Day by Day

Yesterday Kelly and Nicki came over to play in the Hairry Strawberry Band with Keera and Connor.  They used a barbie guitar, a flute and Connor was the rapper.  Kelly and Nicki made a shirt for Keera that says, "Hairry Strawberry" and has a picture of a strawberry on it.  They created their own songs and sang for about a half an hour.  Then they all took off to Panera ("Mom, do you have any money?") for lunch and the pet store to take out a dog to pet.  I wished we had taped the Hairry Strawberry experience, but it will go down in the memory banks of all!

Katie had a dream last night that all of her cousins on the Reed side were playing a game and Travis was there.  He said he had to go.  He had wings and his spirit left the circle of cousins.  I was amazed that she had that dream.  I also wish I could dream of people who have passed away.  I have never even seen my own mother in a dream. 

rush, rush, buy, wrap, etc...been writing about it.... - my gift - a few from the family but the best one of all......cooking Christmas meal with Bob and the kids playing the game "trouble" five feet from me at the kitchen island.  The laughs, the frustrations, the comments, the competition.....my family-the best gift of all!!!!

Brendan told me that he was talking to Keera.  Keera said she got him three presents and Brendan said he didn't get her one yet.  Her response was, "That's okay Christmas isn't about gifts.  It is about family, peace and love." 

So every Christmas season I say the same thing....I am not going to get stressed because I just want to enjoy my family and people.  I am not going to worry about shopping for everything.  I am not going to freak out about what to bake, cookies to make, decorations, etc. And every season I kind of fall into the same trap.  This season I think I was under control until we had the devastating news of our nephew passing away.  Then all heck broke loose and it became two weeks of running around to get everything in, get ready for a trip, etc.  I am glad I am stopping now and I hope I can put the next four days into perspective.....time stopped last weekend and we celebrated people....I have to remember it isn't about who gets what for Christmas and balancing the gifts, money, paying the bills, etc.  That is all going to happen no matter what every year.  But, it is about the moments and connections with people every year.  It is about the laughing...

If you don't watch "The Middle", you should.   I love that show...it is sooo my family. Sometimes when we are all together (which isn't that often-we do have a college age son who is not around much, even though he is not away at college), I pull myself out of the conversation going on (which is always like 3 or more at one time-good luck talking in this family...Keera is quite frustrated with that at times) and I think-we should really be a sit com.  We wouldn't even need a writer...just give us one topic a week and film us for 1/2 hour-we would make good money and we all actually look alike.

Keera last night - "Mommy, when you first met Daddy how handsome was he?" Mommy - "As handsome as he is now."

If it wasn't for the saddest loss I have felt in years, this past weekend would have been the perfect weekend. During the service, we sat Bob, me, Bren, Connor, Katie, Keera.  (Keep in mind Brendan had said to me, "I can't go to SC" because he didn't think he could handle it, and I said "we will do this together, cause I don't think I can do it either.")  I was worried Keera might get antsy at the end so I said to Brendan, "Can you switch with Keera?" Brendan would normally say, "Of course."  He is so helpful with Keera.  However, this time he said, "She's fine."  During the service, B (what Connor calls him), finally broke down.  I looked up and this giant, strong, young man was allowing his emotions to be felt.  I put my arm around him and he did the same and I just held him during the rest of that time.  And he held back like he was a young boy being taken care of.  He is so kind and sensitive, but doesn't s...

Katie looks so darn cute in her Sheehan Freshmen basketball uniform.  We have only been able to see one out of three games so far because two were away, but she is doing good.  I think she loves being part of a team.  I am proud of her for trying out!  We were at mass on Sunday with all of the other confirmation candidates and at the sign of the peace, this boy (dressed nice with tie, etc) turned around and said peace be with you Katie.  Something about the way he said it struck a new mother emotion in me.  I thought he was kind of cute, but when I said that to Katie later, she made a look of disgust.  Regardless of whether he was or not, this boy had a smile on his face and he said my Katie's name.....what is to come?  I can't wait to see the look of someone as they look at Katie with caring and interest (not too much interest until she is old enough).  I guess I am saying that Katie is beautiful and a good person, as are my other children...

This is rambling, but some sort of release of feelings for me.... A mellow, at times very sad, feeling has stayed with me for almost two weeks now.  This weekend is going to be a mix of emotions that most of us do not want to ever have to visit, but we do as we go through life.  That feeling of being robbed of someone so young and so talented and yet the thought of knowing that God has a plan and takes who he needs, when he needs them.  But the struggle of how it is at human hands that someone is taken just doesn't seem right or just. At the same time of grief and sadness (the anticipation of what is coming....an overload of feelings) there is a hope that being with family members (especially my own, which Ican't even get all in the same room because of our busy lives) and sharing feelings, emotions....there will be crying and sadness, there will be smiles and joy in the celebration of a life.  There are times in the last week of knowing this was coming that I ha...

