Childhood Memories

If you want to Work at our House

March 20, 2012 By Kristen 14 Comments

Big Freaking Hole in the Wall

Last week, Ray decided that Andrew needed to get a little bit “better” at his bathroom basketball. Apparently, the hoop in the tub wasn’t enough of a challenge… So, he hung the basketball hoop a little higher – on the tile shower wall.

Result: ====================================================>

Needless to say, we needed to find someone to fix our shower ASAP. Because, once those tiles came out, the rest of the tiles started to cave in. Luckily, my childhood babysitter’s husband is a contractor.

First, I just want to gush about how much I love her. I mean, she raised me when my mom was working. Sharing my children with her was a pure joy when I became a mother. I love and trust her and her family.

My former babysitter with Addison.

My Childhood friends and I ... (no Del)

But, I also knew her husband and son would do a great job. What I didn’t realize was that my childhood friend would become my son’s hero. Del – (yes, that’s his name… no- I don’t know if he likes it.) is in his late 20’s now and bigger than life – just ask Andrew.

Can You Find Andrew?

So, If you want to work at our house… here are some things you should know.

My children will follow you everywhere.
My son has his own set of tools – and will insist on doing whatever you are doing.
You will be asked a million questions – about why you are doing what you are doing.
If you talk about a tool by it’s proper name, you will likely be corrected – we call tools by their color.
There is a very real possibility that my son will decide he is the head contractor and begin asking you for tools.
“Del, Can you hand me my hammer?”
Also… Leaving wet plaster on the wall and cleaning up your tools is not a good idea. When you come back in for one last look… there is a good chance you will find a tiny handprint on the wall.
If you have the patience for all that… You WILL feel like a million dollars – because you WILL be the hero of some little boy’s world.

I speak from personal experience:

My 2 little fixers

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Childhood Memories, These Kids just might Drive me Crazy

Love Grows Best in Little Houses

December 27, 2011 By Kristen 5 Comments

Once upon a time… I dreamed of living in a big house.

It would have this wrap around porch. It would be colonial style and have 4 or 5 bedrooms. I would have a walk in closet. I would have my own bathroom. Picture Barbie’s house… in real life. I would have a garage. I would have a fenced in back yard and be in the back of a culd-a-sac.

Right now we have a fenced in back yard. … that is about the extent of my dream house.

But… when I think about my grandparents. My mom’s parents raised 5 children in a 2 bedroom house. **They had to add a small bedroom when my mom was born – and thus it became a 3 bedroom house**. It only had 1 bathroom. The kitchen was small. The living room was small. … everything was small.

My dad’s parents raised 6 kids in a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house. The boy’s room had 2 sets of bunk beds and the 2 girls had the other room. 8 people and one bathroom. Love grows best.

I think we’ve decided to stay here for a little while. Not forever… but a little while. Maybe our love will grow best. Yes – our master bedroom is 10.5 X 10.5 square feet. Yes… the twins will need to share a room. Or Andrew and Alexander will need to share a room. Or…. I don’t know. But – I think this is going to be the place we let our love grow.

Christmas Eve….

Addison, Andrew and Alexander made plates for cookies for Santa and carrots for Rudolph. They needed to decorate them so Santa would know his plate and Rudolph would know his plate.

Best part? They “forced” Alexander to help. He helped with the stickers and crayons. *love*

It is all fun and games until Little Brother takes the plate. Look at his sneaky face…. *love*

And then I remember my in-laws. Their master bedroom is a little bigger than ours. … But the rest of the house has a similar size. They only have one bathroom. They love.

Want to see? We all pile in… to where love grows best.

Siblings hug. We all pile on the floor and play games together.

Nana holds her granddaughters. Andrew decides the Chair needs fixed…. so tool are scattered everywhere.

Siblings tease each other. Her face really does say a million things. As does his…

Presents are opened. In one small living room. Where love grows best.

Gifts are given. Private Jokes are shared. Nephews try to become detectives with their presents.

And underlying all of this – is the simple joy of being together. I think maybe we need to be smooshed in this small house together. Where our love can grow the best.

