Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Crabby Kids

Just listed this sweet summer dress...search "RNB Teams" on ebay to find the matching boys set!

Crabby Girl Wrap Dress

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Splish Splash

Another round of swim lessons is over and shes so close to being ready to try out for swim team. She can breast stroke, backstroke, freestyle and intermediate backstroke 25 yds. Now she needs to master the flip at the end of the pool and coming off the blocks.

Last day of class and with her teacher - Ms. Liz.

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Ladies of the Court

As the cumulation of all they learned Tori's gifted program went to Medieval Times this past Thursday. They got to see the show like you do as a guest but they also got a tour of the medieval village with all its artifacts. I think the parents found that part more interesting but it was neat. It was a very long day but the kids had a blast.

Tori and her friends Teresa and Madison on the thrones!

Friday, April 25, 2008

So sick...

of working.
of scheduled events.
of a cram packed calendar.
of not getting enough sleep.
of it getting cloudy right at 3 every day.
of my laundry stack never getting smaller (at least its not getting bigger).

I definitely woke up on the wrong side of the bed, back with happier posts later but for right now I am crabby!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

What?!? Continued...

So I called the teacher to express my concern that these kind of conversations are happening. (Slight tangent-it really makes me mad that for a kid to not believe in the tooth fairy and to believe in Jesus being a real person that once walked the earth warrants phone calls but kids can talk about sex and I have to call them?!?)

Which then led to this conversation on the way home from school today - BEFORE we picked up Tristan.

Tori: Bailey said that he said it again. I told her I thought there was only one S word, but she said no theres two and thats one of them. So I asked her what it meant and she told me.

Me: So what did Bailey say it meant?

Tori: She said that its when two people roll around in the bed together like they are wrestling but they're not.

Sometimes its hard to keep a straight face. So of course she asked what it really was. We went G rated for now...its kind of like hugging or kissing, a way to show people that you love them, but its only for adults and especially husbands and wives. That its not a bad word like the other S word but its a word I would like her not to use because its too old for her.

Hope that works for now!

Monday, April 21, 2008

What in the world?

Tori came home today and said the kids were teasing her at lunch today because one of the little boy's has a crush on her. This has been an ongoing problem that I have told her just to tell them hes a nice boy but just a friend, dont talk about other people, etc. Today I called for a parent conference with the teacher and the other kids parents.

Today the comment was..."Jacob wants to have sex with Tori."

Is it just me or does it scare the crap out of you that kids are making those kind of statements in the 2nd grade? I just dont feel like at 7 she needs to have the birds and bees explained to her but if kids are talking like that how long can you put it off. I would rather that lesson come from me that a bunch of stupid kids.

Again I ask...where is my parent handbook?

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Recap...

I have not had time to post much this past week but here's a quick recap.

- I worked 6 of the past 7 days and have to go back tonight.
- Tristan had another tball game, they had a real live double play this week!
- Tori is continuing in swim lessons...this week they learned flips.
- Todd continues to practice for Summerfest which takes places next Sunday.
- Spent some down time with friends Friday night watching Reservation Road which is a great but sad story; Saturday with family outdoors and today with church friends.

Hope everyone had a great week and has another coming! This week is a busy one for us as well...more practices, swim, ball, brownies, field trips and work...stay tuned for some pictures though!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Compassion vs Cynicism

As someone who believes in Jesus Christ and the way he lived being a guide to the way we should live compassion is one of those traits I strive to have. Not only to have but to overflow with so that others can see that in me. And I would say that this is one of those things that has been easier for me in my walk with Jesus than other traits...like patience for example.

But the more hours I put it in at work the harder it becomes. When you spend hours a day (especially when its one your body is screaming GO TO BED) with people who drink too much, ingest insanely large amounts of Rx meds/cocaine/heroine/meth/pot/ecstasy, beat up the people they are closest too, slice themselves up with knives and peirce themselves with pins it is easy to put up this wall of cynicism. It just seems easier to think in abstracts of dumb people doing dumb things than people crying out for help they can't find and out of loneliness they can't fill!

So I write so that those of you reading this, that I call friends but especially those of you who also call yourself a follower of Christ, will be a constant reminder to keep my heart in check. To pray for these people I meet and offer them the best I have instead of just doing my job. Accountability is an odd thing. Sometimes you just get it and dont want it...and sometimes you have to search for it because otherwise its too easy to hide from in places noone else could even begin to know to look. So this is my request for accountability...that you will remind me that what I do I do because I want to help people. That people are people no matter what bad choices they make.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Ew!

