We Lived

Rae and her crew are all moved in to their new place and we came through a month of togetherness relatively unscathed.

A fenced yard, praise the Lord! I pray mighty angels around this little house to protect sweet boys who love, love, love to be outside.

A visit from a little friend girl.

 I am a people person, especially my own people.  I come by that honest. My mom has not spent one day since Auntie G-Lou died without Terri, a kid or  a grand kid showing up and lives in fear of a day without us.  I'm just a better me in a village, so I enjoyed having so much company this past month.  I don't really have a great house for multi-family living, so my usual chaos was increased about three fold, but we all knew it was short lived and just moved and stepped over it.  That Mr. Smiley is the cutest, funnest, grabbiest little one I know, and he left whatever might have been straightened, completely disassembled in his wake.
I can honestly say I didn't do much other than cook, empty and fill and dishwasher and play with wee folk. For the most part, their wish was my command.
They were always ready to see Pappy and for him to sit so they could maul him awhile.

 It seems collecting eggs never gets old. An egg hunt every day.

 "Hode you," with upraised arms I can't resist.  I hadn't actually planned for pepper in this mango salad, but my plans frequently morphed into whatever grabby hands plans were.

 Mr. Smiley was in a fever induced slump on Easter Sunday, but looked just as adorable the following Sunday with his handsome brother.

 This boy loves some crafts and was excited to see how to make his own bed buddy sock warmer.  Here he is stirring his choice of essential oils into rice.

 So cute and functional too.

 Every warm day found us at the creek where rock skipping is practiced.

 While here,  he joined preschool where I work and will finish the year there.  I will love getting to see them twice a week.

 I was never a Pez fan until Bean came along.  The little figures are awfully cute and I would tuck one in my pocket when I visited him.  Needless to say he's long outgrown checking my pockets, and the little figures wound up in my kitchen window and all the wee ones since have enjoyed playing with them.

When I pulled away Sunday, with Giddy-Up waving on the porch, knowing he'd be heading out to his new place when his brother got up from his nap, I cried all the way to church.  You would think they were moving to Botswana.  

Any of my three kids would move to Botswana or wherever I think.  They don't have that same love of all their extra people being close.  They get that from the Handy Man.  Me.  I want them all under my feet.  Even when it is craziness all around, inside me is calm.  I am seriously in the minority in my own family and have never quite been able to adjust.   Of course, this is on mind since that is most and longest  time I've ever had kids back home.  It makes me understand my Mom a bit better.  She has lived in lots of chaos in many forms, but she preferred whatever was happening to nothing happening. She had seven kids and has often said she would have been happy to have seven more. Trust me, there are some days I wish there a few more of us.

So, the move left me and Pap with colds and spring cleaning to do.  I was glad for this week off and while I hate cleaning all day by myself, I appreciate it being done.  I've enjoyed some good times with friends for lunch and have read and read and slept in a bit. 

I've inherited Rae's moving boxes, as I learned that I have to pack up my entire classroom and move it out and then move it back in before I'm back in  the class at the end of July- blek. 

Our spring break will end with another (hopefully) last winter interlude.   Good thing I didn't pack all the warm clothes away just yet.

Spring Everywhere

Hmm, where was I?  I don't know why, but it seemed forever before spring break finally arrived.
We've been having a big time since, playing with babies and helping Rae and Michael at their new place and trying to clean up outside, then Easter, then Playdate.  Never a dull moment.

We went to Drummer Boy's to hunt eggs.  Much excitement all around.

Is that a bit of red I see in her hair. ?

 In this lavender field a couple of posies are missing.

Much of the last five days Mr. Smiley has spent just like this, although he, thankfully, isn't too picky upon which chest he resides. He has been so sick with a respiratory virus that nearly landed us in the hospital.  He is finally better, but not his wild and crazy self just yet.  While we've all enjoyed that extra canoodling, we're ready for him to be all well.

My other sweet posey is on the beach with her Mama.  

After Easter was 

Playdate and though I found the creek frosty, my little creek urchins weren't bothered a bit.

Who are these near men?  I can't stand it.

 I attended a sunrise Easter vigil for the first time and I loved the dark to light, the celebration of baptisms and Jesus, well all of it.

Hope Easter and all the hope it holds, was a sweet one for you. 