He is a mystery to me.  He went gung ho on making Brendan's room but with little time now that he is working has not returned up there at all.  He took his nephew's death quietly and thoughtfully, thinking of every possible angle that I could/would not. He has the patience of a saint with four kids, me and everything else that goes on. He loves his sports...coaching them, playing them, figuring numbers and strategies. He is careful with money and does not require a lot, although he does seem to like tv's. He is playful at times, especially enjoying Katie's humor at her age. He can turn Keera from a sour puss to an angel in minutes. He cares deeply for things, but doesn't wear his feelings on his sleeve. He is soooo smart. He is soooo kind. He is soooo friendly; will talk to anyone and make friends in seconds. He does not hold grudges; he does not anger often or for useless reasons. He is at peace with himself and life. He is humble. He is realistic. ...

Yesterday was a big day....driving (Connor), confession....Keera is making her first holy communion this Spring, so we are enrolled in religious education and yesterday was her first confession.  There were a lot of people there and we had to wait an hour.  Even though the priest talked most of the time and the glass is supposed to be sound proof, you can still hear when you are waiting.  At a certain point, this sweet little voice came on strong, reading her act of contrition....something inside of me just melted.  So sweet and innocent....this is the beginning for her....and then my thoughts went slightly sad as I pictured all of my kids in this position and even more so, Travis for his first confession.  Little did he know he would become a voice piece for Jesus and basically sacrifice his life to that.  I allowed my thoughts to go there because grief will only come one thought at a time when it hits....been there, done that.....then I let my mind w...

Connor turned 16 yesterday, so we were at the DMV, bright and early...before it opened.  This would be one of our two strong willed children.  He passed and on the way home I thought I would give him the opportunity to try it out.  I stopped close to home so he could take the wheel and at first he didn't want to (what????  he has been studying for the test for a year and telling me on the 10th we were going to DMV, even if I had to take a day off-lol).  He reluctantly took the wheel and did a nice job, but then he had the feel for it and wanted to keep going.  Then later he wanted to drive again and then at night he even wanted to drive-said no to that one.  It's his first day for gosh sake...Rome wasn't conquered in a day.  I have to admit, I can't believe I am doing this 4 times...what was I thinking?  He starts driving school Tuesday, so once they get him on the road, it will be a little less stressful (I remember from Brendan), but these ...

I really have slacked off on the blogging.....I missed an important one before Thanksgiving....Katie and I went to the midnight opening of Twilight...yes it was a school night and yes, we both went to school the next day on time....it was so rebellious and fun to do it. I find there are less and less moments Katie and I share these days....she has to play the adolescent, freshmen in high school role and I play the overbearing mom role....plus I didn't live through having a mom, so I have no example on how to deal with these times from either side, so I am kind of making it up as I go along....but this night, we were united.  It was actually really fun and I couldn't believe how many people at work said to me, "what a good mom", when I told them.  I thought for sure they would be saying to themselves, "what an awful mom to be taking her daughter to a midnight movie on a school night", but it was the opposite.  I didn't even think of it that way because ...

Keera's school journal entries came home today....they do a lot of writing. Most of it reminds me of what a six year old should and is writing, but then there are those entries that are just so "keera" like. For example....one whole page was devoted to what she had done one Saturday and then at the very bottom it said, "My sister went looking for a homecoming dress.  It was too short."  (Great....I'm sure her teacher laughed over that one.) Then there was the Thanksgiving one, which got everything perfectly right...with a little personal editing.  "On Thanksgiving my cousins and I played football.  It ws girls vs boys.  The boys won that because every one on the girl team was bad except me.  I kept getting hurt.  I was the only one who got the goals on the girls team."  (She is right...she is the only one who scored).  The Halloween entry states, "My mother stole some candy from my brother."  Accurate, but embarassing. And the ...

I think Brendan has found his calling.  He started working at Masonic home and hospital as a dishwasher.  Now they have moved and trained him to be a server in the dementia ward.  He really likes it.  He has had 3 or 4 women tell him he has a beautiful smile.  He had a visitor come up to him and tell him that his parents (who are both residents there) talk about Brendan all the time and they love him.  He tells stories of the patients and how he talks to them, smiling and laughing as he tells them. I truly think he has found his calling.  There are not many 18 year olds who can feel comfortable with the elderly, and especially dementia (there aren't many adults who can do that either).  He is floundering about his future and I told him go with his strengths...people are his strength.  He doesn't have a career yet, but he is already making a difference in people's lives.  His friendly, calm caring manner reminds me of some people I know...

