Google, Herbert Hoover and a simple cup of coffee

I woke up Sunday morning rolled over, looked at the clock and saw 8:30, NICE! My husband was already off to church, the rest of us do not attend.   As the girls get older the message is finally sinking it that on a weekend they can go downstairs and watch some TV without waking me up to inform me that they are awake.  Sleeping until 8:30 is a rare treat.

As I got up and headed out to the top of the stairs, I could see my eldest sitting at the computer working on homework. Now that she is in the TAG program, she has more in-depth homework but is given at least the weekend and sometimes more than to complete it.  The most recent project is about Herbert Hoover.  Not one of the flashiest presidents nor is he one I tend to know much about.  This matters because I did not even make it to the bottom of the staircase when the whining started.  She has not had to do too much research to date being only in third grade.  She does know how to use google but has not had too much practice.

I helped her find a nice historical website on the president and headed to the kitchen to make some coffee.  As I was trying to get the coffee grounds in, the dog cried by the back door needing to get out, it must have been a long night.  We had a light snow last night so the brick steps were covered.  Time to grab a broom so she does not slip with her weak knees and hips. To the closet for a coat and the broom, clear the steps and back inside.

To the coffee pot I head and more whining about Mr. Hoovers lack of flare.  (I actually learned more about him than I ever remember hearing in school).  I at least got the coffee started then back to help Megan. She had to decide if he had above average abilities based on certain criteria that they have been discussing in the class.coffee-cup-0113

As I finally took my first sip of coffee I thought about when I was younger.  My mother would pull up into the driveway after being at work all day to one of us waiting.  It was always something urgently important that had to be discussed in the driveway as she got out of the car.  At some point there would typically come yelling.

I never understood why she had such a short fuse :-).

I think I control the yelling much better but as time goes on, I am starting to feel more and more like my mother.

And by the way, Hoover may not been full of flare but he was not too bad either.  Hard worker, something we could use more of these days, dedicated humanitarian.  And yes, he did exhibit above average abilities, at least that was my daughters conclusion.  I guess we shall see how the grade turns out. 🙂

22 days until Disney

“All the adversity I’ve had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me… You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”   Walt Disney

Come on vacation!!!!

Walt Disney World Gallery Photo

Baby Head, baby head oh my poor throbbing head

The woes of the average Kindergartener.  We think they have it so easy get on the bus, arrive at school learn and play then come back home.  It seems that in between there are multiple layers of young stress that I am just not fully grasping.  Today, I was told by my 6-year-old that I needed to give her a little break because she had a stressful day at school.  Hmmmm, all 3 hours of it?  I mean, come on now.

Yesterday, as my little cherub got off of the bus in the afternoon, the bus driver said something to her that I did not hear.  What I did hear was “we all have to be nice”.  Uh Oh….if it had been a major issue the driver would have looped me but since she did not I knew it was minor.  As soon as we got into the house I asked Madi what happened that she needs to be nice.  Of course the quick reply was “nothing”.

It did not take long before I had the answer.  Baby head…seems like such a harmless word combo but to 6-year-old bus riders coming home from what I am not told is a very stressful day it is enough to almost cause a real brewhaha. Seems that a little girl kept poking Madison which she did not appreciate.  Instead of the many choices she could have made she explained to me that she “snapped” (her word) and called the girl baby head. The offended little girl did what mine should have and told the bus driver.

I googled “baby head” and the images were a bit disturbing.

We once again covered proper, expected behavior.  We shall see I guess.

Since Christmas I have been under the weather but between ultrasounds, biopsies, a sick hubby and sick kids I have done little more than take a few Tylenol.  By yesterday my head was throbbing, I could barely hear out of my left ear and when I cough I do believe my head might just split open.  I called the doctor and got and appointment for today.  I was not surprised to hear that I had a sinus infection.  I was a little surprised to also have and ear infection but guess it makes sense.  Now armed with a steroid pack and antibiotics I can only hope that tomorrow brings with it a little relief!

It will be midnight in an hour so the official countdown for Disney is 23 days….anticipation!

Walt Disney World Gallery Photo