Genie Bedila

I am starting to think I am starring in a Disney movie. But not an actual Disney movie. More like a C list movie, actually a sitcom with a really bad laugh track and the worst writing ever.
In my movie I have my own personal Genie, like Aladdin. My Genie just happens to be Amelia Bedila's cousin and everything I wish for gets twisted slightly.
In the pilot episode of this terrible show, I made new year's goals... resolutions don't work for me but goals do. My first goal was to use my sewing machine more and my second was to read 30 books by December 31st. I am pretty sure I must have phrased my goals in the form of a wish and my super nosy genie overheard and created some magic.  Genie heard, "I wish to use my sewing machine more." WISH GRANTED! I found myself sewing 32 masks in two weekends. Genie heard, "I wish to 30 books." WISH GRANTED! At the rate I am going I will have read 30 books by the end of May. (I only read 25 during 2019.)  Thanks Genie!
The second episode takes place in early February when I made the realization that the girls and I would have different spring breaks this year. Mac had already taken vacation time so he could be home with them when I was at work so I didn't need to figure out a plan for that week. BUT boy did I brag about my amazing week I was going to have on my spring break alone! I told my mom. She warned me I better stop with the bragging or I would jinx myself and end up with sick kids during my vacation week.  I didn't listen. I bragged. And I bragged. I even told strangers about the quiet week I had planned.
As we got closer to March and I was paying attention to the news, I made a little wish on Genie Bedila (it has been a rough couple of weeks, the rhyming part of my brain has shut down). I wished that I wouldn't have any sick kids home with me during my spring break. (Cue the intense sitcom music) 
Joke is on me. It is spring break. My kids are healthy (PTL!) but they are home with me because the world is sick. Not only did I jinx myself by bragging about my dream week, but I also jinxed the whole world. My genie and I caused the whole pandemic.
In another episode, in the middle of February (what is with that month?) I ordered concert tickets for Annelyse (and me) for her birthday. When I bought them I wished on Genie Bedila for Annelyse to have an empty schedule for the night. I bought the tickets without checking the calendar. I was just hoping she had a night without any practices, classes, rehearsals, or performances. Guess what? Joke is on me. The concert is this week. Annelyse has nothing on her schedule for that night. BUT no one does. Everything is canceled. No practices, no classes, no rehearsals, no performances. Everything is canceled. Even the concert. Thanks Genie!
I am really hoping this show gets canceled by the network before I make the mistake of wishing for a hot lazy summer!

Quarantine Concentration

So I finished a book today. No big deal, I finish books all the time. But it kind of was a big deal. It made me realize something.

I had a hard time focusing while I was reading. That isn't ever an issue for me. I have always been able to block out all the noise when I read. But I just couldn't. I couldn't concentrate. I had to read and reread a lot.

It wasn't really the noise that was getting to me. (Although, hearing the same repeated songs/phrases on TikTok was starting to get to me.) It was the thoughts in my head. I noticed I was jumping from one thought to the next. Nothing linked all a jumbled bunch on tangents bouncing in my head distracting me from my reading.

This book wasn't hard. Normally I would have finished it in a total of 5 hours but it took me a week and 1/2.

All of this made me think about students, my students, all students trying to learn right now. I can't imagine how hard it is for them. I am sure some are doing just fine. Some are even excelling. But I would guess most are not.

A2 had 9 chapters and questions/activities assigned last week. It is not done. She tried. She read the first chapter and has no clue what she read. She has always been one to struggle with reading and concentration but things had improved for her. I haven't had to help her with reading comprehension for a couple of years. Now I am back to reading with her. She just couldn't get the thoughts and the chaos in her mind to stop.

Thankfully she in on spring break this week so we will be able to get caught up. But I worry. If things continue to get assigned at the pace they were, what happens if she gets overwhelmed and shuts down? Then we won't be getting anything accomplished.

We are suffering from quarantine concentration. Maybe once we get used to our new normal things will get easier. But I am not sure about that.

Parents: It is ok if you are struggling to get this figured out. Reach out to a friend or a teacher for assistance.

Teachers: Remember your students have a lot going on! It is ok to slow down your assignments. Also, keep your snarky comments to yourself if students are not doing what you think they should.

Students: Take it one assignment at a time. Take breaks. Breathe.

Best Ballet Ever

I know tons of dance moms think that their child's ballet is the best ever, but I promise you Winnie the Pooh IS in fact the best ballet ever. There are so many reasons this show is magical. The costumes are phenomenal. Each character is perfection. The set pieces are breathtaking. They make you feel like you are stepping into a story book.

Those are reasons this show is great but it isn't why it is the best.

A3 has always been a hard no when it comes to performing on stage. She wanted nothing to do with musicals unlike her sisters. She doesn't like being the center of attention. Even as a toddler, she hated people singing Happy Birthday to her. She is my shy backstager, or so I thought.

After hearing A1 nonstop talk about auditioning for Pooh, A3 thought maybe she would like to too. We talked about what it would mean to audition. We talked about the rehearsal process. We talked about all the new kids she would meet. We talked about late night (8:00 is late when you are a 7 year old who needs to sleep!) We talked about performing on the stage with people watching. She was firm on her decision. She wanted her first show to be A1's last show. She said she didn't want to miss a chance to dance with A1. (Be still my heart.)

Audition day was met with so much nervous anxiety. A3 worried about everything; her hair, her tights, her leotard, her shoes. I almost had to carry her in the studio because she was ready to back out. I stayed with her until the kids had to gather for a meeting before auditions. She latched on to my arm and I didn't think she was going to go in until a sweet older girl took her hand and pulled her into the room. She looked back and gave me a teary smile. I tried my best to hide my teary smile.

After auditions she was all smiles. She felt good about herself. She pushed herself to do something she didn't think she would be able to do and her confidence grew a little.

Then we had camp rehearsals. Drop off was again rough. She didn't know any of the girls in her group. She was worried and anxious. She was not going to let go of my arm. Thankfully, Miss Rhonda came around the corner and grabbed her hand. She told A3 it was time to go with her. A3 went without much hesitation. No one says "no" to Miss Rhonda. (Well, there was this one kid... but I don't think she counts because that kid lives with Miss Rhonda and calls her mom.) Miss Ronda gave me a shared mom to mom look. She had A3 and was going to take care of her.

After the first rehearsal, A3 was pumped for the show. She had 2 new best friends. 2 new best friends without names. She talked nonstop about the day. She was so proud of herself for going and her confidence grew a little.

Tech week came. This was a whole new experience for an order loving 7 year old. She was not prepared for the controlled chaos that tech week brings. There are a lot of new things happening all at once. She did not want to let go of my arm. Then one of her new best friends, who now has a name, showed up and they nervously walked backstage together.