Connor is on a baking roll....he goes through these fads of really getting into things and then all of a sudden dropping them...(reminds me of my Uncle Ken).  For example, about a year ago he was into drawing.  He was actually taking photographs of people, drawing them and giving them as gifts, or in some cases selling them to people-he was that good. Now it is cakes.  He is totally into this fondant stuff.....personally, I am not crazy about it, but he loves working with it and it does look like a professional cake when he uses it.  He made Tracey a snow/xmas tree decorated birthday cake.  He made a girl at school a volleyball (yes with a half volleyball shape on it) because she made all state and last night he just whipped up some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese. I told him I was making a cake for a friend and could I use the mix in the cupboard.  He said, "you are making a cheesey box cake"?  Ok wise guy...time to cut off your finances for...

Connor will be 16 Saturday.  We are up bright and early to go get his driving permit. Keera will be 7 next Thursday.  My December babies.  Two warm gifts during one of the coldest, busiest months of the year.  Go out and change the world for the better....make a difference.....be good to people.

These are just random thoughts: Travis Eiler - Our 23 year old nephew was doing missionary work in Kazakstan and was killed. He was the ring bearer in our wedding.  He was the playmate for my kids on many a trip to Myrtle Beach, Maine, Ohio.  He came and visited us twice, once for two weeks, once for one with all of the cousins.  He drove the second time right from getting out of college with his brothers to our house...well into the night and getting lost, etc.  He kept all the cousins happy with his family games...doing things that cost money were not his priority but having family time was.  When he first visited we practiced baseball because he didn't make the high school team and he was still so enamored with Bob and all of his baseball loves.  But one day when he was here in that two week period, he came with me for my daily jog.  He didn't make it too far that day but he didn't give up.  The next fall he went out for cross country at...

Keera had a friend over and they decided to cut their hair.  Believe it or not I was just downstairs and they were playing in her room.  Next thing I know, her friend has a lock of hair gone and Keera has most of her sides gone.  I trimmed the back and it actually looks really cute-not my part, but her part.  This is the second time for her.  She cut it when she was four too.  Maybe we have a potential hair dresser.

Holy Cow.  I guess we paid our dues with Hurricane Irene (no power for four days) because we have power after the NorEaster when most of Wallingford does not.  Most of the state of CT does not have power.  Both Bob and I were able to stay home today-no power at our work places.  Bob went to Lowes (which is at the most five minutes from our house) but it took him an hour to get home.  I guess people are out getting food, getting warm, getting gas.  This is unbelievable.  And...will we be trick or treating today?  I think the Mayors are basically saying at your own risk.  We might take Keera up one road that we know has electricity.  I can't imagine children and teenagers walking into wires that you can't see in the dark.  I don't think in 43 years I have ever seen a Halloween like this one.  Wow. 

Life is good....life is good!!!

I think I over did it.  Many times in the last couple of years, I have found myself saying, "We will get that when Dad gets a job."  Guess what?  Bob got a job and now I am eating my words.......those teenagers have a whole list of what I said that to.  Done gone kids.

Brendan decided to take a road trip with his friends to visit a friend in Philadelphia.  When this first came up a few weeks ago Bob and I said "no".  Brendan did not take it well, but we just weren't ready for that.  Well, it came up again and I knew we couldn't keep putting this off.  He is 18 and becoming his own person.  We allowed him and two friends to go to Philadelphia. As he was leaving, I still wasn't happy about it-worried is a better word.  I decided to "suck it up" and support him-you know, I said, "I love you, be careful, etc.etc.".  We kept in touch throughout the weekend.  I was texting on Sunday to find out exactly when he was coming home and I realized through our texts that this 18 year old kid drove on 95 into Phillie, drove around Phillie, and was driving home.  I realized I was impressed.  Most adults don't want to drive through NY on 95 (George W. bridge, etc).  I texted him I was impressed and he asked why....

Bob got a job.....two interviews and a letter saying, "you're over qualified, so we are not hiring you", didn't stop him.  He emailed his disappointment and his interest in the job to the President of the company.  The email back was an offer for the job and a comment from the President stating that he was impressed with Bob not giving up.  Thank God!  What a weight off of our shoulders.  Although, I will miss coming home and having Bob here to talk to or spend a few minutes with.  The last two years have been great for us seeing each other.  Not every couple has the opportunity to do that in the midst of having 4 kids and working 2 jobs.  We are counting our blessings right now.

Keera has started tap, ballet and jazz.  She really liked the first week.  I didn't know what the teacher would be like, but she was really nice.  She constantly smiles and is happy and warm.  The second week, I said, "Keera, you have dancing tomorrow."  She said, "I don't want to go."  I asked her why and her response was, "Because that teacher freaks me out....she is always happy and smiling."  (Unlike mom or anyone else apparently.)  I told her that was a good thing and she should enjoy it.  She did agree to go to dancing but I think it still throws her off to have such a happy teacher.

