catching up

Last week Conner had a gymnastics 'performance.' The girls got to go through some fun routines and show off for parents. It was a hoot! They each got presented with a medal and my dad bought her some flowers.



The kids went to visit their dad over the holiday weekend, and we went to the Lake of the Ozarks. I have to admit, I didn't do much except relax and catch up on some reading. There was an attempt to play golf (while I tagged along in the golf cart, my nose stuck in a book) but then a storm came up and the group stopped after 9 holes. A brief lull in the storm gave us time to get back to the house and cook some dinner, and then a second wave of nastiness hit.



Yes - that is rain gusting off the roof of the dock. Wild, wild weather weekend. From what the forecast says - more wicked wacky wetness is on the way. (sorry, I couldn't help myself with the w's. Hopefully the weather will calm down soon. I really don't want another year where we go straight from heating to air conditioning. Hey Mother Nature - are you listening? Take a prozac and give us a break!

the poetry of predators

First, the big news - Conner lost a tooth. It came out overnight on Sunday night. We thought it was gone, but I searched her bed after she left for school and found it. The tooth fairy paid a visit last night and left her some cash. Now she wants her tooth back and doesn't care about the cash.

She also asked if it would be bad to glue the tooth back in. Or maybe we can make a necklace of teeth.

And wear bones in our hair and dance around a bubbling cauldron.

So anyway - heard an awful commotion from the back yard yesterday. The birds ceased their singing and were screeching and squawking. I thought the sky might be falling so I trotted over to the door to look. (Don't you go look when you think the world might be ending?)

So I'm scanning the ground and the trees, thinking maybe there was a snake or something. That would be cool because I could catch it and show it to the kids after school (and then of course, set it free in the neighbor's yard.) Hmmm... no snakes.

Then I look UP. On top the shed is a young hawk. (Hawklet?) Ok, WAY better than a snake but I'll skip the catching it part. I very quietly step backwards so I can grab my camera but he notices the movement.

moving

very

slowly

just

one

more

step

Grabbed the camera and eased my way back to the door. He had moved from the top of the shed to the fence, but I was still able to catch this shot of him.



Isn't he handsome?! I think he was looking for a baby bunny snack, but he was out of luck today.

I know it's totally crazy, but I think predators are the coolest. I respect the jobs they do in nature. I respect their capacity for violence. Yeah, the cute fuzzy fluffy critters are nice too, but nothing compares to the sleek lines of a big cat or the howl of a wolf. A predator in action is sheer poetry in motion.

Maybe I've spent too much time watching the Discovery Channel, but my sympathies are with predators - not prey. Or maybe it's because I was at a park last year and lost count of the rabbits. No predators = over population = destroyed vegetation = no more habitat = starving critters.

So let there be predators and let nature do it's thing - without the intervention of people.

busy busy busy

We had a busy weekend! We went to the Armed Forces Day parade and celebration. Took some great pictures. Jim's sister has a new chocolate lab puppy and my kids were loving all over it.



Caleb tried his skills on the climbing wall.



Then we got to watch a very skilled pilot land a helicopter in the parking lot. And yes - I was almost directly underneath this thing.



So after all that excitement, we went bowling. I stink at bowling. Really, really, really stink. But I have fun and don't really care about my score. I just like sliding around in the bowling shoes. They make 'moonwalking' easy!

We did lots of other stuff too - like puppy-sitting, watching a soccer game, hanging out with the neighbors, etc. I think I need a weekend to rest up from my weekend.

bubble wrap and baby bunnies

Wednesday was a busy night. We were entertained with the rare and exciting Bubble Wrap Dance - courtesy of Conner.



Then she saved a baby bunny from certain death.



And in between these incredible feats of skill, she played tag, rode her bike, rode her scooter, changed clothes four times, and did her homework. Then she had dinner and ate more than four lumberjacks.

Oh yeah - remember the cat trying to catch his tail while balanced on the railing? I actually caught him on camera. He's my psycho kitty.



He did it again this morning, but he fell this time. It was scary but he was back to attacking shadows within a few minutes. I think he will be avoiding the railing for oh... say... the rest of his life?!

arrrgh...what DO ya want?

Every time someone asks me what I want, I want to answer with...

"I want to sing and dance, I want to sing and dance..."

Or if asked my opinion...

"I don't like it. I don't like it and I don't want to do it."

I always knew it was from a song. I only recently was curious enough to Google it. It appears I was traumatized by Ray Stevens at an age when my brain was still impressionable. For whatever reason - it's those weird things that stick with you. I found this on YouTube and even though it's not the original skit (far from it), it still cracked me up. Plus I know Caleb will think it's funny.



