Lots of GOOD news!

Slice of Life stories are hosted by
Two Writing Teachers

Last week, we were lamenting the purposeful damage of my husband's new car.  <sigh>

This week, we have all found reasons to CELEBRATE!  

My husband received an email back from a community choir he contacted after he read about them in the newspaper.  He asked about open auditions, and learned they were taking new members that very day!  He now has a new choir with whom to stretch his vocal chords and singing talent each week.  HOORAY!

My oldest daughter is having a successful run on the school lacrosse team.  The team is only in their second year, and she was so excited to make the varsity team, even though she didn't play last year.  She hasn't scored a goal in a game yet, but she's had a few in practice.  It's SO exciting to hear her name over the loudspeaker at the stadium when she gains possession of the ball.  GO, COUGARS!!!

This week I inspired many intermediate, barely-motivated-readers to pick up a book, READ it, then try an Accelerated Reader (AR) test.  We're playing BINGO in each small group:  each time someone reads a book, talks with someone about it, then passes the AR test, they can put their name in a square.  They work together to strategically place their names so they form a BINGO.  The prizes included candy, erasers and mechanical pencils, so the kids were psyched to grab a bunch of books for the weekend.  WIN!

Finally, my youngest daughter had the drive and motivation to participate in poms tryouts for next year's high school team.  She stayed at the high school for 3 hours each night, managed to get her homework done (without nagging from me), and cheered on her friends who also tried out.  She wasn't a total crab when she still had to get up early for school.  Her great attitude, hard work, and smiles paid off.... she made the team.  WOOO HOOO!

I'm proud of all our accomplishments and happy for even the little moments (BINGO!)  It's an exciting time for my family.

Already damaged

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My husband bought a new car in March.  It's a Chrysler 300 SRT.  It's a total racing sedan, and it's his third one.  He really loves his car.  It's stylish, speedy and full of features.  He's waited since September for this one.

It's already damaged.

He bought his first SRT during a snowstorm.  It was tricky getting home (not much traction) and he commented that this was not a car to drive in the snow.  During spring break, he left it at the dealership to have the brakes checked.  Two of the mechanics took it for a test drive and flipped the car.  No one was hurt, but the car was totaled.  He was out of town on business when a police officer came to our house to have me sign the police report.  My heart has never beat faster.

The new car, as it sat in our driveway, was damaged.


His second SRT stayed with us through its lease, but I began to think the car was jinxed.   Two times my husband was rear-ended (once because of a duck, the other by a new driver hitting the car behind him).  He knew the first name of the receptionist at the body shop by the end of the car's lease.

The new car was scratched, purposefully.


This year he waited six months for the newest SRT to be built.  We've had it for less than a month.  Last night he discovered a scratch on the back of the trunk and a wad of gum at the end of the scratch.  He thinks it was done in our driveway, in broad daylight.  He felt so disgusted last night.

Why does someone have to ruin something nice?


It's a scratch that can be fixed, but we can't figure out why someone would do something like that.  It does hang over the sidewalk when it's parked.  Are there really bored teens?  The questions will never be answered.

Daughter - SOLC #31

HOORAY! 

It's my 31st slice!  I (we) made it!  I (we) wrote for 31 days!

This slice is dedicated to my daughters (and my husband) who have been my cheerleaders during this challenge.  I love you!!!

2002

daughter

 August                                 July 

     oldest                                   youngest

polite

honest

     athlete                                    dancer

sports watcher                          app player

funny

compassionate

           coach                             animal whisperer

early bird                               night owl

musical

friendly

  left-brained                        right-brained 

mathematician                           writer

my favorite

daughter

2012

It's been a great Slice of Life Challenge!
Check out Two Writing Teachers to slice all year long!

The bird feeder - SOLC #30

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We hung a bird feeder on the side of our shed years ago.  When I keep the feeder full of seed and suet cakes, we get lots of bird traffic.  It helps that we have lots of bushes at our fence line, and we live across the street from a nature sanctuary.

Mornings are my favorite time of day when we don't have to rush to work and school.  I sit at the dining room table and try to identify all the birds who stop by.  Every year we see a pair of cardinals, lots of sparrows and we've even a woodpecker or two.  In late winter, a group of birds who look like they are wearing tuxedos stop by.  My mom thinks they might be from Alaska.

