A Star is Born

Atley made his theatrical debut last night in Les Miserables. He played Gavroche and we are so proud of him. He did a fantastic job. It was totally worth coming home early from our vacation.  

This Kid

Every family's got one kid, or in my case two or three,  who is just a little unique, slightly left of center, beats to their own drum, thinks outside the box.  This kid, Atley, might win the prize in our family.  While Nash spent his Winter break playing video games, Atley went from one project to another.  His mind constantly thinking and creating and building something new and usually something messy.  If he wasn't studying a map and recreating it from memory, or washing and tumbling his rocks, he was building cities all over the house, complete with tiny road signs and bridges made from tooth picks and safety pins, reusing every scrap of card board and paper he could scavenger from our trash.  

 

 He also created an indoor scooter track for him and his brother and sister.  Every corner had warning signs. Notice the sign for DISCOUNT DOG. We are beginning to think perhaps our dog was at a discounted price for a reason. Let's just say she isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. She's definitely one bean shy of a burrito and an egg short of a dozen.

After telling him how beautiful it was to watch snow fall outside your window, this Kid did this, all over our front window.

His snowflakes are beautiful and unique just like him.  While, the constant messes are sometimes exhausting, I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. I love him to pieces.

Atley's Adventures

Atley reminded me that I haven't blogged JUST about him or his MANY accomplishments lately.  I can assure you, it was on my list Buddy.  He has had a great year filled with many adventures and lots of hard work.  He recently received his Bear Award at Cub Scouts.

He participated in a wildly successful Farmer's Market at school, where he marketed and produced an Orange Cleaner that sold like hot cakes.  I didn't get any pictures because it was mass chaos.  He recited a poem he wrote about sledding at his school's poetry reading and of course had to bring props so that everyone could get the full effect.

He recently had his last orchestra concert of the year. I am so impressed with what his teacher has been able to get out of her fourth graders.  Below is a video of one of his songs. I'm sorry his head is covered by the music stand throughout most of the video but watch what happens at the end.

He is also quite the pianist. He prefers to play by ear, which completely amazes me. We are proud of him and all he has accomplished all while spending lots of time being one of our favorite fish and acting as man of the house while his dad has been away in Panama.

Hershey Park

Day 2 of Atley's birthday weekend found us at Hershey Amusement Park. We spent the night across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg, PA and despite the coal train cars you cannot see in the picture and the fact that I took it with my IPhone, Pennsylvania is beautiful. 

 Unfortunately, I woke up with what I thought was food poisoning but judging by the vomit sounds in the bathroom coming from the hubby three days later, I apparently had a violent case of the stomach flu.   Either way the day was a special kind of hell for me, but the kids had a great time. I didn't get a lot of great photos to demonstrate just how much fun everyone but me had because I wanted to crawl into a hole and die. I am sure you can imagine the pain of being nauseous,  extremely un-constipated, dehydrated and achy in 90 degree heat with the smell of funnel cakes and sweaty bodies floating around your nose all while watching things spin in a circle for 10 hours. Everyone thought I was one hardcore roller coaster rider judging by my frequent bouts of vomiting in the bushes. Too much information? But, again Atley had a very memorable day and someday that is all we will remember. That and the fact that Scott lost his wallet and we were blessed when someone very honest turned it into the lost and found with the cash still inside.  

Atley's 10

A decade! My baby has been around for 1/10th of a century.  He is the most unique, positive, creative, uninhibited,  intelligent, handsome, and kind-hearted child on the planet.  So, of course he deserved an unforgettable birthday. His actual birthday was not terribly exciting.  He had end-of-year tests at school so he couldn't party too hard.He had his favorite cake for his birthday breakfast-blueberry cheese cake and took cupcakes for his classmates. He spent the rest of his free time building the new LEGO sets he received and watching the LEGO movie.  

His real party started on the weekend which we spent in Pennsylvania at Gettysburg & Hershey Park.

Arlington House

I owed Atley a day to skip school since his little brother had one several weeks ago and apparently we keep close track of who gets to miss more school and "it must be even."  I think my sons might be socialists.  Anyway, Atley had to settle for a half-day excursion.  We went to Arlington Cemetery to visit the home of Robert E. Lee.  It has been on his Civil War To-Do-List for a while.  I envision him as an old man spending his retirement participating in Civil War Battle Reenactments every weekend.

One of the most interesting things we have discovered about Virginia architecture is how they created  faux stone finishes. At Arlington House and Mt. Vernon, it looks like the structure is built of stone but it is actually planks of wood with a paint and sand mixture to create the look of stone. 

We learned that years after the sting of the Civil War was over the U.S. Government built the bridge you can see in the distant background.  It provided a straight line of sight from Robert E. Lee's home to the Lincoln Memorial to demonstrate how we became united as a nation once again.

Atley at JFK's grave trying to figure out the whole Eternal Flame thing!