After that first day of tech, Amelya came home excited to go back. She loved dancing on the stage. She couldn't wait for all the people to come and watch her and her new friends. She didn't show any signs of stage freight and her confidence grew.

Last night while I was waiting for the rehearsal start I caught a glimpse of A3 in action. She was chatting with people she didn't know. She was visibly excited. She was bubbly and carefree. Someone who didn't know her asked if she was my outgoing child. Another mom who knows all the girls laughed. She couldn't believe it when I told her A3 was my shy one. She has changed so much since December.

This show is the best show because it changed my shy nervous rule following A3 into a more  confident rule following A3. She has had so many chances to shine and try new things. She had to face her fears and proved to herself that she can do it.

She is a brave butterfly who really came out of her cocoon. (See what I did there??)

Also there is an amazing older dancer in the show who has some pretty fierce fouettes.  

 

Giant Theatre Puzzle

It seems like audition season is upon us. High schoolers auditioning for spring musicals. Community theatre participants prepping for summer auditions. (Even though it is freeze-your-face-degrees outside). Auditioning brings out all the feelings; excitement, fear, bravery, anxiousness, frustration, motivation, rejection, confidence. Not only do auditionees experience these emotions but so do the directors and the parents (parents of both the auditionees and the directors, trust me.)

Parents, I think, have it the hardest when it comes to dealing with the audition emotions. Parents have a double duty. They have to cope with their own feelings while navigating the emotional minefield of their child. (Becuase, let's face it, if you have a kid wanting to participate in the dramatic arts, there will be a lot of emotions!) Mac and I have had experience on both sides of the table...

Here is some unsolicited advice:

Directing and Parenting the Emotionally Dramatic

1. Understand the bigger picture 
We try to use analogies to help the girls understand the whole theatre process. It makes things a little more concrete and it takes some of the emotions out. A theatre production is like a giant puzzle. Everyone involved is a puzzle piece. It is up to the director and the rest of the staff to determine where each puzzle piece fits to complete the picture. If we look at an individual puzzle piece without the rest of the pieces we might miss something. We won't know where that piece actually fits without the rest of the pieces. Your puzzle piece might look like the lead to you but when it is next to other puzzle pieces it might not really fit as the lead. Sometimes your puzzle piece might actually belong to another puzzle and that is ok! The director isn't necessarily making a comment on your talent or lack of talent when casting. The cast list is just a way of assembling the puzzle. (I get all the eye rolls from the girls when we talk about their puzzle pieces, but I know they understand where I am coming from with this.)

2. Keep yo mouth shut 
Once casting has been posted, try to keep your opinions to yourself. You actually, are not helping your child by telling them the director made a mistake (or however colorfully you want to say it). Comfort your child. Let them vent. Lead them in a positive direction.
Words can hurt, and words will be repeated. If you took the high road and you didn't say negative things about the director to your child, good for you! BUT be careful when venting your frustrations to other adults, especially if you live in a small town or a tightknit theatre community. Your opinions will eventually get shared with the group. And trust me it is awkward when the director finds out that you think they are a big ol' dumb dumb stupid pants. (again, insert your own choice of colorful language)

3. Deserved Roles
Unless you have signed a contract with the director, your child is not guaranteed a particular role. You may think, and in some cases, actually say, "My child deserves this role because of yada yada." Your yadas might include; my child has the most beautiful voice, my child is the best actor, my child has been in dance for 150,000,000 years, my child shows up and helps the director when she needs extra help, my child has had a rough school year, my child hasn't ever gotten a lead, my child is a senior, or my child is the center of the universe. While your yadas are important to you and your family, they don't actually matter when putting together that theatre puzzle. (Reread 1)  Also, keep in mind, at the same exact time you are saying your child deserves a part because of yada yada, there are 5 other parents saying that their child deserves that SAME EXACT part because of their own yadas.

4. Think before you speak
In case suggestion 2 didn't hit home or it doesn't apply to you, please think before you speak. Your venomous words will do nothing but hurt others. You may not worry about hurting the director because most likely that person will be an adult, but think about the kids you are hurting. By saying your child deserves a certain role and the director made a mistake, you are also saying the child who was cast in that role is less than worthy of getting it. Once those things get out, it is hard to come back from.

We have heard it a number of times with A1 and a few with A2. I have sat in an audience during rehearsals and heard moms whispering that my girls don't deserve the parts they get. They only get them because of their dad. It was awful. I, of course, said nothing and wanted to cry.  These ladies don't know the work my girls put into every audition. The years A1 has spent dancing. The time they both put into vocals. They thought their children or other children deserved roles over my girls. They said it. I heard it. Unfortunately, it didn't stop there. That year the children of those ladies made sure to tell my girls they didn't deserve the roles they had. Talk about a mind F!
THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK!

5. Help Your Child
One of the trickiest things about deciding what role you want to audition for, is knowing what role is right for you. It takes a lot of self-evaluation. You need to know your strengths and your weaknesses. If you are wanting to audition for the role of an 8-year-old but if you’re  over 5 feet tall and have a lot of adult features, that role is not for you... (A1, I am looking at you.) If you are auditioning for a lead role that has a tap-dancing solo, but you haven't ever taken a tap class and you often trip over painted lines, that role isn't for you. If you are auditioning for a role that has a tenor solo and you sing bass, that role isn't for you.
By guiding your child through this process it will save you a lot of heartache in the end. A2 has mastered this already. A1 is still working on it... A2 was auditioning for 2 roles for Frozen Jr. She wanted the coveted role of Elsa (and who didn't) or Olaf. She practiced both parts and ON HER OWN decided Elsa wasn't right for her because it was out of her vocal range so she put all of her efforts into her Olaf audition.
If your child isn't getting the roles they want, are there areas they have weaknesses in? Could they do something to improve those areas for their next audition? A2 was aware that her dance audition was weak so she decided to take a dance class this year. She isn't a big fan of leotards so she opted for HipHop. She loves the class (especially the teacher) and she has a lot more confidence in dance heading into her next audition.


Since most auditions are closed to parents you don't really know what happens once your child stands in front of the director and the rest of the staff. Your casting opinions are not based on anything actually used to make casting decisions.

