Friday Fragments

I'm following Mrs. 4444 this week in her Friday Fragments.... Here are the fragments from my week!!! Hope you enjoy them!!!

So, why the stress this week??? Well, in our town we only have 4 days left until the end of school. So this is what my week looked like:

Monday

The coach at the boys' elementary school needed help tie-dying t-shirts for Field Day on Friday, so I collected my "posse" of volunteers and we dyed, cut rubber bands AND dried over 600 t-shirts for the kids!

Here is a shot of my little one and his hot pink... errr.... RED tie dye shirt. Isn't he cute?

I think it is cute... Each grade had it's own color, so there was a rainbow hanging out along the fence as we dyed, rinsed and dried the t-shirts. I forgot my camera that day. :( It was beautiful!!!

Tuesday

Media Center Day... What is Media Center? The Media Center is the Teacher's creative HEAVEN in our little town. It has laminators, die cuts, colorful creations, poster making... You name it! So I helped out my youngest son's class by laminating and gluing for the ABC book they are making for us!!! :) This is no small feat, let me tell you!!

Tuesday was also our last day for Box Tops collection for the year!!! I truly need a break from these tiny little pink rectangles!! :)

I'm certainly not complaining too much though... I raised over $1675 in Box Tops alone! And an additional 3,000 Campbell's Labels for Education, AND another $200 in Tyson's Project A+! SWEET! Did I mention this is basically free money because people bought these products because they were going to eat them anyway so they clipped the coupon and TA DA!!!

The reward for the class in each grade level was to "SLIME" our Principal! This lead to Wednesday's plan....

Wednesday

So, I get a call at 6 AM that the Coach needed signs for each of the Field Day stations, another teacher needed signs for the Volunteer Appreciation lunch on Thursday. This meant ANOTHER trip to the Media Center. This REALLY couldn't have been a big deal IF my Driver's License didn't expire AND my Social Security Card hadn't been left in the Safety Deposit Box.... In NORTH CAROLINA!!! < OK, note to self and any other people that might move around ALOT... Remove all contents from the the safety deposit box at current duty station when moving!!! I promise that you will be moved more than 3,000 miles away from that safety deposit box and you will need SOMETHING from it!>

So, my plan was to run to the Social Security Office, apply for a replacement card then run to the Media Center, pump out a few posters and die cut some letters.... HA HA HA... Another note to self, plan to arrive at the Social Security Office EARLY to avoid long lines, people who don't speak English and think you speak THEIR language (this includes both Spanish and Arabic in my case), and of course the whinos. I have this wonderful affinity of attracting the people that sweat alcohol. How many times have I been to the Social Security office? Approximately 3 times now in two different states... It's all the same no matter what and I promise you this... You NEVER want to stay there for more than an hour!

I do give credit to the one near us here in Texas... I was in and out of the office in just over an hour. I have to wait until I get my SS card before I can apply for my Texas Driver's License though... Thank you, state of North Carolina for NOT having renewal by mail for military! :(

I did manage to make the signs for coach, but ran out of time for the die cuts... This lead to a whole lotta drama... Insert rolling eyes, and a very sad day for me. :(

Thursday

Volunteer Appreciation Tea AND M's unit's Organization Day

NEVER DOUBLE BOOK! That is the lesson I learned for this day! But I had a bunch of fun!!! Check out the pictures:

I wish I could share with you the most touching part of the day. One of our wonderful 1st grade teachers had her class come in with the letters that spelled "Volunteers are Special!" Each letter had a special saying and each child read their little saying. It was beautiful, and I got the picture. I can't wait to print it and make a beautiful picture for the teacher! I really love our school!!

I ran from the tea to the Battalion Org Day! I have to admit, I didn't stay long, but the food was pretty good! And the scenery as always was pretty nice too. :) I miss the beach back home, but this is nice too!

Can you tell at this point in the day I was a little pre-occupied with food? Ha Ha Ha! :)

Friday

FIELD DAY!!! Now this was a GREAT DAY!!! All the planning, collecting and sign making brought us to this day!!! And I think you'll agree, the kids and teachers had a lot of fun!!! 

These are the PTO ladies! I cannot take credit for their sign... I wish Jena had shown up earlier in the day!!!

