The build up to the Christmas program began this fall. The Shover preschool Christmas program is a big deal, a real big deal. It is not any different than any preschool program I suppose, although I've never seen any other. The standard fare. More cute than your eyes can absorb singing corny Christmas songs out of tune while vaguely gesturing with their hands. But this year was going to be different. This was the year that we were going to be the parents who, potentially, were going to have the "crier". See, there is a crier every year at the program. The kid who looses it over the thought of being on stage facing overeager parents with video cameras. This year Dane would perform in his first program and my money was on him being the crier.
In the weeks before today Dane would change his mind. One day he was going to star in this little B movie, the next day he had convinced himself that he would rather do anything, anything other than stand on that plywood platform covered in 1970's carpet.
This morning as I dropped him off at daycare he was staunchly in the "anything, anything other" category. He dressed in his Daddy Shirt & Tie, which I am guessing he figured would look just as cool in the folding chairs watching his classmates as it would participating in the program. He looked the part.
We arrived at the program. Dane was whisked away by his (awesome) teacher and reemerged on the stage a card carrying member of the big boy club. His little eyes searched around the room looking for his Dad. He locked eyes, smiled and....stayed on the stage. No tears, no wailing, no bolting for the door. He stayed on the stage for the entire program. He refused to sing, but that is a minor detail, so is the fact that he spontaneously untucked his shirt and was attempting to unbutton it when I gave him my coldest iciest stare to stop him. I was proud of him for doing something out of his element. I was unconcerned that he chose not to sing. I will no longer worry about him being the crier at future events, but I will worry about him being "that kid". That kid who takes his clothes off on stage.
I love my little man.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Christmas Photo Shoot
In October it seemed like a great idea to stage an outside Christmas photo shoot for the 2009 Christmas card. On December 1 it no longer seemed so great. The unusually warm weather in November quickly gave way to cold icy wind. Even though you will not see snow on the ground behind my squirmy looking family pictures, I can practically see the ice in the air. The location is the Prairie Wetlands Center right outside of Fergus Falls, MN.
The children in these pictures are not my own. MY kids would have stood still and looked into the camera with their beautiful angelic faces. MY kids would not have needed both of their mother's hands elbow deep up their noses to retrieve boogers before the shoot, and my kids most definitely would not have stuck out their tongues at the camera!
Please note that Ava was not happy with this whole arrangement. She is typically a camera hog, but the only thing on her mind, which is painfully obvious from the photos, was the inside.
Merry Christmas!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Dancing under the harvest moon
I swear three weeks ago we decided to spend the rest of our summer weekends hanging out at home and traveling no more than the miles it takes to get ice cream at Granny's. But, when the decision was made to celebrate Grandma's birthday in conjunction with the Green Lake labor day party, it was impossible to say no. One "camper cake" later ( pictures to follow! ) we made our best attempt at surprising someone who has made a living of not being surprised by anything. This party was no exception.
As the sun went down on the campgrounds, droves of children came out of the woodwork. Suddenly fifty kids were playing football, driving mini 4-wheelers and were generally engaged in trying to permanently injure themselves. Ava, probably tired from her first week of preschool, was generally uninterested. She made her way from camper to camper meeting new friends and quickly leaving them behind. A pet bunny that a camper had brought along for the weekend kept her interest for a while as we loaded up plates full of food from the 15 foot long table of potluck offerings. Once the food was largely devoured a DJ began setting up shop on a hill between the lake and the campgrounds. The expanse of freshly mowed prairie looked surreal against the backdrop of flashing lights and mobile disco ball. Both kids were apprehensive, but once Hannah Montana started blaring across the lake, Ava perked up. Instantly a group of 5-7 year old girls hoarded together on the "dance floor" unsure of what to do with themselves.
I couldn't help but remember the years of junior high and high school dances and the liberation of dancing without a real care in the world. All these girls needed was a little encouragement...in the form of a 30 something mother with a couple of glasses of box wine in her system. Two hours and many Black Eyed Peas songs later I was dripping in sweat with a permanent smile on my face. Ava and Dane danced with no rhythm, rhyme or reason, just like their mother. Dane showed off his break dance skills for everyone while Grandpa Ron sang old old school karaoke. I am sure I looked like an idiot. In fact, I am positive about that. But the feel of wet grass underfoot and the harvest moon up above were an amazing combination. As darkness fell the fireworks went up. We moved off to the side and snuggled down into the grass - one child in each armpit - and watched the show while adding our most convincing "ooohhhhhhs" and "aahhhhhhs".
At exactly 9:30 the switch flipped and Dane began begging LOUDLY to go to sleep. Ava joined the frantic chorus and we retired to Auntie & Uncle's camper to break down the dining room table into a not so comfy bed for the night. I had all intentions of rejoining the campfire, but it never happened. I did wake up around 3:00 AM when Auntie & Uncle decided to leave the campfire themselves and settle down for a solid 3 hours of sleep.
What a joyful evening followed by an early morning "I love you" from Dane before he decided to wrestle with Uncle who would have really liked a couple of extra hours of sleep. Oh well!
