AM~Erica is So Proud of the Accomplishments

So anyway...

It's that time of year when the school year winds down and another fiscal year is coming to a close.

This is also the time of year for the extra curricular awards banquets & ceremonies, too. And this year is no different.

Last night was one of those banquets. Teen Boy had his end-of-the-year squad awards banquet for his speech & debate squad.

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the banquet was moved to our church! YAY!! So my son helped my hubby set up for the event.

It was catered, and the food was pretty good; there were speeches from the seniors for their farewells; there was an ongoing slideshow of all the craziness that happened within the squad thru the year; and there were awards....a whole lot of awards!

Now, we knew that Teen Boy would be getting his letter in debate...again (so a bar to add to the letter), his degree promotion for the points he's accumulated thru the year, plus he'd be bringing home his trophies he earned thru the year, too. Plus we had an idea of at least another award he'd probably get. So we were looking forward to this year. Taking it all in.

As the awards were getting going, he got his bar for both the speech and debate sides (so a bar for each), and he received his degrees of Outstanding Distinction AND Superior Distinction!

Woo Hoo!!!

Then they started giving out the squad awards. These are voted on by the squad!!

When it came time for International Extemper of the Year...it was Teen Boy. We figure that was the other one he was getting...but still...WOO HOO!!

He was also helping to present one of the awards, too. So that was fun....

But then things started going crazy!!

All of a sudden, he got honorable mention (read: 1st runner up) for Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debater of the Year AND for Varsity Congressman of the Year!!
PLUS....he was voted Varsity Public Forum Debater of the Year with his debate partner!!

Also, as officers were being announced for next year, our son wasn't called up...but....
He was appointed as the Debate Chair of the squad's annual speech & debate tournament they host!! We were SO excited!! Not necessarily surprised, but still so proud! Supposedly he didn't want it, but thought he'd throw his hat in the ring to be considered "if they needed him to do it." Apparently he's what they needed.

Oh...we started reminiscing with him at the table when the members of the year awards were being given. They were handing out the Novice-of-the-Year awards...and we were talking about when Teen Boy won one of the novice awards a couple of years ago (reminder HERE).

Then as it came time to announce the Varsity-Member-of-the-Year, within a couple of seconds of his coach talking, I started getting choked up. But I was trying to hold it in...it sounded like our son she was describing, but I would have looked like an idiot for crying for another kid. So I looked down & away as the description continued to sound like Teen Boy! And so....she called his name!!

*CRIES*

Even one of the seniors address him in her farewell speech to keep him encouraged.

Whew!! I was an emotional wreck! My hubby was an emotional wreck! We have another year of this, people. If we were this mushy for his junior year...
*ahem*
Never mind...I don't even want to think about next year. It's gonna have to be a box of tissues for all.

And then the outgoing president got up to give his closing remarks & farewell speech. This guy is a great guy...and apparently was making bets with other seniors about whether or not they'd cry during their speeches. LOL!! But...mostly because he know he was going to be a puddle of mush during his speech. One of the saddest & most touching I've ever heard.
He singled out a few of the squad members, but knew he needed to get a move on (the banquet was already nearing 4 hours long...as usual).

Then closing remarks from the coaches came. And it was a prepared statement with shocking news. News that prompted shock, silence & tears as the send off was given. A statement when prompted me to put out an open letter to our district superintendent & school board. (can be read HERE, along with the statement given that caused the chaos)

As everyone was consoling each other & the seniors were giving their last banquet hugs, the outgoing president came up to us & apologized for not singling Teen Boy out...but he said he was already a weepy mess. But he wanted our son to know how great this guy thought he was. But we were interrupted as Teen Boy walked by, so the outgoing president could run over, hug him & tell him himself.

We think he's pretty awesome. And we are so glad he's found where he belongs. And he does pretty well...

The awards, degrees, certificates, and earned trophies
(not including additional medals received for placing thru the year)

It was an emotional night. We are so proud of what Teen Boy has accomplished....and we look forward to what he'll do next year!

...but it might night be without a bunch of tears.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Can't Believe Another Year's Gone By

So anyway...

It's been 9 years since it happened. One of the longest & most frustrating days of my entire life. (last year's 2-part reminder HERE...grab some popcorn & settle in when you read or reread it)

However, at the very end of that long, Long, LONG day...and after a lot of waiting & working really hard...it brought Lil Guy into this world.

This dude is an amazing kiddo.

Though he's been thru a lot, in his own right (the reminder of that journey HERE), he's always been a trooper & has so much going for him!

Much of what I'm gonna say about him, in celebration of his day, may sound like a biased parent...but just note that we are realist parents, and we will tell it like it is...both good & bad of our kids.