This is our fearless leader (aka the Principal) right before his first slime!

And... After! Yeah, Box Tops Collectors! I can't believe he did this 8 times! Yep, 8 times!!!

This person is ME! Yep, me! The child standing on the stool is my oldest son, C and the adult is my friend, Mrs. N. They (after talking and planning with my husband) got me. It was only fair, I guess. And I have to admit, it was a lot of fun!!!

So, there you have it! My entirely busy week of planning and execution!!! What a fun week!!! I think I will sleep for a week!

Random Dozen

Feeling busy and overwhelmed this week as I try to finish up a baby shower project before my summer classes start back up. In the meantime, I'm trying to finish out the elementary school year with lots of fun things for the boys at school. I think I am as stressed as the teachers! YIKES! Here are my Random Dozen for the Week. Stand by for some fun things to come. :) I promise a decent blog by the end of the week!!

1. Would you rather host party or simply attend a party?

I think planning wise, I would rather attend, but I love having company over, so planning comes with it! I love it when people say they had a blast!

2. Tell us about the most memorable party you've been to.

Oh, hands down it was in college my senior year. It was a costume party, and I was supposed to be a DD, unfortunately someone mislabelled the punch, and you couldn't taste the alcohol in the punch... I remember several of my girlfriends and I dancing on the bar until someone decided to light the bar on fire. I guess they thought it was supposed to be something out of Coyote Ugly or something. Hands down we had the best time even with a few mishaps, but there was laughing and good times! I miss those times sometimes. :)

3. What is one thing you hope for in the after-life?

The ability to look after my children and make sure they are safe and okay.

4. What do you enjoy most about sunshine?

It makes me feel warm and happy! We get A LOT of it here in TX, so when it goes away for awhile I suffer from mild depression. Until the sun comes back out blazes away.

5. When you attend a bridal/baby shower, do you prefer to bring your own gift or chip in with others to buy a larger gift?

I prefer to bring my own. I'm just like that really. I guess if I knew they were chipping in on something the parents really needed like a crib they couldn't afford, I would join in. I just prefer to put my own personality into something like that.

6. Would you rather have a FREE week of having your house cleaned or all of your meals cooked for you and your family?

CLEANING!!! Where can I enter that contest??? :)

7. What song describes your mood today?

Working for the Weekend by Loverboy!

8. What is something you received for your own bridal shower/wedding that you still own or use? (If you are not married, feel free to sub a gift you received a long time ago.)

A silver clock with a picture frame on the other side. Both M and I love it very much!

9. Your favorite flavor of ice cream is?

Peanut butter chocolate! YUM! 8)

10. When was the last time you felt "tested?"

I think everyday we do a little so probably earlier today. It's the end of the school year pressure!

11. "pancakes is a food that once I start eating I find really hard to stop."

12. "-----" is the best motivation.

Health/ fear... For me anyway. Stuff is stuff, I'm not a material motivator. Strike the fear of God into me, and you have it!

Friday Fragments... Saturday Edition

It's better to be fashionably late than to not make sense, and yesterday was so crammed pack that by the end of it, I didn't make much sense! Ha Ha Ha... So here are my Friday Fragments. A little late, but well worth the wait!

Tuesday was meet the new Commander's Wife tea. I really enjoyed the tea, and the company. The new Commander is a 180 from the last Commander which I can neither say is good or bad other than I really like the new Commander's wife! I did have to laugh when K, our FRG (Family Readiness Group) gave me a unit pin. It was wrapped up in a cute little bag with a tag (that at the moment I did not read). When I got home that night, I showed my husband the pin which was still in the little mesh bag, and he read the tag... it said, " Dear Elvira., thank you for all you do for the FRG in supporting our unit. Sincerely, K&J B." M looked at me and said, when did you change your name to Elvira? I guess I got a left over, but at least I was thought about... I think.

Box Top Wednesday has been my thing for almost a year now. While I get excited when we run a Box Tops campaign and we bring in money, I will most certainly be glad when the counting is over for the year and I get a break. Being creative is draining!!!  I am pleased with what we have come in with over the last year, but it's hard to get donations in a military town. If you have any suggestions for a Box Tops competition, I am all ears!!! This is a non-budgeted activity, so all expenses are either donated or paid for by the chair person.

