Flat Stanley and his self portrait

Flat Stanley saw Brenna doing her self portrait and he wanted to do his too. So, we worked on Flat Stanley. I hope he likes it. :) So this blog makes sense, keep reading the blogs below. They are in backwards order. Oh well. It's late and I'm tired. Off to bed for the start of a new week.

Flat Stanely update

Flat Stanley had a great weekend. We took him to the soccer games and I am happy to say he behaved well and cheered like crazy for the team. On Saturday, we met my sister and her family for dinner at a restaurant at Piratz Tavern. It was a great place for the kids. As far as kid friendly goes--this place had a small section for movie viewing for the kids. They watched--"Pirates of the Caribbean." The food was passable but the ambiance and decor more than made up for it. I was even surprised to learn that Maryland has a turbulent (I use the word loosely) priate history. During the war of 1776, the British thought that Fell's Point was a nest of piracy. Hmm...who knew. Flat Stanley liked the restaurant until he saw the skeleton's who must have fallen pray to a pirate's sword.

Later on Flat Stanley went to RIO (the pictures at the top) to watch Smart People with some of my girlfriends. We had a great time and really liked the movie. But it was one of those movies where we seemed to be the only ones who "got it." We laughed while the rest of the audience didn't. Maybe it was the giddy excitement of having a girl's night out. Maybe it was being together outside of work. Or maybe it was because it was the end of a long week for all of us and we were glad to have it behind us. But we laughed, because life is too short not to. And there were some funny moments. I tried to take some pictures of Flat Stanley at RIO because it is such a neat place, but it doesn't show up nearly so well in the pictures.

soccer update

I had to pick Brenna up from a sleep-over to take her to her 9:30 game Saturday morning. Brenna was tired during her game and asked when it would be over. This is the question that let me know she was tired. Brenna loves soccer and never wants it to be over. She played goalie for the first time and I was a nervous wreck. My stomach did summersaults. Only one goal got past her and she looked at me and candidly said, "Mom, that one was too high over my head for me to get." She did a great job. She has quite a few of her friends on the team and I often see her playing instead of watching. But, I imagine it must be hard to stay focused when you have your best friends around. Overall, the team is improving each time they play. The fact that they still love it is so great!

Noah's game was at the same time so I didn't get to go watch. Noah is playing with a U10 league so he is always challenged to play hard. And Noah rises to the occasion. He loves playing and definitely gives it a 100%.

Tobin's game ended in a tie. I was completely happy with this. So, we have one loss, one win, and one tie under our belt. What was really great was the trainer the team hired from Brit-Am was there the entire game. I think the boys were delighted to see this show of unity and support. I really love watching Tobin's team play. They, most often, play down a hill from where the fans sit. Sitting up on the hill gives us a vantage point that has helped me learn the game. It amazes me the level with which Tobin's team plays. I hope Tobin continues on with soccer, but am not sure he will. Football and basketball are his favorites. Like dad, like son!!

Self-Portrait

Brenna had an assignment to trace, draw, color and cut herself out of butcher paper. She had a great time with paint and crayons. She giggled the whole time I was tracing her, especially around her arms. I admit I might have played it up a little as I love her laugh and think it is one of the best sounds in the whole world. She had to do this because her teacher wanted to know more about her. They are going to hang them up in the hallways of the kindergarten hall and do a "walk of fame." Brenna likes to paint and thoroughly enjoyed herself. I admit I had to walk away a few times as I wanted to "fix" things. But I realized this is Brenna's reflection of herself and there really is nothing to fix. She is perfect!!!

Let's see if I can duplicate this

Yesterday, Andy took Noah out shoe shopping. They must have had quite the experience, although I did find out later that a stop to Candy World my have contributed to the following interaction. Here is a phone call between Noah and me (with Andy listening):

Noah: Hi, Mom. Ok, what did you say you wanted from Taco Bell?
Me: I want the quesadilla combo with a soft taco. Could you also tell Daddy to get an extra taco to for Brenna? Can you remember that, sweetie?
N: Yes. Ok, dad- she wants 2 quesadillas and one soft taco.
Me: Noah, honey, that's not right. I want the combo with only 1 quesadilla and soft taco. And then an extra taco. Oh, Noah, I also want a diet coke.
Noah: Ok, Mom, I know now. Dad, she wants a quesadilla and two soft tacos.