We are now back at home in Fergus. The kids are watching a movie, well, Dane was watching but he fell asleep. The suitcase is unpacked and I do think we will stick to our plan this time and leave that suitcase in the attic until Christmas. What a wild summer! Time to try our hardest to have a more "selfish" fall and spend less time in the van and more time soaking up the weather.
As the sun went down on the campgrounds, droves of children came out of the woodwork. Suddenly fifty kids were playing football, driving mini 4-wheelers and were generally engaged in trying to permanently injure themselves. Ava, probably tired from her first week of preschool, was generally uninterested. She made her way from camper to camper meeting new friends and quickly leaving them behind. A pet bunny that a camper had brought along for the weekend kept her interest for a while as we loaded up plates full of food from the 15 foot long table of potluck offerings. Once the food was largely devoured a DJ began setting up shop on a hill between the lake and the campgrounds. The expanse of freshly mowed prairie looked surreal against the backdrop of flashing lights and mobile disco ball. Both kids were apprehensive, but once Hannah Montana started blaring across the lake, Ava perked up. Instantly a group of 5-7 year old girls hoarded together on the "dance floor" unsure of what to do with themselves.
I couldn't help but remember the years of junior high and high school dances and the liberation of dancing without a real care in the world. All these girls needed was a little encouragement...in the form of a 30 something mother with a couple of glasses of box wine in her system. Two hours and many Black Eyed Peas songs later I was dripping in sweat with a permanent smile on my face. Ava and Dane danced with no rhythm, rhyme or reason, just like their mother. Dane showed off his break dance skills for everyone while Grandpa Ron sang old old school karaoke. I am sure I looked like an idiot. In fact, I am positive about that. But the feel of wet grass underfoot and the harvest moon up above were an amazing combination. As darkness fell the fireworks went up. We moved off to the side and snuggled down into the grass - one child in each armpit - and watched the show while adding our most convincing "ooohhhhhhs" and "aahhhhhhs".
At exactly 9:30 the switch flipped and Dane began begging LOUDLY to go to sleep. Ava joined the frantic chorus and we retired to Auntie & Uncle's camper to break down the dining room table into a not so comfy bed for the night. I had all intentions of rejoining the campfire, but it never happened. I did wake up around 3:00 AM when Auntie & Uncle decided to leave the campfire themselves and settle down for a solid 3 hours of sleep.
What a joyful evening followed by an early morning "I love you" from Dane before he decided to wrestle with Uncle who would have really liked a couple of extra hours of sleep. Oh well!
We are now back at home in Fergus. The kids are watching a movie, well, Dane was watching but he fell asleep. The suitcase is unpacked and I do think we will stick to our plan this time and leave that suitcase in the attic until Christmas. What a wild summer! Time to try our hardest to have a more "selfish" fall and spend less time in the van and more time soaking up the weather.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
A birthday gift to me
In October I turn 34. THIRTY-FOUR. t.h.i.r.t.y.f.o.u.r. Ugh.
I have so many things to be thankful for - two beautiful naughty ungrateful wonderful children, a loving husband, a solid career, a super fabulous sister and much much more. But, I also have my Grandmother Helen's arms. God bless her and her chubby German arms but I am not ready for them at 34. So, here we are. I have developed a consistent running schedule again and I feel great about that but it is time to learn some new tricks.
Enter from left stage, Amanda DeYounge, personal trainer. A drop dead gorgeous blonde with energy to spare and legs the size of my pinkie (on a skinny day). I purchased 16 sessions with DeYounge to prepare myself for the big 3-4.
Today was our first session, and regretfully, I may have called her crazy. I meant it in a good way. GOOD CRAZY, ya know? I cannot wait to see what develops over the next 15 sessions - I will keep you posted!
My burning thighs and I are going back to work.
I have so many things to be thankful for - two beautiful naughty ungrateful wonderful children, a loving husband, a solid career, a super fabulous sister and much much more. But, I also have my Grandmother Helen's arms. God bless her and her chubby German arms but I am not ready for them at 34. So, here we are. I have developed a consistent running schedule again and I feel great about that but it is time to learn some new tricks.
Enter from left stage, Amanda DeYounge, personal trainer. A drop dead gorgeous blonde with energy to spare and legs the size of my pinkie (on a skinny day). I purchased 16 sessions with DeYounge to prepare myself for the big 3-4.
Today was our first session, and regretfully, I may have called her crazy. I meant it in a good way. GOOD CRAZY, ya know? I cannot wait to see what develops over the next 15 sessions - I will keep you posted!
My burning thighs and I are going back to work.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
The Sound of Music
We purchased tickets for The Sound of Music several weeks ago and it was a good thing since the show quickly sold out. The anticipation of the evening show wore on Ava all day. I couldn't help but wonder at what age kids start to have an appreciation for time because it clearly has not developed by age 4.