Lil Guy is so smart. He has always had a high IQ, but it was always slightly dragged down by his struggle he went thru. Now that he's passed that, we need to test his IQ again. Because he is always at the top of his class...and sometimes even his grade...in his reading & math, for sure. I was helping at one of the parties, and another parent announced that she heard that Lil Guy had the highest reading score in the grade. That surprised me! Not that his reading score was high, but that it was announced by a parent! I think word is getting out...

He's also very liked. He's probably one of the most popular kids. We've always heard that many of the kids want to be at his table &/or want him on their team. He really is a team player. He knows where he will do well & he knows when others will do well. It's amazing to watch kids go out of their way to say hi to him.

He's super athletic. This kid is fast, he's quick, he sees a bigger picture on whatever field he's on. He's tall & agile, too. There's always things he can work on to get better, but he's usually one of the best on whatever team he's on...if not the best one. If he's not the best on his team, he can certainly hold his own with the best. And he's competitive...sometimes a little too competitive, but he's got drive, for sure.

Lil Guy has a lot of talent. He has his moments where he gets to prove his acting & speaking skills. This is a big deal!! He has an ear for music, too. He actually has rhythm, even though he likes to act really goofy when he dances around. And he can pick up on things musically fairly quickly.

This kid is a big goof! We never know how he's gonna enter or exit a room. He might make a weird face &/or add a weird voice &/or a weird walk. His imagination fascinates us often.

This boy is a quick-wit, too. We never know what might come out of his mouth. He always surprises us with his grown-up comebacks to situations...that he usually delivers with a dry humor & straight face. It's always entertaining to hear what his young brain can come up with to shut people down in a hurry...but with an end result of laughter. He's a hoot.

He is a game player. When I say "game player"...I mean of all sorts! From Go Fish, to several board games, so many of the electronic variety, too. And he is strategic & competitive (if I hadn't already mentioned that). He gets frustrated at his mistakes & does his best to learn from them...cuz he's in it to win it!

He can keep track of stats. Whether it's sports or some geeky/nerdical games &/or players, he can keep track of some of that stuff. It's amazing to hear him keep up pretty well in conversations surrounding these things.

Lil Guy is definitely our natural leader. He attempts to "organize" how things are or will look at home...but we need to remind him who's actually in charge here. However, he can be the captain of a team if he wanted to. He can see where others should be in position on whatever project or game or event he's a part of. It's amazing to watch. And...other kids, for sure, will usually listen to him.

He can keep track of schedules & things coming up. And, if he wants to do something in that schedule that he is keeping track of, he will be persistent about asking & talking about it. It's irritating for us...but I'm sure it will be good for him in the long run.

This guy has a big heart. He may not like everyone, but he will stick up for whoever he needs to & will feel bad if someone is left out of something. I think it has to do with the struggle he went thru & the type of kids he dealt with along the way. He usually sees the worth in those who others have issues seeing the worth in. It warms my heart when I witness him doing this or talking about it.

In this last year, we have seen his personality grow even more. The levels of smartness & goofiness has been amazing. He has come out of his shell so much. He is even much more willing to be in open conversation with others. In the past, he would feel out the situation & what he felt about a person before partaking in conversation with them. He's processing the situations much quicker now.

The potential for Lil Guy is near endless. I've referred to him as our Captain America before. I believe he may be a future CEO of some Fortune 500 company. I won't push him that direction...there's still a lot of life for him to live & experiences for him to go thru before he sets sail for a particular direction in his future. In the meantime, we will be proud of all of his ever-accumulating achievements.

And...it's hard for this mama to grasp that the baby is in his last year of single-digit ages. So, next year...prepare for a tearful mommy post.

Until then...we won't rush it & will enjoy every moment of Lil Guy's next trip around the sun.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Feels So Guilty

So anyway...

Our Lil Guy, who JUST HAD A BIRTHDAY, is really something else. And we are still glad that he is not yet embarrassed by us being around. Actually, he's still in the stage where he's happy to show us off...

Lately, things have been crazy. Our kiddos are all involved in totally different things. So trying to get them to & from practices/rehearsals while trying to make as many events as possible while having hubby with a very busy schedule with his career...it's tiring. It turns my stomach when we (or either hubby &/or I) have to miss any of the events. It breaks my heart.

Now, there are things my hubby has to be at. There's no way around it. He tries to finagle things a bit, and always tries his best to put the family events first! Always! And there are days when we need a flow chart to keep up with each other & what all is going on!

