remembered from September 2001

Sending Joe off to school was an entirely different experience. He is much quieter than Corey, though I wouldn’t call him shy. I think he likes to think of himself as discerning. As with Corey, I took Joe to the store. Old Navy again, and told him he could pick out a new school outfit. Joey is less concerned with clothing than Corey is, and I think he just asked me to pick it out and could we go to the bookstore when we were done. I picked out a pair of khaki shorts and a red t-shirt for him to wear. Thinking how nice red would look on him with his dark hair and muddy, green eyes. I asked him what he thought,

“Cool! Can we go to Border’s now?” I gave him a hug and said of course. After we paid, I took him to the bookstore, let him pick out a book-probably a Magic Treehouse Book and treated us to a giant cookie and some chocolate milk.

On the first day of school, he woke up early with no extra help needed from me, put on his new clothes and waited for me to get his breakfast for him. Addi was young, and I was frazzled (more) easily in those days. I was rushing around trying to get their lunch ready, make sure everyone had breakfast, and then I heard a little voice, “Mommy, it’s time to go.” I stopped, and grabbed everyone’s backpack, put them on and picked up Addi to put him in his stroller. The bus stop was up the road from our house, maybe a five minute walk at the entrance to our neighborhood. I pushed Addi in his stroller, and watched the two older boys skip happily along anticipating the day to come. At the bus stop there were maybe 15 kids, from kindergarten to fifth grade. The boys liked the noise, the thrill of making new friends, and once again I felt that longing to hold on to a point in their life that was rapidly coming to an end.

When the bus pulled up, it was Joey that squeezed my hand a little tighter, while he bent over to kiss his little brother on the cheek.

“Bye mommy. I will miss you!” He whispered this to me, and stood on his tip toes to wait for me to lean over so he could give me a kiss, and then just like this older brother did two years ago, he climbed up those steps, although this time he had someone to show him the ropes. As the bus pulled away, I saw two little faces pressed to the glass with hands waving frantically to get my attention. Two down.

I think this is a repeat, but Hayden will be joining us for the QOTD!  He is learning to read and identify his letters with more confidence in first grade, and he asked to be a part of the family blog last night.  So, I let him pick the animal.

I think I would still go with my original answer-a megalodon.  This is a giant, prehistoric shark.  Estimates taken from teeth put this predator at around 67 feet!  (though I think that is one of the biggest on record, so that might be a max) But when i think of a shark I think of a fierce predator, something that will defend what belongs to it with everything it has.  Something I imagine all parents can identify with.

remembered from September 1999

I have put four boys on the bus for that first day of kindergarten. It’s funny, for my husband it is a pride thing. He gets up with me that morning, we get the kids breakfast, put on their new outfits, and pack their backpacks with them. I try to give them at least ten minutes of `down time’ to just sit and relax before we have to get out to the bus stop. On that first day, I sit there impatiently, looking at the boys and thinking this is it, no more leisurely days with mom. No more mommy’s little shopping buddy, no more lunches at the mall food court. They have their job to do now-school.

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out there,  I thought I would dedicate this week to my boys, and THEIR first day of kindergarten.  Four of our five have reached that milestone, and we only have one more to go.  Going through these memories has been bittersweet for me-I am proud of all they have accomplished and the hard work they have done, but at the same time it is always met with a bit of sadness because I am reminded just how quickly time flies.

(September 5, 2010)

It was a beautiful day. The sun was shining, and it was a comfortable (perfect!) 75 degrees. I admit that I was excited… tonight I would get to see my husband play football. Of course I was bummed that it was flag football, but hey, can’t have everything! Roy coaches Hayden’s football team for our local youth football group. We have been involved with the league for about four years now, and it’s always fun. I will admit that some of the politics don’t sit well with me, but that’s true of any organization. Every year we say the same thing:

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what are you thinking about?

It’s early morning, the sun is just coming up, maybe I can see some dolphins in the distance.  There is a nice, warm breeze coming off the water, my hair is blowing around my face, and the sand is warm on my toes.  The one thing going through my mind is…”I have a great life.”

(remembered from May 2008)

It was a lazy Spring day, or rather it should have been. I was rushing around trying to get my grocery shopping done. I remember pushing my cart frantically around Walmart. See, I am under the impression that the longer I am in Walmart (or Target or Costco… just depends on the day of the week), the more money I spend. Therefore if I rush around at breakneck pace, I spend much less - of course that doesn’t bode well for other shoppers, but that’s my mindset. Anyways, here I am with milk, bread, juice, maybe some meat, and who knows what else in tow, waiting for my turn at the register. All the while I am thinking of the 100 things I need to do when I get home. It isn’t often that I get to go to the grocery store by myself, and while I love being able to wander around by myself, I know I need to get home… that to-do list isn’t going to get done by itself. So, I finally get up to the register, put my items on the belt, pay, and go out to pack up my car. Driving home, I turn up the music and sing… loudly. There is no one else in the car to tell me to change the station. No one telling me to be quiet. I sing “Living on a Prayer” just as I imagine Bon Jovi would… if he was a 34 year old housewife that is.

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or just any movie line that sticks out in your head.  I have a few, though two of them have curse words in them..does that say something about me?

“Get Away From her you B$%#H!” Aliens (I mean seriously, how could anyone NOT like it when Sigourney Weaver utters that line from the robot thing she drives as she fights the queen.

“Yippee Ki Yay, Mother F-er” I thought Bruce Willis says this in Die Hard, and maybe he does, but for some reason I just think it is hilarious when Hans Gruber says it to Bruce’s John McClane.

“Peace isn’t merely the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” Harrison Ford’s President James Marshall in Air Force One.  (Yeah, I know silly movie…but what a great line!)

(remembered from April 2000)

“OH YEAH!” Ok, yeah, I don’t know what that song is. OK, I’m lying. I totally know what that song is, and I even know who sings it (Da’ Butt by E.U), but I know I have heard that more than once in the 16+ years I have been a mother. And for awhile I didn’t like the junk in the trunk, but you know what… Roy’s digs it, so who am I to disappoint him? BABY’S GOT BACK!

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Hmm…no clue!  This is courtesy of Corey by the way.  I was drawing a blank, he was acting silly and I thought..why not?

As far as men go….probably Jason Statham or Bruce Willis, just because I am a fan.

Women-maybe Sigourney Weaver is someone I really like as an actress, and she just seems cool.

I think it would have to be a dual stalking…I would stand behind them and have someone take pictures of me, on the other hand…I am just too lazy to actually stalk someone, just way too much work!