Spring Break (Day 2/Part 2)

After our long drive and great meal in Newport the first night Belle and I were slightly overwhelmed to discover a red-neck family reunion and a ton of cheerleaders were occupying our hotel with us.  Don't get me wrong, I'm a red-neck girl all the way, but this was a bit overwhelming.  I am not sure which was more annoying, the people with the crock pot cooking in the lobby (I'm not making this up) or the snotty cheerleaders.  Belle and I just wanted to sleep and it was rocking in the hotel that night.  It did settle down by 10, my cut off time before calling the front desk, but we didn't love the noise.  Over all we had a good room, and it was a nice night.

We got up in a rather leisurely fashion on Sunday morning.  Our plan was to do a little more sight seeing in Newport and then Peter Pan's sister had given us a great tip for prom dress shopping.  So we finally got up, got dressed, packed and checked out of our hotel.  We headed to Ma's Donuts for breakfast.  Ma's is a Newport classic and before you scold me I didn't go for the donuts, I love the bagels.  They make the most amazing fresh bagels.  I don't even want them toasted, just a plain bagel, all by itself.  No butter, no cream cheese.  They are amazingly crusty on the outside and so soft and tender on the inside.  My bagel was still warm when I got it.  Belle got bagels and donuts, oh to be young and athletic. 

When Moose was little and I was pregnant with Belle I would occasionally stop for a bagel and soda on my way to work to curb the morning sickness.  I would get Moose a donut.  We had stopped maybe 2 or 3 times when he started saying "donuts" everytime we drove down main street and past Ma's.  Peter Pan was convinced that I stopped every morning and we had a huge fight about it.  I couldn't convince him that Moose had learned to recognize the sign that quickly!  The power of donuts.

After breakfast Belle and I headed down to Thames street to do a little souvenir shopping.  We got a few items in the cheap souvenir store and happily headed to our next stop, 1st Beach.  We used to take the kids here all the time when they were little.  In the summer their was a carousel (well, that stays year round I guess), bumper boats and a little train ride.  They loved it.  We would sometimes go after work just to let Moose ride the bumper boats.  He once lost a Batman action figure on that beach and we spent hours looking for it.  He also got away from Peter Pan and I on that beach leading to possible the most terrifying few minutes of my life looking for him on a beach.  We spent a lot our time in Newport doing things at First Beach.  We even went to a halloween costume parade there one time.

It was really fun to be back there and even though it wasn't a really warm day there were a lot of people walking around, surfing, and hanging out.  There were a ton of shells on the beach and if you were really interested it would have been a great day for beach combing.  It was sort of breezy and cool, but Belle and I snapped some pictures and reflected on our past.  She of course really didn't remember it.

After that we headed over to Second Beach.  We also went there quite often.  It was a much more natural, less touristy sort of beach and I especially loved to take the kids there in the winter.  Once right after Peter Pan had knee surgery I managed to lock myself out of the car making it necessary for him to drive the jeep down and rescue us.  Second Beach was also part of the very first X-games ever and we were fortunate enough to be there. 

Belle and I just did a really brief visit to second beach as well and I snapped a few pictures of my grown up girl back at her old stomping grounds.  It is hard to believe this was where she was a baby.  It seems like a lifetime ago (of course for her it is).

After that we headed up to Fall River Massachusetts and Party Dress Express.  We were on a mission to find an amazing prom dress.  Thanks to the good advice of Aunt Gigi we did.  This store was like nothing I had ever seen.  They had every size and color of dress imaginable.  It was like a sale day at Kleinfeld's on Say Yes to the Dress.   I actually saw a mother cry when she saw her daughter in a prom dress.  Did we find "the dress?"  We did and after Prom I will post pictures.  We ended up spending about 3 hours shopping for the perfect dress so Belle and I were tired and hungry when we were finished.  We headed on toward Boston and looked for somewhere to eat.  I saw a sign for Papa Gino's which had always been a favorite for our family so we stopped and had pizza.

