Ebeth's 4 and no more

It seems that throughout any given day I have hundreds of things that inspire posts. Kids, observations, aggravations go on and on and I feel the urge to share/type. Yet when the peace of the house returns all that I once felt led to say is fleeting and mute. Maybe, if I use the skill of simply beginning, ya know the one I tell my students about when they are stuck I too will remember. One thing is my eldest son. while remarkable in his outlook on life, he is maturing right before my eyes. One minute he created a dodge ball form of game while en route to Six Flags then another he is assisting me in unloading groceries. Not only assisting but without reminder, or complaints AND he even mentioned the following, "I just want to let you know that I left my Tae Kwon Do pants on your bed to help. I don't want you to think I forget them or am being lazy." One I feel a pang of guilt that he used the word lazy, thereby meaning I implied he was previously. Though I am aware that we...

Yesterday was an exciting and nerve racking evening. As we arrived at the hotel the first thing we noticed was the MASSIVE amount of people in line to preregister for the pageant. It began at 5pm and we walked through the doors minutes after 5. This process took us an hour to complete. In that time they attempted to sell a 3 rose boquet presented on stage for 20.00, a contestant button for me with her picture for 7.00 each and a gazillion other items. I should have been prepared for the bombarding of such but wasn't. I also had a bout of my mother rise to the service as everything in me wanted to walk away from the entire thing. I HATE being a follower and it sure felt like we were just another set of crazy people. Pushing past that the excitement on my daughter's face when she recieved her number, free bag and outfit was worth every second. I am pretty sure seeing the hotel room ranked up just as high as the pretty clothes because she was a kid in a candy store. The room onl...

Friday was the BIG day. The one where everything happens or does not happen. The day began at 7:30 am which was nice because the previous day ended at 10:30pm for Annnabeth. She enjoyed us primping her, and munching while watching tv. Once downstairs there was the 2nd of workshops explaining how the day would work, some more tips and introductions of what pageant people call royalty as in previous winners and staff. The great thing about this whole deal is that they value rewarding girls at every step of the way. Whatever happens she is a winner, has learned A LOT about herself and being confident in our world and even met a great friend. After orientation we had a bit of a break since we did not enter talent or actress optionals. Next year talent is soooo on though. We watched several rehearsals and I am certain she could rock that category! Lunch/late breakfast since the hotel has nothing to offer was at Steak N Shake. Although Annabeth's favorite is the shake part I insisted s...

As a parent this is a popular conversation for adults and kids to have. I personally knew exactly what I wanted to be from the age of 3 (according to my mother). Considering while in 5th grade I persuaded the neighbor boys to sit in the 100 degree heat at make shift desks and "taught" them during the summer this is probably an obvious fact. I was temporarily distracted along the way with what I call my pipe dream, a homicide detective.I had a lengthy phase where I read crime books down to the gory explanation of blood spatter and more. My associates degree is in Criminology but well, it all really came back to my passion, teaching. Hubby like me I believe he knew what he wanted. He joined the fire dept at age 15 and that is how he has managed to obtain 28 years of Fire Service. He worked for the Conservation Dept, then grounds at a local school district, then even as an EMT/Security at the Casino waiting out the Fire Dept to finally hire paid employees. He has been there sin...

Today, Father's day officially was dramatic, and peaceful all kinda rolled around in a ball. My father has some health issues that he let go on longer than he should have and it is taken some time to get to the bottom of it all. This being said after church, delivering and sharing lunch with Daddy (that including an interruption twice regarding above mentioned) I was required to be involved. A VERY dramatic ordeal, then an assist by Aunt Linda perfectly timed led to him heading to the hospital. At this point I am not sure whether it was worth it but after tomorrow and some more tests the hospital couldn't complete there should be forward motion. Once he departed and I rested a bit, littlest 2 napped sidekick and I headed outside to manage the "farm". I love my crew but they are loud, kids in groups are just plain loud, fast and rambunctious. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that but it sure makes it hard to hear from God and be blessed by the sanctuary that is o...

