Labor Day 10K

Yesterday was my third year to participate in the Run for a Child race. Kasey just found the online pic from the first year we ran.
Ewww....schweeeeeeeeaaaaty...but SO excited that I did it!
Last year, we ran the 10K, and I was pretty dang excited.
Yesterday, we ran the 10K again.
It was hot.
It sucked.
but I did it, and there is gatorade thrown up all over the bushes next to the finish line it to prove it. Yuck.

Things that have changed since that first race:
-I no longer feel like a wannabe runner.
-I run the 10K now, instead of the 5K.
-I wear running clothes and track my pace with a Garmin, rather than doing math in my head every 1/2 mile.
-I take music
-Kasey and I now (coincidentally) dress in matchie-poo outfits on race day
-I don't run in 8 yr old Nike cross trainers with holes in the bottom
-The course direction! It's been flipped. I do like the steep down hill at the end. I don't like the uphill everywhere else. Honestly though, it wasn't the course that killed me, it was the heat.
-Baby #3 joined us between race #1 and race #2. I was actually pregnant when I ran that first 5K, and didn't know it yet. (maybe I'm just "glowing" in that picture, not sweating profusely!)

Things that have not changed since that first race:
-There are still children in NWA Children's Shelters that need love and donations.
-my legs are still white
-I still feel like puking and/or dying when I am done.
-My husband and the kids are always waiting and cheering for me at the finish line
-my new shoes still have holes, but they are in the tops. They've got so many miles on them...time for replacements. I wonder if I'll like the Cumulus 12 as much as I heart the Cumulus 11's.
-My time! I finished the 10K the same time as last year. Boo to that!

And how cute is this girl? I could eat her.

Yum.

Emergency

Quincy: Reese! Come quick! Hurry! Look outside!
Reese: What? I don't see any thing.
Quincy {panicking}: Your SNOWman! It. is. melted!
Reese: Quincy. Are you seriously JUST noticing that?
Quincy: Oh. That was a long time ago.

Remembering Grandma Lawrence

My Grandma Lawrence passed away last week, and I gathered with my siblings, parents and some extended family for the funeral service on Saturday. Grandma was almost 91, and had a peaceful death surrounded by all of her children. We spent the few days we were together celebrating her life, and remembering some of the things we loved about her.

Since my blog is more or less a journal for my family, I thought I'd list a few of my memories of Grandma Lawrence, and encourage anyone who knew her to leave a comment and do the same. My children are too young to have any memories of Grandma Lawrence, so they unfortunately will not know what it's like to sit at the kids table on Thanksgiving, eat Fuzzy Navel ice cream, or watch Batteries Not Included on the fold out sofa in the back bedroom, while the grown ups play a ruthless game of Aggravation or Hearts.
I loved the apricots from grandma's tree in the backyard, and apparently, one of the neighborhood kids enjoyed Grandmas backyard as well, because a couple of these were recent additions to her property.

Awesome.
Grandma loved to remind kids that they were kids and that they were not allowed to touch things that belonged to grown ups, or play where they might break something. The only thing more awesome than these signs is what we found taped to the back of one of them.
Aaahahahha!
That's one brave kid.
I love that it's dated only a couple weeks before she passed. My Grandma lived a long, full life, and was totally opinionated and completely independent her entire life.

I was also lucky to inherit a few treasures from Grandma's home.

We took our time walking around Grandma's house, thinking about her while we looked at her beautiful things. HolleeAnn pointed out how big the antique three-quarter bed used to seem when we were little. Scott got a drink from is favorite cups, Mark and Amy took their kids to play on the playground behind the house where we used to spend hours when we came to visit.
I found Grandma's vintage house apron hanging right where she left it in the laundry room, and put it on.
It still smells like her.
When my aunt saw me she insisted that I take it home with me and I am so happy. I've been wanting a couple little smock aprons to wear when I teach, and this one is perfect. I love it.

Up next, Homeless Hannah
Back at my Grandma's house, after the burial, my Aunt Susie called each of the granddaughters in by age to choose one of Grandma's porcelain dolls. HolleeAnn chose a doll that looked like Jordan. Amy chose a doll with pretty ringlets and a petticoat. My cousin, Ashley, chose the porcelain Geisha, and my other cousin, Summer, chose the redheaded Cabbage Patch Doll that I had always thought was "mine". I almost knocked Summer out for it, but since she actually looked like the doll, it really was meant to be hers. I think I only thought it was mine when she wasn't around to claim it.