This picture was taken Christmas night. You might not be able to tell – but they are holding hands. You can’t walk through our living room. There are stacks and stacks of things piled high on our bedroom dresser. But – our kids are still hugging. We hope you had a Merry Christmas. We did. It was wonderful. Church on Sunday, celebrating the birth of Jesus, more time with family, and evenings spent with friends. And every night… returning to our little house.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: blessings, Changes, Childhood Memories, random

White Elephant Gifts

December 14, 2011 By Kristen 15 Comments

Have you ever been to a white elephant party? I went to ONE. Once. It was held directly after Christmas and everyone brought their “least” favorite gift. Then they had a drawing and began playing games to see who ended up with the “White Elephant” gift. Although the party was fun, I bought a prank present to take. I really couldn’t (and still can’t) force myself to part with even the most ridiculous of gifts.

Which leads me to this post. The gifts I should have re-gifted. But haven’t … because I love that man.

Yes. Those of you who’ve been reading for awhile will know – that man – is my dad.

He’s got this weird sense of humor that makes every gift giving exchange an adventure. This year I did tell him that if I got a crank gift I would put it on Craig’s List directly after Christmas. How is that for the Christmas spirit?

I’m sure you are dying to know what evidence I would publicly announce this with… allow me to elaborate.

1. When I was 6 and my brother was 4 – my dad found a gun on sale. The price was too good to pass up, so that year we got a 22 rifle to share. Yup…. I said a 22. How many 6 and 4 year olds do you know that could say they owned their own gun? (A side note to this… probably the most disappointed my dad has been in me was when I refused to become a hunter with him. Not because I’m opposed to meat – more opposed to cold and wet and silence.)

2. When I was 11, my parents were newly divorced. I really wanted colored jeans. (think early 90’s fashion). I went to American Eagle – wrote down the sizes, styles, even the place in the store to find these jeans. Little did I know that my dad shopped at 4am on Christmas eve morning. American Eagle wasn’t open at that time… only Wal-Mart. So – I got a sewing machine and a note that said to make my own jeans.

3. Before I met Ray. When I was single. I repeat – completely single – my dad called me one day and said he wanted to buy me dishes. As I was dirt poor and completely BROKE – I was pretty excited. I told him to just grab them and he mentioned that I would have to see them first. We ended up in an antique shop …. looking at Wedding China. Did I mention that I was single? No man… at all. Anyway – he got the wedding china and put it away until I got married. (He several times said he would “Will” it to me if necessary.)

4. A few years ago I got full sized silverware – on a keychain. Enough said. (yes… that is a real photo of said dinnerware. I attached it to keys to show size scale.)

5. And finally… last year I got a light for Christmas. A flash light. It attaches to your hat. Like – clips on. Once again enough said.

My advice to everyone reading this blog – go ask your loved one for a Christmas list. Or they will end up with a personal blog and look like a spoiled brat when they say they have a hard time finding places to use full sized silverware on a keychain.

But I love that man. And I have those gifts. No kidding.

Thanks Shell… for letting me Pour My Heart Out.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Childhood Memories, Father, Our Happy Place

10 Fingers? 10 Toes? Yup, Another Successful day with my Dad…

August 4, 2011 By Kristen 2 Comments

Several times I’ve blogged about my dad. Truth be told, I love that man. He’s the only Dad I’ll ever have and I learned years ago that it was better to accept him as he is than lose our relationship because of who he isn’t. That doesn’t mean that he is perfect. Or even that he doesn’t have flaws. Or……….. that I don’t say a prayer of, “Thank you lord for all my fingers and all my toes” every time we part ways. This prayer is not because my dad is missing some fingers or toes. This prayer is because my dad is so smart he can be really … dumb.

Yes, I said it. Truth be told, if you asked anyone who’s ever worked along side him, they would confess the same thing. Working with my dad can be hazardous to your health.
Have you ever heard those stories about that “one ornery child” who convinces his brother to fly off the roof of the house? Well, that would’ve been my dad. Not only would he have convinced one of his siblings to jump off the roof, he would have come at it with mathematical equations that proved flying was possible. Trust me….

