Gorillabuns

Meet me in St. Louis

What do you think? Should I plan a trip around blog readers? I'm considering it!

 

"I think you should tour the USA this summer and have a drink with all your blog followers. Meet me in Iowa for a margarita!" - Becka

 

 

 

 

 

it's been awhile

You know you have gone way too long in posting when you forget your password and lock yourself out of your own site. I almost decided to delete the link and site because eight years later from conception to fruition? I'm kinda not feeling it any longer.

I seem to get bogged down in other areas of life like working for Rich, calligraphy, friends, paperwork, Candy Crush Saga, laundry, the girls and Candy Crush Saga.  The only reason I keep thinking I'll continue to blog is this place is the only area that is all mine. No one can take it over and no one has a say about what I do here.  I guess you could say I'm having a some control issues as of late.

The girls have been out of school for almost three weeks. I enjoy their company, I really do but I do miss the few moments of silence or hiding from my husband in the toilet area to read a magazine that I had at least once a day during the school year. With him working from home and the girls home, there is no me time. Not that there was any of this nonsense in the first place. But, a BIG BUT!  I do enjoy having these ladies around. They make me laugh. They make me crazy. They make me so glad they are my daughters. 

I think they are pretty neato.

 

fourth grade

 

First day of school

School is out. The last bows have been given. Lunch boxes are MIA and alarm clocks have been thrown out the window. Over scheduling and under performance can take a backseat this summer.

 

Last day of school.

I personally love summer. I love having my kids home with me where we do absolutely nothing and absolutely everything - all the while sitting in our pj's. I can say all of this now as they aren't teenagers yet. I'm sure I will feel completely different when that time comes but for now, I love the downtime and so do they.

We ended the year with a banner year of successes and assessments.

Celia does not qualify for special services for her math issues. She actually made quite a bit of strides this past year in catching up from private school.

I can not believe I am actually typing that last sentence. What a fool we were. Entering fourth grade, Celia, tested at a 1.4 in math. At the end of the year? She is going to fifth grade at a 5.2.  What exactly did the old school and teachers do to my precious cargo during her tour of duty there? Nothing would be the answer. We paid a crap load of money for my daughter to fall behind. and further behind.

People slam public schools quite a bit but in my opinion, it could be worse. You could actually pay additional money for inaccountability, complacency, and a complete lack of performance. Your child has a problem not picking up information during the first and only run through? Don't worry! It's their fault. They are the ones who obviously have a problem. Your child is just special. As in special needs. Maybe you should just send them to public school. They can deal with her there. She's just not private school material. (I shit you not. I was told this by her second grade teacher once upon a time. SEVERAL times.)

This year someone was finally watching out for us. Celia had a teacher who responded to her in the most positive of light. She praised her and helped her at every turn. I don't know what we would have done without her. She truly made a difference in her life. She made straight A's! She is not the same anxiety-ridden child. She smiles! She talks! She skips and leaps when she walks! She freaking laughs!

I'm pretty sure she want her to be her new mother.

 

Nothing like the broken down child from last year.

I can't believe I was such a fool to keep here there. 

Now onto better subjects other than past mistakes and multiplication tables....

Summer.

I haven't a clue what we are going to do. 

You?

 

say something

I know I should say something about anything but I don't feel like it right now. I'm funkafied. Have been for sometime. I think my state of mind might be permanent. I'm cool with it.

Thank you all for you kind words of love and caring. These words aren't taken trivially or without care. These words and thoughts really mean something to me. Thalon is not forgotten, I'm not forgotten - the girls are not forgotten.  And yes, I do believe I deserve that golden star next to my name when my time comes.  I put myself to the back burner for my girls. I hope they never suffer as a mother. Kinda like if you know someone who has cancer or their child dies? The laws of probablity goes way down due to association. Maybe it's just me and how my warped mind thinks but I do like to think I took the brunt of all that is shitty so others don't feel the same shitty McShitterson.

I know. I am one eloquent fool.

As we prepare for round two of getting through the day, I'll be the chick/proctor sitting in the corner of your child's homeroom while they take their state testing. I may or may not be playing Candy Crush Saga while also reading a trashy novels. I do love me some smut. Escapism at it's finest. I promise to not share my literary selection with your child.

I do have to say, three hours of pure uninterrupted silence is great, except when my stomach has a gas bubble from the late night binging I am apt to consume.  Nothing says "awesomesauce" when a gaggle of 5th graders turn and stare at you as you try to cough off the innard gas bubbles shooting forth your bowels. 

Yea, I am glad Celia was not present for me to mortify her with her peers.

Alas, don't get me started on this STATE testing. It's for the birds. The school, the teachers and the kids are so bundled up with anxiety to pass these said tests, that they have forgotten what the real reason for school is..... to learn, explore and enjoy.

I am sad kids can't be kids and learn with enthusiasm and wonder while being allowed to fail because this should be the "wonder years" of their learning. Instead, they are drilled to an inch of their life for the past month with 6 pages of "review" homework a night for the past month. Because higher up douches say so.

No wonder the Chinese are totally overtaking our shit. Because we are failing our youth and their intelligence.

**and scene of my rant**

I probably don't know know what I'm talking about.....

unplugged

We returned from our trip without any injuries and mostly still married.

Unless you count this beauty.

The scenery was wistful of my memories from living in West Texas when I was young.

 
Even the bug smudge on the windshield.

We did have all kinds of attitude shoot forth it's loins on this trip.

As you can tell, Celia was less than thrilled with skiing or maybe she was less than thrilled having her father make her ski down blues after 1 1/2 hours of ski lessons.  I am with her. It blew. She needed a do-over. With a more patient co-skier.

Some fun things occurred. My first experience of snow while in the mountains.

Sangria and the doggie bags they give you for transportation.

St. Patty's Day with friends.

Maybe I shouldn't have ordered shots....

Spending quality alone time with my oldest who is growing up way too fast before my eyes.

Relishing in the joy Moira brings to any activity or adventure.

I miss the solitude, my good friend we stayed with in the condo, as well as the unplugged aspect I pretty much displayed while out in nature.

I need to unplug and rewire myself more often. I think we all do.