Commissioner Toole

"Mom, I have good news. I got SOAR student today."

"Really? That's great, Honey. Why were you chosen this month?"

"All the good kids were already chosen. But, Mom, I have some bad news, too."

"What's that?"

"I've already gotten in trouble twice this week."

There is no feel good ending to this story like we had last year when he was chosen for showing leadership skills on the playground by organizing a third grade kickball tournament and then choosing the special ed kid to be on his team. However, it appears that his leadership/bossing-everybody-around skills are still going strong. Interestingly enough a kid in Evan's class moved on post and now attends my school and is in my afternoon class. When I asked him if he knew Evan, he replied, "Oh yeah! Everybody knows Evan. He organizes the recess football league!"

Ummm what?

So I asked Evan about the recess football league.

He told me that he HAS a TCE football league. He CHOOSES the team names, CREATES team rosters, and then keeps track of the STANDINGS. He also told me that he acts like the NFL commissioner and REMOVES any players from the league that cannot follow the rules.

That's my boy. Through and through.

Please tell me these skills are marketable in the real world because he has mastered them like none other.

The Mountains

Keagan's Media Festival Project...After three years of some really cute and creative projects, may the expository movie project be the one that brings home the trophy. I have my doubts, though, since the title includes the word mountains and there isn't a picture of one mountain in the project.

He's Our Champ

Let me begin with this. I did not kiss the random soldier sitting next to me. However, I yelled loud enough that talking tomorrow will be out of the question. My students will love me for it.

With only one minute left in tonight's game, Evan scored the winning basket, and then stole the ball from the opposing team not once but twice to keep them from scoring again.

Because it will probably be the only game we win all season, I felt excessive cheering was warranted. I added some high heel stomping on the metal bleachers for some extra umph. My point was made and well taken because everyone feels bad for our team, the team destined for certain failure at almost any game.

Tonight, though, we went home champions! My champ will go to bed on cloud nine. So will his mama!

Motivational Letter

Keagan wrote this yesterday. He told me he wrote it so that he will always remember, even when others say he isn't strong enough or big enough, that he is an athlete.

I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE him!

"I am speed. I am speed. I am quick as lighting. I am as quick as a car. I am quick then a run a way chrain. I am as strong as Hulk. It does not matter if you are small or big you are all of these. Some pepel say I am to small to do it. Do not think that way. U can acplish any thing you put your mind to. If pepel say you can not do it do not run away from it just chrie. Do not run do it. Do not be skard to step out of your kumfert zone."

Keagan 2013

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Matters

"Look, Evan! Look what Mom did. Don't you think that's a good idea? Did you see? She has that smell good stuff from the dryer in the shoes! She's the smartest mom ever!"

After fixing the remote controlled Air Hog last week, the smell-good-shoes move confirms the boys' belief that I can solve any problem, that I am Superwoman! 

Who am I to argue? Besides, I am desperate to rid my house and car of the smell of sweaty cleats.

Reading Bowl

I feel like I need to explain. Maybe pre-adolescence is to blame? Maybe the kids weren't ready for the shot? Whatever the reason, this picture is horrible. But it's the only one that I have. I look at it and laugh every time because otherwise it makes me cry. Their expressions scare me; one looks like she might attack me. Evan's black shirt with navy pants scares me even more. I seriously said to Evan, "I had no idea the team shirt was black. Didn't anyone tell you to wear the khaki pants instead of the navy?" 

I think this is a sign that my OCD is spiraling out of control.

Forget the clashing colors. The event I really wish to document is this. Evan's Reading Bowl team competed in today's local event. They earned third place and a medal. They missed out on winning first and advancing to the next level by only two points. As much as Evan hates to lose, he said that the doughnuts for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and a half day of missed class still made for a good day. The competition must have taken a lot out of him because he was in bed last night at 1800 and slept for 13 hours! Who knew reading could be so exhausting?

Basketball Woes

Four games this week. Four losses. Lots of tears. This time it was the boys and not me. I have given up on believing we can win so I surprisingly sit quietly and watch the game like any normal parent. I still fail to find the humor, though, in eight year olds who shoot on the wrong goal or walk with the ball down the court. The other parents laugh and say, "Oh, Lordy Be! How cute is that?" I swear under my breath and put my head between my legs so that I don't hyperventilate.

I will try to concentrate on the positive, though. Evan had six three pointers this week, and he scored 16 of his team's 18 points in Wednesday night's game. He did not foul out, or if he did, the score keeper took pity on us since we were losing by 20 points.