I’m going to back up my statements with a little family history. That way you all can know that I speak the truth. When I was little and we lived on a farm, and my dad would every once in a while need to check the electric fence to see if it worked. So, he would tell me to touch it and see if it shocked me. Dad, I was 6. Of course I touched it when you told me to! Once, my dad convinced me to walk in between the baler and the wagon load of hay – to pick up the pieces of hay that fell down. Yeah, in hindsight.. it seems like a no brainer – bad idea. At the time, it seemed the perfect plan to a 10 year old…. (Oh yeah, and to you – Dad.)

I learned how to “pop the clutch” to start a vehicle when I was 10ish. I know it was before I was 11 and my parents divorced. I had to learn this skill because I wasn’t big enough to actually do the pushing to get enough speed to pop the clutch. I remember, once, the transmission went out in our car while we were at church. My dad drove 7 miles (on back roads.. of course) home in reverse. Reverse. Think about this. Imagine you are driving on a back road and you see a car come into your range of sight. It is coming closer… and yet – it appears to be going away. And it is in the wrong lane? Let’s just say there were several drivers who’s eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets as we “passed” them on the road.

We also had a (different) car with a blown transmission. The car didn’t go into reverse. Ever. No matter where you parked or pulled, you had to make sure it was a spot that could be pulled out of, because you were never able to back out of a situation. How long do you think he drove that car? That car that didn’t go backwards? Years…. yes, years of finding the exact parking spot. Years of making sure we didn’t get “stuck” somewhere.

There were other cockamamie schemes my dad had. Once, when I was in my early teens, I remember my dad wanted to bring an extension ladder home from my grandparent’s house. Now, truth be told, they only lived 4 miles away and it was all back roads. BUT carrying that ladder out the passenger’s side window was difficult. Can you picture it? I sat in the front and my brother sat in the back. We both used our right arms as a “shelf” to hold up the ladder all the while my dad was directing us to make sure we didn’t accidentally scrape the side of the car or take out someone’s mailbox. Good times.

Does anyone else use a blow torch to get rid of thistle buds? Guess who does? Yup… my dad. Perfectly logical – you see, if you let the thistles pollinate they will overwhelm your field. The best way at them is by setting them ablaze right where they stand.

So yesterday, I went to my dad’s shop to work with him. We are building these dinosaur crayon holders. They will be cool, and next week Andrew and Addison will be able to paint them and put stickers on them. I have been doing most of the work on these dinosaurs and it is funny how many nostalgic memories that wood shop brings back. (Yes, some of them dangerous…) But I’m older now, and wiser. There was a point yesterday that I told my dad that if I lost a limb I would sue him. This was after he had to unplug several power chords to plug in new extension chords for tools to operate. Then I looked over and saw this.

Yes, Virginia, that is my father checking the mechanics of the outlet while the power tool is still plugged in.

It was around this time that I began to wonder how long until he asked me to “hold” something to see if it had an electrical charge. Do you have any idea how many times have I been shocked while working on electrical projects with my father? Once, he was working on something at our old house … and I remember telling Ray to be careful – and less than 5 minutes later there was a whole lot of yelling as flames shot out of the electrical outlet. Flames. People. Flames.

He saw me snap the picture and we began to laugh about all the times I could have lost a finger or a toe. I started to look around the shop for all hazardous things and realized I had more than enough material to blog about our “fun times together.” Little did I know I would get plenty of ideas in our 2 hour work session.

Shortly after our “equipment check,” I was cutting some wood on the ban saw when the blade began to act a little strange. My father, cautious man that he is, opened up the outer cover to check the blade. While the saw blade was “at rest” all looked ok. It was determined the only way to get a real look at what was going on would be to turn the blade on with the safety cover off. I repeat. It was determined we needed to run the blade (held on by the safety cover) with the safety cover off. I immediately headed for a corner out of the way of a possible blade encounter. When my dad saw me running he mumbled something like, “oh” and stepped off to the side – right before the blade came completely off the wheels and started whizzing around. Nice.. Dad… Good call on the stepping aside. No lie – at one point my dad was using masking tape to help in a makeshift repair for this ban saw. To cut out dinosaurs. It wasn’t like we were curing cancer or something. The masking tape “fix” was what threw me right over the edge. It was then that I offered a lawsuit for a missing finger because I just knew he was going to ask me to test it. He looked at me, smiled, and ran a stinking board threw the saw. “Works Perfectly.” Stink. Now I’m going to have to finish cutting. Dang it!I did finish cutting the boards and I do have all my fingers, thank goodness.