The White House Butler

No, this is not a post on Lee Daniel's book or Oprah's most recent acting performance, although I have only good things to say about both. This is about Atley's most recent school trip. We found out that Atley's class was invited to the White House a couple of weeks ago.  He was over the moon with excitement and we spent lots of time drilling him on proper etiquette and respect for the office. And just when I thought he understood what I meant he would ask me a question like, "Would you like me to tell the President how our family feels about Obamacare?" or "I think I should tell him that we have lots of guns and we aren't criminals."  or  "I get it mom. I will just tell him I was really disappointed that Mitt didn't win but I still feel honored to get to meet a president." or "I don't understand why I can't tell him whatever I want, he works for me. He works for all of us." Anyway, three days before his trip he became deathly ill.  We took him to the doctor and of course we got the old, "It's just a virus that has to run its course." nonsense! He missed two days of school and the night before his trip he was still running a high fever.  I was torn.  This was a chance of a lifetime, but he could barely sit up in his bed.  I said my prayers with increased fervor as did his brother and sister and Scott gave him a priesthood blessing.  But, honestly my faith was faltering I didn't really think he would be able to make the trip.  I worried all night about how I was going to break the news to him.  The next morning he woke up without a fever, no cough and he was significantly less congested.  He was stronger, miraculously stronger.  He could go to the White House!  Not only would he get to tour the White House but there was a strong chance that his class would be chosen to plant vegetables with Mrs. Obama in the White House garden that afternoon.  It was such an exciting morning. Of course, my excitement for him turned into pure anxiety when he told me right before boarding the bus that his plan was to find the bathroom as soon as he arrived.  He wanted to steal some toilet paper from the White House so that the whole family could wipe with the "same stuff as the President."  All day I was waiting for a phone call implicating my son in some sort of national scandal.  But, he got off the bus all smiles, still relatively well and full of stories of his day.  He didn't get to plant vegetables with Mrs. Obama. Apparently, a class more ethnically desirable was selected but he did get to see the President and even watch him board Marine 1 and depart from the West Lawn and as far as I know he was completely respectful. His mission to obtain toilet paper was thwarted on 4 different occasions by "people in authority."  So, needless to say we are not using the President's toilet paper at our house.  He learned a lot and so did I. I learned that Heavenly Father answers our prayers.  He is in the details of our lives.  He doesn't just give us what we need, sometimes He even grants us the things we want.

What the... Creepy Creature!

I was organizing the pictures on my computer and I came across this gem.  I have no clue what it is, or how it came to be saved amongst the pictures of my happy little life but I am truly frightened by it, like nightmare frightened by it, and while I have no concrete evidence I am fairly certain my oldest son is somehow responsible for its sudden appearance.

Cars & Banjos

 Atley is a busy little man, which is a good thing for all parties concerned.  He had his very first violin concert a few weeks ago and it was truly impressive.  His teacher is a magician.  She has 112 fourth graders and they sounded marvelous, Atley included.  It brought me to tears. I was completely and totally shocked at how magnificent the concert was.

January also brings Pine Wood Derby to our little Cub Scout.  There was some derby drama this year resulting in a very late night run to Michael's the night before the race.  But, all is well that ends well. He won some races. He lost some races and most importantly he was very proud of his car and happy when it was over.

 

Colonial Days & a Christmasy Weekend

This year Atley's class is studying Virginia History. On Friday the school hosted a Colonial day.  It was really an amazing event for the kids. With the help of a lot of parents the kids had the option to attend 5 out of 12 classes in which they learned all about colonial life. The classes ranged from quilting, to colonial herbs & medicines, to calligraphy. I had the wonderful privilege of teaching tin-smithing.  That's right! I taught one hundred 4th graders who were all wielding potentially deadly weapons and sharp pieces of tin how to punch intricate designs with a nail and a hammer.  My ears are still a little sore.  The truth is it actually made me a little nostalgic for teaching.  We really had so much fun.  The kids performed Colonial dances like the Virginia Reel and ate a fantastic colonial lunch.  Of course we were all in costume.

Saturday night was our church Christmas Party. This gave the kids a chance to reiterate just exactly what they hope to find under the tree Christmas morning.

We also had a few minutes Saturday morning to craft, which is definitely one of my favorite Christmas activities.  We made these cute little snowman ornaments from battery-powered tea lights (Target $ Section).

 Today (Sunday) the snow and ice came. Church was let out early and Scott built a cozy fire. The kids sledded for awhile only to come in and warm themselves by the fire.  Then we roasted marshmallows and ate s'mores.  It was perfect. I felt so Norman Rockwell-ish. To top off our beautiful little piece of perfect Americana, we discovered that school was cancelled. You have no idea how much I needed a snow day! A day where I wasn't needed or expected to go anywhere. I cannot wait.

Family Pictures and a Tiger Mom

Each November I feel compelled to take family pictures for the Christmas Card. Everyone in my family hates this, probably because pictures bring out my dark side.  We have rarely gotten through a photography session without me completely losing my cool at least once.  This year I swore would be different. I was not going to get angry. I was going to be patient and loving and kind.  I was going to look at the big picture and not sweat the small stuff.  Guess what?  I did it! I did not get mad and it was actually a semi-pleasant experience. We did them ourselves in the backyard. Here are a few of my favorites.

 

I know what you are all thinking right now. Wow, I wish I were more like her. She is such a great mom.  Well, before you lay out the red carpet and engrave my mom of the year award.  Let me tell you a little story.  You know how there are certain moments that you remember as a child, certain words spoken to you good or bad that you never quite forget.  Well, today I am pretty sure I said something that Atley might never forget. I was having one of those Tiger mom moments and in a super misguided attempt to motivate him to practice his piano and violin more and better I pretty much told him he sucked.  Yeah, I used those exact words.  I said something like, "Atley your violin and piano sucked today.  If you want to be good at something you are going to have to put in a lot more effort than that."  Brilliant parenting right? Not so much. He was crushed.  Why, oh, why must mothers also be humans?  Tired, grouchy, impatient humans.  Hopefully, he will forgive me. Because he truly doesn't suck. He is actually quite brilliant, but for some reason that is harder to express sometimes.