Me: Great, he got it right!! Oh wait, he did'nt say the drink. Noah?

Noah: Umm, Mom, did you want chicken or steak?
Me: Steak or chicken? hmmm, steak, no-- I want chicken. I also want a diet pepsi, ok?
Noah: Dad, she wants a chicken taco and a steak quesadilla. And she wants a doctor pepsi.
Me: No--ah--I want it the other way around. A chicken quesadilla and a regular taco. Doctor pepsi, silly, it's diet pepsi.

I started to laugh at the comedy of errors that was presenting itself. And then I heard Andy's laughter echoing in the car, and my laughter became uncontrollable.

Noah: Dad she wants....dad, I really don't know what she wants. Can you talk to her? And he hands me still laughing over to Andy, just like that .

It was nice to laugh at this. When I saw Noah the giggles started all over again. I love laughter and wish I brought it more often to our home. I'm grateful that Andy brings in much of the laughter in our house and that the boys (and Brenna) also love laughter and will often laugh at the silly things.

Do these look like happy winners to you?

Tobin's team won their first game in three years!!! Three years-- and yet, does this look like the face of winners to you? I couldn't believe this was them walking off the field. I expected high fives and moshing the entire length of the field and, instead, we got slow moving turtles with little to no expression!! Maybe it's taking a little while to sink in. Yes, that must be it!

Flat Stanley comes for a visit

Flat Stanley gets stuck in the soccer net. We tried to tell him....
















Do you remember the books based on the character Flat Stanley? He gets run over by a steamroller. He came to visit us for a month via my nephew Tyler's school assignment. They read the books and decided to make flat Stanleys and then send them around the world, as far as their circle of friends, allowed for. We have the honor of having flat Stanley with us for about a month and then we need to send him back laden with pictures, ticket stubs and evidence of anywhere else we can think to take flat Stanley. So far, the only places we have taken flat Stanley to are Tobin and Brenna's soccer games and the doctors. However, flat Stanley has managed to insert himself into the soccer game (he tried to score, but he got run over by the ball, thus becoming an even flatter version of himself) and ran into the woods when he saw the soccer ball rolling toward him. (I tried to remind him that he was not the gingerbread man who ran away, but rather he was flat Stanley who got run over by a steamroller.) He became indignant and insisted that this was his story and we were just the visitors. :).







This is a small half of Brenna's team the "Ponytails." Let me just say that any team playing against us is actually playing WITH us as we invite them to score by stepping out of the way as the ball comes slowly rolling up to the goal. Our girls play by the motto "do unto others..."




At the doctor's office today he did a great job of holding Brenna's hand while she had her throat swabbed for strep. Luckily it was negative. The doctor had them both turn their eyes away! I thought that was a good idea as I'm not sure what flat Stanley's reaction would have been.

Have a great week everybody!

Notes from self

Dear oviparus--(an animal that lays eggs), thanks for being a word that Brenna knows and the rest of us don't. You have made her laugh over this for the last few days.

Dear Noah--thanks for taking a pause before you reacted to help you react the right way. I couldn't love you more or be more proud then I was at that moment when you visibly paused and made a great choice!

Dear brand new car--thanks for not turning back into a pumpkin at midnight, I love you Honda Pilot.

Dear shin splints: Please go away so that I can run again.

Dear Katie: I had a blast running with you on Tuesday. I am so glad we took the hills, aren't you? (insert sarcasm). Thanks for driving the route afterwards to help know how far we went.

Dear Diane: Thanks for keeping me sane at work this week. You have helped far more than you know.

Dear dreams: Please go away!! I don't need any more drama in my life. (I have had dreams for the last week where the planet is being attacked by meteors or some other similarly themed dream). I know it is related to work stuff going on--but enough already!!

Dear cast of high school Grease: You were absolutely fabulous!! Amazing and talented. We enjoyed seeing the show immensely.

Dear blog: Thanks for listening to me and letting me take my time to write what I need, but why won't you let me upload my video? I'm confused.