I went in to make my selection, and Aunt Sue said, "sometimes it stinks to be the youngest" and apologized for the picked over lot. She showed me each of the dolls left and told me a little something about them or how Grandma had acquired them. Then she picked up a ratty doll and said, "and this is Homeless Hannah. I don't know where she came from, but she's always been here, and it looks like at some point she took a swim an got a haircut". Homeless Hannah has a tattered brown dress, a burlap hat, and child-cut green-blond hair. My mom asked where she came from, and I decided that since she's "Homeless Hannah", she's probably just been here since before Grandma and Grandpa bought the house and is only perched in there with the fancy doll collection because she has squatters rights and refuses to give up her bench. A stubborn doll, like my stubborn grandma.

She kept turning up in unexpected places and scaring the crap out of me. George Costanza's inherited mother-look-alike-doll has nothin' on Homeless Hannah. "She" has got quite a mouth and she yelled all sorts of cranky things at my family this weekend in a crackly Lady Elaine Fairchilde sort of voice. I finally understand the lure of ventriloquism. I always thought it was the talent for throwing your voice that brought people to the art, but I was so wrong. It's an offense mechanism. Once you've got a puppet in your hands, you can hand out all the insults you want and get no retaliation!
Truth: I've just inherited the BEST thing a Lawrence kid could ever ask for. I love her.
More Homeless Hannah posts coming soon. There just wasn't room for her in my suitcase, so she is coming via mail later this week. I also feared she would crash my airplane in an attempt to get back to my Grandma's house where she belongs

Hanging on the wall in the three-quarter bedroom was a framed poem with my hand print stamped at the bottom dated 1983. I was one. Too cute! I love that she kept it for all these years, and I am thrilled to have it back as a keepsake that will always remind me that the little girl who made that hand print got her red curly hair from her Grandma Lawrence.

My Grandma Lawrence made delicious grape salad. She loved to be waited on, birds, Hawaiian music, little dogs, romantic movies (as long as the main characters were attractive), the Olympics, The Jazz, and butterscotch pudding. She loved going to "the show". She had a hip group of friends and a very busy social calendar. She drove a really cool car with a seat belt that buckled automatically when you closed the door, she created amazing needlepoint, she had beautiful cursive, she always wore beautiful clip on earrings, and she always had her nails manicured and painted mauve. I am grateful to her for creating my Dad, for loving me and my little family, for giving me my first Babysitter's Club Book, and for teaching me how to sew by hand.

And finally, a shaped soap.
I am so excited about this. Grandma ALWAYS had shaped soaps in her bathroom.
They were only for decoration, of course, and we used the liquid soap to wash our hands when we visited. But there was always an assortment of dust covered soap shells and flowers on display in her bathrooms. HolleeAnn and I each took a flower from the dish and noticed that the third had lost it's shape...which means she finally decided to start using her soaps! Just in time, too. She used to have several of them placed all over the house, and was now down to the three flower soaps in "the bathroom with the naked lady picture in it". I can't decide if I'm going to use it, and be reminded of Grandma every time I wash my hands, or save it, and think of my awesome Grandma every time I tell people 'not to touch my damn soap'.

Enjoy the party in Heaven, Grandma!
Look out, Grandpa, I'm sure one of the waiters up there wants to dance with her.

Appeal

My Academic Appeal to have the Residency Requirement at Boise State waived has been APPROVED! Woot!

Next:
1) apply to graduate by Friday. This one probably won't happen in time. My Grandma passed away yesterday, and Corbin and I are leaving tonight for St. George for her funeral. I can still apply when I get back in town, I just have to pay $40.

2) get into the Comm 1313 class at NWACC (this is an 8 week accelerated course that will be from 5-10pm on Friday nights from mid October -mid December. It's going to be madness, but when it's done, I'M done! Totally worth the 8 week sacrifice.

3) transfer my credits from NWACC back to BSU

4) re-apply to BSU and enroll in ANY class I want. I just have to take 1 credit at BSU to reestablish a catalog year to graduate under (the catalog year my credits are under just expired). Take the course, pass the course, and

5) graduate!