Don’t you think that is enough adventure for one day? Fixing hot wires? Running machines that are connected to power chords connected to power boxes? (By the way, some of the machines actually make the lights dim when you turn them on.) I say no! We need one more dance with danger for this to be a true project with my dad. We needed to drill out the crayon holes. My father’s instructions started like this, “All the books will tell you never to drill something while you hold it, because it can come back and rip your fingers off. So I want you to hold this board like this, and if you drill down really slow, you can keep all your fingers.” No. Lie.

I did it. I will do it again. How else will I get material for my blog? Kidding…. I will do it because I love that man. He grew up when in the time when 6 year old boys really did chop wood and people really did just have to pay attention because there weren’t all these safety guidelines. Plus, this makes for really great stories. About how I survived my childhood with all my fingers and toes.

By the way – This is my new dream job. Holding the spring loaded punch. It is so fun to use!

One final story … just in case you were interested… My uncle and my dad used to play a game called “chuck the baby” up and down the stairs. (no worries… they only used us, not random babies) And it was years ago – so the statute of limitations has long since expired. But seriously… do you people see why Ray likes my father to have “supervised” visits with my kids?

I know there are any family members out there who can attest that these stories are indeed true and not a figment of my imagination, please … feel free to comment below. I’m sure at least one reader thinks I must be delusional because there is no way a sane man would have this many “situations” arise in a lifetime.

Second… I’ve just totally put my dad out there. Help him out. Share a story about some scheme you or a loved one concocted that didn’t go quite as planned…

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Childhood Memories, Father, life, random

It’s a Great Day to Be Alive!

June 21, 2011 By Kristen Leave a Comment

Almost like this

I’ve been sort of rolling this around in my head for awhile. … the post about life and music. I was driving home tonight and decided to switch the station to music of my childhood. There is a country music station that plays songs from the 70′s and 80′s mostly. It reminds me of bailing hay, riding a tractor, and riding bikes for hours at a time. We played with the cows like they were our pets. We shoved each other into cow manure. We locked each other in the barn. People today would probably write these things up to the department of children’s services, but … “back then” things were simpler. I know I was driving a tractor when I was 7. I got my first gun when I was 6. (My 4 year old brother and I split it).

Funny side story. Once, in college – I met a very attractive boy and began to talk to him. Denise… my college room mate and friend – came over and told me she wanted to go home. I said, “not yet! I’m talking here.” So she busts out this story about how I was such a hillbilly that my dad bought me a gun when I was 6. Let’s just say the guy was a little mortified (I think he pictured my family with 10 teeth between us) and Denise and I were able to leave because the conversation was OVER.

But I enjoy all music.- just not the very “extreme” of anything. Example – I can listen to country – but not bluegrass. I can listen to rock – but not soft rock/ Michael Bolten. I can listen to Rap / but not the heavy stuff where there isn’t even a hook. Get the picture? This is important because I’m going to post a very important story about how a rap song changed my life later…. but for today:

It’s a Great Day to Be Alive. This song by Travis Tritt came on the radio and I couldn’t help but sing along. At the top of my lungs. Because it is. Here is the chorus:

And it’s a great day to be alive
I know the sun’s still shinin when I close my eyes
There’s some hard times in the neigborhood
But why can’t every day be just this good?

It’s a Great Day to Be Alive

Andrew and Addison tending to Alexander (who wasn’t feeling well today) Addison is dressed as a fireman if you are wondering.

And finally…. if you want to watch the video and sing along – It really is a great day to be alive.

Notice Travis Tritt’s Mullet… hehe

I dare you to watch this and not start to smile.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Childhood Memories, Family, Inspirations, life, random

The Best Mother’s Day Ever.

