April Fools & Movie Night

Surprised Dad with some brownies at the office...

And enjoyed some cuddles during movie night

What Kind of Mom...

Lets her kid go camping in sub zero weather, knowing he's planning to attempt earning a Freeze Out Badge and will be stuck OUTSIDE for a minimum of 24 hours? WHO DOES THAT? This Boy Scout thing has really gotten Archer into some situations I never would have imagined when he started this journey many years ago. I hear it's going to warm up to above freezing by then. But there's a good chance of rain... So...

What kind of mom lets her kid DO THAT? Me I guess. And all the other parents of the boys going on the trip. And when I was asked if I'd like to come along? Nope. I'll stay home in my warm cozy bed. Good luck Arch, I hope you don't lose your toes in this adventure!

F5 New Year's Eve 2015

Here's a little summary of our party. Enjoy!

2015 Year in Review

Exactly one year ago today, I planned to run the Lighthouse Run. I did not know that I would follow it with the Half Marathon just a few weeks later. One year ago I thought that I would probably spend a few miles running with Dad. I had no idea it would total over 200 miles by the year's end. I didn't think that my miles with kids by my side on their bikes would total 50. (Don't tell them the number, they'll probably complain about how far they had to go. In the heat. Up hill both ways...) I didn't think I'd be the crazy person running laps in the parking lot in the dark in the middle of winter while we were at ballet class. I never imagined that my son would join the cross country team after listening to his grandpa and mom obsesss over running for months and months.

This year I saw many things I didn't expect. The running was a big part of it, but also...

Archer finished up six years at his elementary school. He started middle school. This was a huge one for him. Switching classes, locker, gym uniform, a whole new category of classes, a whole new group of kids. I was nervous for him, he was nervous, but here we are - everything is fine.

Shelly chose to continue with ballet, but took a break from it over the summer and spent a couple weeks in art classes and soccer camp. The art classes were something completely new to her, but by the second day she was already telling me not to walk in with her. She's GOT this!

Eli finished his 3K school and then started in a new school in the fall for 4K. He now rides the bus. He's met some great new friends. He's adjusted SO well and continues to surprise me with everything he knows. Plus. Now he RIDES A BIKE! This will make our upcoming summer runs/rides SO much better. Right? Cause what could POSSIBLY go wrong?

David worked on some computer programming/building projects with the kids. They like to talk about the robots they're going to build someday. What? I never imagined that would be a thing in my house. But there it is. Go for it!

So. What does 2016 bring? Who knows. I can't even guess. I know this - I'll be training for a Sprint Triathlon with my friend Mary. I hope I'll get to put in miles out on the road with her, my kids and Dad. I want to smile more, and complain less. And beyond all of that, I just really can't guess. I'm looking forward to the adventure!

Things They Say

I wrote this back in June but never got around to hitting that "publish" button. Anyway, enjoy a couple of conversations with the kids!

Mom and E in the store.
E: I know how the cows make the milk.
Mom: Oh really? How?
E: They just find the pig. Then it just swallows it. Then it makes the milk.
Mom: It swallows it whole?
E: Yeah. The cow just goes like this (he opens his mouth as wide as it goes, he holds his hands open on either side of his mouth, ready to clamp his fingers shut along with his mouth, after he catches the pig).

This conversation goes back and forth for several minutes. I'm trying to get my mind around this whole thing. I ask things like, does it chew the pig? Does it chase the pig? E talks about the cows eating other things, like grass, the grass turns into the milk. But finally, I ask the right question.

Mom: How does the milk get out of the cow?
E: You just, the farmer just pulls on the pig's legs.

And then it all became very clear to me, and I tried very hard not to laugh. Over the next couple of days I told a few people. We all found it funny, and in the end, most of us cried, even Mr. A, Archer's famous 5th grade teacher, cried when he heard the news. You just pull on the pig's legs, of course!

Mom and Shelly at bedtime.
Mom: Shelly, let's make a deal. On Thursday night, after your last day of school, you can stay up as late as you want reading. BUT, for the next few nights, you can't complain about wanting to stay up late to read.
Shelly: Best deal EVER! (Thumbs up, jumping up and down, runs out of the room. Leaves her book behind with me to prove she won't be reading too late tonight.)

Dear Santa

Dearest Santa,

 

I underestimated your magical powers. I questioned the wisdom of the decision. On Christmas Eve, after you visited us a few hours early, I watched the recognition and delight come over the children's faces as they realized. They had each just received their very own tablet. Don't we already struggle with too much screen time? Will they all be off to their own corners of the house and we'll never see them again? What about BOOKS? No going back. They have the packaging torn open, they're holding those shiny new toys and marvelling at the power in their hands.

 

That moment was the beginning of a stretch of FIVE DAYS that have been the true Christmas Gift in our home. The technology is great, the kids love the toys, but here's the absolute very best thing. No. Fights. They settle in on the couch next to each other. They play for hours. There is: No fighting about who is taking up too much space on the couch. No arguing about what game they should play next, what's not fair about whatever thing is happening at that moment, just imagine the possibilities of problems. NONE of it is happening. They are laughing with each other and cooperating. They are having fun together. They're working together as their characters in the game build farms and raise chickens. Even when they take a break for breakfast, the goodwill spills over to the Real World and they help each other without being asked.

