Savoring a Moment

Last week, while waiting for her ride  (aka Alex), Aimee decided to kill her few minutes with a phone call. Guess who she called? Me! She picked me! She picked me!  I was on the highway on my way away from home, so I'd miss the midday connection with them, and I realized I really truly savor that time with them.

Alex and Aimee leave the house at 6:20 for Seminary in the morning; school gets out at 4, but they stay for swimming, track, football, debate, cheerleading, whatever that case may be, until at least 6, usually 6:30. Then they sometimes have a game in the evening, or church activities.  So...when my teens come home for lunch, it's my time to be with them. They're in the middle of their day, so their tongues are free and get some of our best conversations during lunch break.

So, on the day, I was gone, Aimee's call to me was just what we needed to have a few minutes of just-us-time.

Lovely!

Model Contract

 Allie drew up this contract to set the guidelines for Aimee's photography. She was so proud of it.  Aimee was a little wary of signing it because the younger girls had been resisting photographs all morning.

    Oh, sneaky, sneaky Allie! 

This is what happens when you sign a contract written by a future spy.

 She thinks she's so clever. (I think she is too.)

Color Spot

Guess who FINALLY finished the accent wall??!!!  That's right! ME!!  'Cause I'm awesome. Be impressed, K?!  :)  Aimee's room finally has the bed pushed back against the wall, instead of a few feet out to allow for painting. Hooray!!  Any bets on how long it takes her to fill the new space??
I'll post another pic once we get that art up on the wall. I think it will be perfect!

First Day of School 2011 Teen Version

"Alex and I saw each other twice at school today. Once in the morning. He shook my hand and said, 'Nice to meet you.' Then we saw each other in the halls between class. We made crazy faces at each other."
Awesome that they're both at the same school this year, ey?!

Honestly, this picture of them together was the third day of school. The first day, is the picture on the right, but Alex had just gotten out of football and didn't want his picture taken. Aimee had to wear her cheer uniform on the first day for the beginning of the year Mustang Barbeque, in which the cheerleaders perform a skit, a couple cheers, and the swimmers and varsity football players were announced. The second day of school, she had to cheer at a game, and so, had to wear another cheer uniform. Today they have a game, but they can only cheer at one game a week (thank goodness for that rule!!!) so, she is wearing a cheer jersey with jeans. She was THRILLED to be able to wear her own clothes on Wednesday. :)

Costuming in April

When asked if I sew, my answer is usually that I only sew Christmas pajamas and Halloween costumes.  Since I have purchased store costumes and pajamas the last couple of years, I can't say what I have been sewing. Nothing much, I guess. I do like to sew. I like to make something out of nothing. I like finding the perfect print and altering a pattern that I sort of like to create something that I love.  But, I don't always have time for it.

This week I sewed. It was simple and quick, but I still like it. It was a costume.  Aimee is attending the youth conference pioneer trek and needed "period clothing", so we all made skirts and bonnets and I expect that they will come home absolutely filthy.

The bonnet now has ribbon. I took this picture while Aimee was complaining about the outfit and there was no way I was getting her to put it back on for just for ribbon. That's her pretend smile. :)

Last week I sewed.  It was not straight forward and simple, but it was still a costume.  Allie is researching Helen Keller for her GT project and during the presentation, she is supposed to dress as Helen Keller would have. I couldn't think of anything that we had on hand that would work for clothing for late 1800's to early 1900's.  Alllie wanted to dress as Helen Keller as a child about her same age, so we went from there.  After copious amounts of research, which was probably less necessary, but required for my own peace of mind, we decided on a look. Then the look was changed when Allie saw the pattern I was using and told me not to do the alterations that I had planned. She also insisted on the eyelet lace at the bottom. (not my first choice, but cheaper, so ...you know)

This isn't going to be her hairdo, but she does want hairs to fall out of whatever we do.  She thinks this hair looks "old-timey".

Boots with buttons up the side. They are glued on, but the idea is there. :)

Heavy Sigh

So, with Allie's approval, I made minimal alterations and her Helen Keller look is complete. I feel like the dress is a couple decades off, but she likes it, and it doesn't really matter. It's for a 5 minute second grade research project.

Since Helen Keller didn't wear dark glasses or carry a cane, we went with a doll for her prop.  Allie knows how to spell  WATER and DOLL in sign language, which were important words to a young Helen Keller.  Her presentation is sometime in May, so I'll try to post a video.

Now, I really want to make something that isn't a costume. I'm thinking some dresses or skirts for Aimee, since our shopping trip was pretty unsuccessful.  I've decided that the clothing stores need new buyers, namely me.  I will tell them what to stock so that our young teens don't have to buy ugly clothes.  (Why, yes, Dillars, I'd like my 13 year old to wear a strapless mini dress to church on Sunday. It's always fun to have to pull up your top the whole day long. Or, here's an idea...stock clothing that people can put on that will stay in place and look good.)

