The Half Day. . .

Yesterday the kids only went a half - day to school. I have yet to figure out why. Since my day was cut short I went to breakfast with my friend Lori. We had a nice leisurely breakfast and enjoyed stories of each others past few weeks. We only had a short time to do a few things so I decided I would take her to the new meat market here in town. They have fresh meat, seafood, baked goods and homemade pasta. We both decided we would get something for our families for supper. I was thinking about ribs. Mark and I had been talking about ribs earlier last week. I decided ok, I can do this. How hard could it be to fix ribs. Well the hard part was figuring out what kind and how many I needed. Thank goodness the nice folks at the meat market were able to help us out. Lori and I each left with BBQ sauce and ribs for our families. Oh, don't let me forget to tell you the best part, the ribs were $3.79/lb. Not a bad price.

I have not talked with Lori this morning about how her ribs were, but mine were great. I boiled them on the stove for about 30 min. and then Mark put them on the grill and basted them with the sauce every so often. Mark did not like the sauce that much but I did. It was sweet. The kids didn't like them. I did them some chicken on the grill. I kinda figured they would not like the ribs.

Now that I am comfortable with fixing ribs, I may have to try my Pampered Chef recipe for them in the deep covered baker in the microwave. Yes, I said microwave. I will keep you posted on that one.

I did a lot in my half-day. Poor Thomas had a day. He came home and told me he had fallen asleep in the cafeteria. Since it was a half - day they did not get their naps. I think they may have gone to lunch early too. Thomas said one of his friends teachers woke him up and he finished eating and then went back to class. He said he looked up and everyone was gone. I have always said my kids needed their rest. I just didn't know they needed it that much. I wonder what he is going to do when they don't take naps after Christmas?

The Little Leaguer

This is not mine it was printed in a paper in 1969 written by Jack Lee. I found it looking at some old stuff at my moms. It struck a cord so I thought I would share.

I had a little leaguer,
that played ball for me.

He never missed a practice,
he was always there at 3;

And when we had a ball game
his best he'd always show,

I'd ask him where his folks were at,
but he would never know.

They'd bring him to the ball field
and then got to town,

And then one day he got hurt real bad,
his parents couldn't be found

He's grown up to be a teenager now,
and he's in and out of jail.

And his parents often ask me,
"Tell us where we failed."

So all you parents with little leaguers,
go to their games and stay.

And let them know, that you'll be there
every game they play.

And should they make an error,
don't make them feel ashamed,

Just tell them to try a little harder,
it's all part of the game.

And when it is his time to bat,
stand up and holler loud,

It will make him feel much better,
to know you are in the crowd.



PS: sometimes as parents I think we get a little to caught up in things and miss the big picture. In ten years your kids won't remember the score or who won only that you were there.

The Craziest T- Ball game ever. . .

I am sure most of you know how the modified t-ball is played. We have a 10 run rule so that when you reach 10 runs in an inning that inning is over. The other team gets to bat. Well, last night we hit first and we got our 10 runs and had to go out in the field for the other team to hit. They got 10 runs so now we are tied 10 to 10. We come in and hit again and get 10 runs once more. This was worse than sitting through a root canal. Now our score is 20 to 10 our favor. We go back out in the field and they now have 18 and we have 2 outs. We just could not get that third out. We ended up 20 to 20. I guess you can say both teams need to work on defense.

This time when Thomas asked, "Mommy did we win?" I could say with pride no but you did not lose either. HA HA!!

I do believe that this game should go in the record books somewhere for the craziest game ever.

The kids had fun and that is the most important part. Some of the kids that had not ever gotten a hit made good hits last night so that was great. I think everyone came home at least once or twice. Naturally when Thomas came home he slid into home plate. Marks' brother got a good picture I will try to post it later.



On a side note: I was looking through some old photos of Jack as a baby and toddler and I just cried. The grow up so quickly. I feel like that time with him just flew by and I missed it. I take my camera with me everywhere now so I can take pictures at a moments notice. I hope that while they are in school I will get some of my scrapbooking done. Anyone with suggestions I would love to hear them.

Kindergarten Enrichment. . .

Our elementary school has parents that come in and do special classes for the kindergarteners. We offer: Music, PE, science, spanish and art. I am doing the PE this year. I was quite nervous today to get started. I had fun though and I think the kids had fun. Some of them did not know what to think. I had a few that were wild and wooly but as a whole they did well.

