Monday Night News

Lately our life is pretty much filled with running to baseball fields, gymnastics, and church.  Constantly running, trying to keep up with the housework, school stuff, and our "paying" jobs - we kind of forget to stop and "smell the roses".

However, last week we took the time because Matt's cousin's daughter, Ellen, and her friend Nicole, came to visit from New York.  They are in their mid 20's and full of life and fun and sweetness and I think it took our kids about 15 minutes to latch on to them!
We started with a great big, lovely family Easter dinner at our house.

We had fun on hikes, chillin by the pool, dancing at the Grayhawk patio, batting cages, and wii competitions - we managed to have a terrific time and make lots of memories in just 5 days!

 

They left Thursday night and Ainsley cried for about 24 hours about missing them - even though she only met them 4 days earlier. ;-(

We are well back into our crazy life now - but are so glad they came! 

Sorry - I totally suck at blogging lately.
I'll get more caught up on the normal things of life later - but first I have to vent!  I'm so irritated!


I am a very open person - Strong in my religious beliefs, but don't judge those who believe other than me. My tax dollars pay for the public school my children attend to teach an entire unit on other religions and beliefs - and tollerance of those different than us or our culture. And I think that is good.

And yet - two pre-schooler friends of Ainsley's got in trouble yesterday for drawing pictures of a cross and writing Jesus Loves Me! The picture was taken away and the parents "talked to".

I know the teachers and they didn't want to have to say anything, but were following policy.  I can't really expect them to put their jobs on the line for a 5 year olds drawing...BUT WHY DOES SUCH A POLICY EXIST?!?

It was "free drawing" time. It's 2 days after Easter - and these boys were just exercising their RIGHT to express themselves. It's not like they stood up and presented it to the class and said the rest of you will go to hell! And they are 4-5 years old! Any non-christian kids in the class would probably look at the picture and not even know what it was.  Heck - half the time I can't tell what Ainsley draws myself.

I can't help but think that if the children wrote Satan Rocks!  or There is no God and it was handled the same way - that there would be Rights Groups lined up protesting. 

...but it is completely acceptable to squash the freedom of expression of Christian kids. 

Make up your mind Public Schools - you teach religion and tollerance of different beliefs - but don't allow kids to draw pictures expressing themselves and what they are excited about? 
Matt and I have been discussing the idea of putting our kids in Catholic School (for many reasons - not just religious ones). We'd kind of decided not to - or at least not yet....but this kind of thing makes me want to do it.

When I believe in God, or pray in public, or draw a cross, or write Jesus' name - that does not mean I judge you.  That does not mean I wish you harm if you don't believe as I do.  It will not hurt you to hear my opinion, nor does it hurt me if you disagree with it.  It means I am expressing my joy, my heart.  Feel free to debate it with me - feel free to ignore me -  feel free to draw your own picture and hang it next to mine.  Just don't take away my right to express it simply because not everyone believes it!

I haven't posted anything in over a month it seems and so much has come to pass it's hard to even cover.
We finished Football, started baseball, I was talked back into joining the Baseball League Board. 
There has been birthday parties, school volunteering, lot's of work at my "real" job.
Add in some family health issues, homework, church, house cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, and more family health issues and I feel that I'm pretty much on the verge of losing my mind.

I'll also think I am very blessed - because even with all of this I feel supported, loved, and lucky to have great friends and family and resources to deal with all of lifes challenges.

I'm sitting here on a rare, rainy day - watching March Madness (by far my favorite sporting event(s) of all time) and listening to my children play pretend school and karate matches, and store/restaurant and hearing them oooh and ahhh over the rain / hail. 

So many things I should be catching up on I'm sure - but right now - I'm going to watch the rain with my kids.

Football and one less tooth

Football, Super Bowl weekend and ending with one less tooth this morning had a very different story behind it in our 20's than it does today.  (Those who know us well - already could tell the 20's story, so I'll just tell you today's story.)

