We moved to Korea when my oldest son was entering 4th grade. The school was a small one, but it had a music teacher. She came to see me after a few weeks to ask if she could arrange for drum lessons for Trenton, as she thought he had a great sense of rhythm. For the next three years, he learned from some amazing teachers.
When we returned to the states, he entered a very large school, with a large band. He was not used to this, and he was also suffering from reverse culture shock. He was chosen as the lead drummer right away. His first concert was the Christmas concert. Trenton was so nervous on the night of the concert that he broke out in terrible hives. His throat swelled up, and we had to rush him to the Emergency Room. He missed the concert. I asked him if he wanted to quit band. "No," he said. That was four years ago.
Last night, he performed an extended solo on the drum set during "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" at the Christmas Concert. The crowd hooted and cheered, and Trenton grinned and twirled his drumsticks. He is hoping to get a music scholarship. (Or math, or both, if we are really lucky.)
I am proud of him for his talent, but I am more proud of him for his determination.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
April 23rd
Last night (Sunday, believe it or not) the Sheriff delivered to us lo and behold! A Merry Christmas "gift". The auction of our home is scheduled for April 23rd.
Fah ra ra ra ra.
One the one hand, I feel like an utter failure. I can't even keep a roof over my children's heads. On the other hand, I am relieved I will no longer be saddled with a huge loan that is far more than this house is currently worth.
If I had more hands, I would also feel nervous about finding a new place to rent, and jealous that I don't seem to have my life in order like all those other people I tend to compare myself to. And if I had even more hands, I might also feel excited to be moving into a place that has perhaps a bit more room for my 3 boys and giant yellow Lab.
Of course, all those hands would make me somewhat of a freak.
Later, I will try to write a post about what I've learned during this year of My Husband Has No Job and Is Home All Day Long. Right now, I am going to have some chocolate.
Fah ra ra ra ra.
One the one hand, I feel like an utter failure. I can't even keep a roof over my children's heads. On the other hand, I am relieved I will no longer be saddled with a huge loan that is far more than this house is currently worth.
If I had more hands, I would also feel nervous about finding a new place to rent, and jealous that I don't seem to have my life in order like all those other people I tend to compare myself to. And if I had even more hands, I might also feel excited to be moving into a place that has perhaps a bit more room for my 3 boys and giant yellow Lab.
Of course, all those hands would make me somewhat of a freak.
Later, I will try to write a post about what I've learned during this year of My Husband Has No Job and Is Home All Day Long. Right now, I am going to have some chocolate.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Subbing in for a new husband?
The most common reason people land on my blog is because they are searching for terms relating to quitting teaching (which is sad) and they end up here.
The second most common reason people land on my blog is because they are searching for terms relating to "substitute" and "husband" and they end up here. And for the life of me I can't figure out what these people are looking for?? Because if you think about it, it's rather creepy.
The second most common reason people land on my blog is because they are searching for terms relating to "substitute" and "husband" and they end up here. And for the life of me I can't figure out what these people are looking for?? Because if you think about it, it's rather creepy.
Fun Old-Fashioned Family Christmas Tree Hunt
It's hard to plan a fun old-fashioned family Christmas tree hunt through the woods when it is supposed to be in the high 20's-low 30's. I hear Lowe's is selling trees though. Maybe we could make it exciting somehow. Do you think I could get them to spray some artificial snow around?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Christmas card preview
Here are our cards this year! I like the modern design, but Lance doesn't. Too bad he has no say. I don't love the sun, but I didn't really notice it until we were done (a photographer, I'm not), and wild horses couldn't drag my boys out there again for more pictures. Not that I had any anyway.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thankful Anyway
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful anyway. Being thankful in spite of is harder than being thankful because of, but it also reminds you of what is truly important. I am building character this Thanksgiving along with my waistline.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
They're Back!
Official Disclaimer from my husband: "I am not really that fat!"
Not content with the disclaimer and showing an unusual amount of vanity, he then asked me to post another photo to prove it. So here is my husband being funny in the Museum of Natural History. Note that both my husband and son thought this was HILARIOUS which shows you what I live with on a daily basis:
Not content with the disclaimer and showing an unusual amount of vanity, he then asked me to post another photo to prove it. So here is my husband being funny in the Museum of Natural History. Note that both my husband and son thought this was HILARIOUS which shows you what I live with on a daily basis:
I'm glad they're back. :)Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Worth Every Penny
"So what is the coolest thing you have seen so far?" I asked Tristan last night. They've been on the east coast tour for six days now.
He thought about it for a minute. "The Holocaust Museum," he replied. "Not that it was cool. Not at all, but..." his voice trailed off.
"I didn't know," he finally said. "I mean, we learned about it at school and all, but...I didn't know."
Worth every penny, this trip.