Keagan scored six points in Tuesday's game, and he scored all five points in Thursday night's game. I was asked by another parent in the stands how many basketball camps the boys had attended, and I said none. She then asked who taught them how to play basketball, and before I could give an honest answer, Keagan piped in, "My mom was a star basketball player and played for the A team when she was in school." The other mom looked at me with doubt written all over her face, and when I saw the that-can't-be-so look on her face, I ran with the story. Never mind I played for my junior high team, spent some time on the bench because I wasn't fast enough, and won only one game the entire season. I WAS THE STAR, according to Keagan anyway.

Mental Toughness

Keagan's first game was Thursday. I'll give you one guess as to what Keagan was doing instead of mentally preparing for the game.

Watching the cheerleaders, of course, but I guess the picture proves he wasn't the only one. The team might lack mental toughness.

However, when you are so fast, you leave the other players in a blur during a fast break, I guess you don't need a lot of mental preparation.

The Mavericks won their first game fairly easily, but next week's game against the Bulls leaves me nervous. If it is a close game or if the game comes down to a buzzer beater, I might just get a little wild. I have promised to make sure that guy to my right is Evan so that my celebratory kiss is at least planted on a family member.

The King's Fast Boy

Evan's first basketball game was tonight. I have commented once or twice that we can assume to win no games since we have no African Americans on the team, our star player is Evan who has only played basketball for one season, and we have three boys that have never dribbled a basketball before. The mantra White Boys Can Jump could not be further from the truth, or at least in the case of this season's U-11 Kings.

I should have known we were in for trouble when Evan took out his Youth Sports issued shorts and asked, "Why do my shorts say Fast Boy, Mama?" I had to reply, "That's East Bay, Baby. The brand name of the shorts." Seriously. He is so smart, it hurts, and yet the team relies upon him, the boy who believed his shorts had been monogrammed, for a win. Unfortunately, he had to sit on the bench the last quarter because he fouled out. That happens when you tackle as you rebound or slide tackle as you run down the court.

After the game, Evan walked into the house and said, "I really wanted to write about my first bball win and put it in the 2013 In a Jar, but I can't really celebrate a loss and five fouls now can I?"

We still have seven more games in the season. I foresee many more losses. At least I don't have to worry with close games, buzzer beaters, and celebrations that include kissing the strange soldier sitting next to me in the stands. Not that this would have ever happened to me, the-mom-who-must-win-at-all-costs. No. Not me.

The Real World

We tried our best to escape the real world as much as possible in the last two weeks. Then today the first soccer friendly was announced, the first tournament was written on the calendar, the media festival project ideas were finally agreed upon, my spring semester class begins Wednesday, the car needs serviced, and science fair projects still need to be done. Don't forget basketball; the first game is on Monday, our first full day back home. 

I will remember our walks on the beach, bike rides through the neighborhood, and our cruise with the dolphins with special fondness.

Be nice to us, Real World, as we reacquaint ourselves with you.

Salt Water Marshes

When we first moved to the South, I didn't understand the beauty that the locals found with the salt water marshes. It just seemed like mud and grass to me. I have since learned to appreciate the mud and grass a little more... that is as long as the smell of the marsh remains undetected. Otherwise, I avoid it at all costs.

Today we toured a salt marsh, an odor free salt marsh. It was low tide and the boys were able to find crabs, oysters, grass shrimp, and

periwinkle snails. Our guide told us that the vibrations of our voices would entice the snails out of their shells. So we sang Happy Birthday to the snails with them next to our voices boxes. It actually worked!

The boys thought my idea of touring the salt water marsh earned me a Mom of the Year award. I fully recognize that these days are numbered so I cherished today's smiles and adoration.

The Beach

We are spending the last few days of vacation at one of the most beautiful places in the Low Country, Hilton Head. I saw the sand and sea and became so giddy with excitement that I began to run to the beach. This speaks volumes because running hasn't been a part of my vocabulary since before the deployment.

I couldn't believe my luck when I saw a pod of dolphins playing just yards from me. 

This beats a trip to Orlando on any day.

2013 In a Jar

Happy New Year!

We are celebrating the new year eating Hoppin' John and watching football. I might also add we are experiencing warm weather. Can you say PERFECTION?

In 2013, we plan to concentrate on all of the wonderful things that happen to us during the year. We have our '2013 In a Jar' prepped and ready! 

Here's to new adventures in our soon-to-be new home state of Tennessee and a wonderful wrap up to our stay in the deep South!

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