Gold, Black, and White, Mustangs, Unite!

Give me an 'A'
Give me an 'I'
Give me an 'M'
Give me an 'E'
Give me an 'E'
Aimee, Aimee, go go Aimee!

Aimee worked hard all week working on her cheers and her cheerleading dance.  (I'm also taking this time to thank our neighbor and friend, Wendi, who was a cheerleader and coach a few years ago, and who spent some time with Aimee one on one to get her positions correct!  Teens LOVE mentors like that who take a genuine interest in their lives. Thank you, thank you, Wendi!)

Even Aidan was singing along with her silly dance song, "Sean John, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan's fashion line". Cheer tryouts=success!  Aimee is now on the Freshmen cheer squad for next year!

Congratulations, Aimee! I'm proud of your determination and hard work!

The only problems with cheerleading is that in a district that already has school for so long, cheerleading adds to that time, football, basketball, volleyball, they cheer at everything and also practice for national competitions. So... *sigh* ... bring on the long hours. I think Aimee will enjoy it. Not the no sleep part, but definitely the focus on the activity part. The other problem is that both cheerleading practice and seminary are in the zero hour for school. I figured we'd just do what we needed to to make it work once we came to that bridge. Well, now we're there. I'm thinking home study for seminary? idk

A Little MoJo

Yep.

Bills

Dustin has this wonderful stand-by joke that he does almost every time we get a huge pile of mail. It's from The Jerfferson's or Redd Foxx or something.

"Bill, bill, bill, bill, William, bill, bill."

I still think it's funny. It continues to be something we just...say.

Tonight, he was sorting through the pile (shhh...we didn't check the mail for a few days) and I said it along with him. We laughed; Alex and Aimee laughed.

Allie said, "I think I get it;  oh because William is Bill's brother?"

Joke on!

Going for a Jog

Allie has been begging for months to walk home from church. Something about it, perhaps the adventure, the independence, the fresh air after 2 hours of church, appeals to her. I remember visiting my cousins, the Wights, in SLC and getting to walk to and from church. It was awesome. So, I finally gave in to Allie's desire. Today was not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, which are my standard excuses for not letting her walk home.  When we walked to church with our cousins, it was a few blocks away. Allie jogged, ran, and walked 2 miles to get home today.

Sound scary? Well, to me it did. I couldn't just let my 7-year-old walk home from church alone, so I drove behind, beside, or slightly in front of her. I really did imagine strangers driving by wondering about the situation. I hoped that they didn't think she was in trouble and I was making her walk home. Who knows. But I drove 5 miles per hour following her little running feet down the street.

After about 1/2 mile, Aimee got out and joined her. She felt this would be a good way to get the car home faster and not have to sit and drive so slowly all the way home. Alex opted to sit in the car. Aidan was watching Diego and was quite happy with whatever was going on.

I followed the girls for another mile, most likely arousing suspicions and ponderous minds. After they peaked a small hill and were 1/2 mile from home, I drove home at normal pace and anxiously awaited their return. They walked in the door a few minutes later, Allie beaming.  She says she wanted to walk home, and she did it. She is thrilled with the thought.

She was quite comfortable in her clothing and didn't fret too much about her shoes on the way, but when she came in, she took off the shoes because they were hurting. Her reward? One blister. Not too shabby for running 5 mph for 2 miles in a dress and church shoes with a slight heel. She's smart enough to know that she doesn't want to do it again in the same shoes. I won't be at all surprised to find a pair of socks and Converse shoes in the car next Sunday.

All set for the Marathon

Hot! Hot! Ooh, We Got It!

Last Friday, the girls had a few friends over for caroling, hot chocolate, and Polar Express. I had originally had a different invite list and turnout planned, but it evolved into this. I really wanted to make homemade hot chocolate with a recipe that I love, but I'm glad I ditched that plan and went with packets. With the guest list, this worked out much better.

Poor Aidan surrounded by girls!

Of course, the girls all played afterward and even had a lovely marshmallow contest...and yes, that would be the teen girs, not the second graders. :)

What's that? You say I have a child missing? Why, yes, I do have another. Alex was trying to get his last drives in for driver's ed. He has now completed the course, and is driving with "a licensed driver over the age of 21" for the next few months while awaiting his birthday!

No worries, he arrived home in time to see Santa give the first Christmas gift (and make fun of the girls' hot chocolate mess).

Aimee's First Swim Meet

For Aimee's PE credit this year, she is doing swimming. It means jumping into the pool at 7am for an effective wakeup call and I think it serves her well! She is loving it. Over Thanksgiving break, she actually missed it and was looking forward to school starting up again to get back to the pool.