Thursday I had my yearly exam. Oh what a joy, right? I have to admit, I was kind of put off by my doctor this go round... I'm hoping she was just having a bad day or maybe her clientele has changed or something??? I don't know, but I just felt like I wasn't getting options of suggestions. I felt like I had less knowledge then when I left and oh by the way this is what I want you to do. :( I really didn't like that. :(

Friday was career day! Oh my goodness there are so many careers out there!! Wow! I wish they had had career day when I was in elementary and middle school. There were engineers and doctors, a street light repair man, K9 dog trainers, bucket truck operators, flight attendants, nurses, Army guys, street repair guys, electricians, building designers, tank builders, ranger operators.... It was awesome!  It was a lot of work too!!! I was a runner, so I ran drinks to the displays outside, ran the hospitality room, and made sure people were checked in. I also presented my own career from when I was in the Textile field. It was amazing, but by the end of the day, I was beat!  I think the counselors at the school did a FANTASTIC job!! I can't wait until next year!!!

And last, but certainly not least... M had to have "the conversation" with C about the changes he is beginning to undergo and notice and how it will be evolving over the next several years. I really begged M to do this without me being there as I thought C would be embarrassed. Oh no! I am SO GLAD I COULD SHARE IN THIS CONVERSATION.... Here is how it went down:

M: C, you will be experiencing lots of changes over the next several years. Up until you are 16-ish at least. All of it is normal... Completely normal, and if you have any questions, please come to me. Don't be ashamed. I will answer any questions you might have. One change you will experience is getting hair all over your body.

C: Hair?

M: Yep, all over your body in places that you don't have hair on even.

C: Will I get hair like you?

M: Yes, just like me.

C: Does that mean I will grow hair up my nose too? Just like you? Because I really don't want hair up my nose!



Me: You know, I never really noticed your nose hairs before, so you are good. I'm glad you included me in this conversation.

C: Can I go now?

M: Sure. You can go. I love you.

C: I love you too. Thanks for our talk. I have a lot to consider!

Ah... What a way to end the week!!!

I hope you had a wonderful week too!!! See you next week!

Random Dozen!!!

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
Fajitas. And we usually always have the supplies in stock! :)

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.) Cell phone.

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting? The beach... Well, home. I could visit every month is it wasn't 1800 miles away!

4. Share one factoid of your family's history. My dad's family came over to the US right about WWII to flee Nazi's. They were a wealthy Polish family (wealthy relative to the Polish that could not afford the tickets to "America"). They bought a farm and decided to have children. My great grandmother spoke NO ENGLISH! Everyone spoke Polish to her... Including her great grandchildren!

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...." didn't have such a busy schedule!:)

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be? Um... Unlimited personal training with child care at the gym.

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...." I get really irritated by people who are all about themselves and really don't care about others, but they put up this facade that they do, but if they took one step back... It might not fair so well. AND complainers! OK, I get we all need to vent and complain. Do it and let it go!

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy? A Snickers bar.

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...." My kiddos

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal? Shake it off and let it go!

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else? I could help a dear friend find a job. But really I could compliment someone, make baked treats and give them out, I could help them with a task... All kinds of things are blessings! WE just tend to over look them.

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon? Summer vacation!

Butterfly Kisses

When my Mom was diagnosed with cancer, she told us not to worry. She would always be with us. The last time I saw my Mom alive, she told the nurses and I that she would be re-incarnated as a butterfly so she should fly free and visit everyone without spooking them. :)

Last Spring we visited the San Antonio Zoo which has an awesome butterfly exhibit. I have to admit, I was super excited because I was feeling sad and a bit lonely with both M deployed and my Mom gone, and was hoping that maybe I would feel her presence there. Even the boys were excited! When we entered there were millions of colorful butterflies flying through the air. Some landing on people and some resting just long enough to take a picture. As we enjoyed their graceful flights, I couldn't help be feel saddened by the fact that I just didn't feel the presence of my Mom there. But then I thought about who my Mom was... She was such a free spirit and enjoyed people and life. My Mom wouldn't be the one inside... She would be the butterfly flying around outdoors... Free!