May 9, 2011 By Kristen 2 Comments

Yesterday was the best mother’s day ever. I woke up happy. Truly happy. My best friend (in her pregnant glory) was sleeping on the couch, the twins were chattering away, and my sweet baby was a year old.

We woke and got ready for church. Yesterday was my “presentation” for our church. I’m in the middle of editing the video of it – so hopefully I can get it up later today.

During the service – I looked out. My childhood friends were in the pews. My childhood “second mother” who babysat me and instilled great values in me sat in a back pew. The “second mother” to my children – their own babysitter sat with her family in a pew toward the front. Our friends and family were there to support us. We are beyond blessed by the amount of support we receive.

But a mini miracle happened last night. I wish I had my camera with me to capture this moment… but I didn’t. I wish I had a video camera to show everyone what Alexander did… but I didn’t.

Instead I have this silly photo.

Yes, you are looking at the picture of a banana. Because the part of the banana that is missing Alexander ate. ATE. not mashed up. I cut it into quarters by length. And he ATE EACH PIECE. He chewed the pieces up and swallowed them. What a wonderful end to a beautiful day.

I had one more surprise when I went to go back to bed. On my pillow Ray had placed this essay. I like this one a million times better than the Welcome to Holland essay. Not only was it a beautiful essay to read on Mother’s Day ~ it was such a kind gesture from my husband. Sometimes I think it is easy for us to feel overlooked. (Isn’t that what Mother’s day is really all about anyway?)

It was the perfect gift for Mother’s day… Acknowledgement.

Here is a copy of the essay:

The Special Mother

by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by social pressures and a couple by habit.

This year nearly 100,000 women will become mothers of handicapped children. Did you ever wonder how mothers of handicapped children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.

“Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint…give her Gerard. He’s used to profanity.”

“Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia.”

“Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew.”

Finally He passes a name to an angel and smiles, “Give her a handicapped child.”

The angel is curious. “Why this one God? She’s so happy.”

“Exactly,” smiles God, “Could I give a handicapped child to a mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel.”

“But has she patience?” asks the angel.

“I don’t want her to have too much patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once the shock and resentment wears off, she’ll handle it.”

“I watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child I’m going to give her has her own world. She has to make her live in her world and that’s not going to be easy.”

“But, Lord, I don’t think she even believes in you.” God smiles, “No matter, I can fix that. This one is perfect – she has just enough selfishness.” The angel gasps – “selfishness? is that a virtue?”

God nods. “If she can’t separate herself from the child occasionally, she’ll never survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child less than perfect. She doesn’t realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never take for granted a ‘spoken word’”. She will never consider a “step” ordinary. When her child says ‘Momma’ for the first time, she will be present at a miracle, and will know it!”

“I will permit her to see clearly the things I see…ignorance, cruelty, prejudice….and allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side”.

“And what about her Patron saint?” asks the angel, his pen poised in mid-air. 

God smiles, “A mirror will suffice.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Childhood Memories, Eating Issues, My Journey in Faith, Special Needs, Sweet Child of Mine, We've Got A Reason to Celebrate

Confessions of a Crying Mum

May 6, 2011 By Kristen 3 Comments

When I was a child, I grew up right down the street from my cousin. She is my polar opposite. She cried all the time. She cried before a sad movie even started. She cried at funerals, and weddings, and baptisms, and baby showers, and bridal showers. I used to make fun of her. I called her water works and a bleeding heart.

She called me stone cold. She said I didn’t have a heart. Even at the end of the movie Beaches … no tears. These things were made up. Funerals – almost no tears – death is part of life. It was a rare time that I allowed my guard to be down enough to cry.

I should have known things were changing when I was pregnant. I cried several times (you know… those big ugly tears) – but I always attributed it to hormones. Plus, as a classic over achiever, I want to do my best! And finally – as a good person, I hate to disappoint people…..

But now things are different. I cry all the time. At the drop of a hat. I want to cry just posting that statement.

Life now is … full. Yes, it is full of blessings. But it is also full of fears. Full of worries. Full of emotions.

Every night – this is the last thing I see before bed, the thing I look at in the middle of the night, and the first thing I see when I wake up.

