Fiesta!

My adorable daughter had her Fourth Grade California Fiesta program today. It is a celebration of California History with skits and songs. Here she is in the first shirt of the day. It was Andrew's old shirt and he actually wore it for his California Fiesta five years ago. Needless to say, she was not very happy wearing Andrew's old shirt, but as I said before it is next to impossible to find a plaid flannel shirt in the middle of March in California...a plaid bathing suit perhaps, but not a flannel shirt.

However, my good friend, and her music teacher switched shirts, so Isabella wouldn't have to wear Andrew's shirt...wow what a nice gesture. Here they both are, and I realize you can only see my friends backside (a position I know all too well, thank you very much) but she is wearing Andrew's shirt...oh to be that little.
Here she is in her skit. She is a worker on the transcontinental railroad. I was told by many teachers that she did an amazing job pretending to shovel. I told them she gets that from me, and my Iowa roots...as she has never shoveled a day in her life.

Good Fiesta friends.

And her mama at the after party...yes they have after parties here...and let me tell you they are doozies!!

Have I told you lately how lucky I am? I have the greatest life. Yes it is busy and yes it is stressful, but I am loved and I love, and that is really all that matters at the end of the day. No one can take that away.

No one.

More Later

- A Ro

Don't Worry We are Good

I promise the kids are being fed and loved, and it is just my blogging community (all 10 of you) that I am neglecting.


I am pretty sure that if the Guinness Book of Records had a "How Much Can One Mother Shove Into Her Day/Week" I would be a real contender.


Here is a little peek, and I realize that it is only Thursday...boy do I ever realize this!!


Monday I got up and worked out and I decided that while Bella was at soccer practice I would run the path around the park. So got home, got Bella to practice (2 minutes from our house), went home chopped veggies for our dinner...homemade calzones, put on running stuff, ran 3 miles and got Bella and went home and started dinner.


Here is where a plan that looks good on paper, starts to fall apart in real life a) Rich ended up working a horrendous 30 airplanes at once shift from 11:00 - 5:30 (1 1/2 hours past when he usually works and didn't get home until 6:15) b)my pizza dough was NOT cooperating and c) it was 7:15 before we ended up eating. We were starving and had a deadline of 8:00 for Chuck.

Tuesday I am sitting at Andrew's baseball game with Rich and Bella. It is the last half of an inning and it is, oh, about 9:00 and one mom said "Well I am going to leave a bit early so I can start on dinner"


Wha??


I thought 7:15 was late to be eating. I was honestly going to ask Rich if we could leave a bit early because I needed to start on...SLEEPING...So that was Tuesday night. Needless to say that going straight from work to Bella's art class, to baseball (with a stop at Subway for dinner BEFORE the game) and home about 10:00 the Random Dozen did not get started or for that matter finished. I was bummed, but I was lucky to make it home without falling asleep at the wheel.

Well don't worry, Wednesday I actually cooked fish tacos, did soccer practice, paid bills, helped with homework, did our usual ice cream night and went to bed at a decent time.

Tonight is another baseball game...and tomorrow is the last day before a much needed Spring Break.

Phew!!

More Later

- A Ro

Blessings

As some of you know I have been a little stressed lately. Various reasons, but mostly the impending move and just the ugliness of some people. It has always confused me how one can profess a deep Christian faith, yet live their lives in such an opposite way. My faith is that judgment is not mine and the higher judge will prevail.

I decided, however, to take a look at the many many blessings I have in my life. Let me tell you they are many. So I have come up with a lists...I know, aren't lists fun!!


Beautiful ring on my left finger. Love of an amazing man.

Being able to plan a simple and meaningful wedding.

The laughter of a 14 year old, at something his mother said.

Bright beautiful brown eyes of a 9 year old excited about her day.

"...she is truly the most amazing person I've ever met..." said one student about me for a scholarship essay.

A mistake that hurt someone else's feelings, remorse in her eyes, lessons learned.

A true partner, cooking dinner, cleaning up, sharing the day, kisses hello.

Children who aren't with us. Hoping they are happy.

Surprise phone call from family that I miss. Lots of laughter.

Pictures of a niece that I miss. Don't you just love a cute baby......who enjoys a daddy-cicle??

Me too.

Your welcome.