Dear retainer: Please help Tobin's palette expand so that Tobin can get his braces.

Dear American Idol: Thanks for being a show the whole family can watch.

Dear "Culinary Sugg-estions": Where are you when I need you? I know I put you in a safe place.

Dear Water for Elephants: Thanks for taking me to the circus and away from here just when I needed it. You are easy to read.

Dear cousin: What a brillant way to let people know the small things going on in life. Hope you don't mind.....

the village idiot

Hello all. I hope you had a great and fabulous weekend. I sit here having had a great cry on the phone with my sister and I feel much better about my long and partly self-induced miserable weekend which actually began on Thursday. (I'm only sorry I subjected my family to my misery). Let me begin with the highlight so that if you want to escape the misery (trust me, I would) you don't have to read on after the next paragraph.
The highlight of my week was the beginning of soccer season!! We spent Saturday going to games for Tobin, Noah and Brenna. At Tobin's game, a long established team, I have many of my friends there, whose sons are also Tobin's best friends. I love talking and sharing with girl friends. I was able to talk about everything from politics and the 08 election, school drama, and family pets to summer fashion. This week we all agreed that it does take a village to raise our children. This comment was precipitated from Friday night's events where one of Tobin's friends (on the soccer team) declined a ride home from us after the middle school basketball tournament. I wanted to re-enforce the idea that I am always happy to help out with Tobin's friends, who are also the sons of my friends. The idea was reiterated all around that we are always there as a back up for each other, to help if needed. It is nice to know that there is indeed a village helping me to raise my children. I don't know if I could do it without them. Carpools, meeting at Starbucks to chat, play dates, emails, blogging, dinners together, girl's night out, scrapbooking, PTA events, volunteering, school events, and commiserating are all words I would use to explain why we are in each other's lives; however, I would say we are bonded because we genuinely care about each other's children and would act on each other's behalf instantly. I'm grateful for my village....
except when I have to play the idiot. I had a conflict with a colleague on Thursday. I work at a high school where there are two media specialists. We are equals and share the responsibility for the success of our program, but I don't always feel the weight is distrubuted equally (ok, ever). I have heard several teachers comment to this same effect so I mostly take gratification in the fact, that IT is known and never confront my colleague. Finally, I reached a breaking point (after 5 years) on Thursday and I confronted her. Let's just say, she refused to acknowledge any responsibility for her part. I have to say, I know this about her and that is part of why I haven't confronted her before. What I didn't realize was how emotionally vested I was in this issue. My voice was shaking and loud. I couldn't quiet it down, no matter how much I wanted to. So, it really ended at an impasse because she wasn't willing to acknowledge any responsibility. On Friday, I was treated to the cold shoulder!! Nice, and.... professional.
So, then our weekend. I am going to make a long, miserable story really short and say that I was pretty reactive, rather than proactive, this weekend. I did little to bring calm to my family. I didn't handle things well.... with my kids or my husband. And then...there was this lady at Dick's Sporting Goods. Again, suffice it to say that she brought out all of my frustrations as she butted in line in front of us. Instead of accepting it, I reacted to it and I let her have it. She didn't like it and reacted back. So, it escalated. Oh well. The only problem is that I end up beating myself up for days afterwards (I still am).
What do you do when people don't accept responsibility for their actions? How do you let it not make the worst of you? How do you still react your best when people around you seem to be at their worst? If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them? What I would really like to know are your thoughts on this: Is your best just not saying anything so there is only the conflict that is going on inside you, or can you say/do something that would still be "your best" but let the person know your feelings about the situation?
The thing is with family and friends, there is a vested interest to do the "right" thing, but it isn't always there with colleagues or strangers that happen to cross your path. So, what do you do then? I accept responsibility for having made the situation worse at Dick's, but with my colleague I feel like the dialogue needs to happen for even the possibility of any change. I honestly don't think that any way is a good way to discuss with her because she refuses to see the situation as it is. As for me, I know there are two sides to every story and the truth that resides somewhere in the middle.
Pray that I have a better week, or my next blog may be much like Masters' Spoon River Anthology (told from the grave).