She couldn't take it anymore about an hour before the show and protested by buckling herself into her car seat in the van, arms crossed and pout prominent. Dane followed suit and within minutes the sky opened and rain poured down in sheets. I wished I had strapped myself into the van pre-rain too. We attempted to kill the last hour by hitting McDonalds for some chocolate milk but the drive thru was too quick - we were still early. We rushed into A Center for The Arts under the cover of floral umbrellas rummaged from the trunk of my car.
Once inside the theatre Dane struck up a conversation with a man behind us who was wearing a Harley t-shirt. Dane explained that HE left HIS motorcycle at home. Ava's eyes were glued to the stage through the entire show. It is unsual for her to watch something without asking a million questions. Dane made it one hour before deciding nuns, dancing children and yodeling were not his cup of tea. I can only guess that DadO was feeling the same way because they walked home during intermission!
Ava's intent study of the play ended abruptly seconds into the Reverend Mother's solo of "Climb Every Mountain" which left her writhing in pain in her seat hands firmly clamped over her ears moaning "I cannot handle it! I cannot handle it!" The volume and pitch of the song were intense but powerful, too powerful for Ava's little ears.
We arrived home at 10:00 p.m. We tiptoped past Dane's bedroom and covered our giggles because he was singing to himself. As we settled into my bed the reprieve from the questions ended when Ava asked, "Where did they find all of those acrobat robots to be in that play?" That was not a question I could have ever anticipated. After much discussion I realized the word acrobat and the word actor do sound similiar. But robots? Ava explained; "Mom. They had this cord attached to their necks and like a black thing by their mouths. The kids even had these like battery things on their backs. Robots, duh." Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh. The remote microphones apparently look much different to a child, who surprisingly wasn't frightened by a stage full of singing and dancing robots but was quite confused by it. It was now 10:30 p.m. I was hoping the very strange discussion of The Sound of Music was over when Ava's final question came - "But why were those lady vampires singing so much?" Vampires? Well, I guess the nun's black habits do bear some similiarity to those worn by vampires.
It was now 11:00 p.m. and Ava drifted off to sleep after mumbling, "I love you more than jewels - and I promise I will buy you a crown with diamonds and jewels on it....I guess they probably sell those at Target...or Pamida....or the grocery store....."
I spent the next hour laying in bed wondering how to re-write the Sound of Music to incorporate robots, vampires and acrobats.
She couldn't take it anymore about an hour before the show and protested by buckling herself into her car seat in the van, arms crossed and pout prominent. Dane followed suit and within minutes the sky opened and rain poured down in sheets. I wished I had strapped myself into the van pre-rain too. We attempted to kill the last hour by hitting McDonalds for some chocolate milk but the drive thru was too quick - we were still early. We rushed into A Center for The Arts under the cover of floral umbrellas rummaged from the trunk of my car.
Once inside the theatre Dane struck up a conversation with a man behind us who was wearing a Harley t-shirt. Dane explained that HE left HIS motorcycle at home. Ava's eyes were glued to the stage through the entire show. It is unsual for her to watch something without asking a million questions. Dane made it one hour before deciding nuns, dancing children and yodeling were not his cup of tea. I can only guess that DadO was feeling the same way because they walked home during intermission!
Ava's intent study of the play ended abruptly seconds into the Reverend Mother's solo of "Climb Every Mountain" which left her writhing in pain in her seat hands firmly clamped over her ears moaning "I cannot handle it! I cannot handle it!" The volume and pitch of the song were intense but powerful, too powerful for Ava's little ears.
We arrived home at 10:00 p.m. We tiptoped past Dane's bedroom and covered our giggles because he was singing to himself. As we settled into my bed the reprieve from the questions ended when Ava asked, "Where did they find all of those acrobat robots to be in that play?" That was not a question I could have ever anticipated. After much discussion I realized the word acrobat and the word actor do sound similiar. But robots? Ava explained; "Mom. They had this cord attached to their necks and like a black thing by their mouths. The kids even had these like battery things on their backs. Robots, duh." Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh. The remote microphones apparently look much different to a child, who surprisingly wasn't frightened by a stage full of singing and dancing robots but was quite confused by it. It was now 10:30 p.m. I was hoping the very strange discussion of The Sound of Music was over when Ava's final question came - "But why were those lady vampires singing so much?" Vampires? Well, I guess the nun's black habits do bear some similiarity to those worn by vampires.
It was now 11:00 p.m. and Ava drifted off to sleep after mumbling, "I love you more than jewels - and I promise I will buy you a crown with diamonds and jewels on it....I guess they probably sell those at Target...or Pamida....or the grocery store....."
I spent the next hour laying in bed wondering how to re-write the Sound of Music to incorporate robots, vampires and acrobats.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Running
Running schedule for the upcoming week....I think my toe injury has completely healed so this will be the test...
Fri: 2 miles
Sat: rest
Sun: 2 miles
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 4 miles
Fri: 2 miles
Sat: rest
Sun: 2 miles
Monday: 3 miles
Tuesday: rest
Wednesday: 3 miles
Thursday: 3 miles
Friday: rest
Saturday: 4 miles
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