Now then...Lil Guy doesn't always remember how busy we all are. He's been dying for hubby & I to come meet him for lunch at his school. Isn't that sweet? I'm not gonna lie...I cannot stand eating in the cafeteria. It's loud, stressful, kids touching other kids food, kids trying to make your own kid feel bad for not sitting by them...just thinking about it makes my blood pressure rise. But we have done it because Lil Guy wants us there.

In the past, I have volunteered for Lil Guy's class. On those days, I would generally go ahead & have lunch with him, too. Like I said...the cafeteria experience always made my blood pressure rise...but I loved having that moment shared with Lil Guy. I loved knowing he was happy I was there.

This year, I was not asked to come volunteer weekly. So, I have fallen off the weekly lunching schedule. I think I might have eaten with him twice this year...maybe. He's really been on me again...but with hubby. Now hubby's schedule is hard to work around thru the day. He's had impromptu lunch meetings or working thru lunch...or days he needed to get stuff done at the house. He usually takes a later lunch, too. Apparently Lil Guy eats earlier. So it's been difficult.

He's been on a big kick of asking us to "surprise" him by bringing lunch. But he usually follows up with what day we should "surprise" him. (Yeah...I don't think he is quite understanding the surprise element...) But he's been asking a lot. I keep informing him that I need to work around daddy's schedule. He knows, but really wants us to come meet him for lunch.

Lil Guy pressed again today. I had to inform him that I didn't know hubby's schedule yet. He knew that. It was breaking my heart...
We didn't make it to lunch with him today. And I'm dwelling on it. Horribly.

With all of the violence that has happened that everyone keeps ridiculously debating over...people have lost their lives. School children, college students, innocent bystanders...have lost their lives. They didn't get one more lunch date with their family...their families didn't get one more game to watch with them, one more dinner, one more shopping outing, etc...
We had a guy at our church who was very active in and around the church. He was a very healthy guy who had a fluke health thing happen, and was gone. It was a shock. He will not sing in the choir or church quartet, he will have no more say in meetings, he will not lead another class, he will not get another round of golf with the guys, he will not get another baseball game with his son or a dinner with his wife.

Just...like...that...gone.

That kind of insanity is dwelling on me. However, I would not miss a single one of any of Lil Guy's ball games or programs if I could help it. I turned down 2 amazing opportunities next month so I could watch Lil Guy play his games.

That's what would happen with any of my kids. If there's a play, performance, game, program, etc. that I need to be at...I will make it work. I will work any extras around their schedules so I can root my kids on & support them!

So...tomorrow...hubby & I will "surprise" Lil Guy with lunch. No amount of laundry, cleaning, dishes, shopping, planning, phone calls, or any other event will stop me from making my kid feel special. Especially when he still wants us around.

I love my kids that much. And I hate feeling guilty about even missing any of their things for any reason.

Oh...and don't tell Lil Guy about tomorrow...you know...that whole "surprise thing" and all...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Should be Shamed

So anyway...

I know I brought up about TRENDS THAT SHOULD GO AWAY...but...I came across another one that I haven't really had a chance to get in on. Well, I take that back...I'm sure I've had plenty of chances, it was just more apparent today.

There was a thing that became more apparent last year that started with kid shaming. Remember that? It started as a punishment from parents to stand outside with a sign letting everyone else know what they did wrong to "teach them a lesson". Then it hit social media, of course, with this right here:

Oh yes...it then became much bigger than just the neighborhood knowing. And it was a controversial parenting method.

Then...much like the planking-to-owling trend...kid shaming transitioned into pet shaming...well, mostly dog shaming:

There probably isn't a lot of cat shaming happened, cuz...well, you know...the cat might kill you in your sleep.

But it didn't stop there...there was a new shaming in town...
Maybe you've seen or heard of it? That would be "Mom(my) Shaming"!

One of my favorite mommy blogs & Facebook pages, The Divine Secrets of a Domestic Diva, has glamorized it like reality TV glamorizes "real life"...but in a much more lighthearted way.

What makes it better? It's MAMAS SHAMING THEMSELVES!

So...back to my part I've taken in the trend...
Today, this happened:

Sign reads "The family is going to enjoy some Thanksgiving & Christmas cookies...
from precut store-bought dough shapes...that I had my daughter bake...on January 10th..."

*sigh*

There is actually more shaming than just that, too:

I. I have on no makeup

2. I have nothing going on with or in my hair...except for my hurs gettin' all did...yesterday

Q. I made my daughter take the pic

*sigh*

Al a "Puss in Boots" (in "Shrek the Halls")...I have shamed myself.

Time to go eat some Santa & turkey cookies...since they're done now, and all. Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas! *face palm*

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Presents: Meany Chin

So anyway...

If you caught my BLOG POST FROM YESTERDAY, then you may have noticed a quick reference to "Meany Chin" in one of the pic captions. I also promised it would get a future post...so I am doing it now.

