An Iowa Mom

Another Year, Another Picture

We all know the routine because we've been living it since we were five years old and in kindergarten.  Each year , our mothers set out our finest set of new school clothes, woke us 15 minutes earlier than normal to style our hair 'just so'.  With a comb nestled into our book bag, we were sent out the door with reminders to smile our best smile.

And then hours later, we stood in a line with our classmates, waiting our turn for some strange woman using that same comb to yank and pull our hair in directions it was never meant to go, before shoving us onto a carpeted box and demanding we look at the camera and smile.  The bright light next to the photographer shone brightly into our eyes and the snap of the photo usually happened just moments before we expected it to.  Right?

A few weeks later we were presented with our 'school' picture.  The image that would not only be swapped with every kid in school that we considered our closest friend, but also framed and mounted on the living room wall for the upcoming year.  Right up until it would be thrown into the memory box just waiting to humiliate us to no end a decade later ... and replaced with the new dreaded pic showing us growing a year older.

Is this the experience you all had growing up?  If not, then you must think I'm some sort of crazy lunatic going on and on about the experience.   But, you should be getting used to that by now, so I'm not too worried about you.

Anyway ... I do things a bit differently with my kiddos.  Maybe it's because I remember the torture of years past.  Or because I'm lazy.  Or maybe simply because they don't ever have an awesome new school outfit suitable for such a big day.  Regardless ... my kids wake up on picture day and get dressed just as they would any other day.  They comb their hair and brush their teeth ... in our normal mundane routine.

Then they leave for school.

And when the pictures arrive home ... I always wish we would have given it a little more effort. 

However ... I don't have to wait a decade to humiliate them.

Jake - 7th Grade

 

Drew - 5th Grade

 

Emily - 1st Grade

 

Molly - Kindergarten

 

A New Dream To Take The Place Of The Old One ...

I don't think it's ever been a secret that Jake's true love has always been football.  Ever since the days from long ago, when he was a tiny tot of a boy, unsteadily running around the house bumping into things ... he usually had a football tucked snugly in his arms.

In the 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade, area boys are given the opportunity to play flag football.  Jake was ALL OVER THAT and enjoyed every second he spent out on the field.  In the fourth grade, tackle football is introduced and if you weigh 60 pounds or more, you can play. 

But Jake didn't weigh that much.  So, he anxiously waited for the following year.

Despite late night snacks and weight gain shakes, he just didn't weigh enough then either.

Surely a growing spurt would be in his future and he'd just do it in the 6th grade.

You guessed it.   The pounds weren't there.

A neighbor and former coach sensed Jake's huge disappointment and cheered him up by informing him that when he entered the 7th grade, there was no limit on weight and he'd be able to play football regardless.  And while that is indeed true, this year when Jake entered the 7th grade, Big Daddy and I just didn't feel comfortable sending his mere 59 pound self out among boys that were much bigger.  I mean, if  only he could have weighed just 75 pounds, still being tiny amidst the others, I'd consider it ... but I just think it would have been a recipe for disaster to allow him to play. 

So, rather than whine and complain and hate us forever ... he took it upon himself to find something else. 

And he signed up for tennis.

Yes, tennis.  Who would have ever thunk it?  He had never played before this year and it was going to take a lot of hard work to catch the skill and ability of the others, but he's working on it.

Let me explain.  They have what they call a ladder.  The kids who rank 1 through 6 play on "Team 1".  The kids who rank 7 through 12 on "Team 2".  All of the others play only doubles.

Jake started out in 14th.  The following week up to 10th.  Last week he made it to 7th, and was beyond excited when the coach approached him to ask if he'd like to fill in for a student on Team 1, who couldn't make the meet scheduled for today. 

A chance to play on TEAM ONE, hello?  He was so happy, knowing it would probably be the only time he'd have the opportunity this year.   And to make it even better, after he played his individual match, he'd be playing doubles with his best friend. 

All weekend he practiced, trying to prepare himself for today.

And then ....

He just called to tell me the meet was cancelled this afternoon.