Then we headed on to our Boston hotel.  Once again Priceline totally came through.  We had the most amazing hotel and it was in a great location.  We got settled in and decided that since lunch was so late we really just wanted desert.  The concierge was kind enough to direct us to Finale, which as it turns out is one of the best desert spots in Boston.  They serve some light food, but it is a desert restaurant.  We were in heaven.  I started to get the sugar free mousse, but decided to live life on the wild side and had a Molten Chocolate Cake served with coffee gelato.  Belle had a peanut butter pie.  It was amazing and worth every bit of guilt!   Hey, we walked there and back and it was cold and I had no coat (extra calorie burning right?!)  This desert gluttony did us in and we called it a night.  I  think I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.  Monday was destined for meeting coaches and visitng rinks and our wake up call was set for 5:30 AM (yep, even on Spring Break skaters get up early!)  All in all we had a fantastic Sunday.

Random Nonsense That Has No Purpose

So, it is Monday and I am sort of off to a good start.  But, then again not.  I also have a tone of different little stories that are unrelated (or seem that way to me) so here is my random Monday post.

• Yesterday Peter Pan was watching NBA playoff games and happened to see 2 differrent fans walk onto the court during 2 different games.  One was mad at the official for a perceived bad call, the other was flat out drunk.  It was pretty funny, but bizarre,  I don't think I have ever seen that happen so to see it twice in one day was wierd.
• We got Belle her graduation gift early.  This was really a necessity since she will need it next year and Moose will need his back when he comes home next week. 

• All four of us have had Mustangs as our first cars.  Of course Peter Pan's  was a way cool 1968 Mustang that was maroon, mine was a 1982 white one that was definitely not so cool.  Moose's and Belle's are both 2008.  They are a lot a like.  It is cool to have traditions.

• Having two 2008 Mustangs is confusing when it comes to things like car loans, insurance, and property tax.  You have to know the VIN number to keep them straight.  This is not good.
• Yesterday Belle ran in the Color Me Rad 5K in Virginia Beach.  It was really fun to watch and certainly a low key, low stress event.  She came home a painted mess (sort of like someone had tried to turn her into abstract art or a cartoon character from the 70's).  

• After Belle's race and the "after party"  Peter Pan and I went to Pocahontas Pancakes and Waffles in Virginia Beach.  They have the best  Pecan Pancakes around (this is according to Food Network, not just me!)
• There was a cheerleading competition at the Virginia Beach Convention Center so Pocahontas Pancakes was overrun with cheerleaders and their families. (I'm just saying...)
• Cheerleading competitions remind me a lot of skating competitions, same pressure, same pre-event prepping (hair, make-up, etc.) same insane Moms (and Dads.)
• My treadmill is dying and this is hugely annoying to me.  I am just getting into a really good morning walking routine and now I am going to have to modify it.
• I tried walking with the dogs this morning, Fenway wasn't bad, she just wanted to stop and sniff EVERYTHING!  Bella was HORRIBLE!  She barked at every car, bike, jogger and walker that passed us.  I had to keep stopping to hold her little mouth shut.  Then she wriggled one leg out of the harness so another stop was needed to fix that.  Not so much on the consistency this morning.  Lesson learned, tomorrow Bella stays home!
• After our walk Fenway had a seizure.  She hasn't had one in over a year so I am not at all sure what precipitated this one.  It was awful. 
• Bella has seizures at least once a week.  Often enough to be worrisome, and slightly annoying (I know I am not a good dog mom to admit I am annoyed by her illness), but not really often enough to treat them.  She had one on Saturday, it was sort of bad and definitely worried me, but as soon as they are over she is back to her bad self.
• Moose is almost done with his second year at VMI.  That is hard to believe.
• Belle only has 27 days left of high school, even harder to comprehend.
• It is absolutely gorgeous here today and I should be out mowing the lawn, but I am just too tired to do it.
• The Red Sox are really, well I can't say how I really feel, but they are not making me happy right now!
• Monday is over!



Ridiculous Anxiety

Last week I was eating Special K and my tooth broke.  Just like that, on soggy Special K.  So Monday I had to go to the dentist.  This isn't something that I love, in fact I really avoid it if possible (probably part of the problem, but that's another story.)  After a couple of bad experiences (my issues, not bad dentists) I found one that offered sedation, there's the ticket.   Just knock me out and it will be fine.  You think I am kidding, but I am serious.  I have this feeling the whole time they are working that I am going to choke.  I have never heard of anyone choking to death on their own saliva in the dentist's chair, but I don't want to be the first. 