Folks, there is a creature that lives within Lil Guy's face. Whenever he gets mad or is up to absolutely no good, Meany Chin appears. Somehow, my son grows a chin like Jay Leno's & it has a personality all its own.

We always know if he's up to something. Even though this kiddo has dimples like his dad, brother & my stepdaughter, his dimples don't show up when he's up to something, being mischievious, or just being downright mean like it happens with the others. Instead...Meany Chin appears.

Notice Lil Guy sitting on Santa's lap...that thing jutting out from under his mouth is the appearance of Meany Chin

Meany Chin comes out at the weirdest times. You know...like visiting with Santa. *face palm*

I honestly think that this is where all of Lil Guy's evility-filled schemes come from...that ornery Meany Chin. *sigh*

Hmmm...I wonder if Meany Chin could totally be sneaking Jerktonium (Spongebob reference, in case you didn't know) to Lil Guy & being the sole reason Lil Guy could end up on Santa's naughty list!
Dun-dun-DUN!!

I wonder if Lil Guy can unfriend Meany Chin...you know...like on Facebook. You think it could be done?

Guess we'll find out in a couple of weeks whether or not Lil Guy remained on the nice list...or if Meany Chin thwarted Lil Guy's name to the naughty list!

Oh...the evility of the whole situation...

And...as a side note: Meany Chin ended up in every pic, even the "official" one, with Santa this year. Not boding well for Lil Guy...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Delivers a Near Parenting Win

So anyway...

As a parent, you have to figure out a different way to get a point thru to your kids...I have done several in the past, but I wanted to share my newest one that I was prepared to use. I didn't get to use it, but a particular child of mine now knows what I can be capable of.

Teen Girl (I bet you knew I'd be talking about this kiddo) had a part in her high school play this weekend. Somehow, at some point along the way before Teen Girl ever got to this school, there has been an interesting tradition of a cast party following every show. I mean, seriously? They pick a different restaurant after every show. I don't know why...but it's what happens.

The show that was picked this time was "The King and I." If you are familiar with this story and show, you know it's a 3 hour event. If the evening shows don't begin until 7:00 or after, that puts the show being over around 10:00 or after. Then, costumes must come off & getting ready to go. So the kids don't even really head away from the school until 10:30 (since they greet the masses afterward). Many places close around 11:00 around here. So, they were having difficulty finding suitable places. (should've been a hint to cut off the "tradition", but whatever)

Well, I ended up being one of the drivers for Teen Girl & a friend...so imagine my shock when yet another hopped in, too. Not a bad thing, just didn't expect it. But off we went. And, come to find out, Teen Girl needed me to pick her back up by midnight. UGH!!!

So, I came home, did a couple of chores & then had a brilliant parenting idea...

I'd already texted her that I planned to get HER & that I wasn't going to be driving around all over the place after midnight. We had church in the morning, too...so the quicker to bed, the better! Since I didn't hear anything back, I wasn't sure what she might pull. So, I pulled out the big guns...

I put on my pajamas, slippers & a bright red robe to go get her. This served several purposes:

1. I was already for bed, so all I had to do was come home & make sure all was closed up so I could get some shut eye.

B. It would be delightfully embarrassing for her if she promised a friend or 2 a ride home & mom is doing it in her PJ's. Oh yes indeed.

III. If she was not out there by midnight and she wouldn't answer her phone or text from me...I would epically embarrass her by strolling into the restaurant dressed for bed. Oh yes. Oh yes.

Quatro. I'd be comfy.

Well, when I pulled up, she was standing outside waiting for me...with a friend. Then only she got into the car. Only a slight let down. I mean, she did what she was supposed to, but I didn't get to use my awesome parenting superpower of embarrassment. *sigh*

She got it & looked at me. Then she said, "Well, you look cute." I don't think she realized what was up my sleeve. Then I turned all super villain & told her my plan (much like Heinz Doofenshmirtz would to Perry the Platypus [aka - Agent P] describing the Emarrassment-o-nator).

Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz describing to trapped Agent P about his grand plan to take over the
Tri-State Area with some invention.

She looked at me with a delightfully horrified look...and said, "No! Just no. You look 'stay-in-the-car' cute." *snort*

However, I did let her know that I am not afraid to pull that card again. I just told her I was prepared with warfare. She might think the next time she pulls a surprise of extra people or not being ready when I need to get her. She might not know what to expect...

Dr. Evil & Mr. Bigglesworth
~awesome super villain~

Bwah-hahahahahahahaha...BWAH-hahahahahahahahaha
BWAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
A-HA...Ha-Ha...ha...
*ahem*

Feel free to tap into your super-villain parenting super powers. It's kind of fun. The look you'll get...is...PRICELESS...