My Precious Baby… Sleeping. Some nights I sleep holding

the monitor. Because I want to hold him… and I can’t

What I usually post about are funny times – like this morning when Addison decided she needed to wear my headband. Not only that, but then she actually came out to me and mocked me because she had my headband!

I was originally wearing the “purple headband with bubbles” … but Addison decided she wanted to wear it. Then – she said, “Mommy, you no wear bubble headband. I wear bubble headband. You no wear headband. I wear headband.” Little Turkey!

I show you pictures of the kids doing funny things… Like reading books. They are so funny now. They like to come home and “do their homework.” They sometimes crawl up into our bed and read books.

I Love to show pictures of my kids hanging out with Ray. It melts my heart.

I am also the super proud mom – who likes to show pictures of her kids doing awesome things.

Alexander mastering the z-vibe by himself!

Alexander with his big boy shades…..

But… there are a lot more moments like this… where tenderness rules my world.

And now I’m a “tender” person. I cry more than I should. I cry a lot. And it is not even sad tears!

Sometimes I cry out of frustration ~ when people make “big things” out of things I think are insignificant.

Sometimes I do cry out of sadness ~ when I see injustices and I can’t do anything about them.

Sometimes I cry from worry ~ that I’m letting someone down. That I’m not doing a good enough job at all my jobs. That I’m just not… good enough.

Sometimes I cry when I feel overwhelmed ~ do I really need to explain that?

Sometimes I cry when I’m happy ~ There is so much good in the world.

Sometimes I cry when I’m embarrassed ~ that my family is suddenly so needy. Or that my family has to accept so many things.

Mostly I just feel overwhelmed with emotions right now. Tomorrow my baby turns 1. We are running several fundraisers. We are praising the victory of this past year. We are preparing for a message of Hope and Love on Sunday. I am remembering…. this past year – the pain and the joys. And – I don’t want to forget the pain because it was part of us. It showed us how to appreciate the joys. When I think about my baby, I am overwhelmed with feelings. Like the cup that is filled to the brim. One small drop in the emotional bucket, and the waves ripple my tears down the side.

Please don’t mistake tears for sadness… Tears are for many emotions.

And right now…. the tears are ok…. because it just reminds everyone that my heart is full.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Battling the Demons Within, blessings, Childhood Memories, My Journey in Faith, Sweet Child of Mine, We've Got A Reason to Celebrate

Things I’m "Gifted" in

May 3, 2011 By Kristen 3 Comments

1.      Hitting inanimate objects with a vehicle.  

Let’s start with high school. I ran my dad’s car over the railroad tracks. Yup… people – not the road over the railroad tracks… I missed the road and ran right over the tracks.
I backed my mom’s car into the Garage. In my defense – I was backing it in, and I only hit the side view mirror (I didn’t take it off… this time), and we fixed it so she never even knew.
I hit the red pole at Sheetz. Yes, I know. It is inanimate… and RED. But I hit it anyway. This one did sort of get me into a bit of trouble because I knew I was going to be grounded forever (because I did it in my Mom’s car… I wasn’t allowed to get one of my own) – so I blamed it on her. The plan was brilliant… I walked in, asked her if she was in a wreck and too ashamed to tell me about it. We walked out and “discovered” the damage together. .. Brilliant ..until her friend spotted me diving the car about a month later and realized it was me who hit the red pole at Sheetz! And told on me!
I backed my car into a fence. Well.. more like side swiped it going backward. I ripped the mirror off that time.
I once backed our TRUCK (In my defense, it was a huge Dodge with extended bed and a “pappy cap” on the back) over the hood of our CAR. I got into a little trouble with my husband over this one.
And today marked the 1 Billionth or so time I’ve run over a curb. Seriously … can’t those things just get out of my way?!?

2.    Going to see the dentist and coming home with 1 less tooth!

I love my dentist. He is caring, kind, the type of person you wish was your friend.
He is also extremely competent… and he will take out a wisdom tooth in his office if you are in a lot of pain.
Yup – you guessed it. For the second time in a year I’ve gone in for a simple toothache only to have my wisdom tooth ripped from my mouth. Thanks doc.
No – seriously – Thanks. Without you, I would be in a lot of pain and stuck on some waiting list to go see a specialist who could do the same thing you do. You are awesome.