Maybe I'm just being a major Mama Bear, but dang it ... the poor kid just can't seem to catch a break.  Maybe he can somehow manage to climb up one more spot on his own ... and play on Team 1 before the season ends.

A new dream of sorts.

Right?

The Most Wonderful Day Of The Year

Yes, I am completely aware that it's been two weeks since the eve of the first day of school.   I fully expected to write about it the moment those four kids were safely nestled into their seats on the school bus ... and it drove away. 

But, when that time actually came, I just couldn't find the words. 

And still, 14 days later, I still don't have the words to describe the experience, as I have yet to be able to wrap my head around the fact that all four of them are now in school.  ALL DAY! 

However, don't fret ... I do have the traditional and mandatory "Back To School" photos.  So those will have to do.  M'kay?

Here are the boys.  Don't you just love the sarcastic look on Drew's face, making it perfectly known that he is not happy about having his photo taken?  Or going to school for that matter?  Jake is more seasoned ... and knows not to fight it.  It's going to happen whether he likes it or not.

 

Jake - The 7th Grader  ... and yes, someday I'm fairly confident that he WILL grow!  At least that is what his doctor tells me.

 

Drew - The 5th Grader

 

The entire morning Molly couldn't wait to get out of the house and get to the bus stop.  She was devastated that I made her pose for pictures.  I KNOW!  Molly.  Not wanting the camera in her face.  I wouldn't believe it either if I hadn't been the one yelling through clenched teeth to "STAND THERE AND SMILE, DAMMIT!"  And of course Emily checking to see if the neighbors can hear me yelling ... again.

 

Emily - The Big 1st Grader

 

And Molly ... the Kindergarten!

 

Something tells me that they were just as excited to go to school as I was for them to go to school!

 

Just sayin'.

And just so you know, I am confident I'll learn how to take pictures that aren't so washed out and awful when I attend the I Blog Conference this November.  Are you going? 

Twas The Night Before School Started ...

Twas the night before school started,
When all through the town,
The parents were cheering.
It was a riotous sound!
By eight, kids were washed
And tucked into bed...
When memories of homework...filled them with dread!

New pencils, new folders, new notebooks, too!
New teachers, new friends...their anxiety grew!
The parents just giggled when they learned of this fright
And shouted upstairs-...
GO TO BED-IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!

Another One Bites The Dust

We are either going to be viewed as incredibly unlucky, extremely stupid or ridiculously smart.  Ya know?  After thinking about it, there is a possibility we could be viewed as all three.  Either that or DHS will be called.  We'll see.

Monday evening was special.  Not only was it the last night the kids had to be in bed on time, it was also the first night we'd all be able to make it to one of Jake's baseball games.

Oh, I know ... you're sick of hearing baseball stories.  Get over it.  If I have to live it ... you have to read about it.  Just sayin'.

So, there we are.  All five of us setting up to watch us a ball game.  Brand new play-dough set all layed out on the blanket ready for use.  Drinks are snuggly settled into the chair's built in cup holders.  Snacks are in hand.  And baseball is starting.  What a treat to find Jake is the starting pitcher, as I know that Jake is always wanting his Dad to see him on the mound. 

After he and his team make their three outs, our team is up to bat.  Jake is third batter.  He gets on base and steals his way around.  Next thing I know, a pitch gets past the catcher and Jake is running towards home plate to score. 

It's gonna be close.

He needs to slide.

He's in motion ... and then he is stopped dead in his tracks when he hits the catcher's gear.

My heart races as he lays there, face planted in the dirt ... for what seemed like 20 minutes, when in all actuality it was more like 20 seconds.  He finally gets up and Big Daddy makes his way to the dugout just as the coach called out, "It's broken.  It's definitely broken!"

Good grief.

He broke his finger and needed to go to the Urgent Care. 

Are you freakin' kidding me?

Of course I'm not.

After all, this IS ... MY life.

So, we packed up the play-dough, the snacks, the drinks, the blanket, the chairs and the kids and headed out.

