#2 How had I never heard of The Bath School Disaster. Not only is this relatively close to where we live, but it is still the country's deadliest school massacre... and it happened in 1927. Until the Oklahoma City bombing, it was the worst act of domestic terrorism. I spent most of the weekend researching it. The perp was a psychopath. He plotted this act for at least a year and had intended to kill every child in the school and then drive up and take out all of the first responders. The town had only 300 residents. One woman lost three children in the school explosion and had two more injured by the car bomb. I still can't believe that this has been forgotten - or - never known by the majority of us. HERE is a short book written by a neighbor and first responder a few months after the disaster.
#3 We watched this AWESOME Little House on the Prairie mini-series with the girls this weekend. Mr F and I watched this years ago when it was on TV, and it is such a great depiction. We both loved it then, and loved it again. It isn't sugar coated... and it is nothing like the original TV series. Our kids are finally old enough to handle the intensity of it and it made for a great weekend. At one point during the movie one of the girls said "Men had to do all the stuff back then, now women do it." Hahahahahahahahaha. I kind of think Mr F and I could have pulled off the whole pioneer, wagon train, homesteading thing.
#4 We got word that Baby did not get into the charter school this year. I was pretty devastated since as her learning style becomes more apparent I really would like to get her in a more open/creative setting. The charter school focuses on project based learning and I think that would be such a great fit for her. No word on Kid... which could mean she did... which only makes this school decision harder! Although, if Kid does get in, Baby will be bumped up the wait list and there is a remote chance she could still get in for the Fall. I hope things line up in the next few months and I can make a decision I feel confident in. I just know we need a situation that has a better life/school balance. And I'd LOVE to eliminate this commute. We have to travel on some of the most dangerous sections of highway many times a day... and I don't feel good about that.
#5 St. Patrick's Day happened. In the late of night Mr F and I pulled this off:
A whole house rainbow leading from their bedrooms to a Pot of Gold (rolos and gold coins).
Lucky Charms and green milk for breakfast... always a hit.
If there is one parenting tip I can impart it is: STREAMERS. People, they cost a dollar. You can get them in every grocery store, dollar store, and discount store. They instantly make every holiday festive and special and all you need is some scotch tape, a dollar, and a couple of minutes. I swag them around for birthdays, Valentine's Day... you name a small holiday and streamers will be there for you, people. My favorite way to make a holiday feel special with just a little effort (especially on school days) is to tape some up while they are sleeping. Oh and for birthdays? Just get a pack of regular blow up yourself balloons (less than 2 dollars) and tie them to your dining room chairs and hang them from your curtain rods.... that plus streams equals party time. Three dollars, people... and I swear to God it looks fantastic. Best part is, you can have this stuff on hand and always pull a holiday off with very little notice or effort. Stock up. When you are done with your party just roll the streamers back up and USE IT AGAIN. Oh, I love streamers. My mom even uses them as ribbon on gifts and it makes big impressive bows. Go crazy.
#6 Oh, wait, one more thing! I forgot to mention that I just booked a trip to Williamsburg, VA for Spring Break with the girls. We'll be doing the Busch Gardens/Colonial Williamsburg thing for 6 days. I'm a little nervous about the amusement park since it will just be me and the girls and I don't know what the ride situation will be (can 3 people ride at once?)... so if you have experience/tips please share.
9 comments:
I did streamers for Arden's birthday and it turned out well... made rainbow curtains hanging vertically from the tops of doorways... THAT looked fantastic.... My mom always put up streamers. I just started doing it for Eli's birthday this year too, so maybe I'm finally getting my act together.
On historical mini-series... I watched this twelve part BBC mini-reality type program called Tales from the Green Valley where two historians and three archaeologists recreate life on a Stuart Era farm in Wales. There are other programs with the same people doing the same thing in different Eras, but they are 1 hour programs and I found them too long. You can find it free online if it sounds cool to you.
Mark and I don't even know how to go to an amusement park with kids by ourselves, I guess because we have a little tiny one, and so someone will always have to stay with her... I"m pretty sure certain rides allow three across (especially if one is small) and others Kid is probably big enough to sit in a row by herself. Busch Gardens is my favorite. I hope you have a lot of fun. I'm kind of jealous.
Bath is our next-door community here in DeWitt. I'll tell ya...*they* haven't forgotten the tragedy. And every time there's a school shooting, there is a vigil at the former site, which is now a little memorial.
The Smitty household is a disaster. We hold a St Pat's Day party every year on the 17th, regardless of what day that is. We had 100 people crammed in here, half of those kids (6 sets of twins, not including the Smitty WonderTwins). All three boys were on a serious sugar hangover this morning. Found a half-eaten cookie in the middle of the hallway. Spilled and dried root beer *in* Smitty Jr's box that *held* - past tense now - his football cards. Half-consumed Capri Suns under couches. I swear, the kids partied college-style. Just with sugary drinks...
Hey, when's your spring break? I live 3 hours from Williamsburg and I've never been. I'd love to see you and the girls and help wrangle them on rides and things, if you like.
Elizabeth,
Really?! That would be awesome. We are unfortunately not going to be there on the weekends (except our departure day) so I'm not sure if that will work for you or not. We'll be there 4/2-4/6. Message me on FB and we can work something out. We'd love to see you :)
I definitely think you could have pulled off pioneering. Not me. When we lose powe for days I always end up saying that I'd make a terrible pioneer! I just can't take the cold!
I wish I had a better memory of busch gardens. We went there years ago with the boys, but can't remember the ride set ups. We'll be down in that area too, doing college tours (William and Mary). What are your vacation dates?
Nutmeg,
Googling Tales from the Green Valley!
Thanks!
For what it's worth Disney works pretty well for A & E's ages if you all are up for it. I'll report back re:Busch Gardens. Have you guys ever gone to Knoebles in the Poconos? That place is crazy... but, also kind of awesome for little kids. Unless A is like Baby was... she kept trying to get off the rides while they were running. In which case AVOID.
Smitty,
I thought you lived in DeWitt. It boggles my mind that I'd never heard of the Bath massacre before. I also never knew there was a school shooting (teachers) in Chelsea.
100 people?! Wow, I bow to you and Jennifer. If some old Capri Suns are all you have to contend with after having that many for an indoor party, I'd say you faired pretty well!
Brenda,
4/2-4/6. 4/3 is the only day that we are busy since I booked a character meal at Busch Gardens, otherwise we have no plans.
Aw, we're down there a few weeks after. You have an early spring break!
Brenda,
Oh, that is too bad.
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