oh, Christmas tree

I Love Christmas!

I really love Christmas.  The promise, the sparkle, the goodness, the partridge in the pear tree, Elf, the decorations, the magic.

The Friday after Thanksgiving is the day to decorate the house (you can't do it before Thanksgiving...that's just wrong).  And for the first time in 21 Christmases ~ Mike helped without complaining.  Mike helped with a joyful heart.  Mike hung pine roping and lights on the fence in the BITTER cold.  We even put up the tree.  Lest you think Mike is the Grinch, he doesn't believe you should decorate for Christmas before December 1.  It has been the constant in our marriage.  I want the tree up and he refuses to help until December, so I've always gotten all the other decorating done, and waited until December for the tree.  Last year, Patrick was strong enough to bring the tree down from the attic ~ so the tree was up without Mike's help (before December).  I think the phrase, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" applies here.

But for whatever reason, I am thankful.

Patrick at 15 and Jacob at 12

It's HARRY POTTER day!

Happy Harry Potter day!

Back in 2001 Aunt Nita and I took 6 year old Patrick to the first Harry Potter Day Movie.  We'd read the books together and could not wait to see it on the big screen.  It's become a tradition to see HP with Aunt Nita ~ and we've added a few people along the way.  The first being Jacob ~ being that he was too little to go see the first couple in the theater ~  Today's group (minus Jacob) last assembled at Border's for the Midnight release of Book 7.  (Where we did not have to beat anyone up ~ thank goodness ~ but we were ready in case anyone yelled out the ending to the book!)
Today Patrick (15) will be driving us to the first part of the final movie.  Harry Potter has been the character of my kids' childhood.  It's exciting and a little sad. 

But today is HARRY POTTER day.  Have a happy one :)

give thanks always

A memorable Thanksgiving.  The one where Mike had to stay in bed because he got the stomach flu that Patrick had last week.  What a horrible day to be so sick.  The rest of the Madison Bartons went to Newbury and ATE and ATE.  I'm hoping that Jacob and I stay well...(mostly because I ate A LOT)

ooops, i did it again

I failed a test.
In school.
A real test.
Kind of a scary test, too.
I'm hoping I never have to go through the real thing ~
Because the consequences are pretty grave. 

We had a practice lock-down yesterday.  The fact that we have to practice lock-downs like we practice fire drills and tornado drills is a frightening commentary on American society ~ but that's another story. 
We're in our lock-down mode with the lights off, shades drawn, students hunkered down between my desk and the computers, silent as a class of mine can be.  And then it happens ~ the test ~  My assistant principal tests my door (locked) and then, as she's rattling the doorknob, yells, "Mrs. Barton! Mrs. Barton! Open the door!" 
I know I'm supposed to be quiet (and not open the door), but I can't help myself...I answer, (in a very whiny voice), "I'm not supposed to." 
At which time I knew I'd failed.  It's that whole quiet thing.  I gotta work on that.

and BINGO was his name-o

Bingo: the major fund raiser for our school district.  When your kid is involved in a high school sport, you are expected to work bingo ~ and they make it worth your while (sort of) by putting money into your child's "account".  I didn't have to pay anything for Patrick's soccer camps last spring, but I paid my dues, that's for sure.
Last evening was my second time working bingo.  We volunteers have to sell the instants ~ walking around hawking them by name, "50 cent fruits", "50 cent safari". Not all names are so benign.  Last year I had to sell ones, "50 cent fourplay" ~ it was wrong.  All day yesterday I was bemoaning my job-to-come and reiterating my "50 cent fourplay" embarrassment.
One of the $1.00 instants last night was called "Major Woody".  Fortunately you have to be on another level of the Bingo-levels-of-working to sell the $1.00 tickets.  None of what we sold last night had embarrassing names, but, of course, I didn't let that stop me.  While selling the "50 cent flashboard" I yell out, "50 cent fourplay".   Comments were made by the older lady I was walking by..."oh honey, we know what you're thinking about."  Why, Oh Why do I do this to myself? 

in the dark

cozy

peaceful

quiet

Not usually words used to describe a run, but I did something I've never done before, and those words fit.  I went running in the dark.  With it getting dark around 5:00 and my dislike (hate, hate, hate) of running inside on the treadmill, I drove up to Main Street and ran on the sidewalk.  I didn't have to worry about the traffic,  there were streetlights so I could still see the sidewalk, and I was almost invisible to the people driving by.  It was alone time in public.  It even started to drizzle (not something I usually enjoy) but tonight it just added to the peace and tranquility.  Me with nature.  I love to run.