About a week or two ago, I had the pleasure of being a part of a funny conversation between Katie and Connor.  It all started on a day that seemed forever long.  I was exhausted-one of those days-and then I came home to many people wanting many things from me non-stop-one of those days.  Only a mother would understand what I am talking about.  From 4:00 on it was "Mom" this and "Mom" that.  By 9:00 I was beyond exhausted.  I snapped at Keera, which did not go unnoticed by Connor and Katie.  Then Bob came in from working on the garage room, so Brendan can live in it, as I was doing laundry.  I made some snide comment like, "Could you help with laundry tomorrow."  He went into the bathroom and when he came back, he had blood running down his forhead and he asked me how bad it was.  My response should have been, "Oh my gosh, what happened."  Might I say that almost any other time, that would have been my response.  (Ye...

20 years as of October 5th.  Wow...we had a week long celebration.  Tuesday night we went to 5.00 movie night.  I took Friday off and we went to breakfast and hung out together and then Saturday night we went out for a quick bite to eat.  It is possible that Bob will get a job as of Monday.  Putting it in writing is like jinxing it, but I have to say that the last two years of him not working has been trying at times, but truly brought us closer together.  I thank God for the last two years; I thank God for Bob and I thank God for (hopefully) finding Bob a job at a place that does mailings for Catholic Diocese throughout the country.  I also thank Bob for hanging in there with me through so many ups and downs in the last 20 years.  We both bring our strengths and weaknesses to the relationship, but he honestly saw my strengths much more than he saw my weaknesses.  Love ya Bob-thanks for a great week and a great life.

If you read the last entry....Connor is moving forward; however, Brendan appears to be moving backward....please tell me it is a phase.  He is so taken with doing his own thing-which he would be if he was away at college, I keep reminding myself.  Bob is working so hard on finishing off above the garage so Bren can live up there and all Brendan wants to do is skate.  He could be helping Bob more or working full time.  As much as I think he needs a degree, I think he may be on the ten year plan.  He started college part time which I thought was great for him, but then he dropped  a class...because an advisor told him he didn't need it.  He is working, but they don't give him many hours, even though he is paid 12.00 an hour. I know he will come out of this, but going through it is like going through the terrible two's and the trying tweens and the abominable adolescence.  Hopefully my Brendie will peek out again, but I guess this is all a par...

I also knew this day would come.  All of a sudden, I started noticing that I wasn't naggy as much with Connor; that he was doing things after I only asked him once; that he was not watching tv or on computer in the morning in order to help me get him and Katie out the door; that he was really caring about school work in high school and doing phenomenally......Connor is maturing....love it!!!!

Keera had over a new friend today.  She is 6 or 7 like Keera.  Keera says this is her best friend this year and they did play very well together. Now remember...I had Bren, Connor when people my age were not even married yet, so I am used to being the youngest parent in the group.  With Katie, people my age were having children....with Keera, some people my age were having kids, but it was dwindling..... So far...all of Keera's playmates, friends have had parents older than Bob and I or at least who looked older than Bob and I. Today...that all changed.  Keera's friend's parents came to pick her up and they were definitely younger.  They have a baby and a ten year old, but they looked like they were ten years younger than us. I told Bob I definitely feel old today.  But, at least I am still young to Bob, who has 5.5 years on me.  I guess I may be getting older, but I am also getting better (I think).

This is the title of the book I started reading yesterday and am halfway through already, even with much to do around the house, etc.  This is such a down to earth book that is written with such humor.  I rated books on Goodreads and one of the books I had read this summer was Saving CeeCee Honeycutt ...apparently that led Goodreads to recommend Looking for Salvation at Dairy Queen to me.  I love it....great read.  (I knew anything with Dairy Queen in the title would be for me.)

My boys - Brendan getting some air, as they say, I guess. Connor as a little one at Thanksgiving time in Long Island....cute picture.

Games...the kids love to play games...1.  relay reace doing the wheelbarrel.  2. 3 legged race and 3.  At Cape Cod, football game-Katie, Bren, Jeff, Kelly. They have had soooo much fun together over the years.

This is Jeffrey, Jetry, Jefferson (as Keera likes to call him), hamming it up in their second house.  Kelly is on the couch.  I came across the picture and thought it was so cute, I had to put it up.

I am so glad I am a parent, trying though it may be at times.  That ultimately giving of yourself, until there really is no more to give is an amazing thing.  Even when your children do things that you don't approve of or would not have thought of yourself, once you get through the surprise of it, there it is all over again...a love feeling that you could never disguise.  You love them for who they are and what they do, regardless of who you are and what you do.  You realize that you lived your life and it is time for them to live their life...as they wish.  You hope you have given them as many tools, between the chromosomes and the role modeling, in order to make good decisions and be happy.  And in the end there comes a point when you realize as exhausted as you are emotionally, physically and financially, that you would do it all over again or even one more time, had you everything you needed because giving of yourself has to be the most fulfilling thing...