I am all for free expression of oneself. Art coming in many forms. Uniquity. Standing out in a crowd.

But still all I can think of these is ew! Someone sent them to me in an email with a note that said "I will not complain about my kids, I will not complain about my kids."




Tax Day

Blah! For the first time EVER we owed money. For the first time EVER we sent out our taxes at the last possible moment (ok not last because those lines tonight are treacherous, but you know what I mean).

Saw this thought it was funny and while April 15th is no holiday I am of the mindset that you should celebrate everyhing! So cheers to those accountants who will reclaim their lives for the next 9 months and for those of us who did in fact manage to slide in on time! Enjoy.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Great quote...

While reading a blog today I came across this quote and thought it was a great one...not to mention challenging. What do you think? Can a person be too comfortable? Are you too comfortable? I think comfort is many people's goal so if comfort is not one's goal what is?

"Remember comfort is the breeding ground for complacency and complacency only leads to a critical spirit."

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Baby steps...

I have been very overwhelmed lately by all the "stuff" on our calendar. I don't want to be one of those parents that just shuttles their kids too and from places but I also don't want them to be unable to participate in the stuff they want to participate in. And when they are different genders and ages that stuff tends to be at different locations and times.

So my new goal is to make smaller goals! I need to have goals as I am goal oriented person but they need to shrink - lose 5 lbs not 25, clean part of the house not the whole house, get all the towels done not all the laundry, etc.

So thats the plan. I'll let you know how it goes!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

This is how...

the "family reunion" would have looked for 3 days straight if wives did not exist.

Monday, April 7, 2008

Missed lessons...

This one is for mom's and dad's mainly but those without kids yet - take notes! Or those that have grown kids - advice much needed.

Have you ever had one of those moments when a good lesson could be learned but it came up so fast and in the "wrong place" that you totally missed it?!?

Yesterday Tori and I, along with the rest of her brownie troop and a couple of moms went to see the Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Of course being my little reader she must read the playbill and is interested in each character. So the first character (Flat Stanley himself) has this ok career with random performances, its his first national tour, degrees from theatre colleges, etc. Then it says he would like to thank his husband and family for their support.

My daughter leans over and says "Mom hes a guy, why does he have a husband, guys have wives."

Let's talk about the lessons that could have come out of this - diversity, embracing differences, tolerance, what we believe, why sometimes others dont live the same lives we do, how God made each of us different and thats awesome, appreciating people for who they are, etc.

Know what I said - "hmmm that is different." Because in the moment all I could think was how do I explain sexuality without explaining sex? And what if what I say does not line up with the parents thinking of the kid on my other side whose parent is not here but is listening intently? How do you know what is enough information at a certain age and what is too much? Good lord the other day I explained publicly traded companies to my 7 yr old...then I wonder why she knows things beyond her years!

Why again, dont kids come with a handbook?

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Picking time!

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A spring break tradition! 20 qts of strawberries later we headed home - hot and tired but we had a nice day. And yep the last pic is actually berries we picked...

Maddex Reunion..,

Well kind of. Brother Trent and family did not quite make it down this time but heres a few pictures from the almost reunion!

The troops storm the beach...
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Two crazy pirates!
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Some new facial hair?
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Captivated by a pirate tale.
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Horsing around at home.
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Thursday, April 3, 2008

Tagged...

Here are the rules:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Tagged by Melissa.

1. I collect snowman, at last count I had 53 of them.
2. I share a birthday with my brother but he is 3 years younger.
3. I can touch my tongue to my nose.
4. I am addicted to coffee, crossword puzzles, tanning and neatness.
5. I read about 100 books a year on average.
6. My greatest worldly desire is to travel - both our country and others.
7. I have a big new venture in the works - to be revealed soon!

I tag Todd, Jenni, Angelle, Laurie, Rhiannon, Brooke,and Christi.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Yo ho Yo ho, Its a Pirates Life for Me

Well for us. Saturday we went on the Clearwater Beach "Pirate's Ransom" Ship and sailed the seas. The kids hunted for gold, heard stories, danced and got their face painted. Not to mention the water gun fight that left noone dry!

Boarding the ship with the captain the back:

Spring Break

Is here! We spent the weekend visiting with family, cruising on pirate ships, playing in the park, and splashing in the pool. Yesterday Todd took off and we had a family day at the beach when it wasn't so crowded which was awesome. Todays plans include lunch with my sister in law Taylor and then off strawberry picking. And dinner with Todds mom and his brothers family one last time before she heads back to Colorado. Hope everyone else is enjoying their break!

Pictures are coming soon!