He thought about it for a minute. "The Holocaust Museum," he replied. "Not that it was cool. Not at all, but..." his voice trailed off.
"I didn't know," he finally said. "I mean, we learned about it at school and all, but...I didn't know."
Worth every penny, this trip.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Never Fly Northwest
An actual conversation I had with a Northwest airlines representative today:
Me: (very polite) "I would like to change a reservation."
R: (just a moment)
Me: (on hold for 10 minutes)
R: "Flight information please?"
Me: "My husband and son are flying into Salt Lake City from DC. Then they are changing planes. There are two planes leaving Salt Lake City at the same time. One is going to Portland. One is going to Medford. Right now they are scheduled to go to Portland. I would like them to get on the Medford plane so I don't have to drive five hours to Portland in the middle of the night with a baby to pick them up. Please."
R: "There are no seats on the Medford flight."
Me: "Yes there are. I just checked online."
R: "There are no MILES seats. You bought the tickets with miles. But there are seats you can purchase for $400.00"
Me: "What? Are the $400 seats first class or something?"
R: "No. They are coach."
Me: "So there are seats available in coach. But not MILES seats? What the hell? What is the difference?!!" (not so polite)
R: "I just explained it to you. There are no MILES seats."
Me: "Could I speak to your supervisor?"
R puts me on hold for TWENTY MINUTES, after which I am kicked back to the main menu. At this point I hung up because Caden was having a meltdown and so was I!
Seriously. The airlines are FREAKING INSANE. And now I have to drive to Portland next Friday night and probably spend money on a hotel room because I don't want to drive five hours back that same night!
ARRGGGHHH!!
Me: (very polite) "I would like to change a reservation."
R: (just a moment)
Me: (on hold for 10 minutes)
R: "Flight information please?"
Me: "My husband and son are flying into Salt Lake City from DC. Then they are changing planes. There are two planes leaving Salt Lake City at the same time. One is going to Portland. One is going to Medford. Right now they are scheduled to go to Portland. I would like them to get on the Medford plane so I don't have to drive five hours to Portland in the middle of the night with a baby to pick them up. Please."
R: "There are no seats on the Medford flight."
Me: "Yes there are. I just checked online."
R: "There are no MILES seats. You bought the tickets with miles. But there are seats you can purchase for $400.00"
Me: "What? Are the $400 seats first class or something?"
R: "No. They are coach."
Me: "So there are seats available in coach. But not MILES seats? What the hell? What is the difference?!!" (not so polite)
R: "I just explained it to you. There are no MILES seats."
Me: "Could I speak to your supervisor?"
R puts me on hold for TWENTY MINUTES, after which I am kicked back to the main menu. At this point I hung up because Caden was having a meltdown and so was I!
Seriously. The airlines are FREAKING INSANE. And now I have to drive to Portland next Friday night and probably spend money on a hotel room because I don't want to drive five hours back that same night!
ARRGGGHHH!!
Raw Ends
Three years ago, my oldest son and my husband went on a 10-day historical tour of the east coast. They had gorgeous, Indian-summer weather.
Yesterday, my middle son toured Jamestown in a flood and hurricane-force winds. A tree fell in front of their bus on the way back, trapping them for over an hour. The power in the hotel went out. Today they are at Colonial Williamsburg...sort of. Much of it is flooded, and many of the actors did not go to work today, for obvious reasons.
Tristan is not happy. He cried to me on the phone: "Why do I always get the raw end of the deal?"
It's true. My oldest son seems to glide along unimpeded in life, while my middle son hits every bump Trenton avoids.
"It sucks," I replied honestly. "But here's the thing about raw ends: You have to learn how to knit them back together. And learning how to knit something beautiful out of something raw is a valuable life lesson." I paused and smiled softly into the phone at my sweet boy.
"WHAT are you talking about Mom?" he yelled.
"Um. Nothing. I will pray that things get better soon!"
Life lesson lectures are not helpful during times of great disappointment.
Yesterday, my middle son toured Jamestown in a flood and hurricane-force winds. A tree fell in front of their bus on the way back, trapping them for over an hour. The power in the hotel went out. Today they are at Colonial Williamsburg...sort of. Much of it is flooded, and many of the actors did not go to work today, for obvious reasons.
Tristan is not happy. He cried to me on the phone: "Why do I always get the raw end of the deal?"
It's true. My oldest son seems to glide along unimpeded in life, while my middle son hits every bump Trenton avoids.
"It sucks," I replied honestly. "But here's the thing about raw ends: You have to learn how to knit them back together. And learning how to knit something beautiful out of something raw is a valuable life lesson." I paused and smiled softly into the phone at my sweet boy.
"WHAT are you talking about Mom?" he yelled.
"Um. Nothing. I will pray that things get better soon!"
Life lesson lectures are not helpful during times of great disappointment.
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