The next door Village Greene has once again started their once a month roast beef on Saturday deal.  It is a huge roast beef sandwhich (which I don't eat since becoming a vegetarian) and a huge serving of macaroni salad that is to die for.  The start in September and end in May.  We even put it on our calendar...silly us.

I was looking through pictures and found one of Kelly and Brendan after their first Holy Communion and then one after their Confirmation. 

Katie and Nicki - cousins and friends - maybe 6 years old in the picture?? Kelly and Brendan - maybe 1 in the picture???

So...the first blog of today (9/5/2011 - Labor Day) kind of explains all the blogs that follow it for today (all after this one).  As I thought about it...it was more than a project Keera has to do for school this week.  Keera has to do a project for school, involving pictures....so that led me to start going through pictures...which led me to finding pictures that reminded me of great moments in our lives....which made me think I want to remember these moments in my blog so when I print my next blog book, they are included. The real underlying reason of putting the moments I want to remember online is that right now, it is kind of tough times and hard to remember all of the great things we are blessed with.  Bob is as positive as they come and always thinks things will just turn around.  I am the opposite and somehow we try to meet in the middle.  The last couple of years seemed to have been filled with disappointments and hardships (not as hard as others-b...

This is Patrick and Bethany - married in 2009.  Chris was the best man. Chris, I have to apologize, I had surgery right before your wedding, so I wasn't in charge of the camera (just my crutches).  At any rate...we have no pictures of Angela and Chris; however the picture above is infamous-the interesting statue at the reception and Bill and Patrick talking underneath it.  The picture below are the six cousins waiting for Chris and Angela.  I really wish I had more pictures of Chris and Angela because this was an amazing situation with Chris getting to his wedding after everything he went through about 3-4 weeks before hand.  There is a blog earlier in my posts (2010) of all of the Uncles and great-nephews posing-quite a picture!

I saw the bottom picture of Keera at Christmas, two years ago and it reminded me of a picture I had of me at Christmas-many years ago. Our reactions are similar-I thought it was worth putting up.

I always think that we have so little pictures of Reed clan because we don't see them that often, but we do have a few and if I go through photo albums, even more, but here are some I found in the first box: Cousins Upper Left-Corbin putting Brendan in a headlock...Brendan laughing. Upper Right - Connor and Kyndell Lower Right - Travis and Keera Lower Left - Keera and Kacey I just loved this picture of Austin and Jenna.  They are both smiling perfectly! Two group shots-one in Myrtle Beach a few Christmas's ago and one in CT a few summers back. A wedding - Heather and an Ohio goodbye - They all stand there and wave as you back out (Of course it was an Ohio goodbye in S.C. after Heather's wedding). The "Jim Reeds"-minus Jamie, who is on another couch."

Patrick and Liz-godfather and godmother to Keera (baby).  Jan. 2005, they accepted the invitation to be godparents and everyone traveled to CT for the baptism.  I love that top picture of my cousins!

This is Amy and Gustavo married on the beach in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico.  They invited all of us and we got to witness one of the most beautiful weddings we have ever seen.  The picture tells it all.  The church wedding was as beautiful too. Lauren and Jessica - Brett's daughters - enjoying the reception after the wedding in Mexico.  Look at those cute faces! Two couples (Aunt J. and Uncle V.) (Aunt K and Uncle K.) in Mexico.  On the bottom it is the Reed/Petit/McAvoy kid clan on top of our rented villa-looking out on the Ocean (in background). Lastly, the whole crew waiting for the wedding to begin and the tired Petit travelers resting on the side of the road.  It was by far the hottest vacation we ever took and yet the most beautiful vacation we ever took! Thanks AMY and GUSTAVO

This was Thanksgiving in CT in 1999.  All Spencers, All Vince McAvoys and All Hogans in place.  It was a time of Bailey's magical drink made by Grandpa and a cousin outing to talk about the older generation the night before Thanksgiving (Trace, me, Liz, Amy, Pat and Chris-good times). This is another Thanksgiving in CT (2004).  Liz is playing football with the kids (they grew to really enjoy the McAvoy/Spencer cousins throughout the years).  The bottom is a picture of everyone at T's house.  I think Patrick is joking on something, or avoiding the picture taking-not sure which.  (Maybe Uncle Neil's cologne is too much for him.)

Keera's first assignment this year was to name some favorite things and bring in pictures.  We started a hunt through photo box, which was all mixed up (hmm....wonder who was in it last).  Some of the pictures really jumped out at me, so I started pulling pictures that I thought were good pictures of the people who were important to us.  I decided to blog a picture everytime I blogged.  I am not sure how this is going to go, but I separated the pictures into my family/Hogan/Petit, McAvoy and us/Reed and us and started scanning.  This is only the beginning, but as I start making more books out of my blogs, I want these pictures remembered! This is how it all started-Neil (picture 2009 (?) in Virginia vacation) and Elaine - 1980 Thanksgiving in Long Island. This is generation two starting - Bob and My wedding 1991 (October 5th).  This is not Bob and Maureen but Uncle Ken, Aunt Kate, Liz and Amy.  I thought this was a really nice picture of the four of ...