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica is Part of the Enchanted Forest

So anyway...

Do you know what is going on RIGHT NOW? If you said "Insane Holiday Shopping," you would be correct, but not the answer I'm looking for. If you said "Marillac's Enchanted Forest," then you would be exactly right! *DING, DING* You win a Whizzo Button! (old school reference, people)

Now the question becomes whether or not you've been able to visit. Well, those in the Kansas City area, anyway. So...have you? If you read my PREVIOUS POST, then all of the information is there.

Last night was the reception for the decorators. Even though our cute little tree didn't win anything...there was something exciting that happened while we were there...

OUR TREE GOT A BID!!

That moment was better than getting a ribbon put on a tree. Plus, I got to kind of dress up, spend time doing what my mom & I have done for years, and have the productive outcome of 3 generations working together.

Three generations worked together to make this Holiday Spectacle...tree...*ahem*

For the 1st time in 20 years (18 of them plotting a tree of some sort), OUR names appeared on a tree in a display that we have visited for so long. Plus, Teen Girl didn't know I had her name added to the sign. So I surprised her with it.

Let me show you some close ups of the tree on display. It still looks better in person, though...

 Our cute little tree...WITH OUR NAMES ON IT!!

 Close up of eyeglasses neck holder garland, sunglasses, and clear ornaments

 Giant eyeglass tree topper

 Clear ornaments containing eyeglass cleaning cloths & a bit of the amazing tree skirt

 See? "Eye"sicles. *snort* Get it? See what we did there?

 "Flowers" & clear ornaments: made or containing cleaning cloths

 Just me with the tree

Mom & Teen Girl with the tree

It was a lot of fun to hang out with the Marillac staff and other decorators. Plus...I got to enjoy some free mosacto spirits while getting into the Christmas spirit. Yeah...it was working pretty well.

I am stoked to do at least one more tree next year. We got to talk to the new Chick-in-Charge (that one's for you, Cassandra) about the set up, the organization & what may be in store next year. I really like this lady's vision. She was fantastic to talk to! And, for the first time, we really got to UNDERSTAND the fundraiser.

What a fabulous girls'-night-out with Teen Girl & Mom last night. And, there are probably about 50 trees & about the same number of wreaths. The display is spectacular. I am, also, loving the evolving tradition.

I highly recommend you see it in person. Really.

Click the banner, above, for more information on the Marillac Enchanted Forest

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Made a Holiday Spectacle for a Good Cause

So anyway...

Halloween & like-holidays are over. And we should be focussing on a turkey-adorned table & enjoying the rest of fall. Right? But that is not, Not, NOT how it tends to work!

As soon as the calendar turned to November, Christmas carols are being piped thru store & mall speakers, trees are up in force & Santa is already greeting the kiddos. Store displays have shoved the fall stuff (including any Thanksgiving-based merchandise) to a corner to make way for the abundance of winter-holiday merchandise to entice consumers to, well, consume. Layaway is back in full swing with the weathered economy, and crowds came out in force on November 1.

But that tends to lend to tradition for the last several years. And we all have our own traditions around this time of year. And sometimes we find that those traditions may have to change or look differently due to circumstances. I'd like to share one of them with you:

When I was 18, my mom's Beta Sigma Phi sorority chapter decided to do a "cultural program" of meeting for breakfast & then going to this new holiday event, the Festival of Trees, on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It was an event of several decorated Christmas trees & wreaths by many decorators & sponsors put on by Marillac at Longview Farm. My mom called me & made me get out of bed to meet these women  for breakfast & then join them for this "thing". See, I was still a teenaged Gen-X'er. I was NOT happy. I didn't even get to shower before hand. So that didn't help with feeling...well...bleh. But I joined them, reluctantly. However, it led to years of enjoying a lot of trees!!

Since that year, my mom & I (sometimes joined by others) would have lunch & walking around, enjoying &/or criticizing trees: the decor, the theme, the title, etc. Then we heard (about the 9th year) that it might be the last year at Longview. So sad since the ambiance was always so fabulous for this kind of event. But we figured it was done. A new-found holiday tradition for many would be thrown to the wayside before its decade anniversary. And then, what would have been the 10th year, we found the news was true. No more Festival of Trees. So we did not get to enjoy trees that year...

However, finding out too late, we discovered the newfound Enchanted Forest at Union Station was the Marillac event of trees! Going for 3 weeks & we MISSED it! Why? The advertising of it was not done very well. At. All. So we missed the 10th year anniversary. But we started going on the 11th year. Still doing it on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We even worked going when I lived in St. Louis...but we had to go on Black Friday due to travel scheduling. No matter...we still worked it in!!!