Break a leg to all the parents of auditionees! Be positive and unless you are willing to dedicate the countless hours it takes to direct a show, keep your mouth shut! :D

Sad Keto Mess

It is no secret to anyone who has talked to me since Monday; I have joined the millions of Americans (I totally made up this statistic, but it felt right.) who started Keto after New Year's Day. Right now I am in that obsessed-always-talking-about-it phase. I whine about the lack of chicken nuggets and candy bars in my life. I overshare my daily food intake and recipes. I drool over friend's mashed potatoes. I am a sad keto mess. BUT I haven't cheated since I started on Monday. #winnning #whinning

During one of my daily morning phone calls with my mom, she asked me why I am doing this. She wanted to know what the goal weight was. I told her that it was no longer cool to set your healthy lifestyle goals based on a number. (And we all know I am super cool and up to date on all the cool things) She wasn't impressed and wanted to know what my goal weight was... I refused to answer, mostly because that was my morning mood that day, but also because I don't want to get overwhelmed with that. My goal is to do Keto, without cheating, for 30 days. (That is one of those SMART goals I have been teaching my students to write. I am following my own instructions!) 

Why am I doing this??
I know everyone is sitting on the edge of their seats right now to read my why list. Here ya' go!

1. I want to bend over and not have to tuck in my stomach.
2. I want to be able to tie my shoes without hold my breath. (from bending over, not stinky feet.)
3. I want to be able to yell at my girls without getting winded.
4. I want to be able to fit more comfortably in my leggings. (They are starting to cut off my circulation.)
5. I want to take control of my eating habits now before a doctor tells me I need to.
6. I want to prove to myself that I can do this. 
7. I want to look 1 month pregnant and not 5 months pregnant. (Please read this carefully, I am not pregnant. I don't plan on being pregnant, again, ever. Don't start any rumors.)
8. I want to fit more comfortably in a student desk. (Sometimes I just need to...)
9. I want to be able to wear my recently found engagement ring again. (Even though Mac bought me a new set of rings that I absolutely love. It would still be nice to fit that tiny ring back on my finger.)
10. I want to stop avoiding social situations because of the negative feelings I have about myself. (It seriously has been a struggle the last few months.)
11. I want to make sure I am around for a long time to annoy the girls. 

I don't think I will ever stop mourning my loss of chicken nuggets, but I know I can do this. I have so many people cheering me on. I just hope I don't annoy those people to the point that they start throwing nuggets at me as I walk by. 

When I Grow Up

What do you want to be when you grow up?

We ask little kids this all the time and they give the best answers. They give the best answers because they dream without limits. They don't think there are jobs they can't do. They only think about what they want to do. They don't take into consideration what talents they actually have or what is the most practical job. They don't worry about what other people would think if they took the chosen career path. They just tell you the job they think would be the coolest!

When I was five I wanted to be 2 things; a helicopter piolet and work at McDonald's. (My love for the Golden Arches has been strong for a long time!) Other than working a couple McTeacher nights, neither of those two career paths went anywhere for me. At some point, I decided those weren't realistic jobs for me. (Or maybe once I finally got to school, I realized what a glamorous life a teacher would have...)

I wonder when things changed. When did I no longer dream of asking "Do you want fries with that?" I know there was a time in high school that I thought I wanted to be a pediatrician. I didn't REALLY want to be a pediatrician but I worried my friends would laugh at me if I said I wanted to be a teacher.

Now that I am older and MUCH wiser (probably), I don't worry so much about what my friends will think and I find it a little annoying that no one ever asks me now what I want to be when I grow up. I am sure it has something to do with the fact that I am 40 (ish) and have a pretty set career.

BUT I still want someone to ask. I want to dream and plan a future with the innocence of a five-year-old's mind. I want to think about my possibilities without considering my talents and abilities.

"Wanna know what I want to be when I grow up?" I know my mom and sister were sitting on the edge of their seats when I asked them that question. I even made it more exciting by making them guess.

Neither of them guessed the correct answer. Both of them were sure they were right when they said, "writer." But no, that would be boring. Who would want to do that? (Except, me. I would kind of like that. but that is NOT my answer.)

Me, being a 40-year-old, thinking like a five-year-old, I would like to be a jazz singer. But not just any jazz singer. I want to be a famous jazz singer. Think about it. Jazz singers ooze confidence and that is something I have been searching for my whole life. If I was a jazz singer, a famous one, I would be the most confident woman in the world. Plus, (adult) lady jazz singers are very sensuous and not at all awkward (not that I am saying that I am awkward, yes, I am). Who wouldn't want to be a jazz singer?

Before you start to question my career choice, remember I am thinking like a five-year-old it doesn't matter that I can't sing or that I am not sure if I even like jazz. All that matters is that I think it would be a really awesome job (and I am almost sure jazz singers get to sleep in)!

What do YOU want to be when you grow up? Think like a five-year-old. What would be the most awesome job?

Anxiety in the House

Phew! That was a tough one. The roughest bedtime we have had in years. The final A Team member fell asleep at 1:30AM. The anxiety was so thick at our house tonight you could have cut it with a knife! In fact, there was so much anxiety in our house I am pretty sure it just became A4.

So many questions from all of them...

Will I have friends?

Will the kids make fun of me for being fat?

What if I can't remember my teacher's name?

Will all the kids still think I am sick?

What if I can't remember how to get to all of my classes?

Will I get to sit with A2 on the bus?

What if I can't do my homework?

What if I don't make the middle school musical?

What if the kid across from me is mean?

Why can't I be homeschooled?

When will I have recess?

What if it snows?

When will I get to go swimming again?

What if the bus monitor hates me again?

When do the baby chicks come? 

What if I start to feel sick again?

What if I have lunch with ......?

What if I spill my milk at lunch?

What if the teacher doesn't understand the way my girls function?

What if the teacher has too many students in class and my kid gets overlooked?

What if no one notices A2 not feeling well?

What if A2's appendix bursts?

What if I forget to switch the laundry?

Ok, so the last questions were most likely mine but anxiety is contagious. I spent a lot of time praying with the girls. I spent a lot of time box breathing with the girls. A little technique I picked up from my class this summer. I spent a lot of time showing them how to acknowledge their feelings, identify what we have control of, and then moving on from there.

I am feeling overwhelmed and slightly stressed. I will probably enjoy my mom-somnia the rest of the night/morning. I plan on switching the laundry, emailing the school nurse, and eating an avocado. Look at me acknowledging my feelings, identifying what I have control of, and then moving on from there! 

My 3 anxiety-ridden reasons for my mom-somnia and anxiety.

Amazing A1

Photo cred. Heidi Pumphrey
Chatham Sweet Corn Festival

This girl. This girl amazes me and I don't give her enough credit. I sometimes get too stuck in the role of overbearing and possibly too critical mom that I forget to appreciate A1 for the hardworking and driven young lady she is.  This girl is one of the busiest people I know, trust me, I drive her.