It was kind of blah this year.  I don't know if it was because we had just had a hurricane, my kids were still at home with Bob and we had no electricity or if it was because I was more excited about my kids starting school and their adventures than my own job.  I think it was a combo of both. There were no big issues with the start of school.  It all went off smoothly, but I cannot wait until I am in charge of a school. A student came to me and asked if she could interview me (school newspaper) about the new resource officer that was hired for our school.  WE have not had one in years.  I told her the principal was part of hiring him so he would probably be able to answer her questions better.  She said to me, "Yeah, but he is always busy and whenever I go in the office the secretaries say he can't be seen now.  It is really hard to get a hold of him."  I did the interview the best I could and I was very glad that my door is always op...

A funny fact....Grady refused to go outside the day that the hurricane was supposed to arrive.  There was nothing going on yet weather wise, but he would not go outside.  I just thought he was acting really weird but Connor (Mr. Fact) reminded me that animals can sense when things are happening and act accordingly.  Cool stuff.

Connor is actually already doing work, so let's hope his sophomore year is a little more smooth than freshman year.  He seems to like his classes, as much as a 15 year old boy can and he is intent on learning how to drive....turns 16 in December. (Nicki is also in picture because we had power at this point, they did not have it yet, so she slept over and went to school with Katie.) Katie liked her first few days as a freshmen.  She loves her Spanish teacher and she does not care for her English teacher :(  .   She found out Friday that she did not make the volleyball team.  I know I am her mother, but some of the kids they did keep did not ever play a day in the rec league in town.  Katie played from 3d grade until now.  She also spent a lot of time at volleyball games last year, watching Kelly play and selling stuff at the concession stand.  We all want to say our kids should make every team, but in this case, she really should have ma...

Brendan started the day after the hurricane hit.  His college was open and ready.  He wasn't too happy with his first teacher.  I can see why kids don't like school-even college.  Apparently he wore his hat in class, which our students at the high school do all the time....there is no school rule against it.  He and another student were chastised by the teacher for wearing hats.  When he went to put it back on at the end of class, she said, "Did I tell you that you could put that back on yet?"  I felt like I was hearing something straight out of the 50's.  I couldn't believe that a college professor would be so concerned with that.  Although when I told my Dad the story, he was surprised Brendan would wear his hat in class...generational thing....like I said, right out of the 50's.  Other than that, he seems to be adjusting, but he does not like school.  Bob is working very hard on his room above the garage so Brendan can move in....

Well, Irene came and went and left some damage.  I didn't really take it seriously until a few days before she arrived.  At that point, I started buying water, stocking up on peanut butter and tuna and the kids started making fun of me.  It cracks me up because it wasn't until it was hitting and the damage was done that the 18, 15 and 14 year old were saying, "Wow...she did some damage."  You all laughed at me until you saw what it could do.  Our damage was "snow days" from school - one for me (which I had to go in anyway) and two for Wallingford because the buses could not drive on roads with trees in them. We also experienced power outage from Sunday a.m. until Wed. a.m.  That was something I never even had to live through in my 42 years.  It was nuts....up to Dad's to shower and do laundry.  At the same time, the Petit's were up at Dad's doing the same thing.  It was like a revolving door and I don't know if Dad knew what was up......

With the impending hurricane Irene on its way, I decided to take a walk this morning.  As I walked toward the high school (great hills to get exercise on), I noticed the various teams running and working out.  Katie is at volleyball tryouts today for the high school.  Despite the hurricane on its way, life will go on in the world of teenage sports.  Heaven forbid if we miss a weekend of working out/tryout out, etc. etc. As I walked closer to the track, I heard an electronic voice, extremely loud electronic voice, saying ninety five...beep...beep....ninety six....beep...beep (with music in between).  I was curious as to what was going on.  When I could see the track, I realized that it was the boys soccer team trying out and instead of the good old fashion counting by voice, they were using the PA system at the track to play an electronic voice to count laps or whatever they were doing.  You know that voice you hear on the telephone when you call with...

Why can't we just let teachers teach?  Teaching isn't a business.  Why is everyone so bent on making it a business environment?  Teaching is a people profession.  It is more about the interaction between people than it is about the skills and concepts being taught.  And why can't we listen to kids?  The perceive and are honest about things much more than adults at times.  Why don't we ever ask them how to change education?