More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 12

I must apologize for my hiatus. Some people deal with stress by exercising heavily, or shopping. My usual m.o. is to just stop doing everything when I am stressed and upset. This past week has been full of a lot of stress. I am doing better and hopefully I can adopt some better coping skills like exercising more...yeah right OR buying new shoes...wow just thinking about that one makes me feel better...I guess we have a winner.

Either way I did manage to take my Project 365 pictures this week...so enjoy...while I grab my oxygen tank and head off to DSW shoe warehouse.

Sunday:

Boredom is the Mother of Trouble

A trip to Kohls to find a plaid flannel shirt for Isabella's class play next week and a potato ricer comes up empty handed. Do you know how hard it is to find plaid flannel in California when the weather is 70 degrees? Yeah, you guessed it...impossible. And the potato ricer...geez $40 bucks just to try a new homemade gnocchi recipe?? Yeah, you guessed it...I should have spent the $40 bucks.

Monday:

Bookworm

Just love Bella cuddled up in my bed with her P.J.'s on reading her book...too cute.


Tuesday:

Great Bedside Manner

I woke up Tuesday morning with horrible stomach cramps, aches and pains, and a slight fever. I felt horrible. Bella came home from school and made me this small treasure hunt so I could find my get well card. She is just the sweetest girl I know. Rich and Bella really know how to take care of me. (Andrew would have too, but he had a baseball game and was with his dad.)


Wednesday:

Bonding

Rich's kids were supposed to be here this week so I bought Disneyland tickets for Wednesday. I took two personal days and got the kids out of school. So when Rich's kids didn't come I decided to go anyway. Not really the wisest choice considering I was still not feeling 100%, but it is the Happiest Place on Earth and I did just fine. I really had a good time with my kids and I think it was just what we needed. (Even though I paid for it the next day.) Notice that Andrew will have his picture taken just as long as I'm not taking it....hmmm...


Thursday:

Big Boy

I cannot believe that this is my little boy. When did he become such a big boy??


Friday:

This Can Only Mean One Thing

Either I am organizing or moving. Hey, wait...I am doing BOTH. We went out to get some necessary items for our moving 12 step program moving organization strategy. A journey of 1000 miles starts with one step, you know.


Saturday:

Big Girl

I cannot believe that this is my little girl. When did she become such a big girl??


In Summary: I really need to figure out how to stop them from growing up. It really isn't working for me. This move might just involve a real 12 step program at some point. I think I would much rather break my arm then have the stomach flu...and that just might solve the packing/moving problem...hmmm. But if I have to be stressed and do stressful things, this family is the one that I want to go through it with.


More Later

- A Ro

What are the Odds??

Oddity - Crappy weekend, Great Monday...go figure.

My mood started to turn as Andrew and I sat down at the sushi place we always go to when we both have a lunch and free period in a row. We both are surprised daily that this place still exists and has an "A" rating because it has changed names and owners three times this year already. We still go there and still love it whether it is Sushi Bon, Sushi Kyoto, or Sushi Planet. Today was the first time we visited the Sushi Planet, or was it Planet Sushi, hmmm. Anyway it was a very interesting experience today. It started when we went in and Careless Whisper was playing, yes the George Michael hit from the 80's which when I last checked was 30 years ago and really had nothing to do with Japan or Sushi. Followed closely with Chicago's Hard Habit to Break, Christina Aguilera's Genie in a Bottle and Lionel Richie's Hello. What followed was our waitress coming up to take our order and having a very thick Mexican accent. I do like to go to ethnic restaurants that actually have people of that culture working there, somehow for me that makes it "real". Not that there is anything wrong with a Mexican working at a Sushi place, I mean you gotta do what you gotta do. The problem was that it just wasn't expected. I usually have trouble because I am such a corn feed, white bread Iowa girl that if you talk to me with an even a Missouri accent I can't understand you let alone another country all together. And to have an expectation of trying to wade through a Japanese dialect and getting a Mexican one...well it is kind of like ordering water and taking a sip only to find out it is Sprite. It was good sushi and we left the place with Duran Duran's Reflex playing...

The reason the weekend was so crappy was that Rich's kids didn't come. Their mother did not put them on the plane. My hope is one day those kids realize that they have an amazing father and that a relationship with him is going to be the thing that makes them successful, happy, and be able to fulfill all their dreams. The place they are in now is only going to bring them down. One day...