65° and sunny

November

65°

Sunny

A gift after such a busy, crazy, never-ending week.

A day spent outside.

first a run

then cleaning up the flower beds

and helping the boys rake leaves.

Then time to laugh with old friends

(and laugh)

in beautiful wine country, Ohio.

I always forget that people come from all over

to visit the wineries in my backyard.

I love 65° and sunny November days.

Thankfulness

create in me a clean heart

It's been one of those days.  One of those disastrous days ~ not so much for the things that happened, but the attitude in which I approached everything.  grumpy, contentious, UGH.

My heart needs to be scrubbed of all the junk.  I need to focus on the important things ~ My wonderful husband who does dishes ~ My beautiful and intelligent children who bring laughter to the dinner table ~ My job which I find so rewarding on the days I focus on the positive and not the negative ~ My friends who listen to my complaining and still like me ~ My home that is a place of peace and love ~ My God who sees me for what I can be and loves me for who I am.

attitude IS everything

first snow

All week long the forecasters had been calling for snow Thursday night into Friday ~ and Mike was committed to attending Ledgemont High School's football playoff game at the field on Burrows Road.  The Redskins had gone 10-0 this year for their first undefeated season in history.  Once you've been a Ledgemont Redskin there's always a little bit of that in there.  He really wanted to go and witness this playoff game.  I whined all week long about it.  But Thursday he went to Ledgemont High School and bought two pre-sale tickets, knowing I'd have to go since we spent the money.
So we bundled up and drove into Thompson.  As soon as we hit the bottom of the hill by Ford Road ~ the rain turned into slush/icy rain/snow.  There we were; standing on the muddy cinder track watching the pre-game show at R.W. Sidley field at Ledgemont Local Schools.  There is something incredibly special about small schools.  Things are done as best they can be done ~ and often better than at larger schools.  The concession stand didn't just have warmed over pizza and soggy hot dogs.  They had three grills going ~ not only making good food, but keeping warm and putting that good grill smell in the air.  The band was very little ~ tiny even.  Without any trumpets and only two drummers they didn't even make much noise.  But they were there and were joined by the just-as-small Monroeville Marching Eagles to play the National Anthem.  (You certainly wouldn't see the Blue Streak Marching Band and the Perry Marching Band joining together on the field to do that!)  The Thompson and Montville ambulances were there ~ with the Thompson side turning on the siren for every Redskin score,.  Which was a lot, since they won 47 to 21.  The first playoff will in Redskin football history.

We woke up this morning to snow on the ground and leaves still in the trees.  This is the time that fall begins to battle with winter over our weather ~ and we all know how that ends.  I'm ok with that.  I think the snow is pretty even when I'm staninding on an old cinder track watching it come down on high school football players at a school where I used to work.  Maybe especially then.

old soul

I know this makes me sound like a crazy fool, but when I look into his eyes it's hard not to think I've known him forever.  My Tonka Dog is an old soul.  He is a sweet lovable big ol' dog and it's his job to take care of this family.  Every morning Mike's alarm goes off at a few minutes before 6:00.  This morning, when Mike didn't get up after his alarm went off, Tonka got up, walked to Mike's side of the bed and made sure Mike was awake.  He does the same for me if I lay in bed after the alarm.  But, because he's a good dog, if the alarm doesn't go off, he lets us sleep in.
After Mike lets him out, he comes back upstairs to my side of the bed and recently has started to bring me a bone.  He lays it on the bed and lets me pet him.  How funny is that?  By the end of the week I've got 4 or 5 bones scattered on the floor around my bed.  So I carry them back downstairs and put them in the dog toy basket for Tonka to use the next week.

I don't read dog stories anymore; I know how they all end.  For that very reason theses are the last two dogs I'll have ~ I hate the dog hair all over my house ~ I hate that they steal your heart and then tear it to shreds ~ but I love my dogs.