Well, I got to the appointment and it turned out that the break was caused by a cavity next to a filling (back to the avoiding dentists causing issues).  All I needed was a filling, but it was in the very back, bottom molar and it was going to be a pretty extensive filling.  So I asked for laughing gas.  They accomodated.  I thought it was working, but as soon as he started drilling I felt like I was suffocating.  I had a little spaz.  How embarassing was that.  My mind kept saying, you are okay.  Except another part kept saying, you are dying and you can't breath.  Kind of like in Animal House when he has the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other.  The rational part of my brain couldn't win.  The dentist gently suggested more gas, and it worked.  I survived and I didn't bite or hit him. 

How embarassing was that though.  It made me think about anxiety.  I knew my fear was in my head, I tried to think good thoughts.  I just couldn't get over it. It was a losing battle and this time the "devil" of anxiety won.  The funny part is I didn't have this anxiety until a couple of years ago when I had a root canal.  Something about it set me off and now the thoughts are in my head and I just can't be rid of them.   Peter Pan made major fun of me afterward.  He said, "You really had to have laughing gas for that?"  Yes I did.  By the time I got home my head hurt, my neck hurt and my mouth hurt.  It was the tension.  I was still sort of groggy from the gas, and all I wanted to do was sleep. 

I have recovered and the tooth seems to be fine.  My jaw is a little sore today, the dentist said it would be sore for a couple of days.  I have to go back for a cleaning in a couple of weeks.  I know there are more issues to be found.  Guess what I'll be doing on my summer vacation...

Spring Break Saga (Just a Little Bit Late!) Part 1

I mentioned that Belle and I had an amazing Spring Break adventure to try and help her decide which school to choose.  She had narrowed down her choices to Marymount University in Arlington and Boston University.  They both were great choices and very different from each other.  Marymount is a small school, BU is a huge school.  Marymount offered her a better financial aid package and is closer to home, while BU is in our all time favorite place and within walking distance of Fenway Park (that is a reason to choose a school right?!)  In any case we decided to go back to both areas and just sight see, take some skating lessons and just get a feel for what they are like to live in. 

So, off we headed.  Since we were going to New England we decided to make a small side trip to Newport, RI where Belle was born.  She hadn't been there since she was 3 and she and I were both anxious to see it.  Amazingly it was very much the way I remembered it.  Some things were different, especially little shops we used to walk to on Thames street, but overall not much had changed. 

We arrived around 6 in the evening after driving all day.  We checked into our hotel and then went to drive around Newport.  We went and saw the "cottages" out on Ocean Drive (if you haven't ever been they are only cottages if you grew up in a castle!)  starting at King's Park where we used to go watch fireworks and Peter Pan once lost Moose on the playground (MEN! and that is another blog and $1000's in therapy for Moose I'm sure.)  We stopped at Brenton Point where we used to go fly kites when Belle and Moose were little.  Even though it was cold and I forgot my coat we had a blast.  Yes, I forgot my coat, I do that a lot.  I have done it on vacation, at skating competitions, and going to work.  This trip we were just getting to Washington DC when I realized I didn't have a coat.  It was too late to turn around.  Belle loved seeing the cottages and we had a good laugh about if we won the mega millions and buying one. 

Here was what we looked like back when we used to visit Brenton Point.  I'd say we have all changed a little.

Here is Belle on Spring Break.

We ended our first evening in New England at 99, a classic American Fare restaurant.  I don't know if it was the beach air or the long day in the car, but Belle and I were starving.  She had Chicken Parmigiana and I had Chicken tenders.  We agreed it was one of the best meals ever!  Then we made a stop at the Christmas Tree Shoppe, also a New England classic.  There is one in Richmond now, but it used to be a New England treat.  Contrary to the name it isn't just a Christmas store.  It is filled with the best stuff ever!  I got several things for our house and so began the shopping and loading part of our trip.  The most wonderful thing about Christmas Tree Shoppe is that it is dirt cheap!!!!!!  Bargain shopping at it's best. 