Since my hubby works 24hr shifts on a rotating schedule, and well Firefighters are needed 365 days a year he works all kinds of special days. Some of them matter more than others for "family time" but  it is par for the course. This year like last year he was/is on duty father's day. In honor of that, and well this year his gift was a brand spankin new grill it had to be presented early. Thanks to a major thunderstorm I ended up home and not at a garage sale like planned. Daddy was taken a bit back by the present and will not receive demerits for his initial reaction, "So what will I get tomorrow." with a pretty ridiculous grin of course. His next question was how much did that cost and let me tell you it will end up costing me oops us 100.00. I worked out a couple deals courtesy of a fellow SLM momma Sandie and got some extra free stuff. Some of the free stuff being food, and when deducted from the price it saves me 80.00 Woohoo for that! Our grill bit the dus...

The more time flies the harder I try to grab hold and capture every last vivid, sacred, unduplicated bit. How is it one day I am wishing for the next and then suddenly years later I am grasping at the pieces of the days as they fade into the past? I know, I know you are thinking so she sings this same tune, enough already! Well that is unless you are right here in this very same place. Nevertheless, despite my unusual inability to snap a picture of the fleeting experiences this day my mind feels mostly fresh. Care to take a stroll down short term memory lane with me? First, I officially (or at least to my husband, children and repeated to my mother) went on strike. These aging kids are a blessing and a curse. It never fails that when I think I have the order and expectations set for a crew of 6 on my own I am smacked with the "you don't know it all" hand knocking the supermom chip off my shoulder. Thus, I had an outburst mostly to my adoring husband who made his level h...

I am learning a lot about myself in the last previous and coming 6 mos. I understand that sometimes a girl has to think of herself even when she naturally and almost always thinks of others. Saying no is ok. I am also learning that I am who I am and no matter what I do there are certain things that will not ever change. I talk too much, I crave relationships and I care about people. Yet, at the very same time I exert a great deal of effort for people who could care less. For example take Facebook, I comment on most of my friends post because the interaction is the purpose of the infectious terrible place. The sad part is that it is far from connecting people, in fact I think it makes you feel like you do not have to connect because well you know what they are doing already. This way it leaves a facade of "friends". While it is out of reason to completely drop the whole process I can safely say I have stopped my incessant need to "read" everything. I have randomly t...

Today (June 2) was one of those days when I had to fight to maintain an attitude of gratefulness and joy. A way too late bedtime and much earlier than normal morning combined to the funk of dreary sky and air causing me to constantly relax as I was anxious, short tempered and generally crabby. I never out and out lost it but well my demeanor was obvious to all and defintely not a proud day. However, I can safely say I took numerous moments to heart while alone with 3 of my kids at various times this evening. First, #1 and I had some down time while #2 began her first competitive cheerleading class. Thursday's are the 1 hour days instead of the normal 1 hr 45 min days, and it being very warm out this limited errand choices. Remembering that I was physically tired I swung into Bob Evans where I had a 2.00 off coupon and LOVE their cappicino's that are much more like fancy hot chocolate than coffee. I allowed #1 to order a soda and chedder bite things which is a RARE treat. He wa...

Mrs. Randolph  Mr. King (man Annabeth looks funky)  Ms. Buchanan Teachers for 2010 -2011 K, 2, 4th Here they all are with their beloved teachers. This year I can actually say I was far from worried about the classroom environment with regards to the adult leading them. As a parent who has survived not so great years this is a HUGE sigh of relief. The bonus of it all, #1 will have the same teacher in 5th grade too. The not so glorious part, he will have all of the same classmates too. One in particular is less appealing, but then again our God is bigger than the poor choices of young boys and this is a perfect chance for me to teach him steadfast faith. Regardless, this school year has been a success for each of my 3 school age kids. #2 is at the top of her class, highest reading level and more with straight A's all the way. She did not make the gifted level but I feel confident that for now she is challenged and happy. #1 is continuing to succeed pushed a bi...

Thud, stomp, thud enters #1 in a rush. "There's a noise in my room and I can't figure out what it is!" he speaks in a typical #1 serious tone. Hubby and I had stopped our computer/tv time to listen to the desperate need. Typical for these times everyone waits for me to take the next step. "What did it sound like?" I retort. "The first noise was weird but I figured out it was my stomach." (insert nearly choking back laughter sounds from both hubby and I) but without skipping a beat he continues, "Then there was a scraping sound but I checked the posters and the fan doesn't hit them. I can't say what the other noises exactly are or make them right." Quick thinking by Daddy and I we both begin to inquire whether it is the cicada phenomenon outside that he is hearing, they are pretty loud. Alas, he is SURE that is not it. We did google them, their benefit to the environment and more before praying and heading to bed. Hubby begins to ...