Friday, August 21, 2009

Back to School

The kids went back to school this week - 1st and 3rd grade!! CJ managed to get called to the office before school even started - he went to visit a teacher in a totally different part of the school so he was lost and the teacher panicked and had his name announced over the intercom. Chris and I were mortified, but CJ was quite pleased with himself. While we said a little prayer for his teacher, Maggie's teacher said she was wonderful - go figure. CJ had tests the first week and made A+ on all of them, which he told me in his most "I'm bored" tone. Both kids are playing soccer and Maggie is also dancing.

High school rugby is starting early this year - I am thrilled...lol



Monday, August 17, 2009

The victim role is played out.....


I think you should marry someone because you are madly in love with them, I think you should have four children with the person you married BECAUSE you are madly in love with them and I think you should not be surprised when, compatibility is not enough, that other person looks for something more.

I also think if you want to give the illusion that you moved out to protect your kids, a Vogue magazine interview may not be your best defense.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Oh no - I agree - I have become a parent!

When did kids stop being kids? And when in the world did parents stop being parents? Parenting is not about being your kid’s best friend. It’s about teaching them what is appropriate and what is not.

In fact, I remember one particularly embarrassing time that my mom insisted on “doing the right thing” and you know what? Looking back, she was right. It was my school Halloween party and all of my friends decided our theme was Disney characters. I decided to go with Jasmine from “Aladdin,” and my costume was pink, my favorite color.

Now if you have ever seen the movie you know that Jasmine has a bare midriff , but see, I was in 9th grade and all of about 15 years old at the time and there was no way on God’s green earth that my mother was letting me out of the house with my midriff showing. She took me to the local dance store, bought a skin colored leotard and made me wear it under the costume. I am pretty sure I wasn’t thrilled with her that night, and I was ridiculously hot in the school cafeteria, but you know what? I was 15 years old –- a child. She was right: it would have been inappropriate to wear the costume as is.

All of that drama -– and trust me, at the time it was major drama — over a bare midriff. It makes me wonder, what in the world Miley Cyrus’s mother was thinking letting her daughter get on stage at the Teen Choice Awards in booty shorts and high-heeled boots and dance around a pole? I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised; this is, after all, the girl who last year posed on the cover of Vanity Fair in nothing more than a sheet. But my point in sharing the above story is this: a parent’s job is to teach.

When you are 14 to 17, you are too young to know what the right thing is to do in certain situations. That is why your parents are there to guide you. You may not like what they have to say – and parents, you may not like saying it, but it needs to be done. Miley is still a CHILD. A 16 year old girl should not be writhing around on a stage in booty shorts on a pole in front of other teens at an award show.

What kind of an example does it set for other kids? And by her parents condoning it, what kind of example are they setting for other parents?

Posted by: Showbiz Tonight's Brittany Kaplan

Chicago

We spent the past weekend in Chicago learning how to run an SBRO (State Based Rugby Org.) - the seminar was great!! The city was ok - like any large city in the south only the residents seem REALLY unhappy :-).

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Some Sad News - Barton Edward Hinson (6/30/92 - 5/31/09)

According to the Kershaw County Coroner's office, 16-year-old Barton Hinson was killed when the SUV he was driving struck a tree on Tower Road.
That's near the Kershaw County/Richland County line.
According to the Highway Patrol, Hinson, along with a 17-year-old passenger, were wearing seatbelts.
The passenger was transported to Camden Hospital for her injuries.


Another one...but this one is more special to Chris and I. Bart's parents own the horse farm that I kept my horses at and his mom was my trainer for years. Bart was born the month I graduated from high school and when I returned home after college I baby sat him and his two year old sister until they were too old for a babysitter. Chris and I literally cut our teeth on parenting with this kid and have lots of pictures with Santa and slip-n-slides, etc. We lived on the farm for 6 months while our current house was being built and spent many afternoons watching him practice kicking field goals (he played for LE).
As he got older Bart spent many football seasons with his family, my youngest brother and Chris at Panther games. Needless to say my family and his have interacted regularly for as long as I can remember...they are, of course, devastated. There has never been a teenager that I have met that had more promise and potential than Bart.



Saturday, May 9, 2009

Boats, Field Day and Garage Sales

As I have said our wonderful neighbors are moving back to Ohio in July. They are storing their boat at our house so a couple of weeks ago we went out with them - the kids were thrilled! Now I am a chlorine kid of girl so I played with the baby while CJ and Maggie went swimming. Thanks Devin & Michele - we had a great time!!







Here are some pictures from the kids at field day - we have three more weeks of school!!!



Last but not least - the rugby team had a garage sale to raise money for next season - this is a picture of some of the players being helpful as only they can be....