Just being in Newport made me miss it.  We had some great times there.  Belle came into our lives there.  It was a great place to live and I am glad we got to make a visit back.  Stay tuned for more Spring Break Saga at a later date.  I think I have been nostalgic enough for one night, and I really should get to bed.  Looking at those old pictures reminds me how far I need to walk on the treadmill...

One More Milestone and a Scrimmage

Well, today was Belle's last home meet as a high school athlete.  We went and did the Senior ceremony and I didn't even think to bring the camera, fortunately a fellow sports mom took some for me.  It was of course good and sad all at once (I just can't use bittersweet anymore because everything this year has been "bittersweet.")  She ran a 1600 for good measure, although since she is still recovering it was more of a tempo run for her.  I did enjoy one last hurrah at a home meet.  It was great to see everyone and hard to believe how they have all grown up.  Time flies!  Belle is so grown up all the sudden that I actually didn't recognize her today.  She came to the sign in table and I asked her if she knew where Belle was.  Too my defense the sun was in my eyes, but she didn't look like my little girl.  It was a ridiculous moment and I was pretty embarrassed. 

Belle has decided to go to Marymount University in Arlington next year.   She will run cross country for them and she is going to major in Physical Therapy.  It should be a win-win.  They have made her a great academic scholarship offer, it is close enough for us to get to see her races, but far enough for her to feel independent.  There are also some fantastic ice dance coaches in Northern Virginia so she can continue to pursue that part of her athletic life.  The cross country coach knows she wants to keep skating and is okay with that.

Moose had his first (and perhaps only, we are still waiting to hear from him about the schedule) spring scrimmage last weekend.  Peter Pan and I weren't planning to go since Moose had not been practicing due to that stupid shoulder injury last fall.  Moose called in the middle of the week to let us know he would be practicing so we made plans to make a weekend of it.  We pricelined a hotel room (Roanoke is a great place to do that, lots of options), made sure that Belle was all set, and headed off.  Moose actually had a good scrimmage.  He made some good plays and even got a sack!  I was extremely proud of him!  He says I am making too big of a deal about it and he is probably right, but that is what insane sports moms do!  The best part was that we spent some fun time together after the game.  We took him to dinner and a movie.  Then on Sunday we took him to lunch before heading home.  It was a really good weekend.  Oh and did I mention he got a sack?  I know I keep repeating it (partly to annoy you Moose!).  Moose says to stop talking about it, it was just one good play,  I was just so happy to see him back on the field and playing. 

Back to Work

Spring Break was amazing and wonderful.  I took Belle on a final visit to colleges to  force help her make her decision.  Actually she is really struggling as both choices are good so I really was trying to help.  We had a fantastic time and saw many reasons why both choices would be good, so maybe not so helpful.  Our trip is a whole differernt blog, however, and I need to get  myself in gear.  It is time to go back to Kindergarten today.  48 days left in this school year, and so much still to teach.  So, even though I have gotten very used to lazy days this week, I am trying to be motivated and move this morning.  All I can say is that this year has gone entirely too fast.  I wish it would slow down a little bit!  Happy 4th quarter everyone!

Dog Issues Yet Again

So, I don't know if you can tell or not, but there isn't a lot going on with sports right now.  Belle is recovering from a dislocated kneecap and some minor tendon damage and Moose is home on Spring Break.  Belle has just started back with running and skating so hopefully things are looking up and when Moose goes back to school it will be time for Spring Practice! 

In the meantime I have had to occupy myself with other pursuits.  Yesterday while I was writing random thoughts in my blog I could hear the little dog in the other room.  She was chewing a Nylabone and seemed fine.  I knew where she was, she had been out and taken care of business outside so I wasn't worried about accidents.  Fenway (our sweet lab) was with me so I knew they wouldn't fight over the Nylabone- Nylabones seem to bring out the worst behavior in the two of them.  I can buy 2 exactly the same, make sure they each have one and they will still fight over them.  

So, I was typing away, enjoying my morning coffee.  I could hear the sounds of Bella chewing and dropping the bone.  It is pretty loud when it hits the floor.  At one point I heard a pretty big crash, but I was busy writing and it didn't seem that out of the ordinary.  I finished up and decided that maybe I should get ready for work and head that direction.  Since Peter Pan and Moose were still asleep I crated Fenway and went to retrieve Bella.  She wasn't in the living room.  She wasn't in the kitchen.  I noticed a tiny space in the dog gate and thought she was upstairs, but no she didn't seem to be there.  Now, we have a small house, there are only so many places she could be.  I tried the knocking trick (she usually barks if you knock on anything because she thinks it is the door.)  I tried the doorbell trick.   Nothing.

