Picture A Day - Day 2

Today's assignment is Smile.

This is Tween.  He is currently a supporting cast member of Tina 'n Tony's Wedding at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center.  His character is named Lorenzo.

Not only is he smiling in this picture, but the picture makes me smile.  The silly 80's italian clothing and hair.

We went to see the performance last night with my parents, grandma, and some friends.  My mum kept trying to get him to break character and answer a question and he just wouldn't do it...lol

We had a great time and I am so glad that we were able to attend.

-Stacy

November 1

Hi there !  Long time no post...sorry.  Guess I just needed a break for a little bit.

Since today is November 1st, that means I start blogging again....every day for a month!  I have done this now for 3 or 4 years and today is as good a day as any to start writing again.


It has been a BUSY few months...

* Teen started college
* Tween started at a performing arts school
* Tween auditioned and received a part in the play
* Little S has real homework this year (2nd grade is tough)
* All of us adjusting to different work/school schedules
* Lots of new and exciting things going on at church

I am sure there are a lot more things, but that is all I can really come up with right now.

But stay tuned as I share some of the details of the last few months.  Lots of fun to share!

Stacy

Picnic

From the title you probably think this is going to be a post about the Labor Day weekend and what we did, but it isn't.

Picnic is actually the name of the first production this year at Tween's performing arts school. Tween started school on August 24, they had try-outs on August 30th. He got a call back for August 31st and September 1.  On Friday he found out that he got a part in the play.  It isn't a big part but considering he has only been there for a week and he already got a part, we are extremely proud of him.

Now the hard part starts.  He has to leave for school at 6:10 am to catch the bus at 6:30. School does not start until 8:45.  He has a 2 hour bus ride with the other stops.  If I drive down it only takes 50 minutes. School is out at 3:15 and he gets home at 5:15.  Now that he is in a performance he will stay after school for practice and  I will have to go get him when he is done.

The performance is in October for 2 weekends.  I'll be sure to post updates and pictures as the time nears.

Thank you all for your support and prays as he has had a great transition to the new school and absolutely LOVES it.

Stacy


ps - He is playing the part of 'Bomber' if you watch the movie or look up the play.

Facing My Fears

Anyone that know me at all knows that I absolutely do not like nor do I use public restrooms. I have been known to go 10-12 hours without using a restroom during the day if I am not home or somewhere I am comfortable.

That being said make this next story even more hilarious.

Tween and I were recently on an expedition of sorts and we left about 12:15 am and arrived at our destination at 1 am. We got settled in and by 10 am we were seated.

With all of the planning we did for this event, I never thought about having to use a public restroom. Honestly the thought never crossed my mind.

However by 2 pm I knew that I was going to have to break down and be brave and use the public restroom. Tween assured me that they were pretty clean. Of course he was using the men's and I was going to have to use the women's.

I put it off a little longer but by 3 pm I had to give in. So off I went, by myself, leaving behind my purse and such with Tween at our seats.

It didn't start out so bad. First off there weren't any entrance exit doors as there were corridors. That made me feel a little better as I didn't have to touch a gross door handle :)

So I look around a little and pick my, umm, stall...lol

I went in and use the facilities. As I reach for the toilet paper, guess what...there wasn't ANY!!! Ugh! What was I going to do? Seinfeld's "Can You Spare A Square Episode" running through my head.

I look to the right and there isn't anyone in that stall. I look to the left and noticed that who/what ever was in there had been standing backwards the entire time so I was not about to ask for a square.

What to do?? Well since I left my purse back at the seats, my only other option was to rip the cardboard liner apart and use it. To say it was uncomfortable and lacking absorb-ability would be an understatement. But I had no other choice.

So I go out to the sink and notice a girl just standing there with wet hands and as I wet mine and reach for the soap, she tells me that they are empty. We tried 3 different dispensers and although one was clearly full, the handle was broken :( She was just as disgusted as I was!

Thankfully again there weren't any exit doors so I quickly walked back to my seat without touching anything and had Tween get the hand sanitizer out for me.

At the time this wasn't funny, but seriously only I would have this experience. Since I never use public facilities I never thought to check for tissue paper upon entering the stall, I didn't even consider taking my purse in or my own soap.

Next time, if there ever has to be one, I will be more prepared!

Stacy

Funny Moment

I have a story to tell that tomorrow. But for today a funny!

Yesterday Tween got some disappointing news and several of my friends were also waiting for the answer. So I text them and let them know the answer he got. Although I got several texts back here are two texts I got in a row from two different friends.

First Dory sent this text: Awww poop

Then Shannon sent me this: Oh man. Stink :(

My Tween was so upset at the time and when I read him the two back to back texts he even had to laugh.

