Officially, technically, DONE

Today was the small low key graduation and hooding ceremony. It was an honor to have the boys, hubby, and best friend to share it with me. It was especially humbling when my name was called for "Outstanding Achievement" by a student. I am not easily moved to tears but having to stand up and say a few "words" after being surprised was a little much. Small son actually said later as we talked about it, "You mean when they called your name and you had nothing to say!"

Now it is time to see where the path leads next...

Technical Difficulties

I am back from the land of technical difficulties. I have had no internet access for 2 days and then everything runs really slow. I also have not been able to see all of your most recent posts and I am just now catching up with reading them, I felt so out of touch! After I get my housework done, pump out my last official piece of homework, go to the Y I will start responding. I will also be breaking up lots of arguments today between the two medium sized frys, from the sound coming from the bedrooms as I type.

Odds and ends

Here is a pic of my secret artistic self again-an octopus cake and then the cat that looks similiar to another blogger friend's cat.

Happy Birthday to my own little monkey man

Today we celebrated Q's b-day with his 1st "friend" party at the dreaded Chuck E Cheese man's place. As I was driving with a car full of boys karioking to Camp Rock (I secretly dig it, if I was 13 again Joe Jonas would be my guy), I thought of a question my older son asked me out of the blue a few days ago. "Mom, what is your dream for me?" I answered with something I knew would make him smile such as I would love to take you to the Amazon rainforest where you can explore and see in real life all the things you love. I also of course said to be happy, be kind, and be a dad who does not use a scary voice (I had used MINE the day before). He smiled his "wow" smile and went on playing.

Back to today. As I am hearing the boy voices singing at the top of their lungs the question came back to me, and I wish I had that moment back to say SO much more, SO MUCH, for both of you. So here it is, and I am thinking if I write it down the words will stick with me so if I am ever asked again, and I so hope I will be, at an older age I will be ready.

For Q-man-on your birthday

I dream for you to always have the silliness and energy you have now, whether you are 7 or 70.

I dream for you to not worry so much and know that perfection is not always a good thing, that effort counts and quitting is not an option. I dream that you will always love music and sing out loud without reservations. I dream that you continue to love art and drawing and it will be something you enjoy always.

For Big A-

I dream you will always love nature and all the creatures in it, just as much as you do now. I hope the upcoming teen years leave you unscathed and unjaded and understand it is a small part of your life. I dream you keep your sensitivity and emotions, but don't let them be a burden and know you are a strong person. My dream is that you continue to dream and dream big.

For both of you I dream you are always surrounded by friends and family. That you stand up for yourself and others and understand the power of forgiveness. I dream you will make your own decisions about your belief and faith and not close doors but go through life with an open mind and open heart.

See, told you, a little to much infor for a 10 and 7 year old, but someday...

Inspiration

The closet artist in me has struck with a little inspiration. WHEN the basment is finished it will be my turn to DECORATE. Being the planner that I am I already have the big room pictured in my head, andhe exercise room is easy-not alot to do there. The other room I wasn't sure what it would be. Then watching the boys practice the instruments gave me an idea. I took and will take some more pictures once Quinn starts piano of their hands. I love little kid's hands and feet especially in b/w. I plan to blow them up and put them in some cool frames for the room and make it a music room. The idea has come together, and now I need to get hubby to kick it into gear.

Tidbits for today

I don't have anything monumentous to write just a few small tidbits:

Today was a beautiful, actual spring day-with sun and no precipiation. The boys enjoyed tree climbing and pizza in the park

Trying to get back into the swing of homework. It all feels anticlimatic after the orals exam

At a croosroads in my career-an opening has come up to be a program specialist who oversees various special ed. programs and staff. It the job I have wanted for the last few years, but the admin degree has changed that. There is an opening in another close district, but don't know if I am ready to pursue hard enough to leave the school district I am in now-deep down I don't think so.

"A" got a guitar for his bday-right about the same time I was complaining (in my head) about hubby needing to do more with older son-this was just the connection they needed, Hubby has been learning with him and oldest will only practice with him, not me, it is heartwarming to watch

Ok back to homework

The sniffer knows-Part 2

A while back I posted about the mysterious smell in older son's room-the lima been experiment haphazardly hanging on a trophy. Recently I came upon a new smell-in my car. It wasn't always noticeable and I concluded it was something temporary, like wet floor mats or seats from the constant snow and wetness. The other morning I went to get in the car and it was really BAD. I'd had enough. I got my super sniffer down there real close (like you do when someone asks you "Does this smell bad? as they hand you a mysterious container from the fridge.) I use my nose to sniff all the seats, carpets, everything! I finally found it when I lifted up the floor mat on MY side. WOW-that is all I am going to say. I scrub the carpet and go to bed. The next morning I get up, no luck. I get on the internet and do some research, I conclude I must tear up the carpet. That is what I do, screwdriver in hand and find the obnoxious smell-in the PAD under the carpet. I give up cleaning it, and just rip it out-really who needs padding under their feet when they are mostly on pedals. I think next time my frappacino spills I better clean it up right away:)

3rd blizzard in 3 weeks

Alec had his shrekathon birthday last night, the picture is the "dirt and worm" cake the boys and I made. Everyone was wide awake and ready to hit the snow of our own sledding paradise behind our house. We should start charging admission. At least this one hit on the weekend so hopefully school will be on tomorrow. I think this one had the most snow yet.

Have one on me...

So for you, my favorite blogger friends, at approximately 5:00 east river time raise your glass and have a drink with me. Suree and I will be having one here to celebrate 3 years of homework, happy meals, video games, movies-basically putting being a "good mom" on the back burner, presentations, and one final oral exam this morning. A big thank you to all my friends here and in cyberspace, I could not keep my sanity without any of you!

1 decade

A decade ago this evening was one of the longest, scariest, and most special of my life. Happy 10th birthday big guy, I love you.

By the way the former granola girl in me (Who loves unusual songs-think Red Rubber Ball!) loves this song by Shinedown-it is the remake of a Lynard Skynard song. I love the words and it expresses exactly what I want for each of my boys, but especially makes me think of my oldest, just one of those connections. Find the song sometime..."Simple Kind of Man"