most vulnerable of Macon--our children and youth. How do we help youngsters crawl out of the disadvantages of generational poverty and achieve their potential? We will be working with several agencies to develop a coordinated campaign.
Sending representatives to such conferences as the Clinton Global Foundation University, where college students from all over the nation gather to share strategies for creating action around the areas of poverty alleviation, health and medical care, human rights and justice, and the environment.
We hope you will accept this offer. Mercer Service Scholars is one of Mercer’s most prestigious programs and one of its most meaningful and fun programs. Please join us!
Sincerely,
Mary Alice Morgan, Ph.D.
Senior Vice-Provost for Service-Learning
Mercer University
We are certainly very proud parents and are excited about her opportunities at Mercer.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
The Most Important Rule
Indy found out the reason my most important rule at preschool is to Stay Vertical!!! The only exception to this is to read stories, but even then, today I had a hard time getting the little demons off me so I could get back up. Indy stayed half the day with Ms. Leigh, we met up at Chapel time, had lunch together and then we hit the playground.... But, I am getting ahead of the story.
The kids loved her of course. She jumped right in and helped the kids write in their journals, build blocks, and work on their honeybee habitats...even though one of my favorite cuties painted her hair with glue (by mistake)! She smiled and laughed and teased the kids the whole day through. She really IS Chrissie 2.0!!!! On the playground, Indy quickly picked up the games I play with the kids, she got in the Jello Jiggler game and I yelled out "Hey! Who is the GIANT Jiggler in my fridge?!" and a bunch of giggling kids gathered around her to hide her from me. They were quite exuberant in their defense of their new favorite teacher I might add. Indy laughed when I got put in jail. Then I saw her in jail not too long after I made a jail break. I guess they figured as long as one of us was in jail, all was well in their world. I saw several kids hanging off her arms, legs and one on her back and more prepared to make the jump, so I yelled out, "Indy! Remember the most important rule!! STAY VERTICAL!!!" To distract them, and save my daughter, we got in the playground car, but they all started jumping on her and getting in her face (BTDT and it's not fun!) so I picked a few off, reminded them that new teachers need air to breathe, and suggested we surprise Miss Indy with the Shocking Slide game. Indy sure was surprised at how shocking that game really is! Kids with hair standing straight up came down the slide and extended a finger and gave her some good shockeroo's! It's my favorite game to diffuse the wildness and sneak away from 15 kids determined to take you down. While she was doing that, I wandered over to a couple cuties having a little chat and listened in. One gal must have asked about Indy and the answer, filled with pride, "Oh, that's my NEW teacher, Miss. Indy!". Indy pushed kids on the tire swing for awhile and guess what, she didn't lose anyone down the hole in the middle!! See...I told you, she really IS Chrissie 2.0!!
When we left for the day, all the kids were saying, ever so cheerfully, "see ya tomorrow, Miss Indy!" and were quite bummed when they found out the New Teacher wasn't coming back tomorrow. One fellow tried again hopefully "Next week?!". Nope, sorry! Unless.....we can jail break Miss Indy out of high school one last time! (Can you believe there's only 3 more weeks of preschool left?!) When we got in the car, Indy remarked she couldn't believe how tiring a day at preschool is!!! It's amazing, but true! Those kids MOVE!!
The kids loved her of course. She jumped right in and helped the kids write in their journals, build blocks, and work on their honeybee habitats...even though one of my favorite cuties painted her hair with glue (by mistake)! She smiled and laughed and teased the kids the whole day through. She really IS Chrissie 2.0!!!! On the playground, Indy quickly picked up the games I play with the kids, she got in the Jello Jiggler game and I yelled out "Hey! Who is the GIANT Jiggler in my fridge?!" and a bunch of giggling kids gathered around her to hide her from me. They were quite exuberant in their defense of their new favorite teacher I might add. Indy laughed when I got put in jail. Then I saw her in jail not too long after I made a jail break. I guess they figured as long as one of us was in jail, all was well in their world. I saw several kids hanging off her arms, legs and one on her back and more prepared to make the jump, so I yelled out, "Indy! Remember the most important rule!! STAY VERTICAL!!!" To distract them, and save my daughter, we got in the playground car, but they all started jumping on her and getting in her face (BTDT and it's not fun!) so I picked a few off, reminded them that new teachers need air to breathe, and suggested we surprise Miss Indy with the Shocking Slide game. Indy sure was surprised at how shocking that game really is! Kids with hair standing straight up came down the slide and extended a finger and gave her some good shockeroo's! It's my favorite game to diffuse the wildness and sneak away from 15 kids determined to take you down. While she was doing that, I wandered over to a couple cuties having a little chat and listened in. One gal must have asked about Indy and the answer, filled with pride, "Oh, that's my NEW teacher, Miss. Indy!". Indy pushed kids on the tire swing for awhile and guess what, she didn't lose anyone down the hole in the middle!! See...I told you, she really IS Chrissie 2.0!!
When we left for the day, all the kids were saying, ever so cheerfully, "see ya tomorrow, Miss Indy!" and were quite bummed when they found out the New Teacher wasn't coming back tomorrow. One fellow tried again hopefully "Next week?!". Nope, sorry! Unless.....we can jail break Miss Indy out of high school one last time! (Can you believe there's only 3 more weeks of preschool left?!) When we got in the car, Indy remarked she couldn't believe how tiring a day at preschool is!!! It's amazing, but true! Those kids MOVE!!
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