Katie had braces put on about 2-3 weeks ago.  She had spaces in her upper front 4-5 teeth that really showed and she was self-concious about it, so Bob and I took the big 5,000 dollar dive and had them put on. She saw people today she had not seen all summer because of freshmen orientation and she said they were all impressed with how good she looks in braces...."they said they wished they looked as good as she did in braces".  Teenagers.....I would never go back to that awkward time of caring so much about looks and fitting in, etc.  We still do it as adults, but to do the degree or with the emotion of teenagers....would you go back?

Katie had freshmen orientation today.  I texted her from work to ask how it went.  She texted back, "good".  I asked her when I got home how it went and she was on her ipod touch, so again, "good".  I asked a few other questions and the answers were all one word and general. She asked for a ride to Becca's house.  From the moment we got in the car until she got out at Becca's, she talked about her orientation.  She and Ashley want to join a club.....who she knew in each of her classes....she is excited about going to high school more now (and a little less nervous), who is in her lunch waves...thank goodness there are only two lunch waves, but she has the first one the whole year, which is the early lunch wave so you have two classes after lunch instead of one.....etc, etc...It was great.  As I said in my July 23d blog, talking to teenagers is easy when you put them in the car and it is just you and him/her. 

Keera is a bit bored lately....two weeks and school starts, so these are the most bewitched weeks of the summer...boredom, boredom and more boredom.  She's played with every toy she has-twice; we've done the blueberry picking; we've seen movies, done lunch, ice cream, mini-golf, swam in the pool everyday, had a friend or two over (but then you have two bored 6 year olds)....it gets to a point when the most fun things seem boring.....so in place of a sleepover with her older cousin, which couldn't take place, I volunteered to sleep outside in a tent with her. We got out the huge tent, which sleeps about 5 adults, and with Bob's help, we were able to figure out how to put the thing up.  We haven't used it in about 10 years. She was so excited that at 9:00 she wanted to go out and do the tent sleeping thing.  We got out there and she couldn't sleep because of all the cricket noises.  So, I told her we should go back inside and then come back out later when ...

When I first started blogging about two and a half years ago, I saw an advertisement pop up (continuously) about creating a book out of the blogs you wrote.  I thought someday that would be cool.  The more I wrote, the more I wanted to do the book, but the less I saw the advertisement pop up.  It got to the point where it never popped up and I thought it was a lost opportunity...everyone knows, I don't let opportunities go by easily.  Well, a couple of months ago it popped up again and I thought about it again...mentioned to Bob it would be a good gift for me, but then stopped seeing the advertisement. This week, it popped up again and I decided I was going to give myself a present.  I ordered it-black and white, which was only 20.00.  The table of contents alone is like 10 pages, according to the visual it showed me.  It is soft covered and I was able to pick the cover (a beach).  I was proud of myself after I had done that...given back ...

When the kids seem like they are too comfortable and yet no appreciating things, I often say, "You guys live the life of O'Reilly." Of course, I don't even know what that means but have heard it in my lifetime. Connor was complaining about something the other day and again I said, "You live hte life of O'Reilly".  He laughed and told me the old man that he had to take care of today at Masonic Home said the same thing to him because he is stuck in a wheelchair and Connor can walk.  So Mom kind of knows what she's talking about, I guess. This man Connor has to take care of at times is pretty ornerary.  He wants to get out of his wheelchair and walk to his house on the other side of Wallingford.  He refuses to go inside when Connor tries to wheel him in.  One time when they got to the doorway, he actually put his hands out and held the doorway so Connor could not wheel him in.  He also has a cast on his wrist (which says "do not ...

I was turning the pool on; Keera was waiting for me so we could jump in and next thing I know she is yelling, "Grady...mom..Grady"!  I look over and he was in the pool trying to get out in the deep end corner.  After I ran over and grabbed the panicky dog, to take him out of the pool, Keera explained that she saw what happened.  Grady was barking at a dog who lives behind us and he kept backing up....backed up right into the pool.  His whole head went under for a few seconds, at which point I ran over to pull him out.  Crazy, silly dog.  He has been in the pool more times than Bob this year.  He comes to the side of the pool, I lift him in and then he dog paddles to the stairs.  So why is it when he falls in the pool he doesn't have the sense to dog paddle to the stairs?  Crazy, silly dog.  Now he will probably get yeast in his ear because it got wet, but he is okay.

Brendan comes in from work last night and yells, "Keera...let's go in the pool."  You don't have to ask her twice.  I went out and the two of them went in the pool.  She loves it when he plays with her in there.  He pretends he is a surf board under the water and she stands on him (with her head still above water).  He swims and she looks like she is gliding through water.  That was fun in itself....seeing those two enjoy each other's company....but then Connor came out and went in the pool.  I thought....hmmmm...who is going to start fighting with who first?  But there was no fighting.  He started playing with Keera too and both Connor and Brendan were fine with each other.  That was like a miracle but then Katie came out too....she didn't go in the pool, but she sat down and we talked.  Connor got out of the pool and went inside...I was a little bummed because I was really enjoying being with all four kids, with no fighting at...