3.    Making Lists

I am the Queen of lists. A trait I inherited from my father – the King of lists.
My dad currently has a list that has over 100 things on it. He is newly retired and it is his “to do list.”
I have lists everywhere. I’m currently running off of about 5 lists.
My best lists start with “get up.” Then I can always check something off!

One of my many many lists!

4.    Thinking that mostly dumb ideas are not dangerous. 

I once road from PA to Florida in the bed of a truck. (I could probably end with this one and that would be enough… but I can continue.)
I was once run over by a tractor because I was helping my dad bale hay. (The mostly dumb idea was helping my dad… because this usually ended up in my injury) just kidding… sort of.
Smashing my hand. The most infamous time happened on a hot August day. I was taking a nap with the window open because it was hot and I had no air conditioner. I was also limited in my dress due to the heat. (Let’s leave it at that). It started to rain and I was too lazy to actually get out of bed… I thought I could close the window from a laying position. My thumb went inside the windowpane with the window…. Yes… that is correct… with the window. So – I hopped up – Started Screaming at the top of my lungs and Waving my free arm… to look down and see a crew of construction workers who thought I was an exhibitionist trying to get attention. *sigh*

Seriously… this picture was too funny not to put on here!

My husband swears these kind of things don’t happen to regular people, but I think they do… 

Anyone want to share?

Oh … I also wanted to share a few positives:
1. We hit over 1,000 hits on Alexander’s Seizure Dog page
2. We are over 2,000 hits on the video “What it is like to be a parent of a child with special needs.”
Both of these are because of your support.
I’m still waiting for the other video to take off… I think I need to rename it from “Our life updated” to something more universal.

So … back to embarrassing moments – anyone want to share?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Childhood Memories, Embarrassing, fun, life, random

Oh STINK! I’m stayin’ in School!!

April 26, 2011 By Kristen 5 Comments

This is Cindy. She was my Best Student Ever. My Grandma
made her… and I dusted her off for this picture.
Strait “A’s” – I tell you!

And I have a TON of ideas!!! First, I must tell you that I was born to be a teacher. I was that kid. The nerd who took home left over worksheets to teach my dolls. The kid who asked for a red pen as part of every holiday gift giving occasion because I wanted to “grade” papers. I even had “struggling” dolls – who ended up with very low grades and I had to remediate them. I differentiated before differentiation was cool!

Alexander grabbing his feet this afternoon.
Happy Baby in the grass.

So, now I will confess. I’ve been wondering if school was really the place for me. I wasn’t sure if I was spreading myself too thin. Was my family getting enough of my attention? Should I be spending more time with the twins? Was I being an effective teacher? Were my students learning enough now that my attention was sometimes distracted by my family issues? These are the thoughts that have consumed me the past few months. It is worse when Alexander’s health is in jeopardy. It is better/worse when the people I work with are so understanding. On one hand, it is such a relief that I work with such amazing people – they tell me I can take time when I need it. On the other hand, it is another reminder of what I have on my plate at this moment. This has been the topic discussed around our dinner table for a while now. I believe the topic has been decided.

I’m staying in school! I’ve been off work for a week… and I’m bored. I miss school. I miss my students. I miss my co-workers. I miss adult conversation. This past week from school was exactly what I needed. Between Alexander’s 24 hour EEG, Easter vacation, and a conference today – it was just enough time for me to miss my professional life. I’m going back next year, and I’m thrilled to death about it.

So I have some new ideas I’m excited to try. I teach in a technology-based classroom, so I want to do something new next year. I want to teach in a classroom without desks. I want to get a big piece of carpet, a few couches, some bean bag chairs, and some big pillows and create the ultimate “coffee house” classroom. I want to put a few big round tables in the classroom for those students who would still like to sit at a desk… but really – why do you need to sit at a desk to learn? My students spend 99% of the class time doing one of two things. They are either engaged in discussion with me or each other OR they are working on an activity on the laptops. So – in either scenario – what does a desk have to do with anything? Being excited to learn is over ½ the battle. And – I’m going to bet money that my classroom without desks is going to be exciting to learn in. Can you picture it? Students sitting around in little groups discussing communism in China or the social implications of reality TV?