I was trying to teach them about personal space and general space. I think that may have gone over their heads. I was soaking wet when I finished. I had four classes of kindergarteners. I knew a few of the kids just because they had been in preschool with Thomas.

I am going to have to put on my thinking cap for next week because I don't think they are going to let me do the same things twice.

I hope the other teachers did well with their classes today. I am sure art was a challenge. Their little attention spans are not very long.

If any of you have any suggestions as to what to do for Kindergarten PE please let me know. I am all for any suggestions.

Winners and Losers. . .

Thomas had his first modified t-ball game today. Modified t-ball is where the coach pitches to the kids. They get 5 pitches and if they do not hit it they get two chances off the tee. Thomas did pretty good for this to be his first time with coach pitch. He got a double off the first hit and a single off his second hit. He scored two runs and got one out at second base. His team did well for the first game and to have had several practices rained out.

It was terribly hot today and humid. I felt sorry for the little guys. In case the title of this blog did not give you a clue our team lost. Thomas was a little upset. He asked, "Mommy did we lose today?" I simply replied, "yes dear, but you will do better tomorrow." Thomas said, "Mommy nobody lost last year in t-ball." I told him that now that he was playing modified t-ball that there had to be a winner and a loser. It is so hard to help your children learn such life lessons as there are winners and losers. Thomas is innocent in his thinking and I guess I have sheltered him as I sheltered Jack when he was this age. My children are idealists like me or like I used to be. They think everyone is good and that mean people are only on TV. Oh, I wish that were true.

So today I comfort my little ball player as he faces a loss on the scoreboard.


On a side note:

We only really lose if we never try. I don't know who actually said that but it was not me.

High School Football. . .

Tomorrow we get to go to the High School Football game. I know I have mentioned that Jack is playing Pee Wee football. Their team will get to run out on the field with the big High School boys tomorrow night. Jack is so excited. I think Mark is too. I am not sure if the coaches get to run out too or not. I guess we will find out tomorrow.

Thomas has his first baseball game on Saturday and then another on Sunday. Jack has Jamboree on Saturday too. So I will be running from the baseball field to the football field. Nothing like being a "Field Mom." I guess it is a good thing we only had two kids. I know there are many more Moms out there just like me. Our kids won't appreciate it now but when they have kids they will appreciate all that we are doing. I know I appreciate my mom more since I have had my kids. I did everything in school. I was a: cheerleader, ballerina, softball player, and showed horses with my sister. I can only imagine how my mom felt taking us everywhere. She had three to deal with. We were a little farther apart in age though.

To all the other "Field Moms" out there, here is to you and your family. When the chips are down remember how their little eyes sparkle when they see you in the stands or when they see you watching them. It really does mean a lot to them, they just don't realize it yet.

Conversations with Thomas. . .

As we were going down the road the other day I said something about Thomas being a young man. I may have said he was a handsome young man. Thomas said, "I am not a young man. I am not young anymore, I am in kindergarten." I said, "You are still a young man." "I am not, I am not young anymore." Thomas replied. He also added, "I am not your baby anymore either mommy." I told him, "oh yes you are. You will still be my baby when your as old as I am and have babies of your own." This went back and fourth and then I thought, ok there is no since fighting this.



Flash forward to last night.



As I was in the kitchen getting dinner ready a lot later than usual. The boys are running around the kitchen driving me crazy as usual. I asked Thomas if he wanted some milk. He said no he wanted soda. (note to those that do not know me. My kids do not drink soda often and never at home.) I told him no he could not have soda. He argued, of course, and told me he could have soda. He then said something about when he had kids that he would let them have soda. I told him I hoped to live long enough to see them both with children of their own. I also told them I would be glad to keep their kids and that I would allow my grandchildren to have soda and sweets and anything else they wanted. Then I would send them home to their daddies. (I know, how mean could I be.) I would probably only do it one or two times. Thomas laughed and he said I would just send them to their rooms. HA HA HA!!



I hope I live long enough to see my kids with kids. Of course I would have to apologize to their wives for all of that. To Memaw and Gee I am glad you do not do this to me. Mark of course may deserve a little of that too. I don't think I deserve any of it.