I have to blog about this so I remember how fun work was for a few days.  I had the opportunity to do something different.  A colleague (the birth-Kindergarten building principal) who has 11 years experience as an admin here and more years of experience doing many things other places approached me to help teach a workshop that she had proposed to the assistant superintendent.  We called it..."Hitting the Ground running...life as a new administrator."  We were reaching out for teachers in the district who are interested in becoming administrators or who are currently enrolled in an administrative program in a university.  There was a group from our district that had a cohort over the last two years and they just finished up, so we ended up getting about 7 or 8 of them.  We actually didn't think the class would run because there were other workshops, such as technology with ipads running, but we ended up with 13 teachers, more than the limit we asked for ...

Keera and I had a full day and it is only half over... We went to Lyman Orchards with the intention of picking blueberries.  I have been taking the kids for probably 13 years every summer to pick blueberries and every fall to pick pumpkins.  The sunflower maze was just opened so we did that too.  We went forward without a map and got lost, so we went back and then went through the exit, with a map.  We found our way.  Because it was the opening day, they had hot air balloon rides.  The hot air balloon was tethered but I have always been interested in hot air balloons, so I thought we would try to see if it was something I would want to do someday (without being tethered by a rope).  It was a five minute ride up and down, but it was fun. Then we went to the store and bought some goodies-whoopie pie is always Keera's favorite. Swimming when we got home-it was hot picking blueberries.  Katie, Keera and I are headed to a movie this afternoon....

It was a busy day yesterday.  Bob is in Ohio so Keera and I went mini-golfing, while Brendan worked and Katie and Connor slept.  When we got home we played cards, listened to music.  We hung out and went to church.  When we got home Keera found a good movie on tv, so she didn't even want to go into the pool when I came down in m suit and said I was going for a quick swim to cool off. I got in the pool and it was heavenly.  It was quiet and relaxing.  When I got out and sat in a chair, I felt like a new person.  There is something about the water cooling your whole body down and it was nice to just sit on a summer night.  Well... The back door opens and Keera comes out yelling, "Mom...Mom....Connor just pushed me for no reason."  Then Connor comes out, "I'm sure you are going to believe her and not listen to me."  So, I was in such a peaceful and tranquil state that I was able to very calmly say, "Keera, tell me what happened", and sh...

Connor comes across a fact and then he explores it to the farthest possibility.  He reads, goes on line, watches tv on it. Here is one of the latests facts that I started making fun of (not him, but the fact) but he made a believer out of me and I became obsessed with it. If a lion and a hippo were in a fight together, who would be the winner?  The answer is a hippo....yes a hippo.  I said, "Yeah, those cute little ears sticking out of the water and that huge body that can't move faster than mud...that is going to kill a wild cat?"  It turns out that hippos are really mean animals.  We watched a few youtube videos and a tv show on it.  One hippo scared off like 10 lions that were on its back by turning and biting the whole head of one of the lions that was jumping on it.  They have really thick skin and a huge mouth with very dangerous teeth, apparently.  They are very territorial and will attack.  Plus when they have a bowel movement, th...

Katie had a friend over the other day and we all ended up at the island in our kitchen.  Bob, me, Connor, Brendan, Keera, Katie and Becca.  It was the day before or after Bredan's birthday and someone said something about his birthday.  Becca said, "You are 18?  If I turned 18 I would be out of here and up in Canada or something.  I mean, not this house but my house."  (I don't think there is anything wrong with her house..I think it was a 14 year old adolescent, being an adolescent.)  Brendie turns to me, gives me this big hug and says something like, "Nahhhh, I'm not leaving, I love my mom", in a teasing like voice.  Of course we all know he isn't truly leaving because we provide food, shelter, etc.; however, it was so sweet and I think there is some truth to it that he and I have an okay relationship.  If we didn't, he probably would be out of here.  (Wait....does above the garage count as out of here because he keeps pushing for us t...

I taught a workshop (Hitting the Ground Running as a new administrator) with a fellow administrator this week-another blogging item because I loved it.  The 11 people who signed up are all teachers in our district (the school system we work in-Kindergarten-High School), who went through their 6th year program last year in administration and most are seeking administration jobs. When we first started, we talked about a trusting environment in a building as a new administrator.  We had found an ice breaking activity in which you ask them what was the best team you were on (anytime in your life) and why.  I sat there listening to what they were saying...sports, teaching teams, etc. and I began thinking what was my best team ever.  I went through all of the teams I have been on-Field Hockey, softball, co-ed softball, administrative, student/teacher committees, teacher/admin committees and all of a sudden it dawned on me what my best team ever was..... My marriage tea...