She spent her whole weekend doing what she loves; dancing and performing. I never heard her complain one time (ok, that might not be true. She did complain a little Saturday night when we were going over her schedule for the next day, but she bounced back fast!). It is what drives her. 

I have seen her learn a dance minutes before a performance. I have seen her learn a dance while she was performing. (That was a little intense, but she made it through and she learned that she can do anything she puts her mind to doing.)  I have seen her learn a dance from watching a video and then go on to perform the dance. Her passion and talent amaze me. 

I wish I could take credit for her talent, but anyone who knows me knows that just isn't the case. I am the one who trips on painted lines. I wish I could take credit for her desire to be busy, but I have a need for doing NOTHING. Sitting in a quiet space and enjoying every quiet minute is what charges me. She has a natural talent and passion that drives her. She has had phenomenal teachers along the way; ones that know when to push, when to wait, when to be hard, when to be soft, when to make something a learning moment, and when to let things go. 

Last night before she went to bed we went over the schedule for today. I was a little nervous because it was one activity after another (actually it was one activity on top of another. She had her next thing start before the last one ended) she has handled it like an adult. She had her bag packed and even set an alarm to get up when she needed to get up.

Her schedule for the day:

10:30-11:35 SDT rehearsal

12-1:30 SBC Trainee

1:30-4:00 SDT performance

3:00-6:00 Incredibles choreography assistant 

6:50-10:00 Muni rehearsal

By the time the day is over, she will have eaten three meals in the car today and has changed her clothes in the car three times. (Thank goodness for tinted windows and friends who hold up blankets!) I am so proud of this girl

Oh, Avocado!

It is 1:15 AM and I can't sleep. Why? Because there is a half eaten avocado in my refrigerator. It was supposed to be my afternoon snack. It was the other half of my breakfast avocado. I skipped my afternoon snack because I was at the grocery store. Well, in the parking lot, but that is a story for another day. 

My avocado addiction has gone from cute and trendy to seriously disturbing. This addiction is worse than any of my other addictions. It is more powerful than McDonald's Coke or Dr. Pepper. It controls me more than Brach's Malted Eggs (the old recipe). It owns me more than a dystopian YA novel. I crave it more than a Chic-Fil-A frozen coffee. It consumes my thoughts more than a Hallmark Christmas Movie. This addiction is real.

I have tried to explain the euphoria I feel after I fill my belly with an avocado, but I was only met with the stares from friends and family who started to see me as a woman on the edge. I am sure they thought summer 2018 had finally done me in.

I know what I felt couldn't be wrong so I went straight to google...

"Why do avocado's make me happy?" To my surprise, it popped up as a suggested search. This justified my feelings. There are others out there who felt the extreme happiness from this strange green fruit! The search results were lame; improved heart health, weight loss, boost brain performance, lower blood pressure. Blah, blah, blah... Those reasons DO NOT make me happy. SEE MY PREVIOUS ADDICTIONS: I am not addicted to healthy lifestyles. Yet. 

I continued to search until I found the answer I was looking for...

BOOM! There is was in black and white. Avocados have an abundance of Tryptophan. That is used in the brain to make serotonin. Everyone knows that we need serotonin to feel happy. I am basically eating my happy pills in fruit form. I must be addicted to feeling happy! That feels less pathetic than being addicted to food. 

PS Isn't Tryptophan that stuff in turkey that makes all of us old people need naps on Thanksgiving? Perhaps this is why I have needed a nap every day the last two weeks when my addiction flared up...

PPS I will still continue to take my little blue happy pills that my doctor prescribed. I am in no way suggesting avocados should replace any prescription medication!

PPPS (Is that even a thing?) It is now 1:45 and I can finally sleep. I ate that avocado half while I wrote this. I now have had my dose of tryptophan and can rest easy. I even scrapped the sides of the peel. No avocado left behind! 

Falling Over Sideways

It might be 30* outside, but I'm ready to start my summer reading! Each summer I compile a list of books that is a mixture of books recommended to me throughout the year and the books on the newest Rebecca Caudill list. This year I realized my list was already 35 books and it I was only April. It made me panic a little. I hate making lists that I won't be able to complete. I had an urgent need to get some of these books in my hands. Now.

I took a quick trip to the library to see if I could get any of the books on my list. I was lucky enough to find two of the books. Both of these books are by authors I have enjoyed in the past. I decided to start with Falling Over Sideways written by Jordan Sonnanblick. Sonnanblick happens to be the author of my FAVORITE book, Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie. I figured kicking off my summer 2018 reading with one of his books was the best thing to do.

I started and finished Falling Over Sideways on the same day. (That tells you how good it was…) Something unexpected happened when I finished the book. I had a new favorite book. This book touched me from the moment I read the dedication page. It was a sweet message that told me I was going to be able to relate to this book, probably not in the way the author intended, since I am not the actual target audience, but in a parent way. I saw that he is close to someone who can be dramatic… I might know a girl who is dramatic, maybe.

This story is so sweet. One that most students, especially girls, who are in or have been in middle school, can relate to. It was a reminder to me of what A1 was going through as far as school and dance are concerned. Claire and A1 are similar in so many ways it gave me chills. I think Jordan Sonnablick could be living next door to us, he is all too familiar with A1. He has to have a front row seat to her life.  

This story was beautifully written. The flow of the language. The humor. The teenage sarcasm. The way it really made me feel. I loved it.  I laughed out loud a few times. A2 kept asking me what was so funny. She couldn’t believe a book was making me giggle. Honestly, it has been awhile since I read anything that made me LOL. I even cried a few times, especially at that last sentence. OH, THE FEELS!

Do yourself a favor, if you are going to read any of the books I recommend, PLEASE read this one. One of the reasons this is my favorite book it that was able to enjoy it as an almost 40-year-old AND I will be able to recommend it to students and A1. In fact, I strongly encouraged her to read it. Which means she probably won’t read it, but I think I talked one of her friends into reading it, which means she will probably read it.

She Carried A Watermelon

"Mom, you won't ever guess what I did at school today! I carried a watermelon."

My first thought was, "Why is A2 using my favorite movie quote?" Which also happens to be the only movie quote I can remember. My mind quickly jumped back to the issue at hand; WHO in their right mind would let A2 carry a watermelon and WHERE did she get a watermelon?

Before I could even verbalize my thoughts, A2 continued with her story. "We went to the garden during math. We all got to pick one thing. I picked a watermelon. I got to carry it back to my classroom, all the way down the hall."

Holy Shtuff! Again, who would let A2 carry a watermelon? This seems like a really bad idea...

"Everyone kept telling me not to drop it and you know what happens when people tell me not to do something? I always do it. Not on purpose, just bad things happen sometimes."

Oh boy, here it comes, the disaster.