Thanks for making a tough situation a little easier if only for a minute.

Stacy

Mother's Day

Tween was scheduled as the Special Music act for our church service on Sunday. I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day present than hearing him sing. The whole video was too long to upload so here is a snippet.

Not long ago I wrote this post: Mixed Feelings. If you haven't read it, you can click on the link to read it.

Tween finally got an answer this past week. He was officially accepted into Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School for Fall 2011. He is extremely excited.

Shortly after Tween called to tell me that he had been accepted I called our Pastor to let him know and also to pray for my nervousness. I am happy for Tween but I am also a little sad and anxious about the whole transition. I think the whole Sunday sermon was directed toward me. It was naturally about mother's and what our job is and how when the time comes we have to let them go....OUCH! Message received.

Stacy

Socks

I have always tried to be the type of parent that lets her boyz be themselves. You know the 'pick your battles' type of parent. Little S loves his cowboy boots. This is a picture from last summer. It was probably 80*+ and this is what he chose to wear.

He told us it was too hot to wear a shirt, but he still had those cowboy boots on. He wears them everywhere. We had to eventually take them off of him as he outgrew them but insisted upon wearing them anyhow. Don't worry though Grandma & Grandpa got him a new pair for Christmas. And he now wears them ALL of the time.

So last night Teen & Tween and I went to the laundromat to get some clothes done. While we were gone Daddy gave Little S his bath and got him ready for bed. When I came home they were talking about his silly socks he put on.

Not sure where he found them but I they were a prize in a game we played at Christmas. They are red, green and white striped toe socks. He wore them to bed last night.

This morning I got him up and set out his clothes. While I was getting his clothes I asked if he had socks, totally forgetting about the silly socks. He said he had them and I went out to the other room while he dressed.

When he came out and I saw the socks I asked him to please go change his socks. He whined about it and I tried to get him to change them. Then he said this:

"Mum, school is about learning not about socks!"

How could I argue with that? I definitely lost that battle with the 7 year old.

This is what he wore to school today. Of course he put his boots on before walking out the door. I figured not many kids are going to see the socks anyhow with those boots on. It's all about choosing my battles :)

Stacy

Plant Answer

I guess I took the picture too close as everyone was right. It was popcorn kernels. There was only one suspect in my house that would have done that, so I asked him. Me - Little S did you put popcorn kernels in my plant? LS - Yes. Me - Why? LS - So that your plant would get more flowers and so I could grown a popcorn plant. Me - Where do you think Popcorn comes from? LS - Popcorn Tween and I were laughing and then he proceeded to explain to Little S where popcorn comes from. That kid just cracks me up sometimes. Stacy

Games

A few weeks ago we went to my Mum's for a weekend visit. I have mentioned before how much my kids look forward to going to her house because we always play games. It doesn't matter if it is cards or a board game or something else, the kids just love it and so do we. My grandma even comes out and plays with us if we are playing cards. (She is 88 and can still beat us at times)

This is my grandma and my 3 boyz :)

While we were there this time the boyz wanted to play something different. So they went down to the basement and looked on the shelves to try and find something we haven't played in a while or perhaps not at all.

They found an old Michigan Rummy game down there. We skipped the part about the poker hand as none of us really knew the hands and ranks and such.

This is the game board. It came with about 100 chips to use. We used them in no time and needed to find something else to keep us going. Our solution was:

Buttons, lots and lots of buttons. We sorted them out and tried to use the bigger ones as my Mum had just had carpal tunnel surgery and picking up the little buttons were hard for her. We played that game for hours. And we actually just finally decided on a time and quit at about midnight.

Since the kids had so much fun with it, my parents just ordered a bunch of bingo chips that we can use the next time we are down. The boyz can't wait to go back.

Stacy

NYC Solution

Thank you for all of the feed back.

I may need to clarify a few things. The teacher that was in the room with them had just finished his student teaching at our school in the fall. He was invited along as he was teaching during the planning. He now works and lives in another school district in another state.

As for an adult sleeping in the same bed with my son, the student teacher isn't really that much older than him and is about the same age difference as he and his younger brother.

I do not have a problem with kids going on a sleepover to a friends house and them all hanging out and sleeping on the living room floor or bedroom, etc. Who really knows what goes on in hotel rooms and what could be on the floor.

I paid for a bed in a hotel room. They were there 2 nights and both nights he had to sleep on the floor. Had two people slept on the floor one night and they switched the second night I would have been a little more understanding.

Also everyone was given the option of paying an up charge to have their own bed. The student teacher and the other student did not take advantage of that.

