Mother's Day and other miscellaneia

Just a reminder, in case you needed one, that Mother's Day is creeping up on us. I'm still amazed it's April, and already that's flown by!

Okay, on to another topic: I have a burning question. I am depending on you all to answer this, so I expect lots and lots of comments. From each and every one of you. Here goes:

Is it appropriate to tip at Sonic?

I never even considered it, until Gwen and I went to visit Grandmother in January. She couldn't believe that I didn't tip the carhop. Okay, seriously, all she did was walk out to my car with the food I'd ordered. I think that's part of the service at Sonic, not something tip-worthy. Gwen feels otherwise (and after seeing my carhop's missing front tooth today, I felt maybe I should be tipping her so she could go to the dentist). So what do you think? Let's hear it!

Jackson and I are off to see Aubrey and Luke give their final presentations for their gifted projects. It was not a happy time at our house last night, finishing up last-minute details for speeches, display boards, etc. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will all be worth it tonight! We'll keep you posted.

Well, Shoot.

I was really, really hoping Miley Cyrus aka Hannah Montana would NOT turn into another Britney Spears. Have you seen the news about her racy photos? She's FIFTEEN!! Where were her parents??

Flyin' By..

Well, another weekend gone. It flew by, like they all seem to lately. I heard this at church this weekend, and it applies SO well to our lives lately:
"Remember how, when you were in third grade, you went to school from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m., and it seemed like that one day was about six months long? So now, my kids started school last August, and already it's almost May. How come that only took like six SECONDS???"

We had a fun visit from Gwen, Paige, and Lane. The girls shopped and the boys hit IHOP and played, played, played. For some reason, IHOP is my kids' favorite restaurant of all time, ever. So just be warned, if you come to visit and you ask them where they want to eat, don't expect them to want to go to Applebee's or even McDonald's. IHOP it is. Their arteries will not thank them in fifty or sixty years, I'm sure!

Luke and Jackson are finished with soccer. Luke played goalie for the first half of his last game. He was pretty nervous; he was worried, worried, worried that he would miss stopping a goal. He had nothing to worry about! Admittedly, the other team wasn't exactly the top in the league, and they didn't shoot very many balls his way, but he caught them all. Also, my kid can punt! He was grinning from ear to ear at half time when I took him over a drink of water, "Mom! I didn't KNOW I could kick that far!" His first words after the game were, "Do they have a summer soccer league?"

Jackson, however, could take it or leave it. He is signed up for tee-ball with the Rec starting next week, so we'll see how that goes. He is playing on a team with friends from school, which should be more fun for him. By the way, he informed me the other day when I was helping out in his classroom, that he doesn't want me to call him "Jack" in front of his friends. He is to be known as "Jackson" only from now on. At least when there are other kids around. :(

Aubrey's been busy preparing for her dance recital, state assessments in Social Studies, shadowing day at the Middle School (where they follow a seventh grader around to get used to the school), Product Fair for her gifted program, and just general homework. Geesh! She and I spent THREE hours at the dance studio taking pictures Friday evening. Stop, take a deep breath, and inhale. Enjoy that fresh, clean, air you just smelled? I think my nostrils are still clogged by the clouds of hairspray that were flying around at dance pictures. I'm pretty sure that can't be good for your lungs!

Last night we went to Small Group Bible Study for our church, and one of the sixth grade teachers from Buhler grade was there. He told Aubrey that all the sixth grade teachers for the Buhler district got together to read over the papers the students had written for the State Writing Assessments, and they were all amazed at her paper. There are about 180 sixth graders in the district, so it is quite a compliment to her writing ability that he remembered her paper out of all those!

Now this, this is SPRING!

Everybody loves Spring...
Spring, spring, spring....

Simplify Your Life

I got this as an email the other day, and thought it was worth posting (thanks, Dana!) Numbers 4 and 14 seem to speak to me; which ones jumped out at you?

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will
compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time;
don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out
what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do
anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried
in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an
enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19. Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of
life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in
the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a
good 'Thank you Jesus.'

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33. Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that
you've never been grateful for before.

Band Is Life

We went to Buhler High School last night for Aubrey's band concert. Even though we live within the city limits of Hutch, we are in the Buhler School District. The kids' elementary schools are very close to us, but when they go to High School (which is getting frighteningly close!) they will be bused to Buhler, which is about ten miles away. Last night was the first time we had been in the High School, so we took a quick tour. We walked by Johnny Johnston's office, thought about leaving him a note, but didn't. How strange is it that our eighth grade history teacher is now teaching special needs kids in Buhler?

The band concert was phenomenal. Truly, truly the BEST elementary band concert I have ever been to, and certainly better than most high school bands, believe it or not! Buhler has a terrific band program - the high school was asked to travel to the Alamo Bowl this year, and won the priveledge of performing at half time. The band teacher started off the evening with the statement "Band is Life," and while I can't exactly agree with that sentiment, I could tell he believes it! Aubrey's playing has improved by leaps and bounds this year, perhaps the 150 minutes of practice each week (required to make an A) helps with that! She is third chair clarinet out of sixteen sixth graders. They also get a private lesson with the band teacher each Friday, as well as summer band lessons with an "expert" in their instrument. I wish I had recorded some of the concert, I don't think you would believe that sixth graders could sound that good! Aubrey also played in a small ensemble of five clarinets.

It was a long concert; about an hour and fifteen minutes, so it was past Jackson's bedtime. It was so funny - he fell asleep about midway through the concert, but he would rouse himself enough to clap at the end of each song. Toward the end he was clapping with his eyes closed, and then would start snoring again! Poor little guy.

Growing Pains

Aubrey and a friend are walking to the Kwik Shop on the corner to purchase energy drinks. Cause when you're twelve, you need all the extra energy you can get, apparently. Anyway, this is one of the times when I am so glad she has a phone. I KNOW they'll be fine walking two blocks, and I wouldn't have given it a second thought last year. But, to me, this is still the city. Everyone here seems to think it is a "small town," but they have no idea!

I need to go roll Jackson out of bed so he can go to soccer practice. Poor little guy, he's beat again. Another busy weekend with cousins here, and late nights. Plus, his kindergarten class' clutch of chicken eggs finally hatched. You know how exhausting it can be to watch newborn baby chicks all day!