"I was carrying it and then I thought, 'This is kind of like a basketball. I wonder if I could shoot it in the hoop.' I picked it up and put it over my head to pretend to shoot. I guess I got a little confused in my mind because I actually shot the watermelon like a ball. Can you believe that?"

Well, yes. I actually CAN believe that.

"There was a janitor behind me and he kind of grunted a little. I don't think he really wanted to clean up the guts. There were watermelon guts on the floor. It didn't explode huge, but there were still guts on the floor. I guess it wasn't really ripe to begin with, good thing, huh?"

Sorry, janitor. I have been in your shoes. She is a walking disaster who gets really awesome ideas in her head that turn out not so awesome when she implements them. Sorry you had to add gut clean up to your to-do list. Thank goodness it wasn't ripe, right??

I secretly hope she comes home and tells me she was put in time out in a corner just so I can pretend to be sympathetic and say, you guessed it, "Nobody puts baby in a corner!" The other only movie quote I can remember. 

Strange Things We Say

Every parent finds him/herself spewing out sentences her/she never thought were possible. Stop smelling the wall. Don't lick your sister. No, you shouldn't share your toothbrush. (These are totally normal, right?) 

Being a theatre mom most of June made me up my game in the strange things I have verbalized to my girls. I have said things in the last month that have raised eyebrows of the average Walmart shopper or friends who weren't prepared for the crazy that the A Team brings anywhere they go.

My favorites from our Willy Wonka experience:


1. This pizza is for our midnight dinner. Judgy cashier gave me the side eye. 

2. I'm going to let the girls sleep until 2PM. Judgy Jealous friend didn't know how to respond to the fact that the girls would/could sleep in that late.

3. Your wig cap is in the driveway. Confused friend didn't know what was going on.

4. You can just have popcorn for dinner. Judgy self... what has happened to my life?

5. Did you lose your flight shorts? Confused friend. Did you say fight shorts or flight shorts? And what the heck are flight shorts anyway?

6. Your makeup stained your hair. Inquisitive lady at Walmart. She actually leaned over to look. 

7. I don't think Oompa Loompas should wear earrings. Seemingly unfazed friend, who later agreed that Oompa Loompas shouldn't wear earrings, even though she hadn't ever thought about it before. 

8. Squirrels can't wear nail polish, can they? Confused lady at the library.

9. Bring me the bras you need for the Oompa Loompas. Amused friend sitting on my couch while I tired to get some laundry done. 

10. You have to wear mascara. Two parter: Judgy lady in the makeup aisle. Judgy self in the makeup aisle. Yes, I just told my 8 year old she has to wear makeup while I am not wearing any, not even lip gloss. 


Now that the show is over and we have basically recovered I can go back to saying the normal weird things.

A3, please get Marianne out of your mouth. (It is a Barbie she named Marianne...) 

Melancholy Monday Flood Gates Opened

Melancholy Monday ended with a record number of tears shed. While I don't necessarily understand all the reasons for the tears, I am sure the girls felt they were worthy causes for opening the emotional flood gates. The most memorable...

1. I said "Good morning."
2. Mac went to work.
3. We weren't having hot dogs for dinner.
4. Mac didn't know what the weather was going to do.
5. Mac didn't need to know what the weather was going to do.
6. I told the girls we would have time to watch a movie.
7. I suggested we read Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.
8. Amalia is moving.
9. I told the girls they didn't have to do their summer school work.
10. I said we had time to go to the park.
11. I bought socks that were intentionally mismatched.
12. A2 found her tap shoes. (I may have been the one crying over this...)
13. It was 5:30PM.
14. Andi Mack was deleted.
15. It was 8:30PM

These are totally normal, right?

Melancholy Monday

The entire A Team (and their mangers) are all suffering from a severe case of "Post Show Funk" on this melancholy Monday.

Anyone new to theatre or who hasn't ever had the opportunity to be a part of a live theatre production: these are the totally and completely normal feelings one endures upon the close of a show. The Post Show Funk, PSF, reactions will vary depending on level of show involvement, emotional maturity, emotional involvement, age, and amount of sleep one has had in the previous 3 weeks.

Examples of PSF:

A1: Instead of breaking out in spontaneous songs or tap dances, she is breaking out in bursts of tears. Sobbing has become her new form of communication. I am not going to lie, I do kind of prefer it to her usual communication via grunts, sighs, and eye rolls. She has described herself as "feeling empty inside." She is currently filling that emptiness with stale potato chips and reruns of Disney shows. Based on past PSF, I know she will soon start texting, snapchatting, and messaging cast members. Sorry.

A2: She is currently avoiding her feelings. She woke up, walked downstairs, looked at the pile of Muni memorabilia, cried, and then promptly returned to bed. That was 2 hours ago. This morning, (3AM) before she went to bed, she let us all know she wouldn't ever do another show again, because it just hurts TOO much to say goodbye to all of her best friends.

A3: This Verruca Salt wanna-be, has a one way ticket to Warren Behavior Bootcamp. Ok, so maybe her parents might actually be the ones who need the bootcamp... She has spent the last three weeks getting little sleep and dealing with distracted parents. She has been handed anything/everything she wants to keep her quiet and happy-ish. She has heard how cute, funny, smart, etc. she is no matter how mean/evil she was acting. She was doted on by cast, crew, parents, and staff. She felt like the center of the world. Now it is back to reality, where has always been treated like the center of the universe.

Mac: TBD. He is at work today and is unable to report in on his PSF.

Carrie: I am a mixed bag of emotions. I will spend the day looking through pictures, planning scrapbooks that won't ever happen, and eating all the foods. I am sad that my girls are sad. I am nervous because I am now the summer entertainment. The first few weeks were easy because they were hanging out with 60+ of their best friends or sleeping all day. Now it is all me, without my new Muni mom best friends supporting me. I am excited to start the summer projects I have planned. I am also tired, but that is my normal state of being...

How I beat PSF

1. Ice Cream
2. Brownies
3. Brownie/Ice Cream Combo
4. Make plans to meet up with cast members at some point in the next week.
5. Pizza
6. Buy new socks
7. Challenge/bet other parents.

• Make a betting pool
• See whose kid cries the most
• Bet on the number of times your kid will cry
• Bet on the number of times your kid will fall asleep while you are talking to them
• Bet on the number of times your kid calls you mean because you simply walked in the room
• Put money on it, or babysitting time

8. Sign your kids up for an activity and then miss the first day because everyone is too tired. 

9. Look out the window, comment on the beauty of the outdoors, but don't go out because you are on a nature detox. 

10. Talk about the next show

As the week goes on the PSF will wear off. Life will return to normal. There will be other shows. There will be more PSF. AND there will be more brownie/ice cream combos!