More Wild Times

Well, Mr. Bean made it to state finals in swimming in Indy. We hadn't anticipated that, as he just moved up to another age bracket. I planned to go on Saturday, but sadly Glenda's son-in-law died on Tuesday and his memorial service was Saturday.  Lucky for me, I have some dear friends in Indy who welcomed me so I was able to head that direction after the service and stay overnight. I watched his event on Sunday morning.
I so enjoyed  having some time with friends and an opportunity to have dinner and visit with their sweet girls and families. Too long since I had seen the grandchildren, each one as dear as the next.

And what about this littlest bit. 

Tonight at dinner, we heard a very big, loud noise. The neighbors tree fell across the road on the garage. Have mercy and thank you Lord, that it happened just twenty minutes after my little and big sweeties were right there. Handy Man wasted no time hauling out the chain saw- music to his ears.

 Then it was time to haul the limbs to the wood pile.  Great to have helpers, huh?

 Mr. Smiley had seen Pap and his Papa roll two big logs across the road, so after wrestling this limb half way up the hill, he stopped and said, "Roll!"

 Well, that isn't all I've been up to, but that's enough for now.

Still Whirring Over Here

Settling in after many years to four more people in the house.  Because my siblings and children live close, we've actually never had a houseguest for an extended stay since Noriko was here when the kids were 15 and 17.  We are adjusting and having a big time as well.
The best part of waking up, is snuggling with a sweetest boy.

 Thursday was Bean day and we'd been anxious to do a little watercoloring. Gardner E. joined us for the evening.

 I have to say, these are the experiences that bring me great joy. When my table is full of well fed family and friends, and a 2, 4, 11, 30 something, 50 something and 70 something are gathered around enjoying the painting.

 Bean wanted to do a hiking picture.  I am now questioning why in the world I took the picture before he finished it, but I can't remember.  I loved it. He likes to hike with his dad and he's going to frame it.

 On Saturday, I travelled west at the crack of dawn to a swim meet.  Bean made state (way to go), so I'll be headed north this weekend.  After his morning events, I brought Missy Bugg home with me to save her from six hours of bleacher sitting.  Two wee boys were mighty happy to have her visit.
We use scented markers to color the beads we made two weeks before.  I like that homemade modeling clay.

 You don't do anything, I'm telling you, without hearing a tiny voice, "Sit in you lap."  Who can resist that face?

 We created beautiful beads of all sorts to create lovely necklaces.

I believe I mentioned here that back in October my students signed to Glenda's recording. I begin to think I would never get it. Finally I was able to view it this week. Be still my heart.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljSx0Oq3W7Y

Whirring Dervishness Abounds

Welcome to my crazy life.
Valentine's Day proper was my Mom Sunday. I took spaghetti, garlic rolls and treats for whoever wished to stop by and visit.

 Treats are big at Mom's place.

 Most every lady wears a sweater and they stop by and fill their pockets.  My students made Valentine's for Mom and some other ladies there as well.

  A visit by her favorite Valentine was the hit of the day.

This past couple of weeks has just been crazy.  Hallelujah, Rae and Michael sold their home and found a new one. As is typical, there will be a gap in closings, so we are going to have house guests for a couple of weeks.
It was the best thing to happen for me in one respect because after every family crisis, my house disintegrates into a bio-hazard zone.  Before I ever finished sorting, and sorting and sorting Mom's material life, school started and I simply couldn't face my junk and what remained of her's here at my house, so I didn't. Ugh.
This is an area where my ADD is exponentially exposed. I hate making decisions about stuff.  I have a physical reaction to it. I makes me sick. The problem, well just stroll back through this blog. I do everything with my students and grandchildren. We dress up, paint, glue, paper, mold, build, stuff, knit, sew, button, and on and on and on.  I think every one of those experiences is valuable.
Each time I face this job, I think I have to stop with all this stuff. They don't have to do everything. Then I have a conversation with Ol' Mother Hubbard who says that recently Antebellie was talking about the Fairy Ball and how it was just everything perfect and did I know it would have to be done again?

