She's got fashion?

Two days a week I leave for work before the kids are up and ready for school.  This leaves getting them ready and off in the morning up to dad.  I usually get everything ready the night before including outfits, lunch, backpacks, etc... so all dad has to do is get them ready, fed, and off to school.  Erin is the exception to this rule.  I have gone to the extent of hiding some of her clothes as to narrow her decisions since she won't let me set clothes out for her on these days.  On this particular day I came home from work and saw her outfit and well had to sigh and take a picture for posterity.

As I have mentioned before my 7 year old does NOT want any advice on fashion from me.  After trying to battle it out over getting dressed I decided that this year she wears whatever she puts on.  I do my best to guide her decisions but as you can see here I lost this battle.  So, lets hope that this look is fashion forward.  I have thought about sending an email to her teacher explaining why my child comes to school dressed this way, uncombed hair at times, eating a pop tart, because she refused to get out of bed until she heard the garage door open and the car starting.  I guess I hope that her teacher is well acquainted with 7 year old stubbornness and parental pick and choose your battle and this is not one of them situations.

Whew...

Just a quick update with hip hop.  Last week I made Adam go (for possibly the last time).  He went into class but his instructor was still in the hall.  I got her attention and mentioned that Adam was not sure he wanted to continue.  She asked why, I told her about being youngest and only boy.  Inside I was saying, please notice him today, tell him great job, inquire about his moves, take an interest.  Thank heavens she heard more than what I said to her.  She did just that.  She mentioned that she wanted to assess his level to see if his skills warranted him being in the class, and suggested he might feel more comfortable in the Beg class with the other boys.  I said I was okay with whatever. 

She watched him closely, complimented his attempts to learn the routine, took an interest.  He was smiling.  After class, she caught him in the hall and had a little chat.   She said that she understood that it was probably hard to be the youngest and only boy in a dance class.  But, he was good enough to be there.  His smile told me he would be staying.  She told him that she would let him choose which class he would like to be in but that the most important thing was that he continued to dance and do the thing that made him happy.  He paused for a minute and said to me, " I know what I'm going to do mom.  I'm going to stay in this class".  Whew.

Daily life

Haven't felt like blogging much.  I guess I want to blog when there is something really on my mind or something cool to say.  But I suppose writing about some of the day to day is okay.  I just need to get used to it. 

Adam takes hip hop.  We have struggled to find something that holds his interest and makes him happy.  Last year he was really into Michael Jackson moves.  He studied them and taught himself a few.  I thought maybe he would like hip hop and convinced him to give it a try.  He did, and he loved it.  Mostly he loved his teacher who made him feel special, and let the kids enjoy dance as they learned new things.  She unexpectedly moved over the Summer.  He was good enough that they moved him to the next level.  He was excited to start in a more advanced class and get his moves on. 

He is the youngest in his group and the only boy.  He was okay with this...until last night.  He isn't thrilled with the new teacher.  She is good, but doesn't have that way of connecting with the kids.  Last night he came out of the dance studio and announced that he hated his class and wanted to quit.  He said its because he doesn't like the teacher, its hard, he is the only boy, and he is the youngest.  He has a good argument.  I told him that you don't quit something you love just because its hard.  He rolled his eyes and big tears started to well up.  He walked away.

I'm sad, because he found something that he was good at, that made him happy, that he loved.  What's a mom to do in this situation? I told him he has to finish out the month because its paid for.  Do you let them quit?  He needs something.  Piano was a no go, Now hip hop.  I guess we just keep trying new things until something else fits.  He had made so much progress this past year with self esteem.  He was always happy after his class.  It made me happy to see him happy.  Time to start something new.

Don't you hate it when...

Your daughter has has an earache for 5 days and you ignore it thinking its related to the molar growing in.  And then on day 6 she is practically in tears and asks you to take her to the doctor to get her ear checked.  So you do, and the doctor says everything looks fine it must be referred pain from her molar.  And on top of this you are an audiologist who doesn't own her own personal otoscope and could have saved the $25 bucks if I had invested in one a long time ago.  And you jokingly say this to the doctor and she says you can come in an use her otoscope anytime... Just tell the nurse she said so. 

Whats your "don't you hate it when..."  story?

Vacation

Since we had to travel to Arizona for my graduation we decided to turn it into our Summer family vacation.  We had a great time despite the hot temperatures and the long drive.  Here are a few photos we took along the way.  We spent the first night in Las Vegas and stopped by the Hoover Dam on our way out of town. 

 Then on to Phoenix for graduation.




Next stop Sedona AZ.  We saw some really beautiful country.  We managed to get in a short hike too.

A quick stop at Sunset Crater Volcano.  Brenna was the only one willing to take a photo.  Maybe if the volcano had been erupting...it would have been more exciting to the rest.

Ceder Breaks, UT  This was a gorgeous area.  We really enjoyed our hike this day

 A very cool looking tree along our hike.

We finally figured out how to use the timer on our camera!

Graduation

I was hoping to post the professional pictures from graduation but it looks like it will be awhile.  So here are a few home grown photos of the big day.  I'm glad that we were required to attend graduation.  It signified the end of a long couple of years of study.  I'm so glad my family was there to celebrate with me.

Hooding

My Family

Me in all the regalia

Slowly finding myself

Well, as the title says, I'm slowly finding myself.  Unwinding if you will.  I read a book!  Not a text!  Awhile ago Peter gave me a Kindle.  I was a bit ungrateful at the time.  You see we had had a discussion a few months earlier discussing the issue of ebooks and how he thought it was such a great thing, and how I really disliked the idea.  I like the feel of a book, pages, a cover to entice you, seeing in on a shelf beckoning you to read it.  Its old fashioned I know, I'm old.  I always wanted a library.  Shelves of books to browse at any given moment.  Something my kids could browse and pull selections from.  I know, I know, its all there online.  NOT the same.  Anyway, so we had this discussion and at the end of it he said how much he would like a kindle, I said how much I really did not want one, and we agreed to disagree.  I was heavy into school and hadn't read a non school book in a year and a half.  It just seemed a waste of money to me.

A few months later on Mother's Day, Peter said he had a surprise.  I opened mother coupons, drawings, and cards from the kids and Peter handed me this gift.  I opened it and it and there it was.  "Oh, thanks" I said.  and immediately got annoyed that he bought it for me after the recalling the conversation we had had.  Maybe I was having a one sided conversation.  Maybe he really wanted it and this was a way to ensure that one was in the house.  When was I going to use it, not for a long time (school remember).  I kinda let my thoughts be obvious.  He stated that he thought I would like it.  Really?  He will push me into things because he likes it and wants me to like it.  Usually they are technology related.  I get enough through him.  I don't need more.  So that annoyed me too.  I can have an opinion and yes it can be different that his.

So classes ended a month ago.  I suddenly had this space in my head.  I picked the thing up.  I irritably asked him how to order a book.  I was not going to read one that was already down loaded.  I pick my own books thank you very much!  I decided to try a new author.  Bought it, downloaded it, (wow, that was easy).  And started reading.  I love to read.  As a teen I would stay up until all hours reading because I had to get to the end of the story.  I read my new book.  I've been carrying my kindle around our whole vacation.  Today, I manned up and ate crow.  I told Peter I was sorry for how I acted, and that I really like my new toy.  He knew I would.  That bothers me just a bit.

So back to finding myself.  I finished the book late last night.  Turned off the light and for the first time in years, felt a little like myself.  I love to read.  I remember this now and I won't forget it.