One of the best parts of summer is waking up to a clear blue sky with no chance of rain in the near future and seeing that the temperature will reach a balmy 100 degrees. And then on a whim decide that THIS is the day to go to Six Flags, which is exactly what we did yesterday. All three kiddoes read and filled out the Six Flags Six Hour Reading challenge forms and received their free tickets for expanding their minds a little. So that meant that we only had to pay for 2 tickets and parking. I was even astute enough to pack a picnic dinner, so the only park food we paid for was a one time only splurge on funnel cake. With all the planning, kids pricing, and filling up our own water bottles with water from drinking fountains we managed enter Six Flags and submit ourselves happily to some pretty major G-Forces (in some countries, I am sure they use Roller Coasters as punishments for high crimes) for only 120.00 dollars give or take a twenty.
I am still a little dazed and confused on two points, however. One - I willingly and happily chunked over money to get jostled, jolted and to sweat profusely all day. And two - who can afford this more often than maybe once every 5 years. If we had payed regular price it would have taken my family over 300 dollars to enter the park and that doesn't include food or parking! But I digress....
We had a blast. The kids were finally tall enough to ride most of the rides! Which meant that Aaron and Sarah rode EVERYTHING they could (both with parents and without) and Isaac would ride and then would walk around for half an hour after a ride feeling sick. He would say he was done and say he would pass on a couple of rides until his stomach settled but then he would be in line to repeat the process all over again. Needless to say, he did not ride as many as the smaller children and also not as many as I did. Also, Nathan doesn't ride anything that spins, flips or turns faster than the Raging Water Rapids. So He spent a lot of time watching and holding my purse.
Since I am the designated riding parent that means when Aaron went on the Runaway Mountain - I went too. When Sarah wanted to spin around in the tea cups, the hot air balloons, and on the sombrero hat - I went too. When the kids did the Spanish log ride two times in a row and the mine roller coaster two times in a row - I did too! Thankfully, Aaron became distracted by the old model driving cars on the way to the Titan and Texas Giant so I never had to do those. However, I got thrown around plenty while Aaron drove our car. Those little driving cars with Aaron behind the wheel might have been the scariest thing I did all day. I also flat out said no to the Superman ride that flies you straight up in the air and for some reason Aaron wouldn't go on it alone. - I think he was smart on that decision. No one's feet should dangle when getting propelled 60 plus feet into the air!
Nathan tells me that we can only go to Six Flags on years when the kids ages are a multiple of 3. (He made that rule last night at 11:00p.m., I wonder why?) That means I have until Isaac is 15, Aaron is 12 and Sarah is 9 to rest up. I am sure next time I will be handing the two older boys money and saying go have fun and maybe Sarah will ride the Titan - by herself.
Our Six Flags day was a fun day and well worth the 120.00 to hear their giggles and see their smiles. It was a Summer Day.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Where Does A Summer Day Go?
I am surprised this year how quickly we settled into a summer routine this year. I am also surprised at how fast a summer day can be filled up. For example, yesterday was a typical summer day at the Stevens. Nothing really on the agenda, but surprise...a doctor visit for Sarah and then back home to make lunch. Chores, reading, piano practice, and swimming, getting in a little exercise and of course the almost daily run to Walmart and my day was done. I am really not sure how the day passed so quickly. It befuddles me that I can stay constantly busy reading, writing, cooking and cleaning and being with the kids. Yet, I feel like I do very little at all. It's a conundrum I suppose.
But maybe that is what summer is about. The rest that can be found in daily life when the schedule that I adhere to is actually made by me and I can change it if needed or desired. This is not true of the months between August and May of each year when school, scouts, church, some sort of sport and piano keep us hopping almost nightly. But during the summer, if we want to go to the park at 8:30 pm we can. And if we stay up til 12 watching a movie or if I read a book in one night (this does sometimes happen) I do so with little worry about what it will do to the day following.
So I must conclude that I am glad summer is here and that my days can get filled without having to plan each little part of it. Here's to a Happy Summer!
But maybe that is what summer is about. The rest that can be found in daily life when the schedule that I adhere to is actually made by me and I can change it if needed or desired. This is not true of the months between August and May of each year when school, scouts, church, some sort of sport and piano keep us hopping almost nightly. But during the summer, if we want to go to the park at 8:30 pm we can. And if we stay up til 12 watching a movie or if I read a book in one night (this does sometimes happen) I do so with little worry about what it will do to the day following.