So Picture a Combination of these 3 ideas in a clasroom ~

Replace the kids doing nothing with students working!

Students working like this – in a room that feels like the first picture

You stil need some desks for collaboration.

The other idea I really want to persue is bringing one of my classrooms into a “college” setting. Some schools are partnering with colleges and offering college classes in the high school. I am SO the person to do this. The only issue standing in my way (ok… there may be several issues standing in the way – but one I’m not sure can be overcome) is I do not have my master’s in this content area. I do have a master’s degree – but not in this content. Don’t worry – I’m willing to push down doors to see if I can find a crack to squeeze through. I just cannot take on more coursework at this juncture in life. (I mean… I just decided I was going to emotionally be able to handle going back next year!)

Finally – I saw this really AMAZING idea where students partner with other students in another country to become e-mail pen pals. I am definitely doing this next year. I am so psyched to be able to offer this as a learning experience. I mean… how amazing would it be to e-mail about the culture while we are discussing culture in our lives?!?!?

So…. I don’t often talk about school. It is a huge part of my life, but it is difficult to decide what is appropriate to put in a blog. I certainly feel my dreams for crazy ideas in the classroom are ok to share. I hope you can feel my passion for teaching because I am re-energized to try new things. I am going back to work. My life’s calling since before I can remember what I wanted to do. I will plan to change the world 180 students at a time for now until I can become a professional blogger and change it a few million a post.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Childhood Memories, Medical Issues, Seizures, Sweet Child of Mine, Teaching

Life Lesson #1: Careful on that Pedestal

April 20, 2011 By Kristen 1 Comment

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.” 1 Corinthians 13:11.

This is so true. When we are children and young adults we put people on pedestals. We gravitate to people who will guide us, who will shape us into independent people. We look for role models who will help us find our moral centers, who will mold our character. This is the natural way of life. There were people who shaped me into the person I am today. I actually have been toying with a post about things I was taught by these people. Yesterday, one of those people fell off the pedestal I put them on. And it was a hard fall.

You see, this person impacted my moral compass when I was younger. When I was searching for the person I was to be. This person was a favorite mentor – cooler than cool. This person let us listen to music we wanted – even when it wasn’t allowed. This person was a confidant. This person overheard my secrets. This person didn’t judge. Not only did this person shape me, but I placed this person on a pedestal. The problem with pedestals is = they are a child’s toys.

There is only one person who can forever remain on a pedestal – and that is my grandfather. Only because he passed away before I became an adult. I was never able to see him through adult eyes. I never saw him as a man with mere mortal flaws. And now that I am an adult, that time for placing people on pedestals is over. People have fallen from them before Yesterday… but it had been awhile and this one caught me off guard.

My moral compass has changed course. There have been many things in my life that have pushed that compass in the direction it now points – but we all know that Alexander has impacted this area as well. Alexander’s influence on me has made me appreciate life in a new way. It has made me appreciate what really matters in life (a totally different life lesson) … so when this person confronted me on an issue I felt was irrelevant, my moral compass outweighed our history. My mentor fell. Like a rock. Right off that pedestal. And it stunk. Big time.

I cried. I cried as much for the loss of a “hero” as I did out of anger or frustration or embarrassment. I cried for my family and the issues we face every day (I told you I almost broke Yesterday.) I cried that a person I so admired had so little to worry about … and my priorities are so different. I cried as my mentor fell off the perch.

Life lesson learned. However – there is a second part to this life lesson. This second part is aimed at all my former students or other people I may have impacted over the course of my life. Someday I will fall. Someday, you will see me through adult eyes and I will do something that shocks you to your core. No one is perfect. No one can live up to the expectations a pedestal creates. Someday, I may make you cry as I tumble into the world of mere mortals. Please forgive me and accept me as human. As I will forgive my former mentor.

Life Lesson #1 from Yesterday.