When we came home that night from San Antonio, there was a mysterious butterfly flying around our house. I wondered if it was my Mom saying, "Hey kid! You are right! I'm free and I'm stopping by to say hello!"

I hadn't thought about that for awhile.... Until this weekend C "crossed over" for cub scouts (details on that coming soon), and as we were eating our hot dog lunch this butterfly got in my face and would not stop fluttering as around despite my bobbing and weaving. It landed just for a minute right where my heart would be and I KNEW that was my Mom! And she was going to watch her grandson get bigger, and her daughter lead him through the ritual of "crossing over." What a WONDERFUL gift that was for me! And it truly made my day! Thank you, Mom for my Butterfly kisses!!! Please stop by any time!


San Antonio Zoo- Butterfly exhibit


One of the handsomest butterflies I know!


My other handsome butterfly!

Random Dozen

1. Please share one memory of your high school graduation. Pics would be great! Hmm... Let's see here. I graduated from a LARGE city HS, so we often had to book our graduations 1. Indoors and 2. at a location large enough to accommodate over 1,000 graduates, their parents, grandparents, siblings,etc. The year I graduated the convention center was booked not only for every HS graduation in the city, but also a mortician's convention... YEP! Mortician! So they decided in January to let the seniors know that we would graduate a week early, BUT we would have to complete 20 hours of community service first. Alas... One week early and 20 hours of volunteer time later this is what we got! :)



Angela, Me and Molly... This was what I could find at first hunt. There are a PILE of pictures to go through and this week is not the week to pull any more junk out.




Me and Nay... BFF's!!! 25 years of friendship!! WE have seen the best of times and the worst and some how we've made it through EVERYTHING TOGETHER!!! I love you, Renee!


2. What is one "emergency use" item you keep in your vehicle at all times? Easy question... Mouth barrier and first aid kit.

3. In your region, do you celebrate graduation open houses? Addendum: (If so,) how many open houses/bridal showers/weddings are on your upcoming events calendar? Do you mean party? I had a graduation dinner when I graduated from both HS and college. It was close friends and family. I think I must have had about 35 people there. This year, we have two friends with kids graduating. I can't believe it! I remember one when she was in early Middle School. YIKES!

4. Tell me one truth you believe about motherhood. It will make you shed a lot of tears! Good and bad! Many many good tears, but there will be some sad/bad tears.

5. What was the last thing you broke?You know, I don't remember. Hmmm....

6. On average, how many pieces of junk mail do you receive daily? 3-4 pieces. You know it's just plain annoying too! BUT I guess it does keep the USPS in business, so I'm not complaining. :)

7. Do you like to shop by catalog? Sometimes. Like when I got the boys' scarves, mittens and hats for $5.00 because they were on clearance. And one of my favorite lockets came from a catalog.

8. Is lawn maintenance at your house a "his job," a "her job" or "his/her job" or "that's why we have teenagers" job? It's the lawn man's job. Yep, that's right NEITHER of us like that job, so by default it falls on the lawn man. :) No teenagers in this house yet, so only time will tell is one of our kiddos will step up to fill the lawn man's shoes! Ha Ha Ha...

9. Which room would you like to redecorate in your home? I don't know really. I think maybe the den, but I like everything except for the couch. The kitchen could use some updating too. I don't know???

10. Do you read a newspaper regularly, or do you read most of your news on line? Online or I get it from the TV. Yes, I know I am bad. I just hate seeing bad things and figure killing trees is just as bad as the news printed on it. :(

11. Do you believe everything happens for a reason? I do. I believe that our lives are a series of lessons. We need to learn to interact, how to share our opinions, how to deal with situations we'd rather not deal with. I bet everyone out there whether experiencing/experienced learned a lesson about something. Whether is was do better next time or it worked out well... They learned something. Do I like the bad things that get thrown to me??? No, but no one else does either. These are life lessons!

12. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things? A little bit of both. I'm a perfectionist, but that doesn't compromise my values. I want to do what is right in the correct way. :)

Having a....

I am having a Dear Mom moment! I am feeling so frustrated right now I could pop! And goodness knows I could certainly use my Mom's words of wisedom right about now!