Tech Week Advice

It's tech week!!

What exactly does that mean??

It means,

QUICK, EVERYBODY PANIC!

Wait, no it doesn't!

It just means it is the week before the show. It is time to add all the pieces together and make the show complete; sound, lights, orchestra, costumes, makeup, etc. It also could mean longer hours rehearsing which means late(r) nights.

We are currently working on a show with several newbies, so I thought it would be helpful to make a tech week survival list. I am by no means a theatre expert, but I am an expert at just surviving. This is my third year surviving tech week as a stage mom and my umpteenth time surviving tech week as a stage wife. Even though I am not an expert, I come with a wealth of knowledge and experience.

1. Hydrate: this is no joke, especially when the temps are above 90*. It is roasty toasty outside! I am sure parents have been pushing fluids on their children, since the director and the staff have been suggesting this for weeks, but moms and dads need to stay hydrated too! I promise it will make your life better! I learned a few weeks ago, my liquid intake of diet soda and iced tea was not cutting it. Now I have heart palpitations, dry skin, peeling lips, and a bad attitude. All of this because of no water.  Mom, I promise I am now drinking water and less soda.

2. Stay cool: This is a two parter.

A. Try to stay in the air conditioning during the day as much as you can. I know it is summer and everyone wants to be outside swimming, but you will regret it later at rehearsal. Your kids will be zapped and you will be zapped. Your kids will have a bad attitude. You will have a bad attitude. Trust me on this one! I know from first hand experience. I try to limit our day time swimming to under two hours, with enough time for a nap before rehearsal. Doesn't always happen, but I try. 

B. Try to keep your temper cool. This is especially tough for those of us who need a schedule and routine. Tech week is hard to schedule. It is more of a plan. First this, then that, next those, and finally these. It is hard to put a set time on all of this. Tech week is a time to iron out all the problems. Sometimes problems are easy to fix, other times they take a little bit longer. Sometimes those harder problems cause a little bit of stress and your loving staff may be a little bit stressed and not as much fun as they have been up to this point. Parents it won't necessarily be your child's fault if rehearsal runs a little later than you think it should. Don't be short with them even if you are extra tired when they finally get in your car. This may or may not have happened in my car once.

3. Chaos control: Tech week can bring on a lot of chaos. A lot of people are doing a lot of different things all at the same time. If you have been assigned a job, do it. If you have questions use the "3 Before Me" rule. This is my new favorite rule in my class!!! It has helped with chaos management in my classroom while I am doing small group instruction. Basically check with 3 other sources before you ask your question. Chances are your question has been asked/answered somewhere else. Check website, Facebook, emails, text, or ask another cast member.

4. Eat healthy: This week will be crazy. It will be tempting to stop by a fast food drive through, but you will be better off if you don't head in that direction. Tech week is the one time my family is guaranteed a healthy meal. One of the few weeks I don't hit the drive through. Eat your fruits, veggies, and protein. You are putting your body through a lot. It will thank you later.

5. Sleep: I know this is a joke. You could be getting home after 11:00 and if you have to work in the morning, a lot of sleep won't be happening. However; if you can manage, you should try to get at 20 minute nap before rehearsal... Nap, what is that??

During my first tech week as a stage mom, I didn't think about all of these things. A1 ended up with a bad migraine and almost wasn't able to perform during one of the shows. That is a crummy way to end things after working so hard for so long.

Happy tech week! Break a leg!

Spring Break Carrie

It is that time of year... Spring Break Carrie has arrived. Spring Break Carrie, SBC (not to be confused with the Springfield Ballet Company) is a lot like Summer Time Carrie, STC (again not to be confused with the Springfield Theatre Centre) . Both are happy, relaxed, and well read. Both spend their days pleasurably cleaning and cooking. Both stay up late and sleep in late. Both enjoy the countless stories and songs from the A Team. School Year Carrie also enjoys stories and songs from the A Team, but would prefer the condensed version with LONG pauses in between. Both are pleasant people.

The big difference between SBC and STC is the urgency at which SBC gets things done. SBC knows she is only here for a short time, while STC gets to hang out a little longer. SBC makes lists and works to check them off. STC makes lists and loses them. SBC is an overachiever while STC just squeaks by. SBC isn't someone I would want to hang out with, but STC is...

SBC has been busy making her list for the week. She has already started checking things off the list and is in the process of completing others.

1.  Read. Start AND finish a book. Good news! I went the the library last Thrusday. I have two books ready to go. In fact I am 1/3 of the way through one of them!

2.  Write. Either a blog post or a Camp Nanowrimo story  Looks like I am killing that one right now!

3.  Lose 30 Lbs This is where we get to the unrealistic portion of the list...

4.  Exercise once a day  I have actually done this! Friday Skyzone, Saturday Beachbody Yoga, Sunday Beachbody Yoga

5.  Drink water Ugh... why is this so hard?

6.  Clean the house March was rough on our house! I wasn't home much and things got out of control fast. It takes two adults constantly on top of things to keep this place afloat. 

7.  Clean the DVR Again, March was rough on the DVR.

8.  Eat all the Easter candy I am killing this one! I am owning that candy and making it my bi food. In fact, I might run to the store tomorrow and get more. This will probably ruin number 3, maybe...

9.  Go to a movie during the day Tomorrow A3 are going to see Beauty and the Beast while the others are at school and work. 

10. Eat out once, cook the rest I have been to the store, meals are planned, I am ready to cook. I actually love cooking meals when I have time!

SBC has set her goals high. She is prepared to work to achieve them. She also knows if she falls short of completing her list STC will be here in 6 short weeks.

Happy Spring Break!

Increased Surface Area

During the summer, in the middle of all of my crazy doctors' appointments, I had a regular check up with my doctor I have had for over 10 years. She is one of my favorite people and I always look forward to seeing her. Before she left the room, she put her hand on my shoulder, the way she always does when she is about to gently deliver some not so great news. I braced myself as she leaned over and said "Your blood pressure is up a little higher than normal. We need to keep an eye on that. Oh, and your surface area is higher than we would like." She looked at me with raised eyebrows and a little piece of me died.

I disappointed my doctor with my high score on the scale. I don't like to disappoint anyone, ever. I vowed to get rid of those bonus pounds I had added over the year. I decided I would start with that piece of me that died with her statement of the facts. As I left the office, I made plans on how I would lose the extra baggage. However; by the time I got home I was tired so I took one of the many naps of the summer. When I woke up, my motivation did not. Before I knew it, that little piece of me that had died, was wrapped in cookie dough, covered in doughnuts, dipped in chocolate, and drowned in Dr. Pepper. That little piece that had died became a big piece.