At this point I will admit I began to panic a little.  I know it seems stupid, logically I knew she was in the house and couldn't have disappeared, but I couldn't find her.  I woke up Peter Pan and I don't remember this but apparently I woke up Moose too.  I was running about and calling for her.  Neither Peter Pan or Moose got up by the way.  Finally, and I am not sure why I noticed this, but I realized that a pile of blankets that had been on the chair in the living room was not there.  I went and looked behind it and sure enough there she was, trapped in the corner of the living room behind the chair.  Apparently Miss Naughty thought she would jump up on the blankets (she isn't allowed on the new furniture) and the whole mess fell over the back of the chair.  It is positioned so that once she was back there she couldn't get out.  That must have been the crash I heard.  I am not positive that she wasn't unconcious for awhile, well actually I think she was fine because she landed in that pile of blankets.  Still, it wasn't how I wanted to start my day.  Moose and Peter Pan were not happy with my screaming wake up call. 

It is sort of a funny story though, and pretty typical of life with Satan, I mean Bella.  She is definitely our naughty dog.  She can cause chaos, carnage, and disruption in no time flat and we love her.  These pictures (a little older as you can see by the ugly blue carpet) show what she did to a toy in abut 5 minutes one day.  I really wonder what today will bring...

It is Friday!!!! (Random thoughts that couldn't fit under one heading)

Well, the handprint art went really well.  I didn't come home covered in red, white and blue paint.  The classroom is intact and most importantly my little Thing One's and Thing Two's are adorable.  Thank you Monica for showing me this idea!!!!

I was at Wal-Mart last night trying to figure out why I needed more milk already (oh yeah, Moose is home for Spring Break) when we ran into some old friends.  It was great to see them and catch up on how they are doing.  I really miss high school sports for that reason, I saw lots of people and got to catch up.  Track is sort of different, it is a drawn out affair and people come and go, you don't always see your friends.

I made the cutest rainbows and gold for the leprechaun to leave my kindergartners on Monday (thanks again Pinterest).  I used rainbow twizzlers and rolos.  It looked a little like the picture although I will admit not quite as cute.  Belle looked at them and said "Oh how cute."  Moose and Peter Pan both said, "I don't get it."  Men!

I had the wierdest dream that when I dropped my class off at PE there were 4 dachshunds in the courtyard at school and the principal told me to hold on to them until we found out who they belonged to.  Now why on earth would she do that?  They were cute dachsies in my dream, but really I think she would call the SPCA to get them.

We had a dog at school last year or the year before and they put it in the men's bathroom until someone came for it.  Whoever decides these things figured there were a lot less men who would be inconvenienced by not having a restroom.  The dog  was decidely unhappy in the men's room and was very vocal about it.

My first year teaching I had a dog come in the door with the children in the morning.  When I sent for the custodian to come get it he came down and said well what do you want me to do?  Ummm get the dog please.  It was a sweet golden retriever and the kids were glad to have it in the room, but it was a bit distracting.

I found pixie sticks in the pantry Wednesday afternoon (pageant crack if you are a follower of Toddlers and Tiaras) and now I want to see if the dogs would eat them.  No one else in the house thinks that is a good idea.  Any thoughts?  It's just colored sugar.

Speaking of the pantry,  it was a mess.  How many empty containers can there be in one pantry?  Why don't people throw them away when they are empty?  This is why things don't get replaced.  I open the door, see the box, and think oh we have that.  Trash cans people, trash cans.

So now with mind clearer and spirit lighter (thanks to venting about trash cans!) I face Friday.  Have a nice one!

Hand Print Art

So I am going to try some more hand painting in my classroom today.  I really love doing activities where you paint the children's palms and then create something from it.  I have always made handprint turkeys, but this year I have expanded that and added to the creative process with other art projects.  I love them.  We have made snowmen and reindeer.  Today I am going to attemtp (thanks Monica and Pinterest!) Thing 1 and Thing 2.  This will be by far the most ambitions handprint art I have ever done.  Wish me luck!  I will get back to you with the results, or I may have a nervous breakdown.  We will see how it goes.