My most exciting bird sighting happened last summer.  I spotted an indigo bunting.  Wow - these birds have
the most beautiful blue feathers.  I tried to snap a photo through the screen with my phone, but I was unsuccessful.  I was so excited to see this bird that I was jumping around the living room, calling out to my family.  They really thought I was nuts!  Take a look at a picture I found - wouldn't you be excited, too?

From avibirds.com - photo by Lang Elliot

Maybe I'm a bird brain, but I do enjoy watching all the birds at the feeder.  They are happy creatures, hopping around, vying for a spot at the feeder, waiting their turn on the shed.  Today we were able to capture these photos.  They were taken through the windows, but you get the idea.  Enjoy!

Nuttall's Woodpecker (I think)

Cardinal on the feeder, sparrows on the roof

New experiences - SOLC #29

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We arrived back in our hometown this afternoon and unloaded our bags. The girls collected 3 new college t-shirts and lots of new knowledge after our 3-day road trip to Iowa.

My oldest daughter experienced over six hours of driving - on highways, around small towns and through a hilly college campus.

My youngest daughter learned some new organizational tips from a friend who also struggles with ADHD.

I learned how to be less of a white-knuckled passenger with my student driver at the wheel.

The girls experienced their first hotel stay in a No-Moms-Allowed room.  My girls and my friend's daughter were excited and nervous about being down the hall from the moms, but they did great.

We all learned that college campuses are very unique, and there are many pros and cons to all of them.  It will be a big decision for both of them.

I wish my husband was able to go on this trip with us, but during the trip I was reminded that I married the right guy nearly 22 years ago.  He managed our construction, dealt with his work responsibilities, and even took great care of the parakeet that he wished we didn't have.

Car Conversations – SOLC #28

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My teenage daughters and I drove five and a half hours across Illinois and Iowa yesterday.  We’re on a mini road trip during spring break, looking at colleges (for the oldest) and shopping (for the youngest).  During the long hours on the road, we talked about a lot of different things. 

Making and keeping friends, especially when there are boys involved 

Does Justin Bieber listen to his early music and cringe at how young he sounds? 

Different religions and churches

Funny stories about their paternal grandmother who grew up in Iowa

Are your GPA and test scores more important than being a well-rounded student? 

Excitement about their dad’s designs for our basement

Of course, when the conversation lapsed, my youngest took over the iPod and played the role of DJ from the backseat.  We listened to everything from hip hop to pop to classic rock.  The miles go faster when you’re singing along to The Beatles, for sure!

When we’re in the car, we can talk about nearly anything without anyone feeling too uncomfortable.  There’s no eye contact, and the conversation can quickly change. 

Mrs. V was right when she commented on my blog yesterday, “Enjoy the trip with your girls. It sounds like it will be a great bonding experience.”

Road trip - SOLC #27

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Today we're off to Iowa, land of hogs and corn, two big universities and many small universities.  My oldest daughter is a sophomore in high school and her younger sister is in 8th grade.  Is it too early to look at colleges?  Not when you're on spring break, you're doing home remodeling ($) and your husband has to work. 

A three-day road trip fits the bill!

Last year we went to Ann Arbor to visit the University of Michigan.  I'd always wanted to go there as a kid, but I went to school closer to home.  (GO NIU HUSKIES!)  We wandered the campus and the downtown area.  It was fun to say we'd been there, so our goal for the next year is to unofficially visit a bunch of
colleges in the Midwest, taking our time, and getting a feel for each campus.

If you ask my oldest daughter what she's looking for in a college, she would say that she'd like a big school with great football & basketball teams, lots of different majors, a cool marching band and a girls' lacrosse team.  Don't ask her what she wants to major in.  It makes her stressed - she's my child who likes to plan out everything, and she doesn't know what she's exactly interested in yet.  I'm fine with that - we have time!

If you ask my younger daughter what she's looking for in a college, she would say that she'd like to go to a small school where she can dance, design clothes, go shopping when she's bored (the reality of being broke in college hasn't sunk in), and meet lots of people.  Can you tell she's 13?  It's all about the social life!

So, today we're heading toward Iowa State University (my sister- and brother-in-law are alums) and Drake University.  Tomorrow we visit the University of Iowa, then head to my friend's in the Quad Cities for a visit.    We hope it's a fun trip!