Okay, so that only involves the dress-up, the candy molds, the punch glasses, the beads, the tulle, the pearls.
As soon as Bean clears the door he wants to know if we are practicing our non-existent water coloring skills.
Bugg and I sit right down to make beads out of the modeling clay Bean and I made last week.
Yeah, added to that is everything I pick up has a memory attached.  A memory I might not have if not for seeing Frosty the Snowman, who still sings, but can't tip his hat so easily.
It is absolutely a misery to me, but like dentist appointments, has to be done.
So most of my spare minutes have been cleaning and sorting to make room for  my people.
In addition, poor planning on my part made for a rough week at school as well.  We were working two big projects.  In turn, each class at my school is involved in our weekly church service.  Mine was yesterday.  I'm ever trying to tie all things together for my students. If they are successful at ISTEP, but have gained no new skills in real world problems, or how to be a decent human being then I have failed.  Their Pope has declared this year the Jubilee of Mercy. I have always taught my kids to sign some, but this class loves it.  March is Disabilities Awareness Month.  Sooooooo, I asked the priest if we could interpret the entire mass. What was I thinking?
So, when one child did a reading or a song, another child was interpreting.  In addition, each day the student's experienced a challenge. On Monday they had to zip one arm in their jacket. On Tuesday they had to keep their leg straight, no bending.  Sunglasses and soap coated glasses were worn on Wednesday and plugs went in their ears on Thursday.  The priest was interested in how this affected them, so Thursday afternoon I asked them to reflect on the week and answer- What challenged you the most?  Why? Lastly, how will this impact your next encounter with someone who faces such a challenge? Of course, I tied this to showing mercy.
I was surprised by the depth of their responses and this is a lesson you hope never leaves them. The priest had them share during the homily.
Another surprise was one I had not considered.  Every day they practiced with their partners, one reading or singing,  one interpreting.  The readers, while certainly not in the usual spotlight at this mass, were the ones that stole my heart.  In working with their interpreter they realized if the child interpreting was to keep up, they would really have to pace their reading.  It is one thing to do this in practice and quite another to do it when you are nervous and in front of the whole student body and others.  I am here to tell you, it was flawless and just remarkable that ten and eleven year old children could pull that off.
But no, that wasn't enough.  This month we study the Civil War through Civil Rights, as part of Black History Month. There are no fifth grade standards for this period of history, so I do it as part of my reading curriculum.  In addition to a great chapter book and interesting articles, we learn about different types of stories, particularly African and African American Folktales.  The students are responsible to tell a story from their own family and one  each of  the  Africa and African American stories we'd studied for a Folktale Festival.
That was yesterday afternoon.  They brought pillows, blankets, etc. and created a storytelling space and all of other students came to hear their stories.  An old African tradition involves creating a storytelling necklace with different beads that represent the stories.  That's why Bean and I experimented with magic modeling clay as the commercial brand is so pricey.

Bean was making little wire pieces for the kid's to put in their beads.

  My students made a bead to represent their story.  The little ones gathered round in their space, paid a penny and chose a bead to hear the tale.  All pennies went to their Rice Bowl project.
Just throw in a big Interact game with Sixth grade and ISTEP prep and last night's soup kitchen

Missy Bugg is grating carrots for the slaw going to the soup kitchen. You can see our beads to the right there.

and allergies abounding due to the dust I've stirred up and waking up at 3 this morning,  the whirring has ceased. Now I'm off to clean the frig and pantry- equally grim tasks that must be done.  Thankful I have a minute to do them.

Valentine Festivities

Tuesday was Playdate and our Valentine Ball.  Miss Bugg had decorated it up nicely and we had a new picture curtain that again had us all cracking up. It was a big time.

Spaghetti and red punch (from cranberry juice).  

 My attempt at using raspberry puree to make pink cupcakes was a fail.  They were grey.  Thankfully it worked on the icing.

This picture makes me want to break out into, "Well, it's those bear necessities...."

 And this picture of Mr. Smiley just makes me laugh.

You will notice a new friend in the mix.  A teacher friend who has looked forward to being a mom for a very long time is now doing exactly that with this sweet little boy.  He just jumped in the fray like he'd always been here.

Gwanfader has been snowed under with work this winter. We were glad he and SweeTee and Wee Will were able to join the fun.

Attending the ball were a few scary rock and roll people.

 Bean grabbed the camera for this one. He has the camera in the normal position, which doesn't work well for a curtain background, so I smile and yell, "Turn the camera!"  Smile, "Turn the camera!"  Smile. It finally registered and we got this one picture with all of us, long after everyone but me had stopped smiling.  Too funny.

Bean is too big for the Ball, boo hoo.  Thankfully he likes to eat, so I'm guessing that will always be a draw.

Wondering how much snow we'll get for Happy Heart Day tomorrow.  Remembering how snowy it was yesterday a year ago, hoping I'd get down the hill for Auntie G-Lou's surgery without incident.

Her son-in-law, Anthony is not doing well, cancer too.  I 'm so sad for my niece to have this awful cancer business twice in a year.  I'm sure they would appreciate your prayers.