Is it wrong......

Is it wrong to feed your kids Jamba Juice, pita chips and humus for dinner?  Not all the time of course, just when you are really really busy and really really tired!

Not sure if you all noticed, but I haven't been blogging much lately.  You see, I am one of those moms that says yes to everything!  

Can you see the words SUCKER tattooed across my forehead?  Look real close, I'm sure it is there somewhere!

Right now I am knee deep in my back stage director duties for the school performance at the elementary school.

What is the school performance you ask.  In a nut shell, about 50 parents volunteer their time to choreograph and teach a 2 1/2 minute dance to 20 different groups of kids.  There are four groups per grade (1st through 5th), with about 14-18 kids per group.  Do the math!  That is a lot of kids.

The 5th graders (that would be my kids grade level) create the story that goes along with the theme for the year.  The 1st through 4th graders have it easy.  They only participate in one dance.

The 5th graders perform in grade level group dances like everyone else does, but they also perform in skits (we call those talkie bits)  a skit dance (we call those dancey bits) and a finale dance (we call that controlled chaos).

It really is a lot of fun, but it is an insane amount of work.  Today we had our first run through with the back stage crew (lighting and my back stage direction) and let's just say, it didn't go smoothly.  

This first practice with the crew never goes smoothly and we know that.  But each year (yes I have done this before) we think we have a better handle on things and this will be the year everything flows like butter!

Considering that it is "our" year, and that we (Colleen) wrote the script that we would feel more together (a girl can dream).

If I was a drinker I would have left practice this afternoon and headed straight for the liquor store.  No it wasn't really that bad, it only felt that way!  

I know that when we have dress rehearsal on the 11th that things will run smoother.  Our little 5th graders will know which way to exit the stage, where their mics need to go and what props they need to take out on stage with them.  

 

All of the props and costumes that I still need to finish will get done.  The four performances will go off without a hitch (a girl can dream) and I will breath a sigh of relief and shed a teeny tiny tear that after 9 years of being involved with the school performance that this will be my last show!

So if you don't see me here or over at your blog much for the next couple of weeks you will know why!

Cheers and ahhh.......break a leg?

We all came home in one piece!

Another successful Girl Scout camping trip under my belt and I can breath a sigh of relief that I returned all 9 of the girls in my care home in one piece.

Taking the girls camping 2 hours from home is fun, lots of fun, but sometimes it worries me having all of these kids in my care.  I have to walk that delicate balance of making sure they stay safe and letting them just be kids.  To me kids seem to always be pushing that line of safety.

They can't just enjoy and nice swing on the swing set.  They have to send themselves flying as high as possible and then propel themselves right out of their seat.  

But that isn't good enough either.  You must add another level of danger by inviting a friend to see just how close she can get to you while you swing as high as possible.

Or how about getting on top of the monkey bars for a better view.  Not so bad, until you finding them all standing on top of  bars for an even better view!

Then while they are crammed into one tent playing Truth or Dare you wonder if you should stop them when you over hear them daring each other to lick the feet of another.

Apparently licking the sweaty dirt covered foot of your friend won't make you sick because one of these sweet little girls did such a thing Saturday evening.

PSF - Upcoming Events!

Anyone want to guess what I am doing this weekend?

I'm sure your detective skills are right on!  I am leaving tomorrow afternoon with my Girl Scout troop for a weekend camping trip in the desert.  

This is a yearly event with our service unit and while I am not looking forward to two night of tossing and turning, I am looking forward to all the fun that my girls are going to have.

I will visit everyone when I return!

Happy Photo Story Friday!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

WW -Easter.....Southern California Style

We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather on Easter Sunday.  Knowing the day would be nice (because it is always beautiful when my Dad has us over for lunch), Dad heated the pool and fired up the Jacuzzi so that everyone (the girls) could go swimming after we ate lunch.

The girls had an egg hunt before jumping in the pool (with all of the plastic eggs).  I was taking pictures of the girls jumping from the upper ledge of the pool when someone (my mom) suggested we throw eggs at the girls for them to try to catch.

(click on any picture to see larger)

Ahh, Hello......Grandma got a little aggressive with this "toss".  Don't call CPS, she was having fun. Who doesn't like to have a bucket full of plastic eggs fly at your face?

