Mommy and We

Archive for the ‘Random Thoughts ‘N Such’ Category

My son came home from school a few days ago and said they were thinking of having him skip the 8th grade and moving him to 9th for the next school year. He’s currently averaging over 100% in nearly all of his classes. I know I’ve told you about all the wonderful things he’s been doing with NASA and his STEM/TSA club and how great his grades are and what a smart kid he is. Now you know that although I’m biased, it’s all the truth! Read the rest of this entry »
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I’m going to get a little “deep” with this post but I’m so sick of watching TV & seeing the commercials suggesting that diamond earrings that cost $500 or a $30,000 car is what will make mom happy for Mother’s Day. You wanna know what mom really wants for Mother’s Day? You wanna make her happy? DON’T give her something that’s going to take food out of her baby’s mouths. Give her yourself. Your time. Give her your love. 

From the kids

Know what I’d love from my kids? A handmade card or drawing or hand written note. Honestly. If they made me a card or drew me a picture, I’d know it came from their heart and that they meant any word they wrote. Gwen loves to draw, so I’ve got lots of things from her that I treasure. (A note: Moms don’t care about spelling or even if that dragon looks like a duck with seaweed coming from it’s mouth.)

Have them pick her a flower or two. My kids have always loved to go out & pick any flower (or what they perceive to be a flower) they find in the yard and proudly bring it to me to stick in our window shot glass that is just waiting for more flowers. The smile on their faces to know they’ve pleased you and they’re so proud of themselves…Isn’t that a gift in itself?

Maybe you could get a pack of seeds & plant them for her in a small cup. Even the smallest hands can do that.

Have a family night. Just mom, dad, and the kiddos. No phones, no video games, no tv. A cute movie & some popcorn & cuddling on the couch.

From Dad

Dads, moms don’t need a ring that symbolizes eternity or some shit. Really. You want to symbolize eternity for them? Prove it. That beautiful engagement or wedding ring should be enough of a “symbol”. I may not speak for all women, but THINGS do nothing for me personally.

Tell her exactly what she means to you. Tell her you love her more than life itself and you always will. Hold her.

Walk up behind her when she’s cooking your fucking dinner for the 7th time this week and wrap your arms around her. You don’t even have to say anything. Just hold her. Probably wouldn’t hurt to whisper, “I love you”, though.

Let her know you appreciate her. Tell her THANK YOU for washing your clothes. Tell her THANK YOU for being the mother of your babies. Tell her THANK YOU for the stupid little things she does every day that may not seem like much, but you might want to think who’d do them if she didn’t.

Hold her hand. Tell her she’s beautiful- and mean it. Look into her eyes and let her see exactly the way you feel about her.

Mom doesn’t need jewelry or fancy gifts. She got her best gift the day she was given her babies…whether they be natural or adopted. What she needs is a little appreciation, a little love and while it shouldn’t have to be just the one day out of the year, show her a little extra on her special day…on Mother’s Day.

And while you’re at it, don’t forget those other moms in your life: your own mother, your grandmother, and, yes, even your mother-in-law–after all, she did give you your spouse! Add in those other figures in your life who’ve treated you like their own: your best friends’ mom & your aunts…They’re all special to you in their own way–let ‘em know!
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I know I’ve been sort of MIA for awhile. I’ve been trying to keep you all in the loop on the Facebook page about the great opportunities my son has been having through school and the trials of my friends’ son’s battle with Wilm’s Disease but I’ve neglected the blog and giveaways. I’m very sorry for that. It’s time I focus some energy back here so you guys can learn about new products and exciting places to go. (That’s a big hint, so stay tuned!!) Here’s a start on getting back into the swing of things, though it’s not a review or giveaway. It’s more of a “mom’s bragging on her kid” post, but I am just so proud of him!!

Globe, Nasa and STEM/TSA Opportunities

Anyway, if you’re not a fan on Facebook, you’ve probably missed what Tristan’s been up to. Right now, he’s in San Antonio, Texas at a conference for the National Science Teacher’s Association. They are presenting at several events, GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) Program on soil protocols and NASA on space weather using iPads and NASA apps to collect data. This is an awesome opportunity for anyone, but if you “ain’t from around here”, you won’t realize what a great opportunity this is, not only for my son and the 4 other kids participating, but for our school. We are a K-12 school. That’s right. All 13 classrooms are housed in two small buildings and a barn. We have some of the greatest teachers. We have awesome kids. But we’re in such a rural area, that I believe our biggest class has about 25 (maybe) students. We get “the shit end of the stick” in our county because we are the smallest of the two schools. But we are fortunate to have several of the finest teachers I’ve ever met. I was so leery of sending him because I’m WAY overprotective. He’s only 13 for goodness sake! But what a great way for him to prepare for his chosen career: Engineering.