So I must conclude that I am glad summer is here and that my days can get filled without having to plan each little part of it. Here's to a Happy Summer!
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Aaron - The Comunicator - At Camp
Aaron went off to Camp John Marc last Sunday morning. It is his week to chill with other children living with Spina Bifida. Last year as a rookie mom, I was nervous and teared up several times before camp, but the week went by fast. This year, I am much more secure in the great time I know he is having, but my mind has settled around him for different reasons this year.
There is a hole in our house when he is gone. It is just a week and we definitely aren't sitting around twiddling our thumbs waiting for him to come back, but the dinner table discussion is not as exuberant. The evenings are more solitary, and there is definitely less talk during the day. Part of the life of our family has been removed.
Aaron is our communicator and has inexplicable way to either make a person laugh with gusto or want to pummel him. (Really there is not much middle ground, but he is fun). The comments on the events of the day or a t.v. show and his word play always amaze me.
Not long ago, in fact, we were at the dinner table talking about our latest Netflix addiction- Star Trek Voyager. The conversation had something to do with the character, Tom Paris. Nathan kept mispronouncing it as Parrish. We laughed a little at that but then Aaron came up with - "Well, I bet sometimes, BeLana Torres would like to make him perish". I looked at Aaron astonished and then laughed. I stared and wondered in amazement as I thought about the word play that just came from the mind of my 9 year old and how it was timed just right to create fun. He certainly has a gift and a way with words!
He comes home tomorrow and I can't wait to hear all about his time at camp and how he wowed the counselors and campers with his wit.
There is a hole in our house when he is gone. It is just a week and we definitely aren't sitting around twiddling our thumbs waiting for him to come back, but the dinner table discussion is not as exuberant. The evenings are more solitary, and there is definitely less talk during the day. Part of the life of our family has been removed.
Aaron is our communicator and has inexplicable way to either make a person laugh with gusto or want to pummel him. (Really there is not much middle ground, but he is fun). The comments on the events of the day or a t.v. show and his word play always amaze me.
Not long ago, in fact, we were at the dinner table talking about our latest Netflix addiction- Star Trek Voyager. The conversation had something to do with the character, Tom Paris. Nathan kept mispronouncing it as Parrish. We laughed a little at that but then Aaron came up with - "Well, I bet sometimes, BeLana Torres would like to make him perish". I looked at Aaron astonished and then laughed. I stared and wondered in amazement as I thought about the word play that just came from the mind of my 9 year old and how it was timed just right to create fun. He certainly has a gift and a way with words!
He comes home tomorrow and I can't wait to hear all about his time at camp and how he wowed the counselors and campers with his wit.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Woods
A picture of the woods.
The children throw themselves up the creek bed in search of the crawdad that Sarah has already found the day before. They jump from rock to rock and scramble over pieces of drift wood that the dry creek bed has not managed to dispel. They come upon a shallow hole still filled with water from the last rain and Sarah points out the crawdad that was there the day before. The kids lean over the hole and try to get a better look while an adult tries to quickly snag the creature. The children are enthralled.
Suddenly the mystery of that hole of water is gone and they move on - up the creek bed and away from the adults. They move fast since they are lithe small people with sure feet. The adults call out to them to wait. We find ourselves trying to maneuver fast enough to keep watch, but carefully enough not to become a victim to the rocky ground. The kids make it to the end of the creek where a waterfall has gone dry and is now exposing a small indention that the kids climb into and around. We take pictures around the minicave and we move on to the next adventure.
Out at the mouth of the creek the children look up at a vertical climb to the top of a cliff. I see their bodies itching to move higher, to conquer the rocky precipice. And they do. I stay solidly on low ground and watch all 5 little ones scramble to the top with the men navigating the way and keeping it as safe as possible. Now the children tower high above us waving and calling to us. I can almost hear their thoughts of "Look at what we can do." Smiles are wide and their yells empowering. They have conquered this corner of nature.
Nature gives them what video games and t.v. can not. They now have a rich look at the earth around them, they have the sounds of the creek bed, the crunch of leaves and the crack of twigs. They smell the cedar and wild flowers. They hear the bugs buzz. They are part of the wild wood and it will change them as they have put their stamp on it.