Now that my iron count is up I NEEDed to get my scale count down. A few weeks ago I joined Weight Watchers. It is a program I had success with in the past so I wanted to give it a try again. The first fake week I ate like I normally did, but kept track of the points. I needed to do this to show myself how far off track I really was. And, oh my goodness, was I off track! I had several days that I used almost 100 points. (I am only supposed to use 30 a day.) After that week, it was clear I have been doing it all wrong.  No matter what I was telling myself, my daily large Dr Pepper and sausage biscuit from McDonald's was not going to fly any more!

The first real week of Weight Watchers was hard. I had to completely change my eating habits. I had to plan. I had to use my points wisely. I was smart about my food choices and I never felt hungry. Week one; I lost 6lbs. My goal was 2lbs. I beat my goal. BUT that shows just how horrible my diet has been!

My second week was another success. I lost 2 more pounds. My goal for that week was to not gain any of my lost weight back. It was my scheduled week of emotional eating. I avoided that, mostly. It was also a week of being out of town and out of my normal routine. It was a week to fail, but I didn't.

I am going into this week feeling good and ready to fight my food demons. Soon, I will be able to bend over and not feel like I am holding a brick in my lap. I won't have to move my stomach to tie my shoes. I am looking forward to easy shoe tying.

2016, A Caper of a Year

2016, as far as years go, was not my favorite! In fact it might go down in history as one of the worst, if not THE WORST. AND judging from friends' FB posts I am not alone in this sentiment. Even though this was a sucktastic year, I have had many great moments, learned a lot of important like lessons, and had life changing realizations.

What 2016 taught me:

1. Garlic goes on EVERYTHING and it should! Why did I wait until 2016 to cook with real garlic? I have been using garlic salt and garlic powder for years, but thanks to Blue Apron I have discovered the magic of mincing a fresh clove of garlic and throwing it in a pan with carrots, pasta, onions, eggs, kale, chicken, steak, fancy bread, and anything else you could possibly think of eating. We accidentally added it to a pear. It was weird, but it wasn't bad. I wonder if it would be good with cookies? I think I should search for a garlic cookie recipe and then my life will be perfect.

2. Kale really isn't that bad. I decided I didn't like kale before I even tried it. I knew it was gross just by looking at it. I didn't need to try it. I was using a four year old's logic. Then Blue Apron dropped it off at my door (actually, it was FedEx, but it was shipped by Blue Apron so it is kind of the same). I had no choice, but to cook it. By Gosh and By Golly, it was good. It was actually really really good. Of course it was cooked with garlic, so it didn't have a choice, but to be good. I even went to the grocery store and bought a bag of kale to add to a quiche I was making. Kale will be eaten in 2017.

3. Capers = Never. Blue Apron, this was a swing and a miss. These nasty pea looking balls of grossness should never ever be added to any recipe, ever. Garlic can't even help these tiny barf bombs. Do yourself a favor and don't ever eat a caper! They are the worst most unnecessary condiment known to humankind. 2017 WILL NOT HAVE ANY CAPERS!

4. Donuts. That is a sentence right? Donuts became my Friday night stress relief.  Then my Sunday morning kick start. Then my Wednesday midweek pick me up. I developed a major donut addiction. In 2016, I learned that in spite of their holes, donuts are NOT diet pastries. I mean, this is something I have always known, probably, but this year I have finally had to accepted it. I am carrying some extra donut baggage.

5. Karaoke ruins songs. Not because overzealous amateurs sound awful singing karaoke, (this doesn't bother me, I have been belting horrible sounding songs for years, that doesn't ruin songs for me) but because, as a visual learner, I actually take the time to let the lyrics scrolling across the screen sink in. These are the lyrics from the same songs I mindlessly sing in the car with the girls. Truly understanding the lyrics and what they mean is eye opening and a kick to the gut. There is just something about that moment when your 10 year old is singing "Cake By the Ocean" and she sings "Licking frosting from your own hands" and she gives you a look and you know that she knows this isn't something she should be singing (even if she doesn't know why she shouldn't be singing it). Then you give her a look and she knows that you know this is something that she shouldn't be singing. Then there is an awkward stutter and tripping over the words until the 10 year old does the grown up thing and suggests you change songs. Then you switch songs only to realize all the songs on this karaoke CD Santa brought are just as dirty so you just turn it off and decide to never ever listen to any kind of music with your children ever again...

6. Chores for children makes life easy. Sure the girls have always had to do things like clean their room and put away their clothes (not that they ever did it), but this year I decided to teach the girls chores that were more helpful to me. A1 now loads and unloads the dishwasher, cooks mac n cheese, meatloaf, and Ramon noodles. A2 loads the dishwasher, loads the washer (towels), and sweeps the kitchen floor. A3 is on shoe patrol and puts all stray shoes in the closet, vacuums, and wipes all the door handles. Teaching the girls to do these simple tasks has made my life easier and my towels cleaner.

7. Leggings ARE pants. At the beginning of 2016, I was on the side stating leggings are not pants; they are tights to be worn under a super long shirt A.K.A a dress. Then I was introduced to LLR and my life/wardrobe was changed forever. Even though I choose to wear my leggings under a long shirt or dress, I still feel they are pants. Merriam Webster also agrees. They define pants as : "an outer garment covering each leg separately and usually extending from the waist to the ankle." Therefore, leggings are pants. AND they are pants that make me happy because they don't hurt! 

Who wouldn't be happy wearing these?
I mean, other than Mrs. Potato Head.

8. Facing my fears is kind of exhilarating. This summer I had to face the paralyzing fear of using anesthesia during my colonoscopy. I know it was just a control issue. I have a need to be in control at all times and I knew that wasn't going to be the case while I was having a procedure done. I had no choice, but to just accept that I was going to have to do it. I spent countess nights awake worrying. Then I had the procedure with the anesthesia and it was ok. Nothing bad happened. While I didn't actually do anything, other than show up, I did it. It felt like I really accomplished something. It is a feeling I won't forget. I am ready to take on more fears. As luck would have it, I have plenty of fears to face. I will be good for years to come.

9. Yoga > NyQuil. I discovered yoga. Sure, I have done occasional yoga videos as a part of other workout programs. I have also done a lot of kid yoga. BUT when a friend of mine said she was starting a 21 day yoga challenge group I was intrigued. I had previously stopped all forms of working out. My iron lacking body was in no mood to do anything but sleep and eat high sugary things (Donuts) I thought I could probably try yoga. It wasn't high impact and it wouldn't require a lot of fast intense movements. I did it. It turns out it was the best thing I have ever done for me. During those 3 weeks, I felt amazing. I slept real sleep every night. Yoga > NyQuil. I quickly found out I had to do my workout close to bedtime because it would knock me out. Within 5 minutes of finishing I could hardly keep my eyes open. Some nights I wouldn't even make it up the stairs before I was shutting down. Yoga is my all natural sleeping pill. I am getting back to it tonight.
  