The great day ended with:

• Bella's soccer practice where we figured out that it takes only 75 seconds to get from the soccer field to our house. I guessed 120 seconds. I was way off, but then again I am not sure how accurate the 1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi method is.
• My favorite ham and bean soup.
• Filling out our NCAA March Madness bracket.
  
• and....CHUCK!!!

All will be well again.


More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 11

It is time once again to take a peek into my week. I hope you enjoy. Go to Sara's Blog to check out the rest of the gang's pictures.


Sunday:

Designer Bag

Bella loves to make gift bags for her friends Birthday's. We just buy the white bags, get out the Sharpies, and she goes to town. This friend got some Penguin and Club Penguin stuff so the bag has that theme too. She is just so artistic.

Monday:

GULP

Today was my presentation at my regional independent schools conference. Everyone said it went really well, but I just think I was a bumbling idiot. Did I mention that I don't like to talk in front of other people?

Tuesday:

Little DaVinci

I got to go to Isabella's art class this time. Usually she is with her dad on Tuesday's but Andrew had a baseball game so I went to art class. Here are two of her oil paintings she did. Did I mention that she is artistic??

Wednesday:

Spring Choral Concert

Instead of showing my backside (again) and lamenting about how being a choral conductor is all about the backside (again) I thought I'd put a picture of Andrew singing in my choir to represent today's event. If you really need to read all about my backside woes, you can go here.

Thursday:

Again??

Bella had so sit through another concert. This time it was Andrew's Band concert. He plays the cello and bass in the jazz band. It is really cool to watch, unless you are a 9 year old sister who hasn't had an evening to herself all week.

Friday:

Superstar

Andrew had another baseball game tonight. He is a freshman playing on a Varsity team. Tonight he got up to bat, and tonight he got a hit into right field. He was on cloud nine. I cannot believe that my little guy got a hit. The pitcher he got the hit off of went on to strike out 5 other of his teammates.

Saturday:

Superstar II

Bella had soccer again today. As you can see it is sunny, a much nicer day. Her team lost, however, but she had fun. Most importantly her mama didn't freeze her backside off. Look at that girl go!! (She is the one in the purple)


In Summary: I have very athletic children, however, they didn't get it from me. My daughter is a great artist, however, she didn't get it from me. I might be able to take some credit for the musical stuff. The only other pictures represents my inadequacy as a public speaker. Wow I really need to re-think the picture taking method I used this week. This diva got shortchanged.


More Later

- A Ro

The Greatest Job in the World's Down Side (or Backside)

I have been bloggy AWOL for the past couple of days for a very good reason. I have been making music with young people.

My Spring Choral Concert was Wednesday night and it was a spectacular concert. If I can ever figure out how to post video on my blog I will send out some of the actual MUSIC that we produced that night, but that probably translates to never. However, here are some pictures of the joyous event. WOOHOO!!

My combined Sixth Grade Chorus. They look so innocent, so serious, however, they all have kazoos hidden somewhere on their person ready for the signal. I love kazoos...and btw...they do too.

This is my mighty Middle School Chorus. It is a wonder to everyone, but me, why I have a HUGE Sixth Grade Chorus and a HUGE High School Chorus, but a tiny Middle School Chorus. It is because it is IMPOSSIBLE for the Seventh and Eighth Grade schedule to be worked out to include all the elective possibilities. About as impossible as trying to get my point across without using all CAPITAL LETTERS. Next year I think we have it all figured out though...I'll let you know.

Here is my High School Chorus, don't they just look grand...wait just a minute...who is that extremely handsome and talented boy in the front row???
Why yes it is!!! It is my uber talented boy. He can play cello, bass, and sing a mean tenor line. Wow, how did I get to be so lucky to be his mama??

Here is the band for vocal jazz. I know I look ticked off with my diva attitude and my hands on my hips...no idea why.

Thanks Rich for snapping all these pictures. And for once again pointing out why the best job in the world has its problems. Yes, you guessed it, for 90% of my concert the audience only saw my backside. It is a hazard of the job that no one points out to you when you are in college studying all that is needed to be successful. They should really have a mandatory class called Gluteal Toning 101 (subtittled) Trust Me You'll Be Glad You Took This Class Someday.

Ah, hindsight is 20/20

get it hindsight

**tap tap is this thing on??**

oh never mind.

More Later

-A Ro