The children throw themselves up the creek bed in search of the crawdad that Sarah has already found the day before. They jump from rock to rock and scramble over pieces of drift wood that the dry creek bed has not managed to dispel. They come upon a shallow hole still filled with water from the last rain and Sarah points out the crawdad that was there the day before. The kids lean over the hole and try to get a better look while an adult tries to quickly snag the creature. The children are enthralled.
Suddenly the mystery of that hole of water is gone and they move on - up the creek bed and away from the adults. They move fast since they are lithe small people with sure feet. The adults call out to them to wait. We find ourselves trying to maneuver fast enough to keep watch, but carefully enough not to become a victim to the rocky ground. The kids make it to the end of the creek where a waterfall has gone dry and is now exposing a small indention that the kids climb into and around. We take pictures around the minicave and we move on to the next adventure.
Out at the mouth of the creek the children look up at a vertical climb to the top of a cliff. I see their bodies itching to move higher, to conquer the rocky precipice. And they do. I stay solidly on low ground and watch all 5 little ones scramble to the top with the men navigating the way and keeping it as safe as possible. Now the children tower high above us waving and calling to us. I can almost hear their thoughts of "Look at what we can do." Smiles are wide and their yells empowering. They have conquered this corner of nature.
Nature gives them what video games and t.v. can not. They now have a rich look at the earth around them, they have the sounds of the creek bed, the crunch of leaves and the crack of twigs. They smell the cedar and wild flowers. They hear the bugs buzz. They are part of the wild wood and it will change them as they have put their stamp on it.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Concert
Last Friday night, Nathan and I got the rare treat of being childless for an evening. Thank you, Mom and Dad. As an early birthday present, Nathan got me tickets to see one of my all time favorite artists, Steven Curtis Chapman. The last time I saw him in concert was before college probably sometime in the very early 90's. I remember him on stage with a keyboard in front of him while the crowd bounced up and down to a top 40 rock beat. It was awesome! Along with my past concert experience, SCC songs were also the theme for more than one of my summer camp experiences. In short SCC's music has been a part of my life for a very long time.
Just how long, however, did not register until we entered the auditorium. My vision for the night(and Nathan's fear) was a rumbling rock concert with a loud bass, people jumping in unison and a frenzy of excitement that would energize me. Instead, I walked in to an auditorium with music blaring to a sitting crowd. We found our seats and I began to take in my surroundings. In front of me was a bald man of middle age with his wife and daughter. Next to me, a couple who looked like their nest had been empty for several years. I began to scrutinize the whole crowd and discovered that more than not these people were middle aged or closely approaching it.
Suddenly, I saw my own aging just a little bit more sharply. Inside, I still feel 18. But on the outside...I am closer to 40 than 30. Strangely, I was a little bit shocked by the revelation, but I'm not sure why. I do know that time is passing. My children aren't babies and and I've been married 16 years. But how did it happen, in the blink of an eye that I went from a life time of living being in front of me to being smack dab in the middle of the life I have chosen to live.
For some reason it is all very strange and unsettling - not that I can stop it. I guess what I need to do is to just try to slow down some and enjoy the "miracle of the moment"
Sunday, February 12, 2012
THE Valentine
Every once in awhile my kids rise above the normal bickering and overall sibling issues that they leave in their wake and do something really surprising. Once again they fill me with hope that they do love their family and I am raising them with some sense of humanity.
We lost our babysitter for Saturday night and with it our chance to celebrate Valentine's day with a date. I must say I was very disappointed. These last few weeks have been rough. I don't see Nathan much and three kids plus my full time job has been overwhelming. But we decided to make the most of it with a family night.
During our Pizza Hut dinner, I witnessed my boys with their heads tilted conspiratorially close. When questioned, they would not give up their secret. We went home and went about our nightly business. After a bit, Nathan and I were asked to enter the living room.
There were my boys, clad in white shirts and ties. Our coffee table was decked out with a candle, Dr. Pepper, muffins and a silver service bell. Feeling sorry for me they had put together a date for us. They let us watch a tv show and served us like royalty for about an hour. It was very sweet.
By far, this was the best Valentine's gift I have received in a very long time. Nothing can beat my boys thinking about their parents with such selflessness. It made me proud.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Language Lessons and Laughs
As a teacher, I know I will never get rich, but I can honestly say that I believe my job is a lot more entertaining than most.