Shaun's (and Coach Matt's) Bronco's Flag Football team is officially the only undefeated team left in their division with 2 games left in the season.  They beat the only other undefeated team on Saturday, 12-0!  Ending their self proclaimed 26 game winning streak. The boys played so well as a team on defense, and never gave up on offense.  It was fun to watch!

Of course the Super Bowl was Sunday as well and we had our annual family party.  Not the party of our college days, but we enjoy teaching the small children in the family how to gamble on random squares and useless football game trivia.  They did pretty well to with both Shaun and Ainsley getting squares money at least one quarter each.  Shaun hosted some trivia contests and then talked the winners out of their candy prizes throughout the night.  We all had yummy food that everyone contributed and the 3 lonely Giants fans were happy with the outcome.  And the rest of us had fun, but weren't too concerned with the winner either way.  We are so lucky to have such great family here locally to share these fun times with!

Shaun had a rude awakening this morning when we let him know we had to go to the dentist and get his tooth "checked out".  We knew they were pulling it, but due to his intense fear of all things dentist related, we decided to hold back that detail until after it was done.  He managed like a trooper once doped up on the liquid sedation and while he hated the swollen, numbing sensation after, once it wore off he was fine.  The only bad side effect is that the kid couldn't eat until about 1pm today and for Shaun that is FOREVER.  And he pretty much hasn't stopped eating since then yet! 

Alas, as I was tucking him in he reminded me that at least the tooth fairy would be coming to reward him for his work at being tough today.  oh, yeah...I'm sure the tooth fairy will remember that Shaun.  She is always on top of those kinds of things.  (Yikes!? - I sure hope she has some cash somewhere around the tooth fairy lair!)

Early Valentine's!

Shaun got an early Valentine from his new "Valentine", Ariana today in school.
I guess they made Valentine themed stuff in Art class and he gave her one too, but his was just a picture I guess - no words.

Here is the one my little boy received...

If you can't read that - the front has their names in the 2 hearts "Ari" and "Shaun".
The inside says "I like you".

 He is very low-key about it - so I think this whole Valentine this is at an age appropriate level.  And I like the reason he said he likes her as a good friend.  She is fun, smart in school, plays softball, and will play tough boy sports like football on the playground.
Oh - and she is a good at drawing.  (She drew a very realistic picture of Fredrick Douglas for her Civil War report that I saw 1st hand when volunteering and it is quite impressive!)
Good pick kid. 

Too cute - I love 2nd graders.

I just got this email from Ainsley's Pre-K teacher and I had to share it.  I love her teacher and I just love that little girl.  In my own defense - I had to get both the kids into and out of the dentist appointments, pick up a prescription for Shaun to have a dose before school, and then make it by 2nd bell at 8:30am.  And I did make it....just missed one important item it seems...

Just wanted to let you know Ms. Ainsley forgot her socks this morning so she is wearing socks from Nurse Terri. Also I asked whose fault that she isn't wearing any and she said it was completely her fault so you have raised a good daughter cause I would have blamed my mom.

Playdates and Football

Our weekend was completely wonderful in it's simplicity. 

Highlight for Ainsley this weekend was her first "real" playdate at a friend's house without mommy.
Up until now, other than family or our close friends across the street, Ainsley has only been on playdates where mom or dad stay with her or we meet out somewhere.  So - this "real" playdate was so exciting for her to get to do.
Before you worry...we've been to the house before, we know the child, parents, and older siblings, and it is only several blocks away.
She had SOOO much fun and just loved having the little bit of freedom and independence.
I am proud of her to experience life and enjoy her independence (but I am a little sad saying good bye a little more each day to my baby girl).

Shaun's highlight was his flag football team won their 4th game!  They are undefeated and Shaun is playing so great!  He played great, but the highlight for me was something he said, not did.
After throwing an interception, he went up to a teammate and apologized to him for not making the pass to him.  The teammate, to his credit, said "nah, it was my fault - I went to deep behind the defender". 
To 7 year old boys act with such self-lessness and team focus is amazing to me!
Overall - I just love seeing him work hard, support his team, and do so well!