After I have had a few weeks to cool off and several conversations with the teacher in charge and the principal this is the conclusion we have come to at this time.

** There will be a formal statement written in to all future trips that all students must be given a bed. Under no circumstances is anyone to be forced to sleep on the floor.

** Both of the students that slept on the floor will be given a formal apology by both the other student and the student teacher. (The student has apologized. The student teacher is not returning calls. I plan on continuing to pursue this.)

** Because the trip has already been paid for, the trip is over, and Tween never really said anything during the trip I cannot really recover any money. However, he will be given partial credit on a future trip that he takes.


Do you think that this is a fair conclusion?

Stacy

New York City

Tween recently went on a trip to New York City with his show choir group. He had an absolute blast and was torn between coming home and staying there forever. I am glad he chose to come home.


While he was there he got to see 'Wicked' and experience a behind the scenes workshop where they learned a song and dance from 'Wicked'.


They also got to see Ground Zero, shop in Chinatown and 5th Avenue and have lunch in Times Square.


After he got home from his trip we talked on an off about it for a few days. In the course of talking I came to find out that he had to sleep on the floor in the hotel room. When I questioned him it came out that there were 4 of them in the room, 3 kids and a student teacher from last fall. The student teacher refused to share a bed with the kids as he felt he 'earned' his own bed. And one of the other students being a junior pulled rank and refused to share a bed with anyone as well. So my Tween and the other boy had to sleep on the floor. (btw - they all paid the same amount)

To say that I was mortified would be putting it mildly. As soon as I found out I shot a text message to the teacher in charge. She had no idea that any of this happened. Tween verified that he didn't tell anyone. I ran the whole gamut of emotions from mad, to sad, appalled to disgusted and back to mad.

The next day the principal called me and expressed his sincere apologies. He was just as mortified and disappointed and appalled as the teacher and I were.

So now it is after the trip.

The principal and the teacher and Tween and I have all spoken on different occasions and have come up with the best possible solution.

But I would like to know what you feel would resolve the situation for you.

Stacy

Where A Kid Can....

We recently took the boyz to Chuck E. Cheese for the first time. (The older two had gone once before at my parents when they were little) I know it is sad that it took us this long to get them there. But they had a blast! I actually think the biggest kid there that night was my hubby :)

We've been really busy around here and I'll tell you more about it later.

Until then,

Stacy

Mixed Feelings

Recently Tween told me that he would like to go to a Performing Arts Charter School. I have a ton of mixed feelings on this subject. Perhaps you guys can weigh in. I know some of you are educators and may have a better idea.

First off we are planning on going to the open house they are having tomorrow night to get more information and talk to the staff.

Tween is very talented. I am not just saying that because I am his mum, I am saying that because he is. For example, he was in the high school play in second grade. I have also shared some video's here before of his singing.

I like the idea that he has always been in the same school district, had the same friends and participated in many of the activities available at the school. I enjoy watching him in marching band and going to his show choir performances and soccer games. I like knowing he is close to home if he needs something. I like knowing the school and the teachers.

On the other side I totally admire him for being able to step out of his comfort zone and pursue his dreams. There are 3 other students from our school that have transferred to the charter school so he would know a few kids. He dreams of making it to Broadway some day and this would help him get a better base. He would major in Musical Theatre.

Another negative is that it would be a little over an hour ride to and from school for him each day. The positive is that there is a bus hub about 10 miles down the road so I wouldn't have to drive him far.

I know I am being selfish in wanting him to stay here, close to home where I know everyone and I feel they are secure.

I know that this is his dream and his decision. I am so proud of him for being able to step out and take chance. He is easy going and makes friends quickly and fits in with most every one so I am not worried about him being shunned at the new place.

But I am not sure he realizes that everything will change for him. His friends, his school work, his life.

I have asked him to pray about it and I have been praying also for direction.

What are your thoughts? And no there is no cost to us other than transporting him to the bus hub. So money is not an issue to consider.

I will have more information after the open house tomorrow.

Thanks,
Stacy

Son-Day Post

This weeks post is brought to you by Tween:

You know your family loves you when they don't let you live stuff down.

Last night during the game I posted on Facebook that the Steelers had a good catch and I said too bad they stepped out of bounce when i meant to put bounds. I can tell I will never live that down.

Also when I was a bit younger I tried to pick up a piano bench to move it instead of picking it up short ways I tried picking it up long ways and then told my mom I could not lift it up she just stood there laughing.

At least whenever you do something that won't be forgotten other people do stuff too. Like how my mom was yelling at the Steelers game last night but if you say anything to her she will claim that she does not know what you are talking about. But I witnessed it with my own ears. She cannot mess with true facts. She cares about football and likes to yell about it!!!