In all of those years, I had been thinking. Scary, I know. I wanted to do at least one tree. I had (and still have) many tree theme ideas. But we just couldn't get it done.

For the 19th year of the Enchanted Forest...it moved...again. This time it moved to the other side of the state line. This time it would be in Overland Park, KS at the convention center. AND? It would be a "lead in" to the Holiday Boutique. AND? It would only be held for ONE weekend close to the beginning of November! Another tradition shake up.

Now, in it's 20th year...and back at it's early time in OPKS, my mom & I bit the bullet & DID A TREE!!!

I've talked about it for probably 18 years. Seriously. And I wanted something different. So, I went to an idea that my friend, Brad, gave me. He actually thought he was going to throw me off. We had a discussion several years ago about these trees; so he wanted to "test" me (as usual) by coming up with an idea so "out there" that there was no way I could think of a title. He came up with a tree with eye glasses all over it. I took NO time in spitting out, "Holiday Spectacle." And...it stuck.

So...this past weekend, my mom, Teen Girl & I went to OPKS to decorate our "Holiday Spectacle".

Here it is:

*4-ft, prelit tree

*neck-holder chains as garland

*white-framed reading glasses as "eye-sicles"

*sunglasses as ornaments

*clear ornaments containing cleaning cloths

*"flowers" made from cleaning cloths

*giant novelty glasses as the topper

*plain green felt tree skirt with free-form, hand-painted eye glasses 

(done mostly by Teen Girl...she did an AMAZING job) 

with neck chain holder border 

All eye wear, neck chains & cleaning cloths from the dollar store. Seriously.

This pic of the finished tree does NOT do the tree justice. It turned out so adorable!! You should go see it in person!! And maybe bid on it, as all the trees & wreaths are up for silent auction - proceeds going to support MARILLAC.

Our Holiday Spectacle will be only one of many, MANY trees & wreaths on display from Thursday, November 8th thru Sunday, November 11th. 

The Enchanted Forest is FREE! 

You do need to buy tickets for the Holiday Boutique, only if you choose to attend that portion of the event. Plus, you can go to do what we have done for so many years: walk around, enjoy, critique, and get inspired for the holidays. Maybe even bid on any of the fantastic creations! Plus you can see if you agree with judging...because there are awards given to trees & wreaths in different categories. 

I'm not looking for any prize this time...I'm just excited to be an actual part of the Enchanted Forest! It only took 20 years.

And...maybe a new tradition has begun...

Stay tuned...

(hoping for more after the reception later this week)

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica, Sock it to Me!

So anyway...

Yep, another one of those days when I needed to post twice. And this one doesn't even go with my earlier post today. But, trust me...

First thing you need to know is that there has been a general consensus from many-a-folk that I was probably born too late. Like WAY too late! I should've been spending late teens/early-to-mid 20's in the 60's. Totally Mod 60's! Mid-60's to early 70's! I would've totally been groovin'! But since I wasn't, I can still celebrate it for sure. I love all things 60's. Fashion, music, icons, patterns, shows...I think it's all groovy! Have you paid attention to my new digs? Now that you know this, I will go on to my story. But remember this point; it's important!

Another important point is that I hate feet. Baby feet are adorable & fine...but once you hit the age of 2, all bets are off! I want to vomit! That's part of why I like shoes & toenail polish...anything to pretty up those nasty body stands. Once again, also important to my story.

So what do the 60's & nasty feet have to do with my evening? Read on...

Tonight was a typical-type night at our house: lil guy wanting to play cards. Not poker or anything...he wants to play Uno! Since hubby had a meeting, I played a few rounds with Teen Boy & Lil guy. And since the boys still have clumsy fingers & I can shuffle the deck like a dealer at a table (that's a joke, people...but I keep shufflin'), I started to shuffle the deck for one of the boys. Then...lil guy thinks he's being super cute by "accidentally" bumping his toes on me. ICK!!!! So I ask him nicely (I swear) to please stop putting his toes on me. He laughs...evily. Teen Boy always gets a kick out of being annoying & enjoys trying to join in on any annoying situation. It's annoying. He laughs...evily. He tries to put his feet on me, but I stop him with my mommy words! So he tries to find a loophole in that he is wearing socks...

This brings 2 things:

1. The socks are still involved in the whole foot thing. So...no.

2. This brings a song to my head...and I must...start...singing...

OK, another thing you need to know about me is the fact that I will start singing a song if you say something that makes me think of a song to sing. It happens so often that hubby & Teen Girl have picked up the habit. My legacy must carry on somehow...