I am having one of those weeks, which apparently extends back into one of those months... Or maybe two, who knows how long ago it was... You know one of those weeks/ months where you could just really use a motherly figure who knows you backwards and forwards and knows just what you need right at that moment whether it is a hug, a stern lecture or just an outlet to vent? I REALLY need one of those RIGHT.... NOW!

I've prayed on everything... And while I know things happen for a reason, in their own time, etc. I just isn't the same as just letting it go for a minute and having that "Mom Moment." I'm sorry if you don't have a Mom like mine, but I'm sure you have someone similar that you can do just that with. There just isn't a substitute for that one person. Or I have yet to find that person, and to be honest I don't think I want anyone other than my Mom. Gosh she was AWESOME! And geez, I must have put her through hell... Ha Ha Ha. (I love you, Mom. I miss you!)

If you have a special person that means the world to you; savor the time you have because life happens. It won't protect you from having a "Mom Moment" at some point, but hopefully the memories will sustain you through that moment when you need her guidance.

Fevers and Such

OK, so I must say that 5 days of fever is pretty much enough for ANYONE! Being a nursing student, I pride myself on being calm, cool, collected and optimistic... This does not translate very well when you are the parent. Mental Note here: PATIENCE IS WHAT I NEED TO WORK ON AS A NURSE! 5 days of fever, 3 doctors visits, 10 vials of blood (OK, I'm exaggerating here because I was too busy calming a very sick little boy), a strep test, fluids, a recall on Tylenol and Motrin products, and a 24 hour rotation of checking to make sure the fever has come down is NOT my idea of fun! Not fun for Mother's Day, and certainly not fun for your birthday! C was so sick that when we lit the candles on his cake he did not want to blow it out and limply looked over at younger brother, B, and asked "Can you just blow the candles out? I'm too tired." I just wanted to cry. :(

This morning C woke up with no fever... Right now I am holding my breathe with me fingers and toes crossed that this remains ALL day so that he can go back to school. No, I'm not pushing for him to go back to school if he isn't ready. I actually like having C home here with me and am looking forward to summer vacation.:) BUT C is eager to get back to school and "hang out" with his friends, and he's worried about the make up work that is piling up. (C is my very smart straight A student who is convinced that he is going to the Naval Academy do that he can fly jets off the back of Air Craft Carriers .) I did ask C's teacher to send home his make up work so we could begin working on it. I know C won't be too far behind... That kid is a quick learner, and when you have a goal and your eye on the prize... You usually pick things up quickly.

So a quick Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there!!! A little late, but I was thinking of you all. I hope you all had a wonderful day! I am off to take a little nap! And begin my recovery! :) Then off to do a deep cleaning to get this virus OUT of my house! Bleck! :)

Friday Fragments #6

What a week!!! I tell you! I have not been able to sit down for one second this week! It's been so busy that I can't even tell you what I did on Monday!

I'm joining Mrs. 4444 (By the way, my husband loves your "Call Sign" his is very similar) at Half Past Kissin' Time. Stop by and see what others have been up to this week!

** Teacher's Appreciation Week!!! We love our teachers at B&C's Elementary school. I spent most of my week helping serve lunches or working in the class room. I really enjoy working in the class room. I'm always amazed at how much has changed since I was in school. I don't know if this is for the better or worse, but even I come out educated sometimes! And the kids love to see volunteers in their classes or in the halls. A Special Thank you to Ms. N and Ms. B for all you give to my two kids! I hope you enjoyed the festivities this week!

** Happy Birthday to my dear C! Today he turns 8 years old! I cannot believe it!! Unfortunately, C has spiked a fever of 102, and will not be in school today. :( He's bummed about that, but thinks it's cool to celebrate being 8 three times! :) He asked me, "Does this make me 24?" with his silly toothless grin. Don't I wish sometimes, but no deal there sweetie! Slow down and smell the roses cause once you hit 21 life seems to speed up. :)



** This is what we are experiencing in my neck of the woods this week:

Yep, that is 100 degrees!!! Before you scold me on shooting pictures and driving. I was stopped at a stop light when I took it. Ahhh... This is NOT what you want to see in MAY in my neck of the woods... This could possibly pretty likely mean that we will hit over 100 once the summer comes! That is HOT HOT HOT!!!