 

So, Santa, from the kids, thanks for the tablets.
From the parents, thanks for the five (almost) completely fight free days. We appreciate it.

 

Today's Report. So Far.

Happy Monday!

While the rest of the world goes back to work, the students of this country enjoy a nice long Winter Break. So, while I work in my cozy little office downstairs, this is the report from up above...

1. Shelly declined breakfast, laid in her bed for a while then moved to the parents' bed to watch TV.
     A. Batteries dead in remote. Replaced batteries.
     B. I heard Shelly coughing, it sounded suspicious. (I was in the laundry room at that moment.) "Are you throwing up?" "Yes." In my bed. On the floor by my bed. Need advice about cleaning the vomit stain out of the carpet. Also, don't trip over all the extra laundry piles laying around waiting to get sanitized.
     C. While I was cleaning everything up, she sat on the floor watching TV. Now she's feeling 100% better. She DID apologize for the mess about 75 times. Note, she did NOT offer to clean it up. ;)

2. Tablets didn't charge overnight because they were plugged into the wrong outlet and the light switch was off.
     A. Shelly's tablet is still not charging even now when plugged into correct outlet and light switch turned on just for good measure.
     B. Archer asked if there was anything he could do to help. When I said yes and offered a suggestion, he ignored me and continued to play on the tablet. Case of selective hearing, I guess. At least there's no fighting. For now.

3. On the good news side, everyone has gotten dressed and brushed their teeth. So there's that. (Plans for chore assignments are in the works. I'll keep you posted on how it goes when I tell them to part with their tablets for 20 minutes.)

4. Scout Leader called to inform Archer that Scouts is cancelled tonight, and Boy Scout #1 was unreachable. Archer is Boy Scout #2 so he needs to call everyone with the news. Archer immediately starts calling (calls Boy #3) when he is interrupted by Boy #1 notifying him that Scouts is cancelled tonight. He says Boy #3 is also going to call everyone. So now Boys #1, 2 and 3 are calling the other 7 in the group... I think Archer quit calling people after that? Not really sure how that all worked out.

5. I'll need to learn how to listen to the kids' interactions differently now that they're playing virtually and not IRL. That's In Real Life for those of us old folks who don't know the letter system. "I'm going to punch you! Stop punching me in the face! Give me the chicken!" I feel so confused and out of the loop.

Sing! Dance!

Today Archer sings in his first ever Choir Concert. Those elementary school things were nothing compared to Middle School Choir. Dress code, dress rehearsal, gym full of spectators.

Today Shelly has the technical rehearsal at the theater for this weekend's Nutcracker. Ditch school early, snacks in the van, hair in a bun, more snacks, and she disappears backstage.

Nerves are running high. I'm hearing it from both of the performers and all I can do is keep repeating the same things. "You've put in the time and work. You KNOW your part. You'll be great!"

We've got a whole crew lined up to take care of all the behind the scenes stuff, Grandma and Grandpa in charge of Eli after school and in charge of getting Archer to the concert on time. Hopefully they'll have time for some food in the schedule? David in charge of video. And me? Well, I got Shelly to the theater. Now I'll just sit back and read for the next two and a half hours...

Great Big Fishing Trip

This isn't really my trip to tell about, ask Archer when you see him.
Here are a few pics shared with me, enjoy!

          

What Happens When...

You let your guard down, and think you know what to expect?

 

A couple of nights ago Archer told me a story about how he had asked his 5th grade teacher, "If you travel to the center of the earth, wouldn't you just get stuck there and never be able to go through to the other side of the earth?" His teacher never answered. But I have to wonder, isn't Archer right? Wouldn't Earth's gravity always be pulling you towards the center, so you could never go THROUGH? You'd only be able to get closer to the center, and not able to get back out.

 

Last night I was reading an interesting little book to Eli about travelling to the center of the earth. Its a combination of science fact and science fiction. It was much longer than I realized. And there were lots more words on every page than I expected. But whatever, we forged ahead.

 

We got down past the earth's crust to the the mantle. We were on the page about magma. I started talking about how when rocks get super hot, they MELT. You know, like how cheese melts when it gets hot? Eli asked if rocks could melt in your hand when you're holding them. No, don't worry, that can't happen. And then it came.

My smart kid came up with this serious question that completely blindsided me. "What about magic rocks? Do they melt?" I told him I didn't know much about the properties of magic rocks, but what does he think? He proceeded to tell me that YES, magic rocks can melt while you're holding them. They only burn you a little, not a lot.

 

We decided to leave the rest of the book for later, said our goodnights, and went our separate ways. To ponder magic rocks, and unexpected little questions.

Check out Leo Geo and His Miraculous Journey Through the Center of the Earth by Jon Chad - I think Eli picked it out because of its unusual shape, but its an entertaining read.