so much for a Hallmark moment

So after Sam's talent show today, I attempted to have a heartfelt moment with him.....
Me: "Sammy, I'm so proud of you for singing today in front of all those people.  I know that can be hard but you were great.  You know
       Mommy likes to get up in sing in front of people and it was so exciting to see you do it too."
Sam: "Well, Mom, I was singing AND dancing which you don't normally do.  So that was even better."
Me: "you are right.  You did even more than me."
Sam: "Well, you taught me the dance so maybe we're even."

Geez, one talent show and he's already "one-upping" me!

and now, a thoughtful moment from Greta.....

While waiting to get my hair cut today, I listened to one woman talking to the stylist.  She described that she was going away for the weekend and leaving her husband with the kids.  The stylist asked why she was going alone and she said that her daughter was a buzzkill when she wanted to drink and party.  The woman was going to a party where she knew she would want to drink and the last time her 7 year old was with her at a party, the little girl gave her mom a hard time about drinking.  The woman went on to say that her daughter hated her and didn't like it when she had fun.  The stylist laughed and said "well, you're the adult.  You can do what you want."
It reminded me of my best friend from grade school and high school.  Jen's dad smoked and Jen hated it.  She hated the way the house smelled, the way her clothes smelled, and she just knew it wasn't healthy for her dad so she would give him a hard time.  She would ask him to quit and I think she was a little embarassed by it at one point in her life.  As far as I know, her dad never quit smoking.  Anyway, this little girl reminded me of Jen.
I can't help but feel a little sorry for the little girl.  And even tonight, I'm thinking about it.  I totally get that as adults/parents, we've paid our dues and waited until we were old enough to "do what we want".  And yeah, if the woman wants to drink, it's her right.  I even agree with "getting away from the family every once in awhile" feel.  But how sad that this mother thinks her little girl "hates her".  I think the little girl loves her mom very much.  Isn't it funny where we live in a world where children who see their parents drink still think that drinking is not good for you?!  When I was teaching, I taught in a district where it was not unusual for children who shared a mother to not share a father or for children to live with two unmarried parents.  And yet, when one child asked me if I had children, another child popped up with "of course she doesn't have kids.  She's not married yet."  They get the basic principle even if it sometimes is not emulated in their own home.  It makes me really aware of what children are capable of.  I'm thinking hard of that little girl tonight and I hope that she and her mom have a good relationship as she grows up.  And I hope that my kids keep me in line as they get older.  Heaven knows that we adults need it!

another installment of "from the back of the van"

On the way home from school, Sam says "Mom, do you know the song about the broken wheels on the train?"
Mom: "no Sam, I don't."
Sam: "come on Mom, you are a music teacher!  you are supposed to know ALL the songs!"
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint!

pregnancy hormones cause nightmares!

Last night I had a dream that we took the kids to the mall and as we were leaving we realized that we had lost Sam and Kalen.  I'm walking around the mall screaming for them both and had to pry the mall doors back open to find Kalen (it's my dream so I can be super human!).  When I woke up, I was terrified.  It totally traumatized me.  I may never take all four children to the mall.  I'll be come a consummate online shopper!
I wonder if this is my self-conscious self explaining my fear of being a mother of four?

things mothers shouldn't do

Sam will kill me when he gets older BUT here's my funny Sam story.  We potty-trained Sam to go sitting down and since he's started school I've been worried that he'll get made fun of for being "a sitter".  So since kindergarten, I've begged Sam to try going standing up.  The kid just won't do it!  So a few weeks ago, we had a talent show practice at school.  As we were leaving, Sam said that he needed to go potty.  Well, we were already out of the building and the building was locked so there was no going back in.  I took him to the side of the building where no one would see him, dropped his drawers and proceeded to instruct my son on how to pee standing up!  He looks at me with this huge smile on his face and says "it's just like a water hose!".  When he finished, he looks up at me with the sweetest expression and says "thanks for teaching me to pee outside Mom."  Well,  there are some experiences as a mother that you are never prepared for and never forget....this is by far one of those moments!

Where's Kalen?

Kalen's new obsession of late has been the hamper.   Whenever I empty it to do the laundry he grabs it and runs.  Literally.  It's like the coolest toy on the block for him and I have to say it makes for a pretty hilarious sight for me as well.

Preschool Field Day and Graduation

So the last few weeks have been crazy!  Sam had a birthday and Isabel had a field day all in the same day.  The following week Izzy had preschool graduation which was really more of a party:)  So I'll start with a quick view of field day: each parent came up with an event to do and we met at the Gustafson's.  We had a great time and then had a picnic lunch afterwards.  I was in charge of the obstacle course!  The kids had to ride the big wheel, then hop through big swimming rings, throw a ball into the basket, crawl through the tunnel and cross the finish line.  They had a great time.  At the end of the day, they got medals!  Of course, Izzy refused to participate in any events except when she got to help Mary throw a frisbee!

Kalen prepping the obstacle course

the sack race

Frisbee toss

Iz helping Mary

Relay race

Balloon race

Kalen really bummed that his water balloon kept bursting

Of course, Isabel was also not excited to participate in graduation proceedings but we were able to get a few photos.  She got a diploma, a hat, a yearbook that one mom made, and a cool folder with info about what she learned this year.

Preschool graduates

my girl