Nothing to Blog About

I realized it's been almost a week since I posted a blog entry - video of Maria's piano recital excluded. I have no amusing stories, and we've been pretty busy. Here's what's going on:

Sam started T-ball last night. Ben took him and said that only two of them - Sam and the coach's son - have ever played before. He may be the shining star of the team - it's the last year before he moves up to real baseball next year.

Sam also had his first soccer game of the season Saturday. He did well although did not score any goals. Ben missed it because...

He ran his first 5K race that morning. And came in 5th place out of 45 runners! Had a time of 24 minutes 10 seconds. He wanted to beat 24 minutes, but still did really well.

Maria and I are in the midst of last dance classes and dress rehearsals. Her recitals are next Friday and Saturday nights, and we have 3 more dress rehearsals to go. Our first was tonight, but she only had to be there a short time. Next week, we'll be there for a few hours Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. But she does great - she is such a natural performer.

I am busy planning Disney trip stuff with Lisa - we have been getting diner reservations and planning what park on which day, etc. We have been pretty lucky in getting what we want, which is surprising since we are fairly late in the planning.

The nice weather is forcing us to work outside too. The flower beds are weeded and ready to be planted in a few weeks. Ben is working hard on the dirt piles from the new drainage tiles. He can only do a little each day since it is hard on his back. But he is making progress.

In addition, we all have school stuff - Maria has OAT this week, Sam continues to learn his spelling words and reading books (and making progress on saying L's), and Ben and I are busy with the usual stresses and politics of the end of the school year and planning schedules for next year.

May is so jam-packed I know it will fly by. And then it will be summer vacation!

Maria's Piano Recital

This afternoon was Maria's piano recital, and she did great. It's hard to believe she's been playing for four years already. Mrs. Fuson had her go last, out of 24 players, and Maria took that as a compliment. Just hit "Play" and enjoy.

Nothing Can Ever Be easy

Tomorrow the kids have "Sports Shirt/Career" Day. Meaning the children can dress up like a career or wear a sports shirt. They have a special dress-up day the last Friday of each month.

I've had it on the calendar all month. I knew it was coming up, but I figured it was a no-brainer. Maria has an Indians shirt and Sam has a Buckeye shirt and an Indians shirt to choose from. Easy.

Not. On the drive home from school, I asked them what they planned on wearing so I could have it ready (in case something needed washed). Boy was I in for a surprise. A summary of the conversation went like this: Maria would like to go dressed up as a painter. She would like to paint all over her cooking apron so she can wear it and look like a professional painter. Sam "is going to be a Rock Star!" He is going to need a "shirt with skulls all over it or something."

What?!

Can't we just wear sports shirts and call it done?

So when Sam and Ben left for soccer, Maria asked if we could go to Wal-Mart and buy a cheap apron that we can paint all over for tomorrow. Years ago she had a painting smock but can't find it anywhere. After lots of looking and debating, we finally came up with an idea- I would make my signature piece - a pillowcase turned into an apron. So I got the sewing machine out and used an old white pillowcase to make into a poorly but workable constructed painter's apron, which she then painted all over.

Then I was worried that if whatever Sam decided to dress up as was as much work, it would take us late into the evening by the time he got home from soccer. So I called Ben and asked that he start this conversation on the way home from soccer so that we could move things along when they got home. Sam decided since his friend was going as a football player, he could go as a professional soccer player. So he'll wear last year's soccer shirt, shorts, soccer socks and cleats. Done!

Of course, we haven't done the letter bag yet. We have to be creative with the letter Z. Sam wants "Zombie." Could be interesting.

The Coffee Pot Hates Us

For months, Ben and I have been debating about getting a new coffee maker. We've looked many times, but have never found something we think we would like more that our current one, unless we add a grinder, which we can't do until the kids are old enough to sleep through that noise in the morning. We have been looking around because our current coffee maker still works well, but there is an annoying leak around the plastic at the top of the pot, and each cup has to be poured over the sink because it drips so much. Then if the sink doesn't get rinsed out, it leaves a stain, and it's just annoying.

Ben finally reached the end of his rope on Thursday, and ordered a new carafe for our coffee maker online, so that we could keep our current coffee machine but fix the annoying problem for much less money.

Then guess what? This morning, less than three days since we ordered the new carafe, the coffee maker quit working. Brewed half a pot and then just quit, and wouldn't respond to my repeated efforts to bring it back to life. When we figured out it's three years old, and we have probably brewed over 1000 pots of coffee with it, it didn't seem so unreasonable that it was dead. But very annoying, given that our new carafe will arrive in a few days and we'll have to send it back!

Ben did find an identical coffee machine at Lowe's today, only a different color - they didn't have any white. But it makes a good cup of coffee, and tomorrow morning should be better than this morning was!

We're Going to Disney World!

We've been discussing it for a few weeks, and are thrilled to announce that the trip is now a reality. We've been to Disney twice now as a family of four - once in June of 2004, again in June of 2006. Both trips hold very special memories for us, and a lot of "firsts" for the kids. This year will be another first, as we are going with Andy, Lisa, Mason and Lindsey.

We came up with the idea a few weeks ago, and we weren't sure if the logistics of all 8 of us going at the same time would work out. But Monday night we had a long planning session, and it's a go! We'll be going for 4 nights/5 days in June (over Star Wars weekend again, by accident) and staying at the Wilderness Lodge Resort. We will also be flying (we found flights for $99 per person) and were able to get all reservations together (we may even have adjoining hotel rooms). The only bummer, having planned our trip so late, is that there are no openings in any of the character meals. But all the kids have been to Chef Mickey's before, although Sam and Lindsey may not remember. And this will give us the opportunity to eat at different places.