We finally got to see the fruits of her labors when she had her first swim meet. November 22, 2010 is the day Aimee took 1st place in 3 of her heats and we all got to cheer her on. Grandma and Grandpa Greenwood got to be here for the meet, since they came for Thanksgiving. This made it possible for us to see all the races and leave someone home with the younger kids, who, understandably, didn't want to stay all 4 hours in the hot, humid pool.

(This is what Allie did for part of the swim meet...what's a sport event without friends?!)

ROCK ON Aimee!!

Halloween 2010

This year, Allie saw a Batwoman costume and fell in love. Lucky for us, Aidan is still loving the superhero gig as well, and wanted a black Batman costume to go with hers. So, I grabbed Batman T's for the rest of us older folks and we were a crime-fighting family!!


(This was a post that was awaiting the other pics. Well, it will just have to be without them for now. I can't believe it's December and I didn't post it yet. Oh well.)

The First Day of School 2010

August 23 was our first day of school this year. A bright sunny day here in West Texas and everyone had bright sunny attitudes!

Allie: 2nd grade!

Aimee: 8th grade!

Alex 10th grade!!

(Although this wasn't the first day of school, Aidan wanted to show off his cool birthday button from Grandma and Grandpa.)

(this one also was left in the unpublished, to be edited posts. Probably because Aidan's first day of school pic isn't on it. Well, too bad. He'll get his own post)

Last Day of School! Woo Hoo!

Maybe I'm supposed to be the *grown-up* here, but I absolutely LOVE the last day of school.

Am I worried about keeping kids busy over the summer? NOPE
Am I mourning my kid-free time? NOPE
Am I dreading 'I'm bored' whines? NOPE (not yet)

I LOVE SUMMER Break!!!

I don't have to drag kids (and self) out of bed in the dark.
I don't have to fight with them to go to sleep even when it's light outside (well, I might have to do that a little).
I don't have to rush around all afternoon picking children up from various schools and taking them to various lessons and activities.
I'm overjoyed.
My kids have changed so much this school year. I can hardly believe how much they've grown (we've gone through a few different clothing sizes this year) and we're all ready to take on the summer fun. Beginning of the year photos: click here.

Last day of school...May 27, 2010!!!

"Little Miss Apprehensive Allie" at the beginning of the year didn't want to stay at school. Every year seems to begin this way, and she loves her class and her teacher in the end. This year, she didn't have her *best* buds in her class, but she quickly found new besties. She loves them. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Duzan (and said so in her card to her at the end of the year.)

Miss Aimee almost ran us out of house and home for the sake of shoes this year. She started this year in a shoe size 4 and went up one size, then another, then another....her feet are now a size 8...and those are my shoes she's wearing to the last day of school.

Aidan became a star at Allie's school. Despite the fact that she likes school, and likes her teacher, she liked us to walk her in ... every day. So, we did. Aidan and I walked the path from our car to the classroom, waited while Allie put her things away in her locker and turned in her homework, then walked her to her other class (1/2 hour of gifted and talented class). It was fun, and we got another few minutes to talk about the day, and every minute counts.
Aidan showed up at school *almost* every day in his pajamas and boot. Some days, he got dressed, some days he wore his spiderman sandals, but most days it was pajamas and boots. These boots rock. They're supposed to be fireman boots, but they're red and black, so most of the time, they're referred to as Spiderman boots. At the beginning of the year, we got a lot of comments like "oh is it going to rain?" "hey, nice boots" "are you heading to fight the fire today?" But in the end, the teachers in the halls that we frequented expected to see Aidan in his boots and LOVED it. LOL
As spring arrived, Aidan has taken up the habit of taking off his clothes. He used to wear his boots with his batman or spiderman costume, but spring got hot, and it became boots and superhero underwear. Standard spring uniform at our house...well, for the 3 year old at least.

Okay, this isn't actually Alex on the last day of school.
This is Alex 5 minutes ago. (almost a week after the end of school and 11:15pm)
BUT.
Alex didn't actually have to go to school on time on the last day of school.
The last week of school they were on "testing" schedule, so they just had to show up to check in at 11am, or for their final in a class, whichever was sooner. The last day of school, Alex wasn't up when I was taking pictures. Alex, like Aimee, used the phrase "I don't have any other jeans to wear" a few times this year, since he got new clothes and then grew out of them, or wore holes in them (and his school doesn't allow ANY holes). He's taller than I, wears a much bigger shoe, and gave his hand-me-down T's to me (some of them).

Aimee's Elective Choices

Paperwork for school...Obviously not English class.

...and Lip Sync Night Pics...stage lights ON!!

This one isn't actually a move from their song...they were just doing the "Thriller"

"I wanna roll with the gangsters, but they all think I'm too white and nerdy!"