So, I begin to sing,"...SOCK-IT-TO-ME, SOCK-IT-TO-ME, SOCK-IT-TO-ME, SOCK-IT-TO-ME..."

And I can't stop. I have to sing more of the song! "You're kisses, sweeter than honey!" Teen Boy is not amused & is begging me to stop singing. But I can't stop...and he asks me to stop singing that (brace yourselves, people) "horrible song"! *GASP* wha-WHA?????

I have Laugh-In scenes going thru my head! I hear Aretha belting out needing respect! And I've got Teen Boy dogging the song.

Teen Boy: Stop singing that horrible & stupid song! It sounds really old! Is it like from the 80's or something?

Me: Excuse me?? That song is called "Respect" from the one & only Aretha Franklin. And it's from the 60's. It's a classic.

Teen Boy: Yeah...I thought it was really old. And it's still one of the stupidest songs I've heard.

Me: *GASP* WHAT???? Did you just say the 80's are "really old"???

Teen Boy: Uh...yeah.

Me: *sings* "R-E-S-P-E-C-T! I'll tell ya what it MEANS to me! R-E-S-P-E-C-T! Take care: TCB! Oh! SOCK-IT-TO-ME, SOCK-IT-TO-ME, SOCK-IT-TO-ME..."

*sigh* Where have I gone wrong? Now I am worried about the music tastes of some of this up & coming generation.

I might go cry now.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Apparently AM~Erica Needs More LOL

So anyway...

I was sitting here, on my laptop, checking my sites: Facebook, Pinterst, Twitter...the usual suspects. Lil guy likes to look over my shoulder & attempts to sneak a finger onto the keyboard to see if he can add his own flair. You know...an "h" or a few apostrophes, maybe even a number or two.

Oneth (his version of "first"), he gets really annoyed since he's so bossy and wants ALL attention. Twoth (pronounced "tooth" & his version "second"), he gets really annoyed when I delete his flair to my posts.

Then...he made a decision for me. I needed to add something to the end of my posts...
But I really think sometimes it might be inappropriate:

Hey peoples & others! Sad time, just came from a visitation. LOL!

Well peeps & others...still not feeling good. Puking everywhere. LOL!

Oh, humans & others...today is a hard day & I don't feel like myself. Just feeling really down. LOL!

Hmmm...maybe the addition of "LOL" is not always as fitting as he might think. However, I am pretty sure he'd find it hilarious no matter what. And it's all about him, right?

LOL!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Armpit Hair & Bikini Bottom Talk with AM~Erica

So anyway...

My kids are funny. They just are. And sometimes the conversation I end up having with them are nothing less than entertaining.

Last night was a great example of that. It was a discussion with lil guy as I was tucking him into bed. Here's how it went down:



Lil Guy: (scratching armpit) My armpit itches. Did you know that when you grow up, you get hair in your armpits? On boys anyway.

Me: Ummm...yes. I know that.

Lil Guy: Like Patrick [Starr]! But how come Spongebob doesn't?

Me: Well, I don't know.

Lil Guy: Do you think it's because he's a sponge?


Well, there's one to ponder for you. Would the molecular makeup of a sponge prevent it from growing armpit hair? Hmmmm...

And , yes...I couldn't help but start laughing. I never know what is going to come out of his mouth.

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Ponders How This Teaches Earth Day to Kids

So anyway...

As many of us know, since it's talked about and advertised and covered many ways, tomorrow is Earth Day. A day to bring heightened consciousness about the environment around us & what we can do to help take care of it. This should happen all the time, so I really think we should call this "Earth Environment Awareness Day". But that's just my thinking.

Earth Day seems to get a lot of people & places talking, discussing & learning about our environment and ways we can keep it good condition. Schools, for example, try really hard to cover this. I know my lil guy's school has gotten onto teachers for the amount of paper they use. Really I think it's more of a budget matter, but it still fits here. I had heard that 1st grade does get a whole lot of paper coming home. I thought that was crazy! And then the paper crackdown happened. We still get a lot coming home. I can't tell you the piles & mountains of paper we get brought home with him.

Lil guy had been talking about what they cover at school. This past week, they've been discussing & learning about Earth day & things we can do to help our environment. I think that's great! But when he came home yesterday bringing up that they had been learning about Earth Day, I never expected him to pull this from his bag:

Yes...you see a destroyed forest on the floor with a couple of booklets they made about Earth Day & healing the world. How did this really help teach the kids about the care for their environment? It might be on paper (ironically), but certainly not in practice. The contradictoriness of this has entered sad & epic proportions. This is what he brought home for Earth Day weekend. The Lorax would cry.

