Whether the Weather

He's on the left with the red tie, looking up toward the heavens.

Dude and his 2nd grade compadres have been working hard learning songs about weather since school started.  We've been jamming to sounds of tornadoes, humidity blues, summer heat and whether the weatherman says for months.  Our child loves weather and singing equally, so you can imagine his glee over the combination.  However, as the day of his performances drew closer, nerves set in.  He could not talk about it without curling up into a nervous ball and saying he's going to faint on stage when he has to say his line ("And if the breeze becomes a gale, all aboard it's time to sail.") We offered many recommendations for ways he can get through that 3.3 seconds, all to no avail.  I began to worry about what might transpire on stage.  He was in cold sweats just pondering the moment he stepped up to the mic.

The day before the play, he woke up with a jolt, ran to our room and informed us that his brain figured it out.  He had a solution to his anxiety.  We stared at him, hoping he was being serious and had an appropriate solution that wouldn't involve running off the stage, playing dead or asking us to join him at the mic.  His solution was beautiful.  He would close his eyes when he said his line and then open them again to walk back to the stands.  It was that simple.  Anxiety squashed and excitement began to build.  We were hopeful.

Squirt and I sat in the back of the cafeteria for the school performance during the afternoon.  I located my Dude on the left hand side, three rows up, right next to the music teacher.  That was intentional so he could look to her for moral support if need be.  No support needed. My son was a rock star up there.  He did the gestures for each song with absolute gusto and went so far as to add saxophone motions where he felt they would be appropriate.  Dude sang to his heart's content and as he approached the mic, his eyes closed, he said his line clearly and smoothly and went back to his position on the bleachers.

This may sound ridiculous, but I wept like a baby sitting in the back of that elementary school cafeteria.  I was a wet, slobbering mess and it felt so good.  My little man was up there, sensory overload and all, defeating his nerves and enjoying life to the fullest.  All on his own.  He didn't need me to walk him through it, but boy was he joyful as he sprinted toward me after it was all said and done, asking if he did so good.  You would have thought he just finished his first Broadway performance the way I reacted to him, but that's kind of what it felt like to me.  And to him I suspect. I was a proud Mama.  The night performance went just as smoothly, but I was able to hold it together for that one.  Tim beamed, ear to ear, the entire 30 minutes.  Proud Dad. That night, during prayer time, Dude said, "Dear God, thank you for making me so brave in the play and doing a great job." Enough said.

 They all have artwork displayed in the lobby to admire after the play.  

How Many Eggs Can a Kid Hunt?

We played the grinch card at home this Easter and vetoed the egg hunt.  Why so grinchy?  Our kids took part in three egg hunts prior to Easter Sunday and that was definitely enough hunting of plastic eggs for 2015.

Egg Hunt Numero One:

Our annual neighborhood hunt that the ladies of our co-op work hard at for the entire hood.  This year we had record numbers, which was awesome.  Each kiddo is allowed ten eggs, minus those whose parents think their children deserve thirty of course.  There are always those.  It last all of 4 minutes, but it's 4 minutes we all look forward to as a community each and every year.  

Egg Hunt Numero Two:

Our new pool community organizes an egg hunt for the kiddos who spend their summers splashing around in the pool waters.  I helped put this one together this year.  The chocolate unfortunately turned to liquid in the hour between hiding and finding, but that's part of the joy of egg hunts right? Again, 4 minutes of anticipated fun.  We can't wait for the pool season to begin.  This stay at home Mama will have greater appreciation for its existence this summer. 

Egg Hunt Numero Three:

Our church organized a massive hunt for candy filled eggs after our morning Easter service.  This one might have taken six minutes and there was no limit, which was quite exciting.  Dude found an proportionately large yellow egg holding 25 paper tops, which he handed out to all the other kids, bless his little heart.  Our step-sister, Steph, and her friend joined us at church that morning.  She just moved to town, which we're pumped about.  

We had plans for our Second Annual Glassman Easter day at our house and were stoked to sit in our comfy patio chairs, eat classic Easter food, drink Mimosas and watch the kids get dirty all day.  BUT, their household came down with a nastier than nasty bug a couple hours before their arrival, forcing Easter plans to go Wah, Wah.  So very sad for all of us.  We spent Easter as a fam of four this year and ended the day at the park, hiking around the river.  It was quite lovely.  Easter is perhaps the most awe inspiring day of the year for me.  The foundation of life here leading to life eternal.  I'm just starting to grasp the enormity of the day, so I tried my best to breathe that in all day.   

 Signs were made and animals helped the kids await the arrival of our dearer than dear friends...they took the news well:)  

Spring Break 2015 Baby

It was a low key week off over here.  I'll be honest that I feared 5 solid days of the kids in each other's presence and then reminded myself that this is what summer will look like.  For 3 months.  It's my adjustment to the world of being home full time.  I'll get there.

To my surprise, we had quite a lovely 5 days.  Lots of low key pj mornings, trips to the gym (where they watch movies and I let off steam), puzzles, trips to the park, play dates, an overnight to Embassy Suites in Loveland with our Glassman friends, hikes and plenty of screen time.  Oh, and we bought a mini van while in Loveland.  Random, I know.

The van story centers around the loaner Honda gave us while they fixed recalls in the Pilot.  The loaner was a souped up mini van and this Mama was enamored with its beauty.  Beauty meaning the distance it provided my children and my dog, the storage, the sliding doors that didn't ding every car unfortunate enough to be parked next to us, the glory of sunlight coming through the roof....it was the car I never knew I desired.  Like a relaxing living room on wheels.  To my surprise and delight, Tim was on board without one word of rebuttal.  If you know Tim, you see the miracle in this.  Tim has coined the mini van a "bus" to make himself feel better about things.  His name is Gus the Bus.  The newest member of our family.

Here are some takes from our week of academic freedom.

Hotel time ends up equaling a whole lotta of pool time.  And not a lot of sleeping.  For anyone.  But this Embassy Suites offers free happy hour and an awesome continental breakfast, which sweetened the deal.  

 

 Who's the man?  Um, Randy apparently.  

 This might be the maddest face I've ever seen from this baby.  I had to document.

 Two minutes following this shot, two snakes were discovered and Dude took that massive stick elsewhere. I was right behind him. 

 We had a lot of Enzo snuggle time.  Be still my heart with this puppy.

 Meet Gus.  He plays movies.  Mini Van Magic.

 Nana knows what to include in packages.  She's rather magical herself.