Actually, I think Ray Stevens was a genius. I'm hoping to warp my children's brains later tonight by exposing them to the streak and the squirrel that went berzerk. I can also finally show them why my sister and I say "Hello Margaret...It's me again" when we call each other back and forth.

Remember Jim Stafford? He was a favorite too.



Have to admit - that stuff is classic - just not in the Beethoven way.

hurdles, high jumps, & highways

Went to watch my niece at a track meet on Saturday. She's amazing. I took a few pictures that actually look decent. She competes in the 100 meter hurdles...



and the high jump....



She also does the triple jump and the 4 X 100 relay. Her team took first place in the District so they were happy. (She placed either first or second on all her individual events.) I never thought a track meet would be all that exciting - but it was a lot of fun.

Of course yesterday was highway time. Kids were with their dad this weekend, so that meant lots of driving on Friday and again yesterday. Yes, I realize it was Mother's Day and they were supposed to be with me but his work schedule complicates things. We changed the schedule for May so that he would be able to spend time with Caleb and Conner. I wasn't thrilled and it kinda sucked to be away from the kids. Ok, so it REALLY sucked. Lucky for me - I have the world's best ever significant other. He spent the day just hanging out with me. We slept in, watched part of a movie, then went to visit my mom and picked out some plants at a nursery. (We took his mom out to dinner on Saturday evening. It was wonderful!)

I ended up having a really good day, even though the kids weren't with me until the evening. My pep talks to myself must have worked. Either that or maybe it was because Jim knew I was down and he made an extra effort to make sure I had some fun.

And just in case we weren't having enough fun - I found killer rabbit slippers! Monty Python fans rejoice! These are on the shopping list for Christmas!

crazy cat

I was too slow with my camera today. My cat was balanced on the railing. Not at the safe end where it was a short drop to the stairs and landing. He was at the deep end.

He was well balanced - front feet BETWEEN back feet with his rear hanging over one end, tail dangling and twitching below. And what exactly was he doing???

HE WAS TRYING TO ATTACK HIS OWN TAIL - THROUGH THE RAILING!

I was afraid to move. I wanted to grab him so he wouldn't fall. I wanted to bust out laughing. I wanted to get my camera and take a picture.

Then he realized I was watching, and he jumped down and sauntered off.

"I didn't do it. Nobody saw me. You can't prove it."

Next time crazy kitty - next time I'll get ya!

D.A.R.E. graduation

Caleb had his D.A.R.E. graduation on Monday night. His school is blessed with a great D.A.R.E. officer who really cares about the kids and it shows in countless ways.

The kids got their D.A.R.E. diplomas and a few got to read essays they had written about staying drug-free. Caleb was hoping to read his essay and was disappointed that his wasn't chosen. But there was a BIG surprise in store for him (and for us.) At the end of the ceremony, the D.A.R.E. officer announced that the fifth grade teachers had selected a boy and a girl from each classroom that they considered to be role models and leaders. Guess what?! Caleb's teacher had selected him as the boy from her class. He was totally shocked and embarassed when he went on stage to get his certificate. I know he was thrilled and I was so happy for him that I started crying. Mom and Dad were with me and Mom was crying too. I know - we're total goofballs but it was so cool.



We tracked down Caleb, his teacher, and the D.A.R.E. officer after the ceremony. I had to get pictures and I had to say thank you. I can't even express how it felt to watch Caleb get that kind of recognition. Yes, I was proud, but mostly I was just happy to see him grinning and laughing.



Conner was pretty excited for her brother too. But she was more excited about the new shoes that she got. Pink and blue and green, kind of tattered looking. I swear she doesn't get shoe fever from me. Really! I swear! (I'm such a liar!)

determination

I am determined to think positive today.

So what if it's raining - that means my flowers and plants will grow!

So what if I feel like a bloated pig carcass - the scale still says I've lost weight!

So what if Conner is using an inhaler - she slept through the night without coughing!

So what if my computer locks up occassionally - at least I have a computer!

So what if things don't happen according to MY timetable - I need to learn patience anyway!

So what if my kids are awesome and wonderful and creative and smart - oh wait - see, it's working!

I also have the best neighbors in the world. (Hi Amy!)
And the best family. (Hi Mom & Dad & Hi Sis!)
And the best 'special friend' HA! (Hi honey!)
And his family is the best too! (Hi Sharon! Hi Tami!)

I can always find things to complain about - but today, I'm determined to NOT complain. It's a good day and I've got lots of reasons to smile.