Speaking of the Lorax, you all should know my love for Dr. Seuss...you know, since I'm a MEGA FAN, and all. I honestly believe that Dr. Seuss (aka Theodore Geisel) was way ahead of his time in his thinking, especially when he created & wrote "The Lorax". We saw the movie & it was amazing. The whole story is so painstakingly relevant to this day. So imagine what I was thinking when I looked at this pile of Earth Day weekend send-homes.

I have decided to use this post as a help to hold me accountable for my part. I want to make bigger strides in the environment's care.

Get things from thrift shops to help repurpose or repurpose things from around the house instead of throwing away. Or, to help with TAX DAY in the future, donate your stuff to a thrift store...or see instant "reward" by having a garage sale. "One man's trash is another man's treasure." The old saying can certainly help with our environmental issues. Like I found a candlestick holder & a wooden Lazy Susan at a thrift store (Salvation Army, to be exact). I attached the two together to make a spinning cake stand.

Pinterest (if you're on it) actually has fantastic repurposing ideas & ways to make your own foods, cleaners, etc. for safer & cheaper, too.

Less chemicals & more recycling of things. If your disposal company does not do recycling in your area, find out what you can do. The company we use does do recycling, but not in our area...strangely. Do research on recycling places, too. What are the emissions going into the air to recycles some paper, plastic & glass. Something to think about.

There are SOOOOOO many more ways & things you can help out & do your part. It can be big or it can be small...but anything that can help, does.

So, have a great Earth Day...but keep in mind it's an awareness day. Earth Day should be happening EVERY day.

(and just to prove it...I might share this blog post again at random times just as a reminder)

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

AM~Erica Gets in a Goofy Discussion on Leap Year

So anyway...

Today is one that comes around only once every 4 years...kind of like a comet, in it's own right. But it was actually put on the calendar to help balance time. Since there is supposedly 365 & a quarter days every year, well, every 4 years would make a whole extra day (or something)to even out everything in the "space/time continuum". Right?

As I see it...it's kind of like trying to make everyone happy to try to keep balance, but you are actually screwing things up more by trying to make everyone happy. It has actually screwed with time AND people's lives...you know...like BIRTHDAYS! So happy quadrilineal birthday to everyone born on February 29th!

Well, with it being a "special" day, my hubby & I figured that Google would have some kind of special homepage today. Frogs...really cute frogs for Leap Day.

When my teenage son heard us talking about the Google page, he asked what would be used to illustrate Leap Day/Year. I asked him to think about it. He brought up a rabbit. That's a really good guess...but wrong. So we had him guess again. This time he came up with a frog. *DING-DING-DING* We have a winner! Then...this is how the next part of the conversation went:

Son: "Moo. I'm a frog."

Me: Oh, so you're a bullfrog?


HAHAHAHAHA!!! My son & my hubby just stared at me in shock. I told 'em it was a good one. They did agree.

Can you tell the coffee is kicking in early this morning? Watch out today, world! I'm comin' for ya!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica

Happy New Year AM~Erica

So anyway...

It's a new year, and it's my plan to begin blogging here more. I've been keeping up (not so much lately though) with my GLEE blog, this one has gone by the wayside. But I've got stuff going on in my life that I think others (maybe parents) could learn from.

At the turn of 2011, our youngest certainly has been a witty thing. Here's a few that all stem from New Year's Day:

He has been big on drinking hot beverages (i.e., tea, cider, etc.) and has decided that it's his "coffee". So when he finished drinking his hot tea that day, he asked for more "coffee" because, "...I'm a coffee boy!"

My hubby and I got on the subject of "aging". I reminded him that he is still older than me, and he told me that women get "old" & men get "distinguished". So the little guy piped up & announced to his father, "Daddy, you are older than everyone in this family except Jesus!"

The boys were being boys & pretend fighting. So daddy was fake punching the little guy when the boy stopped everything & told his father, "You know, God is watching you...and so is Santa."

Our youngest, like many other young'uns, happens to be naturally savvy with technology. He enjoys playing with my hubby's EVO & my new Transform. He was listing to different ringtones on my phone when it actually began to ring. He brought it over to me to tell me, "Here, it's Chris." (Chris, in case you do not know, is my hubby & the boy's father.)

I would like to point out that our son is just short of 6-years-old, and in Kindergarten.

With that said, his first day back to school, they work on their writing by doing journaling (pictures & then some "words" to describe). Apparently he wrote "I wt to nw yk" with a very colorful picture. He told his teacher that we went to New York on an airplane for the holidays to see his grandparents & play in the snow. Now that we are back in Kansas City, we VERY close to ALL of our family. When I asked if he went without us, he said he went with his dad.

Happy New Year, Everyone! May it be blessed & prosperous for you!

Stay tuned...

God Bless, AM~Erica