I must have asked Reid to flip her a billion times in order to get one good shot.  Her hair really isn't that red or two toned.  Just highly edited on the color.  

Ahhhhh, finally.......the delicious lunch that my dad made. When I picked up my camera and started taking pictures of my food I heard someone (my mom) say, "Michelle, stop blogging and eat."  I lowered my camera and said, "Sheesh people, I'm not blogging I'm just want to preserve this beautiful food with a photograph!"  I wouldn't put that picture on my blog!

Want to see more Wordful Wednesdays?  Just click the lovely logo!

I Hit a speed bump!

Last Wednesday I shared with you what my heart looks like (in case you are new, it was my girls). Today I present you with a picture of what my gut looks like!

Yes, those are speed bumps and yes, they are lining my mid section.  I got on the scale this morning and nearly shat a brick.  

Of course, I didn't need to get on the scale to tell me that I am over weight.  The muffin top hanging over my jeans was screaming "fat ass, stop eating cookies" loud and clear.

So today I vowed to go back to eating a more healthy diet and getting into the gym no matter how busy I am.

That meant heading to the gym for the first time in forever.  I'll admit that I was a little worried that my membership was going to burst into flames when I swiped it through the entrance gate. I heard they do that when you don't use them enough.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cross training room had some new treadmills waiting for me to try out.   Really fancy ones with an ipod hook up and a cool touch screen complete with a little virtual track so you can watch your progress.  Why didn't they tell me they put those in?  I'm sure I would have come in more if I would have known!

So here is getting back into shape.....and to all of those women who managed to maintain your girlish figure after giving birth........I admire you.  For those of you who are a fluffier version of your former self.......I love you the best.  Wanna join me at the gym?  We can be fluffy together.

Photo Story Friday - Kaleidoscope

Have you ever seen a Giant Kaleidoscope?

Me either.........that is until this afternoon.  

(click on any image to view it larger)

Interactive public art is the best.  

Well played Port District, well played.

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Wordful Wednesday -My Heart

If you were too look at my heart, this is what it would look like.

They are my sunshine!

They crack me up on a daily basis.

Reid makes me laugh by making up new lyrics to her favorite songs.  One of her current creations is to the Kan Ye West song "Heartless".  The new twist is all about two parents that wouldn't get their 13 year old texting.  "How could we be so heartless."

Kate has an incredible quick wit.  The other day I walked by her room and saw her laying on her bed, phone in hand, making a call.

I asked, "Who are you calling?"  

Kate's response, "Child Protective Services."

For more Wordless Wednesday post click on the icon!

I {heart} Faces Friends

When I saw that this weeks theme was about friends I couldn't resist posting this picture of Kate and her best friend Jackie.

The girls love goofing off and they love spinning each other around.  In this shot Jackie had just finished spinning Kate around they were were both about ready to fall over!

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Head over to I heart faces to see more friendly faces!

Photo Hunt!

I am participating in a Photo Hunt (see Thursdays post).  On Friday while shooting my photo for the day I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a great opportunity to take some reflection shots (#8 on the list).  

I was outside in my moms backyard and the sun was quickly saying goodbye to the day.  I just wanted to get my picture for the day done and was taking a picture of that red flower when I looked up and saw that naked tree being reflected in my moms picture window.  Score!

Then I walked out into the backyard to see if there was enough light to show a refection of the trees in my moms pond.  Score!

So now I have a question to ask.  I can only post one of these reflection pictures for the photo hunt and I can't decided which one I like better.  Which one would you pick??

Photo Story Friday {Yard Art}

My kind of yard art!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Photo Hunt!

Kristi over at Sweetsaucer is hosting a Photo hunt this month.  Sound like fun?  If so head over to her blog to sign up.

Here is a sneak peek at Kristi's list!

1. Cool or interesting architecture
2. A sign of Spring/Autumn (So. Hemi)
3. Something musical
4. Something sweet
5. Something metallic
6. A landscape
7. An interesting doorway
8. A reflection
9. A cemetery
10. A pair of shoes
11. A body of water
12. A drink
13. A mosaic or mural
14. Rain
15. Classic car (1970 or older)
16. A work of art
17. A church
18. A statue
19. An interesting sky
20. Something in motion
21. Lights at night
22. A silhouette
23. Something historical (pre-1900)
24. A shot from an unusual perspective
25. Flowers
26. Self-Portrait