So the kids are thrilled, and so are we. Who doesn't love Disney World? Hopefully Sam will have plenty of memories of the trip this time too - the last two times he was 1 and 3 years old, respectively.

Winner

Last week both kids entered the "Design a Bookmark" contest at the library. The theme was "Worlds Connect at Your Library." Maria spent a long time drawing her picture and coloring carefully. Sam also spent time drawing a picture of Mario and Sonic, but really paid no attention to the theme - just drew a picture that he thought looked neat. They were both in the same age category (ages 6-9), and two winners would be chosen from each age group. Today we received a phone call stating Maria was one winner from her age category. Her design is made into actual bookmarks that are given away at the circulation desk, and winners will have their picture in the paper. Unfortunately, that picture is being taken the same time her ballet pictures are tomorrow evening, so she won't be able to have her picture in the paper. But we stopped in tonight and picked up a few bookmarks to keep.

Of course, there was some drama since Sam didn't win - he was pretty upset. He kept saying "It's not fair," and finally Maria and I just left for the library and Ben was able to distract him with Legos after we left. Not another word was said about it when we got home. I think it was difficult for him since they competed against each other - with their age gap that doesn't usually happen. Also, he did spend a lot of time on his picture, for him, and loves Sonic and Mario so much he can't understand why everyone else doesn't either. Hopefully it will be another learning experience for him.

Easter Gifts

This afternoon we gave the kids their Easter gifts from us so we didn't have to cart them to Rita and Darrell's this weekend. We knew Sam would need time to put together his Legos and wanted to give him time to that rather than give it to him right before we leave in the morning. Sam got two Lego Agents sets that he has been asking for, and he has been playing with them all afternoon/evening, after they got put together. He even got a lot of it put together on his own this time.

Maria got a Nintendo DS game - Professor Layton and the Curious Village. It is a mystery/puzzle adventure and some of the puzzles are stumping me, too. Both kids also got a new swim suit that they had previously picked out of a catalog, and a summer outfit (which they might be able to wear someday).

The only other thing we did today was go out to lunch at Roosters, but at least we got out of the house. I also cleaned the house, so it's clean when we come back on Sunday, and we made the traditional Easter dessert around here - chocolate chip cheesecake. Tomorrow morning we are on the way to Rita and Darrell's for the weekend.

Goodbye Splatter

Splatter the fish ended his (her?) time on this planet on or around Tuesday, April 7. Maria had noticed Splatter was laying around Monday night so we knew his (her?) days were numbered. Only one fish remains in our tank, Katie, who we got around Thanksgiving. Definitely a record breaking lifetime in the Keller aquarium. As Sam says, "Katie must be the strongest fish in the world, or something."

So even though the kids would like to give Katie some company, Ben and I are trying to wait it out so once she leaves us we can start over with the aquarium and have the water be clear again. Although Katie may be able to outlast this plan, we'll see. This aquarium thing has been a big disappointment to us, and we're hoping if we start over it will get better. Having a "pet" has not really been that enjoyable for anyone in this family so far!

Double Standard

Let me start off by saying that I do think Ben is an excellent Dad. I really do.

Lately, though, it seems that he gets a lot of credit for being a great Dad, with no consideration for the fact that he is just half of this parenting team we have at this house.

Let me explain my frustration. A few weeks ago, both of us posted on Facebook that we were thrilled that Ben had been able to get tickets for a particular event that must remain nameless here since it will be a surprise. After this posting, most comments were about what a wonderful Dad Ben was for getting those tickets. True, but without me it would never have happened. I was the one who saw the particular act was coming to Columbus, checked dates, found out when tickets went on sale, etc. I asked Ben to do the actual purchasing of tickets becuase that falls under his expertise more than mine. But I did make sure he was out of bed on time and planned our morning around his being able to purchase these tickets. Essentially, all he did was the actual ordering (which was time consuming and frustrating), and I did all the behnd the scenes work. But he gets credit as being a great Dad, and I get none.

This week we have been trying to take the kids somewhere each day to keep them entertained during spring break but not go broke in the meantime. Tuesday we went to the Columbus Art Muesum, yesterday bowling, and today Ben took them swimming at the Dublin Rec Center. Planning these events were a team effort. I didn't go swimming today - I have a hair appointment this afternoon. Ben is apparently "such a great Dad" for taking his two children swimming. I am not a "great mother" for staying with them all yesterday afternoon so the great Dad could have some time off and golf with a friend.

Ben and I both work. We knew years ago (wow, almost 10 years) in order for this to work out, we both had to be equally involved in the housework and the raising of the children. And most of the time, it works out really well for us. But not without lots of planning and communication. And I guess it is annoying that Ben gets credit for doing his share, but my share, because I'm Mom, is just part of my unappreciated job.

Are these just a few comments from people with uninvolved husbands, or is this really a very sad commentary on our society? Because I don't think spending an afternoon with his kids should be so rare that it give one "great Dad" status.

Art Museum

This afternoon we took the kids to the Columbus Museum of Art. None of us had ever been before, and luckily it was fairly small, so we got through the whole thing in an hour and a half, which was about as long as the kids could handle. They had a special exhibit of Egyptian mummies, and a children's area with some hands-on activities. We also got there just in time to compete in the Chihuly Challenge, which consisted of your team putting as many pipe cleaners as we could around a black pole in three minutes. (Like you're constructing a Chihuly chandelier.) Anyway, Maria, Sam, and I had a total of 83, and won the team challenge, the prize for which was a $10 gift certificate to their gift shop.

Take a look at the sign in the picture above, which actually is from the College of Art and Design next door to the museum. A poorly placed light pole changes the sign to something else entirely. Ben is very proud of his picture!