Seems simple enough...much easier than re-taking 12 credits at NWACC just to do the same thing.
I am feeling very blessed this week.

Did you know that I didn't even need to be in that World Civ class? Yeah. Don't need it. Not right now anyway...eventually, for a bachelor's degree, I might. But not right now. not this week.

It was by no serendipitous occurrence that I happened to mix up catalog numbers when registering and ended up in that class, that happened to have the VP of student services teaching, who happened to have an assistant that is going through the process of graduating via distance education because of an unexpected move, who thought to research BSU to see if my credits added up to qualify for an A.A. degree five years later. Dr. VP just happened to have one cancellation in his 2 month booked schedule, that happened to be on the last day to file an academic appeal. Kasey happened to decide last minute to take a personal day off work that day and happened to be available to watch my children while I went to the appointment that day.
And now, I am so close to the end of this process, I can smell it.

I know an Associate's Degree can do very little for me career wise, but it is worth so much to me.

I was really frustrated one afternoon, wondering if all of the stress, sacrifices, and time away from my family was really worth it. I hate rushing out the door the instant my husband gets home. I hate leaving them with a lousy meal, I hate the stress of rushing to class, I hate giving up a date night to study, I hate missing enrichment to go to class. All of this for an A.A. Is it worth it? My brother, Scott, pointed out that it's worth whatever I value it.

This is like gold to me. It represents something finished, a closed chapter, a struggle overcome, perseverance, and just plain proof on paper that I am not stupid.

It's a door. With this step complete, I can finally move on with my education. I'm no longer trapped in a forever state of Transfer Limbo, watching my hard earned credits become less and less valuable. Do I want a bachelor's degree? YES. Someday. Maybe sooner, maybe later. I don't know, and I don't have to decide today.

It's almost, finally, totally mine.

Ours. It's mine and it's Aaron's, and it's Reese's, and it's Quincy's, and it's Corbin's. It's a lesson to my children that education is important and worth making sacrifices for. I'm doing this for me, but I'm also doing this for them.

I am very aware of the Lord's hand in my life.
He knows the desires of our hearts, and if we ask, He will listen, and He will help.

Welcome Friends!

The batteries died on my camera! I only got a few shots of my Friendly Frogs when we were playing outside, yesterday, but it was a spectacular day! I could not believe how much my returning students grew up over the Summer.


Let’s Go: to School!
Today is all about getting to know each other, reestablishing a classroom routine, and understanding the rules. If the children have a good understanding of what is expected of them, the entire year will go more smoothly. More energy can be spent on creating, learning and exploring, rather than classroom management.
Circle Time: Welcome, Job Chart, Weather, Calendar, Pledge of Allegiance

Share: Bring photos of your family! Each child will introduce him/herself to the class, and tell us a little about their family using the photos they brought. We will sing the "Welcome song" to them, then we will read their favorite book, and sing a song of their choice.

Color: My Favorite Color: can you find 3 items in our classroom that are your favorite color?

Shape: Circle

Book: Bring your favorite book!
Book: Let’s Share Our Toys By Nancy Parent

Share: Bring photos of your family and your favorite book

Dramatic Play: Play School Bus Drop Off
Each child was handed three baby dolls or stuffed animals. The children took turns being Bus Driver #1 and Bus Driver #2 as they picked the "kids" up in their cozy coupe car (bus) and "drove" the kids to "school". After "school", they drove down the street and dropped each "kid" off at their bus stops. Don't forget to drop them off at the same house you picked them up from!

Fine Motor: Button Mix Up! Provide baskets and tweezers for children to pick up colored buttons with and sort them by color. This is a favorite sorting activity at preschool that the kids never get tired of.

Sensory: Bubbles! Pull out the large bubble blowers and the bubble gun. What shape are the bubbles? Can you see your favorite color in them?

Practical Life: I can share with my friends (read book, talk about sharing and taking turns)

Snack: Circle Crackers, apple slices, and circle grapes

Language: the Spanish word of the month is Hola!

Phonics: We started our list of Hh words "Hat, Hamburger, Happy, House, and 'when we're helping, we're happy'...one of my little guys burst out into song. So cute."

