I heart NY
My oldest son and I had an appointment in Manahattan this morning, so it was wake early and move quickly. The turnpike was a mess because of an accident, but we finally made it through the Lincoln tunnel to our destination.
I LOVE Manhattan. I would welcome spending a year or so just living in the city with my crew. What an energy that city has about it. So many great things to see and do. I could be a taxi driver flooring it through the crowded streets while honking the horn.
Anyway, after our appt was over, we grabbed a sandwich at one of the deli vendors around the corner on Fifth Avenue. The Moroccan gentleman asked my son if he was from Sweden. My son smiled and just shook his head no. I told the man that we were from Jersey. He laughed in surprise and said, “Jersey, really?”. He thought because of my son’s coloring that he was Scandinavian. Following that laugh, I noticed this same man’s sweatshirt said “Phillips Academy, Andover”. Now, being a researcher of elite private schools I immediately recognized his sweatshirt and asked him if he had attended this school. He said “no” and didn’t even know where the school was located or know of its history. He didn’t even know where the sweatshirt came from. I almost offered to buy the sweatshirt off of his back because I loved the look of it, but I thought that may have been crossing the lines a bit.
We ended our NY morning at a coffee house on Fifth Avenue. I believe the name was Toby’s, lovely cafe decorated in all white with yummy cappuccinos. However, the nice Brazilian lady standing in line behind us touched by son’s hair a couple of times while we were waiting for our drinks. She just smiled at me and said he had such pretty hair. My son looked at me as if to ask was this okay. I assured him that it was after I chatted with her about the price of jeans in Brazil versus NY.
We returned home for the afternoon for activities, and I picked up burgers from our local sports bar for dinner so I could avoid cooking.
I may take a break from writing for a few days to regroup with the family.
Until then…
How did you spend it?
My Mother’s Day summary:
Slept until 9:30, played hookie from church (horrible traffic), ate Big Breakfast that hubby made along with presentation of homemade cards by the kids (tear-jerker), 2 afternoon soccer games, worked in children’s garden weeding and planting, ate left-overs from Big Breakfast. I’ll let the pictures say the rest..
Now back to the reality of academics..Game on.
Skyping and such on Saturday
We woke a bit earlier than usual on this Saturday morning to Skype with our new French teacher who’s currently in France. I am beginning live lessons with my daughter since she seems to be an auditory learner. Auditory learners tend to migrate easier to foreign languages, so I’m interested to see how she does with the lessons. Our lesson was to occur from 9-10 this morning. Skype was not cooperating well, so we chatted with the teacher a few minutes and will try again this weekend. Don’t you just love a French accent? Yummy inflections..
That event was followed by getting my oldest out the door for lacrosse, then ballet, grocery shopping during ballet, then a gymnastics drop-off. The afternoon will be spent cleaning the house. It’s embarrassing to say, but I haven’t even unpacked my bags from our recent trip and it’s been a week!
I hope to spend the evening researching academics and extracurriculars that I’m either a part of or hoping to start. Then there are those business ideas I have so hoping to find some quiet time for those, as well.
Look at this sign that was in the grocery store parking lot. I’m sooooo glad that I cannot park there. Is that awful to say?
In the woods
We spent a large part of the day at a friend’s house enjoying the outdoors. The kids fished, climbed hay bales, rode 4-wheelers, drove a tractor, watched the cows, and played with worms (because the fish weren’t biting). What a great experience for them. Around where we live, you have to pay money or stand in lines to enjoy farm activities like we did today.
Hubby and I escaped to the gym later to play a few rounds of racquetball. I’m a terrible racquetball player. I look like a spastic, injured fairy, but we had a good work-out while having a few laughs at my expense. Mexican for dinner-just the 2 of us while the kids stayed with grandma and grandpa:) Cards after dinner..we are all so competitive. No one likes to lose so games can get a bit lively.
Off to bed.. This is the earliest I’ve said good-night in a long time:)
There’s no time for fashion sense
I looked in the mirror and wondered what was I thinking. I’m not good at fashion in general. Couple that with having next to no time to shop for myself and being clueless on the latest fashion trends, and it just doesn’t go well. After arriving home tonight from activities, I noticed the old pair of jeans I had on by Ralph Lauren. There are extra pockets on my rear that make my backside look bigger than it already is. Why did I buy these? Really, what was my thought process on this or RL’s for making them? I looked like a wanna-be cowgirl. I guess I should view myself in the mirror before I leave next time.
Blazers and khakis. What is your influence on them?
I laughed as I was packing for our vacation because I noticed that we had several of the same navy blue blazers hanging in one of the boy’s closets. You can tell what type of fashion I like generally by what you see them wearing..preppy, old-fashioned, classic, traditional. Call it what you want. I wonder if these decisions I make for them such as fashion will influence choices they make as they get older. If they do, I hope it’s a positive one because fashionista I certainly am not.
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Last day of school! Where’s my teacher’s gift?
What a lot of work this school year has been. I end hoping I did a good job teaching them and providing a stimulating atmosphere in which to learn.
We ended today with the kids showing their father what they studied. Doing so gives them a sense of closure and accomplishment.
Now, we begin summer break. Projects that have stared at me for the last ten months will be addressed. Traveling may occur. Nails can be painted. The wardrobe can be addressed! Spending quality time with friends will happen OR, maybe we’ll just sit around the pool and do nothing. All in the Lord’s will..
Another exhausting day
Mother’s day tea, probability, fractions, operations, took lunch and a birthday present to my girlfriend, technology lessons, logic, critical thinking, poetry, art history, spelling with SWR, money, independent reading, matter, Paul Bunyan, team gymnastics, and more travel soccer try-outs. It’s been a full and somewhat stressful week. I may hibernate this weekend!
An honest stressor for me at this point in motherhood-not having a clear, defined path of interest for my oldest kid. I hear parents talk about their child wanting to do a certain “thing” from an early age. I don’t have that feedback from my son yet, and it bothers me. I know it shouldn’t, but admittedly, it does. Need quiet time to calm my anxiety..
Swallow this pill..
Shaping our children..
Every person they meet, every experience they have, every book they read, every movie they watch, every playdate that comes over (the list goes on) is molding my children’s character and who they will eventually become as adults.
Ivy League Homeschooling 