10. I have the best friends anyone could ask for! This year was trying on me socially. I didn't feel like doing anything, except feel sorry for myself and sleep. My friends didn't give up on me. They continued to invite me to things even if they knew it was WAAAAYYY past my 9:00 bed time. I had friends step up to help give A2 the time and attention she needed to get through the school year. I had friends who helped with transportation for the girls when I was tied up at the Dr's office. I had friends show up with dinner. I had friends show up with donuts. I had friends just show up. I had friends who would sit with us on Friday nights when Mac was gone. We would sit on the couch eating donuts while the kids played. I really have the greatest friends who love me, even when I have been in a low iron funk for an entire year.  

If 2016 was a condiment, it would be a caper. Even if it was a barf bomb of a year, I still learned a lot and I am a better person because of it. I really hope 2017 is ketchup. Everyone loves ketchup. It really goes with everything. We all deserve a ketchup year!

My Favorite Christmas Picture

Tonight I found a facebook contest that asked it's followers to post their favorite Christmas picture. I LOVE a good fb contest. Before I even looked to find out the prize, which, BTW, I now know is a gift basket, I was scrolling through old picture posts to find THE best Christmas picture EVER.
I found it. I found THE best Christmas picture, 10 times...

I couldn't pick just one. Each picture was my favorite for different reasons. Each picture was my favorite for the same reason, it made me smile and laugh thinking about the memories behind the picture.

Here is (are) my favorite picture(s). Not in any particular order, because I am obviously bad at picking just one to be my favorite.

1. Over it

A3 was done with pictures. She threw a fit. We ignored it. We begged for one more picture. She gave us this ornery pose. It may look sweet to the unknowing, but for those who were there, 

IT WAS NOT SWEET. 

2. Get me outta here!

A2 is sometimes shy. This is one of those times.

3. What do you mean sit still?

Sweet sibling moment? Nope, they were terrorizing me. We were pressed for time to get that one perfect picture of all three girls. I wanted a Pinterest worthy Christmas card. Our fabulous photographer did catch the photo I was looking for, but most of them looked like this...

4. Testing. Always testing.

A2 was told the elf would report any bad behaviors to Santa. She wanted to see if it was true. I know for a fact Santa was notified of the beating The Ringing One received. (It was really a strong poke, but I wanted to be dramatic.) A2 was so proud of her challenge to authority. That was the same year we caught her standing in front of the elf saying all the bad words she could think of; butt, stupid, shut-up.

5. Side eye

A2 did not trust that jolly mad in red. She gave him the look to prove it.

6-9 The Years of Tears

Anyone who has spent a great deal of time with A3, knows she loves to cry. It is a hobby or maybe even a talent. We have all learned to roll with it. At least, until we can't take it anymore. 

10. Whatcha lookin at?

This special moment between A2 and Santa is not what is seems. She was telling him she didn't want to be there. Her tights were itchy.

If I had to pick one that was my favorite, it would be number 10.

***Just kidding. I found another.***

11. Pure Joy

Ok. So I have decided my favorite is this one. How in the world we captured this moment of pure joy and innocence is beyond me, but here it is. Forever. My favorite Christmas picture. Until I find another one. 

Warren Luck

When Mac and I first got engaged his family would joke about "Warren Luck" and if I was ready to handle all that comes with it. Basically, this luck or curse was their own version of Murphy's Law; anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

At the time I laughed it off. After 16 years I get what they're saying, especially now that I am raising three Warrens. I have learned to be prepared for anything, but not the normal things. I don't usually carry band-aides in my purse, but I do keep permanent glue, bobby pins, and assortment of oils, crayons, and sometimes bubbles. I have always been a flexible person, but now I have mastered the art of "go with the flow" and thinking outside of the box.

A2 is a walking, talking, real life example of the Warren Luck. If something strange is going to happen, it will happen to her, every time. She is my real life Junie B. Jones. This Warren Luck isn't all bad. A2 has learned to roll with whatever happens. She turns in a pumpkin person, the eye falls off, "Oh, well. Now she is winking." Trying to make stress balls for mom, balloon busts, flour ALL over the kitchen, "That is ok. Let's make pictures in the flour on the floor and the table and the counter, and the sink, and the refrigerator, and the mirror." A2 is the awesome go with the flow gal that she is BECAUSE of the luck.

A1 somehow has figured out a way to escape the Warren Luck so far. Maybe this is the only thing she got from me...

A3 seems to have caught a major case of the Warren Luck. Usually it involves health. Someone sneezes across the store at Walmart? Amelya will catch their cold. Uneven sidewalk? Amelya will find it and trip. Last night Amelya's luck landed us in the ER. She decided to sleep on Addelyn's top bunk. For some reason, she fell asleep at the edge of the bed where the ladder is, basically the only spot that isn't enclosed by a railing. Well, as her luck would have it, she fell out of the bed. She hit the landing and then the bookshelf, followed by the floor. Mac and I ran upstairs as soon as we heard the crash. We found her standing in her room screaming. A1 and A2 woke up and were trying to console her. Mac and I inspected her for injuries. There was blood, so much blood. I was covered in her blood. She was covered in it. Her hair was soaked. We found the gash on her ear. We knew right away we needed to take a trip to the ER. She is only 4 and she has already had 3 major catastrophes that required a visit to the hospital.

Thank goodness for my parents living close to us! My mom went along for a midnight adventure with the A Team. (Have you ever been to an emergency room at midnight on a Saturday? Crazy Town!) By the time we got to the hospital the bleeding had stopped and the crying increased. We were quickly taken to a room. The nurse was practically waiting for us when we got there. We had the best service. In a matter of two hours, A3 had her ear cleaned by a doctor, a CT scan, ear cleaned again, and then her ear glued back together. Being the champ that she is, she hardly complained the entire time she was there. She enjoyed the live hospital entertainment. A3 only got mad once and that was when the nurse closed the curtain, blocking her view of the wild hospital life.

Today she hasn't complained much. Her head isn't hurting. Her ear only hurts when her hair touches it and unfortunately her hair has a mind of it's own. Last night she fell out of bed because of Warren Luck. Last night she was saved because of Warren Luck. Anyone else would have been injured much worse, but A3 was lucky, Warren Lucky. After all, luck is what you make of it, right?