Class number 1 is done

I have finished the first class I am taking this semester.  It was a lot more work than I anticipated, in fact I spent the entire weekend (minus a couple of strategic breaks) finishing my final project.  In the end I did well and I am proud of my achievment.  Now it is on to class number 2 for this semester and more work, but again I think it will be worth it.  It just doesn't leave much time to do anything else (like laundry, that is definitely an issue.)

It Isn't Letting Up

So I thought that after Valentine Open (which went pretty well thanks to some amazing volunteers!) my life would calm down and get back into a routine.  Not so much!  I am busy all the time and even though I chose it (the busyness) this morning I am feeling frustrated!  I have a list of undone chores around the house, work for work, work for school, and a pile of mail to go through.  It will be worth it in the end when I am finished with all of this, but for right now ARGHHHHHHHH!

Undecorating

So yesterday was the big undecorating from Christmas work day for me.  I hate to undecorate.  I always start off really strong, and yesterday was no exception.  Sadly by the end I am usually just putting stuff in any box and trying to get rid of it.  Again, yesterday was no exception.  The first room was done exceedingly well and I actually started a log of what goes in there, labeling each box carefully and creating an inventory of its contents.  Sadly by the main tree and room I had been reduced to tossing it in any box.  I do wrap carefully, but I wasn't at all careful about which stuff went into which box.  I also made sure that heavy stuff was on the bottom so that my more fragile pieces would be safe.  Of course there was more ornament breakage on the new floor, and we even had a small incident with the new floor.  But, for now it is all boxed up and ready to go into our nice clean garage.  Well, we would need to clean the garage for that to happen so it is stacked in our office space waiting for a clean garage.  The garage can be next week's project... (Note the strategically placed ... indicating that it may NEVER be cleaned.)

I'm not even getting excited this time...

It has already started.  I managed to accidentally search and search for the VMI football schedule for next year.  I already know where and when they will be playing and I started to get excited anticipating my fall football fun.  Then it hit me.  Moose may not be up to spring practice, which will probably place him far down the list for next season.  He is still rehabing his shoulder and has limited mobility.  He isn't at all sure he will play next year.  So, I am not going to even plan on it, well not really.  Well, maybe I will be a little excited and hopeful, it's what I do.  So here is to me reigning in my own excitement and being patient!

The Week After New Year's (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore

Twas the week after New Year's and all through the class,

 all the students were stirring and moving quite fast.

The crayon boxes were placed in their desks without care,

each hoping that recess soon would be there.

The children were sitting at each little desk,

Some quietly talking, but most just a mess.

And Mrs. K in her sweater and I in my blouse

were missing and missing our own cozy houses.

When over in the block corner their arose such a clatter

I sprang from my table to see what was the matter.

Away to the carpet I flew in a flash,

I jumped over students and work in a dash.

The sun shining brightly in spite of the cold,

Gave a glow to the classroom that was quite bold.

When what to my wondering eyes did I see,

But lots of little eyes looking right at me.

Then away from my gaze each one quickly looked,

As if they knew that their goose might be cooked.

More rapid than eagles my response quickly came,

I turned on my teacher voice and called them by name.

"Now boys", I began in my best teacher voice,

"Please tell the rule about all of this noise.

When it is time for learning centers what do I say?

What sort of voice should we use for this play?

As you know we are stuck inside because of the cold,

but please boys please tell me the rules I have told!"

Each boy looked around trying to place blame on his friends,

But of course there is only one way that this ends.

Their eyes how they twinkled, their dimples how merry,

But I have taught long enough that of cuteness I'm wary.

So back to their seats they were sent with great haste,

Then of course I reminded them to "walk, it isn't a race!"

So obviously each little child in my room,

Has had a fun break and is now back all to soon.

It has been a long week as we get back in the groove,

But hopefully each day toward more greatness we move.

So Friday is here I say with some relief,

It has been a long week full of learning and some grief,

But I will exclaim even though I am almost too tired to call,

I do love my class and Happy New Year's to All!