Who knows how long it will be before he can play ball again?  Let's just hope his season isn't over.

And after dealing with Molly and her little episode ... I'd like to think we're just getting all the injuries out of the way in a hurry ... so then we can enjoy the rest of the summer STITCH, BAND-AID, SPLINT and CAST FREE!

Sounds like a plan ... let's just see if we can adhere to it.

The Baseball vs. Chess Saga Has A Happy Ending

Everything REALLY does happen for a reason.  Like I've said many times before, I'm a firm believer in that.  I know many of you are used to, and even enjoy, when I rag on my children and pretend they drive me nuts.  I used to think that everyone knew that was just me playing around and trying to put a little humor into those moments that put some parents OVER THE EDGE.  But apparently some people don't quite understand that and think that I'm really out to make the lives of my children miserable.  And while I might actually DO THAT ... it's by no means INTENTIONAL ... most of the time.

Ahem.

So, please give me this one post to brag on my kid.  I'll make it short, sweet, and to the point.  I sincerely hope it won't be too painful for you.

Jake.

Baseball.

Had his first practice since the baseball dilemma that bugged me more than it did him.

Went up for his first at bat on his rec league team ...

Hit a rocket to right center field for a clean double. 

Yahoo! 

Sweet! 

This from the kid who couldn't hit the ball to save his life the past 3 years and always batted last on his team.  Another thing I'm a firm believer in ... CONFIDENCE!  And it seems he has a little now ... and it shows.  I'm so proud of him and think he's going to have a blast this year playing ball.

On to chess ...

Jake earned 2 trophies and a medal this weekend in the final tournament of a series.  He was first place on his school team of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders ... and was very excited to have been able to accept the trophy for his school. 

So ... it seems that the kid can do both.  Baseball and chess. 

Okay.  That's it.  I won't brag anymore. 

And don't worry ... I'll be sure to let you all know as soon as the kid screws up. 

It's bound to happen.

Just sayin'.

Picture Day Just Isn't What It Used To Be, Is It?

Picture day just isn't what it used to be.  

I mean, I remember the days of getting up an hour earlier than normal, to make sure every strand of hair was in place.  Checking that my clothes were impeccably coordinated ... not to mention ironed to perfection.  Standing in front of the mirror, refining the way I'd display my pearly whites ... assuring that I didn't go through all the trouble to look fabulous... and then ruin it all by smiling like a big doofus.  Which, by the way, I always ended up doing anyway.  It was probably because of those big ol' buck teeth I had.  Just sayin'.

But seriously, kids don't view picture day as a big deal anymore.  What is wrong with the world today?  Do the children just not care?  Is picture day not that important?  Or are they just THAT darned lazy?

Oh wait!  Never mind.  The light bulb just went off and I realize now that it's probably only MY kids who could give a hoot, isn't it? 

Wonderful.

All of YOUR children probably told you days in advance that picture day was fast approaching.  Maybe they even gave you reminder that a hair cut would be nice. 

My son told me about it last night. 

At 8:30pm. 

Just as we were returning home from Drew's baseball game.

I admit, I began to panic.  However, Jake shrugged his shoulders and insisted that it was not big deal.  He'd even get his clothes picked out so that we wouldn't have to worry about it in the morning.

And he did just that.

This morning, he emerged from his bedroom asking for his Frosted Flakes ... looking like this:

Yup.  You are seeing that correctly.  A Cubs shirt and camouflage shorts.  Nice look, eh? 

I'll bet the majority of you out there right now reading this are screaming at your computer screen, telling me "STEP IT UP, LADY!  LAY DOWN THE LAW.  WRESTLE YOUR DANG KID TO THE GROUND AND INTO A FLIPPIN' POLO SHIRT AND SOME NICE SHORTS!  IT'S PICTURE DAY FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD!  HOW ABOUT A HAIR CUT?"

My response to that is ...

Way too much work.  Maybe it's me who's way TOO lazy, because it just didn't seem worth the fight.

Plus, if I did all that ... I might actually like the picture. 

Ya know? 

And then I'd have to buy one.