Pride

Pride, felt by everyone at some point in their lives but it hits an entire new level when a parent looks at a child. Yesterday was the District 10 Jr. High Solo & Ensemble contest at Riverview H.S. outside of Coshoton. Everywhere you look there were parents, and directors, with looks of pride on their faces! Every parent as a right to proud at such an event, having participated in some in my youth I know the courage, strength, and practice required to stand there in front of complete strangers and friends and be judged on your performance. We didn't stay the entire day but the Licking Heights students we did see, and scores we saw from them were something to be very proud of!
Sometimes being a step parent is hard, but as I watched Andy yesterday and Amber in February I had a few moments of being "the proud mother". During each of their solos I had to take a minute to blink back the tears. I get on them a lot about practicing and learning new skills on their instruments, but when I see them standing there earning scores that are in the top tier I know that the fighting and eye rolling is all worth it. In February I watched Amber play her trumpet, an instrument she's only be playing for 2 years, in front of a room packed with people and score a II (Excellent) rating. I was so overwhelmed and can only wonder what her Senior year will hold. As we were leaving that day we talked with Andy about his Solo and Ensemble Contest, he told us then he was going to get a I (superior) in everything he did! At that point he was planning on 3 performances, a percussion Solo, percussion Ensemble and vocal ensemble. The vocal ensemble was cut so yesterday he got to be the "cool drummer". He started the day with his solo on marimba (one of my favorite instruments) and did a WONDERFUL job. After lunch his Ensemble played, Andy on Snare, also a magnificent job by all the students and true to form - Andy scored a Superior in BOTH! Just like he said he would. I think the entire cafeteria heard by "YES!" when Mark told me - I even had to check the Solo score for myself!
We celebrated last night with a trip to Diary Queen (not great for the Weight Watchers, but we don't go out for ice cream that often and it's still early in the week.... and I walked a mile around the track in between performances.) I know Andy was excited about his performances and so were we!
Yesterday was just another reminder for me of how important music and sports can be for kids and how I hope Albert will learn from watching his siblings and go on to greatness as well in whatever extra curricular activity he finds suits him.

Spring?

So Spring in my book is starting to "spring" - we have some Lillies starting to pop through the ground, I was able to drive with my window down yesterday (only part way - but still), Baseball has started, Hockey is ending (at least of us Blue Jackets Fans) and I was able to wear Capri pants today ;) The right of Spring is always an amazement to me - how we celebrate it, how it comes with joy and happiness and how Winter tries to hang on as long as possible (which seems to be happening this year!) Mark always celebrates Spring with the window rolled down, a Reds game on the radio and a Chocolate Malt from UDF. For me it used to be the window rolled down, my hair blowing, and Prince BLARING on the radio....now it just seems to be that joy that comes with being able to open up the house and spend time outdoors again!

So how I have spent this first week of almost Spring weather - running around like crazy!! Monday and Tuesday I was home most of the night but had work to do getting the house clean and closing Pampered Chef shows and such. Then Wednesday hit - UGH! We had two doctors appointments (thank goodness for Alan helping with that!) a trip to the pharmacy and then 4 H band practice. Luckily it all went REALLY smoothly but I had psyched myself out so much that it was going to be crazy I started freaking out anyway - what a nut I am! (Mark is reading this shaking his head I'm sure). Thanks to the amazing wonder of a portable DVD player and Elmo the 3 hours in Newark while the oplder kids practiced went pretty smoothly and I was able to keep my volunteer assignment of helping with the Candy sales. Tonight I had my Weight Watchers Weigh in (and meeting that I missed) and Andy's parent meeting for his Washington D.C. trip. Both went pretty well - I managed to loose 3 more pounds which had me doing the "happy dance" as I was leaving - that means I've hit my 10% goal (too bad I have to wait till next week for my key chain since I couldn't stay for that meeting....) - but I am still VERY happy! At Andy's meeting we dotted the i's and crossed the t's and settled the $ and all of that so he'll be leaving around noon on Mother's Day - of all the Sunday's to choose from...but oh well such is life!

Tomorrow I will be enjoying the warm (rainy) weather inside again while I host a Tastefully Simple Party and then this weekend we'll be attending the Jr. High Solo and Ensemble Contest and Sunday the final home Blue Jackets game of the season -at least I'll be saying good bye to the "boys of winter".

So here is to enjoying your right of passage into Spring and hoping it brings you happiness and a new beginning!