Art: Circle people-I had a different activity planned, but when Reese came home from Kindergarten with a Triangle Girl, she played with it all afternoon. It was so cute, I just had to make a Circle Man with my kids. They loved it.
Photo from Sam's mom

Math: Number 4-Counting Four Friends at school, four wheels on the bus, four boys in our class, four people with short hair, etc

Music & Movement: Welcome Song (____ is here today to play, ____ is here today!
Let’s clap our hands and shout, “Horray!” because _____ is here today), My favorite song, Rainbow Dancing Ribbons

Gross Motor/Outside Play: Go Over Safety Rules, let the children explore the garden


Science: We caught a grasshopper in a mason jar. The children took turns looking at him with a magnifying glass. Jace and Jacob named him Chloe Hopper. (Chloe Hopper was released back into the wild shortly after preschool ended)

Goodbye Friends

Next Week: Let's Go to the Beach! (as well as pictures of the kids' hard work. I just bought new batteries this morning)

Never Say Never

I swore many many years ago, that I would never put my child on a school bus.
Then my child started school.
I lasted 3 days.

The transition into Kindergarten has not been an easy one.
Basically, she doesn't like it.
But she does like it.

Change is a difficult thing for Reese. She likes to know what is happening. She likes to feel in control of her environment. She can handle huge challenges as long as she feels like she knows what is coming, and she feels in control of the situation.

Needless to say, with the little flood disaster, it's been a little chaotic around here the past few weeks.
At one point, there was plastic sheeting all over the living room, a mattress on the floor in the hallway, a sofa, loveseat, ottoman, 2 arm chairs, a dresser, a wardrobe, a rocking chair, a book shelf, a twin bed, a treadmill, a crib, and a piano all stacked in our dining room.

The girls were moved into our bedroom during the construction/painting phase, to the living room one night, and then to a new bedroom after the carpet arrived. Corbin was shuffled around as well and even spent a few nights in a pack n play in the kids' bathroom. "Dinner" meant anything that could be microwaved and served with salsa or ketchup.

Being a mom is not easy. It is hard to watch your child struggle with anything.

We forget how frustrating it was to learn how to tie shoelaces or how worried we used to get over a forgotten lunch, and we lose patience with our kids when they just can't relax or let "little" things go.

Brian Regan does a great comedy bit about this. We tell a kid that is crying over a popped balloon to "toughen up and forget about it---it's just a balloon we'll get you another balloon" and then we can't understand when they whine, "but I want THAT balloon, MY balloon!" and we grow even more impatient when they reject the replacement balloon that you had to fight a 15 minute line to get for them. Brian compares this to an adult losing a wallet or purse. Your keys are in there. Cash. Credit Cards. Your day planner, your ipod, your identity! If someone told you to "quit whining and forget about it, it's just a wallet, you'll get a new wallet", you'd be pretty pissed and feel like shouting back, "But that was MY wallet, I want that one, with my stuff in it! No! I don't want that ugly new wallet, I want the one with my drivers license and 100 bucks in it!"

Reese managed as well as any child could with her whole universe being flipped upside down around her, but when she got another double ear infection last week, it was the straw that broke the camels back. Her balloon popped and she fell apart.

Enter the 20 minute-peel-the-child-off-off-my-leg-and-leave-her-there-crying drop-offs at school. It had only been 3 days, and I was already burned out on meltdowns in the hallway outside her classroom door. Don't think I'm a sissy. These are not your ordinary meltdowns. They came complete with the ugly cry (you know, the one where the snot flows freely down to the chin, and it sounds so horrible you want to give them whatever they want just to make it stop?), threats to pee her pants if I didn't stay there with her, a heavy dose of, "How could you do this to me? You told me kindergarten would be fun! You lied!" that cut me right to the core. and of course, a desperate finger-pointing, public accusation of betrayal as I walked away.
I was shocked at her reaction to Kindergarten, but I really shouldn't have expected anything less. Reese is a theatrical negotiating genius and has been preparing all her life for this moment. She spared no dramatic expense.

Change is hard.
But life is full of change, so at some point, we all have to learn how to deal with it.

I had done everything I could considering our less-than-ideal torn up house situation, to make Reese's transition to full time Kindergarten a comfortable one. There was really nothing else to do but let her experience a little social discomfort, and offer her advice on how to work through it.

I put my kid on the bus.
I prayed.
and guess what?

We'll be okay.

Corbin's Agenda Today and Everyday

1) wake up.
2) wipe snot on Mom's clean shirt.