This week especially I have laughed out loud, been awed by a child and shocked by another. These little beings we refer to as children really do think so differently than adults. Many times their wisdom is as poignant as their guffaws.
Case in point: A teacher in one of the rooms that I float into was discussing citizenship and what it means to be a citizen. The girl Iwas closest to leaned toward me and asked, "What is a citizen?" I answered that a citizen of a country is one born in the country who belongs there." I expected to get a nod of understanding. Instead, I got a shocked "Mrs. Stevens!!!!" complete with mouth hanging open and eyes bugging out of her head. I was confused. So I repeated it and sure enough discovered the little girl had thought I said "porn". I am still flabbergasted how this young child knew what porn was, but not the word citizen. It should also be noted that this child was not an ESL student.
Case in Point 2: The next day, I was sitting with a group of kindergarten students learning the H sound. We were looking at objects beginning with H and the next one on the list was a hook. I asked if anyone knew what the picture was and a little girl very confidently answered - "Yes, A hooker." After the porn thing, I couldn't help myself. I just laughed out loud and wondered what my world was coming to!
An about face: In the same class as the first story, I was teaching a prewriting strategy in writing. The class was creating a web. It is fashionable today for all work to be student led and therefore more engaging. I agree with this philosophy and was leading the children in a brainstorming discussion about their passions. One little boy raised his hand and said he was passionate about his belief in God. I wrote it down and went on with the lesson. The next part of the lesson was doing a class web and so I took a vote. Out of 4 different topics on the chart to pick from "belief in God" won. Suddenly the class was shouting at me all the reasons they believed in God. The room was pulsing with the energy of excited little faces all smiling brightly about God's promises to his people. God helps us, God loves us, God sent Jesus to earth to save us, the list went on. After the group lesson, I asked for students to work independently on a new web of their own. 5 students still wanted to write about believing in God...and who am I to stop them. I was awed by their delight in the creator and humbled that I sometimes take Him for granted.
It has been an interesting week to say the least. Teaching is tough work that sometimes lends little time for outside pursuits, like writing this blog. But at times, it is the most entertaining and rewarding of careers.
This week especially I have laughed out loud, been awed by a child and shocked by another. These little beings we refer to as children really do think so differently than adults. Many times their wisdom is as poignant as their guffaws.
Case in point: A teacher in one of the rooms that I float into was discussing citizenship and what it means to be a citizen. The girl Iwas closest to leaned toward me and asked, "What is a citizen?" I answered that a citizen of a country is one born in the country who belongs there." I expected to get a nod of understanding. Instead, I got a shocked "Mrs. Stevens!!!!" complete with mouth hanging open and eyes bugging out of her head. I was confused. So I repeated it and sure enough discovered the little girl had thought I said "porn". I am still flabbergasted how this young child knew what porn was, but not the word citizen. It should also be noted that this child was not an ESL student.
Case in Point 2: The next day, I was sitting with a group of kindergarten students learning the H sound. We were looking at objects beginning with H and the next one on the list was a hook. I asked if anyone knew what the picture was and a little girl very confidently answered - "Yes, A hooker." After the porn thing, I couldn't help myself. I just laughed out loud and wondered what my world was coming to!
An about face: In the same class as the first story, I was teaching a prewriting strategy in writing. The class was creating a web. It is fashionable today for all work to be student led and therefore more engaging. I agree with this philosophy and was leading the children in a brainstorming discussion about their passions. One little boy raised his hand and said he was passionate about his belief in God. I wrote it down and went on with the lesson. The next part of the lesson was doing a class web and so I took a vote. Out of 4 different topics on the chart to pick from "belief in God" won. Suddenly the class was shouting at me all the reasons they believed in God. The room was pulsing with the energy of excited little faces all smiling brightly about God's promises to his people. God helps us, God loves us, God sent Jesus to earth to save us, the list went on. After the group lesson, I asked for students to work independently on a new web of their own. 5 students still wanted to write about believing in God...and who am I to stop them. I was awed by their delight in the creator and humbled that I sometimes take Him for granted.
It has been an interesting week to say the least. Teaching is tough work that sometimes lends little time for outside pursuits, like writing this blog. But at times, it is the most entertaining and rewarding of careers.
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