In Texas Safe & Sound

Due to the sequestration, travel funding is currently unavailable and everything is coming out of the teacher’s pocket. (Did I mention AMAZING teachers???) They are currently having a fundraiser through YouCaring.com and will continue fundraising after their trip locally with a car wash and some other things to help “pay back” Mrs. Coryea for her generosity in making this trip and opportunity available. If you are able to make a donation, no matter how large or small-I believe you could donate as little as $1, we would sincerely appreciate your support.

STEM/TSA 

Tristan also spent a few days in March in Ripley, WV, with six other students at the WV State TSA (Technology Student Association) Conference. They competed in several events, including racing C02 cars which they made themselves. Of the 7 of our students who participated, 5 of them placed. TOP 5 of the 18 entrants! Is that amazing, or what? In June, three of our kids are going on to compete at the National level in Orlando, FL. We have some local fundraisers planned. If you’d like to donate to help with that trip, Contact me.

Onwards and Upwards

Tristan also received a grant to go to Aviation Summer Camp in Morgantown, WV over the summer. This means he’ll be gone from me for another week but I am so amazed at him and grateful for the opportunities he’s getting.

As I said, he’s an awesome kid. He works hard, is dedicated and deserves every chance he’s been given to make something of himself.

 
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I don’t watch much TV, but when I’m home by myself and I’m not blogging, reading or napping (I love to nap!), I do sneak in time to watch something with a good plot and some suspense. When it comes to books I like to read romances, but when I’m watching something I really like “Whodunnits”, crimesolving & that kind of thing. I generally watch NCIS or Criminal Minds. With all the recent hubub (okay maybe not hubub, but previews!) about White Collar, I decided I’d check it out and see if I could watch some episodes online so maybe I could catch up since it is season 4. Who knew??? Well, I’m sure at least SOME of you knew…but usually, if it’s not on Nickelodeon here, we don’t know anything about it! HA HA

So, I couldn’t find anything free (or legal) in the way of full episodes but I did find and watch some interviews with the cast and some great trailers. I’ve gotta tell you: This looks right up my alley & I think I’ll definitely have to make time to watch White Collar, which returns the 22nd of this month on USA. So what I get from the trailers is thata white collar criminal, Neal Caffrey (played by Matt Bomer-who has gorgeous eyes, by the way), helps an FBI Special Agent, Peter Burke (played by Tim Dekay), to catch other white collar con men (read: criminals or bad guys or hooligans–you get the point). Looks like it might have a bit of humor along with the drama! That’s a great combination if you ask me.

So tell me, have you previously watched White Collar or will you be watching it when it returns? What’s your favorite part? Do you LOVE Matt Bomer’s eyes??? Do you usually watch this type of show? If so, what’s your favorite? Inquiring minds wanna know, people!!!
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Okay, mommies. Exactly what kind of bed is your kid sleeping in? We all had waterbeds until Tristan’s decided to develop a hole (not for the first time) and he now has a mattress in his waterbed frame. Richie & I have a king size and Gwen’s is a super single. She loves it. She BEGGED for it.

Wish I’d had THIS bed when I was growing up!

So did you let your kids pick out their beds or did you get it? Is it a hand-me-down or did you buy it new? There is such a variety of children beds out there, I am just so curious as to how everyone else handles it.

Tristan’s first “real” bed was a race car bed. He picked it, also. Gwen was on the way, and he was still in his toddler bed in our room. I remember I wanted to cry when I put him in his big boy bed in his room that first night. But he was such a trooper and was ready for his little sister (then, not so much now!) so he had no trouble transitioning.

Gwen, however, was a different story. She was in my room FOREVER. My mom bought her a Princess toddler bed, which she slept in on my side of the bed until she decided she wanted bunk beds-we bought them from a friend. I think that was about three, maybe four, years ago. Even then, I still had to lay with her every night until she fell asleep–and on the TOP bunk, no less. (Can you say SPOILED?? Hey, I’ll never deny that I have catered to my children a lot, but in turn, I have awesome children who are wonderful individuals and like to give of themselves every chance they get.)

So, how about it, moms and dads…what were your kids’ first beds? I wanna know!!!
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