-Tween

PS (from Mum) - I only care about high school and the playoffs.

Son-Day Post

Another regular feature I would like to add this year is the Son-Day Post. One of the boyz will be writing something each Sunday. If I can convince them to. :)

So for starters - here is Little S

i saw a consert on 12/15/10. I loved all of the songs. my favret song is hot choclet from the polar expres. my brother tween was in it. he is in the middle of the picksher.

my birthday is every 12/17. I get lots of toys and trios. I made a yoyo at my party. I played bingo and I called the numbers on the balls.

Everything above was typed by Little S. I am aware of the spelling errors, but I wanted this post to be in his words.

Stacy

2011

We had an amazing sermon yesterday in church. It was a great way to start the new year and gave me a lot to think about and ponder.

I hadn't considered any resolutions as I didn't want to once again set myself up for failure. But after hearing the sermon by Pastor Jeff, I have decided to make a few anyhow.

So here are my Resolutions for 2011:

1. Pray more and Preach less.
2. Love more and Judge less.
3. Family Time more and TV/Computer less.
4. Blog more and include the boyz in it.

I have a few more but those are the ones I want to share right now.

What are you working on in 2011?

Stacy

The holidays are upon us. Every year I wait for this commercial to come on tv. Eat 'n Park is a family restaurant chain that started in the Pittsburgh area. You can click on their link here to check them out. All three of my boyz grew up going Eat 'n Park with their grandparents before they started school.

They are famous for their Smiley Cookies and each child gets one at the end of the meal.

So without further adieu, here is my all time favorite Christmas commercial:

I don't even know what it is that makes me love this commercial, but it just touches me for some reason. I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I do. And if you are in the Pittsburgh area and have not gone to Eat 'n Park, you need to eat there. The great service, family friendly atmosphere and food are all worth it.

Stacy

November 23

Why does it seem like those 3 days before a long holiday weekend are longer than 5 regular work days?

It is only a little after 10PM now but it seems as if this day has gone on for at least 2 days. 6am seems so long ago.

The kids are done now until Tuesday. Monday here is an 'un'official holiday in PA. It is the first day of Buck Season and I believe most of the state shuts down that day.

Teen & Tween are at the Sadie Hawkins dance tonight. Little S is watching Disney or something in his room.

am getting ready to settle in and watch Biggest Loser and hopefully not fall asleep.

Stacy

November 14

Lazy days here. Football season is over and this is the first year for the soccer program at the school so there aren't a lot of games for them.

Yesterday Teen went to Pittsburgh to visit his girlfriend with her parents and made it back in time to go to work so he wasn't around.

The rest of us did absolutely nothing and it nice for a change.

Tween recently borrowed Glee Season 1 from the library so we watched a bunch of those episodes.

Little S played on the PS2 and read some books to the cat. He borrowed a book from the library that was titled "Stories to Read to Your Cat" so he did and it was cute.

Hubby watched football and napped.

I can't remember the last time I did nothing all day but look forward to the next time I can do it!

Stacy

November 6

We went to YSU today for our first college visit. All I can say is so many things have changed since I was in college and yet surprisingly so many things are the same.

Some of the things that are the same are the dorms. Dorms will always be small cramped little places that they shove too many kids who are then forced to share a community bathroom. One of the biggest differences I noticed was the smell...lol As soon as you stepped onto the floor you could tell if it was a girl floor or a guy floor. Blecht..guys just smell!

On the other hand, when I was in college the dorms were either for guys or for girls. There was one co-ed dorm but it was for upper class men and separated by two different wings. The dorms there were mostly co-ed by floor and they were allowed on each others floors at anytime.

We had restrictions on our visitors and they had to be out by a certain time...in other words we had a curfew. The rule now is that you can not have a visitor spend the night more than 3 nights in a row....Ummmm...Hello?!?! How about NO overnight guests? Guess I am asking too much for 2010.

And the dorms now have FREE laundry. Boy would my Mum have appreciated that. I remember coming home with baskets and baskets of dirty laundry. (btw - thanks Mum for doing all that laundry when I came home)

This school seems more dedicated to helping the students succeed as well. They have plenty of resources for all the students whatever their need may be. They are able to get tutoring with almost any class for free. Even if you just want to have someone look over your English paper before you submit it they will. And the prof's even encourage it.

We plan on going back for a better one on one visit soon. This was an Open House setting and the groups were pretty big so you couldn't ask a whole lot of questions or get the individual attention that we were looking for today.

Overall it seems like a very secure and welcoming campus. I actually can't wait to go back and see it again and then go to a few more schools before he makes his final decision.

Stacy