It does lead me to remind everyone to hydrate hydrate hydrate!!! Very very important as the warmer weather approaches! Oh and sunscreen sunscreen sunscreen!!! OK enough said about that, right?

** Fevers Suck! Enough said...

Well, I am off to send to a little sick man on his birthday. :( Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday! And an excellent weekend!!!

Random Dozen!!!

Well I am a day late and a dollar short looks like for this week's Random Dozen, but I like answering these questions because sometimes they elighten me to look at things a little differently. And besides, I don't like to be nosey without allowing others to be nosey back! :) Can't wait to see what I am going to answer, so here goes....

1. What was the last thing about which you procrastinated? Oh easy, it was my A&P final test... And as a result I got a slightly lower grade than I actually wanted. :( BUT I ended up with a GREAT grade, so I'm not going to complain too much. I'm not much of a procrastinator... I am a HUGE planner though, and I'm an on my feet type thinker so curve balls don't usually affect me. I don't like them, but I can usually make something work!

2. How long does it take you to fall asleep, and do you sleep through the night? Some nights it takes me a long time to fall asleep. I really envy my DH who can put his head on the pillow and be out. Maybe that would be me if I went to bed at 2200 (10 PM) and got up at 0430 (4 AM) almost every day. I like to quietly process my day though as I lay there and I often say disjointed prayer. Weird? I know. I do generally sleep through the night.

3. Which decade would you choose to exemplify your favorite fashion styles? Hmmm... I don't know really. I love the 80's... Big Hair! Crazy clothes, bright colors and comfy pants... You know the pants that look like this:

Ok for the record I did not own any pair of these pants, but they were an icon!!!

I really think I would have been better in the 20's. I'm a pretty tough cookie, and I think my personailty would be better reflected in that era. And who can resist these super cute outfits???


4. What is your personal best dish to feed a crowd? Oh my stuffed shells are truly to die for!!! Rarely does the dish ever have one left!!!

5. Are you an impulse shopper? What was the last thing you bought on impulse? OK, I am a military spouse... Do I impulse buy??? Most definiately! I do/ did it mainly to fill a void. Yes, I know... I am bad! You see, when your husband is deployed you buy stuff randomly like crafts or trinkets for a care package. Since the DH has returned, I have been much better about this except in the grocery store. I really struggle with sticking to my list.

6. What is one wish you have for your own funeral? That people would rejoice and enjoy each others company. So often we do not get together enough with the people we care about until it is too late. We are too busy... The kids are in school... I can't take time off from work... You see, all of these things will be there later... Life has an expiration date. IT does expire. If the only time you can take off is when I die... Use that time to visit and rejoice with those around you!

7. If it's true that joy is in found in the simple things in life, what does your joy look like today? My boys are smarties! I have a roof over my head, food in my tummy, and a family that loves me. I have friends that care about me, and people who challenge me. These are my daily joys!

8. What is your favorite type of bread? Any Kind... EXCEPT Pumpernickle!!! Those little seed things kill me! YUCK!

9. What trait do you fear developing the most? (Laziness, greediness, grumpiness, etc.) Bitterness... I harbor that a lot sometimes. And then I release it... I have found it alot recently, and have found it more and more difficult to release. It just seems that once I forgive and let it go something else is dealt to me and it returns. Perhaps because I haven't fully released it. I don't know. I would like it to fully go away though!!!

10. What trait would you like most to develop? Forgiveness. The ability to completely let go.

11. Which room in your house best reflects your personality? Why? Probably the sitting room. It's clean and crisp and slightly fluffy. It's organized and put together.

12. How do you maintain balance in your life regarding, work, family, church, other organizations and activities, and blogging? Balance? Ha Ha Ha... I think life in all aspects is like the decible level on the old stereo systems... Some times one bar shoots up higher than another, but lowers and another bar shoots up. Diversity in our lives it what gives us flavor. Shapes who we are. How we balance everything really depends on what we like, what our atitude for the day is, and our willingness to adapt. I don't really have a plan that keeps everything in balance. It kind of varies...

So there you have my Random Dozen!!! I hope you will join me next week. I can't promise I will be on the ball, but I will try! :)